Revisit a quilt by Karen Stiehl Osborn 01-06-19

The Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection started out with just medium to large quilts, but as artists made smaller works I added some of those. Finally, as the Collection grew larger I divided my files into quilts greater than 24" in any direction and those less than 24". It makes storage and record keeping easier and helps when I am putting together a trunk show. Quilt auctions have become more common (there were three online quilt auctions at the same time this year [2008] in Oct/Nov) and the quilts made for these auctions are usually medium to small sizes. So, it is a great place for new or aspiring collectors to find quilts that they like.

"Haiku" Karen Stiehl Osborn 2003 9"W x 17"L

This quilt was part of the 2005 Fiberarts For A Cause online auction. I was attracted by the depth Karen has achieved and the density of the blue color. She creates her own cloth to use in her quilts and also does paper for her wonderful paper collages. The three rectangles represent the three lines of a haiku, making it a 'visual haiku'. www.KarenStiehlOsborn.com

A funny story about this piece - when I bought it I knew I would be out of town for several weeks, so I ask that it be sent to a friend. While I was gone I called to ask her if it had arrived and she said yes. She thought it was very nice, but she said, "I guess I need new glasses, I can't read a single word". We had a laugh when I told her that nobody can, they aren't real words, they just resemble them.

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Karen Stiehl Osborn quilt re-visited 11-05-17

There are a couple Karen Stiehl Osborn quilts in TCQC.  This one she offered 2010 for the highest bidder when she was raising money for one of her foster rescue doggies that needed surgery and I was the highest bidder.  The doggie had his surgery and now has a loving forever home. 

 

"Fifteen" Karen Stiehl Osborn 2010 15" x 15"

 

Karen made this piece for the QuiltArt Quinceanero exhibition in February 2010. It tells the story of her evolution in fiber art - from traditional pieced work with commercial batiks through her current fascination with painting on canvas.

 

 Her signature is on the front in the lower right corner. I do prefer that quilts be signed on the

 

 

front, as painters have been signing them for centuries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colored strips with batting showing on the edges represents her traditional quilts of yore. The birds on a wire are so special - I always enjoy watching the migrants flow down to land on the wires for a rest.

 

Karen is an early bird - up and out with her camera whenever she has a chance. I like this excerpt from her journal "...morning I set off early as the ......". I always admire early risers, but I am a confirmed night owl - it takes all kinds we night owls do the swing and graveyard shifts all over the world.

 

Great vivid blue back on this quilt and a thorough informative label. Check Karen's work on her website: www.karenstiehlosborn.com and on her blog http://stiehlosborn.blogspot.com/

 

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Karen Stiehl Osborn quilt in TCQC 11-14-10

This little Chihuahua puppy named Chili is the reason this quilt is in the Collection. Karen Stiehl Osborn fosters rescue dogs in her home in Nebraska for the Helping Hands 4 Animals organization and took this little gal in after she had surgery to remove one of her legs. The surgery was expensive and to help cover the cost Karen offered one of her quilts to the high bidder - I was the high bidder! This took place in August and since then Chili has found a loving home elsewhere and doesn't seem to realize she is missing anything.

Chili, an 8-month old Chihuahua puppy

"Fifteen" Karen Stiehl Osborn 2010 15" x 15"

Karen made this piece for the QuiltArt Quinceanero exhibition in February 2010. It tells the story of her evolution in fiber art - from traditional pieced work with commercial batiks through her current fascination with painting on canvas.

Her signature is on the front in the lower right corner. I do prefer that quilts be signed on the front, as painters have been signing them for centuries.

The colored strips with batting showing on the edges represents her traditional quilts of yore. The birds on a wire are so special - I always enjoy watching the migrants flow down to land on the wires for a rest.

Karen is an early bird - up and out with her camera whenever she has a chance. I like this excerpt from her journal "...morning I set off early as the ......". I always admire early risers, but I am a confirmed night owl - it takes all kinds we night owls do the swing and graveyard shifts all over the world.

