Line Up on the Design Wall

It was difficult to clear the design wall for the next piece as I kept finding new combinations that were as charming and that demanded my attention. So, the monster leaf quilt will have to wait on the "B" team design wall until this gets resolved. I could have more difficult problems, right?
 

On the Wall

Finished the second piece that I needed to take with me to Art Quilt Midwest. There will be a gallery of works by faculty, some for auction, some for sale. At the Art Gallery on the campus of University of Central Missouri where the symposium will take place beginning this coming Sunday. Hurray!
 

Details

Entries to exhibitions often ask for details, particularly if it is fiber work. I contend that the image of that detail should be compositionally interesting, and show some facet of the work in the medium as well as the finishing. Above is all right, but doesn't show the color work of the piece. Below better.

 

Ordered Chaos

Finished and hung. It's my latest off the longarm and I'll bring this to Art Quilt Midwest with me. I'm also going to add this as an entry to the SAQA NY/NJ call for the "By Contrast" exhibit. At 53 x 39 it fits the size requirements for accepted work. Cross your fingers, but meanwhile, it'll be on the plane to Kansas.
 

Flag Day June 14th

It took me a dozen years to add this flag. Tomorrow is Flag Day, and ownership of this symbol is for all citizens of the United States. Thirty years ago my two daughters and I marched with Susan B. Anthony's stand-in from her Rochester home to commemorate her work on Women's Rights. We carried flags.

Keeping Ahead

Last night I added a dozen pieces of printed fabric to my website 'shop' and today of that group, almost all are gone. Here I thought I was keeping ahead of the traffic, seems I need to steer around and get more to add. So, thanks to those who found ones they liked, and now I've got to make more. 
 

Within the Frame

I've yet to quilt this, but I already like this 'within the frame' composition. I'll go to the workshop in Birmingham, UK, as well as some here. Someone asked if it was possible to do this class using commercial (not hand-printed) and the results are just as grand. Here's a student's work from last month.

Full Moon

My full moon fill-in. Sometimes I look at prints that I've done (this is a detail) and can't figure out just how-in-the-heck I made that. But I have an idea that I've got a monoprint here where I've printed to the table, then pulled a print from that. I'll add my meager full moon shot over the expressway tonight.

 

More Within the Frame

In no time I'll be on British soil at The Festival of Quilts.  They've asked me to teach an academy class ahead of the opening of the festival. So, Tuesday. I'll teach "Within the Frame" and may bring this with me. Now it needs to be quilted and finished, but it'll pack lighter undone. My dilemma, perhaps?

Within the Frame

I've freed the design wall for a center medallion style. I may stick with the left. I'll pack it for the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, where I will teach a one day class "Within the Frame" that used improv design with a familiar composition. If you are there, my class is on Tuesday, before the opening of the show.

https://www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/academy-programme/
 

Podcast Links FATT

Sequestered behind these unweeded gardens is my humble Cape Coddie where I was hosed in a podcast by Fiber Arts Take Two. Here are the links for watching in case you need to relax an hour and soak in the sunshine/rainfall.  Enjoy!

on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/fibreartstaketwo/videos/1864917290719674

On YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32oOEtHaCeY

and in podcast form

https://www.fibreartstaketwo.com/podcast

 

Decked Out

This is the 'non' working part of Studio 301. I'll sit as far away as I can and look back at the design wall. There are always better solutions from that distance. I've hung works for First Friday, and also Second Saturday. I did manage to get some sewing in as well. So nice to be back and working the studio.
 

First Friday & I'm Open!

I've gotten this large work combined and now the quilting awaits. Just in time to clear this design wall, sweep around the work stations, and get ready for First Friday. I've not been around for the last couple of months, and tomorrow will be a long lingering light of day, packets of oreos, and an open Studio 301.
 

Australia Calls ME

Tomorrow, Thursday, June 5, I'll be speaking with Fiber Art Take Two. It will be on their website www.fiberarttaketwo as well as on YouTube. Who knows what it'll sound like, but if you're dying to hear me speak (coherently or not) tune in. It'll start at 7pm (not at 5 as they state) EST, check you time zone.

 

Print Studio

I had a request for a 'circle' scarf, so I had to get myself in the wet studio and do some work. She choose this one, which I almost kept for myself, but glad I didn't. I'd like to hold all of them, in fact. There are more on the website store, and I'll bring some with me to Art Quilt Midwest at the end of the month.
 

More Studio Time

I'm rounding the bend to see the finish here. The last bit is the lower right corner that hasn't yet been resolved. So, tomorrow I'll have fresh eyes. And, oddly, I'm motivated to wrap it up as the next one really is calling me. That's unusual!
 

Wash Day

I've a few yards finished and washed from the last two workshops. This is a demo print, and there are some rough places, but I can selectively work around them and use the parts that are cleanly printed. I like the layers available here, and will definitely use this  piece, not let it go to the website store.
 

Imprinted on Cloth

Tonight was the opening of the Schweinfurth Art Center's exhibition with four surface designers -- Petra Fallaux, Karen Schulz, Margaret Boys Wolf, and me. It is a lovely look at rich  color applied to fabric, unique voices and motifs, and a wonderful statement on current surface design in fiber work. Go see!
 

Deceptive Color

Top pic is unwashed, with my mystery color (turquoise and magenta), with mixed mystery and turquoise. I know what happens, so I'm not shocked with the resulting color. Turquoise goes down dark when wet; my favorite purple is that mystery blend. I like what I have, and I'll plan to do it again. 
 

Scarf VS Shirt

I've two one yard pieces of crepe di chine that were tagged for scarves, but wouldn't it be fun to use as a shirt? Lord knows I've a few more things to get finished before I try more garments, but I can maybe move this up the list a bit, can't I?
 

