Year's End

I'm always amazed with what has happened in a year gone by -- many new places, new projects, new friends. But is also comes with saying good bye and closing chapters. For me, this suspended log is like that disbelief I feel facing another year. I've no idea what to expect.

On the Table

Time to screen some aprons. Want to take some to Sarasota next month. I'll bring these and some fabrics I am dying. If you are in Sarasota, might want to join in the fun with the Friendship Knot Quilters. My lecture is January 18th. I'm already looking for warmth!

Back to the Dye Pots

Why do they even call them "dye pots." Seems so archaic. Let's just say they are buckets of dye. And very messy. Which is why I meet people who say "I'll gladly purchase your dyed fabric, 'cause I don't want to do that myself."

Pack 'Em Up

Four bundles of six quilts are ready to load to deliver to the Bausch & Lomb headquarters building for their internal gallery. Not a well known place to see art, but many pass through the halls, and you'll bet they have great vision.

Traditions

As we made up a couple of pillowcases for gifts, I found that my daughter did some hand embroidery -- entirely in her style -- on the case's trim. Maybe some of my talents (for doing your own thing) will get passed down after all.

Fighting Off the Beasts

Gone for just a second, I return to find this Stink Bug claiming territory. As if I needed more distraction to get things done. De-bugged, and now back at work.

Luster of Midday

The full moon wasn't lustering anything tonight (no snow!) but that doesn't mean I didn't notice. It has become a marker for time's passing, That it falls on Christmas Day is twice as powerful a message, and I am grateful for any light it can shed to illuminate the way. Hope you all have had a very lovely and merry day.

Eve's Celebration

Tonight we wind down' tomorrow we'll all take a break, count how blessed we are, and enjoy what the year has been to us, and be ready for what the new year will bring. Merry Christmas!

The Night Before the Night Before

When hush settles in this evening, I return to the design wall. I've got more added, more connected. I have neither a plan for this, nor know what it means. But that's all right.

Red Berries for the Season

On our Winter Solstice I bring you winterberry holly as seen on the Highline in New York City. I got out and about (even at the risk of setting back my ankle's healing) because it was just lovely to see the city with my family.

Rubble

On the Fulton Montgomery Community College campus is a heap of rubble from (I suppose) the collapse of the twin towers in New York City. Rusting, mangled, and disconnected, the parts seem so removed from where they were once hidden and functional. It is a confusing statement for me.

Commercial Gallery

My weekend trip to New York City included a stop at ABC Carpet and Home. The furniture gallery had these Tom Dixon pink wingback chairs. The consensus of my party was that they would best fit the evil bad guy of a sci fi movie. I still thought them grand.

Silk Stitched

Sue Cavanough's piece "Ori-Kume #31" intrigued me during my visit to the Fiber Currents show. The silk is gathered, stitched, dyed and floats on the wall. I'll be looking for other works from her in the future.

Last Look at Fiber Currents/Current Fiber

I finally made it over to the exhibition curated by Judith Plotner. Her selections of fiber work -- in all manner of form -- is just a wonderful cross section of innovative fiber work. Mine is at left, Kevin Lunney second from right, and Betty Busby at right. Now all that is left is a slick catalog to remember it all.

Gift Ideas from Yours Truly

Unbelieveable, but some have watched this more than once! My DVD is available through the Quilting Arts web site (you can find the link at right) and makes a great watch while you roast chestnuts. Just sayin'.

Cutting Table Takeover

It's that time when the perfect work surface gives it up for the onslaught of wrapping paper and ribbon. I'm almost finished with decorating gifts, tomorrow it's back to cutting fabric!

Studio Time

Adding a few more bits. Just to see where the road goes. I'll move stuff around tomorrow.

Break in the Action

Just a slight sprain in the ankle keeps me from getting to the studio. I know that the design wall will wait, and I will be back to the boards any day. Meanwhile, I'll admire the glow.

There Are More People in This Room

It's hard to explain how great it is to have my work hang with so much air around it. I tell people to live with their work, to experience how different it becomes in multiple situations, and to know how it reacts to the given space. This is about as perfect as it gets.

White for the Season

As a counterpoint to yesterday's post (excessive, filling), let me add Maude White's paper carved piece now on view at the Burchfield Penney's current show. The push pins hint at the scale here. It is a stunning piece -- fragile, complex, and ephemeral.

By the Dozens

Cookie Day was here and my mother's favorite was made. These Cucidati started with 10 cups of flour. I think I've been making these for about 40 years now. Figure I've got another 30 left in me. Then my heirs can do the baking.

Let Me 'Spain Myself

Art in Craft Media, at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, hosted tonight's tour with artists that participated in the show. Bill Stewart, well known for his wild and wonderful ceramics, explains his involvement in the arts. We all listened. You see my piece (behind him) leaning in as well.

Cross Hairs

I've been experimenting with this skinny line for some time. I'm using some material that I was gifted. It is just a fabulous print, and makes a great line. I think this plaid was gifted as well. Love them together.

Sketching on the Wall

Just more moving things around. Like I say, people think I just throw fabric on the design wall and see what sticks. Sometimes, I believe it myself.

Company's Coming

Three for two dollars met my requirement for where to start a soup, and I picked these up at the public market. Now to bake them, and combine to make curry apple squash soup for later this week. I'll get to baking cookies next.

Hooked Leaves

You know I have a spot for leaves, and these I saw at a nifty yarn/hooking/quilt store Fiber & Art Emporium in Hammondsport recently. Carolyn Spiller  hooked this little rug using wool. There is a lot to tempt in this store. Maybe it's a good thing I live just that much distance away.

