Category Archives: Blog

The Maker

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We’re studying the Book of Habakkuk of the Old Testament in my church and when I read the upcoming themes/versus scheduled on the calendar for our group of painters to participate and illustrate, I paused, held my breath and there it was, on the page, “Creator Confusion” and I was pinged. I knew that I was being called upon my talents once again. An image had been pulling at me, in my mind for quite awhile, but it just never seemed to fit, timing was off, it just wasn’t the right image for whatever theme we were embarking on, so I shoved it to the “back burner” and waited… but then, as I read, I knew why and I acted on it.

Habakkuk 2:18-20. The prophet, angry, confused regarding the disarray of the corrupt world around him. He rages at God, but God knows what was going on. He always does. He is the ultimate creator, he has all authority over the world. We are reminded that we are to serve God. He has the world in his hands.

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The beginning of the process in making this piece started like all the others. I started with a photo, I edited it in software, and I made a full-size pattern. I then printed a black and white reverse image and began tracing and cutting puzzle pieces out of it, fusing them to a fabric.

Slowly, I pinned the pieces on a canvas as the image came together and the process took about a month to complete. If you get a chance to look at this piece in person at Bridgeway Christian Church, look closely at the hands in this piece, and you will see hidden words. (In the white portions.)

Progression Photos during the design phase.

Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Final Draft. The white dots you see are the pins that will get removed as I iron it in place.

Detail of how I mark the piece for reassembling in front of live audience.

Progression Photos during services and detail.

Saturday 4pm
Saturday 6pm
Sunday 9am
Sunday 11am

Detail photos once fused and finished.

“The Maker”, May 2018. This piece utilizes 160 hand cut pieces in a variety of cotton batiks and artist hand-dyed fabrics; raw edge fusible applique stretched on canvas. Took approximately 4 weeks to complete. 48″ x 36″.

New Domain Name!

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20180413_165044.jpgI am excited to announce I have a new added domain name: emilyeasley.art.  My old domain (faithinfiber.com) has expired and at the time I purchased it, all the usual tags (such as emilyeasley.com) were taken. But now, domain registrations have opened up to a wide range of possibilities and not limited to just the usual .com, .net, or .org that we’re accustomed too.  So, I purchased a new domain that I hope to utilize in the future and slowly migrate all my branding over to. Nothing really is changing, same artist, same fiber art, same site, just a new addition and I thought, how cool is that to have my name with a dot art tag!  (Makes sense, right!?!).

I also would like to announce that I have a new Live “Painting” session coming up for Bridgeway Christian Church on May 5 & 6.  You won’t want to miss it! I hope you can join us!

Love to all and many blessings!

Emily Easley
Fiber Artist

 

Rhythm with God

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Several months ago my church, Bridgeway Christian Church, was working their way through the book of Judges, and as I sat listening and studying Deborah from this book, I couldn’t get the image of a woman dancing and an urgency to portray The Song of Deborah (Read Judges 5). However, at the time, I was focused on another project for another sermon, so I put the image aside because it just didn’t fit with the timing.

Now, fast forward to about two months ago, the artist ministry group for which I belong to, passed out an updated schedule of Live Painting opportunities and I choose one in the rotation. (Live Painting is a phrase we’ve coined, and it just means that an artist- usually a painter- is painting on stage during worship and sermon before a live audience. I “paint” with fabric.) As the time approached, the theme of the sermon shifted to worship, and it struck me that this was where “my dancer” would come to fruition. Our Pastor focused on a phenomenal lesson on the different ways we worship, how important worship is and how we all connect to God in a variety of ways.

It was an incredible weekend. I had so many people come and speak to me regarding my dancer and how it spoke to them and amazing emotional connections. There was even a moment while I was on stage, pinning away, I got teary eyed because I could feel the percussion climb up through my feet into my chest from the music and I could sense the movement of dancers behind me. Words can not portray adequately how this moment was pure and heartfelt throughout the room.

And you might be asking, what does painting have to do with worship? For me, it’s an outward visual expression. Most of the artists in my group would pretty much agree that we see ourselves as a visual tool and often try to represent or visually respond to Scripture. When I read the bible, I often see pictures, colors, images flash across my brain. What better way to depict worship than a free spirited woman dancing in praise? She’s in motion with God. Her dress is light with encouraging words from Ecclesiastes 3 wrapped around her. Her hand stretched outward to the heavens. That is the rhythm of God.

