Homework for Next Week

QSDS is next week, and I'll be teaching all design all day. I'm taking time to do a dry run on some ideas, and consequently, warm up my improv skills. Still room in the class -- come join us!

12 x 12 for SAQA's Auction

Down to the wire, that's for sure. I've made a small quilt -- just 12" x 12" -- for the Studio Art Quilt Associates annual auction. Need to get it bound, finished, and in the mail tomorrow to meet that June 1 deadline. Then wait for the online auction to see where it goes....

Details, Details

Natalya Aikens's piece Iron Spine 5XL (detail above) caught me at the Quilt National this weekend. She's uses wild materials (plastic bags, dyed dryer sheets, etc.) to depict architectural details, and all with fabulous hand stitching. I admire this work.

Admiration Society

I met Astrid Hilger Bennett back in 2007 when were at another QN opening. She is steadfastly working always. I admire her work, and was happy to join her at Quilt National. A strong voice.

Part of the Fun

Karen Schulz stands next to her work at Quilt National. Meeting her again, and seeing this work is part of why I came to the opening -- to hear why and how these works were made, to hear Karen and all the others discuss the process. Nice weekend.

Hanging With the Gang

Quilt National 2017 opened tonight, and my work, the colorful Normandy, is second in the lineup here. Julia Graziano's work is at left. The works are exciting, the artists here tonight incredibly talented. I'm lucky.

Up For Grabs

In a week or so I'll be in Columbus, Ohio teaching for Quilt Surface Design Symposium. They've asked for a piece for their scholarship auction. So, here it is. Looks like Jacks to me. Oh, and there is still room in my class. Or skip that and just bid on Jacks at the auction.

Radiating Life

Another shot of Circular Abstractions from the Fuller Craft Museum. Curated by Nancy Crow, this show showcases artists she admires, and the challenge to produce work in the genre of a bull's eye.

Git Quiltin'

Why do we leave things to the last minute? Goal is to get this auction piece quilted, mailedt o QSDS, then take care of all the rest soon-to-be last minutes.

Changed My Mind

I looked again at the pile of fabrics from teaching at Pro Chem, and although they were demo yards, there was a lot of new marks and looser feel to the prints. So, this one caught my eye. I've sliced it just a bit. Now off to quilt. Hope to be finished in time to add an auction quilt to QSDS.

It Starts With Ironing

The pile of printed fabric from last wee's Pro Chem class was finally through a last wash, and now  as the iron makes its way across, my thoughts start to form how I'll use the fabric. I've got a piece due for the QSDS auction, if I can get it made up in time.

Explain Yourself

The Finger Lakes Fiber Artists met today and Julia Graziano shared how she came to design this quilt. About a dozen members met, each one working so differently from another, but all excited about fiber work.

Glue Gun Heaven

Fuller Craft Museum's exhibition of works made with -- you guessed it -- q-tips. The artist Ellen Schiffman gave herself a challenge to make a work each week, and many of the weeks she choose to use q-tips  as the media. The texture, form, and shapes were ever changing. 

One Hat Making History

On exhibit at the Fuller Craft Museum is a prototype Pussyhat knit by Stephanie Kamerman. The case also shows an aerial shot of Washington D.C. with the crowd sporting this type of hat. The Pussyhat is a perfect symbol for the resistance to the current political will. And now in a collection, documented.

Quilt, Drape, Cover, Cash

A trip yesterday to a room in Paul Revere's house (yes, that Paul Revere) has a quilt, canopy, wing chair cover, and seat cover all in the same floral fabric. Decorating with one fabric was the way to show off . Ok, maybe this is a reproduction, but it was Paul's house.

The Musical Quilted Line

The end of a site-seeing day in Boston was a concert of synthesized music, along with a light show. The graphics, I'll admit, were great, but all I could think of was quilted patterns. Oh well.

Loving Your Collection

At the Boston's Museum of Fine Arts today,  I took in the Matisse exhibition. The comparison of his works and his collection was the theme, and this Egyptian textile was part of the show. Think of his later cut paper works, and you will see the connection.

Permanently Collected

Honor is to be part of a collection, and Michael James' work  Interference Effect: (Betrayed) Lover's Knot #1 is in the collection of the Fuller Craft Museum. I've been intrigued with his work for years. This piece from 2004 uses digitally printed fabric.

Bull's Eyes

At the Fuller Craft Museum today Kathy Mishima's Life Orbits (detail above) caught my attention for not only the shape and color, but for the extreme quilting threading she put down. If you get the chance to see the exhibition "Circular Abstractions: Bull's Eye Quilts," do.

Beginnings..

...And ending the week's class at Pro Chem, where we all learned to dye this type of fabric. This is one I've made, and Vicki's choice for her next quilt challenge. But might have been made by any of the great women in class this week. Thanks for having me!

Heap of Love

It may look like a pile of escapees from the second grade contest to recolor a giraffe, but this is the beginning of a whole new way to look at color and printing. At least that's the way it is for about a dozen women who worked and played to make Glorious Prints.

Confidence

Getting confident in silkscreening, knowing how to use thickened dye, learning to mix colors, All is part of making Glorious Prints. But having fun, and working so hard you forget to do anything else, is glorious, too.

In the Thick of the Dye

My class this week at Pro Chemical and Dye in Fall River, Massachusetts is full of wonderful women who print gloriously! We've spent the day making fabric with bold color, and layers of graphics. More to come.

On a Roll

My silk scarves have one selvage end, the other is torn, so I will roll that edge and stitch. The little needle guide helps me inch along.

I've Arrived

A gray building beneath a gray sky greets me as I arrive at Pro Chem headquarters in Fall River, Massachusetts. After a day of driving in the rain, I've unloaded under a brilliant sun. Tomorrow we will be all about color; no gray will deter.

List Checked Off

Today was packing day, and I'm happy to say, I've checked all off my list. Buckets, fabric, and silk screens are loaded in the car. Even a full tank of gas. Next night - Fall River and Pro Chem for Monday.

Call me Ishmael

Improvisationally pieced with my printed and dyed fabric, this 2' x 2' piece is off too QSDS. They needed a name for the label. All I could see was a diving board and a splash in the water. So, there you go. Improv Sketch 3 (Diving Board).

Scarves of Silk

Neatly packed, with their hangers, these five scarves are shipped off today for sale in a gallery. I've also left some at the Memorial Art Gallery shop, so time to print more. If you're in my class at Pro Chemical next week, bring along some silk to try printing. It's tricky to print, but beautiful fabric.

Mark It With an X

I blog every day, and rarely, rarely, forget. Last night was forgetting. I spent the bulk of the day printing, getting ready for teaching next week. And making lists. And forgetting. It's morning, I've got coffee, and I'm remembering.

Two Feet Square

If I told you this was 5 feet square, you'd believe me. But it is a 2' x 2' work to send on to QSDS for their quilt show in Columbus. Big is always more appealing for me, but I experiment when I've got to make small. So that's good.