New Year's Greetings

Lighting a sculpture is my celebration for this new year ahead. My heartfelt thank you to all who travel this journey with me. What was a cancelled year became one of great change, and it's all from your support that I can survive (and thrive!). Thank you very much for all you've done, I couldn't have done this without you. Now, let's get to 2021!
 

Next Blob

 This set of four fat quarters had intentionally-made shapes set in to the background. And I added lines. Because they're fun. Then I wanted to see what would happen when I cut it apart. I'm not composting here, just making a blob. The other set was made with shifting and piecing. 

Moonscape

My full moon view is never spectacular,  but that I am alive and can experience this, which is enough to give this picture cred. We've just days to go before turning the calendar year, and next month's moon will be seen in a different light.
 

On the Wall

And out the door. Delivered to the portrait show at Studio 402 of the Anderson Art Building here in Rochester and in good company. I'll stop in and see the show in a couple of weeks -- but masked and not staying long indoors. 
 

Self Portrait with Hat and Cigarette

Quick work if you have a longarm. And fun to just draw around what's there. The hat has "feathers" and there emerged a dangling cigarette. I use wool batting and just a few thread colors. I do like the drawing part of the quilted line. Delivery is tomorrow. 
 

Reconfigured

I managed to pull a figure out of that print. Bonus points for adding a hat and cigarette. There is quite a bit of piecing, but I didn't add anything that wasn't there in that one half yard piece. What started as a demo for printing is now a character with attitude. 

Christmas Green

As we brown-down for winter, and snow is a no-show, I thought today's Christmas wrap should be green. (This has been going on every day since March 15.) I wish all in the blogosphere a lovely Christmas Night. And thank you, my friends, for your company each day. 
 

Portrait Round Two

I  wasn't feelin the love with the first portrait I started. It was all right, but not something I'd want to hang in a show, so I've selected this half yard piece to work with. Let's see if I can make a "me" out of it.
 

Add Some Green

My web techie asked me to add some green fabric to my web store. I tried, but somehow fell into the blues. They'll get posted in a couple of days, just in time for 2020. And I've got 20 new ones. But not all green. 
 

Oh the Design Wall

I've not often this much clear space to layout. Or maybe it's because these works are smaller, and I can have a few at once. Second set is made, using just about all four fat quaters in a 10 1/2 square. I've another set to make. Just to try a variant. 
 

Next Set on the Cutting Table

With four fat quarters, I've made the second blob. There's no real direction here, and it finishes at about 28 x 36. I'll try to get nine squares out of this 10.5 x 10.5. We'll see.
 

Nine Patch From the Blob

I got nine squares from my blob, and just about nothing left over. I've spun these blocks every which way, but still think they're not the best. I blame the fabric choice. Still better than the blob. Stay tuned.
 

Of Course I Cut It Up

The project calls for me to cut up my blob, so I used a grid of 8 1/2" squares. The first cut was placed so that I could save some of the points and curves in the blob. Next time I will definitely use different combinations of fabric, but I will follow this one through it's demise, er, ending.
 

The Big Blob

Yes, all sewn together. Willy and Nilly. Still think it's a bit of too many solo performers in this group, but I'll keep going. I refer to this as a big blob, or an octopus where everything is connected and unshiftable. If that is even a word.
 

Are Those Leftovers?

Meanwhile, on table #2 I've got some great scraps with which to experiment. Here's the bunch I've grabbed. Lesson, use a palette that will hang together. This might not. 
 

Foreground Background

Trying to get the silhouette to stand apart from its surroundings. I've got lots of fabric to play with, and this should work. It's about 18" square here. The fabrics are printed with monoprints and rubbings. These are my 1/2 yard experiments that are just perfect to use for a small piece. 
 

First Mock Up

Now that I've got the head parted, I can fool with the background. It's a simple set, really. Just one object on another. But this seems too simple. So, back to the stash. 

Back to the Drawing Board

I've a portrait to make for an upcoming show for January, so my plan was to draw it out and use freezer paper to assemble. I'll check the fabric choice, but methinks there'll be some changes afoot. Yes, I had to go back and label the parts, as well as give it the outside edge. No escape!

Christmas Shopping

"Soap Bubble"  a printed yard, with another great name from my tech support, is still on my website store. Just a reminder that these ship toot sweet via the US mail. They're great for a friend, but tell the truth, you'd want to keep it for your self. 

 

Are Your Lights On?

Somehow I was taken back to the days (1979) when there was an energy crisis and Carter asked Americans to limit their christmas lighting. That seemed so restrictive at the time, but now would seem so trivial compared to not gathering at all for the holidays. How times do change. 
 

Ghost Class Virtually

Take Two's virtual class is on the screen, but everyone has gone to get sewing, or gathering, or cutting, or ironing, or whatever took them away from listening to ME and my pearls of wisdom. Believe me, it was fun, fast, and lots of fabric on those design walls flying.

 

How I Wish It Was

Photo (that needs credit because I took it from the web) shows the best help a gal could have. Today when I taught a virtual class I was thankful that students couldn't see me toss cut up fabric, demo blobs, and scraps in heaps across multiple tables. I need to find some assistants. They don't even need ties.
 

How It's Done Right

Part of the benefit of taking a virtual class is that you really think about your own work space. When it was time for laying wet printed fabric flat, students designed amazing new ways to dry their prints. I'm sharing Karen's brilliant solution. I might just have to be her student!
 

Day Trip

My mission today had little to do with my studio work. I was the kitchen designer on call to measure a house my daughter is interested in. This is the carriage barn on the property, and it's not in great shape, but so part of the vernacular. I am drawn to forms that are iconic, lasting, and have become our landscape.
 

