Admiration Society

Thee center quilt is by Astrid Hilger Bennett. I've admired her work for a long time. She is an avid drafter, drawing from nature constantly. These drawings translate into wonderful natural forms which she paints, prints, and draws. This is also from the Quilts=Art=Quilts show,.
 

A Spectator's View

It's always good to see what surrounds your work, and so that's important to ask others (if you can't) to send you photos of the work in situ. I'm across from a happy pink thing by Victoria Findlay Wolfe, and at the end of the hall, the best of show work by Laurie Paquin. Visit the Schweinfurth's website to see more.
 

Quilts=Art=Quilts

The Schweinfurth Art Center's Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibition, now for over 40 years, opened last night. My work Congregation was part of the offering, and I'm in great company. It's always helpful to see how it was placed, what works are around it (that work with or against it) and the flow of the exhibition.
 

Full Moon

Those who know my printing class can recognize the monoprint when they see it. I've added color, like a watercolor wash, to the background. This is a detail, and it'll go in the pile of undetermined. So, your substitute for tonight's full moon -- until I get a better moon-worthy-image camera.
 

Being in Print

There is a lovely publication "Life in the Finger Lakes" that did an article on regional art quilters, featuring me to start. The great photo is from my San Francisco exhibit at the Cunningham gallery, and Joe's wife Carol took the great photo that was used. It's always nice to be recognized.
 

Aren't New Phones Great?

My new phone has a feature I discovered purely by accident. It will isolate an image and drop out the background. Quite handy to document the garments I'm making for this RIT fashion show. Looks almost professional. I'll take even this rough draft. Printed cotton dress needs only the buttons..
 

Grid Your Teeth

The RIT fashion show project has a grid theme, and I've put down hot melt glue on stiff paper about 42" x 30" to roll with black thickened dye a rubbing on the Marimekko linen fabric. Hope something good comes of this, and the design isn't a flub. The grid is nice. That's one good thing. 

The Blue Portal

It's hard to describe what 103" looks like, and if you think of 96" as eight feet, well, that helps. I've got all the pieces together for this portal piece. I don't have a firm name, but after I quilt it, it'll come. I've now got a clear design wall, but also a stack waiting at the longarm. Such fighting among my stations!
 

I'm Not Sailing Away

There is a project that I've been working on, unrelated to my fiber work, that takes me about an hour away each week or so to Canandaigua at the southern edge of the lake of the same name. It is a gem of the Finger Lakes, and as I pass this each time I am there, I made a point to walk the lake path. 
 

4500th Time!

Thank you all for hanging in with me and PiecesandResistance! This will be the 4,500th post in this every- consecutive-day-posting blog. I started on a challenge I gave myself, and kept going. So, virtual toast from me to all of you, and let's see what tomorrow brings!
 

Closer Up

As I work on this project for the fashion pieces, I rely on commercial patterns for some of the fit. Some of the directions are so difficult to see, I end up taking a photo and then enlarging the pic to see if it becomes easier to see. Or in this case, still  damn difficult to figure out.
 

The Party's Over

It was a wonderful week of printing with eight little squares on my zoom screen, eight animated printers who tried our nearly everything I suggested, with delightful results --- thank you! They even humored me when I continued with my grid series. We'll meet for a reunion in November, and that'll be fun, too.
 

A Set

There is a reason these all look like they coordinate -- the color, the motif, the scale. I've been printing this week with a group in Glorious Prints virtually, and had time to get these underway. They'll be some kind of garment for the RIT fashion show this December. 
 

More to Graph At

Yes, a big 40 inch screen has the grid pattern I needed for printing this hunk of fabric. I'll add this to the ones for the fashion show, and meanwhile keep exploring that grid. Haven't seen gridlock just yet!
 

You Know Juneau?

I've never traveled to Juneau, but today visitors came who live there! Well, one is from Rochester, but it counts that he was born in Sitka. We had way too much to talk about in the world of contemporary quilts, and someday really must sit down and talk more. Let's hope that I can visit Juneau in return.