Great vivid blue back on this quilt and a thorough informative label. Check Karen's work on her website: www.karenstiehlosborn.com and on her blog http://stiehlosborn.blogspot.com/

Quilt from TCQC

The Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection started out with just medium to large quilts, but as artists made smaller works I added some of those. Finally, as the Collection grew larger I divided my files into quilts greater than 24" in any direction and those less than 24". It makes storage and record keeping easier and helps when I am putting together a trunk show. Quilt auctions have become more common (there were three online quilt auctions at the same time this in Oct/Nov) and the quilts made for these auctions are usually medium to small sizes. So, it is a great place for new or aspiring collectors to find quilts that they like.

"Haiku" Karen Stiehl Osborn 2003 9"W x 17"L

This quilt was part of the 2005 Fiberarts For A Cause online auction. I was attracted by the depth Karen has achieved and the density of the blue color. She creates her own cloth to use in her quilts and also does paper for her wonderful paper collages. The three rectangles represent the three lines of a haiku, making it a 'visual haiku'. www.KarenStiehlOsborn.com

A funny story about this piece - when I bought it I knew I would be out of town for several weeks, so I ask that it be sent to a friend. While I was gone I called to ask her if it had arrived and she said yes. She thought it was very nice, but she said, "I guess I need new glasses, I can't read a single word". We had a laugh when I told her that nobody can, they aren't real words, they just resemble them.

Information on the 2009 Fiberarts For A Cause auction at:

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ReverseAuctionInformation2009.html

Christmas Shopping 12-17-08

Everyone is concerned about what is going to happen with our economy, apparently even Queen Elizabeth II. Artists are especially hard hit because what they have to offer is not vital to life and limb. Many are offering specials on their work and some are making smaller quilts to accommodate smaller pocketbooks. Lend your support by shopping artists' offerings.

Jeanne Williamson organized a site with offerings from many artists in different disciplines: http://www.smallartshowcase.com/

Elizabeth Barton added another 'page' to her blog: http://ebartonstore.blogspot.com/

Karen Stiehl Osborn has a page of collage pieces on sale at: http://www.karenstiehlosborn.com/Gallery/HolidaySale.htm

Fiberart For A Cause has merchandise related to this project to raise money for cancer research on their Cafe Press site: http://www.cafepress.com/virginiaspiegel

Virginia Spiegel has a series at a special price: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/PeaceSeries.html

I am sure there are other special offerings. If you send me the URL I will post it on my blog. I don't have a huge exposure, but every little bit helps.

Collage Mania 05-04-08

Collage Mania offered by Fiberart For A Cause in support of the

American Cancer Society

All of the money raised goes directly to the ACS.

Coose from 235 donated collages by 100 artists from around the world.

Go to: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania081.html

Monday, May 5, 2008 starting at 9 a.m. CST

All collages available for a minimum donation of $80.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 starting at 9 a.m. CST

All collages available for a minimum donation of $40.

This is one of four collages that Karen has donated - Hope, Faith, Charity and.........

Karen Stiehl Osborn
Love
7"h x 5"w
Cotton cloth, papers, acrylic paint, pigment dye, ink

Inspiration 02-27-08

Making the little 4" blocks yesterday had me thinking about something that Karen Stiehl Osborn posted recently on the Quilt Art list. Someone had asked for suggestions to overcome a block in creativity. One method that Karen uses seems to me like using kindling to start a fire. The first thing she does in her studio each day is make a small collage in a notebook - no planning, no preset design, no agonizing. Just DO IT. This starts her 'fire' and pushes her into getting creative for the day. It can also be a reference when future 'cold starts' are needed. I like this idea a lot. Look at February 23 - 27 on Karen's blog.

http://stiehlosborn.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html

Thanks to Karen who sent me this picture of her little notebook.