talk @ MECA, Portland, ME

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Salley Mavor

I will be giving a slide talk to illustration students (and the public) at the Maine College of Art in Portland, ME, at 9:30 am, on Thursday, Oct. 11th. Through a series of pictures, I will show my path to discovering my artistic voice. I will also talk to the students about the importance of playing around with different techniques and materials to find out their own unique way of working. Everyone is welcome to attend the talk, which will be in the MECA building, Osher Hall (2nd floor, next to the library) at 522 Congress Street.

3 shows, 3 prizes

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Salley Mavor

Three of my fabric relief pieces are currently in three different shows in La Conner, WA, Framingham, MA and Falmouth, MA. I’m happy to say that they’ve all been recognized in some way. I tell myself that art isn’t competitive and that prizes don’t matter, but it sure feels good when one’s work is noticed in a special way. Thank you jurors and voters! It just so happens that all three pieces are available as posters in my Etsy Shop.

This is the first time I’ve entered a quilt show because without 3 layers and a hanging sleeve, my work doesn’t usually qualify. But, the La Conner Quilt Festival made me feel welcome. The quilt show structure (and culture) still feels alien, though, with its myriad of categories and prizes. I’m not complaining — it’s wonderful to slip into the “fiber art – not quilted” category.

Self Portrait: a personal history of fashion received 2nd place in the Masters Fiber Art – not quilted category, in the 2012 Quilt Festival, La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum, La Conner, WA. The show is this weekend, Oct. 5 – 7, 2012.

Rabbitat (see film here) was awarded Second Prize for its inclusion in the Danforth Museum of Art’s Annual Juried Exhibition of Children’s Book Illustration Picture This!. The show will be at the Danforth Museum (Framingham, MA) until November 4, 2012.

And I just heard that Birds of Beebe Woods was voted “Most Favorite Artwork” by attendees at the Beebe Woods Exhibit opening last friday night. That’s nice! The show will be at Highfield Hall in Falmouth, MA (Cape Cod) until Nov. 16, 2012.

Birds of Beebe Woods: wren

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Salley Mavor

Last Friday, both floors of Highfield Hall were packed with people celebrating the opening of the Beebe Woods themed exhibits. The event joined the arts with the cause of preserving open space in Falmouth. Along with the art displayed throughout, there was a sound-scape piece and local poets read their poems about Beebe Woods. The curator, Annie Dean did a wonderful job of encouraging individuals as well as bringing together the different groups in town.

I learned so much about the birds of our region, while researching my contribution to the show, Birds of Beebe Woods (pictured above). I wanted to show birds of varying sizes, and the wren was one on the small side. They have such a characteristic stance, with their tail pointing upwards at a sharp right angle. I printed out tons of photos and illustrations of wrens and tried to copy their markings and feather patterns correctly.

UPDATE: Printed reproductions of the Birds of Beebe Woods are available in posters, puzzles, cards and notebooks in my Etsy Shop.

Find out more about the Birds of Beebe Woods fabric relief here.

After attaching the feet, I found that the bird could stand on its own.

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An Irish Sojourn: doorways

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Salley Mavor

Here are a selection of doorways we saw on our recent trip to Ireland. I was surprised by some of the bold paint colors, which were far from the white washed or stone cottage look that I’ve seen in pictures.

The Intimate Woods

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Salley Mavor

My latest piece, Birds of Beebe Woods, is included in The Intimate Woods exhibit at Highfield Hall in Falmouth, Massachusetts. An exciting assortment of artwork will be on display throughout the building and grounds this fall. It’s all part of Beebe Woods: The Trail Leads to Our Door, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of J.K. Lilly’s gift of Beebe Woods to the Town of Falmouth. The opening will be this Friday, September 28th, 5:00 – 7:00.

Highfield Hall’s web site describes the exhibit as follows:

The Intimate Woods: Wed., Sept. 19 – Fri., Nov. 16 Inspired by the flora, fauna and intimate details of the woodlands, this companion exhibit to Beebe Woods: The Trail Leads to Our Door features the work of ten regional fiber artists including Salley Mavor, Helen Koehler, Joyce Shutter and friends. These artists’ creative interpretations of the natural world are enlivened by a wide range of media: from hand-made papers, felting, beadwork and collage to various forms of fine needlework. This exhibition serves as a reminder that our observations of nature are ever expansive and the rare and delicate lady’s slippers barely noticed at our feet can offer as grand an experience as the stately beech trees that have reigned over Beebe Woods for decades.

Here’s a shot of Rob taking a picture of the felt covered wire border from Birds of Beebe Woods before it was all assembled. And other photo of me taking a photo.

An Irish Sojourn

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Salley Mavor

Rob and I just returned from a magical visit to Ireland. We traveled with a group of Celtic music lovers who were brought together by Boston’s WGBH. The Learning Tour — An Irish Sojourn was led by WGBH radio Celtic music host Brian O’Donovan, who took us from county Cork and up the eastern coast to Dublin.

This is just a sampling of what we saw on our trip–there will be many more pictures to show in the weeks ahead. There’ll be more doorways, windows, storefronts, landscapes and moss!

