Art Show: Part One

As some of you know, I am having my first ever art show. I am very excited & more than a little overwhelmed. I mentioned to my friend, Jon, that I was not sure if I should be scared, or flattered, to be featured with the three other artists, he said I should be both. & he is right (as he all too often is).

The show is called: Environmental Portraits & it runs at LARAC's Lapham Gallery in Glens Falls, NY July 8 through August 5, 2016. The Opening Reception is on July 8, 2016 from 5:00-7:00 PM.

Environmental Portraits features installation, along with drawn, stitched, and painted artworks that explore actual portaiture or present a portrait of our society or place.

Hopefully, if you are reading this, you are familiar with my work & are a fan. Over the next few weeks, I will share the work of my fellow artist, Kamilah Campbell, Susan D'Amato, and Teri McCans, with you. I have no idea what pieces they submitted in last year's call for art, but I can't wait to see their works alongside mine.

Here is a taste of a piece I am working on for the exhibition!

Trying to finish ip this piece to move on to the next one in the series. #embroideredportrait #embroidery #handembroidery #redwork

A photo posted by Tisha (@aprilsongstress) on Jun 9, 2016 at 4:25pm PDT

Happy Stitching!

The Big News: A Week Late... unless you follow me on Facebook

A great friend (Thanks Julie!) pointed out that I did not add my "Big News" announcement to my blog! Where is my head lately. Unfortunately, not in blogging mode. I had a lovely weekend in Vermont, as you can see below (images from my Instagram)

#meleenandcharlottesvermontgetaway on @aprilsongstress

& this weekend I am running a 200 mile relay from Saratoga Springs to Lake Placid with 11 other people I barely know. Crazy, right?

#RagnarADK 

& now for the big news...

My embroidered portraits will be featured in an upcoming art exhibition at the Lapham Gallery in Glens Falls, NY. This is my first ever art exhibition! My work will be shown along with pieces by three other immensely talented artists that I am humbled & flattered to be paired with. This is a major step in my, dare I say, art career.

I want to thank all of you for your support over the years. & a special thank you to the wonderfully supportive people in my life who inspire & encourage me to do things I never thought possible.

#embroideredportraits #artexhibition #embroidery#whatisart #bignews #imsoexcited

https://www.facebook.com/Aprilsongstress/photos/a.377598175642489.84854.377450278990612/871776676224634/?type=3&theater


I am so very excited about this opportunity!

Happy Stitching!

Aprilsongstress around Glens Falls

Some of my #embroidery on display at Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls. The exhibit, which runs throughout the month of May, features work by staff & volunteers of the library. #embroideredportrait #redwork #glensfallsny

A photo posted by Tisha (@aprilsongstress) on May 3, 2015 at 11:08am PDT

Every May the staff & volunteers at Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls, NY display what they do outside of work in an exhibit called "On My Own Time." The picture above shows some of my embroidery on display. This is the last week of the display, so come on by & see the different things on display: photography, painting, collage, writing, collections, etc.


I also have a piece on display in the member show at LARAC in the Lapham Gallery. This annual exhibit is up until June 26th, so stop in & see what is being created here in Glens Falls.

Portrait on display at 2015 member show at LARAC

Also, I have a couple of items for sale in the the Lapham Gallery shop & I am working on a few new things as well. I hope to post more soon...

Happy Stitching!

Batman Imagined: Embroidered portrait for Batman Day

Did you know that Batman Day is July 23, 2014? Well, it is. & one of our local libraries decided to do something about it. Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls, NY has a bunch of cool events lined up for Wednesday. Checkout the schedule on their Facebook page HERE.

OK, so what does this have to do with me as an embroiderer? Glad you asked. The Folklife Center sponsored a Batman art contest called Batman Imagined. I decided to enter an embroidered portrait of a Batman character. I chose Batgirl (aka Barbara Gordon, Commissioner Gordon's daughter) because 1.) she's a woman & 2.) she's a librarian (just like me on both counts).


My co-worker Dan thought this image would be great for an embroidered portrait. So, Using my typical method, I figured out the best lines & created my pattern.

Batgirl embroidery pattern

Next up, tracing the pattern with plain ole pencil onto white cotton muslin.

Tracing Batgirl onto white cotton muslin with pencil

Once the embroidery was complete, I tired a different technique for framing in the hoop. Using a 14" embroidery hoop, I backed the embroidery with purple felt & placed the entire fabric sandwich into the hoop. I like the effect much better than my previous method, however the felt is a bit thick. Maybe I will use flannel next time.

Finished portrait off to the show

Here is Batgirl, Superhero Librarian on display with some of the other artwork submitted to Batman Imagined in the Folklife Center Gallery of the Crandall Public Library. I went to check it out today with my daughter & a friend. Apparently, my piece is rather popular with the librarians!

Batgirl, Superhero Librarian in Batman Imagined exhibition

I didn't do it for the art contest. I did it to have one of my pieces on display in the exhibition. Awards will be handed out on Wednesday during Batman Day. I wish I could go, but I have to be a superhero librarian at my own library that night. (I'll let you know if I win anything..)

Happy Stitching!