Around Here and a *Friendship*

 


Every year at the end of March we visit the Dixon Botanical Gardens to enjoy the display of colorful tulips. We are lucky to have such a place in the city we live in Tennessee.

They worked very hard during the Fall months planting over 2,000 bulbs.





You could find a variety of colors and types. Some are taller, some shorter, some has more than one color in the petals and others looks like has been made of a velvety fabric with rich dark tones. 


This year they made a little cabin with straw roof and lots of vases full of tulip blooms for walls.




These figures were standing or sitting all over the grounds. They were displayed in pairs. 


What a fun and relaxing day I had with friends!

On my previous POST I mentioned the latest article I wrote for the American Magazine Quilting Arts. This particular issue is very special to me  because I am with my friend Chris in the same issue! 

What are the odds? We met online over 10 years ago, then she was my student and we became friends. We haven't met in person but feels like it. She has a fun and bright spirit. When we learn we where going to be together she had the brilliant idea to send each other a signed copy and that's what we did!

She is a wonderful artist. She took this photograph, manipulated and enhanced it with colored pencils. 

I hope you are enjoying the changes of the new Season wherever you are. 

My work is on the Cover of *Quilting Arts Magazine*


 *Peaks* 34" by 35"

I have exciting news. I have not only a new article for the upcoming issue of Quilting Arts but I also made THE COVER!


I am so happy. I am on page 62 and the title of the article is *Add a POP of Color*. It's a modern twist to the well known half square triangle. It's fun and different.


In this close-up you can see how I quilted with the sewing machine and by hand with big stitches.



This is a variation of this fun technique. You can find more information HERE  

Here is the link of the INTERVIEW I had with Managing Editor Kristine Lundblad.

I am linked to: Off the Wall Friday and Kelly's Blog

Paper and Fabric Explorations

I have been exploring more possibilities with the combination of paper and cloth. This time painting the background of the Washable Paper-Cloth with dyes. It works beautifully but it is a slow process. I think I like it better using paint instead because it's less messy and it's ready faster (no need to wait for the fabric to batch for many hours, waiting for the color to attached to the fibers).

For this sample two paper-cloths were used, a sheer fabric (green) and broadcloth (white). Because of the nature of the green fabric you could easily spot the oval shapes from the white fabric that is underneath, as shown in the picture below.

And here are more details:

This is the finished piece!

I had fun during the process and can't wait for the warmer weather to arrive so I can go outside to my garage and get messy for long hours.

*Improv Half-Square Triangle* the Workshop

 


NEW  Workshop; it's called Improv Half Square Triangle

6 hour or two 3 hours workshop


Let's play with one of the top quilt block units in quilting and make it your own!

With just a few materials you can easily add a POP of color to your quilt blocks. This is an ideal way to use up leftover fabric from other projects and create an entire new quilt. The design possibilities are endless. It’s a perfect technique for working in small spaces.  

We will paint a detail on a white piece of cloth and combine it with a colorful fabric to create our block. Basic instructions will be given and each student can create their own design. Lots of fun!


I hope you can join me and share your time with me doing art!


*Washable Paper-Cloth* the Workshop

 


NEW  workshop, it's called: Washable Paper-Cloth

It is a Multi day Workshop

Let’s recycle paper and create art. This is an environmentally friendly class. First, we will learn how to make *washable* paper-cloth with recycled newspapers. This is my original technique to obtain a seamless integration of paper on cloth that you can iron, paint and sew by hand or by machine. We will also learn how to create our own fabric paint. It will be formulated for the exact color we want. This paint formula can then be used for matching future color projects . We will work with our own resist, do repeats and add colored backgrounds. Then we will learn how to prepare magazine clippings to easily applique by hand on to cloth. The last day we will design a small collage with the paper-cloths we made and sew accented details by hand.

This is the result of many, many years of experimentation and includes a lot of techniques, such as:

- create your own resist (economically)

- learn how to mix your own fabric paint and how to create your own color formulas which will be an invaluable reference for the future when you want to use the color you choose and not the color that chooses you! This new paint leaves a soft hand on the cloth, making it easier to sew by hand or machine.

- how to do repeats

- we will work with small pieces

- we will be sitting down for part of the processes making it easier to work...ehem play since this is a multi day class.

- we will design a small collage with some of our *new* paper-cloth fabrics.


create your own fabric paint


Left: resisted paper-cloth.      Right: washed resisted paper-cloth






I hope you can join me and share your time with me doing art!

*Gossip Blocks* the Workshop

NEW  workshop, it's called: Gossip Blocks :) 

Recycle magazine clippings. This is an environmentally friendly class. We will be experimenting with a layering technique of paper and cloth to create a unique mixed media quilt block. Learn how to prepare the paper for applique. Design, cut and paste them onto cloth to form your gossip block. Apply accent stitches by hand. This is an ideal workshop for individuals who wants to explore something playful and different.

It is a 6 hour workshop.



I hope you can join me and share your time with me doing art!

Craft Napa Workshops

 



I love to teach virtually or in person. Last week I gave two workshops through CraftNapa virtually to a very talented group of artists. We shared good laughs. Some couldn't be present, luckily it was recorded so they watched the recording and worked at their own pace. 

The projects for both classes were made with mixed media materials. It's amazing how each student put their own twist and created something different. It was fun!