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I was contacted by the editor of Art Quilting Studio magazine recently. At the editor’s request, I submitted a couple of my art quilts for consideration to be published in an upcoming issue. I’ve been contacted before and had an article about me and one of my art quilts published, so I was hoping to be included in another issue.
. When the second editor contacted me just informed me that my art quilt WAS accepted for the the upcoming issue, I was thrilled!.
I mentioned in my last post, I would be catching you up on some of my newer art quilts. I don’t see any posts showing this one [it’s probably seven posts back], so here’s one I’ve finished and have already shipped to its new home.
This is a commission for one of my favorite customers. I’ve had so many really nice customers in the years I’ve been doing this. I’ve met some very nice people.
Theme parties, I love them. If I am planning a party that’s nice. But if I can come up with a theme for the party. Now that’s a whole different thing, another level of a fun. I immediately get excited. I throw myself into it with gusto. I get caught up incorporating the theme into as many details as I can, the more details the better. That’s the fun, it’s like a giant scavenger hunt, what will you find?
A little obsessive I think. You may wonder what do themed parties have to do with art quilting, after all, this is a blog about fiber art, isn’t it? I think the common thread is imagination and creativity, they are really little ideas we have that excite us.
I threw a baby shower for my middle son’s first baby. It was such an exciting occasion that I got into theme party overdrive mode. He loves the Japanese culture. My daughter in Law has an older brother who lived in Japan for many years, married, had children who were just hitting their teens when they moved back to the states. I thought what a great idea for the shower, a Japanese theme. This was to have 50 or 60 people attending. I was off and running looking for anything I could use that fit the theme. but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guestsparties and ar, creativity,, color, me,I’ll get to that. I get overly excited and go extremely over the top behavior, yes? It is much more fun. I threw a baby shower for my middle son’s first baby. It was such an exciting occasion that I got into theme party overdrive mode. He loves the Japanese culture. My daughter in Law has an older brother who lived in Japan for many years, married, had children who were just hitting their teens when they moved back to the states. I thought what a great idea for the shower, a Japanese theme. This was to have 50 or 60 people attending. I was off and running looking for anything I could use that fit the theme. but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guestsparties and ar, creativity,, color, me,I’ll get to that. I get overly excited and go extremely over the top behavior, yes? It is much more fun. I threw a baby shower for my middle son’s first baby. It was such an exciting occasion that I got into theme party overdrive mode. He loves the Japanese culture. My daughter in Law has an older brother who lived in Japan for many years, married, had children who were just hitting their teens when they moved back to the states. I thought what a great idea for the shower, a Japanese theme. This was to have 50 or 60 people attending. I was off and running looking for anything I could use that fit the theme. but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the gueststheme party overdrive mode. He loves the Japanese culture. My daughter in Law has an older brother who lived in Japan for many years, married, had children who were just hitting their teens when they moved back to the states. I thought what a great idea for the shower, a Japanese theme. This was to have 50 or 60 people attending. I was off and running looking for anything I could use that fit the theme. but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guestsbut found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guests With parties and everything else, I suppose, once I get an idea my excitement levels shoot through the roof. On the other hand, if I’m not moved, excited or intrigued it simply has no appeal for me. I have to have my heart into it, and when I do I will pursue it down to the last tiny detail..if I’m engaged I go all out. I get overly excited and go extremely over the top behavio.. Every detail is important and I’m the happiest if I can follow my theme right down to thw smallest detailr, yes? It is much more fun. I threw a baby shower for my middle son’s first baby. It was such an exciting occasion that I got into theme party overdrive mode. He loves the Japanese culture. My daughter in Law has an older brother who lived in Japan for many years, married, had children who were just hitting their teens when they moved back to the states. I thought what a great idea for the shower, a Japanese theme. This was to have 50 or 60 people attending. I was off and running looking for anything I could use that fit the theme. but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guestsget an idea my excitement levels shoot through the roof. On the other hand, if I’m not moved, excited or intrigued it simply has no appeal for me. I have to have my heart into it, and when I do I will pursue it down to the last tiny detail..if I’m engaged