Thank You 2023

Before the calendar page turns, I want to remember the great places I visited, as well as those I 'saw' virtually around the globe. Thank you all for coming along, you made my days zip by, and gave me lots to love and appreciate. Hoping that 2024 is as fruitful and fun as this last year has been. See you in '24!
 

Choosing Time

Now that the set has been subdivided, I've got a chance to rearrange as nauseum. That's the fun and the torture. There always is yest another version to see. No worry, my camera has them all.
 

Details, Details

The annual portrait show will get these two gals in dialogue. I wanted to show you the quilting stitch as well as the absolute raw edge layering of the piece. I always have fun stepping to one side of my usual techniques, and you should try it for a change. Doing something different, that is.
 

Studio Work

Heat is on in the studio, a nice change from last year and a broken boiler. I've taken some odds from other works and combined them into several 'blobs' which became the base for this composition. It won't stay like this, I'll split it all, but not till I'm teaching in San Diego. It'll be my demo for the design class.
 

Portrait Step Sewn

I'll get this quilted soon. Here the raw edge is machine applique, if you can even call it that. I've crudely sewn it onto the background, leaving no finished edge. My plan is to quilt along that edge as well, to establish the edge of the area for each "piece". 
 

December's Full Moon

A full moon image from a detail of Robin Wiltse's "Nature vs. nature. The harebells and the sea of witches" seen at the World of Threads exhibit in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The show is still up, go see it if at all possible. Seems the weather is on your side for travel.

Merry Christmas

Even a downsized artificial tree holds the right amount of ornaments (only the ones that count) to be a perfect standin for the tradition of Christmas. I wish that you all had a wonderful break in the routine of real life to spend time to enjoy this time of year. Merry all of us!
 

Unfinished Business

The large piece comes in at about 8 feet square. It's in the queue for quilting, but so is taking a break at this holiday. Time for family, friends, feasting. And maybe a movie. Hope you are doing some of the same. 
 

The Other Set

On the main design wall is another set of fabrics that might stay together, or perhaps not. I'll be taking a break until after Christmas, and then working sporadically in January as I ping pong between studio and virtual studio. January is going to be a tough ride. 
 

Portrait Step 2

The first Friday in January opens the annual self portrait show in Studio 402. I'm trying my hand at raw edge applique in a small work destined for that show. I've a lot to do -- there is a dog/pig to fix, heads to elaborate, and of course, finishing. But, hey, there's time.
 

Happy Solstice

This will have to be the stand-in for the earth's rotation from the darkest day of the year, on to the increase in daylight (it's my silk scarf, of course) and a bookmark for the winter solstice. If there's a party, go for it. 
 

Back to the Studio

A day of catching up with studio work as well as friends meant that we could do both at the same time. This was a quick lunch break, and then a session on what is happening in the fiber world. It was good to hear about other projects, avenues, opportunities. Thank you for the visit B and R!
 

If Santa Had an Album

Cleverly written songs set to groovy tunes is the annual offering of this group. The seven piece band knows the parts, they don't have to sing them twice, cause they're mostly bawdy and nice. My long overdue 'get out of the studio' evening activity.
 

Giving Time

I spent the last day and a half finishing a project for a friend who was in need. I was happy to do so. Often one asks "what can I do to help" and there is really nothing to do. But in this case, finishing a project, I could. Tomorrow I'll deliver it, and then life will ramp up again as it has been. 
 

Quilts=Art=Quits Again

After the meeting of the Finger Lakes Fiber Group, I went downstairs to the Schweinfurth's exhibit of contemporary quilts. This time, the crowd was sparse, and I could focus on the work. Plus, friends were there to bounce ideas around on the how, why, and ifs that are always brewing. Get there if you can!
 

Rusty the Package Deliverer

One customer who was nearby bought a gift from the webstore for her sister. This was her queue to find the waiting package. Our temperature was upper 50s here, so a bit odd, a bit of a break, and a bit of fair weather to do some shenanigans like this.
 

