Tips on Tuesdays! -> Light

Welcome to Tips on Tuesdays!  If you are new here, this is a sharing post.  It's like 'take a penny, leave a penny'.  If you blog, you can grab the red button on the left sidebar.  By clicking it, you will link to all Tips on Tuesdays posts where you can find lots of brilliant ideas in the comments.  This week's theme is LIGHT.  You can leave your tip at the end of this post.

Lighting your work is so important.  I would love to hear your feedback on any of the following illumination issues:

Lighting in your sewing room

Lighting your work on display

Lighting while hand or machine stitching

Lighting while matching colors / fabrics / thread

Lighting while photographing your work

Do you use any particular lighting for when you are working on your projects?

Piecing isn't so much a big deal for me.  I can do that any time.  But I do find that I cannot do my fibre art at night.  I just don't have enough lighting that keeps the colors true.  I have one big window in my sewing room, and I work best during the middle of the day.

For photographing, I like a well lit room full of natural light, but not direct sun on the item being photographed.  I have white sheers hanging in the window which really helps diffuse the light more evenly.  I also found that my whole work space lights up when I have white walls.  If your walls aren't white, you can put up a big styrofoam board which also serves to put up your work.  You could use white flannel or even hand a white curtain just to light up the space better.

I came across this article yesterday which has good tips:  CLICK HERE

What about you?  Do share!

Have a terrific Tuesday!
~Monika

Inspiration & Identity

Oh what a fabulous afternoon at the Forestry Farm House.  I can't tell you how much I love to watch people look at my art!  It's so rewarding, and so enlightening.  I met several people who couldn't stop oogling about the prairie.  There were people who began to tell me about how homesick they were when they moved away.  There were people who connected because they love fibre art.  I met weavers, painters, photographers, quilters...  I met so many other incredible people selling their art at the show.  Friends came by, both new and old.  I met friends of my mother's side of the family (pretty much anyone who came through with a thick German accent).

* * * the only downfall was that i forgot my camera! * * *

photo i took at the Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, 2010

The oddest, yet most moving thing was the amount of people there who were friends with Courtney Milne.  For any of you who don't know, Courtney Milne has spent much of his life taking astounding photos of the prairies and sky.  It was his picture card of "Big Old Flatland" that I took with me when I left Saskatoon.  That was the photo I would stare at and cry over because my soul was back in the prairie, not in the mountains or foothills.  Long story short - Courtney Milne passed away a year ago.  It was then that I began to learn about his passion for this land, not to mention the fact that he ran art workshops to teach people how to see.  I had never even met him, and now it was too late.  I never met my grandmother either.  She died when I was in-utero.  I only have these fabulous stories of her. It hurts to hear people tell me, 'oh you would have loved your grandmother', or 'your grandmother would have loved you'.  It hurts that I missed out.  You know,  all the 'would have's.  I felt like that after my Opa died.  I felt like all his untold stories died with him.  I wished I had asked him to tell me more stories when we were together. 

a photo I have of my grandmother, circa 1950's

This isn't a long-story-short, is it?  Well at one point, one of the many "Courtney Clan" who was standing at my display said in a gentle voice, "Oh it's too bad Courtney couldn't be here.  He would LOOOVE your work".  There was a huge pause.  I didn't know what to say.  I didn't say anything.

I thought about it again on the drive home.  I cried in my van (happy cry).  I still have to process that one. 

So many strange and unusual things continued to happened at the show.  At one point, a certain woman walked in the room.  She looked very pleased with my art.  I completely recognized her face.  I had looked at her lovely smile on such a regular basis.  I knew her.  She was from my childhood.  You know, the days when we had 2 TV channels?  CBC and CTV.  This is from 35 years ago you understand!  I said, "are you Carol?  Are you from TV?  How do I know you?"  She smiled and said, "Wow, you remember that?  Yes, I'm Carol Blenkin.  I did 2 for the Show and it was on every day after The Flintsones".  OMG!!  You must know that growing up in Saskatchewan, our celebrities included Carol, and Bob MacGrath (from Sesame Street / Telemiracle) and that was about it.  This was a big deal.  Carol really liked my work.  The funny thing is that she ended up asking to take a photograph of me with my work!  She also signed my guest register.  That's kind of like getting an autograph.  (kewl.)

