Cherry Blossom Scarf | © 2012 Cynthia Wenslow

Above is a 44″ x 44″ flat crepe scarf with scarf clip in Cherry Blossom.

Below is a 14″ x 72″ chiffon scarf in Tulip Garden.

Tulip Garden Scarf | © 2012 Cynthia Wenslow

The two images I have donated are exclusive to this event. You won’t have another chance to own them in any format, ever. Don’t miss out! Read how FotoFiber works, then get ready to acquire a signed, 5″x7″, matted print of one of the two photos below. Each photo will have only three prints made. Ever. Donate early and often for the best chance to acquire one!

Vortex | © Cynthia Wenslow

Colorful Heavens | © 2011 Cynthia Wenslow

I began last week by cleaning out and organizing the utility room and the pantry. Getting rid of extraneous “stuff” just feels good, and I’m left with a more functional space that is just nicer to use.

I’ve started on the bookshelves, too. It’s been my life long habit to get my hands on a book and never let it go. But, realistically, will I ever re-read that paperback mystery that was too predictable from the start? Doubtful. Time to send it to a new home.

Yes, the studio is also getting cleared out. Throughout the years, supplies, fabrics, and books have piled up that are no longer applicable to my art practice. Someone else might be at the place in their journey where those things could fit seamlessly into their life.

This lightening up even applies to my website. Gone is the old gray, textured background, now replaced by sparkling white. The minimalist theme feels more like my artwork, and more like the spirit of essence I am moving toward.

Here are a couple quick snapshots from the opening reception the other night at the Dougherty Arts School. There was a great turn-out. It was fun to see the work of the other instructors.

My diptych “View from the Other Side” can be seen in the center of this first photo.

The exhibit is up until December 20. Drop by and check it out if you have a chance. It’s very nicely hung, and the work is excellent.

Before the doors opened.

Setting up.

Daphne Holland in the burgundy sweater in the center. Daphne is the coordinator for the adult ed programs at DAC and pulled the exhibit together.

Visitors surround the refreshment tables and fill the gallery!

My diptych “View from the Other Side” is being exhibited from December 5 – 20, 2011 in the Dougherty Arts School Faculty Exhibit. Please join me at the opening reception Tuesday, December 6 from 6-8 p.m.

Dougherty Arts School Faculty Exhibition
Julia C. Butridge Gallery at Dougherty Arts Center
1110 Barton Springs Road
Austin, Texas 78704

Gallery Hours: M-Th 10am to 9:30pm, Fri 10am to 5:30pm, Sat 10am to 4pm, Sunday closed.

In any case, last week I was working on an art quilt landscape and needed to layer a curved turned-under edge piece over another fabric and have it be flat. As I clipped the curve, I was so grateful for those sewing lessons from my childhood. Thanks, Mom!

My 4″ x 4″ painting “Suburban” is included.

Here are some of the beads and buttons – all in blues and greens – from this week, pre-baking. They’ll be sanded, glazed, and polished before I either make them into jewelry or sell them to other artists for use in their work.

For an autographed copy of this amazing book, send an email to projects@texasquiltmuseum.org

Here is the list of artists in my video, in the order shown. Shirley Fowlkes Stevenson, Sue Benner, Paulie Carlson, Beth T. Kennedy, Gail Valentine, Cynthia Law England, Volunteers from U of Houston – Clear Lake, Liz Axford, Vicki Coody Mangum, Patrice Perkins Creswell, Ruth Cattles Cottrell, Libby Lehman, Ricky Tims, Jo Ann Hannah, Laverne Noble Mathews, Sharon Chambers, Sarah Abright Dickson, Mary Ann Jackson Herndon, Susan H. Garman, Carol Morrissey, Vickie Hallmark, Sue Laurent, Susan Cummins Derkacz, Sylvia Weir, Kim Ritter, Beth Porter Johnson, Barbara Ann Bauer Barrett, Christy Johnston, Gabrielle Swain, Tonya Littmann, Niki Valentine Vick, Judy Kriehn, Kathy York, Debbie Brown & the Bunkhouse Buddies, Nancy B. Dickey, Julie (Jules) McKenzie Rushing, Laurie Brainerd, Mary Ann Hildebrand, Frances Holliday Alford, Ginny Eckley, Barb Forrister, Caryl Gaubatz, Cynthia Kay Henneke, Jeanelle McCall, Martha Murillo Tsihlas & Paloma Tshilas, Mary Ann Vaca-Lambert, Andrea M. Wold Brokenshire, Carolyn Crump, Melissa Sobotka, Kay Giese Marburger, Betty Cawthon Day, Austin Art Quilt Group, Connie Watkins, Jill Clark Frazior, Joan C. Wilson, Kumiko Abe Frydl.

It was so worth waiting for! A hefty, oversized tome of 388 pages, it includes insightful commentary to open the volume. Three sections speak to the changing face of the quilting world, and the larger world, since Volume II in this trilogy spanning 175 years of Texas quilts was published.

The main bulk of the book is, of course, the quilts. Including gorgeous photographs of quilts of every genre, each quilt is accompanied by a paragraph of information. Details such as size, Texas location, design sources, materials and techniques are also found alongside the quilts.

The work is rounded out by a glossary, a suggested reading list, a table of quilt contents by quilt title, and an excellent index of the artists included.

This is a wonderful book that no quilt lover should be without.