Traveling Boots

Mid January will find me in Napa, California to teach. But this boots mola will take the US mail first and wait for me there. The packing is underway to get materials packed and shipped out.

Life on the Edge

The traditional pieced quilt has inherent edges where one fabric cleanly meets the other. Sometimes, patterns make that edge. I'm interested in how a print can move and morph without piecing for that edge. Yes, I piece (piecesandresistance) but I preserve that printed edge when I can.

No One is This Island

There are islands, true. But even though we may think, want, or believe we are alone, we are not. Something connects us, reaches us, even if it is water and shore. So, my thanks for those around the world who connect me to them. I'm thankful to have that in my life.

Seasonal Doings

With Christmas coming soon, bear with me while I get projects  together. Tis the season.

Before the Shot from Yesterday

Here's a slice of the design wall. I've already cut and pieced a few things, as you can see from yesterday's post. Slow going, though. Not to mention today's weather was perfect for non-studio work. So, yes, a slog.

Line, Shape, Setting

I'm taking my own advice. I'll be at Craft Napa in California this January teaching how to cut shapes into any background and then piece in. I love what comes of that. I've got my start, now to see how it morphs. Oh, and line needs to show up, too.

New and Just Hung Up

Three Sisters is not quite pressed, tidied up, or signed, but I wanted to see how it would read on the wall. I've not got a properly large wall in my house, but no matter, it seems fine. Now I can live with it a while and see how it holds my attention. So far, so good.

Off to New Home

Take Two: Sharks and Jets was all about a rumble. Two distinct groups clashing, along with lines that shoot through each set. It was admired, then purchased, and now gone to hang in its new home. I'll miss its noise.

Remembering

Today a snapshot of my class in Geelong went in my student email binder. I lingered on this photo. Not because the group was from Australia, though that gave it a measure of different, but because there were each such wonderful and giving people with with to spend a week. I am so lucky.

Trials that Bind

With hours of impeachment inquiry on, I've got the perfect reason to stay still and sew on a binding. Good thing this is a large quilt. You get my tip for ganging up my tools on a tray, which also holds the TV remote.

Take My Word

This is my view from one of my kitchen windows. There are at least six cardinals in this group of trees/bushes. It is a study on not seeing what is really there in the details. But I know they're there. Take my word for it.

Starting Again

Quilters of a certain tradition are bent to use every little scrap in the basket. These were left from the last piece, and I'll see if they can measure up to something. And, for the record, those bitty scraps I toss away. They piled up so they just about blocked the door!

All Around the House

Counting the bathrooms, my house has seven rooms. Which means I can set up projects just about anywhere. On the living room table is a friend's weaving that needs a sleeve. And handy for getting "away" from the studio.

More of What Else

I'm channeling the great modern quilters here with my swoops, my dives, my curls. You might call it aerobics for the long arm. And that pic from yesterday?  Took the stitches all out. Somehow the red thread just was not a happy camper. Monday we'll have a redo.

More Stitching

Once the quilt is loaded on the machine, I can walk away, or return to stitch. Today was that kind of day, so having it sitting at the ready meant I could hop on and off the time to quilt this top. Good for a Saturday.

Foolin' Around With Red

William Keyser's piece morphed with his wall hung work on the University Gallery's wall at RIT. I took a busman's holiday to hear Evan Snyderman's talk on artists in his New York R Gallery. But Keyser's work "Foolin'..." (there to be seen, not in a slide) kept my attention. Plus, I'm attracted to that red.

Just Fits

I've managed to just fit this work on my longarm with a few inches on the side for breathing room. With all intent to start something on the design wall, this compelled me to start quilting. That "closure" thing must be a habit.

Loss, and Loss

Yesterday was a large snowfall. This front yard tree couldn't take that amount and split severely. Being on city property, the city quickly removed the limbs and thought they might be back to take down the rest next week. Maybe there'll be new this spring.

Henry's Moon

Tonight's full moon was extraordinary. I don't know who Henry Lester was, but his safe was painted with a haunting night scene depicting a ship on the water guided by moonlight. This I found in the Rochester Art Supply Store. Candy for any visual artist. Or more like drugs.

Starting Anew

It helps to have a design wall. And it helps to clear it. I've taken a dive in the pile of prints from this summer to jump start the next piece. We'll see how it evolves.

Inside / Outside

Colleen Buzzard curated a show "Inside Out" that deals with the space either interior or exterior (or both). This cardboard group (and I'm sorry to not know the artist) sits on a clear plexi shelf that gives a group of strong shadows from the single light source. Such dynamic shapes!

Up and Delivered

I've finished the piece I'll call "Duck's Breath" in time to drop it off for the Rochester Contemporary Art Center's member's show. A statement in minimal piecing, this is all about leaving the print to do the work. The show opens December 7. If you're round Rochester, NY, stop and visit!

Sleeves. Can't Go Without

Always, even for a functional couch quilt, add a sleeve. That will save looking at your work nailed, pinned, taped or clamped (between wood cleats) to the wall. It happens; I've seen it. I've sewn a sleeve with wrong sides together so there's a finished seam when I look inside, which is never.

On the Machine

I say this to whoever will listen: I love to quilt the lines that I've drawn with dye. They might be from silkscreen, monoprint, or directly drawn with a thin pointed bottle. But accenting what is already there just feels like the right thing to quilt.

Meeting Up

Now, I know the second piece was a demo for some class. I was using a "fun foam" sheet that I got from Walmart. Great for monoprinting. Same thickened dye formula for both pieces. I love that there is white background in both half yard pieces.

Starting Off

When I teach surface design workshops I demonstrate methods on a half yard piece. This may be one, can't remember. It's got various printing techniques. I'll pair this with another to make my entry for the Rochester Contemporary Member's show.

What I Use in Between

I often forget just what I use,and people often ask. Today I opened a new roll of batting. Mine is wool. This gives me a fairly flat sandwich, which I like. I've stopped using cotton because wool is so much lighter to work with, carry around and packs beautifully for travel. All good reasons.

Shirting the Issue

I'm revisiting the images I've captured from the Quilts=Art=Quilts show. This Piece "Spin Cycle" by Helen Geglio has me standing and lingering long. It's not just the fabrics -- cotton, linen, and found white dress shirts -- but how she has stitched them and presented them that please my mind.

RIght Side Up

I was reminded that I've returned to and upstate New York fall from leaving Australia's spring. These eucalyptus plants, for example, left an impression of the wild, strange forms I saw left and right. Those with me had to slow down and look as well. I've not forgotten the kind beauty I saw.

Begin November

These reds, golds, yellows will be left for gray, brown and bleak pretty soon. As November rolls in its time to turn inward and inside to work. I'm giving myself the weekend to put back my house and take care of chores. Monday I'll head to the studio.