Same Fabric, Two Works

My faithful readers know I rarely post two images, but I needed to show you how one of the piecers in my design class "Within the Frame" took on the project. She's used the same fabrics as the improv base, but finished with two distinct frames for them. It was so fun to see each one's piece finish differently.
 

The Improv Gang on Mackinac

Finishing day two of improv piecing at the Quilting Arts Seminar on Mackinac Island this week.  I wanted to thank this wonderful group of veteran quilters, but many new to techniques for improvisational quilting. Well, at least to my way of piecing. The exciting works all took on the maker's spirit.  

 

Next Up: Within the Frame

We've traded a leaf pattern for some improv piecing. Within the Frame used a set of fabrics, some simple cuts, a few tricks, and we come away with a center medallion. Tomorrow is taking the frame abstractly! All at Mission Point for the Mackinac Island Quilt Seminar, a retreat in Northern Michigan.
 

New Big Leaf on Mackinac Island

We spent day building a New Big Leaf in the Art Quilt Seminar, and the results were all different and well thought out. I love using freezer paper templates to land the design, and I know that once the planning is set, I have only to determine the pallet. There's more tomorrow, this is plenty to learn today.

Between the Lakes

The Mackinaw Bridge is the demarcation line between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, If you could see the line. This was on my way to Mackinac Island and hanging with the Mackinac Island Quilting Art Seminar this week.

 

I'm Keeping This

A demo print, this is a print with a soy wax screen, where the wax is put on the screen instead of on the fabric. I love making a motif that has a spine -- it means that I can attach the motif in a line and imply a large screen or a large image. I'll have to make more.

Don't Think It's All Fun

It's not all fun and games, these workshops, sometimes I have to do reconiscience and gather data. This is for the Bar Harbor class "Printing the Colors of the Sea" and I figure that east coast is east coast, so I'm tracking these blues out of Provincetown on the Cape for use in September. Join me to see if I get it right.
 

Make It & Break It

After printing for four days, the group had two days of sewing and design. Terry took fabric she'd just printed (and washed) and took on the project of Make It & Break It, where she put fabrics together to take apart and reset in a grid structure. I've made a few of these, and they are always a good puzzle.
 

Pro Chem's Room

The class at Pro Chemical and Dye in Fall River, Massachusetts has seven tables. The group limited itself so each person had an entire table. I've done classes there where there are two to table. This made the experience luxurious, and we took advantage of the expanse to print large. Hard to beat this, but possible.
 

Parts is Parts

Lisa assembles her work with the suggestion to join a few fabrics together before adding them to the design wall. Once a few sets are made, they can be shuffled. Sounds easy? Sounds odd? It's not for the faint. We're working in columns, but you'd not guess. And in that great space in Warren, RI, Cutler Mills.
 

Busman's Holiday

 When in Warren, check the quilt store. Of course there was a quilt store minutes from the class, and yes, there were buttons. But I ended up buying socks.  

Yarn Factory

 

Our classroom was in Cutler Mills, a refurbished yarn mill in Warren, Rhode Island. It's a lot of space, and a peaceful place to be for two days. 
 

Design With Prints -- Ours!

The four day print class at Pro Chem signed up for a two-day class in design, specifically to use the fabric that was printed the previous days. Each had prints exclusively their own pallet and design to work from. It brought surprises, a few laughs, and a round of responses. We'll do it again tomorrow.
 

One Strike, Two Versions

I challenged the class to start two prints with the same strike of motif and the finish them to be different from each other. And to do them in record time. The results were striking. The class was self-organized and took place at Pro Chemical and Dye in Fall Riverr, Massachusetts. A great place to print!
 

Room Full of Prints

 Wednesday is the day things get cooking, er, printing. The pieces are large, graphic, and diverse. It's always refreshing to see.

More Prints from Pro Chem

"Novice printer with great graphics" is what the poster should read. We're in silkscreen mode here at the Pro Chem class organized through a local critique group. The goal of this printing class is to produce fabric that we will use in a following two-day class on design (sewing) and I can't wait.
 

We Are Printing!

A group of textile artists asked me to offer a print class in Fall River, Massachusetts, in Pro Chem's workspace. We ran through a boat load of techniques, and I KNOW there is water not far away. There's more to do tomorrow, and I'm so looking forward to it.
 

Full Moon April's Pink

 But mine is not. It's blue, and courtesy of the Vision Museum and its collection of contemporary glass. There's a lot to love there, and glass of all colors, just not one I could remember was pink. Happy full moon day (yesterday!).

Just Hung Up

After Party is finished, with the exception of the signature, and hung up. It will be in a group show this summer, and I'll deliver it in May when I'm at the Schweinfurth Art Center for a week of printing fabric. There are a few spots left (May 5-9), and I'm looking forward to teaching on 'home turf' for a change.
 

Schweinfurth Printing May 5-9

 

This color sample tests the same strength across various fabrics from cotton to linen to silk and blends. I keep my pallet the same for each class and studio, rarely veering. I know how to get favorite colors that way. Come print in May at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, New York. Can't beat the facilities!

If There's Gators, It's Florida

Before catching a later flight out of Florida I was treated to an Air Boat tour of a vast marsh. Seemed that the purpose was to spot alligators, and we managed a good dozen. The birds were choice, absolutely beautiful, and a perfect way to end the conference/workshop/day-off smash up of a week.
 

Design Camp florida style

 Monday and Tuesday was "Design Camp " with the Dirty Dozen fiber art group in Melbourne, Florida. Held in the coolest spot and known as the river house, it was improv sewing without the bunk house. Just fun!

More Design Camp Within the Frame

One image from the Florida workshop; this is day two and Withing the Frame. We had a great space to work with, lots of room to step back and see what we had, and where we wanted to change. And bonus -- good light to see our design walls. Setup was a beauty, wish they were all like this.
 

Museum of Arts and Crafts

On my way out of town before heading east we stopped to see the Museum of American Arts and Crafts Movement. The interior mirrors Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum's tiered interior as its staircase. Definitely a strange adaptation, but but still sculptural. 
 

Night Out

Friday night, the SAQA conference held a spot for the Visionary Reception at the Florida Craft Art Gallery in St. Petersburg. A busman's holiday, we had a chance to see fiber art SDA curated. Yes, bit of wine, and nibbles, but mainly a chance to talk about the fiber art we love.
 

Imagine Museum

One pic would not explain this glass work. There are mirrors and clear glass, and I can't explain how it works, but it's a hell of a lot of fun to look into it. This was yesterday's excursion to the Imagine Museum here in St. Petersburg. 
 

Speakers Speakers

The crowd at the SAQA convention in St. Petersburg, Florida, paid close attention to speakers, taking in vast quantities of information. The after-lecture discussion was almost as heated as the weather outside (88!) but no fear, we were cool inside. And the promise of a pool (outdoors!) waits.

Shirts are Packed

This back of quilt was at the Iowa Quilt Museum. A good fill-in for my packing an unpacking here in Florida. I'm at the SAQA conference getting ready to meet load of friends and have some good solid diversion and quilty topics with meat on them bones. 
 

Print East or Print West

This spring's workshop is in the lovely Finger Lakes, near me, in Auburn New York. The Schweinfurth Art Center (Quilts=Art=Quilts sponsor) has a week of printing May 5-9. If you're west, head north to Coupeville, Washington on Whidbey Island, and print July 21-25. Join me, you won't regret a thing.

 

Random Images

I'm clocking the hours this week putting a lecture together for the upcoming SAQA conference this weekend. So, random images are getting pulled and sorted, which means that I run through years of workshops and travels. This is from Vancouver Island, I believe, maybe in 2017 or so. Time!