In Case You Missed It

Images from the RIT fashion show are trickling in on IG, and this one really does say it all. That's the coat I made, and we wanted this rather soft spoken man to "show it off," so I gave him an umbrella which he opened to punctuate the stop. One of the few times I heard the audience applaud and laugh. 
 

Prints in the Store

Restocked and looking a bit chipper, my website store now has a dozen more scarves, and a dozen new yards of printed cotton. Yes, once the deck is cleared from the fashion frenzy, items can now jump over to the website store. You know -- www.patpauly.com/shop
 

Wreath Worthy

You know it's time to hang a wreath around your neck when the weather dips below 35. And the wind blows, and you even need gloves. These are the newest scarves to make it on my web site, and in time, I should say. I'd gift them all to me, if I could, but that wouldn't be the spirit, would it?
 

Running Errands

After the crunch to finish the fashion show, I realized several tasks needed care. So, checking off items on the list meant a trip through the finger lakes south of home, by about an hour. I headed back as darkness fell, with enough light to capture the view of Canandaigua Lake looking north. It's a grand landscape.
 

The Company of Others

One nice part of this project was seeing how others tackled the theme, used fabric and dimensionality, and presented their work. Wendy Marks had a cross country car trek in the fabrication stage of the show so she did a boatload of hand stitching and needlework. Her collection was outstanding in that detail. 
 

Using that LMV Motif

Here's a detail of the works using the LMV motif. Two more dresses share the motif -- one with a white background, and mine. It took me a while to develop the statement for the print, and this, along with the colors, made the collection hold together. Lella and Massimo Vignelli are the donors for the Center of Design Studies at RIT.

Beyond Fashion

 

A perfect team to show my 'collection' of garments at RIT Beyond Fashion tonight. Using my printed fabric, and basic sewing skills for garments, nine outfits were showcased. The models were perfect, each bringing a perfect style to the piece. Could not have been happier with the show. I walked too!

Finish Line

I've slapped on my shirt the motif I've printed for several of the dresses in tomorrow's fashion show. Today's dress rehearsal was a high, with every model looking fabulous, kind, and very excited to play a part. It is amazing to have made these pieces, and a great challenge for me.
 

Garments to Go

I've never sewed so many clothes in my life! I have nine garments, and a few that won't be used, maybe 15 all together. They are tagged, accessorized, finished, and ready to pack. Friday is the show, rehearsal tomorrow. Then, can we pleeeeeaaaase get back to normal?

 

Lella and Massimo

I've been printing this motif with delight. Both of there are cut Tyvek stencils; the material is a tee-shirt. The variety, the line and large shapes are so different from the organic shapes that I use often. The combination of the lettering is about to meet the others, my Printing Under the Influence will help.
 

Printing for the Influential

Today was the start of Printing Under the Influence, an advanced class for those who have had one of my previous workshops, virtual or in person. It is five days over two weeks. I've another set for January when you may be snowbound. Or just in need of a great print workshop. Details on www.patpauly.com
 

Multiples

There is good in making something over and over. I've gotten used to attaching this collar, and figured out how to finish the edges on this vest. I just need a button or so, perhaps a pocket. Always a pocket! 
 

The LMV Dress

 

 Finally got this figured. It's printed with the initials of designers Lella and Massimo Vignelli on cotton knit jersey. Show is end of this week at RIT.

Open Studio Night

It was First Friday tonight and the organizers for the Beyond Fashion show were visiting studio 301 as a surprise. We had fun getting various people to see how the coat looked on, and it became a party. Makes me think I should make another. And another. 
 

World of Threads

I went across the border today to see the exhibit "World of Threads" in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. I can't begin to say all of what is on view -- it's the big, the small, the colorful and muted -- and all great ideas to spark creative new work. Check it out, by all means. This installation by Judith Martin is a blast. 