Listen to an Artist Everyday

Find an artist. Ask questions, listen for a different point of view, see if it makes sense. Today Ayden Ture explained that for him, he knows when a piece is finished when he wants to burn it. Meaning, I guess, that there is no further changing the work.

Saturday at 2:40

Waiting for me is this work, now hanging in the members' exhibition at Rochester Contemporary Gallery. ROCO's "The Day the Artists Speak" runs this Saturday and the next. It is a free for all, with artists speaking on their work every ten minutes. You never know what will be said, but I promise to tell all tomorrow around 2:40.

Full House for ROCO's Opening

Hardly room to move tonight, which is good. With 900 members, and this being the members' show, it should be packed. I'm wearing the required color (chartreuse) and checking my work's karma.

Needing a Road Map

Not sure which avenue this will take. Right now, it's at a crossroad, and looking for direction. Which means,  in this spirit of this analogy, it is stalled in the middle of the road. But I like the red, and I loooove the plaid.

Two Years Later

More than two years ago I acquired a hunk of ivory silk. Two years ago, I made two of five roman blinds and now it's time to finish the room. Right?

Applied Design

Someone designed the print for the fabric in this coat. Yes, it's substandard wool quality, but I don't care. The bold print, the graphic black and white, captures my eye. It is so Northwest Coast, or native to my sense. Or maybe an exploded Kuba cloth design.

Classics

I've been given five quilts that need new homes. Part of the process is to identify and document the works. This one is similar to Crosses and Losses, or Anvil, and seems to be its own pattern, according to my friend Nancy. I'll bundle them up, then find where to sell them. Meanwhile, it's nice to look at them up close.

Black Friday Hubbub

Even today, Saturday, is somehow linked to the frenzy of shopping. I took a loooong drive to visit Hammondsport, the southern end of Keuka Lake, and was pleased to see this lively red, green, and white quilt as the backdrop for antiques.

Hand Formed

I happened upon Elizabeth Lyons' Montauk vase today at her studio sale. It is something to hold, moving your hands around to feel the forms. The glass surface is sandblasted, resembling a rock, but light as glass. Reminds me of shapes formed only by squeezing with a bare hand; impossible to do with molten glass.

Moon Phases

First it is here, then it is gone. Then returning, just to tease with a sliver. This lovely piece is by Ruth White, and made of cotton velvets. The moons are actually see through.

Mourning Moon

Tonight I hiked under the full moon. Known as the "mourning moon" to some, it is seen as the final bit of light before the dark of winter. It is also a symbol of the shedding of old things -- and leaving behind -- before we reach the beginning of winter, and then the new year. Like taking note of what you need, and what you can do without.

Stealing Ideas (or Maybe Just Borrowing)

That's Mary teasing me with her hunk of fabric. When I teach, the most fascinating fabric shows up. I can hardly contain my greed. If the owner is strong, they will resist my pleas. Just having this photo is enough for me to explore direct painting next time I work in my dye studio.

Perks of Travel

After my Saturday lecture in Ann Arbor, I got out on the town to see the sights. Considering the storm of the afternoon, my tour was inside the shops and sights unique to this city. Plus I took away many ideas for how to deck my halls -- which will be this week when we have warmer weather.

Mary's Design Wall

Mary brought her ingenious design board to class. Made of four panels of foam insulation, it has two spines that slip through cloth and duct tape. Love that duct tape. And thanks, Mary, for sharing.

Ann Arbor Lineup

My lecture with the Ann Arbor Quilt Guild today ended with a show and tell from yesterday's Slash and Burn class. Still pinned to the design walls, these compositions show the range of work we did. These were all accomplished quilters, and the atmosphere we had was just wonderful.

Too Much Fun

Good friends in the class today. They seemed to be working on the same quilt, at least one influenced the other. Had a great time with the Greater Ann Arbor Quilters.

Packed and Ready to Go

A couple of new suitcases and I'm ready to roll. Heading to Ann Arbor, and will embrace the warmth of the GAAQG. The weather that promises to chill, so I'll need that warmth.

Creative Sashing

I have been tasked with trying to find out about a handful of antique quilts for a friend. This one has and interesting sashing throughout. And looking at these quilts closeup puts me in the mood for my lecture Saturday in Ann Arbor about the relationship of traditional quilts with contemporary works.

Broken Up

While moving just too quickly, I smashed a bowl. What was so interesting was that it sectioned in evenly sized pieces. I've never seen that. Must be a sign that I am to make a piece with repetitive shapes that don't vary. Or that it's time to vacuum. One or the other.

On the Design Wall

What a nice summer to work on some printed fabrics. I've got a selection that has started some chatter on the design wall. Let's see where the scissors takes this group.

Susan's Stencil

I lusted after a stencil that came to my class last month, and (with pity) was gifted the lovely plastic cutout. This is one yard treated by rolling thickened dye over the stencil, along with printing it "inked" with thickened dye. The hand is beautiful, the colors rich.

Warm Ups

The heat is turned on here, and time to get that machine warmed up for some work. Tonight was a quick sketch -- it is about 30 x 22 -- just to see what I could do with some hunks that were hanging on the design wall. Which means, my design wall is clear and ready for something big. Ha!

Shipped Off As Well

A passle of pillows are now settled in to the Pink House Gallery waiting for the holiday open house. Made from lightweight canvas with screened printing, these were lightly quilted on the long arm. Might have to make some for moi.

Out the Door

...or better still -- in the mail! These aprons have multiple layers of dye applied with under dying, silkscreening and stamping. I've got six in the box to mail to a Gallery Store out of state.