Flowers for Mothers

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day. I spend time with my family and counted my blessings in all their shapes and sizes and glowing personalities.

Today, I'm refreshed and anxious to get back to cutting and creating. I have so much fabric left to be transformed. As you go about your tasks for the day, reflect on your many blessings.

Opening Reception

Last evening I had a lovely time meeting people at the opening reception of my exhibit "Over the Porch Rail" at the Monroe Arts Center - Frehner Gallery in Monroe, WI. The gallery space is in a beautiful old church that is itself a work of art. Dunnell Kendrick, the gallery director, has been delightful to work with and very enthusiastic in her efforts to create a cohesive and inviting arrangement of the artwork.

If you are in interested in textile arts or have never yet had the opportunity to view textile art pieces, stop in for a visit. The exhibit runs until May 29, 2010.

Exactly Where Did This Come From?

Color Explosion

17" x 14"

2010 - Sharon V. Rotz

Here I have been enjoying delicate spring flowers and then go into my studio and come out with this. How did that happen?

My only thought is that the flowers have gone into my memory bank and have to spend some time traveling around in my head before they are turned into a quilt inspiration. Meanwhile, the fantastic colors of sunrises, new growth, and those violet blooms all "mushed" together and fabrics from my stash popped up to bring the excitement to life.

Your art should make you happy and this puts a smile on my face. It stretched me out of my comfort zone to stitch wavy pieces together and finish an uneven edge (after all those years of striving for straight edges).

Lesson for the day: Loosen up, loosen up, we must stay loose to be creative!

Delicate spring Beauty

As I continue on my spring walk, I come upon the delicate flowers of the wild blueberry plant. I love their bell shapes and the contrast between the dried leaves, the bright leaves and the white blossoms.

Could this become an artwork with three- dimensional bells lifting off the surface? What about a background randomly pieced with multiple tan fabrics? Or would the bright green leaves be the ones popping off the surface almost hiding the innocent blooms?

Where will this image take me?

And, when can I come back and find luscious, tasty blueberries ready to pick from my little plant?

Spring Inspiration

How can we not be inspired? How can we not be filled with joy? There is beauty all around us. I step outside and notice the tiny violets raising their heads above the wooden walkway. Even the tiniest cracks are overflowing with nature's grandeur.

I am storing this image in my memory to someday translate into an artwork. Will the colors be the inspiration? Will the lines and shapes? The contrast between the sunlight and the shadows? Or will the delicate violet itself be the focus? What is your choice?