Judy's in the House

You might call this a "flash" exhibition. Judy Kirpich gave a great talk about her work, backed up with her distinctive chorus, at the Schweinfurth Saturday. Up close, personal, stunning.

Building in Small Scale

When I see this I see a tall modern skyscraper with small buildings and activity at the base. In reality, it is a superb ceramic sculpture about 4 feet tall. Posted outside Portland's Eutectic Gallery, ready to get you in the mood for what is inside.

Railing Wonders

I stopped in my tracks as I walked pasted the Pacific Northwest College of Art School, when I saw a temporary installation of turned (how, I can't quite figure) spindles that were being placed in position on the main building's entrance. Totally fun. Must be I'm in Portland.

She Came with Inspiration

Yes, I know, I know, another post of my "New Big Leaf" class. But the one today had a wonderful quiet pace, and bits of wisdom -- courtesy of  Ruthann. Thank you, Portland, for being so much fun.

Fallen Fruit

A quick stop in the Portland Art Museum today to see "Paradise" a two person installation from Fallen Fruit (David Burns and Austin Young) that uses the permanent collection as narrative for western expansion, biblical themes on the garden of eden, links with Native American Art, and then some. You'd have to see it to believe it.

Street Side Fare

A walk to the History Museum in Portland passes a park ringed with food trucks. This seemed like a patchwork design to me -- albeit an asymmetrical one. What grabs me is the color, the repeated forms, and just for accent, a figure. I ate at Powell's books which was just fine too.

Slugs on the Street

Dan Coron's fiberglass and steel sculptures like his "Nepenthes" is seen in various forms around Chinatown in downtown Portland. And although they are supposed to resemble various plants native to Portland, to me they look like slugs. About to slime you as you pass. Bonus -- they light up!

Pretend this is Saturday Night

And that you are landing in Portland where you have to walk across the tarmac and you just look to the left and see the moon.

Arbutus Tree

On an island, the draw is the shore where the land meets the water. But looking inward are trees I've not lived with, new and exciting. This arbutus changes its coat through the year, and now peals back to expose a smooth skin. Wish old age could be so kind.

Ferry Ride

There's a sense of the ordinary on a ferry ride. No fancy terminals, no stewards in uniforms, no polished waiting room. The cars line up with trucks, you leave your bag down below (next to the newspaper machine) and climb up stairs to look over oceans that are extra ordinary.

Late Post for Tonight

Blame the wine. The right for tonight, the left for tomorrow. Who can say what the future will be. Made it to Saturna for a bit of R&R.

Walk With the Giants

Final day on Vancouver Island where the trees are 700 years old. And that is the new growth. Loved the sunshine, smattering of gold trees, and giants of cedar and pine. Spectacular.

Show and Tell in Pacific Daylight Savings Time

I know, you are all thinking it's waaaay before midnight, but this post is coming in yesterday, so to speak. So, I'm counting it as Monday night. Here in B.C. still and enjoying the election celebration. And a lovely show and tell at today's Quilt House Quilters in Parksville.

Room to Breathe

It is unusual to have such a grand room to work. Lots of light, lights of wall space, plenty of room to spread out. No wonder that we accomplished so much is such a short time. It was a wonderful day to be with the Parksville Quilt House Quilters Guild in B.C.

Cut, Sew, Shift

Tackling a new way of handling fabric does not always come easily. But then, sometimes it does. We (in Parksville, British Columbia) took on improvisational piecing, inserting skinny lines, and learning basic freezer paper templates all in one day. You bet we were tired. Tired, but happy.

Touching Down

A brilliant day to fly, and this scene takes in parts of Vancouver and the Coast Mountains behind. I've landed, made my way to the BIG ISLAND and tomorrow start my day on Pacific Standard Time.

Packing Those Patterns

Portland's Metropatch Society has selected "The New Big Leaf" for their fun with me. So, I've printed the patterns and sent them along. But, first up is Parksville, Vancouver Island and a couple of great seminars.

A Plant Full of Vim

My friend Marcia gives out loads of cannas each spring. Mine were potted and a delight all summer. Still in bloom today.  I put it aside when I had to depot and garage the ceramic for the winter. Thank you, Marcia.

Pack It Up

Not until the end of tonight's talk with the Tompkins County Quilt Guild did I remember to take a photo for a blog post. Oh, well, this is reality too. Friends pack me up, and off I go. Lovely to be with my Ithaca peeps, thanks for the wonderful hospitality.

Check Off the List

Last warm day before I leave town. Paint trim on new door, get plants in ground, build step for side door, switch screen for storm door, soda soak more yards, turn the compost pile, newspaper + mulch new garden beds, bring in indoor plants (geraniums above), mow, store pots, clear garage and move car in. Check, check, and check.

More Art -- Stainless Steel This Time

The Art in Craft Media really makes the statement that a medium makes the message. Here is Tom Breen's "Yin Yang Lounge Chair" with two parallel sheets of perforated stainless steel held with fasteners. He said that it was possible to sit in many different positions. So, functional, too.

Art in Craft Media Opening

What a night. Can't say how pleased I was to be included in the Art in Craft Media exhibition at the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo. My work is directly in front as you enter, flanked by Bill Stewart's work. Great hospitality, wonderful artists, great night.

1000 Posted Post Cards

Saranac Lake's Blue Seed Gallery is showing "1000 Postcards to Vermontville" by Travis Jeffery. Lining the wall are collages sent to a friend through the U.S. Postal Service. Each is pithy, engaging, and very hard to resist grabbing to see the back. (I managed, as I am a trained professional.)

Me All the Time

I've got a lapful of my DVDs, and one of these days, and soon, I will watch it. Especially since others have -- and they now can quote me. But first I'll need a very stiff drink with a stiff drink chaser. Want your copy? Order from Interweavestore online for download or the real DVD.

Turned Upside Down

I was up in Saranac Lake to give a workshop, and happened to pass the Blue Seed Art Center with this fun metal upside down chair. Seems the chair and the building are in the same state of mild rusting. Meant for each other?

Hello Simsbury Gang -- Here's "Cat and Mouse"

I couldn't bring this to my class in Simsbury, Connecticut at Sew Inspired. But I talked about it -- how I started with a photo, used a grid to draw a freezer paper pattern, and abstract the image to make this. It's in the Geisel Gallery at Legacy Tower for my month long exhibition. And (via pics) in Quilting Arts this month.

Seeing the Whole from the Parts

Each time I work with artists, I am taken with how quickly their style of working presents. Karen is adding color to monoprints, but the group of "sketches" is talking to each other. This scene is repeated throughout the entire room, and is hardwired in the working process.

Great to Print

The Schweinfurth has a marvelous wet studio, and we had the place hopping. You can see that Victoria made a few fat quarter sized prints, then went all out on a large piece of yardage. My class "Surface Design Sampler" was like eating a box of assorted candy -- had to try more. And we did.

Monoprinting in Auburn

Very dark blue dye is used here thickened. The laminated sign, given to me years ago, is light enough, the lamination keeps it cleanable. I can stack them, move them around, and rearrange the goopey wet prints.

Pairs

I love things in two, duos, duets, doubles. Diptychs I love to explore. The relationship between two parts, how they play or relate. These pairs, well, perfect. But will quickly go, eaten, gone. So much for being a pair.

Joe the Quilter

Wednesday's quilt club meeting had the wonderfully relaxed and talented Joe Cunningham visit. He's been making statements using coth since the late 70s. Must have started in grammar school. We all had a great time.