Cindy Grisdela ~ art quilter

“Riverbank” 2013 Cindy Grisdela – side view

I’ve been working recently on creating smaller contemporary quilts–the dilemma has been how to mount them so they are easy to hang on the wall. My fellow artists at the Artists’ Atelier in Great Falls, where I have my studio, helped me find the solution–thanks Bobbie, Jennifer and Elaine!

At left is a side view of Riverbank, which is 12″x 12″ and mounted on a painted canvas. Previously I had tried

to stretch the pieces around the canvas or attach a background fabric and stretch that, but I was

“Riverbank” 2013 Cindy Grisdela

never entirely happy with the results, and it took a long time to do. Since I’ve been hanging out with painters recently, I sought their advice and came up with a plan. First the canvas is painted with black acrylic paint, then the piece is applied to the prepared canvas with gel medium. Put a weight on it overnight and a hanging wire on the back, and it’s ready to go. I still have a little tweaking to do to streamline the process, but so far the results are good–it’s a nice contemporary way to show the work.

There’s some fun texture on this one– if you right-click on the image you can see it better.

I’ll have this new piece and several others, plus my larger wall pieces, pillows and table runners at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival next weekend, May 18-19, at the Reston Town Center. Hours are 10-6 Saturday and 10-4 Sunday.

I’m in Booth 107 and I’d love to see you if you have a chance to stop by!

Wonky Circles 2013 Cindy Grisdela

Although I still haven’t come up with the right name, “Wonky Circles” is finished, photographed and ready to go for the American Craft Council – Baltimore show next week!

The green in the photo is a little darker than it is in real life. If you right-click on the image, you’ll see the stitching lines better–open loopy spirals in the circles and my favorite improvisational fan design in the green borders. It finished out to be about 30″ high x 46″ wide, so it’s a good size to hang over a sofa or perhaps a buffet table.

I like the way the colors come forward and recede in the circle center–

Falling Water 2013 Cindy Grisdela

there’s lots to look at! And the thread in the green border has a subtle variation to it that gives some wonderful texture in the plainer areas.

Don’t forget the Baltimore show is Friday, February 22 – Sunday February 24 at the Baltimore Convention Center at One West Pratt St. I’m in Booth 3505.

I’m also going to have a series of quilts that could be used as table runners, or to add a splash of color to a narrow space in your home or office.  Falling Water at right is one of those. It’s about 35″ high x 15″ wide and it has some interesting textural lines that reminded me of water if you right-click on the image.

Baltimore is a big show with hundreds of artists to see, so wear comfortable shoes and allow plenty of time to see as much as you can–it’s going to be fun!

Mark your calendars for the Craftboston Spring show April 19-21 and the Common Threads – Different Visions show at the Ratner Museum in Bethesda, MD April 3 – 28.

"Improvisations in Color" 2012 Cindy Grisdela

I’m pleased to announce my “Improvisations in Color” solo show is up in the main conference room at the Great Falls library.

The show runs through June 30, 2012 and includes 25 recent wall hangings.

Using improvisational techniques, I created abstract designs for this work using only solid colors–no patterns. The solid colors mean that the color and line is the main focus of each composition. They also provide a vibrant ground for me to add rich texture with quilting stitches using a variety of motifs.  All of my work is pieced directly on the machine and the textural lines are added freehand, so no two pieces are ever exactly alike.

'Improvisations in Color" 2012 Cindy Grisdela

It’s always a thrill to see my work all in one place–it really showcases how fiber art looks on the wall and helps create a warm and inviting atmosphere to the space.

I hope you’ll have a chance to stop by and see for yourself!

The Great Falls library is located at 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA. Hours are 10 AM – 6 PM Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1 PM – 9 PM Tuesday and Thursday, 10 AM – 5 PM Saturday, closed Sunday.

Also, I just published a new newsletter that focuses on how I add texture to my work with stitching. You can see the newsletter by clicking on the link on the right side toolbar, and you can sign up to receive it in your inbox each month too.

My work is featured in two online Virtual Galleries this month–on the websites of Studio Art Quilt Associates and Great Falls Studios.

"Red Totem" 2010 Cindy Grisdela

You’ll find “Red Totem” in the January Virtual Gallery on the Studio Art Quilt Associates website. The virtual exhibit is titled “Lines of Thought” and the curator, Kathryn Schmidt, writes in her summary that “Seemingly simple lines can invoke powerful feelings, both for the artist and the viewer.” Definitely food for thought! Visit the website by clicking on the link here then click on “New Virtual Gallery – Lines of Thought” on the left hand toolbar. There are some very interesting pieces of work in this gallery and I’m pleased to have been included.

