April 2026 Meeting Summary
- Johnnie McKenzie
- Apr 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Thanks to Linda Neely for taking some professional-level pictures. I added LN below the ones she took.
I will be visiting Better World Studios this Wednesday and will update you all on the details we work out with Joya (Joya Jimenez DiStefano). You all had fabulous questions and raised excellent issues to explore. I think working with BWS will be a fun and rewarding experience for all of us.
We spent a little time talking about how to present our work. Cindy provided some instructions for her technique. If anyone has questions about how to present a project, please let me know and I’ll connect you with someone who can help.
Cindy shared a piece she created using a "shared" item and it lead to a lot of ideas about how to present it. It has prairie points on two sides and that opens up many options. She added the duck and the circles to give it life. The last photo is of a piece she did a few months ago but brought it along with the textured fabric to show how well presenting it would highlight the color and texture.
Linda brought some wonderful examples. The first picture below shows how a binding (border) can enhance an art quilt. Most of us face our art quilts but this is a good example of going with a traditional technique. The one presented on canvas with Velcro is by Melody Johnson. If you aren’t aware of Melody Johnson’s art quilts search for her work on Pinterest. Her compositions and colors are inspiring.
Lots of projects were completed since our March meeting. Enjoy.
Both Irene’s and Mary’s new dolls won our hearts. Irene always weaves such personality into hers and Mary captures some of life’s most memorable moments in her work.
Irene’s new creation (check out the makeup)-I think Linda wanted to take her home.
Mary spent a week assisting in a doll making class and took advantage of a blacksmithing class at the same facility, thus meet Smitty.
Kim was “in theater” as the Brits say when someone needs surgery. Her granddaughter’s favorite snuggle toy definitely needs an ear repair.
Laurie is going to be ready for the holidays with her machine embroidered Christmas pillows.
Linda Neely shared two collages, one matted and framed, one as a greeting card. Take a close look and enjoy the negative spaces she incorporated into the collage layering.
Natalie shared the quilt that was in Quilt Con recently. She took a class with Irene Rodrick who teaches a class based on her book Dancing with the Wall (meaning design wall) with small blocks, usually improve pieced, that come together int a large wall quilt.
And look at what an amazing quilt she made from something bleached
and stained off our share table.
Natalie’s depiction of our eastern coastline with a cargo ship sailing in moonlight or at sunset is an example of her unique use of color. Two sources for replication of color in a photo or picture you want to use are shown below. Note the space between the two-segment sleeve. This allows for a more flexible way to hang the piece.
A lot of wet felting was done in the last month, this time not vessels but 2D landscapes.
Cynthia said a storm is brewing in hers. She’s planning to darken the storm cloud, add a few birds, and some more texture in the sand. We’ll need another look at this one next month.
Phyllis captured a sky to ground scene with a vivid sky in great motion with water below surrounded by textured grass.
Tammy also captures the texture of a beach scene with some of her mom’s jewelry worked into the piece. I’ve included some closeups of how Tammy presents her work using natural materials.
I jumped onto the 2D felting bandwagon with a not-so-exciting purple piece but decided to cut it up and throw some dimensional silk worm cocoons in between the slices. I mounted it on a traditional quilt sandwich wrapped around the canvas with the technique I described in the meeting and posted last week.
Coming Next Month
Linda will be organizing an artist trading card swap. Here's some info. Check it out. She will send out more details before our meeting. Sounds like a great way to spend an hour making some.
Artist Trading Card Rules
When it comes to making and trading artist trading cards, there are very few rules that have to be followed. However, the ones that do exist MUST be followed. The artist trading card rules are as follows.
Size = 2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 mm × 89 mm)
ATCs are traded not sold
Signed and dated on the back
Neatness counts
Do NOT trade other artists cards
Pinterest Example --
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https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/200269514655943065/ -- Video of creating multiple cards in a series, working on many at the same time.
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What is an ATC made of?
The ATC can be created in any medium and with any techniques that the artist wishes to use. Organized swaps may specify certain mediums to be used.
ATCs are regularly made using the following techniques and mediums:
paintings – watercolour, acrylics, gauche and sometimes oil paints (the long drying times make oil less popular for this format)
drawing – in pencils, pen and ink, marker pens, pastels, charcoal etc
art styles – Zentangle®, stamped and coloured etc
fabric – mini quilts, patchwork, embroidery, cross stitch, appliqué etc
collage and mixed media – well, pretty much anything you can imagine really
printing – such as with gel plates or lino blocks
rubber-stamped images – often coloured with alcohol markers or brush markers
calligraphy – and other types of word-art are becoming very popular lately
paper crafting techniques – die cuts, embossing, decoupage, iris folding, paper weaving etc
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