Iron Monger's Yard

Got a chance to poke about in the scrap yard of John Grieco's metal working studio. Very ordered disorder. I can see how he would work, just looking at how he separated the materials. To say he was an iron monger would not be kind, his term of "object maker" is more just.

Backyard Dye Heaven

No point thinking about that hammock, as the weather is right for backyard dyeing, Once the leaves fall, then, fine, I will check out relaxing.

Henry Moore in the Moonlight

Well, not really the moonlight. But night, anyway. Taking center stage at the entrance of the Memorial Art Gallery, the work is all about shape and curves.

Thinking of Fran Skiles

This detail from painting by Alfred Leslie, from 1961, reminds me of the textile work of Fran Skiles. She uses a painterly hand to make her collages. There are spaces open in her class at QBL2 at the Schweinfurth October 1-5. Here is a link http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/classes/adults.html#studioschweinfurth

Experimental Screens

Well, the way it works around here, all my screens are experiments. I seldom have a finished look in mind. So, I will screen just what fits my mood. The the design takes off from there. The dark with four "windows" was from a screen painted with "Presist".

Screen Tricks

With a jar of "Presist" I drew some blobs and circles on my screen. Now dry, I can print tomorrow with textile paint on my hand dyed fabric. Just trying out new (to me) ways to print.

Ready, Aim

Tanks taking aim? No, just the nearby Cobb's Hill Reservoir emptied for some rehab. What I could do with a pair of roller skates here.

Hacking Off a Yard

That 100 meter roll was so heavy, I decided to cut off my yard lengths just where the UPS man dumped the roll. Since my counter height is 36", I can just use the drop to mark (with a snip of the scissors) the length, then tear to get a straight of the grain edge. Works.

Now for Discharging

Discharging (which should mean "returning things that were charged to get store credit") refers to taking the color out of the fabric. The reaction comes after it dries and I iron it. Here I am adding discharge paste to a piece that I have bleached. Will see what comes of it.

100 Meters of Fun

So, don't tell me that if you had a roll of 100 meters of pfd to play with, you wouldn't. My friend here is showing her take on fun. But for my fun, I think I will cut those yards off and DYE.

Simple Screens

One of my screens is quite large, so I can hit a whole yard with two prints. The other is small. These are "deconstructed" screens, where the block out is thickener and dye, painted the screen and allowed to dry, before squeegeeing the thickened ink through the screen.

Some Discharge

We used the Jacquard discharge paste today, and I love my results. With a tiny squirt bottle, I drew thin lines, then after it dried, I gave it a hot iron to remove the dye.

Some Screening

Got a few minutes to do some screen printing. Love to put layers over layers. Might add more.

Perfectly Gray Day to Photograph

An overcast day was perfect to snap a shot of my shibori half-square triangle quilt. I promised that a pic to the groups who will be making this in upcoming workshops. I use just three one yard pieces; that is the fun of it.

Getting a Part of the Action

I had kept this new piece apart from my assistant, but while I was adding some stitching, she decided to get her paws on it. Guess that's all right.

My Unexciting Life

Often I piece fabric. Sometimes I piece the floor, here to repair a tearout from last year's kitchen reno. You might think I lead a glamorous life -- fooled you!

Before Fall Takes Hold

Mid August has leaves falling just a bit. So, I walk to my favorite garden at the Unitarian Church to see this outrageous display. I love the oppositional colors of yellow and purple.

Studio Tricks

I needed a way to stretch some fabric, and figured that I could just pin to the edge of a plastic bin. This shallow one worked. Clever, no?

Dyeing Imitates Life

The sky darkened to a wonderful rumble of clouds tonight, on my way in for groceries. And I couldn't help to think it was time to get out some pdf and get some dying done. The sky looked just like my hand dyes.

The Little Things, Hello Fifty

Studio engineering here, with a little bottom paper-coller to keep the thread from wrapping on the holder. Not all studio improvements cost. And hello to my fiftieth follower. Thrilled to have you.

Drawer Bliss

This kitchen drawer unit, with miracle concealed glides, dovetail drawers, soft close action, was at the local habitat for humanity donation store for $25. I  put it on wheels, added pulls, and now have the base of my dreams. Studio getting attention.

Facings in Comfort

So, if I do have to sit and sew down lengths of facing, might as well do it from a porch in the Adirondacks. Thanks to friends who offer just the perfect place.

Competing with Sculpture

What do you put for seating when you are furnishing the American Wing Sculpture Court at the Met? Someone choose these. They are fine.

More Garden Tour

The hardscaping is partly what makes this path so nice. It circles the house, and lovely plant material is on either side. Would love to see some sculpture out of natural materials, maybe a beehive of grapevine.

Thread Perfect

I was gifted some beautiful threads, and now can quilt in technicolor. Fun, as always, to follow the line.

Charles James on Organization

In the side bar column, Charles James, who's work is on exhibit at the Met in NYC wrote this, and I quote, (and yes, it is all in caps): 

I HAVE TOLD YOU OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT A WORK OF ART…THE ACT OF CREATING ANYTHING DEPENDS VERY DIRECTLY ON THE ORGANIZATION OF MATERIAL AND TIME AND MOBLIZATION [sic] OF EFFORT ON THE PART OF MANY PEOPLE WORKING TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL..

EACH TAKING ON THEIR INTEREXCHANGEABLE RESPONSIBILITIES, AND HELPING EACH OTHER OVERCOME THEIR PARTICULAR HANG UPS.

Under the Needle

I love to quilt over the lines of my shibori fabric. It is just like drawing. The black and white was made with some stamps a while back. Got this piece on and off the machine, now for the finishing.

Time for the Bathers

Childe Hassam painted "The Bathers" as part of a larger mural for a library for a friend in Portland, Oregon. I love that the 4' high painting is displayed in a mock-up of the library at the Memorial Art Gallery, giving a sense of how it would have been seen.

Summer Festivals

The Park Avenue Arts Festival was this weekend in Rochester. Within walking distance from me, it was my duty to check it out. Funny that the adults are the ones amused here. I thought it was for the kids.

Into the Night

I've never seen a Japanese Lantern before tonight. They are all paper and bamboo, and after lighting a square of light cardboard on fire, the interior heats up, and it floats away. Very high. Just beautiful in the night sky.

Hand Sewing

Every now and again I run in to a tricky seam and it just makes sense to hand sew it. Sharon Stroud taught us a neat way to applique, and I modified it. The trick is to baste the seam, with long machine stitches for me, and then remove them after hand sewing. See my self-threading needle?