Empty Spools 2012 at Asilomar

I had an amazing time in Pacific Grove this week and my workshop with the incredibly talented Hollis Chatelain exceeded my expectations. 

I met wonderful new friends...

My workstation was right next to "Ernest", the nickname for this breathtaking piece (Innocence) behind us. It must be seen in person to truly appreciate. 

I met this "wild" lady named Nancy, who reminds me of Ruth Gordon's character in the movie "Harold and Maude'. The "Maude" character is a hero of mine, and someone I truly relate to, so Nancy and I bonded instantly. And to top it off, she is quite an all around artist! I was impressed...    :)

We were in an awesome room this year, and the work that came out of our class was so beautiful! 

African-American Quilters of Los Angeles Lecture/Trunk Show

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of speaking at the AAQLA guild meeting. What a wonderfully warm and talented group! It was truly an honor. 
  
    
During their show and tell, I was really blown away by the diversity of quilts.
  
  
Here is my buddy Patsy, from the LA Modern Quilt Guild, sharing her beautiful bags, and then the reaction from the audience. As I type this, Patsy is making a custom bag for me to carry my rolled quilts. I'm super excited!!!
     
     
  

New Work

 

"Fantasyland"  43" x 44" Hand dyed cotton, pieced and free motion quilted.

 

"Elemental" 8" x 10" Printed, thread painted and free motion quilted.

Art Quilt Tahoe

This past November, I attended Art Quilt Tahoe for the second time. We all arrived right after a big snow storm, but it was blue skies the whole week; it was the best of both worlds. 

Valerie Goodwin is a very gifted teacher, and I highly recommend her workshop. 


I really enjoy going up Hwy 395 to Lake Tahoe. The entire drive is scenic, and it's something I look forward to. 


This year the weather was beautiful every day, what a treat! 


Velda Newman lives in the Lake Tahoe area, and usually teaches a workshop here each year. She brough her masterpiece to share with us. I went to see this amazing quilt when it was on display at Visions last year. 


Valerie's workshop was a lot of fun, and she is an amazing teacher. The map I chose to work with is Downtown Vienna. 


Before we started on our larger pieces, we did a few small studies just to get the techniques down. This is about 5 x 7. 


I'll be overlaying my streets over this foundation. 


I was very fortunate to be able to purchase one of Valerie's small studies. I love it, and it's the first thing you see as you enter my studio. 

 

Back from Houston...

I just got back from Houston but I'm already back on the road and in Lake Tahoe for a workshop with Valerie Goodwin. I had an amazing time, to say the least, and was so happy my husband could pull himself away from the office to go with me. We took a ton of pictures, and I've posted only a handful, but I'm too exhausted to actually comment on them. When I get back home, I will, and there will be a lot more coming too. :) 

My quilt "A View from Above" won first prize in the Art Abstract Small Category, and "Life in the City" won an honorable mention in the Art Abstract Large Category. I was pretty blown away by everything, and look forward to elaborating further...

This is right after the awards ceremony.

I haven't seen these two ladies since elementary school! 

A relaxing break...

After all of the dyeing, and prior to that, months of working long hours to meet deadlines, I've enjoyed a decent hiatus. It's nice to be sewing again, and it's fun to work on a few quilts for Project Linus before I start my next project.  :) 

When I start a quilt for Linus, I usually let fabric inspire my design. 

“We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”  -Dr. Suess 

Great news from Houston!

I received a call last week and my quilt "A View from Above" has won a cash award. Quilts: A World of Beauty is held at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. I won't find out until November what I've won, but I was pretty shocked and excited. It's my first time entering, and this is the biggest show in the country. This is my first award. 

In addition, "Life in the City" won an honorble mention, so that was amazing. I will receive two ribbons! 

I'm humbled, grateful and looking forward to going to the show in November. 

Two months of dyeing fabric...

 

I just counted everything and it turns out that I've dyed over 300 pieces of fabric, and let me tell you, I'm exhausted. In my usual obsessive manner, I worked 6 to 7 days a week for at least 9-10 hours, but this will last me a long time, hopefully...

I think I'm in good shape with blue, green and orange...  :)

I spent a few weeks in soywax mode, and from there I discharged for a week. Most of the whole cloth pieces I painted will be cut up and used in future quilts. 


This is the first step: I apply the first layer of fiber reactive dye, let it cure overnight, and let it totally dry the next day. 

I've applied a layer of wax and allowed it to dry completely. I used a brush to apply the wax because I wanted a painterly feel. 

The second layer of dye is applied, and then it cures overnight...


Once the piece is totally dry, I start the process of removing the wax. Most of it is removed by ironing with newspaper. As you can imagine, it's a lot of work when you have a bunch of heavily waxed fabric, and you want to get most of it out so it doesn't jack up your plumbing. I love this iron because it gets really hot! It's a Betty Crocker from the 40's. 

This is the finished product, after 2 or 3 washes in super hot water. I will probably cut this up, or add additional details with fabric paint.

On this one, I dyed multiple layers, waxed and discharged. I'll add additional detailing and quilt it as a whole cloth piece. I can also add interesting texture and change the look with thread, and I look forward to playing around with that.

This piece and the ones below, where made wtih the intent of being cut up, but I've actually grown fond of the gray one, so I may do a little more to it and quilt it.  



I have spend a small fortune on this plastic! Also, I'd be in Home Depot opening all of the boxes to look for a particular variety that was folded a certain way. I must have hit up two or three stores, and I'm sure the employees weren't happy having to tape those back up...   

 

I dyed each piece of fabric in this way, flat on a pretty sturdy sheet of plastic. I like to control my texture and patterns, so I'm not a huge fan of submerging my fabric in dye baths.

My holiday weekend

I do plan on peeling myself away from the sewing machine at some point today, and I did take the day off yesterday, but I'm nearly done with my next piece and I just want to keep going... :)  I'll take some time and hit the pool and enjoy some BBQ later. 

 

Nancy Crow Workshop: My review

I'm on my way from KY to OH, and I'm in tornado lookout mode. I had never been to this part of the country and my visit happened to coincide with the historic weather conditions, so I was a little nervous at times.

Nancy and her family have created a pretty amazing environment for students. This was the first day, and I only had a little idea of what I'd be in for.  :)

Margaret Wolf is one of the very best reasons to take a class at the Crow Timber Frame Barn. Amazing chef, artist and so much more...

Nancy Crow is probably one of the most driven artists I've met. She really knows how to pull everything you've got out. It was an incredible experience. 

Step one of my composition: This was a challenge for me because I usually piece as I go. In this case, we had to draw with the fabric, and then figure out how to put it together. It was a really good stretch for me. 

My end result. I do not normally use these dark colors, but you start off with a limited palette in the early exercises. I actually like this piece and was relieved that I was able to finish at least one exercise in class. Figuring out how to put it together is always fun.  :)

 

Paducah 2011

This was my first visit to Paducah and first time in the show. I was so impressed with how they shuffled things around given the challenges with the weather and flooding. Everything was very organized and there was a fun time to be had by all. 

 

I enjoyed spending time with the amazing, generous artist, Caryl Bryer Fallert and her friends while in Paducah. She has created a dreamy home/studio/classroom space, in the Lower Downtown Arts District. Her shop is packed with visitors during the show. 

 

From the left: Bobbin, Jena Moreno (creator of the movie "Stitched") Caryl, and Quiltman.

 

Quiltman and Bobbin taking a break to enjoy some ice cream. 

 

National Quilt Museum

 

And here are just a few of the quilts that caught my eye...