Heidi Parkes, A Fiber Artist

Bodacious Flowers, Art Piece # 166

Bodacious Flowers, AP 166
| Cindy Anderson

Time To Meet:

As the title of this item would suggest, this composition contains an array of bodacious flowers. I can’t tell you how much fun I had designing and executing the plan for this project. A great deal of thought went into the placement of each fabric and embellishment. Many, many hours were absorbed by the intricately applied hand stitches. All combined the full impact of the details can hardly be put into words but let me try.

layered quilt:

Several years ago I participated in a class taught by Heidi Parkes, a well known fiber artist. The purpose of the class was to introduce us to and teach us her layered quilt technique. Heidi begins with a layer of muslin followed by a single thickness of batting. The fabrics that build your design are the third layer. The fourth and final piece is a covering of matte, silk organza.

the plan:

I am extremely fond of flower gardens; in fact gardening is one of my many favorite past times. Because of my fondness I decided to execute a plan that would showcase my interpretation of an abstract floral garden. This garden contains only five flowers. These flowers, however, are bodacious by design. Nothing about them is bland. Even the faux soil beneath the three largest specimens is wild in nature.

Bodacious Flowers, AP 166
Bodacious Flowers, Art Piece # 166

the most noticeable feature:

My chosen fabrics add their own sense of flair but it’s the stitching that provides the biggest impact. French knots are by far my favorite embellishment. Aside from the knots added to the components of the garden, each of the gold stars has one too. This composition has the largest number of knots I have ever utilized. In fact there are so many that it is next to impossible to count them.

There were of course other stitch designs used but their impact is not as flashy. The photo above as well as the following four images showcase the complexity of my design. If time allows, you simply must zoom in to examine every inch of this one-of-a-kind, magnificent item.

Bodacious Flowers, AP 166, Detail 1
Bodacious Flowers, Art Piece # 166, Detail 1
Bodacious Flowers, AP 166, Detail 2
Bodacious Flowers, Art Piece # 166, Detail 2
Bodacious Flowers, AP 166, Side View 1
Bodacious Flowers, Art Piece # 166, Side View 1
Bodacious Flowers, AP 166, Side View 2
Bodacious Flowers, Art Piece # 166, Side View 2

Fihishing touch:

To complete my project I added facings made from white cotton fabric. Also incorporated is a hanging sleeve made from the same material and a craftily assembled label.

on the back:

Before ending this narrative I want to direct your attention to the backside of my project.

Bodacious Flowers, AP 166, Back View
Bodacious Flowers, Art Piece # 166, Back View

A quick glance, at the image, will reveal a feature that is normally well hidden. The image I am referring to is my stitching. One of Heidi’s philosophies is to leave the backside exposed for all to see. She believes that the stitches and knots are, in their own right, a design element that is typically missed or hidden. Following in Heidi’s foot steps I decided to leave my stitching exposed too.

a proud moment:

This fiber art piece was by far my most rewarding adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed the meditative aspect provided through the hours of hand stitching. I am very proud to have this magnificent achievement on display in my home. I hope that you will find it as mesmerizing as I have.

I have two other art pieces that were created using the same technique. If you would like to read about them, then follow the links below.

Art Piece # 089 Morning In The Garden

Art Piece # 117 Sentiments

thank you!

Before closing let me thank you for showing an interest in my activities. I am grateful for your participation and look forward to your comments.

Best wishes for a wonderful day!

Sentiments, Art Piece 117

| Cindy Anderson

Heidi Parkes a fiber artist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin was the instructor at one of the classes I attended. The class, held at Blue Bar Quilts, focused on the art of creating layered quilts using a sandwich of silk organza, fabric scraps, and cotton batting. The combined grouping was then secured with safety pins and hand quilted with a running stitch.

Sentiments is not the first of my fiber art pieces to utilize this method. The original specimen is called Wild Flowers, Art Piece # 73. After creating Wild Flowers I was so enamored with the technique that I decided to make a second item; that second item is Sentiments.

  • Sentiments, Art Piece # 117
  • Closeup of Sentiments, Art Piece # 117
Sentiments, Art Piece # 117

Sentiments began with the same base of cotton batting as did Wild Flowers. On top of the batting were placed scraps of fabric from my inventory. To add interest I intentionally cut strips containing sentiments or phrases. The strips were then scattered about the surface of the fabric scraps. I used a rainbow of colored threads to stitch first a circular motion in the center of my piece then cascading rows of stitching radiating out from there. To complete my piece I enveloped the four raw edges with a backing of muslin. For ease of display a hanging sleeve of muslin was added as well. Also included is a hand-stitched label containing the title, my name and the date my art piece was completed. Sentiments measures 15 1/2” x 15”.

I am proud to have added my second layered art quilt to my portfolio and to have had you here for the unveiling. I hope that you will feel inspired to share your thoughts by adding a comment.

With warm wishes for a wonderful day!

© 2012-2020 Cindy (Olp) Anderson and In A Stitch Quilting

Morning In The Garden, AP # 89

| Cindy Anderson

Who doesn’t enjoy the loveliness of a morning in the garden with the sunshine dancing on the dew drops. I know I do! It is my favorite time of day.

I have always loved flowers. In my younger days my yard was filled with gardens overflowing with their beauty. Their colorful faces added a delight to my yard that thrilled me immensely.

Now that I’ve experienced more years that I have left my huge garden days are over. I still enjoy the beauty of flowers and their wonderful scent but I have adjusted my expectations. Rather that spending hours tending to my gardens, inhaling the many fragrances, feeling the soil between my fingers, soaking in the eye-popping colors and the warmth of the sun’s rays I experience those joys through my portfolio of photos and my occasional plantings.

With my days of prolific gardening behind me I have made attempts to recreate my love of flowers through my art and my surroundings. The art piece I am about to share with you today is the second addition to my layered quilt portfolio. My most recent completion is titled Morning In The Garden, AP # 89. Let’s explore it’s beauty through photographs. Click on the photos, in each grouping, to see them in greater detail

  • Label for Morning In The Garden
  • Sun Rising Over Morning In The Garden
  • Western Corner of Morning In The Garden
  • Southwest Corner of Morning In the Garden
  • More Flowers In The Southwest Corner of The Garden
  • Northern Area of The Garden
  • Northeast Corner of the Garden
  • Another Northeast Section of the Garden
  • Southeast Corner of the Garden
  • A Three Dimensional View Of A Flower
Morning In The Garden

Photos say more than words can. I hope that you have enjoyed this tour and that you have the opportunity to click on and explore the photos in detail.

Thank you so much for visiting!