Craft Napa 2021


I taught at Craft Napa three workshops: Surprise Printing on the Go, Instant Paper-Cloth and Hand appliqué with Paper and Fabric. It was fun to meet people from all over. Hard work but lots of fun. My heart is full. I am delighted that I could find kindred spirits who are willing to experiment with paper and cloth or unusual painting techniques. Thank you for letting me share my art with all of you!



*ZOOM* Meeting Artcloth with Paper and Fabric

*ZOOM* Meeting made with paper and fabric.
27 inches by 31 inches
 
My inspiration for this artcloth came from the directive to stay home and the need for internet communication. Each circle and square represent a person participating in a video call.
 


 I started by creating a color palette and mixing the paint colors. On rare occasions I have used the original paint color that the manufacturer provides.


Then I chose old newspapers from the bin. In this case, the papers came from seven different countries.


After the newsprint was infused into the cloth (INC a washable paper and cloth) a new painting technique was applied which I called *Phantom Printing*. With this technique one never knows for certain where the images appear. It thus has a certain serendipity factor in it. The picture above has the first layer application.


This picture shows the second layer, the *surprise* layer where a second image appears, in this case the white lettering.

 
 
 
close ups

 
before hand embroidery
 
 

after hand-embroidery
 
 
This art piece will always remind me of how precarious life is. Things can change in a blink of an eye. To cherish what we have, don't take anything for granted and try to live intensely.
 
 
Please stay safe.
 

Paper and Fabric *Quilt*

 
*Singing Birds*
 
Materials used: recycled magazine clippings, napkins and tissue papers.
Decorated with: Aurifil threads (28w and 12w LANA for the hand-embroidery) and seed beads for the birds wings.
 
The whole quilt top has been made with papers. It was my first time sewing the background  with the stitching so close together and the paper behave beautifully, just like fabric!
 
I made this mixed-media quilt on preparation for my Lecture and Workshop at Cumberland Valley Quilters Association this coming April 7th and April 8th, 2020.

*Craft Napa* 2020- Part TWO

 

And these are photographs of  the fun we had together in my third class. *Hand Appliqué with Paper and Fabric*
 















 
 What an intense experience this was.  I met wonderful students, quilters and artists. I also reconnected with friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach at this show.My heart is full of beautiful memories.
 
You can see more pictures HERE

*Craft Napa* 2020- Part ONE

Student work - Technique: *Instant Paper-Cloth*
 
I just returned from Craft Napa. What a wonderful experience it was. This is the fifth year Pokey Bolton organized this event. She really knows how to kick off the New Year with inspirational classes in the gorgeous Napa valley.
 
We were 17 faculty members and 250 students. Most of the daily events took place at the Embassy Suites Hotel. It ensured that we could mingle more during meal times or just sitting around during the breaks, thus giving us the opportunity to know each other a little bit more outside the classroom. The energy was very positive - it made it a happy meeting.
 
I gave the first of my three workshops, called *Surprise Printing on the GO*, at Pokey's Barn, which is located just a few miles from the Hotel. It is an ideal place to make a beautiful painted mess.  I took the photograph below just before my students arrived. Each student had their own table!

  
Following are some pictures of the last assignment the students worked on (I forgot to take pictures from the first ones).




 
 We also designed our own silkscreen:

The group together.
 
The second class I taught was my workshop *Instant Paper-Cloth* and it was at the Hotel. Here are some of the students' work:












 
And this is the group photo:
 

 
I am so proud of each of my students, they did a marvelous job!
 
You can see more pictures HERE


*Quilting Arts Magazine*...my latest article

 
My newest article appears on page 22 of the latest Quilting Arts magazine February/March 2020 issue. Here I show how to do *cheesecloth skins*, a technique I have been using for years in my work.
 
 
Learn how to work with this translucent overlay. This issue is packed with many ideas on how to use unusual materials in your art quilts.
 

This is the cover photo. Art by Jill Kerttula.
 
 


An *Artful* Apron


This is the finished apron.
Techniques: INC- Infused Newsprint Cloth -WASHABLE-  with masks, silkscreened words and ice dyed fabric.
 

First ,the fabric was colored with the *Ice Dyeing* technique. It is a fun technique with unexpected and beautiful results.Two colors of dye has been used: chocolate brown and butterscotch.
 

 
INC- Infused Newsprint Cloth was applied with circle and triangle shapes. I found this image on a French paper and couldn't resist to use it...maybe I put that face when I am developing a new technique?! or...when something is not working...HA
 



 
And these are close-ups. The words says: BE BOLD -Tell your story.
 
I am linked to: http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/. Go and visit what the other artist are doing and get inspire!