Fun Time is Over

With handwork, I move to the dining table to sew. My incentive is a movie. So this gathering of the blue glass and hydrangeas will have to skedaddle. I'm eager to get the last large work on the longarm, and word has it there is a lineup forming. 
 

Waiting in the Wings

My waiting wall is for trying out stuff that calls from poking through prints for the main design wall, but strike me and ask for consideration. The right one will be sent to Quilts=Art=Quilts for their silent auction (a mini-me for what I'll be showing there) and the left for the ROCO member's show. When I'm done.
 

Left on the Design Wall

It's always waiting for me, that last bit to finish. I've got most of this together and if I can haul my sorry self out to Studio 301 tomorrow, I'll get it ready to quilt. Then I need to turn my attention to two smaller projects and some administrative tasks. Not in that order though. 
 

Shenanigans

Today's entertainment included workshops in conjunction with the 54th annual Turtle Hill Music Festival here in Rochester, NY. Among the serious, technical, harmonic, and though provoking sessions was this one from two music therapists. We all got a bit of good deserved therapy! My day off was fun.
 

One Last Week

My exhibition of 12 works at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts enters its last week this week on September 20th, and then I'll welcome them home. It is an honor to be seen is such a lovely venue, and with such care that the staff has given to the installation. 
 

Lecture Today

The Genesee Valley Quilt Club is the Rochester New York mothership for countless quilt groups in the surrounding region. They've been around for over 80 years, and today's lecture was by Jean McCleary on her technique for translating her photographs to contemporary art quilts. Always news, always fun.
 

Banner Installed

Looking as though it was made for the space, the banner was installed this week. And looks great because it WAS made for the space. At about 8' wide, it was to incorporate the very clear colors of the room. The book store's banner and was printed on 7 0z cotton canvas with fiber reactive dye.
 

Evolution on the Wall

 

Over the last week I've moved parts of this around. I think I'm finished fleshing it out, and now I need to assemble or build it. Finishing comes with the chance to mess up the connections, the proportions, and smooth out the joints. In short, to change the energy that the rough set contains. We'll see.

Street Presence

Needing a little signage for outside the entry door to the Anderson Arts Building here. I took an Ikea tray, screwed it to the brick wall, added adhesive backed letters and called it done. It joins an eclectic mix of other signs just as creative in their execution. Now I need to replace the little tray.
 

Full (Corn) Moon

This is as 'corny' as you can get for this month's full 'corn' moon. After I was away for a few weeks, and the home temps reaching into the 90s-100s, I had to pull the dead stuff and replant the planters on the front step. These blossoms haven't budged for weeks. Must be happy. Neither have I!
 

Final Set

I assembled the banner with few pieces, just enough rearranging to make it hold together. So grateful to have the space to lay this out and work easily on it. Made all the difference to be able to mark, cut, measure. And that large 6' ruler came in handy. It's delivered; I'll get an install shot when it's ready.
 

On to Design

Two recent prints and one earlier one are stacked on the design wall. I've printed to 7 ounce painters cotton canvas, and will be making a banner 90" x 32" for a book store. The colors are the wall colors, and yes, it's bright! Now that the wall is clear, I can really stretch out. 
 

The Design Wall Today

Here's what I left on the wall today. I've added height to this to balance the width. Now that it's all together, I can get it in the queue for finishing. It'll be about 6 feet and some after quilting. Haven't a name as yet, but I see people in it, perhaps traveling somewhere. 
 

Canvas to Start

The second project I'm printing is for a banner for a book store. Matching the vibe of the store's color scheme is intended. I've more to do to compose, but I wanted the raw material to give me alternatives,
 

Special Prints

A fellow quilt artist asked for particular fabrics, mainly light toned, but with interesting texture or line. I've made half dozen, some might work, some not. It's so hard to know what is wanted, and what is in mind. I hope one or two will work. This is scraped, screened, rubbed. 
 

Normandy Off on Its Own

I received a lovely image of Normandy in its new home, a permanent place. It is on the left here, as it was seen at the Festival of Quilts early August. An interested buyer loved it, and I brought it home to ship to the west coast. Normandy was a break-through for me, and I'm happy it will be appreciated by others.
 

Getting Some Air

 

I judge the value of the work, as well as the value of the exhibition, on how much space there is -- breathing space -- between artworks. This exhibition of SAQA NJ/NY at RoCo has enough to separate the works. I've seen better, I usually see worse. It will travel and redistribute, with different results.

Apparent Contradictions

 

It was opening night for the SAQA NJ/NY exhibition 'Apparent Contradictions' and the crowd was thick. And the panel discussion went well, some great questions, and always a good vibe from the Rochester Contemporary Art Center staff, they put on a remarkable event. So, go see this show -- till September 20.

So Far, So Good

This piece seems to know just what to do, and seems that I'll be lead on by that. It has been amazing that I am able to use just about every inch of these four fabrics -- some that are half yards -- but with almost no waste. The rough size is about 50" x 70" wide. And the print is doing the heavy lifting.
 

On the Cutting Floor

Good thing I left a draft on the design wall before I left for a 10 day east coast swing. A few hours in and this piece is snapping right along. Notice that illegal ruler? I use it to place the square in the frame of the surrounding fabric, measuring the cut to allow for reassembly. Need that perfect 1/2 inch to make it work. 
 