Your Invited Saturday

Drinks are on the house, er, the Schweinfurth Art Center. It should be a wonderful set of works who share the art of printing on fabric. They may even have cookies, too. 
 

Taking a Bow

I'm heading to the opening of "Imprinted on Cloth" at the Schweinfurth Art Center this Saturday for the opening. Slight of Hand, on loan from a collector, will be shown along with work by Margaret Boys Wolf, Petra Fallaux, and Karen Schulz. Join us in Auburn, NY, May 31 from 4-6.

 

Screen Time

I've got some screen time waiting for me, and the silk fabric is in. Two kinds of silk scarves are on my table for next week, one that is a round and 60" long, the other a large 42" square. I know we're heading into hot weather, but my calendar calls this task before it heats up. 

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The Print Table

I'm using the dyes leftover from the class in Auburn; there's not much, but enough to cover this yard. It is mainly red and turquoise, but the wet turquoise always looks black, so this view of a wet print is deceptive. It'll washout completely differently. Plus, I've added red to purple it up. 
 

Next Up

When I get the chance to work in the studio again I'll take on this construction. I like the motif, and there's good movement in the background where the color shift is working well, so it's a matter of shifting the elements to strengthen the composition. Which is to say, it'll take a bit of finagling.

Groundwork

When I'm printing, I'll have several puddles of color, much like a painter's palette, waiting at the ready. At the end of a print session, I hate to scrape them up and wash away, so I've used them in a color block background. I'll add a background heavy motif over this allowing the colors to come through. 

 

Short Time Work

Good to steal away to the studio for a little bit of time. I went back to what waited for me, kinda liked what I had, but then reinvented it. I'm not finished, but I think it's improved. Here's the before and the after for the session.

 

Finishing the Last Layers

Monoprints I make as demos for workshops come home with me. They allow me to take a second look at how I'd finish them, use the print as a base or a starting layer for the square. This is not yet washed out, so I can't tell how deep the colors will be. But I do like the spread of motifs and the color blocking. 
 

Here's Lotusland

Emerging at about 6' square is Lotusland. It will go with me to Birmingham, England for The Festival of Quilts at the end of July. I've only to add my embroidered signature and it's finished. And just to be special, here is a full frame of it as well.

 

You Know the Tools Necessary

It's time to sew down the facing and add the sleeve. And that means I can binge some mindless Netflix series. So yes, the scissors, thread, pins, and needle cozies up with the remote gang. 
 

Trim and Cut

Sundays are quiet at the studio. It's easy to plow through squaring, trimming, and adding the facing. I'm trying to match this work with an existing work's dimensions to hang them back to back on exhibit in Birmingham, England's Festival of Quilts this summer. I'll be teaching, with a lecture, and exhibit. 
 

Pack and Ship

It took the better part of the day to pack and send off the works for the New England Quilt Museum yesterday. There are lists, hanging slats, and mailing labels. The exhibition will be up this summer. I'll give a lecture in conjunction with my show August 23rd there.

Switch 'Em Out

I'm always happy to put up a new print outside my studio door. I gives me ideas of what their value is, what works in the piece, what I can do without. For my floor mates, it tells them I've been around. 
 

Lilac Festival

We visited the lilacs in Highland Park today hoping to dodge the rain. It turned out to be a mostly rain free day, and the lilac were beauts. I also managed to embroider my name on half a dozen works that are slated to be shipped out for an exhibition. But they make dull images compared to these lilacs.
 

Another Set

Since I've two design walls, I can populate each. This set appeals to me as well, and I'm intrigued with the many 'windows' that are throughout the piece. I may change the rectangle, but this is a start that I like. Notice, I've now a receding sunlight pattern as it's angle is higher, and less direct light. 

 

Return to the Wall

Finally some quality time at the studio after 6 weeks away! These were prints from last week's workshop in Auburn. You are seeing three pieces of fabric, but the two in the last layer look like one because they share a common color on one edge. Seamless, almost. One way to move across a background.
 

Flower Moon

 

I promised myself that when I get caught up in my computer work, I'd visit the garden stores and add to my garden. For now, this viburnum, as sweet and fragrant as it is, will have to do for the Flower Moon this month. And it might be a few days before I'm ready to get those annuals.

Gatherings Round Town

I was a guest at a birthday party on the outskirts of Rochester. While the party was hopping, I slipped away to the grove of redbuds to take in the evening light. It is both wonderful to be with people I meet 'on the road' teaching and also to be back with those who have known me for years. Old, new; both good.
 

Botanical Prints

One of my favorite motifs is leaves. Cheri made a screen using soy wax and the print was delightful. The complexity of the resist in the drawn and painted leaf, has a quality of lithography in the mark that resulted from using the silkscreen. She has a gift for drawing an expressive line in her work.

 

Spine Tingling

 Laurie is setting up a piece with a motifs that has a spine. Connecting is the game. And the spine is the way to go. The Schweinfurth Art Center has a great facility, we're taking all advantages.

Favorites from Others

Each person in the class chose someone else's piece to talk about (for a change!) and it's always the best time. Because the speaker starts with "I love..." and the rest is wonderful. We are so fortunate to have the space to do this and enjoy the work we did through the week. 
 

Wall Art2

 We're using 4x8 Styrofoam to drape our prints. As we round day three, motifs galore appear, colors become more sophisticated,  and more techniques for printing are tried.

My Big Table

 I so enjoy the extravagant amount of space the Schweinfurth Art Center has for their surface design classes. My ordinary table is outfitted with an oversized top and leg risers. Plus drop tables behind me. 

Wall of Prints

 If you recognize the green walls, you know we're at the Schweinfurth Art Center. I've a week of printing, and we are all excited to start digging in to print!