Opening Night!



Friday, Oct. 5 was the opening reception for the show that Utah Surface Design Group has at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo. Not that I am that experienced at this, but I thought it went great! We had people in the gallery until we closed at 9 pm- including some that were obviously art students from either BYU or UVSC. Most of our membership lives in Salt Lake, but several made it down for the show- despite awful traffic. Me, I stayed the entire time, just loving the experience. Everything looked wonderful up, and it was nice how a group with such divergent styles could still put together a cohesive show. We had everything from woven items to art quilts to a ribbon weaving with light effects.

Here's DJ looking at the two pieces closest to the entrance.



The blue hanging on his left is by Chris Bramhall- it's screenprinted, and then stitched, and includes both cotton and silk. On his right is a handmade paper collage by Aubrey Anderson. She had three pieces in the show, each of them of a different fantasy persona that she has dreamed up. The detail on her pieces is incredible.

The three pieces that are hanging from the ceiling are all by Patti Pitts, who is in the middle of a year long study with Jane Dunnewold. The two front are complex cloth, the one furthest in the back also includes some applique and stitching. I'm just hoping to pick up a little bit of what she is learning by osmosis!

Even thought I've posted this before, I can't leave out a picture of me with one of my pieces.



Here's hoping this is just the first of many opening nights!!

Quilts and Watercolors

I am actually making progress on the autumn-toned Easy Pieces quilt. The first time I made one of these, I agonized over the design and block placement for literally weeks. I could see I was heading down that same path, so I decided this morning to just forget about the blocks and focus on the colors. It occurred to me that the colors are what I see when I look at the mountains close to our home at this time of autumn- the valley trees are still green, but the higher you go on the mountain, the more spectacular the colors. So I went for that effect, and came up with a design I like. And, in this case, simple is better.

Here's my first try at this idea--



This arangement captured the idea of the mountains, but I wondered if it would be more interesting if I offset the rows. I think it is, so this should be the final arrangement for the middle of the quilt.



The half blocks sticking out will be trimmed. Now I can agonize over the border. I wondered if I could use this other set of blocks to make a border, but I'm not sure they do anything for the quilt. I've got them folded in half in this picture, to see if a narrower border would work.



And, then I started playing in EQ5, wondering if an odd- sized (meaning, not the same width on all four sides) border would work. I thought I might applique some leaves, or some other fall motifs on a wider side. Maybe half a tree, with leaves falling off? I should have time to think about it while I put the blocks together.

Bentlee came and spent the weekend with us. She arrived on Friday after crazy hair day at school. Normally she's a blonde, but not that day!!



Whatever the stuff was, it was quite the job to get it out of her hair. And she has lots of long, thick hair.

She came to my watercolor class with me on Saturday morning, and was great- even did one of the exercises with us. Me, I got a couple of pieces done- but nothing I'm willing to post for the world to see. Watercolor is HARD- it makes no sense to me that watercolor paintings are generally less than oil paintings, when the watercolors are so much less forgiving.

Then we came home, and she made three fabric postcards with my large stash of scrap fabric. She even did some of the stitching herself, after I showed her how to use the sewing machine. She's short, so rigging something that made it possible for her to get at the foot pedal took a bit of work. But she certainly seemed to enjoy it.

And, finally, less than a week until the opening of the Surface Design group show. I helped hang part of the show Thursday, with Chris and Polly from the group. Good thing they have done this before, I hadn't- and there is quite a bit involved. It took us three hours just to figure out where each piece would go. Then we worked the afternoon hanging them- and I had to leave before it was done. But I think it will look wonderful, and I am still kicking myself for forgetting my camera.

I can, however, show a picture of the card that all of us were given, and the Art Center is mailing out to their list. The picture is the front of the card, the information is printed on the back- I just scanned it so you can see both.


I am still pinching myself!!

A busy week ahead, I am in Salt Lake all week, and the days will be long. I'll post pictures of the opening reception next weekend.

Some done, others started. . .

