Landing at Fibre Forum in Geelong

I'd no idea this school was so beautiful, historic, and charming. My residence is at left, the dining hall to the right. With a day of class behind me, I can see that we can cover a massive amount of improv design. I love this!

Saturday Fireworks Sendoff

Saturday night was an early dinner, then a walk along the path on Brisbane's river to see the Riverfire extravaganza. Besides boat dances (?) there were fighter jet fly-bys and then a spectacular firework display. Nice way to end my visit to Brisbane.

Second Day with Queensland Quilters

My Brisbane area workshop went pretty well, but in the corner was the renegade who blew through the exercise to start a larger work. Can't stop creatives! We'll stay tuned to see what she comes up with, and wish her to do the same with each class -- go past the goal post.

Two Days to Design

Some of the folks at my "Dozen Ways: Design for Art Quilts" hadn't ever tackled working abstractly, and took on that challenge well. I had a great time in Brisbane with the Queensland Quilters. A lovely group as well as generous.

Forms I Love

This piece carries a narrow color pallet with an overly of drawing. The drawn white lines intrigued me because of the vessel shape drawn. It was made by an aboriginal artist Judy Watson.

Art Museums

Brisbane has major galleries grouped together. So, I developed severe museum fatigue today needing to see every last building, room and exhibit. These shields from the late 1800s connected with me because of the graphic design.

Touching Down Down Under

It was a long day (about 22 hours to travel) but I'm on the ground in Australia. This is a lookout to the city from Mount Gravatt. I had a ride with my hostess from the Queensland Quilters. I'll get a close up look at Brisbane tomorrow.

Australian Counterpart

Since I'm crossing the International Date Line at this moment, I'll leave you sight of my plant corner and this omen. I'll watch for those infamous Australian spider fellows. Let's hope I can get my connection up and running to continue this daily post. If not, no worry. The spider didn't get me.

I've Got the Beautiful Money

I'm packed and on my way to Australia. If the country is anything like its money, it should be spectacular, colorful, and full of fun. There's room left in my class for the Geelong Fibre Forum 2019 for Sept 30 - October 4. But the other groups I'm seeing are full. Find me!

Class Sample for On Your Mark

This was a demo for the "On Your Mark -- Print!" class. It holds lots of experiments, and from making these as demos I have learned to work quickly, overlay elements, and leave distinct areas of "other". I'll be teaching at the Schweinfurth in Auburn, New York in October 23 - 26. These a few spots left -- come join us!

Give Me Air

It's so rare to have work hung with such an amount of white space around it. The lighting is perfect, the juxtaposition of the works develops a dialog among the pieces, and each piece is allowed to breathe. If only each exhibition could afford to treat the works with such dignity.

Getting Captured

I spoke tonight as part of the Burchfield Penney's artists' talk. You can see me on the little phone shot. The Art in Craft Media show has my work "Take Two: Sharks and Jets". Tonight I described why the piece had a rumble.

Pack 'Em Up, Head 'Em Out

I've boxed both my work for the Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit and the Little Blue Garden together to ship over to the Scweinfurth a bit early. Got more packing for Australia (leaving Sunday) and when I'm back will be teaching a print class at Schweinfurth October 23-26. A few spots left!

Hanging On the Wall

Measuring about 24" x 36" this Little Blue Garden is about to get shipped off to the Schweinfurth Art Center to be part of their raffle quilt gallery. It will sit happily with the Blue Garden that is in the show. Feel free to buy a ticket and add to the "jar".

Getting It Quilted

Haven't gotten to use my new longarm in a while, do this little work is just perfect for a night of quilting. Want to get it over to Schweinfurth before I leave for Australia. Tick Tock.

Back on the Design Wall

Quilts=Art=Quilts asks for a donated piece for the exhibition. Thought it would be fun to make a companion work using the similar fabric that is found in the accepted work. So, here is the start of Little Blue Garden.

Time for Some Fireworks

All the work I did today was boring and not picturesque. So here is the end of the day, sitting canalside, watching fireworks. Just relaxing. Necessary.

September's Full Moon

Today's driving was almost 400 miles worth. Tonight's reward was some local music and a full moon to guide me home. Tomorrow I'll tackle my list, and perhaps more music.

Way Off Mark

A quick trip to IKEA while visiting Baltimore had me remembering why I love clean modern design. This rug, woven with that red check, would just be great to print, and then mess up. Ideas, for sure. 

On a Roll

To select a piece for a new hanging, I've gathered the likely suspects. You can see my method for rolling on a pool noodle, then covering with fabric, and tying fabric ties to secure. Last item is a name tag. Works for me.

I've Hit 3000!

Over 8 years I've posted every day. Today the half moon cookie gets marked for the celebration of 3,000th blog post. Lots of life changes -- coming, going, adding, and subtracting. Thanks to my friends who read this, as well as the people I meet who surprise me with "Oh, I read it every day." Who'd have thought?

Do Your Excercise

A simple four patch is part of the class I'll be teaching in Brisbane, Australia later this month. So, here's the start. Just ideas for starting compositions, this is one in the class "Dozen Ways: Design for Art Quilts." The packing has begun!

In Harmony

My weekend was consumed with the Turtle Hill Folk Festival here in Rush, New York. Beside three great concerts were dozens of workshops. One on writing original songs, was an eye opener to compare the composing process to how I would start and edit a fiber piece.

Time Difference

It's the wee hours of the morning for me -- I've spent the day at a Folk Festival -- and talked past midnight.So this post is now on the 8th. West coast sees me a few hours earlier, and Australia (my next stop on the tour) is half a day later. It's all road tar in the crack of time.

Sidetrip

Friends have work at the Geisel Gallery downtown Rochester. The building has a good collection of art placed in and around. Leonard Urso's work "The Prophets" is mighty tall and strong. Wonder what they would predict for our future.

Enough Color For You?

A few hours of ironing these fabrics has me loving the intense color that emerges. I've done some monoprinting as well as silkscreening. With a few more methods to get color and areas of distinct pattern, I'm liking it.

Try a Little Thermofax

With a piece of indigo printed fabric as the base, I've printed a thermofax image a few times using fabric paint. Just experimenting now, but I've wanted to get myself acquainted with my thermo machine. Need to do more.

Hitting the Stacks

Multiples of a pattern or color is a good thing, as I'd have enough to use on a big piece. Each is about 40" square, so going big means I have to do this again and again and again. So, I did.

Quick Look at the Other Side

Rochester Contemporary Art Center put on an juried exhibition of work by artists that work at art institutions. It was a good gathering of media, from abstract to realistic, and a few things in between  -- like clods of turf. The artists did indeed take back the walls.

Pillows Ready to Go

Since the Memorial Art Gallery has sold out of my pillows (and that's a good thing) I'm in the process of making more. Just need tags, then they are out the door!