I go all out. I get overly excited and go extremely over the top behavio.. Every detail is important and I’m the happiest if I can follow my theme right down to thw smallest detailr, yes? It is much more fun. I threw a baby shower for my middle son’s first baby. It was such an exciting occasion that I got into theme party overdrive mode. He loves the Japanese culture. My daughter in Law has an older brother who lived in Japan for many years, married, had children who were just hitting their teens when they moved back to the states. I thought what a great idea for the shower, a Japanese theme. This was to have 50 or 60 people attending. I was off and running looking for anything I could use that fit the theme. but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guestsget an idea my excitement levels shoot through the roof. On the other hand, if I’m not moved, excited or intrigued it simply has no appeal for me. I have to have my heart into it, and when I do I will pursue it down to the last tiny detail..if I’m engaged I go all out. I get overly excited and go extremely over the top do I will pursue it down to the last tiny detail..if I’m engaged I go all out. I get overly excited and go extremely over the top behavio.. Every detail is important and I’m the happiest if I can follow my theme right down to thw smallest detailr, yes? It is much more fun. I threw a baby shower for my middle son’s first baby. It was such an exciting occasion that I got into thw smallest detailr, yes? It is much more fun. I threw a baby shower for my middle son’s first baby. It was such an exciting occasion that I got into thw smallest detailr, yes? It is much more fun. I threw a baby shower for my middle son’s first baby. It was such an exciting occasion that I got into theme party overdrive mode. He loves the Japanese culture. My daughter in Law has an older brother who lived in Japan for many years, married, had children who were just hitting their teens when they moved back to the states. I thought what a great idea for the shower, a Japanese theme. This was to have 50 or 60 people attending. I was off and running looking for anything I could use that fit the theme. but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guestsbut found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guestsbut found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guests t is much more fun. I threw a baby shower for my middle son’s first baby. It was such an exciting occasion that I got into theme party overdrive mode. He loves the Japanese culture. My daughter in Law has an older brother who lived in Japan for many years, married, had children who were just hitting their teens when they moved back to the states. I thought what a great idea for the shower, a Japanese theme. This was to have 50 or 60 people attending. I was off and running looking for anything I could use that fit the theme. but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guests in in Kimonos. I I ordered 2 lightweight summer kimonos, though that is not the proper name for these, I also had a gorgeous vintage garment that looked Chinese, a brocade like fabric that looked like spun gold. For the 2 younger girls, I made Obi’s and learned how to wrap them around their waists and tie the large bow s that tied in the back. You can learn anything from U-Tube. I found the white socks with the toes, the name escapes me. They were to greet the guests with “Konnichiwa” a welcome greeting. For over a month I searched eBay for Kokeshi dolls, trays, fans, vases and assorted items to be placed in as center groupings on the many tables. Since I couldn’t think of a cuddly animal associated with Japan specificity. like a teddy bear, I went for Pandas, although Chinese. I made a panda cake, Wilton has a large sitting teddy bear cake pan that can be decorated to look like a panda bear. And naturally more pandas were needed. So I searched the internet for every stuffed panda bear in the country. I found about 20 that I approved, although “used” they weren’t. They looked adorable sitting here and there around the room. Do you get the sense of how obsessed I become with themes? But it was the funnest party ever and I think my 2 soon to be parents were surprised,and that made it worth any effort.but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guests in in Kimonos. I I ordered 2 lightweight summer kimonos, though that is not the proper name for these, I also had a gorgeous vintage garment that looked Chinese, a brocade like fabric that looked like spun gold. For the 2 younger girls, I made Obi’s and learned how to wrap them around their waists and tie the large bow s that tied in the back. You can learn anything from U-Tube. I found the white socks with the toes, the name escapes me. They were to greet the guests with “Konnichiwa” a welcome greeting. For over a month I searched eBay for Kokeshi dolls, trays, fans, vases and assorted items to be placed in as center groupings on the many tables. Since I couldn’t think of a cuddly animal associated with Japan specificity. like a teddy bear, I went for Pandas, although Chinese. I made a panda cake, Wilton has a large sitting teddy bear cake pan that can be decorated to look like a panda bear. And naturally more pandas were needed. So I searched the internet for every stuffed panda bear in the country. I found about 20 that I approved, although “used” they weren’t. They looked adorable