It has been two weeks since I last posted, and it has been a busy time. The Surface Design group show at the new Covey Center for the Arts in Provo starts Oct. 5, and I will be helping to hang it this Thursday. the building is beautiful, I should have pictures from the opening reception. My two pieces are stretched and ready to hang! I finally got the edges fringed on the inner border of Summer Suns, and I also used some spray finish because of the tissue paper. So, here it is, done!!



And a closeup--



It took me longer to fringe that than to do the quilting. Go figure.

I named my other piece 'Watchers'. It was fun, but sometimes I think I let a good idea run wilder than I should have. I was thinking of the Maurice Sendak book my boys used to love, "Where the Wild Things Are." And Harry Potter. Anyway, here it is.



I was introduced to a brand of monofilament thread by a friend, and used it on this piece. First time I haven't wanted to rip out the thread as soon as I've put it in!! These discharge pieces were so hard to photograph, none of them are really like the actual piece. And, I tried for a detail shot with no success.

And, I have begun work on a more traditional quilt. I have had a bunch of blocks sitting around for over five years, leftovers from a quilt I made for my daughter. My blog banner is actually a picture of part of that quilt. I've had lots of green blocks- and no matter how I've arranged them, they do not sing.



I took them with me to Asilomar in 2005, when I took an independent study with Margaret Miller. These blocks are her Easy Pieces blocks, and I figured who better to ask than the author herself. She recommended adding additional color to more blocks, so I bought several half-yard cuts. This week I started making the blocks, and what a difference!!



I've got the regular blocks done, now I need to sew the mirror image blocks. What is so sweet is that her system enables you to complete a lot of blocks in a short time frame. Here's my workstation, all set up--



And here's the first set of blocks up on the design wall. This is just the first try, I will spend lots of time twiddling with the arrangement.



Finally, I am now halfway through my watercolor class. I have decided that watercolor is a most unforgiving medium, and I now have much more respect for the artists who do it! I've got space set up in my dye studio--



And here is my first amateurish attempt, leaves, working on some transparency. I am having fun, even if I am finding it more difficult than anticipated!




So, I now have plenty to keep me busy with the demise of journal quilts. More later about hanging the show!!

Works in Progress. . .

I've been trying to put as much work as possible into the two remaining pieces for the art show in October. I have about ten more days, and then also have to allow time to get them stretched. So here's where I am--

Both pieces are from a group of discharge experiments I did earlier this summer. This one was wrapped around a PVC pipe. When I looked at it after discharge, the first thing that came to mind was a spooky forest- think Harry Potter, for example. So I tried to add stitching to it to enhance that idea, while leaving it largely abstracted. I did quite a bit of zigzage free motion stitching before I ever sandwiched it. And, I found a way to keep it from drawing up! I fused a layer of DecorBond to the back, and then used a tearaway stabilizer under that. It worked beautifully, the piece has stayed flat.



And, I don't believe all art has to be serious or impart a message. Here's a detail shot that should give you a clue as to where I'm heading with this.



The tree quilting is completed, now to finish the black background and borders.

The second one just has the border added, I've not done any stitching. I think I'm going to do an overall pattern in a brown that blends with the discharged areas, to make the black figures pop out. Don't know if it will work, but I'll never know if I don't try it.



Both of this were difficult to photograph, and I never did succeed in making the photos close to the real thing. So this is as good as it gets.

Guess I know what I'll be doing evenings after work this week!

Last of the Labor Day weekend dyefest. . .

I washed out the rest of the hand-dyes yesterday, and was pleased with the results. Here is the turquoise to rust overdye run--



And the Santa Fe Blue to Rust Brown overdye run--



The blue in the last one is actually equal parts of turquoise, sky blue, and black. And, the names are Katy Widger's, from her Color Wheel dyeing book. I love the overdye system she developed!

I think I am done with overdyes that use all three primaries, however. I've done ever one of hers, and got some nice browns and neutrals. I've wondered why I'm so fascinated with the browns, when it's not a color I use in my home or wear. I certainly have plenty of material for landscape quits in the future! My stash bins are getting crowded, I've had to make separate bins for blue greens and yellow greens, and today I had to separate out the turquoise and grayed blues from the clearer blues. So I think I can lay off the dyeing until I get some of the stash used in projects.

