ABFAR. In Pictures.

ABFAR.  Art Before Fiber Artist Rebels.

Some ladies brought in some examples of the fiber art they have worked on before joining the group.  What an interesting and varied group we have.  Thank you brave ladies!  It will be fun to see the evolution and progression of one another's art plus it gives the rest of us inspiration for our own work!

OK without further ado...

A mystery artist with her beautiful "Baltimore Harvest" by Pearl Periera she created in applique.
                                                  

Ah it is Cheryl back behind there.  Good to know that face.  She is the lady leading our rabble. Thank you Cheryl!

Next up - our photographer for this post.  Barbara.  My camera gave her some problems, but saved the day and took the pics on her phone.  Thank you my sweet friend.  She brought three pieces.
To the left here we have her self portrait.  I think she captured herself pretty well.  She fancies herself with red hair.  Hey its her piece.  I draw myself thin. So... Anyway back to the art.  It is an applique.  I love that she is sporting a scarf in her art and IRL.  To the right is her Fall scene in applique including raw edge, thread painting and Angelina leaves done in relief. 

Barbara also brought this abstract made by reverse appliqueing. It was a table runner but she cut it down to a wall hanging.

Here we have Judy's (hands) holding up a bevy of children's appliqued quilts depicting a dinosaur with flowers, a puppy and a pig (the pig was distracted by a plate of bacon and ran from the picture frame apparently).  So cute.  She creates these cuties for a business.

On to Charm's (her parents just knew) "Abandoned Irish Cottage".  She took a photo, had it printed to fabric and then embellished it with paint (watercolor and acrylic), thread painting, stab stitching and felted sheep.  She is still working on it as a challenge project for using multiple fiber manipulations on one piece.  Well done!

 

Here we have Cindy's "Sunshine".  Fitting.  A lady who is always the picture of sunshine!  She did it in applique and then slathered it with beads and Swarovski crystals.

Carroll Lee brought in a few pieces.  Up first is a coneflower.  It is done on 4 layers.  Two cotton, 1 batting and then.... hand died dryer sheets.  Yep.  Bounce. That's one of the reasons we are here ladies.  What a fun and interesting technique!  Then she beaded it.

 Here is Carroll Lee's "Midnight Snack".  OK the Robin's snack.  For the record Carroll Lee does not eat worms. It was created in multiple steps of masking and discharging with bleach.  She will be explaining how she does it in an upcoming meeting.  Stay tuned.

 This is a closeup photo of a mexican petunia that lives in her front yard. She sent it into Spoonflower (like Charm did) to be printed on a yard of fabric.  The only thing she knows for sure is there will be some undulating zigzig stitching going on.  But the possibilities are endless... if you have the skills.  

Here we have Ann showing one of her darling purses.  She makes quite a few and all are completely different.  She is going to be selling some of her gems in an upcoming craft sale at Sun River.

 Last but not least we have Cathie and Charlotte.  They took a newfangled (a technical artist like term) crazy quilting class from Judith Baker Monsanto.  These are their works of art in progress from that class.  They had photos laid on silk, water colored over them and then crazy quilted.

Wasn't that an interesting sampling?  So much to learn and appreciate.  I think there is equal passion to teach and to learn in our group.  Lots of new techniques to share and what fun we will have seeing how each of us applies them and maybe some of the more experienced ladies will find inspiration from those of us (coughmecough) for whom this is all new.  What will we come up with?  Ut oh... the pressure's on!

Thank you to those brave ones who brought in their work.