Typical But Not

 A typical shot of the workshop with tables padded and wrapped with plastic, then surrrounded by screens, rubbings, sketches, fabric. It may look like chaos, but it really does work out famously. We had twelve people ringing the room, a good middle open for discussion and a demo table. QBL made it happen.

And We Got Happy

More great prints from the week at Quilting By the Lake and Laurie's wall with some examples of her work. We had enough room, a decent sink, and lots of ideas to share and bounce from. This was an unusual workshop as it had "independent" in the title, so agendas were encouraged. 
 

The Apron Wraps the Night

The closing banquet for QBL (Quilting By the Lake) has several events like a basket raffle, quilt raffle, lovely dinner and Apron Auction. Each of the four instructors made smashing aprons, mine was bid embarrisling high, and Lisa, one of my indepentend students for the week bid highest. I love that it's hers!
 

All In a Day

By Thursday the studio mates are in the routine, and happy to work on their own prints and compositions. We've figured out spacing, tools, where to place wet prints, and how to pace through several pieces. The only thing we can't control is the weather (hot at times) and the humidity (pretty high = no dry). 

Which to Choose

Tuesday night at Quilting by the Lake is vendor night and it was difficult to choose, so sometimes you have to buy the bunch. Aside from the eveing's gathering, I also talked to Crafty Monkies via Zoom, taught a day at the independent studio set up, and came home to a gutted kitchen (work started!).
 

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.

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. 
 

Show Off Time

I got to see the wrap-up auction for Quilting By the Lake in Geneva, New York tonight. What fun, it must have been a great week for them. This person was in Paula Kovarik's class where three dimensional quilting objects were constructed. The reindeer and mouse-in-a-pillow were impressive! 
 

Mid Week Art Center Visit

QBL makes sure that our plate is full. We've classes, banquets, auctions, lectures, demonstrations, a quilt show, raffles, and yes, an evening dedicated to seeing the exhibition now on view at the Schweinfurth Art Center. It's all about fiber, so very timely. Go visit, it's a thought provoking show.
 

One for Me, One from You

Through the printing week at QBL we chose to talk about a piece we'd made. Many dogs (decided so by the maker) were part of the morning's lineup. The final day we choose not just one of ours, but one from a classmate. What fun that was -- to see our work through other's eyes.
 

Yes, It Was That Much Fun

It was 5 days with 9 spunky women in 3 rooms and 8 colors (along with 20 lbs. of print paste) to make 100s of yards of printed fabric. In between all was fun, questioned looks, a few questionable lunches, and a mess of great printing. Thanks QBL class, may you print on!

 

Works in Progress

It goes without saying that printing is a layered process. One set of marks evokes a response from another, until that point is reached when the work says "I'm finished!". Only the maker knows. And if we could read behind that mask, we might have a good guess too.
 

Busman's Holiday

Quilting By The Lake is sponsored by the Schweinfurth Art Center. Our night out was a great dinner (off campus) and a tour of the Excellence in Fiber exhibition that was on view there. Ice cream for the way home. Go check it out, it'll fill your corners with fiber.
 

Tuesday's Progress

A lot of techniques are tried in the first two days of our week. Here is a grand monoprint embracing the repellant surface of the table's plastic. Each piece has pleasant surface design surprises, and we're only bound to find more.
 

Did You Say Color?

Robin Long is teaching a few doors away how to make a Mariner's Compass block quilt. She's got it all figured out for any size, and the finished work is pretty slick. Nice to visit her world here at Quilting By the Lake.
 

Aprons Away

It took way longer than I would have liked, but I did enjoy getting on the sewing machine to make this apron for the Quilting By the Lake Friday auction. Hard to see, but there are FOUR pockets, enough to make you look a lot for what you thought you had in your pocket. 
 

Before Packing

About midweek it comes time to get ready for next week at Quilting By the Lake. I want to take examples of printing for my workshop, as well as pieces to sell at Vendor Night. So, a bit of printing to do. I've made a few new soy wax screens and enjoy the variations I can make. Tuesday night the table will be full. 
 

On the Pin Board

Every Quilting By the Lake conference holds an Apron Auction. The aprons are sent out ahead, and faculty makes them to their liking. As this apron has a stain repellant coating, I can't print on it with my dyes, so I'll be piecing. I've got a week or so to get it done. Wish me luck!
 

How It Is When You've Found Love

Sometimes that fabric I make just wants to go home with someone else. I'll have to get used to this fickle fabric. Hanging with me, just to go and love another. Story of my life.