Birds of Beebe Woods: cardinals

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Salley Mavor

Poster – Birds of Beebe Woods

See other posts about making Birds of Beebe Woods here. A poster is available from my Etsy Shop.

Most of the birds in Birds of Beebe Woods are the colorful male variety, but I decided to add a pair of cardinals to the mix. The female is shown in her nest, which is made of florist’s rafia-like straw.

After consulting photographs of cardinals, I did a simple drawing to follow. The basic shape is cut out of matt board and the padding is basted in place. I don’t know what the padding material is made of— a friend gave me a bunch. In this case, I made a felt hood and embroidered feather patterns with variegated thread.

Then, I stitched the beak and surrounded the bead eye with several rows of black blanket stitching.

The tail has a wire armature to help keep its shape.

new “Birds” poster on Etsy

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Salley Mavor

The Birds of Beeebe Woods posters have arrived! My sister, Anne Mavor did the classy graphic design. We picked a chocolate-brown background and gold lettering to set off the warm tones of the piece. The 18 x 24 posters are now available at my Etsy shop. I’ll be traveling in Ireland Sept. 11 – 20, so if you want one before I leave, place an order by Sept. 9th. Otherwise, I’ll fill any orders after I return.

Go here for more information and to see posts about making Birds of Beebe Woods.

Birds of Beebe Woods: bluejay

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Salley Mavor

Update: The Birds of Beebe Woods poster is in my Etsy shop .

Now that the piece is finished, I can spend time reviewing how I made some of the parts. Opportunities to see the original piece are listed at the end of this post. The bluejay (life size) was one of the first birds I made, after the crow, because it’s on the large size and I wanted to make sure it would fit. The birds’ arrangement wasn’t set until the very end and I kept moving the critters around. That’s why I like to create separate elements–it’s very much like a collage that way. I have kind of an idea of how it will be, but I want room to maneuver the pieces. Tweaking is good because it brings surprises!

After looking at photos of bluejays, I picked a pose and cut the body shape out of matt board. Then I cut a piece of white felt and stitched a textured pattern on the breast. I cut a whole in the felt for the bead eye, too.

Oh dear, looking at these photo’s, the sequence of steps is not clear to me. You’d think I’d remember, but every time I make a new character or animal, I try different approaches. When I sew, I’m not analyzing what I’m doing, which makes it hard to explain later.

But, I can tell you this much, the bluejay’s wings are made of layered blue and white felt, all embroidered with a few simple stitches, in this case the fly and blanket stitch.

The tail stripe pattern is mostly blanket stitched.

To see other posts about the making of Birds of Beebe Woods, go to the archives here.

2015 UPDATE:
Since many people have asked if the original is for sale– not now, as I will be holding onto it for a few years, so that it can be displayed in public exhibitions. The next showing is May 15 – Sept. 15, 2015 at Highfield Hall and Gardens in Falmouth, Massachusetts. I am also curating the outdoor exhibit of 32 fanciful fairy houses, Fairy Houses of Highfield Hall, which will be on display June 28 – August 31, 2015.

And later in the year, the “birds” will be in Winconsin. Oct 21. 2015 – January 10, 2016 ~ Insects to Elephants at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

Felt Banner Workshop

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Salley Mavor

I’m happy to announce that I’ll be teaching a workshop in my home town of Falmouth, Massachusetts later this fall. We’ll make wool felt banners with wrapped wire lettering, the same as I’ve shown several times on this blog (see archives here). Students can make their own personalized keepsake to celebrate a wedding or baby’s birth. It doesn’t have to be a wedding or baby banner. You can also make a welcome sign or write out a short phrase or proverb such as Home Sweet Home or Be Here Now. Update: the workshop is full, but there is a waiting list.

Birds of Beebe Woods

I’m usually too busy to teach classes, but couldn’t resist the opportunity to add a hands-on element to the Intimate Woods exhibit (Sept. 18 – Nov. 15, 2012), which will include my piece, Birds of Beebe Woods. (see posts about the piece here)

An 18″ x 24″ poster of Birds of Beebe Woods is available from my Etsy Shop.

Of course it doesn’t hurt that Highfield Hall is less than a mile from my house and we’ll have a large well-lit space to spread out and work. What could be more fun than spending all day stitching and wrapping thread in the company of other like-minded folk? More info about the workshop is on the bottom of this post.

(Workshop is full) FELT BANNER WORKSHOP – Sat., Oct. 27th , 2012 – 9:30am to 4:30pm Highfield Hall , Falmouth, MA. To find out more and to register, go to this link and scroll down to Felt Banner Workshop. The skill level is intermediate. I’ll provide materials including wool felt, wire, thread, beads and buttons, but students should bring a sewing kit and any special beads, charms and other embellishments from their personal stash. The class size is limited to 10, so sign up soon if you’re interested. For those of you will travel a distance, there are plenty of Inns and Bed and Breakfasts nearby (even within walking distance). Buses from New York or Boston drop off within a short walking distance, too.