sitting here and there around the room. Do you get the sense of how obsessed I become with themes? But it was the funnest party ever and I think my 2 soon to be parents were surprised,and that made it worth any effort.but found it was hard to find decorations, baby themed Japanese items that were specific only to Japan. So in the end it became an Asian theme, with emphasis on Japan. I had 3 lovely cooperative granddaughters who agreed to be the hostesses welcoming the guests in in Kimonos. I I ordered 2 lightweight summer kimonos, though that is not the proper name for these, I also had a gorgeous vintage garment that looked Chinese, a brocade like fabric that looked like spun gold. For the 2 younger girls, I made Obi’s and learned how to wrap them around their waists and tie the large bow s that tied in the back. You can learn anything from U-Tube. I found the white socks with the toes, the name escapes me. They were to greet the guests with “Konnichiwa” a welcome greeting. For over a month I searched eBay for Kokeshi dolls, trays, fans, vases and assorted items to be placed in as center groupings on the many tables. Since I couldn’t think of a cuddly animal associated with Japan specificity. like a teddy bear, I went for Pandas, although Chinese. I made a panda cake, Wilton has a large sitting teddy bear cake pan that can be decorated to look like a panda bear. And naturally more pandas were needed. So I searched the internet for every stuffed panda bear in the country. I found about 20 that I approved, although “used” they weren’t. They looked adorable sitting here and there around the room. Do you get the sense of how obsessed I become with themes? But it was the funnest party ever and I think my 2 soon to be parents were surprised,and that made it worth any effort.bow s that tied in the back. You can learn anything from U-Tube. I found the white socks with the toes, the name escapes me. They were to greet the guests with “Konnichiwa” a welcome greeting. For over a month I searched eBay for Kokeshi dolls, trays, fans, vases and assorted items to be placed in as center groupings on the many tables. Since I couldn’t think of a cuddly animal associated with Japan specificity. like a teddy bear, I went for Pandas, although Chinese. I made a panda cake, Wilton has a large sitting teddy bear cake pan that can be decorated to look like a panda bear. And naturally more pandas were needed. So I searched the internet for every stuffed panda bear in the country. I found about 20 that I approved, although “used” they weren’t. They looked adorable sitting here and there around the room. Do you get the sense of how obsessed I become with themes? But it was the funnest party ever and I think my 2 soon to be parents were surprised,and that made it worth any effort.like a teddy bear, I went for Pandas, although Chinese. I made a panda cake, Wilton has a large sitting teddy bear cake pan that can be decorated to look like a panda bear. And naturally more pandas were needed. So I searched the internet for every stuffed panda bear in the country. I found about 20 that I approved, although “used” they weren’t. They looked adorable sitting here and there around the room. Do you get the sense of how obsessed I become with themes? But it was the funnest party ever and I think my 2 soon to be parents were surprised,and that made it worth any effort.funnest party ever and I think my 2 soon to be parents were surprised,and that made it worth any effort.
Total amount 
I have finally finished the long promised, illusive website which I have spoken of endlessly for months. Any second it would go live. But I realized finally the hopelessness of my quest. I lacked the most basic knowledge and skill needed. The advert for this template site was “Anyone could build a website in an afternoon”. “I’m an anyone, so why not?” I thought. Because no one counted on this anyone as so hopelessly beyond the simplest skills that any 4 year old child possesses. Months and months have passed. Finally with endless hours of tech support, a miracle! The Pigs Are Flying!
But it’s happened, Come by and see. http://BarbaraHarmsFiberArt.com
The p
igs are flying!
I want to have lots of quilts to launch, so I’ve been working
make lots and lots of quilts. That is easier said than done. Here’s a few, in various stages of work. I hope to be finished soon.
The first one closest to completion a silk painted red egret.
The colors in this silk are just wonderful. Wish I took time to write down my color formulas but no, it’s always a little bit of this and a bit of that, maybe a bit more of this ,,,you can follow my drift.
I had a nice experience that I thought I’d share. The state of Oregon purchased four of my art quilts. You may wonder why would a state need art quilts? They were needed because the old Oregon State Hospital was just that, old. Repairs and improvements had been made over the years, but it had reached the point that the state decided they needed a new one.
If you visit my blog very often, you might have noticed that I haven’t posted as frequently as I usually do. I’ve had a few things going on, so I’ll try to catch you up in the next few posts on anything that might be interesting.
My Etsy shop is looking a little depleted lately. My last sale was four quilts that will be going into Oregon’s new state hospital, I felt pretty proud to be included in the art choices for it So that’s a nice thing to share.
