Take a Seat

 Toward the end of our week of printing Kelly pulled this one, and I encouraged her to enter it into QuiltCon. Or any other show. Pretty neat for a whole cloth, and that is hard to do -- that is, make a print from scratch, and have it hold together in a strong composition. We'll have to wait to see what comes next.

Saturday's Quilt-A-Thon (with Joe)

Joe Cunningham has organized a terrific fundraiser that will air this Saturday, October 3rd from 8am to 11am MDT. I'll be part of this, it is always fun to be involved in Joe's projects, so come join us this Saturday  (or watch it later in the recording) https://events.hum anitix.com/quilt-a-thon

Get a View

 

Telluride' gondola that will take you to some point where if you were game to hike, bike, or ski, you would start your trek. On this very rainy day, my ride offered me a view of the Rockies that surround the town. It was still glorious, even in the clouds and mist. 

Night Time at Ah Haa

The class is done for the day, and we've all gone to the next classroom for a gourmet dinner from the culinary expert at the school. It was a great day to  work over our things, and make, make, make. Tomorrow, a bit more.
 

Full Moon

 Admiral Dewey is dead center in this musical device from the last two centuries.  I saw our full moon standin in the quaint Telluride history museum. 

Screen Time

The second day of the retreat at Telluride's Ah Haaa School for the Arts saw the silkscreens make an entrance. It's one of my favorite printing techniques, and with the facility here, perfectly suited for printing, I couldn't be happier.

 

In the Thickener of It

Kelly wasted no time getting into printing. I'm in Telluride, Colorado at the Ah Haa School of the Arts and a week retreat in printing on cloth. The school is two blocks from where I'm staying and I pass the sweet village on my way. Tomorrow is screens, and more color work. Nice to print again after this August break.

 

Built for Making Art

Today was set up at the Ah Haa School of the Arts in Telluride, Colorado. Tables were cushioned and covered with plastic, dyes and thickener mixed, materials sorted and at the ready. I'm stoked to get to print in this tricked out facility. There is even MY twin washer tucked in the corner! My kinda workspace.

W-ELK-ome

I've spent the day on three flights, an hour and a half shuttle, and my reward was the spectacular vistas of the Rockies and a sighting of Elk munching on the side of the road. Telluride is charming, and this is only the beginning. I wish I'd taken shots of the views on the ride, but I was in a state of enchantment.

 

Talk with Quilt Expert

Jan Wass was curator while I was exhibition designer in the 1980s at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. A visit today was a house tour, spot of tea, and long look at the studio and it's many treasures. We could have gone for hours if other demands weren't there. Great to have the quilt expert in the house!
 

Music Morning to Night

The Turtle Hill Folk Festival (55 years on for Golden Link Folk Singing Society) was all day today. Great music, great weather, great performance hall (the German House) and a chance to gather with friends over music. Go find a day to make music!
 

Twelve Feet with a Sink in the Middle

After quite a while without a kitchen sink, it was finally back in service today. I've turned the corner on this renovation. There is still a bit to do, details on top of details, but they may have to wait while I scoot back to the studio and try to get this in order. Tomorrow is a day off, Sunday I'll get packing.
 

People We Love

I thought it would be fun to revisit summer's workshops and what fun we all had. At Independent Study for Surface Design at Quilting by the Lake, Susan made a rubbing of faces, we had giggles seeing them  appear. I love simple processes using simple tools. It's the hand of the maker. And by the people we love.
 

Close Up Quadrant

I managed to get some yards photographed. Each has a full or overall image along with each quadrant. These become mini-studies, and when seen, give me a sense of the qualities that exist inside an edited part. Try this with a square photo, cut apart into quadrants, then shuffled. A good graphic exercise. 
 

I'm Trying

A bunch of hand printed yards are washed and ready to document, but I like them too much to sell! I'll have to wean myself away from some and put on the website store. The first two are the case where a similar background allows two to become one. 
 

Drape Rules

Townhouse living has its regulations, one being that there be no laundry hanging! Well, they didn't say anything about draping fabric, did they? These are washed and waiting for the iron. Then tagged and on to the website store. 
 

