When It's Not Washed Out

I've done a test to tell if my fabric is sufficiently colorfast. That is: will it bleed color when wetted or washed. I've put the printed fabric on top, wool batting in middle, then white solid fabric on bottom. Sew a few rows, wet with spray bottle or soak, and let dry. Bleed through is no good.

People are Doing Ladders

In the Denver airport I stopped to take in an art piece made of glass that had layers of ladder-like elements. I've seen this motif in quilts, weavings, paintings, well, you name it. You don't have to look to hard.

Remedy for Hot Bath

I'll add this tip after the fact. A couple of weeks ago in Coupeville (and the fun of Glorious Printers!) we needed hot water to wash the soy wax from our screens. This ingenious tub was created. We poured water from the tea kettle over, and presto! Clean screen. So, reuse those large foam thingies.

Jane's Garden

Now that I'm home for a bit, I'm chaffing for a good weeding session in my garden. Wouldn't it be nice to have a Jane Sassaman Garden? Her work on exhibit last week at QBL is weed free, all upright and neat, full of color and punch. Well done garden, Jane.

Sometimes Neglect Works

This orchard waits for me to re pot it, as well as get it out of direct sunlight. Nevertheless, it has sent out buds for new blossoms. Yes, my house has been neglected, and many other of life's tasks, but somehow all have waited for my care. Will do.

These Two

I sold a few dozen prints this week, but these two were still hanging with me to the end of the week. That's fine, now I think I'll claim them to work with.  Maybe it just takes a while to appreciate the print -- another reason to look at your work hanging up.

Bittersweet

Susan Breit's work "Bittersweet" was part of the Quilting by the Lake quilt show. It's a great example of how fiber art abstracts natural elements so beautifully. Because the forms are broken down in shapes and pieces, you can't help but love the graphics. Bittersweet too, as QBL ends Friday.

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.

Art for Artists

Amanda McCavor is teaching at QBL this week and was nearby for vendor night. So I couldn't resist getting her to model my scarf. We know how to make fun from a hunk of cloth, or in Amanda's hands, a spool of thread.

Votes for Women

Ellen Blalock's work "Suffrage Quilt: Votes for Women" is here this week at QBL. She has gathered Shirley Chisholm, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jeannette Rankin for their firsts in Congress. Background is packed with a timeline of citizen's rights. Packs a lot.

Find One You Love

I've landed at Quilting by the Lake at the Onondaga Community College just south of Syracuse to sell fabrics for a week. I make my prints using a tight weave, so I've taken note to make one like this for Donna in a looser (Test Fabric's 400) weave.