Not All Washed Out

Susan Purney Mark turned me on to using soy wax resist. I love using it as the stop on my screens, and I can use cold water to wash out the thickened dye and leave the resist intact. So perfect.

Not the Cristo Gates...

...but rather a batch of predyed (but not fixed) fabric hanging on the line. You can see a bit of breeze came up to cause me grief. I've waited for weeks, and took a chance here, but suffered the wave and flap, and some fling of dye. I'm still waiting for a calm day.

Equipment Upgrade

My hands were crying for me to change my grab-and-turn faucet handles to a more ergonomic way to get the job washed. So, expensive, but so worth it, my new Moen faucet is installed. My hands are happy.

What Ever Happened to that Tablecloth?

Weeks ago I soda soaked, and then silkscreen an old linen tablecloth. I fell in love with the pattern at the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference. And was inspired by Wendy's tunic. So, here is the result. Remind me to even up my pant legs.

Stay At Home

I am often away from home to talk about my work, so staying home, and being part of the Art in June series at Stephen Merritt's studio was a nice break. I loved explaining the process of creating art quilts with those who were not familiar with quiltmaking; it helped me clarify my process. Good lesson.

Studio Show

I am part of a four artist show at Stephen Merritt's studio in Irondequoit, New York this weekend. With his studio in the back, Raphael McCormick's fiber vessels are on the left, Stephen's ceramics at the right. More work in the distance. Tomorrow will be the last day, you're welcome to stop in.

What Are You Doing August?

This must be Karen, printing away, in my class in Montreal last month. She's reported she is happily using the work she did in class. I'm going to repeat the printing class in August 15-19 through Pro Chemical and Dye in Fall River. That is, if I get another 5 to 6 people to sign up. Hope it is a go! If you are on the fence, decide to join us for the week. I promise you a grand time. And great results.

Hanging from the Rafters

This weekend my work will be in Stephen Merritt's studio for the Art in June 2016 series. You can just spot the "tie rods" -- or as I call them rafters -- where we dropped a line to hook into the hanging slat. There is more work to add, but mine is set for now. Info if you are in Rochester --  merrittvessel.com

Go Get Ice Cream

I noticed I have now a 70th follower. I have deep admiration and respect for my trusty followers, and would offer each an ice cream cone should they happen to visit me. And that it would only cost me about $250 in all.

Birthday Flags

People obsess over scraps. I took perfectly good hand-dyes and cut strips, then cut more. All to make a birthday banner for a friend. Worth it. And I tossed the scraps. After 50, you let go.

Only for One Night

If you wait, this Datura (or moonflower) will open before your eyes at dusk. It lasts just the night, so keep it near. Happy Solstice, and Full Moon!

Fan Club's Fan

Jan, with the fan, shows off her start of the Bow Tie Quilt. All we needed was some material, rotary cutter or scissors, and a sewing machine. For sewing gradual curves, adding skinny line, and improvisational piecing, the featherweight seems just fine.

Bow Ties Debut

What a fun group today for trying out the Bow Tie quilt class. Hostess Anne's studio space was perfect, and we got a few blocks made. But the skill at making those thin lines -- superb! My thanks to the Buffalo Modern Gals.

Friday Night Art

Openings mean different things to its guests. I like to see the work, as I may not be able to return. The opening is my call to view. For others, it is purely social. And, I'll oblige that, certainly. This is the gallery at National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester.

The First Place

What got me started printing on fabric, in the first place, was monoprinting. I still go back to this, from time to time, because it is so painterly. And I love the drawn line. If you find me out at Pro Chemical this August, I'll show you how. The plate I have here is a piece of plexiglass.

Trio on the Line

Can you stand more hand prints? I've washed these three with linen prints, and the lint is akin to the cottonwood trees, only stuck to the fabric. I'm hoping to have the wind shake some off, then will rewash if need be. Geeeesh.

Go Small(er)

Getting ready for teaching at Pro Chemical and Dye this August, and I'm experimenting with silkscreens. I bought some "small" 16 x 20s and this multiple of six pulls offers me some repetition. You can check the class at Pro Chemical and Dye, it's outside of Boston in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Go Big

I've got an old linen tablecloth that I've soda soaked and now printed with my largest silkscreen. Should be a good experiment.

One Last Thing

I've done a dozen things today, but the last part of my list is to take in the Tony Awards. So, tomorrow the list is rewritten, and I'll do another dozen things.

View From Above

Tonight's event was a fundraiser for a group that promotes writing and reading books. What a concept, right? We had the run of the penthouse space way above the city. Brisk warm wind to challenge holding the camera steady for shot of the skyline. Hometown, Rochester.

Beginning Summer

Starting summer means opening wide windows, setting the table, and having friends over to just relax and have a great meal. They brought wine and flowers, I got the sockeye and cheesecake. Travels over for a while, time for summer.

Pretties Done Pretty Well

I'm still thinking about this composition by Ann Marie from my "Cutting Up the Pretties" class. Her sketch is the small bit at left, the right is the drawn out version with her hand painted fabric cut and placed. I know it is not easy to use forms that are not solid fabric, and this piece works.

Small Big Improvement

It seems like a mess, I know, but this is the "new" enlarged printing table for screening and direct dyeing. Out of view is the 150 meters of pfd unspooling in anticipation.

On the Wall

Glad to be home from the Canadian prairies and sort out the suitcases. I've cleared a space, and while doing so, these fabrics got in my wake. On the wall they're worth a glance.

Saskatechewan Stitchers With Hearts

Alongside classes in knitting, quilting, tailoring, and bra design, sewers took time to make dresses for girls in need. Ann Marie is showing them off before they are given away. It's big sky country, and big heart country, as well.

Big Sky, Good Bye

What a spectacular sky for each day in Muenster, Saskatchewan. You'd never tire of this, certainly. I'm headed back to upstate New York, but with fondness for this landscape.

Cutting Up

Ann Marie had Vermeer light for working, but all I could see was the shirt she was wearing. Good thing it wasn't part of Cutting Up the Pretties for my class. Just her hand dyed fabric.

More Eyes on Your Work

Fiber artists often work alone. A retreat, class, or collaboration allows us to get a second opinion or fresh look at our work and our process. So, my class had lots of attention as they took to "Cutting Up the Pretties". Or maybe it was just the newcomer from New York they wanted to see.

Improv Sketches

My Improv Sketch class at the Saskatoon Stitches Conference had wonderful small works in progress throughout the day. Many students were new to free hand rotary cutting, and took like fish to water at adding a skinny line. Well done, my class! And I couldn't resist a second photo of the gang here. They really really are that much fun. Honest.

Knitted Knockers

Show & Tell at the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference included this set knitted as a prosthetic device. They're lovely, and enough said. More fun here outside of Saskatoon tomorrow.