And Another!!

Happy, happy to have received an Honorable Mention for 'Playing With My Food (and other things)' at the Scrapel Hill Art Contest and Exhibit at University Place in Chapel Hill, NC.  The show will continue through November 14, 2015.  The theme of this show has always been a focus on art using recycled objects.  Very fun to be a part of it!

Honorable Mention!

Twist and Shout received an Honorable Mention (Janet Rhyne Andrews Award*) at the Alamance Artisans Guild's exhibit at the University of North Carolina's William and Ira Friday Center for Continuing Education.  What a great surprise :)!

(and so much better than a dishonorable mention...)

* The Janet Rhyne Andrews Award for Creativity and Excellence was established by the Alamance Artisans Guild in 2010 to honor Janet Rhyne Andrews for her work in support of the arts in Alamance County, as Program Director for the Alamance County Arts Council for many years and, since 2010, as Curator of the Wooten Exhibits, funded by the Wooten Family Endowment

The Backstory

A little bit about what is behind my creating...

Al McCanless, fellow ArtBrake! artist, made this video recently - thanks Al!

Glorious!

This Jelly went to a great home last December...

Jelly No5 

wire, hand dyed silk and cloth, beads

and it now swims over a bathtub with a heating vent across the room from it to make it whirl.
I recently received an email from its new Enjoyer and he said, "It's Glorious!".  

 Detail, Jelly No5

I couldn't ask for a better "gush" than that.  I'm so glad.... :)

© Christie Minchew 2014

Wired for the Holidays!

Wire and hand dyed fiber Wreath

 Just finished this wire wreath.  

Aluminum and copper wire with hand dyed silk and synthetic fiber and twisted and curled and ready to celebrate :)!

Wire and hand dyed fiber Wreath 

Right now there is just one but hopefully more will be ready before the Chatham Studio Tour, December 6th and 7th, 13th and 14th (two weekends) from 10am-5pm each day. Head for Stop #12 to see what I've been having fun with lately.  

But first, Happy Thanksgiving!

 © Christie Minchew 2014

My Latest: Papilio Series

 Papilio jubilee © Christie Minchew 2014

6"x 6"

I decided to do some needle felting and do a butterfly (Papilio) series.  There are five 6"x6" shadow box framed butterflies. They were fun to do...especially the antennae ...and the tutu (see bottom) :)

Papilio polkadotus © Christie Minchew 2014

6"x 6"

Papilio graffitius © Christie Minchew 2014

6"x 6"

Papilio winter wood © Christie Minchew 2014

6"x 6"

Papilio ballerinus 'Degas' © Christie Minchew 2014

6"x 6"

They are $50 each and you can see them at the Alamance Studio Tour this weekend - Stop 10.  There are 5 other artists at Jill Troutman's home and the place looks fantastic!

Thank You!

© Christie Minchew 2014

 Thank You to everyone who came to ArtBrake! and made it such a fun and successful weekend.  The travelled-farthest award went to an Arizonian. It was great having friends and family stop by and wonderful to meet new folks who were here for the first time.  We really appreciate it.

© Christie Minchew 2014

Whew!  Now to kick back for a few days :).

T'was the week before ArtBrake!

© Christie Minchew 2014

T'was the week before ArtBrake! and all through the house

Everyone is working, even the mouse!

The "Jellies" are all hung by the woodwork with care

In hopes that art lovers soon will be there.

The "gallery" is almost finished, Chuck is working on four drop-dead gorgeous cutting boards and final touches are being applied all around. The area around Frosty's is reverberating with the sound of creativity (and maybe a little bit of panic)!

We hope to see you next weekend - April 26 and 27.  What a great way to spend a spring day!

For a map and information on the eleven (yes, 11!) Artists, go to www.ArtBrake.net.

Frilly-Funk necklace - the 1st!

© Christie Minchew 2014

I'm having fun with all of the silk I've dyed plus all of the miscellaneous bits I've been saving for just the right project.  A few beads for a little spark...it's coming.

I hope to have a few of these made in different color combinations for ArtBrake!, April 26,27 from 10-5.  Hope you can come.

All the fun colors and shapes, None of the sting!

 

Jelly No2 © Christie Minchew 2014

aluminum wire, hand dyed silk and synthetic cloth, mulberry paper, beads, waxed linen and polyester threads

I finished "Jelly" No2 just a while ago.  This one has silk that I dyed (blue) plus some really interesting synthetic cloth I dyed (green).  Those two are layered and stitched with salmon colored waxed linen thread and fuschia colored thread.  Hard to see all of that in the photos.... Guess you'll just have to come by :).

