Rembering

My mother's requested a Cattleya Orchid for her funeral. In August, I could find only the smaller, more modest Cymbidium. Today would be her 102 birthday, and this orchid, seen at the Lamberton Conservatory yesterday, reminded me of what I could not give her.

Life Lessons

A shaver on the last board for my upstairs ceiling. College woodworking, where I learned all of  life's lessons,  taught me how to construct, how to finish, using correct tools, and knowing good design. I had two teachers; I'll never forget them.

Fabric Not

One more close up from the encaustic work of Katherine Bevier. I couldn't resist the layers, the overlay of color, and the motifs. When I head to the studio, I'll take a lesson from her work, and translate with thickened dye. Fabric, yes.

Q: When is a Quilt Not a Quilt?

A: When it is work made by Katherine Bevier, whose work in encaustic certainly mimics the improvisational piecing of patchwork, and at times references the medium through titles and imagery, but is all together a different (and exciting) animal. Her show at the Legacy Tower ends tomorrow.

It's In the Mail

Well, actually on the UPS truck. I've got nine works on their way to the Lake Metroparks Farmpark 25th Quilt Show in Kirtland, Ohio. I'll check on them, as well as teach March 7- 13. Scope out the show at http://lakemetroparks.com/events/quilts2016.shtml. It runs from February 12 to March 23. Plenty of time to visit.

Time for a Redoo

Decided that the old silkscreen could be risen from the dead. Why not? So, with corner braces, and some new old sheer curtain material, I'm back in business. Did I mention the roll ($9.61!!) it took to duct tape it?

You Know I Love Leaves

Before my mind completely leaves behind my Florida visit (I'm denying the snow outside here), I wanted to add a pic from last week's walk in the Six Mile Cypress Nature Conservancy. You can see the reflection, feel the warmth. But beside that -- check out the line quality.

Combinations

A slice of life from the Naples Botanical Garden. This reflecting pool presents with a random, and pleasing leaf pattern, and the tile work is two-dimensional and graphic. And I did not cut and splice. All I did was frame and shoot. I like to do this with fabric -- butt together and see how one piece affects another.

Moon Rise, Sun Set

I've left the Gulf shore, and am now back home. The nights we sat in that hot spa trying to line up the planets, either side of the moon, are past. Tonight's full moon has me looking out from inside. This is the beach at sunset at Naples. I'm the running kid (in my mind).

Looking Back

I'm safe back home, far from the East Coast's major storm, reflecting on my week in Sarasota. These sketches, to their makers, may seem odd and "unusable", but to my eye, present great possibilities. There's shape, line, contrast, and design to be mined here. Looking back is not a bad thing.

Trying It Out

Often, my class is a place to try new ideas, to jumpstart something new, or just to get away for a day. There is fun, but lots to do. I'll be heading home tomorrow to the cold, cold north. I'll take away the warmth I found.

Chorus Line

What a class! With bravery and gusto the women of the Friendship Knot Quilters' Guild take to the design wall and prove their mettle. What fun we had for three days of design. I'll miss the warmth -- of the Florida sun and the gang in Sarasota.

Quick View

At last night's show and tell, at the Friendship Knot Quilters' Guild in Sarasota, Ellen Lindler had two wonderful quilts. This very quick shot attests to the much-to-short amount of time to see the work, to check out its brilliance, Oh, how it would be nice to see it hanging properly! Well, such is the monthly quilt meeting.

Sarasota's Got Me

We're ready to  start tonight's lecture, and it was a packed house for the Friendship Knot Quilter's Guild. Yes, they all lasted through my 400 slides, and yes, we had fun. That's all that matters.

R&D / R&R

At his Florida laboratory in Ft. Myers, Edison sought the key material that would make rubber. His research and development led him to the goldenrod plant. It was my rest and relaxation today that allowed me to visit the museum today. (And you thought this was a stage set.)

Swamped

Today was a time to soak up the heat. a visit to the Corkscrew Conservancy and its many swamps was in order. A couple of miles of the board walk, an alligator and its young, and a bittern siting was rejuvenating.

Reading the Boards

I'm getting better at reading these boards now. And it helps to know the delay is in place for Ft Myers. Long lunch at JFK.

Packing It In

Maybe it's good that I can only bring on two suitcases. Well, I could bring three, but I can't figure how to manage to get them around the airport and to the rental car. Flight to warmer climate tomorrow. Can't wait.

Screen Shots of Outtakes

There is always a rebuild before I present a lecture. I've got it fairly smoothed, and continue to edit. My outtakes are numbering around 150 by now. Which will leave me the 400 slides for the lecture. I don't say "hold on to your seats" for nothing.

Tubing Out for Quilting Arts

Tonight was preview night (this is a shot of my TV screen) for the episode taped this spring with Susan Brubaker Knapp for Quilting Arts TV. The DVD was delivered today. I'm not too bad. Someone did my makeup, and I smiled too broadly, but otherwise, it'll do.

Because I Can

I'll be putting these in my suitcase for my visit to Sarasota next week. Might be fun to take them along, just in case there is not enough fabric in Florida.

Hand - E - Work

Sunday night, cold, dark, Masterpiece followed by Sherlock. I'm gonna get out the needle and thread.

Taking Notes

Not much glamor in getting stuff ready for a class. I'll be off to Sarasota in a little more than a week, and looking forward to the workshop "A Dozen Ways: Design for Art Quilts" with the Friendship Knot Quilters' Guild. Plus, I'm hoping to get a few days of respite from this cold north.

Dyed in the Wool

A friend gave me a handful of beautiful white wool, and asked me to experiment with dying it along with my cotton. The feel is absolutely beautiful -- almost like butter. I've tried some presoaking in soda ash with silkscreening. I've more to find out. Tell you later.

Life in the Finger Lakes

After a stop at the New York Culinary Center in Canandaigua, and a view of the sunset from there, a friend and I took in an exhibition of works by Mark Stash, editor of "Life in the Finger Lakes". You can visit the Wood Library in Canandaigua and see them too. Not all of winter needs to be chilly.

On My Head

While trying out my new computer, I came across this image from the European Patchwork Meeting's exhibition of Quilt National 2011. The original show asked us to all put a sleeve on top and bottom, something I never do, but had to comply. Now you see why I don't. This is upside down, and not caught, I reckon. Loads of photos taken, I'm sure.

The Secret (at last) to Washing Out

Ok, it may not be THE SECRET, but I have been washing out the hand-dyed yards five, six, or more times to get a clear rinse water. Time and Money! I stumbled on an online suggestion to leave the fabric in very hot water for a half-hour or beyond. Then to pop in the washing machine. Works great.

Way Back Then

While searching for an image of "Pink Leaf 4 (yellow)" I found this.  Guess that is how I made this piece. Looks like partly from a large leaf drawing, then improvisationally made background. It was featured in the exhibition, just finished, Fiber Currents / Current Fiber, curated by Judith Plotner.

In the Zone

Time has no accounting when I am moving dye around fabric. I suspect that this is how any addict feels, like a runner who has struck her stride, or a reader who is completely engaged in a book.

New Year, New Screen

Noticing movement in the corner of my silk-screen, I removed the tape and screen material. Seems like after staying together for 30 years, it might be time for a do-over. (Or maybe chuck it all and get a new screen.)

Brief Sunshine to Work

I started the day finishing the facing on the latest work. Haven't seen the sun in a while, so had to catch it. And my regulation cup of  joe.