It Really is This Much Fun

Christina plowed and persevered through the sketches today despite a sore knee (evidenced by the cautionary orange tie) at the Connecticut Piecemakers' workshop today. We worked hard, played hard, laughed hard. Took our mind off the world's ills, certainly.

Design Time

Part of the Improv class was, well, improving. Sandra works at the technique of adding, then dividing fabric apart to remix and reconstruct into designs. This class with the Canberra Quilters has us all watching what would come of this different method of piecing. I say all good.

Edit, Edit, Edit

Improv Sketches was the class for today with the Tampa Bay Surface Design Group. We used a large frame to find the perfect composition in the small works that we make improvisationally. It is cut and shift, add and rearrange all day. Fine group of people to hang out with.

Packing Starts

The first things to get packed are my hand printed yards along with a few scarves. I'm headed to sunny Florida for a few workshops, and these will be both my show and tell and stuff to sell. Looking forward to warming up!

On the Matt Board

Pieced from bits left over from other works, this square is ready to quilt. I'm following the prompt I give to others to join, cut apart, rejoin, and reassemble. Improv as a way of life!

Scrap Bag

I consider the left over cuts from the larger works "scraps", but these are not average commercial prints. They are part of my hand prints, and have lots of life. Not to mention that there are changes in the pieces themselves. So, tomorrow I'll combine, uncouple, and reset for another small improv piece.

Foot Square

The light chalk lines are letting me know the boundaries I'll keep in mind when I trim the excess before I quilt this little block. I'm not sure where I'll use this, perhaps as a little study for a larger work. Or for an auction piece. Either way, it's a great improv design exercise.

Four On Deck -- Improv Sketches

I took a break from printing to get these four small works on the longarm to quilt. Sure is nice to gang them together to quilt. They're a good example of improv sketches -- my  Design Camp class at QSDS this June, where they will be on exhibit.

End of the Day

Suzanne finishes her piece made in my class today. Just three fabrics and lots of shifting and work yielded a great study in improvisational piecing. Lots of fun, really lots, and sketches galore. They learned all I knew, now they're off to do it again!

The View of the Mountains

I was so mesmerized with seeing the edge of the front range out my hotel window in Golden that I forgot to take photos of the lecture I gave today. But my wonderfully kind students were there to cheer me on. And looking back at Debi's work, well, I see those mountains after all.

Finding the Perfect Design

Wendy is using a window cut in a posterboard to find a composition. This is a great way to see the elements, to try out a design before trimming away the edges. I had a great day at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum for my Improv Sketches class.  Great class, small but mighty.

H for Have a Good Happening

At the Atlanta airport there is art everywhere. Everywhere.  I'm on route to my class at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum for Saturday. We'll be having fun without you -- unless you join us!

Details, Details, Golden Details

Yes, I'm getting the details set for my trip west. Golden, Colorado the first stop. There's plenty of room in the class on Saturday, so tell your buddies. We'll be doing improv quilting with a lot of design. Oregon from there. But first, a look at the Front Range.

Come With Me to Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum

In a few weeks I'm at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden, Colorado. I'll bring this with me to the workshop October 13, and you can take in my lecture at the Museum on October 14. Check their schedule and join me! Find the link on my calendar page https://www.patpauly.com/calendar/

Improv for Sudbury Massachusetts

I'll be teaching "The Play's the Thing: Improv Sketches" in Sudbury Massachusetts on May 5 for the Wayside Quilters. A one day class, it's a great chance to try improvisational quilting, bag a dozen tips, and spend a day with me :) Contact me and I'll send you contact info. Patpaulyart@gmail.com

Art is the Word

Class starts tomorrow at QSDS here in Columbus. On the campus of the Columbus College of Art and Design stands the sculpture/sign/warning that says it all: study art, make art.

Homework for Next Week

QSDS is next week, and I'll be teaching all design all day. I'm taking time to do a dry run on some ideas, and consequently, warm up my improv skills. Still room in the class -- come join us!

Call me Ishmael

Improvisationally pieced with my printed and dyed fabric, this 2' x 2' piece is off too QSDS. They needed a name for the label. All I could see was a diving board and a splash in the water. So, there you go. Improv Sketch 3 (Diving Board).

Day's Work All In

Among hanging soda soaked fabric (May's Pro Chem), washing out yesterday's printed fabric (quilt backing SAQA auction), cutting silk for scarves (Mary), ordering screens (Pro Chem), I started four sketches (QSDS June). Weeding an hour, too -- my therapy.

Skinny Line Leaf Road Trip

I'll be in Delaware next week to teach how to make these little skinny line leaf blocks. It is a great practice in improvisational techniques, sewing a skinny line, and using color. I'll also teach improv quilting at Quilt Surface Design Symposium in Columbus in June. Come and see me!