What's up in the studio

I started getting components ready for Flower Hat Jelly No2.  Sixty four 'stems' of wire... 

and 1,472 beads later!  The blue silk organza in the background was dyed this week, too.  My fingernails are finally looking a little more normal :).

Just the Beginning

Ta Daaaa....

 Flower Hat Jelly I © Christie Minchew 2014

wire, beads, mulberry paper, joomchi technique

I finished...and I'm on to the next!

And if you're in town, come see it at ArtBrake!, April 26 and 27.

Mobiles and Jelly fish

Working on a new mobile inspired by a photo I have of a "Flower Hat Jelly" fish...

©Christie Minchew 2014

I'm having fun...stay tuned.

By the way, the Third Annual ArtBrake! is coming April 26 and 27 - yippee!

Unforgotten II - ready for prime time!

My latest mobile is now hung and ready for the Chatham Studio Tour. 

Unforgotten II

©Christie Minchew 2013

approx 36" x 36"x 18"

wire, mulberry and rice papers, beads, Joomchi

The poem that was the inspiration for this piece:

Unforgotten

I know a garden where the lilies gleam,

And one who lingers in the sunshine there;

She is than white-stoled lily far more fair,

And oh, her eyes are heaven-lit with dream!

I know a garret, cold and dark and drear,

And one who toils and toils with tireless pen,

Until his brave, sad eyes grow weary – then

He seeks the stars, pale, silent as a seer.

And ah, it’s strange; for, desolate and dim,

Between these two there rolls an ocean wide;

Yet he is in the garden by her side

And she is in the garret there with him.

                                                                                Robert Service (1874-1958)

AAACCCKKK! Oh, it's just Halloween

Thought, in addition to Christmas ornaments at the Alamance Studio Tour this weekend, I would include some Halloween ornaments....

©Christie Minchew 2013

approx 5"-7"

wool, wire, hand felting

Three of Four: the beginning of a new series...

...or should that be "mini-series"? The first two will be at Stop #26 of the Alamance Studio Tour this coming weekend, October 12 and 13.  See here for directions.  The third one below is at the preview exhibit at the Graham Library, Graham, NC (next to the Alamance Arts Council).

 Impression of an Impression I

©Christie Minchew 2013

15" x 15"

wool, silk organza, paper, hand felting, hand dyeing

Frame of local walnut by Charles Minchew

  Impression of an Impression II

©Christie Minchew 2013

15" x 15"

wool, silk organza, paper, hand felting, hand dyeing

Frame of local walnut by Charles Minchew

   Impression of an Impression III

©Christie Minchew 2013

15" x 15"

wool, silk organza, dryer sheet, hand felting, hand dyeing

Frame of local walnut by Charles Minchew

Getting The Place ready for the Tour

Photo - Christie Minchew

Getting the studio and "gallery" ready for the Chatham Studio Tour this weekend.  The pin/pendants have a home. Not so much the cards, ornaments and framed pieces :).  That's why there are still 4 days left - ACK! 

Ornaments for the Holidays and Everyday

Photo and Ornaments © Christie Minchew 2012

Having fun with wire and wool...and yarn and my hand-dyed silk and ribbon.

Fabric and string are next.

I'm having fun :)!

Cast Loose with Needle Felting

Cast Loose! © Christie Minchew 2012

A detail from my most recent framed piece.  It's an experiment in letting go a bit.  In "casting loose".

20th Annual Chatham Studio Tour

The 20th Annual Chatham Studio Tour is coming up!  

This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy meeting artists, seeing their studios and purchasing their art.  There will be 50 artists on this year's tours and these include fiber artists (I'm partial), jewelers, metalsmiths, sculptors, photographers, painters, potters, basketweavers and other media. Many of our tour's participants are award-winning artists as well.  Tour map and descriptions of each artist can be found at Chatham Artists Guild.  

 

Reception at FRANK Gallery

Examples of each artist's work will be on display

Thursday, November 29, 2012, 6pm to 8pm (corrected time!)

109 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.636.4135

Artist Reception

Examples of each artist's work and an exhibit of local student art 

Friday, November 30, 2012, 6pm to 8pm

Central Carolina Community College (CCCC), Pittsboro

Studio Tour: 1st weekend

Saturday, December 1 & Sunday, December 2, 10am-5pm

Studio Tour: 2nd weekend

Saturday, December 8 & Sunday, December 9, 10am-5pm

All Studio Tour events are free & open to the public