Saturday, Saturday.......

Having had a lovely evening, we woke refreshed and ready for the next day. I was taking a Mixed Media Collage class with Heather Thomas. Not someone I knew, but I thought it might be interesting. There were only 6 of us in this workshop so a nice small number and very intimate.

We were introduced to the subject by Heather, and given instructions as to what she wanted us to do. We had to play by her rules which was interesting because, how many time have we taken a workshop and there will ALWAYS  be one person who wants to do it their way? I've even taught workshops where I've come across that, which always makes me think ,why are you taking my workshop if you don't want to learn what I'm teaching? Maybe I've been guilty of it too. As I sit here thinking about it, have I shown total disregard to my teachers? I can't remember, but I may well have done something slightly different.

Now I am home, I have looked at the piece that I did in Heathers workshop, and I will change it slightly. The end discussion and suggestions just seemed too "loud" for me, not my personality at all, so I will change it to suit me. I am not "loud", my work tends to be quite spare at times, and suits ME.

The ideas were interesting, but not something that I would necessarily want to do too often. I do do Mixed Media, but it tends to be my way.

My mixed media piece with the embellishments I have decided to use

The piece prior to having embellishments added. The area with holes is Lutrador, heated with a heat gun to expose the silk underneath. The photos show it to be very Pink which it is not and I will try and take better pictures once it is finished.

We had a lovely meal across the Ohio River in Kentucky and then it was an early night as Laura and her party were flying home the next day, and I had the long drive back to Ontario.

I never mind driving in fact, I really enjoy it, but it would have been nice to have had company. On the journey home, I had time to reflect on the classes. I think next time I should try and take something a little out of my box, and that may mean a more traditional class.

I did have a chance to have a look at the quilts, and was, as always, awed by the standard and the quality of the work. Sadly, I will have no entry this year, I just haven't had time to make anything.  I think this will change next year. 

I have decided that next year will be my last year as Workshop Convener for the Ailsa Craig Community Quilt Festival. I am so tired and I don't think that people realize how much work is involved in putting on a Quilt Festival such as the one we do. It struck me that there is a core of people who work 12 months to put this show together. I am already working on 2014 and we haven't had this show yet! I also think that people think we are employed. I hate to burst anyones bubble, but, we are all volunteers, not one of us gets paid for the work we do for the Festival and quite often its a 24/7 job. I haven't been in my studio for quite some time, and I really miss it, I don't get time to create art which I really want to do, enter shows as I don't have the work to show and just sit in my studio breathing in the creativity that could come from there. I spend way too much time answering emails and sorting things out, so I think the time has come to say enough is enough. I want to take Workshops, I never get the chance as I'm busy at the Festival, minor things such as getting lunches together to be delivered or walking the show floor, answering queries, helping at the front desk, ferrying my teachers from the Recreation centre to the workshop venue, talking to visitors, which I love doing, and just being as visible as possible. 

I have also decided that I will change my title to Director of Education. The workshop I did on Saturday with Heather also included the Director of Education for the International Quilt Festival! A lovely lady. I just think it might make the position easier to sell to anyone who might be interested in taking over. So, do feel free to contact me if you would be interested in taking on this position...........it really is a lot of fun.

The joy of Creating

I decided to take two classes at the Quilt Festival. The first one I took on the Friday, was an all day clas with Cindy Walter, a Fabric painting Masterclass.

Arrived early for my class and most of the students were already there, as was the teacher. Cindy is from Hawaii, and a really lovely teacher. She explained what we were going to be doing and showed us the paints, provided us with brushes, silk scarves, paints, if we wanted to buy them etc, etc,. How do they travel all that distance with all this stuff? I don't know but they seem to manage it pretty well.

I had a wonderful day painting fabric and creating Art. To often, we don't get the opportunity.

My watercolour piece

Cindy showing some of her hand painted Miniature quilts

My hand painted Art piece. Laura saw it in the evening, and said she would be very happy to receive it in a card! So guess where this is going! I only used the three primary colours to  paint this.

Cindy showing one of her beautiful hand painted quilts

We painted fabric and salted it, this is the result of my piece, which I really like.

I dye fabric and I also paint it, so what made this different? Just learning a new technique and enjoying the process, frankly, I don't think it matters if you repeat some processes, it gels in your head and makes sense. I learnt the difference between using fluid paints and those which are stiffer, that they can be watered down, or used straight from the pot.

We had a two hour lunch break, which allowed me to look around the Vendors mall. I have to say that I didn't buy much fabric!! I bought some white cotton sateen, and Aurifil threads, which I love. Trouble is, I can never remember what colours I need, I think I will have to just buy one of everything, which will double up on a lot but it will look yummy!!

