Wonder Team

It was time to reassemble the long arm. Keep in mind that the bed is 12' wide. The wonderful duo from Delightful Quilting and Sewing, Ron and Joyce, spent the afternoon getting this machine in shape for it's new space. I'm so grateful to find this two who answered my call of 'help' and came to put it right.
 

A Distance Away

The call for entries is on for Quilt National. I've earned a spot a few times, most recently for this piece (detail of "In the Weeds" shown here) and I may enter again. I woul have to find one that was not exhibited or broadcast publically. That's what will take time. The hunt.
 

The Fourth for Reflecting

In a new house, with a new view, a new walk, and a day to reflect on that point on the map of this country I'm in. This Fourth seems very different, not worthy of celebrating independence when so many rights are gone and more are in danger of loss. So, this walk in my new country in my new country. 
 

My Kitchen View

I've a red japanese maple tree outside my courtyard at my new house. It's not looking healthy, but it may recover. Lots of thoughts go out to hang on that tree, and I'd hate to loose it. 
 

Let's Get Lost in Tile

I feel I've made this in fabric before. Or perhaps with charcoal in high school drawing class. Or a chalk line (see below) on the driveway for a kid's game. But here it is telling me that I should add this tiler as a kitchen backsplash, or somewhere somehow. The lure of the Tile Store.

 

Quilt-A-Thon in October

There will be another spectacilar 'Quilt-a -thon' hosted by Joe Cunningham to benefit Joe the Quilter's residence in Great Britin They hope to improve the museum, and we folks are getting together to help by offering tips. Join us, mark your calerndar for October 3 from 3-6 GMT

Wander the Aisles

I'll have a place in the renovation that will call for fill. And no, this wouldn't do, but boy, is it ever a great tile. And there it is, now to find a place to use it. See, there is motif at every turn.
 

This Must Be Luck

I'd moved a potted plant from a spot in the garden and a large toad jumped out. I've not seen one in years, although they were constantly around when I was growing up. Thrilled to see it, and I take this toad as a sign of good luck for all of the new things I've encountered these past few months. 
 

Strawberries and the Moon

Friends came for my first 'dinner' at the new place and we sat on the deck watching the full moon (the Strawberry Moon) eating strawberry shortcake. Delightful, and a great way to welcome summer. 
 

Blue Tape is My Guide

I'm finaly getting the three little quilts finished and ready to send out to Crafty Monkies this week. I needed to quilt just up to the finished line as well as leave ample fabric beyond that line. After placing the  pattern sized to the finish measure, I taped around the edge to guide the last bits of quilting. 
 

Telluride in September

Here's "Domino Effect" which is a good description for what I would call "a definitive mark" and also the title of the class I'll teach this September 24-28 in Telluride, Colorado for the Ah Haa School. There are a couple of spots left, so come with me and print textiles definitively.   https://canvas.ahhaa.org/classes/656
 

On the Hunt

like friends are catching fish, touring the west, and attending weddings I am hunting for a vanity and a couple of toilets.  Not glamorous,  but necessary

 

Permanently Home

My little Cape Cod transfered to new owners today and I'm slowly making my new space habitable. I've more to do, and that will take time and patience, but the end result will be worth  it. Now to clear a path for the reno crew. I've a two car garage with one path between boxes. 
 

Two to a Good Home

These were printed and shown at RIT's Shop One on the campus. Later, they were part of my studio sales items. A lovely woman who had seen them years ago and remembered them found me and asked about them. I'd put them in a safe space, and we reconnected. So, finally to the long-time admirer.
 

No Fear

An eveing stroll on my last day of class took me past manicured lawns and fearless deer. The town is liberaly sprinkled with these residents, and they take no effort to get away, and in fact, this one continued to advance closer so it was me that got away. Not my favorite pest for civilized landscapes, but still.
 

Finish Line

The weather was perfect for our week, and we made this clothesline work like mad on the last days. I love what the shadow forms become on the ground. And yes, I did caution everyone not to let their prints bake in the sun longer than to 'dry' as textile art is damaged with sun exposure. Still, nice to have this line.
 

Family Time

It's not often that family members choose to print side by side (literally) and this past week at PNWAS in Coupeville, Washington I had TWO pairs. It was fun to see the banter, the encouragement, the true pride each of the four gave to their mom/daughter and in one case their 'special daughter'. Made a great week!
 

Medallion Wins the Day

 Each student was choose a piece they admired from a colleague and talk about it. We all would have chosen this piece by Amy. It was a great finish to a week if printing. I'll return same time next year!

On the Line

A most handy closeline is up and filled within an hour of class's start. Margaret got her piece up and finished, showing how she loves clean, pure color saturation. There is a myriad of styles here, which is so great to see the variations in printing applications. And Coupeville is gracing us with perfect skies
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Field Trip to Marcia Derse

A short drive up the road is the studio of fabric desiger Marcia Derse. Her charming house and studio hold the collections and prompts she uses to design her line of printed fabric. The visit has us all enchanted with her studio and archive. Many thanks for the hospitality and tour. It is a delightful experience.
 

Taking Over

Second day of the print workshop sand the class is using every inch of space for our printing use. Wall, outside parking spots, even the front of the refrigerator. We have printing to do, and gosh, we're going to do that! Tomorow we have a bit of a field day after class, and then more to do inbetween. 
 

Let the Fun Begin

We've settled in the Pacific Northwest Art Center's workshop space with everyone grabbing two tables to print large and bold. The first day had direct scraping on fabric, rubbings and work with stencils. With silkscreens in hand, we'll start to add resists tomorrow and dive into printing more. 
 

Another Not Entirely Lazy Day

I spent about four hours setting up the class for this week, mixing dyes, organizing space, cutting plastic for tables. You know, the little stuff. And I had every intent to photograph the pots of color waiting, but forgot. So, here's my walk back from my picnic dinner along the trail in town. And the warf again.
 