With the end of the journal quilt project, I've been wondering what to focus on. I'm not attending any workshops, I'm staying away from challenges- I feel the need to just do some work and see what comes of it. I have a possibility of putting some work up in a small gallery where I live- I wouldn't expect much in the way of sales, but it is exposure.

DJ and I went to the movies yesterday afternoon, and then drove up to Squaw Peak, which overlooks Utah Valley. The view is spectacular- I took pictures, but they never seem to do it justice. Imagine my surprise, though, on the way down- wild turkeys by the side of the road! I managed to get a shot before they all moved back into the trees.



You can see the one pretty well, and then the heads of a couple of others in the leaves. I think there were 7 or 8 all told, but some managed to get away before I got my camera out. Hope they survive the fall hunt!!

It's hot, it's a weekend- so I must be dyeing!!

And you would be right. I found some PFD (at least I think it was!!) in a back cranny of my stash. I ripped it up, and Thursday morning starting dyeing. No recipes for the most part, although I was using the methods in Ann Johnston's Color by Accident. I love what happens with the color parfait, and that is most of what I did. And, just for fun, I threw in half-yard pieces of cheesecloth, and fat eighths of silk organza with the cotton.

Here's the end results of the first day:



That's cotton on the right, and the silk on the left. Yummy!



That's cotton on the left, and cheesecloth on the right. I think some of my fabric was not mercerized, because some pieces had duller colors than I would have expected. And, the small bit you can see with the fabric folded doesn't show off the patterning on some of them!

I love the yellow and golds I got here--



And here--



And here!!



I wasn't sure about this one when I saw it wet, but fell for it while ironing it. I think the ironing is my favorite part of the process, it is just magical to watch the colors and patterns emerge. I never tire of it.



How about the patterning on this rusty red one??



And the last one--



All in all, a good dye day. I haven't quit there- I have two sets of overdyes baking for the second dye run, and about 10 small pots of pieces I'd formerly dyed and decided they needed overdyeing. So I'll have more to post tomorrow.

Swiss Days--

Every year during Labor Day weekend, the picturesque village of Midway hosts Swiss Days. I've lived in Utah for sixteen years, and have never gone. This year, with my daughter Shannon living in Switzerland, it seemed apropos to go. So, we took off Friday afternoon and headed up Provo Canyon.

The canyon is one of my favorite places, especially in the fall. The colors are just starting to turn- in a couple of weeks it will be a wonderland of gold, orange, and red. I even managed to get a picture as we drove!



We parked way outside the village, and took the free shuttle into town. Midway isn't big, and it felt rather clautrophobic when we got to the town square. I've been here before, and was hard pressed to recognize it! Loads of craft booths, most that have absolutely nothing to do with Switzerland. Fun to look at, but nothing really tempting.






At the town square, you can eat and listen to the entertainment. Ah, Swiss food- this ring any bells??



And the entertainment!! Where but in America can you listen to 'Rocky Tonk Tennessee' with yodeling in the middle of the song??



Well, one more thing to cross off my list of things to do in Utah. Next year, I'd rather go to the sheep dog trials at Soldier Hollow, just down the road.

Success!!

Well, the dyeing of the back turned out great- beautiful shade of red, with patterning, but not too much. So I will be taking it over to Lisa later this week.

I also did some stenciling on one of my discharge pieces. It is very visible in a photo I took, but it is much more subtle (or difficult to see) in person. I think I am going to try stenciling the same images on another piece that is not as dark. So, no pictures to post this time.

I am taking several days off this week, hopefully to get some real work done. Summer is about over, and I feel the need for one last hurrah before Labor Day. So, a very long weekend it is. Can't wait--

You are never too old to live and learn. . .

I spent most of yesterday getting the materials I needed to color the canvas backing for Summer Suns. I spoke with my drawing teacher Lisa, and mounting this on stretcher bars is definitely an option. She even volunteered to teach me, which is an offer I will probably take her up on.

