Sunday, November 11, 2007
# posted by Vince @ 6:09 PM 
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Upcoming Studio Show & Sale
Upcoming Studio Show & Sale
Quilts by Margo Fiddes & Jewellery by Nancy Ferbey
Located at: 14215 - 58A Avenue
Date: Sunday, December 3rd
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
You are invited to come and enjoy our artwork in this informal setting complimented by light refreshments and live jazz music. Margo's pieced nature quilts and her fibre art card line and Nancy's semi-precious, crystal and sterling silver jewellery will be on display and available for sale at discounted prices.
# posted by Vince @ 10:53 PM
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Upcoming Shows:
November 6 - January 10, 2007 "Renewed Interest" exhibit
Royal Alexandra Hospital
10240 Kingsway
Edmonton
Royal Alexandra Hospital
10240 Kingsway
Edmonton
# posted by Vince @ 2:52 PM
Friday, April 21, 2006
Fibre Art Cards
Creating a line of fibre art cards and small framed artworks seemed a logical step for someone who is daily surrounded by fabric and thread and who despises throwing anything out. I create my fabric and thread 'blobs' by layering and fusing fabrics, netting, lace and threads and individually machine stitching them in place.
The art cards are created in titled and numbered series and so are limited editions. No two pieces are alike. I am constantly creating new pieces that are both current and seasonal. Each card is an original piece of artwork and is suitable for framing.
Now available at Ultra Violet Floral Studio (12234 - 107 Avenue) and the Alberta Craft Council (10186 - 106 Street) in Edmonton, or contact the artist directly.
# posted by Vince @ 1:02 PM
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Card Sample
"Midnight Latte"
Close-up of card sample taken from Series 3: Satin and Lace; 2006
# posted by Vince @ 12:45 PM
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Art Quilts:
# posted by Vince @ 12:44 PM
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Exotica
Exotica
36" X 45"
original design by Margo Fiddes
The cleome is such an exotic looking flower, its spiny stamens give it a spidery, starburst appearance. To me it seems most spectacular when the flower cluster is isolated on its own, at least that's how I arrange it whenever I bring it in from my garden.
This circular "burst" reminded me of medallion style quilts which I really like but have never done myself. In my own way, this is my version of a medalliion quilt!
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics & batting, polyester, rayon & cotton threads
(c) Margo Fiddes; 2006
# posted by Vince @ 10:33 PM
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Blue Butterfly Delphinium
Original design by Margo Fiddes 2006
21.5" X 37"
This dwarf bush variety of delphinium is one of my favorite summer flowers... brilliant blue flowers atop feathery stems. Its light structure means that it sways in even the slightest summer breeze. I tried to show this airiness in the quilt by leaving large open areas and using outward moving quilting lines to keep the viewer's eye moving around the piece.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics & batting, cotton, polyester and rayon threads
(c) Margo Fiddes 2006
# posted by Vince @ 12:42 PM
Abstract #1
Original Design by Margo Fiddes 2005
28" X 41" (approximately)
This piece was done as part of a study on a book titled, "Quilts from Europe" by Gul Laporte, the artist of focus, Heide Stoll-Weber, a German quilt artist. This particular style reminded me of exercises done in a workshop I took with Nancy Crow in 2004. In her bio, the artist stated that her strongest influence and mentor was Nancy Crow!
This is a very freeing and creative style of design. No rulers are used and lines are sewn based on the look the artist wishes to achieve rather than the simplest or fastest method. Parts of it are strip pieced, parts of it are sewn with Y-seams so as not to interrupt the flow of the fabric or the design.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton & rayon threads
(c) Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 12:39 PM
Hint Of Spring
Original design by Margo Fiddes (2005)
70" X 40"
Long winters somehow make our search for the first signs of spring an annual pass-time. So often that first harbinger of spring is the crocus. Through a white blanket of snow, braving the cold and ice, those first green shoots appear. The buds harden themselves and wait for that little bit of sunshine and finally we catch our first glimpse of colour. Crocuses tease us--their firm green shoots holding on to those trace spots of purple until they seem to suddenly burst forth with a bouquet of colour.