Far Reaching Little Town

This reproduction of a lithograph is booming Rochester, NY 1868 with a CIRCUS in town. It's the best way to explain today's events. Eight wonderful women from France to Maryland, Pennsylvania, Montana, California, Wyoming (!!!) and New Zealand met to print virtually. Can it be more fascinating?

 

Patterns

I've taken an oversized blouse from Flax and made a pattern of polyester stuff (I wish I knew the name!,) which I like because I can see through it to place the print. Weighed down with a magnetic knife holder, that is my pin blob, I use my rotary cutter to cut the pattern piece.
 

Busman's Holiday

Chelsea Fay had her very graphic and bold home dec fabrics on view today at More Fire Glass Studio (itself a fabulous art glass showcase) along with other fine art and craft. I was smitten with her clean prints. She is explaining the drop on the tablecloth, in the background are glass rondelles for color choice.
 

More Grid Please

 I used a screen with a rigid and clear pattern, but wanted to take some of that machine-like quality away, so I printed to the table, pulled some lines -- in a grid, too -- through the squares. Here I am brushing the back of the fabric before pulling the print. I love monoprinting for that reason: I can alter it with drawing.

 

Test Pattern

For the fashion project I've started I will print linen that I've had for a while. A perfect use for it. After soda soaking, I've tried my grid pattern by rubbing, as well as screening and scraping color. I like the back side of this Marimekko print so I'll try it on a larger piece. 
 

Morning Light

I made a quilt once about having multiple items on a checklist and only accomplishing one. This is morning light, when all promise is possible. As I close the day, I realize that I didn't get that walk in for doing all the other things on the list. Not all, only some. Walk needs to move up the list.
 

End of the Show

Last visit to take down the works and pack up to go. I asked the gallery sitter if he liked the people who came to visit, he lit up with a smile, and concluded that they were fun, liked the show, he did too, and will miss the works. That has to be the best -- a stranger who enjoyed the experience.
 

Family Wedding

 

This was the piece that has gone off to a new forever home. I made Family Wedding in April 2020, just as we were starting to hunker down and stay shut down. Odd that this much exuberance came from such a dark time. Must have needed getting out. 

Off to a New Home

Bundled like a newborn, my work is off to a new place here in Rochester. I knew the "Family Wedding" would be her pick, as she was wearing all the bright colors in the quilt. As it was raining, it was rolled, covered in cloth, then plastic sleeves, then tied -- never taped !! -- and off it went. Thank you very much!
 

Graphics Geniuses

The Vignelli Center for Design Studies showcases graphics from the famed designers who left their archives to Rochester Institute of Technology. They introduced the grid system, loved Helvetica, designed logos to dinnerware to subway maps. The grid is the buzz for a project I'm doing with the school.
 

Open House for First Friday

And this is how it looks picked up! There is not much difference from working to anticipating company. Oh, well, there ae snacks around, I'm more dressed up, and I've neatened the fabric piles, but that's about it. Tonight was First Friday and there was a lively group of people who came visiting.

 

Gallery Minders

At the gallery, where I'm showing work, there is always a lovely person to greet me. When I say my name, they, every single one, lights up and smiles, declaring that they liked these works. I remembered today to ask why. The answer: they are full of color and make her happy. She'd like one in her bedroom to look at. Perfect answer!
 

Last Days Last Look

It's not everyday this many of my works are in a single exhibition. Here is a selection on the main wall. It's a grand space, lots of air around each piece, with the most beautiful light. Up till October 7 at RIT University Gallery.
 

How Much Fun?

Along with a tour and talk of my exhibition, I got to hang out with this printmaking class of Eileen Bushnell at RIT today. I brought along thickened dyes, fabric and print tools, then I printed. One quiet student said she was 'pumped', I said it was hard to tell. A ton of laughs with this crowd. Thanks!
 

Within the Frame

I think I know where to drive this composition. So, I've relegated it to a center medallion, and need to smooth out the framework. I'll redirect the center after that, and use it as a placeholder for now. 
 

Gaining Traction

I'm taken with center medallion composition when I print. And perhaps it's time to tackle one when I piece. I've got a start here, and I like the use of the frame.