Tryouts

Next Monday and Tuesday are Glorious Printing days at the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference. So, I've tried some printing with adding the fixative soda ash to the dye instead of the fabric. Not liking it as well. Kinda miss that grab and stiffness from the presoaked fabric.

Heading to Australia in Fall 2019

In the fall of 2019 (that's a year and a bit from now) I'll be teaching at the Geelong Fibre Forum from September 29 to October 5. As I've got my flight covered getting to Australia, I'm looking to teach other places within a plane's hop. Know anyone who would love to have me? That's for 2019.

A Place to See the Moon

Last month I toured the Walter Gropius House Museum. He built the house and included a second story outside patio for his daughter (as requested). I can't imaging a nicer place to look at the nighttime sky and gaze at the moon. Yes, the wall is pink. Happy full moon night.

Gather TIme

Most of the work I did today was to set aside the quilts and sketches that I'd use as examples of technique in both surface design and improvisational quilting when I visit Canada's prairies next week. My aim is for one suitcase.

The Inside Gardener

Today I had to be outside, gardening, seeding spots in need, weeding, putting in place. Passing this florist shop's window reminded me that many are indoor gardeners who love succulents because they're tough and hearty. The world need us both gardeners.

Being 98% in Use

Most of the day was spent tackling the gardens that have exploded with this warm weather. Which means, more photographs! And that calls for clearing out the old pics to gain more space. I wish I could be at 98% capacity in the weed-be-gone department.

Music Week

A birthday tribute to Bob Dylan was tonight's fare, and through the week was folksinging, opera, and bluegrass. My art is so tangible, tactile. I am appreciating the fleeting nature of the "in the moment" art form of music.

Another Take Two

About 85% of this piece is made from one hunk of fabric. That it is rich in shape and color helps. I figure that if the fabric has layers and divisions already, take advantage. Another work where I used just two fabrics.

What's On the Wall

The day started with cutting into these two pieces of fabric, and ended with rearranging them. In between was attending to tires, windows, pests, and a break for some folk music. Tomorrow the list is just as wild.

Planting Time

The rule is that you can plant after Memorial Day. Anytime before and you'll risk a frost, and sure death. But the pots and packs of plants are primed and ready. And they're calling me. As well as the break from printing fabric.

One the Got Away

Some of the pieces I make I keep for my own work. But I can't keep all. Still, this one I might have kept. Too late, I've sold it this weekend, and it's gone to another home. I got a shot of it before it "grew up and left home".

At the Quilt Show

The Lake to Lake Quilt Guild puts on a biennial show, and I'm there selling fabrics this weekend. It's a chance to see the quilts, chat up new friends, and catch up on those I know. Visit if you're in the area at the Geneva Community Center in Geneva, New York.

Dry Day

Whilst these soda ashed fabrics dry on the line, I've gone out to Geneva, New York to set up my booth at the Lake to Lake Quilt Show where I'll be selling fabrics. It is Saturday and Sunday. Come find me to see how I take white fabric and make it something else.

Company Wanted

The current exhibition at the Schweinfurth "Made in New York" has my work on the left. All alone, waiting for company. Which it got today when I and friends visited the exhibit. Grade A to the staff for exhibition well done with a lot of space for each object, well lit, and each object placed with regard to the next piece.

Material Culture

Added to the inventory at the Memorial Art Gallery are more of my silk scarves. That they suggest the purse and necklace (fine choices, I think) to match means you need very little to pack. Like just black and black.

Wash Out, Iron Up, Stack, Repeat

More fabric processed and ready to add to the pile that will go out to the Lake to Lake Quilt Show this weekend. I've got these ready, and more scarves as well. More to make, too. The show is in Geneva, New York at the Geneva Community Center Saturday and Sunday.

It Happened Again

I taught a Glorious Prints workshop at Pro Chem last year, and returned home with a different way of printing -- mainly looser and layered.  I pulled out a sample piece (which uses every trick I could demonstrate) I made in last week's class and can see it's happened again. Change is inevitable.

Last Glance

Before heading back home on Friday, I had a walk near Massachusetts's Horseneck Beach and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary there. I'll return to Pro Chem next year in April, and I'll make a point to see this salt marsh again, but with more time to take it all in.

A Week's Worth

On the ride back home from Pro Chem's week of Glorious Prints there was time to reflect. With 14 people, we printed 200 to 300 yards of fabric in the five days. Easily. More importantly was the spirit and atmosphere of the group. Best way to start spring.

Printing With the Giants

For my entire life I've followed the command "if you're tall, stand in the back." This is my wonderful group at the week's end in a gag shot with the tall in the FRONT instead. I'm 5'8" and asked the less tall to poke through the tall wall. It was fun every minute.

Over All Beauty

Julie Balzer (who is no stranger to stamping and printing) took every opportunity to work large in today's class. We're using thickened dyes with silkscreens, stamps, stencils, and lots of added in color to cover the entire piece.

Printing Layers

Adding layers of direct dye, stencil prints, and screen prints to this fabric yields some glorious prints for the Pro Chem class this week. These are Julie's and show her deft way of covering the entire fabric with a graphic hand. More tomorrow.

Full House, Full Speed

With every seat in the house taken, I've been relegated to one corner (never enough space) for demos and teaching. You can see the Pro Chem work space and how every inch is used. And every one making one exciting piece after another. And we get to do this again tomorrow. And tomorrow.

Let the Printing Begin!

A group of printers are ready to go today at Pro Chemical and Dye in Fall River, Massachusetts. We've tackeled so many different processes, and at day's end, each has a growing pile of fabrics to use tomorrow for more experiments. All glorious.

Museum Holiday

Between workshops I had a great day to see a bit of Massachusetts' museums. This incredible installation of PLASTER forms by Ian MacMahon is called Tether. He describes his work as sculpting with air and plaster. It is unreal.

How Fun Was That?

The Wayside Quilters of Sudbury, Massachusetts hosted my Improv class today, and we worked hard. I told them all I knew, so now they an conquer any improv design that comes along. Really. Fun group to hang with on this great spring day.

Ovepacking

Heading east to teach at Pro Chem this week, and I've got silkscreens boxed and ready. Also, padding, white plastic, and two aprons. Good that I'm traveling with A.) a roomy car, and B.) alone. I've recovered the Stevie Wonder CD hiding under the seats, and I'm ready to roll.

It's All Silk

Four silk scarves are hemmed and ready to pack for my visit to Sudbury and Fall River this week ahead. The scarves are fun to make, but someday, someday, I'd like to make a blouse with that fabric. They are printed with the same techniques I use in my cotton yardage. Yes, I sell them.

Get out of the Studio

One day snow, the next brilliant sun and 80 degrees. Such is weather. I spent most of the day in the wet studio making fabric for mid May's appearance as a vendor at the Lake to Lake Quilt Show in Geneva, so this evening did a loop around the garden to see what I was missing. This.

Always Better When Wet

If we could print, mount to canvas, shellac, and frame this print, the colors would be great. But, dry, washed out, and devoid of shine, the fabric is another animal. Nice, but not what you see. Lesson #1. It always appears better when wet.