The afternoon was taken up with more painting and then looking at the work we had produced.

It was back to the Hotel and then out for Dinner. We had to go to an Apple Store as Laura's husband wanted an iPad, and it is cheaper to buy here, than in the Netherlands. The Mall wasn't too far from Downtown, and the stores would have been great to wander if we had had time!! However, we had booked a table at the Cheesecake Factory, one of my favourite places to eat, sadly no room for cheesecake!

Cincinnati

What a busy time!! I decided that I would take some time off from the Quilt Festival, and go to the International Quilt Festival in Cincinnati.

I went last year with husband in tow, who was terrified by the number of women in one place!! He thought there couldn't be a woman left in the world as they were all at the Festival!! This year, I went alone,  but was meeting up with Laura Strating- Janssens who had come over in 2011, as a teacher with the Quilts of the Netherlands. We have kept in touch and so it was that I became her roommate for the duration of the Festival.

We arrived on the Thursday afternoon, Laura from Columbus, and me, after a rotten journey, from Ontario. I checked in and then went to the show, not that I had much time but had a quick preview.

Laura was leading a small group from the Netherlands on a quilting tour for the week, so we met up in the evening for dinner and it was lovely!! We went to a Brazilian restaurant, where the meat just kept coming, Beef, Lamb, Pork, Ribs, Chicken, it was all there and the waiters just kept bringing it up until you said stop!! After that, it was back to the Hotel and a quick meeting to make arrangements for the following day, most of us were taking classes at the Festival, so it was an early wake up call and Breakfast at 7!

The next morning, we met in the Dining Room of the Hilton Netherlands Plaza. It is a really beautiful spot, if you love Art Deco, then this is the place for you. We used to collect Art Deco ceramics so it was like being in heaven for me

I lay on the floor to take this shot. Luckily, the main restaurant was empty, and the Maitre'D just laughed. But, the paintings were beautiful.

My apologies if this isn't your thing, but I loved it. I also apologize for the sideways shot of some lovely metal work. Who nows why it would do that when I had rotated it? Anyway, I had a wonderful time swanning around pretending I was a flapper!!

Breakfast was delicious and we were well fed before going to the Festival and our respective classes!

Less haste......

So, I have had a few days, you'd think I would have been very productive. Not a bit of it!! I really have tried to spend time in the studio, and then I look at the housework, which I have to say I have neglected badly, and my guilt complex kicks in, so, this morning, I vacuumed and washed floors. I must say that they do look all the better for it, so maybe it was a good thing.

I did spend a bit of time working on a piece which I have decided will be the Deacon's gift. I dyed a piece of silk which came out in the most gorgeous colours and I was so excited to see the end result, I couldn't wait to start working on it, a design popped into my head, and I was off, using silk organza and Dupioni silks. The base design was working well when impatience kicked in, which was not a good idea. Oh dear, it taught me a huge lesson, do NOT go gung ho into a piece without thinking carefully and making sure that you have laid down a base of stabilizer which covers the entire back of the piece rather than leaving a huge gap in the middle!!

I took off most of the backing and redid it with fresh stabilizer. I had problems with the organza getting stuck under the walking foot in places and then also thought the piece wasn't big enough so added extra fabric, which doesn't match particularly, and it has now been put onto backing and batting and put on the design wall with the hope that inspiration will hit and I will find a way to resolve it into a  finished piece.

I think it will work out, and I'm sure it will be much appreciated, but for the moment, it can sit on the wall and I can see it looking accusingly at me every time I walk in the room. Oh well, I have a lovely piece of dyed silk organza which might work........

I will post a photo as soon as I can pluck up the courage.

If it's Friday it must be...

Time flies when your having fun doesn't it? I have been busy with Quilt Festival, and am getting very excited! We have almost all the images of the Israeli quilts, and they are, apparently, amazing. I am so looking forward to seeing them in the flesh, and then the gruelling task of working out the hanging. I am helping on that , but next year, may well take that side on too.

Not had much of a chance to be in the Studio, so every moment I am is precious. I really should be working now instead of writing, but thought you might all forget me! I have had the opportunity of working with the children at the London Hebrew School. What an amazing experience that has been. I always make the thank you gift for the visiting Guild President at the Festival, but thought this year I would see if I could get the children involved. I came up with a design, they came up with the designs for their blocks, and here is the result!

I free motioned the centre block of the Chapel in Ailsa Craig, and the children did the surrounding blocks. the sashing is ice dyed silk. I free motion stitched around the designs and added a little extra where I thought it needed it, the hardest block was the snowflake! We were able to make two which was just a joy.

