Author: Sue Lewis textiles

My quilt appears on page 24 of the online book “How Art Heals” Exploring Your Deep Feelings Using Collage” as an online pdf. Check it out at https://www.schifferbooks.com/HowArtHeals.

Visit http://www.rgallery.art.com to see some works from fantastic textile artists in Colorado. Check out the current exhibit to see images. This exhibit runs from May 25, 2021 to June 26th for in person gallery viewing. Below is my piece titled “Echoes”. I have eco-dyed the cotton sateen and hand stitched the outline of the leaves. The center part has been sun printed on cotton and organza. The outside border utilizes original surface treatments of flour resist and discharging black fabric.

Finished two new textile vases this weekend. I found 2 pieces of Evelon that I had painted years ago and turned them into vases. The one below started by dipping it into paint and then let it dry. I added a gelli print on some very loosely woven silk and tied some yarn around it.

The vase below was made from painted Evolon and then I hand stitched it and added some stabilizer to the inside and machine stitched it. Once I added the bottom and stitched it into a cylinder, I realized I needed to add a lining! I stitched up a long open ended box and placed it inside and fused the folded top edge. I also fused on some skeleton leaves made out of polyester. Finishing touch was wrapping yarn around the top.

Four of my art quilts will be featured with my written article in the Fall 2021 Issue! They contacted me by email 2 years ago and I was so surprised to see that email. I hadn’t even noticed it until last year. I sent images in March 2021 and they replied recently with a congratulations email. They selected the four quilts shown below. I have about a month to create my article using 700 – 800 words!

I have completed a block for this organization to be part of a comfort quilt for the families suffering a loss by police gun violence. My block was devoted to Dalvin Hollins. The SJSA sent me his name for research to be done about his death and to use his photo in my quilt block. When complete, I sent an image of the block to their organization, as well as the actual block. You can find more information on #SJSA on Instagram.

I have donated a small textile piece to an organization running a fundraiser for the families of the victims of the shooting in Boulder. All items are $60 and all proceeds go to the families. Items are on exhibit at R Gallery and online at http://www.openstudios/boulderstrong.org.

Currently working on a sad subject: the King Soopers shooting in Boulder, CO. I felt the need to create something in memory of the shooting victims in Boulder. They have removed all the tribute items placed in front of the store today, including crosses, flowers, banners, etc. Yesterday they buried 10 people killed in senseless gun violence. Boulder has erected a lighted star on the mountain top to show their tribute to these innocents.

My quilt in progress is titled “Mountain of Tears”. I composed a poem to reflect my sorrow and express my thoughts:

Even a mountain of tears

Can’t lessen our fear

Cannot stitch our wounds

Cannot mend our hearts

Can’t ease our pain, but

Legislation can….

Cannot bring them home – legislation can’t

Image above is a detail of “Mountain of Tears”. I still need to add hand stitches to the sky and foreground. For me, healing begins with creating something tangible to hold all the sorrow and ache of such a tragedy.

Completed work appears below:

Bolder Textile Group (a small group of supportive artists) is developing works for a Pod Exhibit. Our intention is to create fiber art to explore seed pods, seeds, vessels and cocoons and all they may symbolize. We are thinking of renewal, rebirth as well as dispersion, protection, nurishment, and growth,.

I have used various techniques in making these over the last few years. “Tracings” shows eco-dyeing on cotton sateen, flour resist, sun printing on cotton and on organza and discharging black fabric. This was hand stitched and machine quilted.

“Fragile Within” represents my journey to heal and accept myself as a fragile person. I reacted to my diagnosis of osteoporosis or brittle bones by creating something beautiful and tangible. Making art allows me to express feelings of sadness or joy and somehow promotes healing. Below is a detail.

I made the “seeds” of the money plant, also called “honesty” with florist wire, organza, felt and thread.

My textile group is working on creating artwork interpreting seed pods. I have created a few already.

R Gallery in Boulder, Colorado has accepted “Awakening” for it’s Spring: New Beginnings exhibit.