Swallowed Hole

I'm officially back from my months of travel. And the greeting from my front yard was overwhelmingly YELLOW. This very quick shot let you know I'm editing out the lawn that needs mowing, as I'm busy! Neglect of most all fronts takes remediation, the lawn will wait. But the list is getting shorter, at last. 
 

Disarrangement

 

Here's the full version of 'Disarrangement' that will be part of the SAQA NJ/NY exhibition at Rochester Contemporary that opens this Saturday. Close inspection (for those who know I love to hide squares,) will reveal a few squares that are let-in to the overall large print. Something that intrigues me to no end.
 

Apparent Contradictions

Rochester Contemporary Art Center hosts a SAQA NJ/NY exhibition that opens this Saturday evening. There is a panel discussion starting at 7 where I've been asked to participate. What pearls of wisdom I can muster after a full day of "Music on the Porch Day 2025" will be the spectacle to hear. Join us! 
 

New England's Gem of a Museum

I spent time with works new and old at Lowell's New England Quilt Museum. I was fascinated with the "Summer Collection" with regional quilt groups' work, as well as the the museum's collection. This scrappy historic quilt caught my eye when I thought I was looking at a print, not the batting. 

 

NEQM Lecture Today

Mid-morning I gave a talk where my work is on exhibit in the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Mass. A happy crowd was early and filled the room, we all had good laughs throughout the hour, and the questions were insightful, where I was sidetracked (and managed to get back on the road). Thanks NEQM!
 

Shirt Weather

A few days after summer's heat and it's still shirt weather. This is from the last show at the Textile Workshop and Museum by Will Stokes, Jr. pigment on cotton sateen, 1978. A long-time artist with the TWM, he passed recently. More https://www.phillytrib.com/obituaries/will-stokes-jr-celebrated-printmaker-and-figurative-artist-dies-at-69/article_0c0a2246-4140-57ef-8c7c-07221aecd193.html
 

One Collector's Collection

Staying with a friend in Philadelphia I was treated to a glimpse of her quilt collection. Most were made by her relatives, all were in perfect condition, and as a group were charming. I love collections, and seeing other's choices shows me a side of them I find interesting and broadening.
 

Leaves in the Heart of the City

                                        
Philly can grow stupendously large weeds, like this tree sized one. Google helped me identify it, but I've quickly forgotten its name. But I'll add it to my collection of photographed leaves. Love leaves! 

August 23 NEQM Lecture

 

Saturday is days away and I'll be at the New England Quilt Museum to give a lecture on my work, my inspiration, my methods, and why my solo show has the title "Unfolding Years." I'll try convey any part of the talk. I'm showing you 'Devil's Garden' here, just to tease you to  visit the NEQM and me!

Take a Philly Walk

 Hot, yes, damn hot. But the streets of Philadelphia offered a cool take on city architecture.  Not to mention a few lunch choices.

The Fabric Workshop and Museum

The recently expired exhibition "Soft Cover" at The Fabric Workshop and Museum had a bed dressed in linen sheets on which were printed images of nuclear bombs and script for how to end life on earth. It was the most striking object in the exhibition, and most thought provoking. Especially for these times.
 

The Fabric Workshop Tour

A brief stop in Philadelphia had me in a tour of the printing facility used for their program of study for intermediate and advanced students. Get a sense of the length of the padded print table they use for fabric with repeated patterning. Tour also included screen prep, dye mixing, and sample print. Sample books also.
 

Left on the Wall

I was in the studio for a brief time before heading out to the east coast. It's always good to return to unfinished work, the edits are easier with a fresh view. so, this is now connected and ready to be quilted. And I left another large beginning for when I return. 
 

V&A Art and Design

I was thrilled to see the Victoria & Albert Museum's exhibition that encompassed the last century's innovational design works for living. Having studied design and functional craft, I was keen to see the development laid out in their 'Design 1900-Now'. I could get lost here!
 

Imperial Embellishment

My quick photo at top, and the V&A Kensington (London) photo from their website below. This is a silk panel 1825-1875 of Chinese origin. It was embroidered and then would be sent to tailors in Beijing, where it was cut to form the 'Dragon Robe' for the imperial family. Treasures from my England trip! 

 

Quilts that Catch My Eye

At least 700 quilts were in the exhibition part of the Festival of Quilts 2025. This one I found particularly fun -- the Condom quilt. Four maintenance (?) workers stopped to examine and chuckle over the imagery. The quilting included the same shapes as the pieced 'in use' condoms. Good fun all around.
 

Can You Store This?

The Victoria & Albert East is an open storage building showcasing the collection on shelves, rooms, ceilings, walls, and stacks. One can see conservators working on the collection, ask to see an object (with a two week notice in advance) or just wander, as we did, up and down the aisles with wonder.
 

Full Moon

 

Last night's full moon seemed a spotlight on the plane's wing. I had to think twice to know what that bright spot in the sky actually was. With Rochester's city lights below, I grabbed the chance to record this on my phone. Not the best camera to record, but I wanted to capture the full moon