“Rhythm with God”, September 2017, Raw edge fusible applique stretched on canvas, 48″ x 36″

My Journey With Bible Journaling…

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It’s now officially summer, and that means a few weeks to slow down and spend time with my family. I’ve had a very busy year and haven’t been able to focus much on my art. However, next year, my youngest is finally entering Kindergarten, and that means, Mama finally will have some time to herself!  And I didn’t hesitate for long…

I started Bible Journaling about a week ago and posted photos of my pages on my Instagram and Facebook page. I’ve had a couple of people ask me about it. “Bible Journaling? What is it?” Bible Journaling is something that is becoming a hot trend right now, but in actuality, it’s been around for a long time. People have been doodling in the margins or empty spaces in their bibles forever. Some very quietly, some very elaborate. Many people scoff at it, and many love it. It’s a personal preference. However, today, there are dedicated bibles and coloring books made just for this purpose. I have two- a My Creative Bible (KJV) (Amazon) hardcover and an Inspire (NLT) paperback (Amazon). For me, it was a complete and natural act; I had no hesitation other than gathering supplies. And once I started, OFF I WENT. I have found that this has been the BEST method for me to stay on a reading plan, reflect and contemplate what is the message, what is this teaching me, and then respond visually to Scripture.

I also joined a Facebook group dedicated to Bible Journaling (there’s a beginners group too) which posts daily reading plans or verses or monthly schedules. I choose to go with the first one that popped up at the time, and the theme is “Wholeness through
IMG_20170604_145402_724Brokenness.” There are several monthly reading plans, even weekly plans, out there. I just happened to pick this one, and am sticking with it through the end. There is even a Women of the Bible theme, and I may attempt that one next- we’ll see what pops up for July. Currently, I see fellow “journal’ers” posting of their work to a Hope theme, but I haven’t figured out where they have gotten the schedule at yet. lol.

So, for the next month, watch my Instagram or Facebook pages, because they are my most active accounts and I’ll post something each day. 😉

 

Day 1: Psalm 51
Day 1: Psalm 51
Day 2: Mathew 26:69-75
Day 2: Mathew 26:69-75
Day 3: 1 Kings 21:17-29
Day 3: 1 Kings 21:17-29
Day 4: John 4:1-30
Day 4: John 4:1-30
Day 5: Luke 8:43-48
Day 5: Luke 8:43-48
Day 6: John 8:2-11
Day 6: John 8:2-11
Day 7: 2 Samuel 12:1-15
Day 7: 2 Samuel 12:1-15

Take My Hand

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I am happy to report that Take My Hand was sold!

Take My Hand (2016)

When I create art, I don’t look to explain the art or image. I leave that to you the viewer. But I ask you if your heart is heavy if you feel as though your drifting underwater (even if it’s just for a day) look up “Oh, ye of little faith.” (Matthew 14:31) There in the murkiness of life is Jesus above you with his outstretched hand, but it’s up to you to grasp hold.

Commercial cotton batiks and hand-dyed fabrics; fused raw edge appliqué on canvas.

36in. x 48in.

Emily Easley
www.faithinfiber.com

#emilyeasley #faithinfiber #jesus #fiberart #artquilt #takemyhand #bridgewaychristianchurchEmilyEasley_TakeMyHand_2017

As one closes, another opens

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20170114_122336_llsI’ve been busy. I don’t get to do much in the way of art these days. With starting up a small soap business to taking care of my boys and volunteering my services for my quilt guild, life keeps me away from creating art. 2016 brought many challenges my way, but I’m hopeful that I can make 2017 more productive. I’ve already completed my first shawl about a week ago! This year, my goal is to finish some unfinished projects started in previous years!

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My 20-year-old stepson, Austin, joined the US Air Force and is off on a plane to San Antonio, TX for boot camp. His future looks solidly promising and stable.  It’s a new adventurous chapter for him, but an apprehensive one for his parents; however, I’m confident, he’ll be just fine.

This month has been tough already, sickness, weather, and other pesky critter problems; I hope to move on into February with a much better ending.

