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.

Seeing Triple

Catherine, the one in the middle, was lucky to be born a triplet. Now in her 95th year (as well as her two sisters), she is moving to be closer to her son. She's taught me a lot, as well as influenced scores of people. Today was her send off party, and we all will miss her round these parts.

Ring Ring: You Are Here.

While the Quilts=Art=Quilts show is going on downstairs, upstairs is a new-to-the-Schweinfurth gallery hosting Victoria Findlay Wolfe's works. All based on the double wedding ring pattern, this is one that strays from the marital bliss of the rest. I like the feel of "You Are Here" from 2012.

Trunk Show at the Schweinfurth

Ruth White was on hand yesterday to show her work at the Schweinfurth. She demonstrates that there is no way her shaped quilt will connect without the missing piece. The crowd did not mind; we were thrilled to hear her presentation.

Go Big Screen

Third day of the weekend retreat at the Schweinfurth Art Center has me pulling some graphic prints on fabric. I love the size of these screens. I know that my large squeegee is just at my elbow, but this one was handy. The screen has soy wax applied as the blocking agent.

Almost Legal Drinking Age

This strange and wonderful sculpture/bas relief by Wendell Castle is still where it was installed in the World Headquarters for Bausch & Lomb, now the Legacy Tower, twenty years ago. The painted panels are recessed, and the chain-sawn "frame" is coated with a blistery lacquer. Perhaps when the missing lights are lit, it will leave adolescence and be ready to belt one down.

Re Treat

For three days the Schweinfurth Art Center is holding a retreat. Which is just another version of "get your friends together and have a splendid time in the studio". My fun was working in the dye studio where I did some monoprinting and silkscreening. I'm back tomorrow, can't wait.

Nice to Be Loved

Well, not love, more like like, but nice to have my work featured as the cover for the catalog of the Fiber Currents / Current Fiber exhibit. It is on view in Johnstown, New York, till December 18. Hey, time for a road trip!

Rotary Smile

A friend was here to learn how to cut with a rotary cutter. I made an inventory of what I had. Thought I'd lost the BIG one (my favorite) so bought a second. The "nose" is my first (1981) and is now vintage. The smile is made of  mostly oddballs, and I don't like the ones with the guards. I'll use them for paper.

Fall Color To Dye For

Give me a 71 degree day (with low wind) and I'll be hanging my underpainted fabric. And like a squirrel who stores nuts for later, I'll shibori in the winter. For now, I'm lovin' fall.

Back on Track

I've got some yardage loaded on the longarm. I'll be making some pillowforms to send on to the Pink House Gallery for their seasonal sale. They're fun to make, a great way to cut down the stash to make room for more. That will be this weekend!

The Color of the Moon

I almost slammed on the brakes last Friday when I saw the moon over the horizon. It was this gold, now brought to earth in this (one of the largest I've ever seen) ginkgo tree. Happy, so glad, to be home to see fall's color in WNY.