Beginning to Become Apart

I've gone back and recombined the three quarter yards with no particular plan in mind. I added some line contrast, scrambled them a bit, but tried to keep the size of the pieces large. I know they will be cut more and that motif will  be lost if I cut smaller and smaller. 
 

Snow Moon

The full moon -- this one is called the Snow Moon -- is just to the left of the backyard. There's snow cover and another appropriately themed printed fabric wrapping my tree (snowballs!) and this clear night lets me see that full moon.
 

Why These Work

I was aiming for a set of three fabrics that would be separate and distinct from each other, and with some variety in the scale of the graphic So, these will do for my next warmup. I'll take just part of the fabric to start with. All are printed with fiber reactive MX procion dyes. 
 

Happy Day

I was a bit distracted, and got older (calendar wise). There was some time for a bit of paperwork, but mostly a day to remember and be remembered. I'll say this birthday was unusual in that I went nowhere, saw no one, but was in touch with people all over the world. Thanks for remembering me.
 

Spinning Around

The blob became a four square. I could fiddle with this for days, and most likely will.  These are just two of the combinations that emerged. But I've got other ideas. Might save the for my "Make It and Break It" class. Can't tip my cards, can I?

Next Set with My Printed Fabric

The next set of three fabrics started as just a quarter yard each. Recombined and then melted together, I've got quite a jumble to sort. But I think they'll be a way to tame this beast. Stay tuned.
 

Ready to Quilt

With just four sections, each roughly squared off, this became the final composition. I'm using two of my printed half yard pieces, made during classes as demos. They turn out to be quite free and uninhibited. This set is quite nice because of that strike of black.
 

Blob Stage

I've ended up with four compositions that I call "blobs" or more formally blocks. I've done some cutting and shifting along with some thin line work. Now to decide on the final layout. 
 

Another New Big Leaf Class?!

Life got in the way of The New Big class that was meant for March 12. Now TWO classes are offered March 5 and another March 18. There are spots in both, should you care to learn the technique on my Big Leaf pattern. Check my virtual classes page to see examples. It's a day of fun! https://www.patpauly.com/virtualclassesbackroom/bl21002
 

Half to Half

Just trying to get some muscle memory here. I've picked two halfish yard pieces and will cutup and reassemble to see what happens. I have plenty of these half yards to play around with. 

 

Silk, Silk, Silk

I forget how beautifully silk takes the dye. Three more scarves were finished and are waiting to hang out in the web site store. I use the same thickened dye formula, same techniques, same color as the cotton yards, but somehow there are so much more lustrous. I wish I could keep them all.
 

Strange New Forms

I've been developing a class called Just Silkscreen and am trying ways to get organic forms. I think this is such a cool idea, and I'd love to tell you about it, but I'm saving that for those in my class. Sorry. I promise I'll tell you everything else.
 

Another Take Two March 3 - 4

Three good reasons: winter is barreling down, the other Take Two class is sold out, and Sandra asked! So, I've added another Take Two class to my schedule -- and it's just a few weeks away! We take two one yard pieces and tackle improve design. Go to www.patpauly.com/virtualclasses to check it out and join in.
 

More of the Lineup

Good thing I've got quick photos of this design wall with works in progress. I've taken the pieces down to set up for next morning's lecture with the Warwick Valley Quilter's Guild. Layers of quilts, a bit of tidying, and it's ready for them. But, I'll be happy to reclaim my design wall.
 

Something Here is Speaking

While working out examples for the next class (time is ticking) this pairing showed up. Diversionary as it may be, I think there is something here that is talking to me. So, I might as well sew it up and finish it. Valentine's day has me seeing a broken heart here. There's the title. 
 

Tools of the Trade

Sometimes all you need for storage is a simple clothesline. Who invented that? I've got a scarf holder, some tyvek stencils, snow fence, and a large fun foam sheet. I use them all for some kind of mark making at some point. Maybe tomorrow will be my print day. It's all waiting for me.

Last Printing Day

Printing Under the Influence finished its five-day over two-week run. These are my last prints that day, made while the class worked. It is always bittersweet to end a class, no matter if in person or on-line. I want thank those who checked in each of the days and brought so much life to my now quiet studio.

Showing Pokey Bolton My Tree

Today I was invited to chat with Pokey Bolton on Instagram. I walked through my foot of snow to live video the world to show my tree with yard bungeed to it. I've done this since Mid-March of 2020. Every day, another yard. So, here is a still. And you don't have to be standing in the snow to enjoy!
 

Soy Wax is My Friend

Instead of coating my fabric with soy wax as my resist for applying thickened dye, I use the soy wax on my silkscreen and then print over and over. I love using soy wax -- it's quick, inexpensive, washes out the dye with cold, wax with hot. Here is the skillet and some of my tools for drawing soy wax.

Waiting for Dye to Dry

Somehow my silk scarves have been selling from my web site shop and I need to make more. These are printed to silk crepe de chine, and after printing this one, I though it would be nice to draw on it. But it needs to be dry before I take that step. Easy, I've plenty more to do.
 

Sampler Prints

You're seeing this before I've washed it out. That dark stalk with leaves won't be so dark, it's now wet, the rest is dry. I've sampled various techniques of printing for my Printing Under the Influence class. They've become some of my favorites because they're done without labor. See this when I'm interviewed Thursday at 2 EST on IG with pokeybolton.
 

Screen Trick

Before I paint soy wax on this screen I needed to locate the image. I've used dressmaker's chalk to draw on the screen. I've also used a watercolor pen at times. Soy wax is one of my main resists to use on screens because I love the hand drawn line. Easy to cold water wash the dye, hot water for soy.
 

Wash Day

I tried various blockouts. One was an old liquid resist, another called Presist (I think), painting melted soy wax, and good old blue tape. After a day's wait, and washing out, results are mixed. Last two worked swell, but all I'd use for a variety of reasons. Thanks, Helen, for the prompt to block out dyes. 

 

Influential Students

Printing Under the Influence, my five day class spread over two weeks, has influence coming and going. After some brainstorming on how to "print" white, which is essentially not printing the white, I've started some experiments to block the dye from the fabric. Washout results tomorrow.
 

Simple Tools for Complex Marks

Aside from screening and monoprinting, I love to use raised surfaces for rubbings when I print. All I need is some base -- cardboard, foam board, poster board (thanks, Bob!) -- and some hot melt glue or sticky fun foam. There's no end to how to print, good thing I'm not going anywhere!
 

Snowstorm

I've been asked to print some black and white and I like this. Although it does have the effect of delphinium getting caught in a snowstorm, or hidden behind a snow fence. Here is a detail (and you know two shots are rare). Enjoy!

 

Other Family Members

My demonstration pieces always become little "others" like cousins that have come to visit, but that haven't learned the house rules. This one was about the variety of printing methods, from scraping to screen printing. I'll work on it tomorrow and see if it will behave.
 

Lesson #1: Who Gets to Sing?

Printing Under the Influence starts tomorrow. It's a five day class over two weeks, so there's time to talk, and time to print. First up will be graphics, printing, and who takes the solo and who's in the chorus. I already wish I had more time.