Craft Napa Chit Chat

Pokey Bolton asked me to give an inspiring talk, and so I built one for the online retreat, Craft Napa, that she hosts. It was fun, a bit of time, but always helpful to be more precise and clear about what I do and how I think through a problem. Which is probably what they are doing in their workshops! Thanks all!
 

Archetypal Image

It looks like we just threw fabric on the board, I know. But we did think about this, work to figure out how to do this, and intend to make a statement. Looks silly, looks weird, but design is not easy. Ellen in "Take Two" at Napa shows (as pretty much everyone will say) we had fun figuring it out.

Heading Home

Gray skies across the Bay Bridge on route to the San Francisco airport didn't stop me from my journey and return to the east coast. I'll stop briefly in Baltimore before heading to Rochester. And remember the landscape I have just met.

Remembering Napa Crafters

I'm posting this for Tuesday. My flight out was a red-eye and I completely forgot to get this in. But I do want to remember the act of watching friends honor their work and influence. Midge does this, and me too. Thanks to starting my year off just right!

Life is Full

18 intrepid women took on the task of making improv piecing part of their vocabulary. Craft Napa was tiring,  yes, but exhilarating. Thank you all.

Moving Parts

"Take Two" was the third class of mine at Craft Napa. Janet's work started with a few hunks of combined fabric and quickly morphed into a composition formed from the improvised shapes that she cut. It was a great day, full of capable artists, many who took a chance to try something new.

Full House, Full Fun

Craft Napa day three was "Line, Shape, Setting" so we did just that. At day's end we may not have had finished glitz, but all definitely could cut in a thin line and insert a shape. I say, well done!

Time to Reflect?

The Craft Napa class was a day long exercise in making sketches and designs that become prompts for larger works, that's for sure. But they also gave us images to critique for strong composition, or weak. Happy to see loads of strong works.

Stealing is Easy

As I am heading to Craft Napa next week, I'll give a workshop Dozen Ways: Design for Art Quilts. One of the prompts is to use an image, object, or group from which too steal a color palette. This pile of leaves is full of color range as well as line and shape ideas. File it.

Top is Finished and Packed

This top will travel mid Januaryy to Napa and the Craft Napa workshops there. It's about 7' square. I'll use if for all my classes, but mostly the "Line, Shape, Setting" one for how to handle unique fabric you might chance cutting into.

On The Wall

This composition has been waiting for me to get past christmas, company, and a self-portrait. I've returned to this, and will update tomorrow. My goal is to finish the top so that I can travel with it to Napa in a couple of weeks.

How Many Can Be Mine

My christmas shopping ends up One For Me, One For You. So, now that the last batch is washed and getting ironed, I'm saving some for me. The rest will travel in a couple of weeks to Craft Napa for sale night (Friday?) but this one might stay home.

MIssed the Shipment

Two boxes of printed yards of cotton are on their way to the Craft Napa January workshops. These late comers may have to ride along in the hold when I fly out. My first time there, I'll be selling these at the "artists market" on Friday night. Should be fun.

Float Your Shape, Sweetheart

As a piecer I'm always looking to set in a shape just where I want it, not necessarily where it is easiest to fit. I'm getting adept at plopping it down and then melting it in. See, I've got "ears" attached to this shape, and common cuts to set it in. Part of the "Line, Shape, Setting" class.

Traveling Boots

Mid January will find me in Napa, California to teach. But this boots mola will take the US mail first and wait for me there. The packing is underway to get materials packed and shipped out.

Line, Shape, Setting

I'm taking my own advice. I'll be at Craft Napa in California this January teaching how to cut shapes into any background and then piece in. I love what comes of that. I've got my start, now to see how it morphs. Oh, and line needs to show up, too.