In this piece I tried to convey that hint of spring, that first touch of colour amidst winter's whiteness and then the slow reveal of the approach of spring. This kind of metamorphosis is to me like a whisper of things to come.
Techniques: Machine embroidery, machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials Used: Cotton fabrics & batting, cotton, rayon & polyester threads
(c)Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 12:39 PM
Orchid
Original Design by Margo Fiddes 2005
30" X 30"
I love this rather 'common' orchid (if one is allowed to use the word "common" and "orchid" in the same breath). The outer petals and lip are a mixture of velvety rich, purple/maroon and brilliant white changing to lime green, even yellow. They perfectly frame the almost wet-looking anther and stigma that seem to burst from the glowing centre. Neon threads helped to add some of the inner light.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics & batting, cotton, rayon and polyester threads
(c) Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 12:38 PM
Amarylis
Original design by Margo Fiddes 2005
The centrepiece of this quilt is what is called a "whole cloth quilt" and is quite a break from my usual multi-pieced creations, an experiment in dye-painting. The image is hand-painted and then very heavily quilted to add another layer of colour variation and shading. I found the amarylis bloom a wonderful kaleidoscope of colour to play with.
Technique: Hand-dyed/painted, machine quilted
Materials: Halcyon fabric dyes, cotton fabric & batting, polyester, rayon & cotton threads
(c) Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 12:37 PM
Leaves 2
taken from original design "Leaves" (2003) by Margo Fiddes; 2005
30" X 46"
This piece was a repetition of my first original design using Ruth McDowell's piecing methods. I undertook to repeat the design but altered the composition by choosing a different colour family and by rearranging the balance of values. There are a few minor alterations to the line drawing as well to enhance this particular composition.
This version of "Leaves" takes on quite a different mood. In it I purposely played down the contrast between the leaves and their background and increased the contrast within the leaves and the background spaces themselves. To me, this piece is more abstract, at the same time more playful. I think it draws more attention to the arrangement of the fabrics and contrasts within rather than to the theme and mood of the composition.
Techniques: Machine pieced, hand applique (stems only), machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics & batting, cotton, rayon and polyester threads
(c) Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 12:35 PM
Coming and Going
Original design by Margo Fiddes (2005)
24" X 18"
Sometimes fabric just 'speaks to me'. This one did. I had not been successful at trying to incorporate this interesting fabric into a quilt. I decided to simply make a quilt based on what I loved about this fabric, its subtle alteration in hue and value within the stripes and the secondary muted design that this created.
Matching the stripes in the contrasting vertical stripe was the most difficult aspect of this piece. I used neon threads to quilt and highlight the secondary design of the fabric.
Techniques: Machine piecing, fused applique, machine quilting
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton & polyester threads
(c) Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 12:33 PM
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Wild Rose
Original Design by Margo Fiddes (2005)
38 1/2" x 29"
Wild Rose was inspired by Alberta's 100th Anniversary. The more I studied it the more I was awed by it. The rose is delicate yet surprisingly resilient. In this piece I have chosen to include the buds, flowers, and hips, in other words all the seasons; this is what is known as "artistic license"! I found the structure of each of the different stages of the rose beautiful in its own way and complimentary to its neighbour -- nature somehow always knows.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
(c) Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 9:29 PM
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Ladybird, ladybird
Original design by Margo Fiddes (2005)
26 ½” X 18 ½”
Children and bugs go together like sugar and spice; they are fascinated and in wonder of all things great and small… but especially, small. “How many spots does it have?” “Do you think it’s a girl or a boy?” “Can it really fly? Where’re its wings?”
