Old Rack for New Work

This rack has a hand shaped set of "hinges" that hold the three sections together. I love this and use it to hang the just ironed fabric yards. This drying rack is something I've hauled around for about 40 years. Longer than some of my long-time friends!

How Many Screens Do You Use?

I'm often asked the number of screens I have on hand. Can't say, but with washing after a long stretch of printing the stack looked about to take over the path. Maybe a dozen? Need at least two or I'd be singing solo. This is more like a choir.

Quilt With Fugitive Color

I've had this old quilt for years and years. When it was first made, all the red baskets were RED. But one of the reds was fugitive, and 'beiged" out. I'm intrigued with how those parts placed themselves with built in randomness.

Staying Home

My plan was to bring "Blue Garden" with me to Australia next month. But this will travel to Auburn, New York for the Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit at the Schweinfurth Art Center. I'll pack up another, and those who will be with me for the Geelong Fibre Forum will settle for a substitute.

Unwrapped

One of my eco print bundles was unwrapped after a long week. The long silk had plenty of plant material, but the result was more like a stained cloth. Might have better luck with the next ones.

Getting Flights

Part of my day was finishing travel plans for flying around Australia. I'll be teaching there in a month, and this task is finally finished. Now for the smaller details. I've got a list!

Back on the Print Table

It's fun to try new graphics on the silk screen. This reminds me of a fish's spine. Maybe that's why I laid down a green and black pallet. Something fishy.

Start With Dark

My next year's visit to the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville, Washington will be a printing class I'm calling "Start With Dark". These monoprints are a good example where the darkest color is laid down first. I'll let this go overnight and add something tomorrow. Or not.

Start the Clean-Up

Layers of stuff that traveled this summer to workshops have landed on the print table. Now I'm ready for a week of printing, and these give me ideas for the week. Brush strokes from soy wax may work out fine on a screen. Or just directly drawn on a plate for monoprinting. Such finds.

Why We Love Light

This hot summer has cooled today, a welcome change. I followed the sunlight around my living room's east, south, and west windows. Then I remembered why summer shadows were so fluid. The leaves, of course, shapes melting together in lovely blobs.

110 Yards of Fun

I usually order a 100 meter roll at a time. But a slip of the tongue had me accepting 500 meters. No problem, it will get printed in no time. Come November!

Going Home

The Gallery Store at the Memorial Art Gallery has (or had) a set of my pillows. Seems that someone needed eight of these, and cleaned out the store. Well, you know what I've got to do now.

Highs to Lows

A week ago I was riding past the heights of San Juan mountains in the southwest of Colorado, this week it's the lows of a sink to drain soda-soaked fabric. It all is part of the work. Travel, teach, regroup.

Foolin with Indigo

Half of the day at the Schweinfurth wet-studio was spent experimenting with indigo. I'm a printer comfortable with MX or Procion dyes, not natural pigments. I've not gotten the hang of this process, that would take years. But the results are of interest, let's say.

Bits of Plants

Our fiber group here took over the Schweinfurth's wet studio to try some eco printing and indigo printing. I could get into this plant-gathering and flinging-about practice. I've got some cotton and silk that are bundled and will have to wait a couple of weeks for the reveal.

Shoe's On the Other Foot

Such grumbling I get from those who put together items on the class materials list the night before class. Well, now it's my turn to find, gather, pile up. Tomorrow is a "play day" where we will experiment with eco dying and indigo printing. I'm almost ready.

Sturgeon Moon

This almost full moon was taken when I left Phoenix on Monday night. This vast land, holding its mark from humankind from city to town, from ancient to modern, was always lit by the moon. It was a lovely ride, and sure enough, this moon has followed me home.

How Large Can You Cut?

Pam (at the Durango class) is cutting into her piece, using one of my prints plus a commercial stripe. We all loved the narrow color pallet and simple design. The key here is that with a large cutting mat, you can cut large. You need that expanse to stay big. It shrinks anyway. So, start big.

Philadelphia, Just Passing Through

I boarded Durango Monday evening, and in the wee hours of this morning we rode over Philadelphia. This journey was pleasant, filled with people who were eager and willing to try new techniques. And new sights for me, and many friends who helped me to get there. Thanks, Stitch. Thanks, Durango.

Train Ride

The narrow gauge train from Durango to Silverton was impressive. Not the least was the proximity of the rail to the cliff's edge. It's impossible to capture the beauty in a snap.

Walk Among the Ruins

I was treated to a visit to Mesa Verde today by my hosts Linda, her husband Fred, and Pam. Both women were with me in class this week, and I got to share in their joy of living with such rich history around Mesa Verde in the Southwest corner of Colorado. A workout for both body and soul.

Lovely Lovely Week

Leeann is the owner and chief engineer at Stitch in Durango, Colorado. She hosted me for a three day workshop on Improvisatioal Design for her group -- 23 in all. Everything about this class was lovely -- the space, the town, and especially Leeann. If ever be in Durango, check out her top notch store. And thank you all!

Starting to Compose

The sketches are pouring out like the Animas River. Well slow down a bit for a final Take Two challenge. What a great group of women to take exploring.

Long But Satisfying Day

There was nothing that stumped these talented women who were in a class Stitch organized in Durango, Colorado.  We've two more days to explore composition and design, and enjoy ourselves a bit more.

Here's a Start

I've chosen two fabrics that are very close in value, and this shift and reassemble may not work. But, I've committed, so I'm gonna see what happens.

Take Your Pick

I'll be heading to Colorado for a three day improv class in Durango. Thought it a good idea to try out what I'll ask them to do -- pick two. These three are fairly happy, but one has to go. Decision time.

Line Up

A quick sketch of line work. I've just used fabric and glue stick to fix to paper. This is such a simple study, but fun to see how the line width can vary. Might have to use this someday.

Packing the Essentials

 

Agents must have a good time figuring out what I'm up to with quilts, fabric, rotary blades, rulers and such. I've paired the clothes down, even my kit bag. Just what I need for three days in Durango, Colorado. I'll be teaching at Stitch on Thursday, and just a door away from the quilt shop. Better leave room.

You Want the Art You Are

As one of the judges for this Rochester Park Avenue Festival today I caught this lady deciding on another indigo printed item. She was already decked out to match. Can't get enough of a good thing. And, hey, this indigo stuff is really a good thing.

Music

The coffee house had music tonight, and I thought it best to go. Did I do any work today? Maybe not that you'd think. Tomorrow is another day.

Recon Mission

I'm a volunteer for a great group of music lovers here in town. My job was to collect graphics on this ice cream store. Such suffering I did to get my job done.