Field Trip to Marcia Derse

A short drive up the road is the studio of fabric desiger Marcia Derse. Her charming house and studio hold the collections and prompts she uses to design her line of printed fabric. The visit has us all enchanted with her studio and archive. Many thanks for the hospitality and tour. It is a delightful experience.
 

Australia Quilt Convention Calls!

Yes, I'll be in Melbourne in April to teach at the Australian Quilt Convention. Should anyone want to join me, stay informed by visiting their website  https://aqc.com.au/  and find me on the 'tutor' page. Mid-October for class listings, where I've a design class, and you'll know everything I know when we're done!

 

V&A Art and Design

I was thrilled to see the Victoria & Albert Museum's exhibition that encompassed the last century's innovational design works for living. Having studied design and functional craft, I was keen to see the development laid out in their 'Design 1900-Now'. I could get lost here!
 

Stool Design

Senior project for this RIT industrial arts class was to build a stool. The results were gathered in an exhibition in a studio a floor above mine, so I jumped at the chance to see them and talk to the designers. What you might find just around the corner -- art, design, dialogue.
 

Composition Cheat Card

Seven of types of composition. It's not definitive, just my set. I use it when I shuffle pieces around in design, when I set screens for printing, and when I identify the structure of works that puzzle me. It's my way of figuring out this complex world of visual matter.
 

Need Inspiration? Get Out

I was on a recon mission for tile for my daughter. But THIS hit me. Can you imagine having the great job of designing this tile? That's what reaches out and grabs me -- that someone was trusted to propose and draft this design for us plebes to enjoy. What one finds while hunting. 

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.
 

Reject Pile

These will get "refiled" or folded at some point. Just won't be used in the work I've got on the design wall. Oh, well, that's good for the next.

Try Outs

While hanging around and selling fabrics this weekend, I thought I would try out a few compositions. The top and bottom are the same fabric, with the middle piece folded, then laid in the center. Simple cuts, and you can let the fabric's design do the heavy work.

Caught in Composition

Amy brought her decorator weight fabric, many which she designed, to work her composition based on a photograph. That was the gist of the workshop this weekend in Florida. She was not afraid of the challenge, and as you can see, happy with her result. Note the available design wall? Hey, it worked.

Repetition

I guess I am thinking about those basic design principles lately. Here an example with the repeat image on these great tin cans, seen along the way in an antique shop. It is a lovely set.