one of my first prairie photos

Many older couples spent a lot of time looking at my work and my stitches.  One couple in particular came back a second time.  The woman commented that she really liked my work and that it was quite good.  She had a German accent, so I assume someone in my family knows her.  She told me she also makes fibre art, but all hand stitched.  I asked her about her German accent.  She said her name was Margot.  (Margot Lindsay?)  Yup.  WOW.  I just learned about her work one week ago through my daughter's preschool teacher.  Incredible!  She describes her work as 'looking down' at the ground.  It's the prairies minus the sky.  SHE did french knot canola and flax pieces that are unbelievable!

We had a great little connecting conversation.  We talked a bit about how we don't fit in with our fibre art.  It's not quilting.  It's not formal embroidery.  It's not landscape painting.  We both connected on that point.  And then this lovely lady with her hair as white as snow gave me her phone number and invited me to visit her any time so we could stitch together.  How honored am I!?  A real, live mentor and fibre-art companion!?  I feel so happy to find 'my tribe'.  I don't have the words for it.

CLICK HERE to view Margot Lindsay's hand stitched landscapes

So there are my top stories.  Sentimental.  Comical.  Inspirational.  So far I have half of my work sold and one more commission.  I have plans for the remaining ones still for sale, and lots of time now to complete everything else I've started.  My next show isn't until December, but I'm busy enough until then.

misc. photo I took from the car window.

Thanks everyone for all your support and thank you to all the wonderful people I met today.  : )

~Monika

Sunday Snapshots #39

Happy Sunday!  It's cold, cloudy, windy, rainy... but the apple trees are just blooming everywhere!!  Enjoy.

That was is my neighbor's tree.  The next three I took with my phone camera in my daughter's schoolyard!

Aaaah.  And lucky me - I just bought 2 apple trees for our front yard.  ; )   My husband said 'NO apple trees'... but he's out of town.  The kids made me do it!

~Monika

at her 4th fibre art exhibit!  ; )

Another New Home

Boundless (detail) 2011 by Monika Kinner-Whalen SOLD, a photo by My Sweet Prairie on Flickr.

'Boundless' - my prized fencepost and dandelion field has sold after much inquiry. Thank you everyone! I spent a long time dreaming this one up from it's original photograph. This little photo is a teeny spot of detail under the post. The whole piece is framed in a dark grey washed-wood frame. It looks great - but do you think I can get a good photo without glare!? (nope)

If you come to the Saskatoon Forestry Farm House tomorrow between noon and 5 pm, please do say hi! My 2 sold pieces will be on display plus I still have a half dozen pieces for sale.  There are nine other truly amazing artists selling their wares as well. Refreshments are being served as part of the fundraising. See http://www.FFFH.ca for more details.

Have a great weekend,
~Monika

My To Do List.

I'm so busy - but mostly I think it's all in my head.  Everything is ready now for the Sunday show.  I have a basket for by business cards.  My display board is painted.  I even know which curtains I'm going to use as table covers.   I might as well make this a tradition.  It's not the first time I've raided my home windows for an art display.  ; )

Monday is guild night!  I'm speaking very briefly on PostCards.  Yeah - I also have to prepare a little presentation this weekend.  Thank goodness I have a few new ones to show off!  I got these in the mail just last week.  I think they are TERRIFIC!  Getting these little gems in the mail is always such a treat.

"Signs of Spring"  Thank you Pat L. from New York!!

"In My Garden" Thanks Diane! Both from PostCardCottage

At 6:30 on Monday is the guild's garage sale.  Any member can sell their sewing room extras on a table before the meeting.  I'm the one to contact if you need a table by the way, even though I can't leave the house until 6:30.  I will be there!  And I will have fabric for sale as well as other things.

Q U I L T E R S '   G A R A G E    S A L E

6:30 Monday May 30

Monday - all the SQG Library books are due back (of which I have many). 

Monday is also the day of our guild's challenge, "Where In the World Am I Waving From?".  It has to be less than 60" perimeter, so it's a small wallhanging.  I've had this one on my to-do list every since it was announced.  Sadly - it keeps getting put on the back burner.  This doodle is as far as I've got.

