Another Take on Two

Jeanne Marklin and her quilt here at the Schweinfurth's Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit. We were lucky to have dinner together, and she said that she used the exercise from my Take Two class to influence how she put this work together. It's got a TON of piecing, and beautifully made. Very refreshing -- a delight.
 

Doing My Homework

Take Two is just taking two pieces of fabric and using them exclusively for the composition. These are my two half yard pieces combined and one of the designs I got from the blocks I made. Ten intrepid fiber artists worked along on theirs as well. And yes, it was fun.
 

Points For Discussion

 Take Two starts with some warm-ups, then we get large. These are my bits for explaining scale, color and value, and joining parts together. It's definitely a stew of ideas, as rather than a tray of crudities. Tomorrow we'll revisit the smorgasbord. Only with bigger plates.

Ready to Quilt

With just four sections, each roughly squared off, this became the final composition. I'm using two of my printed half yard pieces, made during classes as demos. They turn out to be quite free and uninhibited. This set is quite nice because of that strike of black.
 

Blob Stage

I've ended up with four compositions that I call "blobs" or more formally blocks. I've done some cutting and shifting along with some thin line work. Now to decide on the final layout. 
 

Another Take Two March 3 - 4

Three good reasons: winter is barreling down, the other Take Two class is sold out, and Sandra asked! So, I've added another Take Two class to my schedule -- and it's just a few weeks away! We take two one yard pieces and tackle improve design. Go to www.patpauly.com/virtualclasses to check it out and join in.
 

Wall Work

These two pieces have hopped on and off the wall for months. So today was the day to start working with them in a Take Two design. I might expand and add, or just work this through with two. But gray days make studio time easy -- no tugging to sit and stare at the sun.
 

From the Stash

Even though I print fabric, I manage to collect commercial prints. This random set was for a Take Two discussion. What can be done commercially with clear line, oddball color combinations, and perfectly repeated patterns, is all part of what influences how I print as well. And yes, they sometimes go together.
 

Take Two Thursday and Friday this Week

A student's work is captured by my phone camera off the computer. My workshop "Take Two" teaches improv skills with informed composition to take just two pieces of fabric as the base for a larger work. The two day class meets Jan. 14-15 (Thursday - Friday) in a live zoom -- and there is a space for more. Check https://www.patpauly.com/virtualclasses

 

Ghost Class Virtually

Take Two's virtual class is on the screen, but everyone has gone to get sewing, or gathering, or cutting, or ironing, or whatever took them away from listening to ME and my pearls of wisdom. Believe me, it was fun, fast, and lots of fabric on those design walls flying.

 

Show and Tell

There is an adage "show, don't tell" where it's better to demonstrate with real stuff rather than words. So, talk all you want, but better to get out a pile of fabric (to discuss choosing a palette and graphics to work) and a pile of quilts (to show composition and layout). The second day of Take Two Virtual was more fun than I planned. Next year, more. I'll post the dates over the weekend.

In the Studio With Friends

The first snowfall of December and it was fitting that you wouldn't be comfortable sitting here. Rather, I was in my studio with 10 wonderful people working out (virtually) the kinks of improv design. Can't say enough how much fun I have. It's the closest I have to company visiting. But no need to vacuum.

 

Take Two Revisited

A student in my upcoming Take Two class purchased two of my printed yards. She started with the one on the left, and matched it with selection that, as I was ready to ship it, just didn't have the zing that I would have liked. A few emails and a bit of matchmaking later, this is the duo that is on its way. Interventions!
 

How Does This Look?

 I got a request from someone who will be taking my December Take Two class. She decided to put two yard pieces together from my website store. After picking a half dozen, I pined them on the design wall to see what works. These were not chosen, but I wouldn't pass them up. Happy to help pick fabric!

Reunion Company

A few weeks past the Take Two class and it was time for a reunion. One work was just perfect for discussion on adding or subtracting elements, its message, and constructive feedback. I love these reunions because we circle back and see what sticks. Plenty, I guess.
 

Take Two Even Larger

Helen started with about two yards of fabric --  her fabric --  which made the choice even more difficult. Deliberating which is a good pair to use could have taken us an entire afternoon and evening's break, there were so many good picks. She'll just have to return to her stash after class and pick more. 

 

Move It Around till It Makes Sense

One of the things we try in the virtual class "Take Two" is to compose with just two sets of fabrics. If you've got enough "blocks" then you can move them around till shapes emerge and the composition starts to gel. It's organic, improv, and harder than you think. But it, finally, does. 

 

Tomorrow is Take Two

Last time I taught my virtual Take Two class it was two days of fun. It was like having company -- a great group of people with a desire to make, think, explore. And just have a couple of days to be out of the daily hurricane of life. This is just a bunch of blocks I have used as an example. 
 

Class Work and Beyond

We had a reunion of the Take Two class today to see what came of work we did in the two day virtual class. And surprises and inspiration was overflowing. Happy always to see familiar faces, and the joy they share with everyone. 
 

Take on a Take Two

I've added a Take Two class in design December 2-3. This is a work as I see it evolve on a student's design wall. It's a photo with many reflections, but I can see the progression and composition as it is shaped and moved along. October's class is full, December about half way.