EQUALI-TEA: SUFFRAGIST TEA COZIES IN REDWORK

 EQUALI-TEA: SUFFRAGIST TEA COZIES IN REDWORK... What does that mean? What is this about? Well, I am about to tell you. Over the course of the coming weeks, I will be blogging about this project of mine. Explaining the idea, the purpose, the funding, the construction, the exhibition, and, yes, the EMBROIDERY! So grab your favorite tea, or other beverage of choice, while I let you into my world.

Read more about my newest redwork project on my website! https://www.aprilsongstress.com/

Art Show Part Three

My art show opening was such a wonderful experience! It was great to see my friends, family & co-workers who were able to come out & support me. It was fun to meet new people, & talk to a fellow artist about our work. Thank you!

Teri McCan's black & white watercolor canvases are stunning

Teri McCan talking about her process

One of my pieces with their label. So official.

Me, Jude, Julie, Katie Beth in front of my embroidery at the opening.

If you were unable to come to the opening, the show is up until Friday, August 5, 2016. If you play Pokemon Go!, LARAC is a Pokemon Gym. Stop in. See some art. Catch some Pokemon. Have a battle. It's free. The image below is from Advokate, LLC organizer of this past weekend's Pokemon Go!/ Glens Falls Art Trail event.

Pidgey & redwork portraits (image by Kate Austin-Avon)

Or, you could see my work & learn how I create my embroidered portraits at my workshop on Saturday, August 6, 2016 from 1:00-4:00 PM.

Workshop Rethinking Embroidery Designs- August 6, 2016

Happy Stitching!

Art Show: Part Two Point Five

Today is the day! Opening reception is tonight (July 8, 2016) from 5:00-7:00 PM at LARAC. I can't tell you how excited & nervous I am.

I found while getting ready for this show, that framing, hanging, mounting et al is... difficult. Especially when working with something like embroidery which is, usually, displayed a different way. That has been my biggest learning curve while transitioning from crafter to artist.

Getting ready to drop off pieces for my art show. I had to buy an iron. Lol #environmentalportraits #embroideredportrait #idabwells #artshow #embroidery #handembroidery #redwork

A photo posted by Tisha (@aprilsongstress) on Jul 1, 2016 at 8:16am PDT

Being that I am the local one in this show, I have been trying to drum up as much support as possible. I have been very active on social media...

My first art show opens this Friday. If you happen to be in the Glens Falls, NY area, stop in! Opening reception is July 8th 5-7 pm. Show runs July 8th through August 5th. #environmentalportraits #embroideredportrait #embroidery #handembroidery #redwork #whatisart #laphamgallery #LARAC #GlensFallsNY #artexhibit

A photo posted by Tisha (@aprilsongstress) on Jul 6, 2016 at 6:53pm PDT

Opening reception tomorrow 5-7 PM! Meet Teri McCans & me! @LARAC_ARTS #environmentalportraits #embroideredportraits https://t.co/bv3N1oq6Wu

— TishaDolton (@aprilsongstress) July 7, 2016

Preview of tonight's opening! I hope some of you can make it to Glens Falls to see the show… https://t.co/k9356avngw

— TishaDolton (@aprilsongstress) July 8, 2016

Hope to see some friendly faces, new & old!

Preview of tonight's opening! I hope some of you can make it to Glens Falls to see the show @larac_arts #environmentalportraits #embroideredportrait #embroidery #handembroidery #redwork #laphamgallery #LARAC #GlensFallsNY

A photo posted by Tisha (@aprilsongstress) on Jul 8, 2016 at 6:00am PDT

Happy Stitching!

Previous posts on this subject:
Art Show: Part One
Art Show: Part Two

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!

Aprilsongstress @ the Shirt Factory on March 7th

I've signed up for another event! Aprilsongstress Designs will be on the 2nd floor of the Shirt Factory Arts & Healing Center in Glens Falls, NY for Beat the Winter Blues.

Mention what social media platform you follow me on & receive 20% on any in stock hand embroidered item, or 10% off a custom order.


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Embroidered portrait hoop art by Aprilsongstress

Redwork pillows by Aprilsongstress

Join the event on my Facebook page. I hope to see you there!


Happy Stitching!

