I've been working on a small scale series that takes it's inspiration from Dia de los Muertos. The first couple of pieces were created in response to an exhibit call for the International Quilt Festival in Houston this year ( a sequel to the first successful tabletop exhibit last year) -- a show curated by Dinner @ Eight artists Leslie Jenison and Jamie Fingal.

Making the two was so much fun I've continued on the path with several more! (and even sold three more at my recent sale and show at the "cabin in the city!"

Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in Latin America and Latino communities in the Southwest with graveside or home feasts and shrines, community events and altars that honor the dear departed of the family, community or church. These skeletal place settings answer the question :"Who's Coming to Dinner? with their abundance of marigolds, candles, photos and, in the case of this last one, the traditional still life images that are actually icons of death in a way -- what else is a "still life?"

One fabulous resource is this study resource site on the web:

http://illustrations.milliande-printables.com

I used one of their skeleton images, provided with free copyright, as long as my derivative work of art acknowledged the source on my website or blog, with a link back to the site.

these images are offered as"Linkware"meaning you MUSTprovide a link back towww.milliande-printables.com from your website, blog, art group etc before using these images

I'll also be hosting an art quilt workshop at El Cielo where we'll make more stitched altars and place settings, honoring the dead and departed of the participants. If you'd like to join me, here are the details:

OCTOBER 9-11

Dias de los Muertos Art Quilts

Design, dye and print fabrics, and fuse together a small art quilt "altar' or place setting in memory of someone departed that you wish to honor, or using more generic images derived from the traditions of Dias de los Muertos. You'll take home a completed design ready for hand or machine stitching (how-to demos are part of the workshop). This workshop helps transform memory into celebration, artifacts in to art. I have a large selection of ethnic fabrics and antique laces to use, or you can bring your own. Bring photos and/or mementos of the person or people you wish to honor with your work.

Here is a small gallery of some of the other pieces in the series: