Cheesy Glasses, Nice Wine

Maine Quilts Festival's banquet on Saturday had wine, and even wine in plastic was welcome. Then we all sat back to hear Phillipa Naylor talk. Which was even funnier with a bit of wine.

Her Smile Says It All

I love this shot of digging in to work, and loving the challenge at hand. I've spent three days teaching a room packed to the gills with great people in Augusta Maine. We took on improvisational design, composition, and techniques for transferring designs. All good.

Use What You Have

Charlene, like all, came prepared with a bag full of fabrics from which to use. But, one single, perfectly dyed fabric was all she needed.

Design Day

Twenty-five intrepid quilters met me in Maine Quilt Festival for a day with a dozen design ideas. We sewed, cut, pasted, and reassembled our way to many sketches useful for future works. It was all about composition. And a bit of fun.

Too Much Red and White?

...Apparently, not. The Maine Quilts Festival this weekend has rows and rows and rows of red and white quilts. All fun, in all sizes and patterns. My stash of reds grows, and I'll make one someday.

Happy 40th Maine Quilts!

Pat Delaney's quilt hangs to the left of mine at the entrance to the Maine Quilt Festival. Just a couple of flights getting here, I'm now in Augusta and ready to go. Tomorrow we'll be slashing and burning.

Gathering Leaves

While getting supplies for teaching this weekend in Augusta, Maine (hello there Maine Quilt Festivalites!) I came across these foliage squares. I needed these for an upcoming event, so I snagged a few dozen. Remind me to show you the finished project.

Send Me a Text

Cynthia Corbin's work "Text" is now on view at the QBL show held in conjunction with the quilt retreat just south of Syracuse. Aside from her compelling fabric, the design is a clever used of typography and shape.

More Work Sans Screen

After I've screened a piece or two, I make another with the mixed colors and "paint" with a scraper the thickened dyes. The surface takes on a texture and depth, and I like to use these pieces juxtaposed with other printed and graphic ones. This will be at the QBL mini mart Monday night.

On the Line

With a day of sun, I've got more soda soaked yards drying on the line. My path from the door to the line is in full bloom, a perk of the job.

Nutty Quilter

All who saw Sharon Evans' five iterations of the "Dear Jane" quilt agree that she was nuts to make these, but a good nuts. She made all six (only five on view) at once, start to finish. They are at the Quilting by the Lake quilt show at the Onondaga Community College through next week.

Taking Over My Hammock

Three silk scarves were drying on the hammock outside this morning. Two went to QBL to sell, the other will travel to "discharge day" next month when my peeps gather. Tomorrow is the last day to find my fabric at QBL. Next week -- I'll be there just Monday night.

It Really Is This Much Fun

Lisa was in my May Pro Chemical and Dye class where she printed this cotton dress. We had fun then, and loads of fun seeing the results today, while she was in class at Quilting By the Lake. Wish I could see the linen tablecloth she printed!

Quilt Show this Week

For years, I've admired Noel Keith's work. Made with silk, these compositions glow with light. The block is simple, but she has a way of making it move and shift. Another from the show at Quilting By the Lake this week.

Round the 'Hood

Part of the fun in vending at a quilt show is seeing the works. This Joe Cunningham's "Michigan Winter" has wonderful stitching with raw edge applique. I've got a detail for its close-up.

Controlled Chaos

For the first week (gone the second) at QBL, the months of printed fabrics are all askew. They're happily unfolded, and may not get ordered again, until packed to take to Maine Quilt Festival the end of the month.

End of the Week

Visiting Great Camp Sagamore today, the end of a vacation week, made me think how fortunate I am to have the Adirondacks within a day's drive. I've visited almost every year for the past thirty, and am always renewed. Tomorrow is QBL with a suitcase of printed fabrics to sell.

Pink House for Art

Cris Winters runs Art at the Pink House, where she shows her work in eco printed textiles and fabric collages. Her Saranac Lake house and shop attest to the fact that every corner of the world has at least one of us textilers in it.

Just Suggesting

Should we be thinking about current politics, here is what that mushroom cloud would look like. Only seen from below.

Line, Squiggle

A visit to John Brown's Museum yesterday had this Victorian fence -- wrought iron with alternating squiggle and tassel as the barrier. His grave site is a mix of mid nineteenth century headstone, and this all black statement.

Repeat this Theme

The circular shape, just cut with a slice missing, is one of my favorite images. As I canoe/kayak near home, or now away in the Adirondacks, the camera finds this to capture over and over. Must mean I need to make another work focused on this, right?

Packin for QBL

I've got the suitcases started with my hand printed fabric. I'll be at Quilting By the Lake as a vendor for their first week, starting on Sunday. Visit, if for nothing else, the great group of quilts that will be there for the show. All at Onondaga Community College, just south of Syracuse.

Fridge Tour

To live life with a clear refrigerator, I'd be someone else.  Amid a garage sale notice (won't be there), list of songs from another time, instructions for mixed drink, there's a poster from QN '17.

Bit of Rain

This Summer is the opposite of last summer. When we had a drought, and my lawn died, we now have ample water. Which only means that I a) time my soda-soaked hanging out for between rain, and b) can catch a photograph just after the rain.

Stackin Up

In about a week I'll head over to Quilting By the Lake to be a vendor and sell some of these hand dyed and printed fabrics. There aren't many vendors in the exhibit area, but those that are there have wonderful thinks. But I must be biased.

Deception

This is before the washing. And trust me, it looks better here. Somehow the contrast didn't hold, and it always, always, always looks better when it's wet than when it's dry. Gotta have a few dye dogs.

Wash Out

Although it looks like a recent drowning, this is my overflow fabric seeking another wash sink. I'm so glad I put in a second tub, so that I have three tubs in which to do the preliminary HOT wash. Yes, my heater is dialed up.

It Happens on the Fourth

Somewhere, I need to see the lights. This vantage, from a boat docked on the Genesee River in the heart of downtown Rochester, was perfect. Happy Fourth all!

Going Dottie

My friend Bev gave me a stencil to play with. Now I can layer dots over dots, getting colors over colors. Simple shapes, complex results.

Huggin the Back Wall

It's great to be the anchor for other fine works. The Memorial Art Gallery's Store painted the focal wall to highlight my work, set off my scarves, and show my pillows. If you're in town, check it out.

Plain O' Dyeing

I've got a project to decorate table squares for an upcoming event. So, I've dyed some damask linen table cloths in a range of coral to magenta. It takes the dye beautifully, and the linen has a grand feel. Now to do more.