Drainage Makes it Simple

My soda ash bucket on the left starts with about 4 gallons of solution (once cup soda ash to one gallon water). I add 4 yards loosely to soak. After 15 or more minutes I lift out, squeeze gently, then move to an open grate above a bucket that will collect the dripping soaking solution. When dripping stops, hang.

Makeshift or Not

Where once stood an entire kitchen now stands the beginnings of an art studio. Utility sink is in, but lacks counter on sides. I've hung a makeshift clothesline to dry the soda soaked fabric, which needs to be higher. It'll take some time and effort to get this setup, but I've often opted for operational over glitz. 
 

In the Distance

 

I've my machine set up where I can look out the window at the ridge. Lots of sunshine since this is a southern view. Tags are getting sewn on to the edge of my fabric before I pitch it in the bucket of soda ash and water bath. Getting ready  for Telluride -- unique and very individual. Small class, big graphics.

Off We Go

Thanks to those who find these handprinted cottons desirable. I like this and almost kept it for myself. But it's in the mail to an admirer. I hope it becomes something wonderful. The yards for sale on my website store are in great additions, and that is on my list! 

 

Placement Procrastination

If this was your kitchen reno, I'd make the decision of placement in about three minutes. When it's my kitchen, I can't decide. I put off the answer a long as I can, do myriad other things, circle back to try out how the handles look, leave to do some unpacking, and return unable to decide. How life goes now.
 

Nose to Nose Detail

Here is the detail of Player Piano. I'm not disappointed in it not getting in QAQ, really. They ask for two submissions, and a couple of times both were accepted. I felt that a valuable space could have had another interesting piece and viewpoint. It I made the rules, it would be two submitted, only one chosen.
 

Not Going

Player Piano was sent to Quilts=Art=Quilts for submission along with another work. This one was not accepted, but the other was. It's about 9 feet wide, or maybe more. I still think it's a strong composition, but I can see that having two accepted is rare. 
 

Portland and Hockney

I can't remember if I showed you this picture. While in Portland this spring I went to the Portland Art Museum with a friend who knew David Hockney when he was just landed in New York and she was a teen. During the exhibit I was struck by the resemblance of this visitor to Hockney's self-portrait. Hm.
 

Turning

The majority of the house reno is over, but there is still a lot to finish as well as unpack. The view from my deck in early morning hints at a change in weather, and soon I'll be back in the studio where I long to be for more of the day than I can spend during this transition. That is the change I'm longing for. 
 

Using the Past

Tiles that were purchased for the other house thirteen years ago became the back of the powder room vanity. I've always loved these tiles and it would be a shame to never use them. The walls match the tiles, this photo has poor color representation. I love that they are finally being put to good use.
 

Kitchen Taking Shape

 Doors and drawers appeared in the kitchen today. We're still a way to go, but it's nice to see how things will look. I've a ton of painting to do, and massive cleaning up, but at least we can see that this is worth the trouble. 

While Tornados Hit

After working on this townhouse all day, mainly painting, I took myself out to hear some live music. I did see the tornado warnings, and yes, they were in the counties I was crossing, but all seemed ok. When they touched down, I was safe in a concrete building, satisfied with the choice I made to hear some tunes. 
 

Details

I wanted to show as much variation in surface design techniques in my detail. Some of the printing I can figure out, some I can't. Although I aim to have a definitive strike, I often have elements that 'appear' through happenstance of dye left on a tool or picked up from another print. No need to know it all.

 

QN and the Way They Do

Each year, starting sometime, the Dairy Barn and host of Quilt National, make a personal poster for each of the entries they allow. Cleaning my flat files had this surface. This entry was 26 years since my first acceptance in 1983. I was a mere babe then, and could have gotten the young artist prize (under 30), sigh. 
 

Recon Mission to Ikea

The studio is needing these legs from Ikea. They telescope from table height to counter height. Perfect. Saw them on my visit to Syracuse to pick up more items to build the kitchen. It will end soon, let's hope.
 

Music on the Porch Day

The International Music on the Porch day was today, and here I'm waiting to go on after my friend Phil. I sang my little set, then came home to finish some house reno stuff. This afternoon I gave a talk in Naples about their historic quilt collection. I forgot to take photos, so we're going with music. It's been a full day.
 

