Home Again Work

I've finally cracked open the box with my demo prints from San Diego. Added to the January class, this pile of unfinished work is pretty darn high. So, I spent printing time adding to these. The water heater is cranked up, the washer humming away. My goal is to post new yards to my store this weekend. 
 

My Friend Chalk

 I use chalk, now just an fragment, to mark the pieces pinned to my design wall. I'll draw the edge of the cut line, plus important crosshatch marks. This way I can't loose the junction when sections move to the cutting table. The length of this seam is about 7 1/2 feet. And yes, I've reordered chalk.

Dueling Berninas

I've added this tip each time I teach improv piecing. If you have more than one machine, set two for sewing. Put one at counter height with the pedal on the floor, for short pieces; and set one at table height for long seaming. Saves your knees and quickens your pace. 
 

Nancy's Studio

Across the parking lot is another set of industrial buildings that house galleries and offices. Nancy Valle has part of her studio on the Anderson Arts Building (a floor above mine), part in a working print studio in town, and here next to my building. Sunday she celebrated the space, and threw a little party.
 

Party Offering

I choose to spend my birthday at a potluck and concert with friend in the singing group. So, I made cupcakes and tried my hand at piping decorations. It's difficult to get right, but fun fun fun to try. Here are a few that made it tonight for my outing. Thanks for the wishes, I know you are out there!

 

Minor Moon

Tonight's full moon is the smallest of the full moons, at least in appearance, as it is near its apogee. The farthest away from the earth in its orbit means that we need to reach out further, keeping it in sight. There's the goal for the week -- wait for it to come back nearer, it always does.
 

Grid Work

Roger Remington's series of works based on the same grid are at RIT's University Gallery. The multiple versions and all are distinctly different. An honored teacher and influencer at RIT, Remington shows how simplicity generates diversity. Also, the Massimo Vignelli adage: Design without structure is anarchy.
 

Gather the Coat

Friends took care to grab my pieces that came off exhibit while I was gone. Thanks to Maddy Shoenfeld, the RIT Shop One manager, and organizer of the Beyond Fashion show, for holding on to my coat.  Before it was whisked away, she took a turn trying it on. We loved the pocket, and yes, there needs to be two.
 

Studio 301

Back to reality and the studio work. This was waiting patiently for my return, and it didn't take much to edit and scope out what I'd do with this to tame it into submission. A good day when I can get over to this studio.

Home Sweet Home

Out for three and a half weeks was certainly fun, surprising, and fulfilling. And I'm glad to be back home. No, it's not the beauty of Santa Barbara, the temperate warmth of San Diego, or the brilliant sun of Baltimore, but now the wintery chill of Rochester. And home. 
 

Still Not Finished

 

As I wind through the reel of pictures of the San Diego Class, I remember that this work, that most all of us loved as it, was not what the maker wanted. The white was eliminated, and I remember that the final result was improved from this. Sometimes safety is in need of experimentation.

Color

My IG feed has ideas for me. They know I'm interested in color, and that I'll be hot on the color palette this summer at PNWAS in Coupeville, Washington, for a class on printing in color. The color wheel is one of my peeves. I've lots of reasons, and this feed reminded me why. More? Join me in PNWAS.
 

Keyed Inn

 

Part of my time in San Diego was a visit to the Del Coronado Hotel, a wonder of long-ago elegance. The rows of keys attached to tassels makes the statement, and of course, interests me because of the reference to textiles and their appeal.

Inside Space

In a museum that must allow for containers that are fluid, where the collection is constantly moving and changing, is a grand task. A visit to the Baltimore Aquarium manages this task beautifully, and moves a crowd of thousands along in a flow equal to any incoming tide.  
 

Time Away

Today was only small people time. I remember the endless day that is the one filled with many tasks that are the ebb and flow of daily play. I'll be with my world again soon, but for a few days I'm grandmother.
 

Airport Art

Some airports have exhibits of art -- murals, cases of material, applied art to building's structures -- and some airports are architecturally the art themselves. Here is a slice of Chicago's ceiling.
 

Farewell For Now

We got a last walk in on the beach in San Diego, almost in sight of Mexico. One of the printers in the workshop is shown here; she'll return to the cold and snow, as I will too. I'll remember that this land includes us all. Thank you again to the Californian hospitality, and hope to return again.
 

Last Day of Class

Six days of printing is almost unheard of, but thanks to Andrea -- our fearless producer -- we printed like there was almost no tomorrow. The work was rich, diverse, inventive, and surprising. With a fine group to work with, I loved my time in San Diego. Thank you to all, and glad the storms let up to show sunshine.

 

Largest Wood Structure

Don't you love when there are distinctions. Do we have those? Today's tour of Coronado Island included the Del Coronado, reputed to be the largest wooden structure in the United States until 1944. Definitely quite tricked out. 
 

Day to Explore

The rain subsided and today was a walk to the coastline beach. On the east coast, it seems that the beach is property of individuals, mostly, and here the public access is considerable. This may just be my observation and not true. I'm glad for the ability to roam nevertheless.
 

What Does It Say?

 

A great joy of this workshop 'Mad About Motifs' is the morning discussion where we all find great humor in the process. Our resident typographer pointed out that the random pattern that was made spelled out RUIN. You can imagine the fun we had with that.

How We Get Happy

When someone comes up to me and smiles and states she's happy with her print, well, that's all that matters. I'm aiming for a good print, a pleasing color combination, some interesting motif. But what counts is whether they are just happy about what they made. Can't think anything else matters.
 

Show and Tell

Del brought my quilt to class so that we could see it up close. Oregon Rain is well traveled, and I was delighted to see it again. The Mad About Motifs class has been a wonderful unfolding, with one surprising print after another. We've passed the midpoint, and now can really use what we've learned.

 

Sun in Sunny San Diego

We were thrilled to see the sun after heavy rainfall. San Diego was spared the brunt of the storm which left parts of California damaged. It's still forecasting rain, so this afternoon light lifted our spirits, as well as let us see prints come alive in this light. More to come, and more to make in Mad About Motifs.
 

Mad About Motifs

The San Diego printers started today to explore the myriad ways to print in thickened dyes. And no time was wasted getting fabrics started with background and applied design. Tomorrow we'll dig deeper in the motif mud, as the rains continue and we are, for now, out of storm danger. 
 

Motif Hunting

Today was a 'day off' and we visited the San Diego Botanical Garden, which I took as a great place to collect leaf forms and ideas for printing. Any cacti proved a fine catch, and these will be a start for shapes I can use in this week's printing class. Let's see how it shakes out.

 

Visions

 A visit to the Visions Museum of Textile Art included a lecture by me last night. Looking on were an appreciative audience and some pieceful art works. 

Group Challenge

 A fiber art group based in San Diego had their show opening today with a selection of their works displayed in a local bakery. A big effort, and worth the visit.

Class Study

We worked with three fabrics to make a small study, and some managed to eek out nine blocks and a composition. This one has the advantage of a strong dark, a light end, and great color in the third selection. It was a lovely two day class to Make It & Break It. Thanks San Diego!