 

Bindings for Something Else

[yes, a day late -- oops, forgot to hit "publish"] Binding detail on a little vest made with the quilted fabric shows that you can indeed use those hard leaned techniques for other than quilts. I've even resurrected a bound buttonhole as well. In a casual style, for the Beyond Fashion show this December 8 at RIT. 
 

Full Moon Long Ago

My full moon for this month comes from my latest trip to Baltimore Museum of Art. This is a drawing of mixed media on paper from about 1695 by Maria Clare Eimmart of the moon's surface. Works from only women were shown, and my guess is that these were not commoners, but had status and time to create.

 

Small Business Saturday

I've got to wait to reveal the garments I'm making till after the December 8th show, so here's the diversion for Saturday. Since it was Small Business Saturday, a trip to the Rochester Art Supply was in order. And yes, I did grab some fabulous printed paper. The assortment is amazing.
 

Fabric With Monogram

I've not decided how I'll use this cotton printed fabric for the Beyond Fashion show. The Lella and Massimo Vignelli Center for Design Studies is the sponsoring group at RIT, and I felt it fun to use the initials of these two designers for a few pieces. Reveal in a few weeks. Stay tuned.
 

Coat is Started

I've laid out a pattern that I've had for years, and I'll use the largest size that is there. It promised to be a simple coat, and the pieces are few. I'll forgo the lining, as the back of the quilted fabric will be fine. I'll just have to figure out how to handle seaming, covering seams, and binding edges. So, not so simple!

 

A Day's Work

A few hours on the longarm gave yards to work from for the coat. It was difficult to estimate the amount of fabric. I think I had about 80" x 120", joined, pieced, reassembled, but mostly using it for the whole pieces minimally cut. Here it is coming off the machine. I used a burgundy color thread throughout.
 

Coat Fabric

Back at the Studio 301 I've laid out some fabric to quilt for making a coat. I'm trying to finish the set of garments for the RIT Beyond Fashion show. I thought it would be appropriate to make a garment that was, well, quilted.

It's All in Black and White

An intriguing look at life in a grand manner is this paper cutout from the 1700s (I think.) I love the stylization of the figures, the deer, the tree forms, and the horses. The coach has perspective; very clever this artist. From the Baltimore Art Museum's current exhibit on women's art in Europe 1400-1800.

 

Scavenger Hunt

My granddaughter and I had a scavenger hunt; one of the items was a hat. I found many at the BMA, but this one alluring. The color -- poison green -- was a delight, as well as the patterning of the print. Painted by a woman, and the reason for it being in the exhibit, was not apparent. Just nice, no matter the hand.
 

Baltimore Art Museum

My trip to BAM was to see the exhibit "Making Her Mark: A History of Women Artists in Europe, 1400 - 1800" which is splendid. But this work by Jackie Miland in the contemporary galleries was of great interest. The base was a painted coverlet with paper, fabrics, and other substrates added, as well as paint. 

The Continuing Leaf Series

Found on the street, this is one large Gingko leaf. I love the shape, the fan if it, the color, the tooth gap quality. Next time I get leaf prints going, I've got to clone this shape. Keep a file, friends, of the images that cause you to copy the intent. Then make use of them.
 

A Look (at the) Back

Apparel is seen three dimensionally, so that if I wanted to see my garment work, I'd have to put it on someone or something other than me. A distinct disadvantage. So a studio neighbor agreed to try it on so that I could attest to the piece's structure. 
 

Grid Fabric

I've tucked the pattern into the selection of grid fabric, moved it aside in Studio 301 for today's tour with the MAG council. About 20 women toured the studio getting a run down from the "how do you start" to "what finishes do you use." Wonderful questions, and honored to be a part of their tour. 
 

Visitors with an Image

The RIT Beyond Fashion show will have heavy graphics, not the least because it's part of the Vignelli Center's mission, and based on the Vignelli's grid system. These upperclasssmen came to Studio 301 to find images, get info, and plan how they will cover my "collection" for the show. How great is that?