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.

 

Square Delights

A friend commisioned a few pillows from the studio. I'd thought a botanical theme would fit her personality, as well as a 'heavy on the purple' scheme. I'll visit her tomorrow and hope that a couple will be suitable. They were fun, regardless.
 

How Light Can You Go?

A friend asked for pastel colors and a bit of 'noise' (that's what I call it) and so I've tried my best to make some fabrics that fit the bill. I'm so used to saturated hue, and deep color at that, so I took her request on as a challenge. And I love a challenge. We'll see what flys!
 

Festival Teaching for a Day

Should you find yourself in Birmingham, England, for the Festival of Quilt, keep in mind you can find me ahead of the opening on the Tuesday before the show teaching "Within the Frame" and I'll have this little work with me as an example. And, I'm speaking English!

 

Looking Out

Home from my family visits, and this is what I see out my front door. I can't say when I'll get out there to tame any of this, but if the heat dies down, I may get some invasives pulled. Or not. I've got dyes mixed that are asking to be used, a little commission, and some sorting in the studio to do. Why winter is nice!
 

Cool Water

Summer's heat has been relentless.  So the pool, and more importantly the hose, is the best activity I can think of. Th studio will have to wait one more day.

Garden Strong Motif

 I love to compose with my garden at hand. Scenarios change, and my edits leave off the distractions, focusing on the strongest interplay os shapes and color. Not to mention the pallet.

Printing Experiment

A couple of experiments from the print table. Not sure what they will be in the end, but they intrique me. If I like them, I'll add the technique to my in person Art Quilt Tahoe class in November. I think there are two spaces left, keeping in mind that AQT allows me to cap the class at 15. (not 20!).

 

Russell Wright

While padding around an antique store I came across this Russell Wright dinnerware. The color pallet is what struck ne above all else -- the cool green, the mellow yellow, the odd taupe pink, the liquid blue. These became an iconic set for the times -- 1930s -- and are still current for our modern time. 
 

Pillow Talk

A friend requested some pillows, so I've started this set. They take a bit of time, as I'll print one side, let set and dry, then flip to print the other. These are cotton with a side zip. 
 

Off It Goes

In the state of  'disperse the wealth' I gave away a printed vest I'd made for the RIT fashion show this past winter. It looked perfect for her, and that it might see daylight more than in my workspace, was bonus. I still want to put together a "Printing for Wearables" class, someday someday.
 

Substitute Garden

I think that if my blossoms are deer attacked, I can use my own brand of AI (Artistic Insight) to make some of my own. And not have to fight the onslaught of predators on my natural landscape. I have printed blossoms! (part of my online fabric offerings).
 

Full Moon

 I should really highlight my entire patch of marvelous daylilies that were decimated by deer (I'll imagine it was a BUCK) but that would bring tears. Instead feast on these two prints using a soy wax screen. Think shirt, skirt, dress, or OK, a great frame for a kid's quilts. And the kid can be a grown-up. Happy full moon,

Choosing Companions

I'd a lovely chat with someone who wanted to purchase fabric on my website. A first for me! Made me think on how I pick companions. My rule of thumb is that they either slide together and are 'seamless' or distinct from each other so that no matter how I combine the cuts, the piecing shows. So, show or no.
 

Happy Flag

It's not that much of a jungle in my front yard, just good editing. I finished my lecture for the Festival of Quilts later this month (July 31st at 2 pm). And I wanted to include this shot to let them know I'm proudly flying the flag. It belongs to everyone, citizen or not, blue or red, giver or taker. Whoever is on this soil.
  

Festival of Quilts and a Room for 600

The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England, has me lecturing on Thursday, July 31st in the afternoon. Seems it's either the 60 seat auditorium, or the 300 seat auditorium. I'm to take on the 300 room. So, if you need a good laugh, or a chance to get off your feet, come see my lecture. Probably the cost of a cup of tea.
 

Admirer That I Am

It was decades ago that I saw Terry Mangat's work and I was bowled over. She's on the other side of the country, but a couple years ago, through Facebook, she offered anyone seeds from her black hollyhock. These have now reseeded and returned. What a link between fiber artists that brings joy. 
 