Three of my pieces are included in the “Patterns” exhibit on the Great Falls Studios website. The

"Townhouses" 2011 Cindy Grisdela

call for entry asked for work that included lines, shapes or colors arranged in a pattern–which is descriptive of much of my work! I had a difficult time choosing which pieces to send, but ended up with “Townhouses” at right, plus “Currents” and “Box of Marbles”–all from my March project last year.There are patterns of lines, patterns of shape and patterns of color, plus patterns of texture if you right click on the image to see the stitching better.

To view the exhibit, click on the link to the GFS website here and then on the Virtual Gallery prompt in the middle of the home page. It’s a large exhibit with a lot of different interpretations of the theme, from representational to abstract, including painting, photography, fiber, sculpture and jewelry. Which do you think captures the idea the best?

Autumn Forest 2011 Cindy Grisdela

Last week I received notification that my quilt, “Autumn Forest,” was accepted for the Bending the Rules exhibit of work from Studio Art Quilt Associates members from Virginia and North Carolina. The exhibit will be on display February 23-26, 2012 during the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton, VA. I’m excited to be part of this show–it’s one I always go to with my mother and my sister and it’s fun to see my work hanging there.

I had the call for entry for this show up on my bulletin board for several months before the deadline because I knew I wanted to enter it. I had just the piece in mind. Then about 10 days before the deadline as I was getting ready to fill out the paperwork, I saw it–there was a size restriction on the entries! Of course, the quilt I had planned to enter didn’t fit, and none of the other work I had available was quite right either.  I had some leftover wonky stripes blocks up on my design wall that gave me an idea, so I put this piece together and quilted it just in time for the deadline. It “bends the rules” in at least two ways–the borders are only on two sides instead of all four and the curved green and purple border is in the interior, rather than on the outside.

The combination of colors reminded me of autumn leaves–some gold, some purple, some still green. I quilted the interior with echoing spirals like a breeze in the forest–if you right click on the image you’ll be able to see the texture better.

If you’re in the Great Falls area, my solo show, “Color and Line,” will be up at Katie’s Coffee House on Walker Road through December 30. Stop by and see it if you get a chance and let me know what you think!

Also, my December newsletter will be going out this week, so if you’d like to receive it, add your name to my mailing list at the upper right of this blog.

"Color and Line" Solo Exhibit 2011 Cindy Grisdela

Wow–it’s been a busy couple of weeks! Yesterday I hung my solo show – “Color and Line” – at Katie’s Coffee House in Great Falls. Most of the pieces are from my “30 Days” project, including “Garden Path” and Shades of Autumn” at left. The show will be up for the month of December, so please stop by if you’re in the area and have a cup of coffee. Katie’s is open Monday – Friday 6 AM – 3 PM and 7 AM – 2 PM Saturday and Sunday.

"Color and Line" Solo Exhibit 2011 Cindy Grisdela

If you’re new to the project, earlier this year I challenged myself to create 30 quilts in one month – March – as a way to push myself as an artist. Click on “March 2011″ in the Archives at right if you’d like to know more.

There are eleven pieces in the show, including “Around the Block” and “Abstract Skyline” at right. Starting last year, I began to focus more on color, line and texture in my work and less on the pattern in the fabric. All of the work in this exhibit uses only solid colors, so that the color and line of the design is the primary focus. And there is wonderful texture added to each piece so you just have to get closer to take another look!

Earlier this week, I helped hang “A Touch of Red” – an all media exhibit by the artists of Great Falls Studios – at Artspace Herndon. I have one piece in the show. The exhibit is open until January 8, 2012 and we’ll be having an artist reception next Wednesday, December 7 from 7-9 PM. Artspace is open Tuesday – Thursday 10 AM – 2 PM, Friday 10 AM – 8 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday 1-5 PM.

And I’m working furiously in the studio to get ready for my upcoming shows starting this weekend! 3 Days with the Artists on Dec. 2, 3 and 4 and the Great Falls Studios Holiday Show  Dec. 10 and 11. I hope you can stop by–I’d love to see you!

Don’t forget, if you’d like to be added to my mailing list to get my new monthly newsletter, just click here  or put your email address in the box in the upper right corner of the blog.

"Captured Marbles" in progress Cindy Grisdela 2011

I’m working on the quilting for “Captured Marbles” from my 30 art quilts in 30 days project and couldn’t wait to show it! This is a variation on the pebbling motif that I like so much, but it has more of a feather feel to it. Plus it’s a little quicker to stitch than pebbling–a great addition to my motif library!

