It Was Fun Tonight

The normally empty studio was filled with wonderful friends, strangers, well-wishers and the just-curious. My First Friday was a great way to start my new studio's opening, and I look forward to have more. They wore stickers that said "All the Fun is at Studio 301" which was a hit. 
 

Line-Up

I've started to place work in the studio in anticipation of the First Friday this month. The two on the left are whole cloth quilts, the third is pieced. It's always interesting to see sizes in context, so that you get a feel for how dynamic the work is. 
 

Random Start

With the iron transforming the pieces to order, I made some random blocks. Then added them to the design wall with no part of the wall showing. Now to put and take. Need to get this in the mail, so will press on. This will be for the raffle at the Quilts  = Art = Quilts exhibit.
 

Another Scramble

A large piece of mine was accepted in the Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit at the Schweinfurth Art Center this fall. These scraps are from that work. I've gathered them to make a smaller work that will be part of their raffle gallery. It's due, and I'm behind!
 

Foolin Around

While I was trying to get across the point that it really helps to have chunks of fabrics that are already joined, making it easier to find compositions, this assembled on my design wall. I like it, and might just have to make it up as finished! 

Pull Up a Chair

Aafke Swart Steenhuis is all about orange. So, no surprise when I found her "Pull Up a Chair" quilt. It's really fabulous. Made by paper piecing, she interspersed Marimekko fabric in places, as well as the frame. The two day quilt show was a hit from the Tompkins County Quilt Guild in NY state.
 

Where There are Grapes, There's Wine

Today was harvesting grapes and making wine day. So, we turned out to pick, and process the grapes to make wine. Food everywhere, beautiful day, and a good day off.
 

Set Design

Setting the blocks means that I have to start somewhere. So, they fall in order. I'll put them and take them in  a dozen ways till I find it pleasing as new shapes are formed, and it becomes some recognizable compositional style. 
 

Grid Iron

Back to my design wall and work on this piece. I've now sectioned the strips into squares. They see so disparate, but that is where the challenge comes in. Can you make the composition stand up with all these strange dissections? 
 

Trusty at the Ready

Getting ready for a class means setting up camera, lights, cords, chairs, yikes. Somehow I got a burst shot of a hundred closeups of the old Bernina that is at counter height for quick seams. So, now I can delete them. Line, check; shape, check; setting, save for Friday.
 

Disassemble to Assemble

The next step is to cut apart the large glob I made into strips. I'll later cut them again. This is the most fun part, because it is almost random. The magic comes from the fabric picks, and the graphics found in them.