March Journal Quilt

"Parrotpalooza"

12.5" by 14"

Acrylic Inks on cotton, cotton threads and wool batt

This is my take on "spilling over."  The parrots are spilling over the sides.  I was going to have them all sticking out, but I couldn't bear to cut away anymore of the background.  I did this mainly as an exercise in using these acrylic inks.  And no, there wasn't any ink spilled.

For the gory details about the inks, click here for my guest post on "...And Then We Set It on Fire.   For the rest of the windy explanation, click here for my personal blog "A Creative K."

First Journal Quilt

"Repeat Eyes Her Dinner"

8 x 12 inches

This is my first journal quilt and my personal challenge was to use some of my shibori-dyed fabric.  I used the stuff with the little circles because they look like moons and geckos are nocturnal.  

The long-winded explanation is on my blog here.

Introducing Karen Silvers

Flora Checks In

Promised Land

I play around with all kinds of mediums, but my main muse and mentor is color.  I love dyes, paints, and inks.  I enjoy putting color on fabric so much that sometimes I forget I'm supposed to actually do something with it. 

Pieceful Tigers

I mostly make art quilts, but love all quilts and generally make one or two more traditional quilts each year.  Always though, I add some twist.  With color or careful placement of some commercial print, I make it different: a pattern is a suggestion in my little world.  I love the challenge of intricate piecing that traditional quilts can provide.

Bamboo Tiger

Heart Like a Wheel -- work in progress

I am driven to create and started my blog, A Creative K, because I was having trouble finding the time to be creative.  Not being creative makes me a little crazy -- and not in a good way.  Joining the ranks of bloggers has given me new friends and a new outlet for my need for creativity.  I also include the occasional poem on my blog, which is a nod to my degree in creative writing.  Otherwise I try to focus on visual art and its processes.  My web page, karensilvers.com, is still under construction, but I have grand plans for it.  Someday.


I am a member of Madison Contemporary Fiber Artists in Wisconsin.  Included in this group are quilters, dyers, weavers, felters, and other stitchers.  The diversity is exciting and inspiring.

As I was editing the photos for this, I noticed that they mostly feature animals -- this is not by design, but just a happy coincidence.  I do love animals and they make great subject matter.  This is a detail of my latest quilt.  In a day or two, I will post the whole thing and all the information on my blog.