Techniques: Machine pieced, trapunto and machine embroidery. machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton, rayon and monofilament threads
©Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 6:30 PM
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Peek-a-boo
original design by Margo Fiddes (2005)
34" X 25"
The large shapes of changing value were the dominant elements that drew me to this composition initially. I also liked how the children, although visible, blended so well into this relationship of shapes, seeming to be cradled within the garden. Using this complex template piecing method allows me to strategically place choice fabric patterns which may not be obvious at first glance. To enhance the sense of 'being hidden' in this piece I have added eyes in the trees above watching down on the children.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton, rayon and polyester threads
©Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 6:45 PM
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Grandma's Garden
original design by Margo Fiddes (2005)
25" X 21"
Winner, 1st Place, Innovative Design (Wall Hanging), Creative Stitches Show, Edmonton 2005
This quilt is part of a series of pieces I did involving children and nature. My husband’s parents have a beautiful garden that acts as backdrop to hundreds of photos of my children. Many blissful days have been spent playing, exploring and dreaming here. What a wondrous place for children and adults alike!
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
©Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 10:22 AM
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Summer Dreams
original design by Margo Fiddes ( 2005)
35" X 45"
Those carefree summer days. Big blue skies on a warm summer day, lying in the grass imagining dragons and tigers in those big cotton-candy clouds, blowing on dandelions and watching the seeds float away on a gentle breeze, these are the things summer dreams are made of.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
©Margo Fiddes; 2005
# posted by Vince @ 2:47 PM
Friday, February 11, 2005
Sunflower
original design by Margo Fiddes (2005)
26" X 34"
Who doesn’t like sunflowers?! They’re bright, cheerful… and fun! When using this complicated template piecing method, I really enjoy working with subjects from nature. When I create the line drawing, the many intricate pieces become potentials for interesting fabric placement. Contrasts in value, colour and fabric pattern all help to create a kind of movement in the work. All these contrasts encourage the viewer to look more closely, to find the many hidden surprises within.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
©Margo Fiddes 2005
# posted by Vince @ 2:50 PM
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Ultra Violet
original design by Margo Fiddes ( 2004)
23" X 33"
"Ultra Violet" Floral Design Studio collection
designed for the opening of "Ultra Violet" Floral Design Studio in Edmonton. A multitude of contrasting values and patterns lend a feel of whimsy to this piece which mirrors the studio's rather artsy, ecclectic style.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
©Margo Fiddes 2004
# posted by Vince @ 3:02 PM
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Waterdance II: Morgan
original design by Margo Fiddes (2004)
21" X 33"
(artist's collection)
Winner, 1st Place, Pictorial Category, EDQG's "Expressions" Quilt Show 2004; Edmonton
Clambering over rocks, searching for whatever treasures lie waiting down below, my daughter Morgan enjoys a lazy summer afternoon lost in her own little world. The slight change in hue and value between the rocks, the water and the reflections was one of the biggest challenges to this piece. A combination of larger and smaller pieces and a wide variety of fabrics help to convey some of the movement.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
©Margo Fiddes 2004
# posted by Vince @ 3:00 PM
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Waterdance I: Shelby
original design by Margo Fiddes (2004)
50 ½” X 34”
(artist's collection)
Finalist, Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters Show 2004; Seattle, Washington
On this, my daughter’s first ever trip to the beach, the ocean seemed as full of life and excitement as she. The rhythmic motion of the tide and the shimmering ripples along
the water’s surface seemed to be mirrored in my daughter’s delight and play. In order to capture this movement and translate it to a flat surface I used changes in value as well
as variations in both the texture and size of the pieces.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
©Margo Fiddes 2004
# posted by Vince @ 3:29 PM
Monday, February 07, 2005
Boardwalk
original design by Margo Fiddes (2004)
38" X 28 1/2"
(private collection)
Working from a photo transfer of an image I was especially drawn to I attempted to draw attention to and exaggerate what I saw as the focal point of the piece. I used a variety of piecing methods and played quite a bit with fabric selections in order to meld the photo transfer into the overall quilt design.
Techniques: Photo transfer, machine and hand piecing, machine embroider, machine quilting, Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton, rayon and nylon threads
©Margo Fiddes 2004
# posted by Vince @ 2:59 PM
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Road To Buck Lake
original design by Margo Fiddes (2003)
29” X 31”
A fall quilting retreat and subsequent sketches inspired this work. Skewing the horizon line and breaking up the background draws attention to the trunks of the trees. Hand painted fabric and rayon threads are a further attempt to capture the breathtaking change in colour of the trees at dusk.
