Start the Music

Installed my work at the Little Theater Cafe today. This Rochester theater house has a place for music, food, and walls filled with art. I've taken on July (till the 27th) and the reception is July 8 from 2-4. Cheese is on me!

Getting Ready for July

The Little Theater here in Rochester has a cafe that holds tables of people who catch a bite, grab a wine or coffee, or hang out to hear some great music. And it has a few walls for art shows.  And I'm Miss July. Stay tuned.

Under the Full Moon

Somewhere above was the full moon, but I became more interested in what was illuminated down here on the ground. Or, let's say, in the canopy. Gotta find out what this fuzzy tree is called.

My Life is (Sometimes) Dull

It's ironing day. A stack of just dried yards is getting spritzed. Then folded up and stuck in a large plastic bag to get all humid. Then it's iron on the big board. In front of the big telly. Total dull.

On the Print Table

I'm back at printing, and experimenting in  methods and distractions along the way. Gearing up for selling these at Quilting By the Lake in July. My goal is another 100 yard pieces.

On the Wall

I've finished the last Take Two for a while. I've not got a good name for this, so will have to let it hang around on the wall for now till inspiration hits. Is is made of just two, but the majority is that liberal and fun whole piece.

Around and About

My tenth in the Take Two series is under the quilting needle. With far too  many thread color changes, and lots of tightly spaced lines, this one is heavily quilted. I know the next work will be a reaction to this much stitch and I'll do a looser quilt. Less around, more about.

More Formal Portrait

Here is a more proper version of the last in the Take Two series. I'd like to call it "Dialogue". And you can write reams on that subject! I've started to quilt the next one, so stay tuned.

New and On the Wall

Another Take Two is finished and hung up. This uses about 90 per cent of one fabric, with the addition of another to frame it left and right. Now I've got to add my signature and date, then throw it in the pile for next week's show at the Little Cafe.

Happy Solstice

It was "Make Music Day" in Rochester, so I did. I joined the Golden Link Folksinging society next door to Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery and helped to compete with the loudspeaker across the street. We all had fun.

Finishing to Start

My travels are ending or a while, so it's time to finish the work I'd left. I was asked once how to start new work. I think it's best to not end. To have something waiting for you, so you can take up where you left off, instead of starting new.

What's More Exciting?

My lecture for the York Towne Quilt Guild went well, but the spectacular sunset was a bigger crowd pleaser. Glad I was first in the line-up. Ok, just kidding. Lecture went well in front of a kind and receptive group. Thanks York!

Topping 90

The list is long, and before I started crossing off any one thing, I installed the window air conditioner. At 90 degrees I knew that cool was in the basement, as well as this top to be quilted. Home, work, and growing list.

On My Way Back

I'm still reflecting on two weeks in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. A friend remarked that no matter where I go, even to remote and small "cities," that there are people who are happy to gather and speak the language of textile design. Stratospheric idea, eh?

You Art What You Wear

Karen is responsible for getting me to visit British Columbia and has been my host for the week. That she can also pound out a great abstract piece in half a day (or get this far, at least) is terrific. I loved the two day Improv Sketches & Take Two. Fun group.

Typical Work Day

Wouldn't it be great if each work day included piecing art works? Alison adds to her piece in my Improv Sketches class. The group is meeting in a great facility that used to be a maintenance garage for the town. Perfect space for us to work with good light. It was a pleasure to "work" today.

Traveling Through

A morning walk to the river stream this morning before I departed for Oliver, British Columbia and a two day workshop. There are not the words, nor a better image I can give to describe this beautiful land. So appreciate the kindness that has brought me here, and the chance to see its gifts.

Goin Along for the Ride

Sometimes you have to just take that break, get some sun, and try something new. Today it was the recumbent bike with my friend down an old railroad bed made into a trail. The downhill was excellent.

Smell the Roses

Or the mock orange, if that is the case. These are nestled in the mining town of Hedley, British Columbia. If you stand next to them and turn 360 degrees, you'd see mountains at each turn. Aromatically divine.

Time Travels

A walk with my friend Karen in Hedley B.C. had this wonderful fence. I love the bird's mouth notch in the top. And that repetition with the traditional spiked slat makes a sharp pattern. Gotta remember to try that in print.

NorthwestBeauty

My admiration for the peoples of the Northwest Coast stems from working with the collection years ago when I was an exhibit designer. To see so much, so wonderful, so bold in the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia was indeed a treat yesterday.

Shirtless in Vancouver

I haven't the artist's name for this cleaver and ethereal woven shirt I saw today at the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver. Wire, beads, and air.

Beautifully Random

Cheryl made a piece that had yesterday's class stop in their collective tracks. She couldn't see the magic, so we tried to point it out. Randomness is sometimes beautiful.

Slash and Burn North of the Border

For today's class in Slash and Burn, we worked like the dickens, but didn't manage to get the entire top finished. That said, a lot was learned, tried, and discovered. I had fun, and I think the group agreed. A lovely and welcoming group of women at the Muenster retreat.

Just a Brief Talk About Me

I promised the gang on board tonight for my talk at the Skaskathewan Stitches Conference that they'd be on the blog, so here they are. They waved later. And laughed. So, all was good.

Doing it Gloriously

Glorious Prints was the topic for today's class at the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference. We did it all -- direct dye, monoprinting, stenciling, silkscreening. Now to rest up for doing it all tomorrow -- with more fabric and another day. 

Tailoring Class in the Olden Days

I'm headed to Muenster, Saskatechewan (the prairies of Canada) to teach along side classes, some that feature tailoring. So, just checking what was expected back in the day. This week will definitely be wilder, if for no other reason that a very different teacher (see protype at left).

Sitting or Spinning?

I took a tour of the RIT library today to see an exhibition on photogravure. But I was stopped and thrilled to see these weird chairs in action. I even tried them out, and they were so much fun that my abs hurt from laughing. Good for the days' ills.

A Visit with and Artist

While I was waiting for a book reading, I popped in to see Nancy Valle's studio. She is a ceramicist who starts with a large scale drawing before transferring to modest sized work in clay. I love the paintings for the shape and color. Kindred spirit, right?