Reverse Shibori

I started with a nice piece of my hand-dyed fabric, wrapped it as I would a shibori piece, and used diluted bleach to discharge. I love the white lines. Kinda like reverse shibori? Might bring this along to the Brewerton Quilt Show to sell at my booth. Saturday, September 12 just outside of Syracuse.

In Lieu of a Super Full Moon

There is no equipment in my house to record the super moon tonight, so I give you garden fireworks instead. I'm without a clue as to what these are, but they are about 5 feet tall and glorious. Happy Supermoon.

Discharge Results

One of the pieces I experimented with is now out of the wash. Here I dyed, then wax resist, and dyed blue, then discharged those large donuts. I can't wait to use this.

Discharge and Distill

Bev's barn is the perfect place to spray fabric with bleach and see the color fade out. It was a swell summer's day, and I had lots of fabric to use. And, a good way to end the work week. Now to throw it all in the wash.

Final Weekend for Quilts 20/20

It was a couple of years of concern for me to work on this exhibit, and this is its last week at the Susquehanna Art Museum. From left, a bars quilt from the Pilgrim/Roy Collection, a ninepatch from the LancasterHistory.org collection, Dinah Sargeant's piece, and Kathy Loomis' work. All knockouts.

How to Wrap Ten Yards

It takes a bit of hand strength to wrap the pvc pipe and squish down the fabric. The color is underdyed (but not fixed). These will go in two buckets of dye and get processed. They are for a class September 8 (Elmira), as well as a quilt show in Brewerton ( Syracuse) Twilight Stitchers on September 12, where I will be vending

Shibori of Many Colors

It always surprises me how a piece of shibori dyed fabric can have so many variables. This is one for a batch I am making for a class in Elmira next month at the Piecemakers Quilters of Elmira guild. The underdye is blue and red, and overdyed with an orange brown.

What They Think is Fiber Art

Slowly spinning from a string from the ceiling is Alejandro Gutierrez's piece Dreams in the Finger Lakes exhibition. It is made of painted pillowcase.  This is what the juror from the High Museum choose for what he described as quality work. And I did read his statement. And wait -- Gutierrez's second piece (made of painted t-shirts) received the Rochester Contemporary Award of $500. I'll be back to boycotting this show again.

Finger Lakes Exhibition

I finally got to the Memorial Art Gallery, found my favorite. This mixed media piece by Belinda Bryce has layers of imagery (those light blue dots) as well as a cylinder, hat, circles and boxes of color. There was little fiber in attendance.

Riding in Circles

The Denzel Carousel at Ontario Beach Park was built in 1905. Got to visit it tonight, after all, it is summer. Pick your favorite -- ostrich, pig, or maybe  a cat with a fish in its mouth. I rode a rabbit.

Goofey Ginko

I've never seen a fruiting Ginko. And I believe that you don't know the sex of the plant until it matures and produces (or not). Female plants produce these seeds or fruit, and when they fall, they smell like vomit or rancid butter. Not a good sensual pairing for such a lovely leaf.

Finished and Off to Florida

I'm shipping on this New Big Leaf to Sarasota. This January I'll be there for a workshop with the Friendship Knot Quilters' Guild. This time I used two lovely hunks of hand-dyed fabric, with another (green) for the veins. I like the effect, not to mention the ease in letting the fabric do all the work.

Muscle Memory

I was proofing a blouse top today and had to stop and measure. Measure what? That 5/8" seam. I am so hard wired to sew a 1/4" seam that I have completely forgotten how to sew a garment.

Late Night Snack

It's binding time tonight, late. And that means a bowl of cheerios to go with. The hairclip idea (use instead of pins) was a tip from Jeanne. My tip is to use some that aren't shiny. Oh, the glare.

Shortcuts

I've started another (yes!) New Big Leaf, and since I was using the same fabrics, I've attached the veins to the leaf fabric before I cut out the sections. Now that's better than chain piecing. Those who have made this pattern know what I am up to.

A Pile of Pretties

Art Quilt Tahoe is where I will be taking these fabrics for a class in "Cutting Up the Pretties". It is all about how to design with the precious fabrics collected, and kept. The class is filling now, so if you are thinking you've got the first week in November free, sign in.

Ohio in March

I'm bringing this little quilt I call my Skinny Line Leaf to the series of workshops planned for Lake Metroparks in Ohio next March. Today was photo day for this, as well as deadlines for workshop descriptions. Advance planning -- can I package the summer sun for the ides of March?

The Newest New Big Leaf -- Taa-Daah

I thought you would like to see that I have chosen to put the lights in the corners. This is the New Big Leaf 4, and I will be taking this with me when I teach this workshop in Elmira, New York, and Simsbury, Connecticut this coming September.

Pink is the Operative Color

Funny how we hold on to a favorite color. I made a series of works titled "Pink Leaf" even though I am not fond of pink. But somehow it must be part of my color vocabulary. Like how some work wonderful pieces in neutral, or total black. Guess I shouldn't fight that pink.

Mom / Leaves

Mom and I often visited the nursing home's courtyard. I can't say this is where I got the color scheme for the New Big Leaf Quilt (I'll unveil tomorrow) but when I saw this, I had to put two and two together.

Mourning Urn

Susie Brandt put a cemetery urn below the weeping willow in this homage to a palampore. I so enjoyed the works that are in the last days at the Schweinfurth Art Center. And the urn is for Sandra.

Stubby Art

One of the fantastic pieces from the Schweinfurth Art Center is made of pencil stubs that are strung and figured into natural forms. This is by Jennifer Maestre grabbed me.

Today at the Schweinfurth Art Center

Part of the exhibitions at the Schweinfurth "Material Remix" is this wonderful room of textile works by Susie Brandt. The large works channel Indian Palampores, and are done in her wild style. Don't miss this if you are anywhere near Auburn, New York. Ends August 16.

Chicken Feed

This is one of those photos that I love to use to start abstract works. It has neutral tones, distinct areas (shapes that stand out), an interplay of light, and tight cropping. Last night I took this while on a garden tour. Never know what comes across your path.

Studio Mascot

Found at a yard sale, this Mr. Peanut is getting hosed down before he dries out and takes his place as the sewing machine god in the studio. I remember using kiln gods in college. Should work in another medium.

Finish Work

Binding on the leaf quilt while visiting the nursing home. The colors are screaming amidst the white linens on the bed.

Back on the Wall

Now I've cleared the decks and Process #2 can hang for a while. I used this as a demonstration for a CD made for Quilting Arts that is due this fall. Now it's time to finish it for my Art Quilt Tahoe's class in late October.

'Speriment

I've had this blue dyed fabric "washing out" for over a week. I switch out the water each time I dump the dehumidifier. The rinse water is fairly clear by now. Wonder what happens if the cotton is wet for this long. That's my 'speriment.

Festivities for Saturday

Yesterday was perfect for a friend's bridal shower. My contribution was the flower arrangements.

Judging Day

One of the fun tasks was to judge for the Park Avenue Festival here in Rochester. I covered two categories: Fibre Accessories and Fibre Wearables. My job was to talk to all 80 on my list and determine two award winners. Perfect day, and I beat the crowd.