A PAGE FROM MY BOOK: JOURNAL QUILTS 2004 - JOURNAL QUILT PROJECT Each year members of QUILTART are invited to create and participate in INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL's Invitational Exhibition: "A Page From My Journal" Project created by Karey Bresenhan, Director of IQF, Houston, Tx, and Chicago, Il. This year I decided to stretch my creativity by incorporating different mediums: theme designed fabrics and fabric paintings of the female nude body as "Muses". Fabrics chosen were to convey the four seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, Winter) and Natures five elements (Fire, Storm, Earth, Sky, Ocean). Fabric paints were used to create the female muses, representing these nine elements, and were appliqued to the background fabrics. These Muses are my original drawings and are painted with acrylics, setacolor, as well as other fabric paints and pigma pens. Embellishments were metallic threads, sequins, and paint glitters. All quilts were machine appliqued and machine free-motioned quilted. Due to space constraints International Quilt Festival, Houston and Chicago requested the participanting Art Quilters to select and submit only five of the nine of their Journal Quilts 2004 for their 2004-5 Invitational Exhibitions at Houston and Chicago. To see everyone's journals, go to: www.quiltart.com/2004journals Journal Designs: Mary Louise Smith, Copyrighted 2002-5, all rights reserved, and cannot be used, copied or duplicated without written permission.

JANUARY: WINTER MUSE

A reminder of the harsh winter we experienced. The theme fabric of "snowflakes" is against a blue background. The Muse's body has a "blue" tint to reflect the coldness of winter, while her "stylized" hair is reminicent of "icicles", This piece is free-motioned quilted with white and silver glitter threads.

FEBRUARY: SPRING MUSE

This Muse embodies the abundance of Spring's blossoming flora and fauna, which is also reflected in her floral hairpiece and the ruche flower in her hand. The background fabric is from a sampler book from Timeless Treasure's Country Manor.

MARCH: SUMMER MUSE

My Summer Muse is seen enjoying a frolic in the sun, against a background fabric that shimmers with various shades of yellows, which gives the illusion of sand and sun. Gold glitter metallic threads and paint glitter gives a "sun glow" to this scene. Also,her "sun bleached" hair is quilted with gold metallic thread.

APRIL: AUTUMN MUSE

This theme fabric of autumn leaves in shades of green, reds and golds epitomizes the Fall season. The Autumn Muse "stylized" green hair with miniature white flowers contrasts nicely against the background foliage fabric as she embraces herself.

MAY: OCEAN MUSE

Fabrics of the ocean depth and crashing waves were used for the Ocean element. I chose to make my Ocean Muse into an Mermaid. Silver crouching threads, silver glitter, silver and turquoise threads were used to enhance the Muse mermaid's, her fish tail and background details.

JUNE: EARTH MUSE

This Muse is surrounded by the earth's flora (ruche flowers), fauna and butterflies. Sliver of sunshine among the dense greenery was created by gold glitter paint. This Earth Muse is my interpretation of the bible's Eve in paradise. However, there is no snake to tempt her.

JULY: SKY MUSE

The sky changes colors at different times of the day and seasons. This background fabric has several of these same colors. My Sky Muse sits pensively floating on a blue cloud. Her stylized hair has some of the muted shades of the background fabric intertwine with gold swirls.

AUGUST: STORM MUSE

These fabrics of ocean waves and driving rain were selected for my Storm Muse. She is my version of the Greek's Poseidon. In the background there is a floundering sail ship battling the storm. The gold metallic quilting used gives the illusion of lightening against the stormy sky.

SEPTEMBER: FIRE MUSE

An African geometric fabric was selected for the background for the Fire Muse. Hand dyed batiks were used to create the dancing flames. Gold threads and gold glitter paints were used to convey the "sparks" and "heat" of fire, as my Fire Muse emerges from the flames. For her "afro" hair I used a fabric designed of gold,reds, and yellows dots, The Fire Muse is also known as the Goddess of Fire, Pelee.

Website created by Mary Louise Smith, 2004 For E-mail contact: To twart the scam robots. please type my name manually.....MARYLOUISES at webtv dot net and on subject line: QUILTJOURNAL. Thanks! For Website: URL:http://community-2.webtv.net/MARYLOUISESMITH/MARYLOUISESMITH For Journal Quilts 2002 http://community-2.webt.net/MARYLOUISESMITH/QUILTJOURNAL2002 For Journal Quilts 2003 http://community-2.webtv.net/MARYLOUISESMITH/QUILTJOURNAL2003