Techniques: Machine pieced and embroidered, trapuntoed and machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, hand-painted cotton fabric, rayon and cotton threads
© Margo Fiddes 2003
# posted by Vince @ 2:57 PM
Mimi The Brightiful Butterfly
Adapted from a design by Susan Carlson
quilted by Margo Fiddes (2002)
21 ½” X 17”
A study from a butterfly collage class based on Susan Carlson's fabric collage techniques.
Techniques: Glued fabric collage, machine quilted.
Materials: Cotton fabrics, netting, cotton, rayon and metallic threads
©Margo Fiddes 2002
# posted by Vince @ 1:00 PM
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Daylilies
"Daylilies" pattern by Ruth McDowell
quilted by Margo Fiddes (2003)
38 ½” X 38 ½”
(private collection)
This quilt was begun as part of a course offered by Elinor Burwash: Ruth McDowell – Piecing. The ‘look’ - a somewhat abstract rendering of natural subjects had certainly caught my eye. The piecing method used by Ruth McDowell seemed very complex at first glance. Working on this quilt during the class gave me ample opportunity to explore the piecing – the stitching techniques; the placement and ordering of pieces, then sections; colour and fabric selection and its placement. I was so taken with the method and the ‘look’ that I enrolled in the Ruth McDowell Design class. I was very excited about taking this method ‘even further’ with some future projects.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
(c) Margo Fiddes 2003
# posted by Vince @ 3:31 PM
Friday, February 04, 2005
Everything's falliing down leaves
Original design by Margo Fiddes (2002)
25" X 25"
This piece was a composite of traded fabrics from a quilting retreat. Limiting my palette and fabric selection was a challenge. I utilized a basic four-patch with half square triangles for my design. Since the theme was "fall" I incorporated one of the leaf fabrics as surface embellishment by reinforcing individual groups of leaves and sewing them onto the surface of the quilt to make them appear as if they were cascading down. The piece went together quite well and I was reminded of the saying, "everything's coming up roses" but this didn't seem a suitable title for my quilt.
Techniques: Machine pieced, fused and embroidered stabilized leaves, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
©Margo Fiddes 2002
# posted by Vince @ 2:42 PM
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Leaves
Original design by Margo Fiddes (2003)
30" X 46"
(artist's collection)
This piece was a further exploration of Ruth McDowell’s piecing methods. I chose a simple subject and isolated it, wanting to focus on the branch’s integral beauty. By making the leaves appear ‘larger than life’ I was able to highlight the many colour variations in this single branch of leaves.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
©Margo Fiddes 2003
# posted by Vince @ 2:58 PM
After The Storm
original design by Margo Fiddes (2001)
82" X 98"
(private collection)
This quilt was begun in Wanda Cracknell’s “Spectacular Scraps” course in May of 2001. I see this piece as my turning point, from traditional to non-traditional work. I designed the quilt top using a four-patch of double triangles and two colour families, changing some of the values and adding small gems of other hues enhanced the design.
Techniques: Machine pieced, machine quilted
Materials: Cotton fabrics, cotton and rayon threads
©Margo Fiddes 2001
# posted by Vince @ 2:25 PM
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Artist Statement
I have been quilting for about ten years, so I am not ‘new’ to quilting. What has been new and exciting to me is creating my own designs and manipulating quilting techniques to create multiple effects--in colour, texture, movement and design. There is so much I love about creating art through quilting. It is so tactile—the ‘feel’ of the fabric and the threads, of the pieced surface, of the quilting. The countless ways of combining and piecing different fabrics fascinates me. Every quilt that I work on teaches me something new; I am usually delighted in some unexpected way of what works and even what does not work. I feel very strongly that my journey into the quilt art world has only just begun.
Margo Fiddes
# posted by Vince @ 1:49 PM