 

Take My Hand

Blog

 

Take My Hand
“Take My Hand”, October 2016, Raw edge fusible applique stretched on canvas, 48″ x 36″

It occurred to me that I hadn’t updated my blog with my latest work and since I moved my blog, I lost some posts and pages. Bummer.I’ll have to try to retrieve or rebuild the important ones.

 

Truth be told, I have been so busy this year with building my soap business and focusing my time on an essential duty with my Quilt Guild as their new webmaster and rebuilding their website that I had let my own personal endeavors fade.  But I did complete one piece this year, which most everyone who is on Facebook or Instagram got to see.

The weekend before Halloween, Oct 29th-30th, I assembled my piece during Bridgeway Christian Church services and finalized the piece a few weeks later in November. The piece is titled “Take My Hand.”, is 48″ x 36″ and this time, I was excited to try some new tools. We all love new tools, right?!?!

So, in my usual fashion, I prepared my pattern which takes a week tweaking tones and shapes, and dimensions. I traced and precut all of the fabric pieces by hand for about three weeks and then pinned my work onto a canvas. This time, however, I omitted the “sewing the fabric down” stage (known as machine applique) and found a permanently fusible web that I really like and can iron down without problems and it worked!  (Unlike the last fiasco I attempted with The Agony– which you can find on my Facebook page- where the fusible web failed and I had to painstakingly sew every single piece down before I could stretch it on canvas.)  I am so happy with the results of this piece and I believe I have finally figured out how to bring my fiber art world to a live audience!  (And no, I don’t have to haul around my sewing machine. Lol)

I have included a slideshow, they are not the best photos, but I hope you still enjoy!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

When Art Hibernates…

2015, Blog

This time of the year, is where my fiber world virtually stops, and my creative handmade world is in full swing. However, it doesn’t mean that my absence is permanent or forgotten. It’s just hibernating until January or February.

But…

I managed to actually sit down at my sewing machine the other day and do something new and fun. I created a “Stitched Sketch” (although I’m sure there’s some proper titlement for it that I don’t know) for a Christmas Party gathering with the art group I am (or try to be) an active part in at Bridgeway Christian Church. We did an “art exchange”. It was fun!

So, here are a few photos of my sketch. The photos are not the greatest, but will do. Enjoy!

The Messegner
The Messenger

Messanger-3

The Messagner

Work Hard In Silence, Let Your Success Be Your Noise

2015, Blog

“Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise” Ritu Ghatourey

And, yes, that’s exactly what I’ve done for the past few weeks. Working hard in silence. That’s pretty much how I do my work too. It ebbs and flows like an ocean wave. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t  been busy.  Nope!  I’ve been swamped; just not the kind of swamped I’d prefer to have.

Work Hard in Silence, Let Your Success Be Your Noise
Apricot Tree

I had plans to work on a new method of work (for me, not that it’s a “new never been done before” method just never done by me), but as life goes, that got pushed to the side. My apricot tree bloomed, so I had to quickly get to work on preserving those apricots and I think it was a bumper crop year too!  I don’t even know how many pounds of apricots I picked, washed, pitted, and puree.  I spent a solid week just cooking and canning jam; even when it was 100 degrees outside! I made some pretty awesome tasting jams!  And I have jam and apricot butter for years…

Work Hard in Silence, Let Your Success Be Your Noise
Camp Kidsway 2015

Right behind that came Bridgeway Christian Church’s vacation bible school, which they call Camp Kidsway. It’s this incredible crazy, insanely fun and exhausting week full of worship, fun and scripture for kids and adults. It’s exhausting, but so worth it and I needed a full week’s recovery!  Then Fourth of July came and went, and I’m still recuperating!

Work Hard in Silence, Let Your Success Be Your Noise
Fourth of July!

Though, I haven’t been writing or posting, instead I have been working hard in silence, doing background work. I’ve added some new features on the web. I closed my Etsy shop and am working on moving the handful of items I have left to Facebook and adding a new shop to my blog! I’ve also been working on some SEO (search engine optimization); boring stuff but it’s important none the less. And now, I feel it’s time; it’s time to dust off the sewing machine, the supplies and the fabrics. They’re calling to me. Okay, they’re screaming at me to get back to work! Before I know it, summer will be gone and I’ll be kicking myself that I didn’t squeeze that one piece in. I’ve got soap to make too! And a Turkish Spindle to learn, and photos to take!  The list goes on…

Working hard in silence, let your success be your noise.