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

Frolicking

 Visiting museums is more fun with friends. A trip to the new V &A storage building had this stage backdrop of a reproduction Picasso painting. All curiosity all the time.

Fashion Dictates

 After leaving the Festival of Quilts,  I headed to London and the Victorian & Albert museum and sone magnificent garments on view. 

Friends Everywhere

 The Festival of Quilts is put away for another year, and before I move on to other sights, I want to say how much I enjoyed meeting friends I knew, and new friends I made. Here's Jane Haworth teaching a short class. Hellos and thanks to all!

Grasping the Whole

 Hard to show you how clean and spacious this gallery was. Wood walls, clear labels, good lighting all made this 900 square feet a perfect space to show at The Festival of Quilts  2025.

Admiring Quilts

 Beverly Smith had a gallery of her work. I found it compelling and thought provoking. Just one if the many special galleries at The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham UK.

Tour Time at FOQ

a new twist at the Festival of Quilts was  tour of my gallery. I loved the questions asked, as well as the insight they had. The wonderful Jo Hall (second at left), gallery coordinator, joined in too.
 

Fashion Show

 The crowd at the fashion show went along with my joke to take a selfie. I wore the coat I'd made for the RIT show, now it's Birmingham an the Festival of Quilts. 

Back to Back

 The first encounter with mt Festival of Quilts gallery is this set of back to back works. The dimensions match closely and, with airspace between, work well. 

And NOW Look Who's Here

 Behind me are podcasters Brandy  Mazlowski (quilter on fire), Ursula Beeston and Jo Wright (fiber art take two) three incredible podcasters) visiting during The Festival of Quilts. Pretty wow!

Look Who's Here

 

Old friends and new friends visited the gallery today. We looked at a work in progress and did lots of dreaming about another class. Sigh.

Level on the Level

I loved hearing the crew (who had a laser level going) that the use their eye to make sure it looks level installing the gallery at Festival of Quilts.  

 

The Starting Line

 Here's my gallery at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham,  England.  Today was setup, and all will jump on the walls when the crew finds time. Me? Better with a night's rest. 

Visiting and Helping

 Luna Rubin was in my workshop yesterday, and offered any assistance. I took her up on that as she dutifully got the road-weary traveler delivered to her hotel. Many thanks, you are in my debt.

Within the Frame

 

Looking to the Fall

Main Street Arts in Clifton Springs, NY, runs a Plein Air event each September and I jump at the chance to sit in a field and look straight ahead to paint, have a great lunch with other painters and be part of an exhibit. Here is what I submitted from last year (others were sold) for them to use. Heck, I'm ready to go!
 

Ahead of the Game

Those suitcases don't get zipped until the morning -- usually -- but it's such a big trip that I couldn't sleep without them being at the ready tomorrow. I've got a 1/4 of the space for my clothes, the rest are quilts that will be in the gallery they've set for me at the Festival of Quilts. If you are there, find me!

 

Train Ahead

I've no photos of the wonderful dinner from Quilting By the Lake's farewell night, and there were lots of Kodak moments -- class projects, raffle, apron auction, and great food, so I give you the setting sun and what crossed my path on the way home in Geneva, New York. Time to remember this moment.
 

On the Design Wall

I got a couple of hours in at the offsite studio to get materials ready for my class in Birmingham for the Festival of Quilts. A couple of half yards passed through my hands and I had to see them on the design wall. I'm intrigued with how they unite and hold the random squares I've added. It'll wait till I return.
 

QBL Visits Schweinfurth

I got the chance to return to the Schweinfurth Art Center and see the exhibit that featured my work alongside three other surface designers -- Petra Fallaux, Margaret Boys Wolf, and Karen Schulz. The Quilting By the Lake students (all astute, kind, fun) were there as the treat for the night. 

Gallery of Friends

I caught the exhibit at Rochester Institute of Technology today where all the exhibitors were connected to the Anderson Arts Building where I have my studio 301. The scope and depth of the works is wonderful. This rug hooker, Diane Philips, has always been a favorite of mine Here is a close up.