Redwork Tree Skirt Part 5: The Final Reveal

To start at the beginning of this journey...
Redwork Tree Skirt Part One
Redwork Tree Skirt Part Two
Redwork Tree Skirt Part Three
Redwork Tree Skirt Part Four

The Redwork Tree Skirt project if finally complete. My mom put the whole thing together & even made for accessories for my little sistar's house. So, grab some egg nog & a gingerbread man...

Heather drew eight designs for her tree skirt

Embroidering on route to Thanksgiving in New Orleans 2013

Double acorn completed in redwork

Birds completed in redwork with turquoise accents

Mom completed the tree skirt 

Heather's tree with the skirt underneath

Another view of Heather's tree

Mom made a table runner & mug rug out of leftover fabric

Miniature stocking Mom made out of leftover fabric grace Heather's mantle

All lit up for Christmas with the completed tree skirt beneath

It is so gratifying to see a project completed, appreciated, & on display. What a great family project.

Happy Holidays & Happy Stitching!

Featured on another blog: Jane's Folly

My friend, & fellow blogger, Jane Weston recently asked me some questions about my embroidery & process. Here's a taste...

What was your favorite piece you’ve made?

“My favorite pieces are the embroidered portraits I do of my daughter. She takes great selfies. She’s so funny, sarcastic, smart, creative & beautiful. She inspires me every day.”

 

An embroidered portrait of my daughter, Fiona

 

Check out the whole piece on Jane's Folly.


Happy Stitching,

Embroidered Portraits featured at LARAC 2014

Tonight is the night! The Opening Reception for this year's Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council's (LARAC) Holiday Shop! The reception is from 5:00-7:00 pm at the LARAC Gallery, 7 Lapham Place in Glens Falls, NY. The shop will be open November 13, 2014 through December 24, 2014-

LARAC Holiday Shop in Glens Falls, NY through Christmas Eve*

Aprilsongstress Designs is just one of the many local businesses featured. Stop in & see my display of embroidered portraits, & check out what everyone else has on display!

Check out my Instagram page^

If you'd like to meet me, I will be at the Opening Reception around 6:00 pm. I hope to see you there!

Happy Stitching,

*Image by LARAC: Click HERE

^@aprilsongstress on Instagram

One Direction Quilt Project: The Finale!

For those of you following the One Direction Quilt Project... it is complete! & it is currently on display at the Washington County Fair until Saturday, August 23, 2014 in the Domestic Arts building (#24). Congratulations to all the other participants & winners. For those of you who can't make it to the best fair in NY, here it is!

One Direction Quilt by Aprilsongstress on display at Washington County (NY) Fair August 18, 2014

Fiona can't wait to finally take possession of her quilt nearly 2 years in the making!

A special "Thank You" to my mom, Tamaris- Just-A-Duck & to Courtney at KC Custom Framing & Fabrics for pounding out an awesome long-arm quilt job while 9 months pregnant! You rock girl!

Close-up of hand embroidery & machine quilting

For those of you who are seeing this for the 1st time, check out my previous posts:
1.) 02/03/13
2.)  03/12/13
3.) 03/27/13
4.) 04/19/13
5.) 04/26/13
6.) 05/08/13
7.) 05/15/13
8.) 05/20/13


Happy Stitching!

Holy shhhh! It's August!

Wow! It's August. That means I need to get my stuff together for the Washington County Fair. Hoping for another ribbon or 2 this year. The One Direction Quilt Project should be wrapping up this month. I will keep you posted!

I have my first craft fair of the year coming up too! It is more artisan/ artist based & the organizers want us to focus on demonstrating our technique! Very exciting.

LocalFest event page on Facebook

LocalFest is in it's 3rd year & focuses things made here in the greater Glens Falls, NY area. I am thrilled to be a part of it this year. For the Facebook event page- CLICK HERE! There will be artists & artisans- selling & demonstrating, food, music, history talks, author readings, kids activities, performances, and more.

Check out what I'm making... Adirondack Guide, Noah John Rondeau lived in the Adirondack Mountains as a hermit for 37 years. A true individual, and self-educated man, he is just the sort of person I like to render in redwork embroidery.

Redwork of Noah John Rondeau

I hope you can stop by LocalFest at The Shirt Factory on September 6, 2014 & see me & all Glens Falls has to offer.