I'm berry-picking.  "Saskatoon".  get it?

In reality, it isn't going to happen.  I think it would have been a good one.  Whew - I need a break.  I need a break from these ridiculous spring allergies.  Soon, I hope.  Soon!  And my kids need more mom time.  Come to think of it, I need mom time.  I should go visit her soon.

Have a great weekend!

~Monika

Things I Love Thursdays

I love my strawberry patch.

I love that strawberries multiply... because I love to eat them  : )

I love the neighbor's apple tree.

I love appleblossoms sooo much!

My anemonies and lily-of-the-valley are about to blossom next.  More white flowers!  I love when it all bursts to life outside.  The may trees are in bloom, and our biggest tree just sprouted leaves. 

: )
Happy Thursday!
~Monika

A New Owner

Flaxfield and the Moon, 2011 by Monika Kinner-Whalen, a photo by My Sweet Prairie on Flickr.

This piece has been sold! It will still be in the upcoming exhibit for display. Thanks so much! : ) $20 will go toward FFFH.ca as a donation to the fundraiser.

Okay... off to the backyard to dig up more dandelions. Have a great day!

~Monika

Tuesday Off Topic

Spring on the Prairie III (detail) 2011 by Monika Kinner-Whalen, a photo by My Sweet Prairie on Flickr.

Hello! I've been busy busy and unable to get a Tips on Tuesdays post done for this week. It was a well lit day for me to get all my photography done before putting my eight new art pieces under glass in their frames.

I'm done! I have uploaded my 4 favorite shots of each piece into my flickr online photo album. To see them all, simply click on the photo in this post, and it will take you to my flickr set. From there, simply click "older" over and over to see everything I've just uploaded. ; ) That 'newer/older' button should be near the top corner of the photo when you go there.

easy?
You'll know you're done when you see my old stuff from Gardenscape.

p.s. All pieces are for sale and will be in A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine next year.

Have a great day!
~Monika
...who REALLY feels like she's accomplished great things!!

Monday Auditions

This weekend was pretty productive.  I managed to finish all eight pieces and cut twenty four mats.  I tried to photograph them at high resolution before putting them under glass, but it was one of those days where there was sunshine, a giant cloud, sunshine, a giant cloud, sunshine... you get the idea.

This time around, I got a variety of frames and a variety of matting colors.  I got to mix and match to get the best look for each piece. Here are some snapshots of how I audition the mats and frames.

"Boundless", with pale stained wood and matching double matting

"Spring on the Prairie" with a barn wood frame and double matting

I really love that barn wood frame.  It has just a hint of denim blue in it's grain that looks so good with that dark storm and those blue knots in the field.  Honestly, I think all my pieces looked so good in that one!  It was pricey though, so I only bought one.  I'm choosing to put Spring on the Prairie in it because there's something so real and loose about it that worked well with the country frame.  It has a very natural feel overall.  It's also very texturous, which the art is also.  : )

"Poles Along Highway 7" looks so fresh in this blonde wood & double mat

I particularly like how the wood of the frame corresponds with the wood of the power poles.  And the bright white outer mat makes the clouds shine.  It gives that quirky composition a more contemporary feel.

"Linen Moon" looks s good with sage matting and a coffee colored frame

The moon will go on last!  I still have to do that.  I ended up adding some single stitch lines in that sage color just below the canola field.  It really helped to soften the landscape and give it more depth.  It also blends well with the outer matting.  You can click to see them closer.  I thought I would want more blue surrounding this one, but when I auditioned it, it just made the whole piece very silly.

Well there you go!  Hopefully it will be more sunny for me to take the rest of the photos tomorrow.  See you then!  : )

~Monika

Sunday Snapshots #38

Crow cronicles.  It was a dark and stormy morning...

in perfect focus!

the one that got away : )

mid flight

coming in for a landing

Happy Sunday! : )
~Monika

Moving Right Along...