Baking Day

For a couple of decades, I think, Nancy and I make this particular cookie. 2020 threw a curve, so yes, we zoomed the baking day. And I did other things, but this too. Plus, I had to eat all the ugly ones.
 

Brain Freeze

Yesterday must have been a big day. Oh, now I remember. It was. Work in the kitchen, and mainly filling registration lists for 2021 classes. I was blown away by the response, and one class is full. I'm so thankful for all the people who've added a workshop with me to their calendar for next year. So very thankful.
  

Classes for 2021 FINALLY

Dither hither. When it's live, it's done. So, here's the list of virtual classes for 2021. A few oldies (but goodies) and a couple of new. New, because I'm interested in doing them! (How's that for selfishness?) Check 'em out. www.patpauly.com/virtualclasses and my calendar has a few of my in-person dates.
 

Know When to Fold Them

Part of my little basket of demos includes a quick lesson in how to squeeze new shapes and graphics from a printed fabric. This example uses a clear high contrast graphic so you can see what happens. It's one way I take bold graphics and reassemble to make and abstract image.

 

Show and Tell

There is an adage "show, don't tell" where it's better to demonstrate with real stuff rather than words. So, talk all you want, but better to get out a pile of fabric (to discuss choosing a palette and graphics to work) and a pile of quilts (to show composition and layout). The second day of Take Two Virtual was more fun than I planned. Next year, more. I'll post the dates over the weekend.

In the Studio With Friends

The first snowfall of December and it was fitting that you wouldn't be comfortable sitting here. Rather, I was in my studio with 10 wonderful people working out (virtually) the kinks of improv design. Can't say enough how much fun I have. It's the closest I have to company visiting. But no need to vacuum.

 

I Can't Keep Them All

These prints emerge from the wash, finished and slated to be put on the website for sale. But then, hesitation starts. Can't I keep this? I'll have to make another. But will it have the same feeling? Ah, the dilemma. 
 

Full Moon on the Rise

As I worked on this example for the next Take Two class, I realized I had a study of a full moon rising. I frequently have no idea in advance of what imagery will be in a piece, but when something emerges, I'll take it.  Happy Full Moon Eve!

 

What Makes the Magic Happen

Pro Chemical and Dye make a paste that has all the good stuff I use to print. This thickener has the sodium alginate for gooeyness, metaphos for softening, and urea for increasing the solubility of dyes. I don't think of print paste this way, just as the perfect medium to use with dye.
 

End of the Day

Overthinking is not good. These were the last prints of yesterday's work, and I know I was trying to use up the thickened dye. But the yard on the right is one of my favorites of the batch. I made it quickly, letting the underlayer do most of the work. The  bow ties landed quickly on top. Done, apron off, out the lights.
 

More Screens, Good Point!

I finally got back to my print table and tried a Tyvek cut stencil (top) behind a silkscreen. I love the sharp points I can make with my rotary cutter, and can see lots of ways to use this method. Interesting, as well, are the thin thin lines from my cutting.

 

Six Scarves to Go

Here's the blue scarf line up. Hope these make it up this weekend. Meanwhile, chill out folks, as that's the best we can do. Nothing. Just relax, stay home, chat on the phone, eat leftovers. We've got months of this ahead. Happy Thanksgiving it was, even if I'm only visiting  in my thoughts.

 

Make Mine Blue

Advised to make some blue scarves, I did. They are going through the arduous task of photographing, and then they'll make their appearance on my website store. Truth be told, I love each one, and really don't want to part with them. But, they all can't be mine.

 

New Big Leaf Redo

A quilter outside of the US asked me to find a way to send the New Big Leaf pattern via pdf. Easy, maybe. Took me a day (and counting) to gather and figure. But it's about ready to go -- maybe tomorrow -- for downloading. Mailing a full size pattern still available if you want, but I love options.
 

Take Two Revisited

A student in my upcoming Take Two class purchased two of my printed yards. She started with the one on the left, and matched it with selection that, as I was ready to ship it, just didn't have the zing that I would have liked. A few emails and a bit of matchmaking later, this is the duo that is on its way. Interventions!
 

Pandemic Picnic, Stockade, Glass Floor

My  technical assistant gets to name the pieces of fabric in my shop. So, I eagerly await what impression they make. Here's Pandemic Picnic. If you want to see what 20 yards I've added, visit the shop www.patpauly.com/shop, and if you want a good laugh, read the names.
 

Sample Love

Started in one class, finished in another, I've learned that it's all right to leave printed yards incomplete. And that they can run several images at once. We make quilts with several motifs, just think Baltimore Album. This is just a different method -- printing graphics rather than applique.
 

Yes, It's that Dark

 No, I'm not talking current events, just the wash water from a load of printed fabrics. A bit concerning to see, but it does all wash out OK. Two colds, one hot, and I'm pretty much ready to hang out on my big tree for the world.

Another Little One for Another Little One

I made a couple of these prints and placed them side by side on the longarm to quilt. That gave me a chance to try some creative quilting.  This will go to a friend's newborn, and I hope that they remember it's functional -- and wear it out!
 

More Monoprinting

Time for silk scarves, as the ones on my web site store are going to new homes. Here's a monoprint directly from my print table's plastic covering. I'll scrape some light dye and paste over to pick up more of the dye from the table. Tomorrow is reveal time. 

 

Freezer Paper Lotus Pods

Seeing as it was snowing today, talking about freezer paper might be appropriate. This was made from my photo of lotus pods and a full sized drawing with templates of freezer paper. It's about 6 1/2' square. Just to help the class from Sunday (The New Big Lear) think big, bold, and wild.