Details Details

Quilt National 2027 has the submissions open for entries. I dug around to see if any of my works qualify, mainly, if they had been exhibited elsewhere. I found three, and this is a detail of one. I try to make the detail a horizontal shot with an interesting composition. Now I've ticked QN 2027 off my to-do list.
 

Eclipse of the Moon

Tonight's full moon promises an eclipse, but I'm not staying awake for that. I'll tease you with this perfect cantalope and a shot off the bow (from the deck) of my moon playing among the clouds for comparison.

 

My Favorite White Plastic

Having a complete long roll of white plastic, the kind we use in my printing workshop,  makes for a decent slip and slide for the East Coast hot summer.

Telluride and Printing Fabric

 A look at my demo and work table at Quilting by the Lake last month gives you an idea of the size of prints we make in class. Think of joining me in Telluride in September 23 - 28 printing fabric. It's at the Ah Haa School there. Check my website for details.

The Grout Color Card

Bleached Wood is the color I want, but in reality, it is much lighter. So, learning that wet thickened dye on fabric gets lighter when 'dry' and a bit lighter after washing, I'll apply that lesson and get Warm Gray. 
 

Yellow is the New Color

I stopped over to see my old garden today to find that the golden yellow has taken center stage. Deer have started to ravage, er, eat many of the plants, but seem to have left these alone. I love that they are carring the same hue, just different shapes and scale. Hey, just like a good design.

Looking at Next Saturday

The exhibit in Naples, New York at the Cleveland House Museum, is where I'll be this Saturday, August 29 to give a talk about their collection of quilts. Several that were money makers for orgainzations by asking for donations to add their name to the quilt. Charming group of these signature quilts.
 

Quilting Tools

One of my christmas gifts sat unopened until today. I asked for a laser leveling tool and hadn't bothered till now when I needed to match the existing tile to the new flooring to complete the laundry room's floor. Now that I see it's simple, I'll take it to the new studio and use it to square up large quilts. Can't wait.

 

Evening with Stars

Somewhere on that stage Brandi Carlile is singing her heart out. She was still going strong, and I mean strong, after 2 hours. CMAC is in Canandaigua, around the corner from Rochester, and it was a brilliant clear night. So, stars would be expected.
 

Odd Things Happen

Tonight was music at Tunes by the Tracks. Greg and Dave are seasoned, gifted musicians. Thinking I'd capture them my camera did this. Some setting, some function, some odd thing I can't figure out made the background disappear. I think this might be usable for the leaf pics I love, but darned if I can figure how.

 

Taking in the Heights

The ceiling is going back, but this time to 9 1/2 feet instead of the 7 and 8 feet previously. My days are keeping ahead of these two detail orientated men with the where, how, what, and when answers at the ready. This is the kitchen which got most of the attention, and it needed it. Onward.
 

Summer's Break

This is sunrise from my deck. You can see my neighbor's stair to their deck, but that's about all the intrusion there is on this view. I realize that my summer has been wrangling this townhouse into shape, and I know that this vista will still be there when I've more time. But I do love this changing sky on the ridge.
 

Random Items from Unpacking

Unpacking the studio boxes is slow, and as I go through them, I find parts from the past decades that offer a glimpse of the workshops I took, often as the host for my regional quilt club. These paper-pieced blocks I made in a one-day workshop with Karen K. Stone many years back. She has a beautiful sense for pattern.

Back to the Grind

 The floor project continues. I've taken out partial tiles and we'll see how plugging in new ones goes tomorrow.  Oh, I did use a grinder.  Big help.

Formal Garden

A friend visited today and we had a little time to grab lunch and poke around the Eastman House Museum. We think this is set for a wedding later on this weekend. This museum is a treasure, and its collection of prints and film is formidable. I'll go back when I've more time. 

Behind Me

I'm standing at my front door looking out, which is the stance I need for a positive attitude. Behind me are sheets of drywall about to go up, lighting cords dangling about, and stacks of tile that need to be processed. It's a good chaos and a quiet summer, but looking forward it'll be wonderful.