Same centre, but different blocks although there are a couple of repeats.  The sashings on this one are painted with Colour Vie paints. They were a joy to work with, and plans are afoot for the children to do the presentation.

As far as my own work goes? Well I have finished my piece for the Horizons Exhibit at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, UK, for August, I just have to make my sample piece now so that it can be handled by visitors to the show. It's the first time, I have entered a show abroad, unless you count the US, but I am looking forward to hopefully, seeing it in August.

Well, I must go and work on a new design now. we have someone at Church who will be ordained as a  Deacon in November, and I need to make a gift for him.

Those Eureka moments

It's funny how things come about. I've actually had time in my studio this week, something of a rare occurrence, and have enjoyed being here.

I took a workshop last Saturday with my friend, Maggie Vanderweit. She never fails to inspire me and she has taught me so much that I have been able to use in my own work. The class was on Sketchbook Stitching, I have to think about how I say that, it always comes out oddly "skitchbook stetching" or something equally silly. The class certainly wasn't silly, and I had a wonderful time as always, Maggie's enthusiasm and instruction make me want to shut the door on the world and create.

I turned out four fairly decent pieces which I am rather pleased with. Maggie showed us how to transfer our designs onto fabric, and then free motion stitch on the machine and then paint using either watercolours, in pan or pencil form, and other methods.

I used an Indian red rayon thread, and Inktense pencils, which are a love of mine. The first image is of a fishing boat on the beach in Hastings, East Sussex. I had to make the trip back there last year to see my Father. It wasn't an easy trip to make, or a pleasant one, but that's the way things are sometimes. All I know is that he was thrilled to see me and we spent time together while he was in Hospital talking about Art in general and my work, which he loved.

The old fishing huts and fishing boat

A barnacle encrusted anchor

It gave me great pleasure to leave my mini portfolio with him so that he could look through it when he wanted.

I spent a lot of time on my own while I was there, and the weather was beautiful for February, so, I took myself and my camera off to the Old Town and spent the day taking photographs as I knew I would never go back there.

I took the printed photos with me to the class not knowing if I could use them but pleased that I have, it's turned into quite a cathartic exercise. I was excited about using them and had some lovely shibori dyed fabric that I did last Summer and was going to use it but hated the thought of cutting into it, but the way the fabric dyed reminded me of sand. In the end, I found a piece of blue ice dyed fabric which was just perfect, so spent an afternoon plotting my design.

I liked the layout as I didn't want it to be regimented and I had done the anchor on the diagonal rather than straight. Having got the pieces fitted together and stitched, I then pondered the quilting. My lovely Shibori piece was the inspiration for it, so I did wavy lines and pebbles all over the blue. I think it works well and I was glad to try out machine quilting again, I am getting looser every time and the more practice I get, the better I will be.

It's not perfect, but it's a good start.

So, this morning, I decided I really should tidy the studio, and was putting things away when I came across a piece of cheesecloth that I had dyed. I was thinking about how I was going to bind the quilt, it was then I had my Eureka moment. Why not use the cheesecloth? I don't like things all neat and tidy, it bothers me unless I really feel I need to do a "proper" binding. Then I took it a step further, what if I draped the cheesecloth over the front of the quilt? After all, it has a fishing theme and the cheesecloth does look a little like fishing net. So that's as far as I have got with it today, pinned to the design wall and thinking about where to go next, I may need to add some beads to it. Hmm, there's another class I can do.

Oh yes, I opened a new pack of cheesecloth and painted it so that I will have something to bind it with too as there wasn't enough with my draping.

New Year, new thoughts

Already into 2013 and thinking about what to do next.

 The project I started is not doing so well, but there is room fro improvement and I think it will be ok in the end. I think I rushed it, and didn't give enough thought to what I was trying to do so things haven't been going so well! My first mistake was getting too excited about the fabric and not working on having enough stabilizer to stitch onto, consequently, the piece" bags" in places. I will post a picture of it very soon.

On the upside, it has made me more careful about what I do with the next piece so some good has come out of it!  have a busy week ahead, I am teaching a class on Tuesday in Manipulated Landscapes. I am really looking forward to it very much and have been busy gathering things to take that I think the students might want to use. I hope I will be able to take photos of their work to post at a later date.

I finished this piece a little while ago. I am really pleased with it and it has drawn many compliments.

I seem to be locked into landscapes and will be taking this piece with me on Tuesday to show at the workshop. I also have other projects running through my head, but they will have to wait.