Happy Weekend!  Look what I did on Friday!  It's not finished, but I thought since the Highway 7 photo was such an interesting one, I would make it again to frame for this show & sale.  They original version of this is a medium sized quilted wallhanging.  I'm about to finish a much larger one on commission.  This one here is 6 by 8 inches, and will be matted and framed under glass.

cheese cloth clouds

This is really great.  I found this type of cloud to work really well.  It curves just like the landscape below.  I love how the colors work so well together - the bright green and the greyish blue.  I believe that's actually a flax field in the distance.  What do you think?  I suppose it could be the shadow of a cloud.  On my original wall hanging, people think it's a lake.  : )

the photo and the fibre art, work in progress

I'm going to have to stop soon and spend some days just finishing eveything, mounting them, signing them, cutting the matting, and framing.  Gosh.  And then there's the yardwork!  It's a good thing that 3/4 of my garden is perennial.  Look!  The strawberries are finally blooming!

Have a lovely lovely weekend everyone.  The weather is good and the gas prices are down.  YESSSS.  Beach time!

~Monika

Let Me Sleep On It...

Ever since the first french-knotted canola field I made, I've been dreaming of stitching a field of flax.  Now with this exhibit approaching, here's a great reason!  I have some photos of local flax fields, but they tend to mesh right into the sky on a clear day from a low angle.

my photo, east of Saskatoon 2009

This is the first time I began looking at photos on the internet to get ideas.  Some views showed a particular angle where you could see thicker blue (flatter) parts of the field, and thinner flower tops (on slopes) that exposed a lot of the greenery.  So here's how I started.

excuse the poor evening lighting...

I really needed to walk away and 'sleep on it it' before going back to it.  After hours of staring and studying (copyright free) flax field photos, here is how this piece was transformed.

The canola in the distance and the darkened horizon really adds great depth.  I love it!  The sky is painted, covered in mesh cloth, and stitched in wavy lines that really make the sky work with the lines in the land.  I will redo the satin stitching since the variegated thread looks striped (yuck).  I have a pale moon added into the upper right of this piece and POOF, it's done and I am so proud of it!

The french knots are made of cotton and fine rayon threads, mixed to create just the right color.  No, Becky, I didn't count them yet.  : )  But I will!  Here's how I do it.  If you can count how many french knots are in this 1 inch wide section, then you would multiply it by 8.

119 here?

So, 119 per inch, times 8 inches = lots and lots of blue french knots.  ; )  That's my answer and I'm stickin' to it.

Taking a break from a piece you feel stuck with is like giving art it's beauty rest.  The same goes for this one that I showed you yesterday:

work in progress: Spring on the Prairie (4?  5?)

It's good, but it's not done.  I pinned it up on the wall and left it.  The next morning after a good night's sleep is when the magic happens.  It took one glance and I knew what it needed.  I got straight to work.  It's just right now.  Funny how that works!

click to see it up close

I completely love the storm cloud on the horizon with the clear blue sky above it.  I stitched fine rayon blue-grey lines to suggest the heavy downpour.  I couched on an indigo blue cord to set in the horizon, and I made sure the field still swayed loosely in front of it.  Although this is a variation of the first Spring on the Prairie, this one is certainly my best. 

Off to the lake we go!!  Have a great long Victoria Day weekend!

~Monika

Things I Love Thursdays

There are TWO Thursday posts today.  Blogger had issues last week, so I'm posting last week's entry again.  : )

I love running early in the morning after a good rain.  ; )  

I love all the work I'm getting done this week.  Wait until I show you!!

I seriously love when the mail comes unexpectedly early - like four days early!!

Ta-da!  A second hand embellisher machine!  THANK YOU LYNN in Ontario!

I love that it will mesh fibres, no bobbin, no thread.  Check out the barbed needles!

And I love this re-make of "Spring on the Prairie".  It's so wild and free.  

Click on it to view it larger if you like.

thunderstorm approaching over the sunlit fields

Happy Thursday to you!

~Monika

Things I Love Thursdays

S P R I N G!!

I LOVE SPRING!

I love to run early in the morning.  I head out of the house with my camera.  I love what I find!

FINALLY!  I love when the leaves pop.

i love this light, bright green of the young maple leaves

i love the peeling birch paper

I love this!!  What is it?  It's so crazy!

Have a TERRIFIC Thursday!

~Monika