Take Your Pick

A series of works centered on using two pieces of fabric (Take Two) and I purposefully made them each 40" square. Someone was interested in the size, and had the delight (!) of choosing one to take home. It was fun to see how and why the particular piece was chosen. I'm sure the choice was the perfect one.
 

What's On the Wall?

Now that the commissioned piece is getting faced, I've got a clear wall again. Well, it was clear. This is a set of "left-over" pieces with the inclusion of new ones. I like this approach -- take something you've attached together and integrate it with new. It gives me an unequal balance of large and small to start.
 

Line, Shape, and Setting

Next week's workshop is the foundational class for improv. It's how to sew in a thin line, how to add a shape, and how to set them in a composition. It is the skill I use for piecing, and the springboard for abstract works. Join me if you'd like. February 7 & 9. www.patpauly.com/virtualclasses

 

The Next Best Thing

One more that'll hop in the suitcase to ride to QSDS in a week. It is marginally pieced, but heavily quilted. And, I'll teach anyone in my printing workshop just how I do this. Either week, for sure. Columbus, Ohio is where the symposium will be. 
 

Ready for Whatever

I added its facing and sleeve during my little vacation in the Adirondacks. I've now got to get this over to its next little exhibit at the end of this month. It's two half-yards mixed together. With a bit of thin line thrown in for good measure. 
 

Take Two Again

A day of looking at improvisational design has my two half-yard piece back on the design wall for another look. And I must say that this one is looking promising. I am to send some auction quilts to QSDS soon, and perhaps this should connect, get quilted, and be on its merry way.
 

The Other Side ofthe Camera

Stacks of fabrics, wide design wall, table top machine, rigged camera, stuff, stuff, more stuff. All to show a few pointers and get the wheels spinning for day two of Take Two. Now to do this again for the weekend. 
 

Take Two Round One

Take Two and round one. My half yard + half yard's skinny line , which we won't be doing (awwwww) in this detail. I've got a "Line, Shape, Setting" class in QSDS in June 5-6 this year. Here's the link: https://www.qsds.com/classesbysession2021.html and that's where I'll be teaching that thin line!
 

Take Two: Filing Cabinet / Toast With Honey

This finished Take Two is yet unnamed, but it'll attach soon enough. I'm enjoying it, but now wishing it could be twice it's 40 x 40 size. If it took two yards for this, it would take eight for a 80 x 80. I've got that. Just need the time.
 

Class Time

An intrepid group of students have sailed through day one of Take Two. This is the aftermath of the lesson, with just some fabric suggestions and examples to use as imagery. Tomorrow we'll grab those two perfect (!) yards. And have another day of learning. 
 

October Take Two Class Now Up

"Sharks and Jets" was made with two one-yard pieces of my printed fabric. It's a challenge I gave myself -- to limit the amount of fabric-- and see how improvisational piecing would drive the composition. I'll teach this in a class I call "Take Two" in September and one I've just added in October 14-15.  My website has the details.

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.

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.

Off to New Home

Take Two: Sharks and Jets was all about a rumble. Two distinct groups clashing, along with lines that shoot through each set. It was admired, then purchased, and now gone to hang in its new home. I'll miss its noise.

Working Abstractly

Some are just fine working improvisationally like a guitarist who can riff a tune atop the melody. Making it up as we go, it means that the parts start to have a dialog with the other sections that appear. Margaret is getting that tune for sure.

Give Me Air

It's so rare to have work hung with such an amount of white space around it. The lighting is perfect, the juxtaposition of the works develops a dialog among the pieces, and each piece is allowed to breathe. If only each exhibition could afford to treat the works with such dignity.

Getting Captured

I spoke tonight as part of the Burchfield Penney's artists' talk. You can see me on the little phone shot. The Art in Craft Media show has my work "Take Two: Sharks and Jets". Tonight I described why the piece had a rumble.

How Large Can You Cut?

Pam (at the Durango class) is cutting into her piece, using one of my prints plus a commercial stripe. We all loved the narrow color pallet and simple design. The key here is that with a large cutting mat, you can cut large. You need that expanse to stay big. It shrinks anyway. So, start big.

Here's a Start

I've chosen two fabrics that are very close in value, and this shift and reassemble may not work. But, I've committed, so I'm gonna see what happens.