I bought more cotton canvas at Joann's, and large bottles of red and yellow Setacolor at Michael's. When I got home, I found out that the red I bought is not the red I'd used on the piece- and Michael's doesn't carry that red. I could always be patient and order it online- but no, not me. So I experimented with mixing cardinal red and black, and was satisfied with my results. So, last night I painted the canvas- about a yard square.

Lisa had mentioned to me about canvases being primed- but I've painted fabric before, why do I need to worry about that? I found out why when it took the entire 9 oz bottle of red to paint the canvas- and that was barely getting it all painted! Then, when I came down this morning- the color wasn't quite right, I'd added too much black. ARRGH!!

Serendipity when you are dyeing and painting can be fun, and I've been a fairly loosy-goosey kind of artist. But today it would have been nice to have gotten what I wanted, and I suppose for that I should have been a little more careful and actually measured. The canvas can be used, just won't work on this piece. And, if I decide to paint canvas again- I will definitely prime it first. At $11 per 9 oz bottle, I'd prefer my paint went further than one yard. In fact, I will probably spring for regular acrylic paints, and not use my fabric paints for this.

So now I am back to square one. I have enough canvas left, so I've decided to go the dye route. I've scoured it, and have the red dye sitting. I do NOT want dye pops on this one, and I almost always end up with dye pops when I use red. Fortunately, this has been a topic of discussion on the dyer's list. The best remedy seems to be mixing your concentrates ahead of time, and giving the red hours to dissolve instead of a few minutes. At this point, I figure I have nothing to lose- so my red concentrate is on my counter, hopefully dissolving completely. I'll finish the dyebath later this afternoon, and sit it out on the driveway to bake in our 90 degree heat.

I'm hoping to get some work done on one of the discharge pieces, so I can start the quilting. September will be here before I know it---

Serendipity and Quilting!!

I spent a lovely day in the studio yesterday, and got more done than I'd have believed possible. First, I got my sleeve for the Journal Quilt done, and the label designed on the computer. But before I could sew the sleeve on, the quilt told me it needed one more touch- so I'm adding that. But I still should be able to mail it off within a week, well before the deadline!

I have been staring at my tissue paper and paint piece for the better part of a month. I've played with adding circles cut from the silk organza I dyed, and liked that effect. Then I played with some quilting designs in my sketchbook. I've picked a name, Summer Suns. I practiced on my warmup sandwich, and was pleased with the design. Had to change needles, though, and it was a good thing I did all this on my warmup piece. I wanted to use a small needle, an 80, because of the tissue paper- but it kept shredding my thread, Superior's Nature Colors. So I went up to a 90 topstitch needle, and it made all the difference. When I was sure I didn't have any problems with tension or needle, I took a deep breath and took out Summer Suns. I was nervous because I knew there could be no ripping out of messed up stitching, the tissue paper would show every needle hole.

I started, and just kept on going- with the Best of ZZ Top playing in the background. It just flowed, not a single thread messup, and within an hour I had it totally quilted. Ahh, the glory of smaller pieces! But, best of all, I got the effect I wanted, and the texture with the stitching over the tissue paper is awesome.

Here's the entire piece, this one after quilting but before the last step was added-



This one is after I'd completed all my stitching--




And, some closeups--





If you can't tell, I used Misty Fuse to fuse some of the silk circles on before I started quilting. Then, after I'd quilted the piece, I fused on the rest of the circles, and quilted with multiple lines around those. So some circles have quilting over them, some you can see the quilting through the circles. This was a wonderful exercise in transparency!

I'm going to fringe out the red backing, and go see my former drawing teacher at her gallery tomorrow- hoping we can figure out a way to mount this onto a stretched canvas. With the tissue paper, I think it needs that- and, I'm hoping it would make it more saleable if it can be hung more like art than quilts.

Here's a good reason to take pictures of your work as you go- I didn't even see the white corner until I got the pictures on the computer. I've since gone over it with red paint, so it doesn't stick out. And when I do this again, it will be indoors with my heat lamps so I don't have to worry about tacking the fabric down against the wind.