If you right click on the image, you can see the details more clearly. I’m pleased with the way this motif looks with thread that is variegated over a narrow range of greens–I don’t think it would be as attractive with more color variation.

I’m spending these rainy days in my studio quilting so all of my “30 days” pieces will be ready for the Great Falls Studios 8th Annual Studio Tour October 15-16. I can’t wait to see them all in one place! Visit the GFS website for more information on the Tour at www.greatfallsstudios.com 

I’ll be posting the quilts as I finish them, so check back often! For more information about my project–30 quilt tops in 30 days–visit the March 2011 tab in the blog archives to the right.

Mark your calendars for the Tour and also for the McLean Project for the Arts Artfest 2011 on Sunday, October 2. I’d love to see you there!

"Lake House" Cindy Grisdela 2011

I finished “Lake House” just in time to donate to the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) annual online auction. The auction is a major fundraiser for the group, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting quilts as art. All of the donated quilts are posted on the SAQA website until the auction starts. There are some wonderful pieces there!

The auction begins Monday, September 12, 2011 at 2 PM Eastern time. Each piece is 12″ x 12″ or One Foot Square. It’s a reverse auction, so the price starts out at $750 for each quilt on the first day, then drops each day at 2 PM to the next price point–$550, $350, $250, $150 and $75. There will be three sections to the auction and I think my piece will be in the third section.

New this year are several curated “dream collections” put together by SAQA members. These are groups of nine pieces chosen around a particular theme to illustrate how well these pieces look in groupings. I’m gratified to see that my piece appears in several of those collections!

I’m having fun creating these contemporary improvisational pieces exploring color and line using only solid fabrics. Each one is unique. Once the design is created, then I add texture and interest with rich machine stitching. If you right-click on the image you can see the square shapes in the horizontal “house” section, the swirls for clouds or wind at the top and the wavy lines and bubbles for the water section. I spent a lot of time at the lake when I was growing up in Florida, and this is my tribute to those wonderful memories.

Take a few minutes to stop by the SAQA website and see all of these great pieces of art–maybe one or more will speak to you!

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the MPAArtfest on October 2 and the Great Falls Studios Studio Tour on October 15 and 16! I’m going to be busy the next two months getting new work ready to show you!.

"The Road Home" Cindy Grisdela 2011

“The Road Home” is the next finish in the sprint to get ready for my upcoming July show with friend and fellow artist Jennifer Duncan. The show will be titled “Homes” and will be up at the Keller Williams Realty office in McLean starting July 15.

I’m posting these in no particular order, because I’ve been so focused on getting the quilting finished so they can go to the framer to be stretched on stretcher bars.

And I’ve been away from it for a couple of days now, because I’ve been in New Jersey with my older son, Phil, who yesterday won the right with his pair partner, also named Phil, to represent the United States in the Under 23 (year old) Lightweight Pair event at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam in July!! I don’t usually post such personal information on this blog, but I’m so proud of both of them and their accomplishment I want to shout it from the rooftops!

Back to the art–”The Road Home” was Day 16 of my March project–creating 30 art quilt tops in one month–about one a day. Basically I challenged myself to create one 16″x20″ quilt top each day, completely pieced, using solid hand dyed fabrics. Check the March archives for the details.

I decided to quilt this one with square spirals in the center, which remind me of buildings, and then a different motif in each quadrant. There are pebbles in the upper left and star spirals in the upper right. I like this one because it’s a bright, happy-feeling motif and that’s what I want my family to feel when they come home.

The motifs in the lower half are more linear, echoing the “road” in the name of this one.

I’ll have more in the series in the next few days.

Around the Block Cindy Grisdela 2011

Wow, I didn’t realize I’d been AWOL from the blog for so long! I’ve been working almost nonstop getting my eight pieces ready for my next show in July.

Here’s a peak at “Around the Block” after the quilting lines have been added to create interesting texture. I decided to use a single motif on this one, instead of the multiple motifs I usually use, because it seemed to complement the design best.

I did have some photography issues on this one–in reality the quilting lines are much more subdued than the photo suggests.

This piece, along with seven others, will hang in a show in July with friend and fellow artist Jennifer Duncan. More details about the show will be up shortly. I’m in such a hurry to get them quilted because they have to go to the framer next to be gallery-wrapped and mounted so they hang on the wall like a picture. With eight pieces at a time, that takes a while. Sometimes being an artist isn’t so much about creative freedom, but also about figuring out how to be creative on a deadline!

You might remember this piece from Day 25 of my March Project, where I challenged myself to create 30 pieced art quilt tops–roughly one a day for a month. You can read about the process here It’s interesting to me that this top was the one I had the most trouble with, but it has turned out to be one of my favorites from the project.