Give Me More

My screens and prints from teaching at Art Quilt Midwest returned today thanks to FedEx. Which gave me incentive to add new prints (to my website store) I'd taken to Missouri as examples of techniques we'd use in class. My next in-person class is at Art Quilt Tahoe in early November. There's two spots left!
 

Podcast on ME!

Here you go! I recently was interviewed by Brandy Maslowski who goes by "Quilter on Fire" in a just released episode. It's about an hour long, and we muse on all things contemporary quilts. You might enjoy listening as you do your 'thing'. Here is the link:      https://quilteronfire.com/podcast/

New England Quilt Museum

In last night's audience for my online lecture to the NYC Metro Modern Quilt Guild was Christine Janove who'd just seen my exhibition at the New England Quilt Museum. She was kind to send me this photo, and now you know what you'll find if you visit. A big room of big quilts! Thank you Christine!
 

Back Home

Tonight I had the privilege of speaking with the NY Metro Modern Quilt Guild on "Challenge". I landed home 2 AM, got some sleep, unpacked, got new food, did errands, and turned my attention to polishing up tonight's lecture. This is me cooling off under the sliver of the moon and my back deck. So happy!
 

Oklahoma Surface Design

 A walk through the Tulsa Botanic Garden had sculptures on an orugami theme. This caught my eye for the applied botanical motif, cause you know I LOVE leaves!

Woody's Resistance

The famous banjo with the inscription that could say to the audience that they had a decisive singer/songwriter on the stage. From my visit to the Woody Guthrie Center.

 

Visit to See Bob Dylan

 Or more specifically,  the museum of his work. So artfully designed and informative. The Dylan Museum is next to the Woody Guthrie museum. So almost the entire twentieth century culture was examined. A treat!

On the Round

 My flight to Tulsa had a connection through St. Louis where I saw these floor inlays. They reminded me of Robin Ruth designs. Always keen to see surface designs applied.

Sum of the Parts

 Susan took advantage of the no-traffic hall to lay out her printed work. It's not often we've the space to do this, and it yields valuable perspectives. We're at Art Quilt Midwest in Missouri at university of central Missouri. 

Walls Do Talk

Art Quilt Midwest is winding down, and tonight there was a 'walkabout' for the classes. Our printing class hung works (still to be washed) on the walls with character, energy, and printing prowess. Other classes has stitching, assemblages, thread studies, and landscape abstractions. A wonderful week!
 

You Print What You Are

Jean is printing what she is wearing, which means the pallet is already part of her vocabulary. I see this occur often, and must say that some purposfully wear what they are interested in. Anyway, whether this is true or not, she's got some great motifs going, and has dived into the deep water of printing successfully.
 

Printing and Printing

A wonderful group to talk about our first day's work in Art Quilt Midwest, here in Warrensburg, Missouri. We're a mix of seasoned printers and some newbies, but it takes no time at all to fill the gap for printing expertise. We've three more days to work, plenty of things to try, and want only for afternoon snacks.
 

Art Quilt Midwest

 Our first day at Art Quilt Midwest included a gallery of work brought to the event by students in workshops. What a lot of talent to greet tonight's faculty lecturers. Fantastic work.

Tea Party

 Tea Party is now on view (or when it opens this Tuesday) at the New England Quilt Museum in an exhibition of my work that will last into the summer. I'm excited to see it and my chance is in August 23 when I'll be giving a lecture there on my work and processes.

We Own This Stuff

Thanks to a Facebook group called "Buy Nothing" I was able to find a home for solid fabric quarters that I've not used in years. Happy to send these to where they will find a purpose. It's a small amount, but every ounce adds up to clearing a way for the purpose of "now".
 

It's Time

My serviceberry tree is producing fruit, and I was lucky to grab a handful of these small berries. I'll be off next week teaching a workshop at the Art Quilt Midwest in Missouri, and I'm certain that when I return, the birds will have picked this clean. That's what this tree is for -- bird food!