One down, two to go- and those will both be discharge pieces.

More playtime. . .

Despite feeling like I have to devote entirely too many hours each week to the job that supports my fiber habit, I have been applying myself, and seeing some work come to completion. My journal quilt lacks only the sleeve and statement, and that part I think will come easily- it has been simmering on the back burners of my mind since the beginning of the year.

Bentlee spent Friday night with us, and yesterday we did a few more discharge pieces. This time, I was smart and labeled the different black fabrics so I know which one to get for the discharge effect I want. This is two pieces from Egyptian cotton- my favorite fabric, and my least favorite discharged! I did another monoprint with the faux paint tool.



Bentlee did this one, a combination of the faux paint tool and a toothbrush. I think part of it may be a self-portrait!



The next two are Quilter's Only cotton, and I like these the best for discharge. Left on long enough, the dishwasher gel goes almost white in some places, and the rest gets a nice rusty look. Bentlee did the first one with a variety of sponges to apply the gel.



The second I did, using a large sea sponge to apply the gel. The picture doesn't do justice to this one- it truly does look like an galaxy in outer space. I'm going to try adding some sheer elements to it, and see what happens.



The last two were done on Kona cotton, wrapped around a large piece of PVC pipe. The first one I just wrapped and scrunched, tying it off with floss. I think it looks like tree people, something out of Harry Potter!!



The second I gathered with parallel rows of basting stitches, wrapped around the pipe, and then tied with floss. I left the gel on this one quite a bit longer than the previous piece.



And, I played with one of the tissue paper pieces I posted about a few weeks ago. This is the one with the tissue paper still intact. I took the silk organza I dyed last weekend, and cut different size circles. I'm still debating whether to fuse them on as circles, or to make them a little wonky. And, I may decide to quilt first, then apply the circles, then quilt some more! Karoda asked in the last post if I had any plans for the silk and cheesecloth- here's the silk! And the cheesecloth will figure in something- but not this piece, I don't think.




Now to keep the momentum going. If I get the Journal Quilt off in the mail this week, that would be one project completely off my to-do list.

My journal quilt is almost done!!

Despite having another laser procedure on a leg vein Friday, I was able to get some work done. Since I spent most of Saturday relaxing and resting the leg, handwork seemed appropriate- so I got the binding done. Now, the only part left is the last layer, and the parts for those are drying as I write. Lots of work in Photoshop Elements, but I think it will pay off. As usual, I'll post photos after the Houston show opens in November!!

I have had one of the pieces I did earlier this summer with paint and tissue paper pinned on my design wall, just looking at it from time to time. First I've been trying to figure which orientation is best. I've had some ideas for it floating around, so last night I made some red and yellow dye, and did four pieces of silk organza, and four pieces of cheesecloth. One red, two shades of orange, and one yellow. I'm happy to say that I managed to dye and wash the cheesecloth without turning it into a ball of threads. And the colors came out spectacularly! Here's the cheesecloth--



And here's the organza. Obviously, since this is multiple layers of the fabric, the color will be much more subtle with only one layer. I was happy I got some mottling on the orange pieces, although it may be hard to see in the photos.



I'm wanting to get my journal quilt done so I can concentrate on the two pieces for the Surface Design group show in October- I have about six weeks. The size of both is manageable, about a fat quarter. And I do have some ideas. I think I'm a little paranoid, since this will be an 'art' show, not a quilt show. And there are some very talented artists in the Surface Design group. But I know I'd kick myself if I didn't have something ready, so I' counting on that to keep me motivated.

I had a lovely surprise this weekend. DJ got me a bird of paradise plant for Mother's Day, seeing how fascinated I was with them, doing all the postcards and Marly's birthday present. It was a small plant, a cutting. But it has done well sitting by our fireplace facing a south window, and I've enjoyed watching it grow. Well, Friday it bloomed! A small bloom, but a nice foretaste of blooms to come.





I love the colors on this plant, and expect they will get even more spectacular as it matures. And I've no doubt it will find its way onto more art-- Marly wants a triptich of work for their living room, so after the October show I'll get busy again!