Happy Stitching,

La Catrina for me!

So, I LOVE my La Catrina pattern so much, I decided to embroider it on something for myself. I bought this shirt at K-Mart & thought it would be a good candidate for my embroidered shirt. So much easier tracing this pattern out on white cotton, than the turquoise jeans from the charity project.

Pattern traced out on ready-made white shirt

This year I kind of got in to watching the FIFA World Cup. So that was my #MovieToStitchTo for most of this project.

Embroidering while watching the World Cup Quarter Finals

The wrong side of the embroidery

Oh, floss! I used black DMC #310, red DMC #321, & turquoise DMC #3846. I love how this came out. I want to wear it all the time. LOL

Me modeling the finished product

Happy stitching!

Solomon Northup in redwork

I've known the story of Solomon Northup for a number of years. He & his wife Anne lived in Kingsbury/Sandy Hill (Washington County, NY my home county) where they had a farm, before moving to Saratoga Springs. He had ties to the Old Fort House in Fort Edward, NY across the street from my best friend's childhood home. A colleague of mine (Cliff Oliver) is a Solomon Northup re-enactor. I've read 12 Years a Slave more than once. The language is beautiful, & the experience visceral. I highly recommend it.

I was very pleased when the movie adaptation of 12 Years a Slave won Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year & Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Lupita Nyong'o). However, I was most excited when it won for Best Adapted Screenplay (John Ridley). To me, this was the biggest win, for it was like Solomon himself won an award for his writing. I cried.

Pattern of Solomon Northup

 Since there are no known images of Solomon, I used a still from the film, with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon, as a basis for my redwork pattern.

 I was working on this embroidered portrait the night of the Academy Awards.

Tonight's #MovieToStitchTo is the #Oscars2014 of course! Embroidering a #12YearsASlave inspired #redwork pic.twitter.com/LEOFlbCk2h
— TishaDolton (@aprilsongstress) March 3, 2014

The final redwork portrait of Somolon Northup by aprilsongstress

I really like how the embroidered portrait came out. Just need to finish up the framing.

Saratoga Springs, NY has declared the 3rd Saturday in July to be Solomon Northup Day.

Happy Stitching!

My kid is a teenager!

Yesterday was my daughter Fiona's 13th birthday. We had such a great day, coffee & pastries at Starbucks in Saratoga Springs, NY, then on to X-Men: Days of Future Past at Criterion Cinemas (awesome, by the way & definitely NOT a #MovieToStitchTo). Next we went to Barnes & Noble for a paperback copy of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green which she has been dying to read (which is saying something, as she is not a big reader, unlike me.) Then had dinner at Denny's (I was very good & had a salad- no mozzarella sticks for me). Wilton Mall & Target filled out the day out. At home , after my run/walk, we watched Mean Girls. You can tell our gift cards were burning holes in our pockets!

To commemorate this momentous occasion on teenager-hood, I give you my latest embroidered portrait of my spunky, fabulous daughter.

Embroidered portrait of Fiona in Batman beanie

This portrait has Fiona's stamp of approval because she likes how she looks in this selfie she took.

Happy Stitching,

40th Birthday Redwork Selfie (but not a selfie)

Wow! It's been nearly a month since I posted. WTF!

Well, I haven't been idle. I've actually completed a few portraits in that time, 4 to be exact. Plus I started working on a historical music program I have had in my cranium for quite sometime. & then there is work, family & friends... Life can get hectic, but 40 is shaping up to be GREAT thus far. Oh, & I've started running. (shhhh! It's a secret. LOL)

Me (Tisha) at my 40th birthday party

Apparently, I suck at taking selfies (per my daughter, & she's nearly 13 so she knows everything). So, Fiona took this pic of me while we were waiting for everyone to simmer down so I could blow out my candle on my awesome cake (see pic at the end).

Redwork version of being 40

Using my usual technique, I made this redwork version of me at 40 sticking my tongue out at my daughter. I'm so very grown-up!

My 40th birthday cake

My bestie, Sandy of Quigley's Cakes, made this amazing cake for my 40th. She was able to incorporate my love of toile, redwork, books, & women's history all in one Tisha cake! Thank you to Sandy & all my friends & family who celebrated with me!


Happy Stitching!