Art, History and Social Activisim

Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective honors Romare Bearden

December 17, 2014 - March 13, 2015 at

the Hartford Public Library, 500 Main St, 3rd Floor

 

 

 Special Reception to meet the artists will be held

 January 17,2015   1-3 pm

www.hplct.org

 

 

 



Bridgeport Arts Trail!!!

Please don't forget, and remember to come see me at my STUDIO at the NEST ARTS FACTORY, 1720 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport Ct (just off I-95!)
This coming weekend Friday Saturday and Sunday!

CTFAC Class with Susan Carlson

Susan Carlson is a world-respected fiber artist whom we were lucky enough to have a class with!
Yes! Her pieces are made with millions of fabric scraps skillfully coordinated. Right up my alley!
I started a mermaid below!

New Placemat Idea! Thankyou Apple Valley Quilters!

Thankyou to the Apple Valley Quilters for having me as their guest speaker this past Tuesday. I was sooo happy to learn that a few members actually follow my blog! Thisis for you! Idea # 214

Thankyou again, and Virginia M if your ears were ringing...?
Karen

Nest Arts Factory

This is my son, Sam pretending to enjoy my work at the Nest. Today he turns 22. Not real!



New Work on Exhibit!

My Two portrayals of the Merritt Parkway are on display at the

 Connecticut Department of Transportation

2800 Berlin Turnpike,Newington, CT

This portrayal of the James Farm Road overpass from Shelton to Stratford was painted first on white cotton then stitched over.  I really enjoyed creating this piece!

This quilt was pieced, painted then stitched.

quilted mats!

Thankyou to Virginia Millington, fellow SAQA member, for sharing her photo of one of my quilted mats on top of her amazing thread collection!

New Quilted Mats continued!

Here are some of my pieced and quilted mats actually being used for a table setting! These are made from a mix of commercially bought and my handpainted fabrics.

New Quilted Mats Continued!

One more note for today!

I realized Ive been showing you the same mat over and over. Here's another handpainted design!

Thankyou.

New Quilted Mats Continued!

Carol Larson suggested this scene using one of my 12x 16 quilted mats!

Thankyou for all your ideas! More to come!

I'll be thinking of more over the long weekend...

 

New Quilted Mats Continued!

Continuing on from yesterday's post...pictured above is one of my 12"x16" quilted mats folded in three the stitched up one third to make a purse! Perfect for carrying your balls around! Great for storing papers too. Imagine this trifold wrapped in a ribbon!
Any more ideas? Stay tuned!

New Quilted Mats!

Pictured above is one of the new series of 12 by 16 inch mats Ive been working on this summer.Ive been using my hand-dyed fabric to make them!

Here is ONE USE for my washable-quilted mats. At the SAQA meet (which happened to be at THE NEST ARTS FACTORY where my studio is) I had a contest.

Members submitted their ideas on how to use my mats and the winner (Toni Torres) got to pick a mat of her choice to take home! Toni thought it would be a great idea to fold the mat and make it into a purse.

Many thought it a great idea to use a mat on their nightstand!

Stay tuned for more ideas!

By the way, each quilted mat costs $20.00 U.S. They are washable and have many uses. Do you have any suggestions?

 

 

 

How Fiber Artists Have Fun!!!

Play date at Carol Eaton's house!!! Give us some fabric, some dye and some time and we're off to the races with the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective! Thanks for the photos! Thanks for the wonderful time!

Hartford Jazz Tones

More photos from the hanging!!!!!!!

Christina Blais                                                             Karen Loprete

Yes! The gorgeous artwork on the left is all bits of fabric!

In contrast my work on the left is...oh yeah! bits and pieces!!!

They both employ hours of stitching and lots of love!!!!

 

Jazz Tones in Hartford

The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective was busy Saturday hanging their new gallery show with special guest Ed Johnetta Miller

JAZZ TONES

at the 100 Pearl Street Gallery, Hartford, Connecticut

the gallery is managed by the Greater Hartford Arts Council

Exhibition Dates June 15 - August 23, 2014

gallery hours 9am - 5pm M-F

OPENING RECEPTION!!!! JUNE 26th - 5-7pm





Southbury Public Library Last Week!!!

My exhibit of 17 of my favorite pieces only has one week left at the

Southbury Library/ Gloruia Cachion Gallery

100 Poverty Road,Southbury, Ct



Open Studios at The Nest!!!!

I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE !!!!!!

City Lights Tenth Anniversary

Here I am at the Tenth Anniversary Party For City Light Gallery in Bridgeport on Markle Court

Above my head is the ten x ten piece I donated for the celebration....entitled "Ten"

I hope someone took it home! Congratulations City Lights! and thankyou Suzanne!



Southbury Public Library

Please come and see my latest piece (The Vase) and 17 others at my solo exhibit at

Southbury Public Library

Gloria Cachion Gallery

100 Poverty Street, Southbury, Connecticut

 

My work will be there through June 11th, 2014

Let me know if you have any questions!

karen@karenloprete.com

 

Norfolk Library

The Norfolk Library

9 Greenwoods Road East, Norfolk, Ct 06058  (860) 542-5075

Presents

THE CT FIBER ARTS COLLECTIVE

(A Fiber/Mixed Media Art Exhibit)

MAY 4 - MAY 29th, 2014

Thankyou to The Norfolk Library for hanging and hosting our show in your  amazingly beautiful facility!

Here's Christina Blais with her piece of Infinity Hall (steps away from the library!) which sold in the first hour! Congratulations!

 

 

Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective at The Nest Arts Factory

 

"GARDEN BED" - detail

 

My newest completed work is on display at the

Nest Arts Factory along with the works of my

seriously fiber-obsessed group

the CONNECTICUT FIBER ARTS COLLECTIVE.

 

Seven fiber artists have a few fabulous examples of their artwork celebrating SPRING! on display at

The Nest Arts Factory, 1720 Fairfield Ave. Bridgeport Ct.

 

There's only two weeks left!

Gallery Hours are Thursday - Friday - Saturday

or contact me directly for what's convenient for you!

 

SPRING IS HERE!

 



Hartford Show!!

"JOY" 24x18" mounted on frame

My piece JOY will be on display at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford Connecticut

April 16 - 30, 2014

along with the Connecticut Fiber Art Collective, Sisters in Cloth and Women Against the Grain

Saturday at the Nest

Please come and join me at the Nest Arts Factory on Saturday! You get to see the fabulous work of the Black Rock Artist Guild (including mine) in the Gallery, You can also see what's going on in my studio!
That's 4-7, 1720 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport,Ct. There will also be live original rock and roll!!!
Hope to see you there!

The Brush Gallery

Hi! This is my entry for the Brush Gallery's Four by Four for Education Fundraiser for their Art Scholarship Program.
Artists who had shown at the Brush before were sent 4" x 4" canvases to create on.
The auction will be held March 15th at the Brush Gallery,256 Market St., Lowell, MA 01852

The Merritt Parkway

WITH NO SNOW!!!!!!!

Stitching Spring!

I hope this one will make it in as well. This piece is called Flower in the Window

 because where else could a flower be in this climate?

Think Spring!

It's been a pleasure gathering some SPRINGTIME pieces to show in the upcoming Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective  show at the Duncaster Retirement Home in March 2014.

It's called Flower For You !

Spring is on it's way!!!

Happy New Year!!

This 25"x 16" piece is called TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I hope you like it!