Thursday, March 31, 2016

Up Close

A large Gerhardt Knodel work is at the Snyderman-Works Gallery in Philadelphia. A group of artists from the Studio Art Quilt Association is meeting in Philly this weekend, and a treat was to see this installation. It's fiber work from A to Z.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Fracking

If you've been in my Improv class, you know about adding two pieces together and then cutting apart to fracture the line. I'm looking for an uneven line, so I've sliced and reassembled. Tedious, but it gets the job done.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Placement Tricks

Just using the freezer paper as a placement and cutting guide. I've even got a few tick marks, but I may not need them. I'll cut the background, add 1/4" to the holes, and iron it back. Then I think I will slip the underneath color in, and reverse applique the fillings.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Adding in a Big Way

It's evolving. The spaces that are just one large hunk of fabric are puzzling. I like them, but they are a lot of real estate. So glad too have a dreary day to work. Less pull outdoors,

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Target Practice

This target practice sheet from Sears, Roebuck & Co.  listed itself as "America's Gun Headquarters." Easter Bunny, watch out. 

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Cover Art

My head may not fit through the door. The cover of Martha Sielman's new book "Art Quilts International: Abstract and Geometric" will be out soon with one of my works on the cover. Talk about a treat! You can find it on Amazon.

Friday, March 25, 2016

Filling In

I've started to sketch in the areas of the drawing with my hand dyed fabrics for value. The original photo is at the upper left on the design wall. The freezer paper pattern hangs to on left and right walls.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Class in August in Massachusetts

I'm set to teach a five day class in Fall River, Massachusetts at Pro Chem called "Surface Design Sampler: Monoprinting, Stamping and More" this August. Here is a yard piece that I've silkscreened,and just quilted as a whole cloth. Love to have you join us. Find information here.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Taking My Advice

When I teach, I use an image to illustrate cropping. Each time I see it, I love it more. So I figured it's time I used it. Take my own advice for a change. Now is the full scale drawing stage.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Climbing the Wall

Lori Cooley's ladder scales a stone in this 2' high sculpture, part of a group exhibition at St. John Fisher College. It's the simplest of forms, and one often seen in fiber art -- two parallel lines crossed in rhythm.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Takes a Week

Three amigos got unpacked finally. Took a while to get all the parts back on the shelves. Ohio was five classes, and lots of pieces. Next stop is St. Albans, Vermont at the end of April. Then I'll pack 'em up again.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Take This With You

A gift from a student (who is also the publisher!) in my Ohio class, this book will be my traveling companion. It's hefty, chock full of stores, and maps. Thank you Michele Marin, I'll use it. For a look at her work check https://www.needletravel.com/

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Tic Tac Bow (Tie)

Got the Bow Ties framed and ready to load on the longarm tomorrow to quilt up. My experiment with adding a thin line to a shape has just begun. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Vested Interest

Melissa Matson was at the Geisel Gallery tonight for the opening, featuring a trio of talent. I was intrigued with her painted paper and sewn vests. This photo does not do it justice. Just go see them, if you are around Rochester's Legacy Tower.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Hidden Passion

Wendell Castle's music stand (collection Memorial Art Gallery) held his notes tonight as he sang Woody Guthrie songs. Sponsored by MAG, "Hidden Passions," had me wondering just what I would share. Publicly, that is.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Ducks in a Row

The Global Eye Health Center is the work zone for Bausch + Lomb optical products. An enormous space, the building's collections curator rotates art constantly. My turn was this winter.  Had a visit today.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

You Make What You Wear Take #2

It was too obvious who was working on this quilt. For my Cutting Up the Pretties, we found a design, drew it full scale, made freezer paper templates, then populated with fabric. Well done, Sandi. Can't wait to see it finished.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Welcome Home

I'd watched this bud and grow, and now I am returned home (from being away a week) to enjoy the orchid. Once gifted, it's now returned. I can enjoy another life cycle.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

You Wear What You Make

It never fails to emerge in a class that the person makes the piece that they wear. Shaila worked diligently on this piece with a range of blues, and strikes of black. Perfectly geometric, just like her sweater. I had a wonderful time in Kirtland, Ohio, at the Lake Metroparks Farmpark. For me it was a treat to be among so many talented and daring quilters.

Saturday, March 12, 2016

The Wave

Dinner and a lecture. At Lake Metropark in Kirtland, Ohio, the topic was Challenges. Not a challenge to get this bunch to laugh. We had a wonderful time tonight. And I discovered I am actually younger in person!

Friday, March 11, 2016

Guess What

Perfectly pieced but wrong pieces. At times, we get so enamored with finishing that we forget to look! It made for a good laugh, and the skinny line leaf was soon put right.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

I'm Not Kidding This is Fun

Classy, complex, complimentary, clever, chatty, colorful, and cleveland-esque confirms this class today. 

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Lunch Break

Drop everyting, It is time to tie on the feed bags (eat lunch). Since we are at the Lake Metroparks Farmpark, we know we can check out the baby pigs, lambs, and cows. It is almost spring. Just come back after lunch.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Emerging Art

Helen welcomed my day by saying she had planned to take my class many many months ago. Such a strong woman could only make strong selections. She is joined by several more brave souls who will be with me the whole week. Can't wait.

Monday, March 7, 2016

Checking the Quilt Show

I've gotten a quick glance of the 2016 Quilt Show at Metropark in Kirtland, Ohio. This caught my eye because it is from a workshop I taught a couple of years ago -- the Shibori Half-Square Triangle Quilt. Guess the judges like it as well.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Globs to Love


Todd Oldham's Evening Dress from 1987 has these perfectly wonderful globs. If you love beads, silk, evening wear, and floral forms, here you have it. Now at the Memorial Art Gallery's exhibit on Ebony Fashion.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Birthday Gifts

Mary and I share birthdays next to each other. Yesterday we got together and I finished this apron that I had direct dye painted. I used some textile pens to add the squiggles, drawing in some natural forms. May have to do another for gifting to me.

Friday, March 4, 2016

In the Thick of the Dye

First Fridays in town mean lots of neat art. For me, the call of the wet studio was greater, so I spent the evening getting to screen, drip, and slather thickened dye on my soda-soaked fabric. I'm warming up for my two classes, one in Montreal this May, and one in Fall River this August.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Two Peas in a Pod

It's rare to see two images on this blog. These pics were shot in sequence, and as I saw the frames juxtaposed, the comparison was confirming -- I'm color influenced, for sure.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Gift from India

My birthday can continue for a few more days. A friend gifted me this hand printed, silk scarf. Not that I could print like this, but it does incline me to put dye to cloth. That'll be tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Packin Junk

Next week the workshops at Quilts 2016, the 25th Annual Quilt Show at Farmpark outside of Cleveland, will have my Dozen Ways: Design for Art Quilts. I'm adding some non-traditional elements for experimenting. Can you spot the shower curtain, the Yupo paper, and the deer fence?