My Etsy shop is looking a little depleted lately. So what that means is I need to get busy and make quilts! That is just what I’m doing, making quilts and loving it.
I’m currently experimenting with what may prove to be a useful tool to generate a little creative inspirations.
I’ve been playing around with Photoshop using some of the special effects edits and have had a few results that I liked enough to put into my future projects folder. One that looked like an old photo negative. The colors-seem reversed. It looked like good art quilt material. So I tried it out, made one. I thought the result was interesting, I’m going to try a few-others.
Above Top-Here’s the art quilt, it isn’t capturing the photo effect.I found it hard to duplicate the thousands of tiny drops of colored ink that made up the photo.
Reminds me of Neo-Impressionist Seurat lots and lots of colored dots make up the picture. In this photo edited dogwoods, printed with zillions of tiny drops of-colored ink. I’m intrigued with the idea, easy to do with paint, but thread?
Here’s another which gives a clearer view of the tiny drops of colored ink that create the image. I’m thinking about this idea, how to achieve this effect on an art quilt.
I’ve been working on this art quilt off and on for quite a while. I vacillate between ” This is too insanely wild” and “Oh I’m just having a little fun”. I ask myself “If I ever finished it, would I have the nerve to put it in my shop?” I haven’t got a clue, but in the meantime, I still just having fun.
When I heard that people were going to stand in line for hours, to be allowed to order one. Then they would be waiting a month or two to receive it. I had the attitude Oh I would never stoop to that level, wrong, wrong, wrong. I had far too much dignity for that sort of thing. But I did want that iPhone 6 plus, it had bigger print . screen and bigger keys. The keys on my old phone have a particular problem.Tex-ting was a nightmare. my fingers would hit 2 keys at once, unless I typed more or less with the side of my gigantic fingers. Does anyone else have this problem, besides me? I never knew what it was writing, and naturally I always bumped the send button too early, those freakishly large fingers again. On re-reading whatever garbled, misspelled text I had just accidentally sent, I would be mortified. Well let’s just say you haven’t felt the true sting of embarrassment and humiliation until you have sent numerous texts like this til the person is sure to think, “She’s finally gone round the bend”. I manged to do this on a regular basis. The voice dictation was worse. So let’s face it, I NEEDED that phone. I never realized just how fat my fingers were before this. They look normal to me, but I suppose a phone that was made with the capacity for texting, would take into account the average size of those using their phone and build them accordingly.
The following week, I heard from a phone carrier sales guy that a small amount of the phones were trickling in and they had a very small shipment of phones coming in on that very Friday. He mentioned that if you were in that line, you might be ablxe to get one of those phones. I immediately began making plans to get one of those phones. The mob frenzy mentality had set in, and my imagined “dignity”flew right out of the door. I wasn’t going to just be in that line. I was going to be the first in that line.
I would need to be there at 4:30 AM, meaning getting up at about 3:45 AM. I flew out of bed when that alarm went off. Threw on some clothes, no coffee-gasp, not a drop of makeup, bedhead hair, don’t know if I even ran a comb through it, I must have surley. I just got in that car and flew. I arrived about 4:30 AM, and what did I find? Some other old geezer like myself, this guy had been there since 3:30. Just us two for an hour or so, when one or two started slowly trickling in. Yes, I was one of the crazies who braved the cold, the dark, the lack of sleep, stood in line for hours without coffee, a stitch of makeup and bed head hair, all to purchase one.
Having sunk to this level, no one was going to get in my way. ‘Let’s Rumble, I ‘ll fight anyone of you guys if you try to horn in on my iPhone plus. I’ll take ya, I can do it. I’m a black belt, so back off”. I’m second, in line, got here at 4:30.The man in front of the line was here at 3:30am.. He’s vacillating, “Do I want the 6 or the 6 plus?” He says. I start to size him up, he’s an older guy, looks a little weak, I can take him for sure.
That phone is mine!. Fortunately, I didn’t have to whoop on any interlopers, I got the phone, with one little catch, it’s only a 16 GB, not the 64GB or the 128GB. Too little gigs. So a few days later I ended up returning it and ordering the 64 gb. So like everyone else, I’m waiting for my iPhone 6 plus to come in.
Barbara Harms Fiber Art & More