Quilt National Talk

Quilt National asked me to provide a short video for talking about my work. They asked everyone in the show, just search youtube for more. So, here I am with the help of QN edits. Enjoy!
 

Quilt National '21

Congregation, my work in Quilt National '21, is at right, next to Betty Busby's work, and guarded by Paula Kovarik's work in front. I know it's in good company. Thanks to Jeanne Marklin for the photo. Wish I could've been there for the opening. 
 

Experimental, Dear Dyer

It never fail to amaze me what can come from just fooling around. The base for these was a quick demo on something -- what, I couldn't say -- but I used up dyes from a month ago to complete them. They've a bit of everything, and lots of something. Love these whole cloth experiments.
 

Old Dye for an Old Dyer

Four weeks after mixing this print paste, the color is just fine, fine, fine. I'm trying to use every bit so I can mix a new batch for Monday's class. And another great reason not to put soda ash in the dye and print paste mix. Lasts a long time! 
 

Getting Ready

Monday starts a workshop for QSDS. That means getting screens cleaned, fabric soda soaked, and dyes mixed and ready. It is the unglamorous part of teaching, and the most zen. Still, nothing gets created. And it is lost time. I'll be happier to get to Monday.

Big and Bold

The second week of QSDS I'll be teaching printing yards with an eye to design for the entire surface. So, composition is everything. Thought the blood moon might want to look at this travel through time.
 

Flower Moon

That round shape, the moon's shape, is a geometric constant. Perfect, stable, and everywhere. With a full moon tonight, this is a stand in for that, or useful in case you need to tie up your horse.
 

Floral Abundance

On extended loan, this Lily Pods quilt is quite content being on a green wall. We so often see works on a stark white background, forgetting that the world paints rooms in color. I designed a quilt exhibition that  stipulated their period quilts not be shown on a white wall.
 

Three Days Early

While visiting out in the country, I couldn't help but notice the nearly full "flower" moon. There's nothing quite like reflected light. I'll leave it at that.
 

Spring That Wants to Be Summer

After a couple of days that were in high 80s and low 90s, the garden decided to just call it summer, and behaved like it was. I've spent a couple of days working in the garden, trying to catch up with both the strange warmth and helping a friend establish a garden. It'll be back to work soon enough.
 

Thought You'd Like to See This

 

Washed, Pressesd, and ready to meet the crowd is the print made with the leaf motif. The background is a rubbing, with color scraped through it. The leaf is a soy wax screen, and a good size at that. I know how I'd use it, but I will most likely add this to my website shop. Soon.

Looking Up

It's been summer weather here, and so the urge to drive to the country presented. My cell phone's camera is always near and filing images never easier. So, the redbud's fleeting color mixed with that new green, is a combination that will show up in work someday soon.
 

Printing Leaves

This soy wax screen was a fast demo for a class and I found I like it. So, heck, I've printed it every which way. Now, don't get all happy with this, because after washing out, the dark won't be a black as you see. But, it's still nice. I've seen the final result, and I'll keep this screen around.
 

Rack 'Em Up

From the top: cotton, cotton, cotton, linen. I'm finishing up prints started in the last classes and it sure feels good. The printed pieces can stay unwashed (and ready to accept more printing) for months until I've figured how to round out the composition. The linen is for the hand stitchers. 

I'll Tell You How

This is a demo piece, but worthy of higher praise. I demonstrated how I mix chartreuse and oranges, as well as purple. Then the ins and outs of scraping. But having some light area left, I combined the leftover print past to add the leaf stalk as a graphic. One of my favs.
 

Quick Demo

There is an opportunity that happens when I am not allowed to ruminate on a piece too long. The leaf was a fast soy way demo, and drawn quickly. Likewise the other forms that were printed. I gain confidence in placement, and try to connect the graphics and composition to work. But quick quick.

 

Linen is Wonderful

A stitcher, one who makes her designs with thread and needle in intricate stitches, asked me if I'd make some linen that was dyed. So I did. This is larger than a yard, and may split it into quarters. Gut it's a lovely suiting weight. Hope she likes it. 
 

What You Get

A different look happens once the print dries and if washed. It is knowing that difference and factoring in that gap from wet to washed that gets your guess closer to reality. 
 

Unfinished Businesd

Tomorrow's class homework (!!) is to send in a photo of the work they've got in unfinished stage and then washed and finished. This is not quite the assignment, but show part of it wet. I'm eager to see how it looks dry and washed. Should be a shock.
 

Almost Stained Glass

Years ago I designed an exhibition of Tiffany glass. Part of the project was visiting the workshop that repaired Tiffany windows. The luminous glass pieces are unforgettable. This color sequence reminded me of that project, although this is just a yard's print on fabric.
 

Wish I Was There

A friend sent a shot of the Marimekko store in Boston. Lucky I had her text number and could use her as my personal shopper. I've been a fan of their fabrics since I first saw them in the 70s. I might show you what I got when she returns. 

 

Getting Ahead

For a print class I'll make several demos throughout the day. And each eats fabric. So, I find I need to soda-soak a few more dozen just to stay ahead of the game. I've a video in this blog on how I do this. Bucket soak, drip dry in laundry tub, hang damp. No drip.
 

Virtual Classroom

A first time I've got a roomful of people printing and I'm not there! We'll, I was there on a small screen, and trying my darndest to check out each and every print style. But we made it work. These folks are in the Northwest Territories, Canada, and have a great community room to use. Wish I was there.
 

Day Off or Not

Time to take in the Viburnum. Oh, don't think I didn't get stuff done in the studio. There was a mass of fabric to be soda-soaked, prints to be washed, fabric to be ironed, and screens in need of cleaning. But a photo of that ain't pretty, nor smell as sweet as this viburnum. 

 

Prints I Keep

Tonight I'll host a group from Northern Canada in my studio (virtually, 'natch) and we'll talk about printing, graphics, and techniques. This group is from the pieces that I save and use myself, but I share in class. No worry, there are many on my shop page on my web site. 

The Gloves Are Off

Screen printing is a major tool for printing, and I rely heavily on it. Today we dug in to using screens with transitory barriers, as well as fixed blockouts. Just when I think I've learned all the "tricks" I discover another. The reason to keep experimenting. 
 

QSDS Auction Next Month

The first two weeks of June are times for QSDS and this year it will be virtual. The auction will be virtual as well, and I've sent this small quilt for them to use for their scholarship fund. I'll keep you posted where and when it will be online and how you might bid, should you be so inclined.
 

Influential Printing

Back to printing, and discovering more ways to "print the table". We've started our 5-day-over-two-weeks class Printing Under the Influence and are happy as clams to dig into the medium, We'll print and be influenced, and influence by printing. Happy thought, indeed! 

 

Big Art for Big Walls

This weekend I helped to place a piece on extended loan in a home recently furnished. It helps that the walls are 9 1/2 feet high and there's lots of them. They've also some of my printed pillows they brought with them from their other home. I wouldn't mind living here. 

New Cover Up

A sturdy bench gets a hunk of my printed fabric. A quick makeover and simple gift for my farmhouse girl. All the printing techniques I use can go on silk, cotton,  ane linen. This time, heavy canvas.
 

The Weight of a Line

Congregation will premier at Quilt National 21 at the end of this month. This detail has that very thin line  forming a barrier between two graphic areas. It's a elegant solution. I teach how to do this in my virtual class "Line, Shape, Setting" and the next classes are July 20-21 with me, or with QSDS on June 5 - 6.