Landing at Coupeville

I'll be teaching this week in Coupeville, Washington which is on Whitbey Island. I find it to be so quaint and (though it may sound corney) picturesque, and a lovely way to begin summer. This is from the last remaing warf looking back to the village. Tomorrow is making the dyes, and getting ready for class.
 

Playtime First

 My short visit with grandkids meant finding the stack of toys and cool basement air. I'll be on a plane tomorrow,  heading for Whidbey Island and a week of printing.  

Independent Studio in Surface Design

 

Independent Studio! In Surface Design, no less, so that means you do your own work, but with needed technical and design guidence when you need that, for a week in July 27 - 31. We'll meet for discussions, motifs, and motives. All in a great space and a solid retreat with Quiltng by the Lake. Come on aboard.

Motif Inspiration

 I'm gearing up this week to travel to Whidbey Island and Coupeville for the Pacific Northwest Art School and a week of printing. This was at the Australasian Quilt Conference I attended. Such strong graphics. 

You Floor Me

 My first full day had an agenda of new flooring and drop off longarm for checkup. I figured the flooring was more alluring. It's vital plank. 

It took considerable effort to disassemble the longarm for the move, and its gonna take mire to put it back in working order, but the process is started.

 I started this post, then somehow exhaustion took over. This is my disassembled longarm frame.  Heavy as all get out, and ready for mondays movers.

Stitch and the Story

Schweinfurth's exhibition incluides this graphic stitching, with a message I can't read -- as it's in French. No matter, it caught my eye for the composition with both heavy and light figures.

 

Goodbye Old

 It served me well. From college to the mid nineties my carousel was my faithful equipment for showing my work. It's gone to a good home, and now I'm lighter.

Schweinfurth's Summer Exhibition

This summer at the Schweinfurth Art Center there is a fiber exhibition created by Surface Design Associates. The name is something like Textiles but written in a code that makes writing about the title difficult. It is still a fastinating show despite the title. This installation caught me, a felted rock heaven.

 

Beginner's Luck

Alegre Retreat was not so very long ago. While I'm thinking about the QBL 2026 class -- Independent Studio for Surface Design -- I thought about those in  my class as newbies. Imagine a week of independent work, no assignments, but a chance to flesh out an idea or sink into a series. Even garments may show up.

QBL 2026 Indepent Print Studio

I'll be at Quilting By the Lake THIS summer from July 25 to August 1!  Independent Studio workspace is an opportunity to stretch and work in depth with students for the week. The class is not yet up on the website for the Schweinfurth, but you can call and register. Wow! I'm so excited. 
 

Delights

I've tended this garden for 12 years now, and where there was nothing, there is now loads of plants that continue to share the spotlight from one bloom to the next. This poppy is my favorite color, and I'll miss this, but I know I'll have a new landscape to enjoy. 
 

Crafty Monkies Begins TODAY

Wintertime I filmed how I printed fabric, designed, sewed and quilted a set of three blocks for Crafty Monkies. The recordings are now live on their website programs. It was challenging, but I learned a lot. You might too! (starting today) at https://www.craftymonkies.com/vip-202627-member-club-info
 

The Pleasent Surprises

Susan tried a few motifs on this half yard, with great results. It was a good three days of experimenting, technique exploration, and taking notes on how diverse the printing outcomes could be from a dozen people. The Schweinfurth offers such a nice work space for a wet studio, and I always love it there. 
 

Blue Moon!

 Jean printed this charming motif today, one I had to capture for the second full moon of May. We're using that full moon pull in prints that are turning spectacular 

Three Days to Print

 Three days to print?? Is that enough? Maybe it is. We've started with some great prints using the simplest of tools. Back tomorrow at the Schweinfurth Art Center and treat of a fiber art show opening as well.

Nightfall

My deck view. I've spent a very long day, no time to say much of anything important or topical. Just need to crawl to bed. Workshop tomorrow!
 

It'll Be None of the Above

I've tried the green and the taupe. Suffice to say, nothing is hitting the mark. So, I'll match the color of the tile floor and the kitchen cabinets for a relating color. It shouldn't be this difficult, but I find this staircase a large eyesore and demanding child. Needs a bit of calming, so it'll go some neutral cream. No judgement!
 

Two to Go

I'm sure you saw these when I revovered these two chairs with my linen printed fabric. I'll send them back to the person who gave me the chairs. I'm sure she did not expect them to return, and they'll have some life beyond Studio 301. 
 

Packin It Up

I spent today taking apart and boxing up my studio 301. You may have see this view when I was working on a piece, now it's ready for the movers. My new studio will be the lower level of my townhouse. There is boatload of work to be done there, but the reward will be satisfying. So, stay tuned.
 

Is It Time for Supper at Last?

While in Chicago's North Side, our workshop was held in a church that displayed a fine rendition or the Last Supper made in lace. It was made so suptlely that I had to look closely to see the scene.

 

Hard to Decide

The blob was supposed to have connections that were interesting, not necessarily well composed. That would be for another day, so the happenstance of it all took precident in yesterday's class in Within the Frame. We're aiming to cut this into bits, and it was always interesting to see what came out.
 

Home Improv Stretch

I spent today with the delightful group of quilters from Quilters' Connection near Waltham, Mass. The goal was to make a big blob, cut it into four squares, add a frame for "Within the Frame". I kept time poorly, so ended before that glorious finish. One day not enough! But much delight in improv piecing. Thank you Quilters' Connection!
 

Eye Candy

 Chris Wickert's applique work is meticulous. I'm happy to see it again in the GVQC quilt show last weekend. Feast for the eyes and all in silk to boot!