Thread of Excellence

In the World of Threads Exhibition many work drew me in. Maininelkaos' work "Hello" has a thread line telling the story. Intricate, funny, and representational this fiber piece has all the draw one needs to stare and wonder about how and why she did what she did. 
 

World Of Threads

Judith Martin's 'Cloudy Day' is part of the World of Threads exhibition in Oakville, Canada. Visiting today I was thrilled to see her work. The detail pic has a closeup as well as a contribution from the brick wall!

 

Holding On

 Not sure how I used these drawing sticks. But they've come along to the new house and are happy on a shelf. They date from high school.

On the Hunt

I told Art Quilt Tahoe I'd bring a couple of works, this being one. "Ordered Chaos" is around here somewhere, but I can't seem to know where. Moving is an absolute upheaval. And I've only moved two miles from my other house. Imagine across states, gosh, that would do me in! Gotta find this. 
 

Time to Sign

I've sat down at my new kitchen table to add my signature to the work that will ship out this week to the Dairy Barn for the Quilt National 2027 exhibition. The first quilt I made was signed my last name and year, and I try to get all my works signed the same way -- embroidery floss camouflaged in the design.
 

My Next Tackle

This corner of the new studio was formerly two large walk-in closets. I've removed the dividing wall as well as the facing wall with two doors. Now I need to box in the I-beam, close up the open ceiling, cover the walls, paint, carpet, and locate the longarm in this space. Give me a couple of days.
 

Next Summer's Wearables

I've been intrigued with sites that offer free patterns for apparel, offering patterns that are adjusted to fit your size. I'll be teaching a class at the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville where the focus will be on printing for garments. You can do flat prints as well, but printing for the round will be encouraged. 
 

Waiting for My Prince (Prints)

These boxes ware all labeled 'fabric current' meaning that I've printed them recently, and chosen them to use in the studio, as opposed to adding them to my website sale page. They are not unboxed because I'm circling back to the studio to finish setting it up. This will take time, but once done, I'll be unboxing.
 

Entry Shenanigans

This morning was 'glue down the rug' day, so with four tubes of Liquid Nails I spread, unrolled, and weighted down the indoor/outdoor carpet replacing the 40-year-old one I tore out this summer. Most of these plants go inside ahead of the first frost, and are closer to getting inside. Townhouse maintenance.

Taking Care of Art

I've wanted to do this for years. Sealed since the mid-eighties, this oil stick drawing was in the original frame mounted to an acid foam core board. Time to give it a proper framing. I've added a closeup of the signature which reads Juliana F Williams with a date unclear. Titled "Man Picking His Teeth"!

 

Long Ago

My shibori days have passed, but once I did make and sell beautiful shibori fabric. Each had my name and year on them. This came to my workshop last weekend and we had a good laugh. And then exclaimed that you have to USE UP THAT FABRIC! So, here's the directive -- cut it up!
 

Make Room for the New Big Leaf

Laying out the pattern pieces for The New Big Leaf takes room, and the Corning Quilt Guild had whopping 8' tables for everyone, making it easy to land the pattern, the fabric, the iron (!!) and the sewing machine. I enjoy the sewing and design part of workshops as much as the printing side of my work.

 

Hanging in Corning

The Corning Quilt Guild invited me for a Friday night lecture and a Saturday workshop. We all made The New Big Leaf, and for some it was a completely new experience. But, even new to the technique they soldiered on beautifully, and will no doubt have some fabulous works to show. Thank you CQG!!
 

Noted

My newest way to keep track of stats for work is to take a shot, go immediately to edit mode, then find the text function and add the size right in the image. Save. No little piece of paper to lose!

Label It Please

I don't add labels to my works. But there are some exhibitions that ask for an ID on the back of the work. Mine are ones temporary and easily removed. Here's the one for QAQ that has been written on Tyvek and whipstitched in place. My more permanent signature and date are on the front in embroidered stitching. 
 

On the Wall

The work on the right will be for lottery at Quilts=Art=Quilts this November at the Schweinfurth Art Center. The accepted quilt is "Chaos" and this is smaller one is "A Little Bit of Chaos". Both are on their way to the art center, this is it's moment before leaving home. And yes, a peek at my dining room. 
 

Making Do

I finished the small quilt top for the QAQ auction and unearthed my longarm. I'm not yet setup for where the machine will live (and I need about 13' of length) but I swung it around, threaded it up, and in the dark -- notice the black windows -- got the little one quilted. Good thing no one is seeing this!
 

Sketches on the Design Wall

I've a deadline to send in my work for Quilts=Art=Quilts and the small quilt that will be my contribution to their silent auction. I like to make a smaller work in the same vein as the one chosen for exhibition, so it will be a 'Within the Frame' composition. But gotta get moving!
 

Quilt-A-Thon's Result

For my segment on Joe Cunningham's fundraiser for the Beamish Cottage roof restoration I demonstrated how I 'print the table'. The soft egg shapes were printed directly to my print table, then drawn through, became the monoprint, and then I printed directly on top of the monoprint the four eggs shapes. 
 

On Air

Joe Cunningham and his "Quilt-A-Thon" aired today bringing together artists, historians, crafters, novelists, and quilt lovers globally. I scrambled to set up a print station and the equipment. A fundraiser for Beamish, England's Joe the Quilter Cottage roof repair, it was great fun. And I cleaned up the studio!
 

Recommended for Motif Lovers

Someone once walked into my workshop with one of these books. There are about 4 or 5 of them, each highlighting different designers who design for applied surfaces from stationery to wallpaper to textiles. I love the simple designs and often use them as a jumping off point.