Day 2 in Studio 3

Some doodles from my sketch book...a combination of pastels, coloured pencils, and water colours-

Doodling these right before I leave to head home marks the transition.  When I arrive I spend about an hour practicing free motion quilting before working on specific projects.  Today I quilted this...this is its original orientation but I think it works hung in other directions too.  This came out of the symposium I attended in July.  My intent with the quilt design was to mimick the slanted shapes...it kinda turned out and it kinda didn't...i.e. I like the design but in some spots it doesn't compliment the top design.  I'm going back over the red lines to make them stand out more...I should have used a heavier weight in red thread but I can't spend another cent so I had to make do.

I was going to stay home tomorrow but then I remembered I wanted to take this to the LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber & Textile Artists) meeting tomorrow night, so I will go back up in the afternoon and either put a facing on it or an escape hatch finish to complete it in time for show and tell.

Back Again in Studio 3

   The function of the item in the previous post will be revealed over the weekend.  Meanwhile, here are photos of my set up and the work I accomplished today.  The piece with the ankhs was in limbo until an angel gifted me with the coptic crosses on the left.  I am now very satisfied with the focal points and will be facing the fear of quilting it this week.

At the symposium in July, Juanita did a color workshop and for the first time I have an intimate relationship with my color wheel! The palette in the first photo above was sorted by value after I selected the colours from my blues and greens. This is the beginning of my next quilt.

Time for Mama to get Krump!

The last week has been filled with school shopping!  My teens noticed today that I was singing and giddy with excitement and in a light, silly mood.  They came out and accused me of being happy that they are returning to school tomorrow!!! Of course, I was wide-eyed and in shock at such an accusation!!!!!!!!!!!!!  There will not be anyone around for me to nag about turning the music down, or prod to do chores, or get off the phone,...what will I ever do with myself without them...whose arguments will I referee in their absence! Who will bombard me with continuous outrageous request of "can I's"?  Yo! do I hear silence, hours of silence nearby?! Will there be time routinely to hear myself think????  Well, damn straight I'm happy they are returning to school!  And I mean that in the most encouraging way because a mind is a terrible thing to waste!

To celebrate and recover from a tab bit of sadness from some disappointing decisions of late, I will be back in Studio 3 for the next month, possibly 2!!!  The kids helped me set it up today and tomorrow I begin working.  I'm set to sew this time and not dye.  Since I have a longer time there, I will be more fexible with my schedule and not stay the 10-12 hours there every day like I did back in June when I had it for 7 days.  No more than 6 hours a day, longer on weekends and about 4-6 days each week...it just depends on my progress.

In my last post, I mentioned the silk fusion which I thought I had photographed but this is all that I have on my camera. It is of me wetting the silk between two screens.  It turned out a beautiful fiery red and orange that I gave to Juanita as a small parting gift.  I hope she can find something fantastic to do with it. 

Since my last post, I made a trek to Berea with 3 quilt guild girlfriends and just had a blast getting to know them on the 2 hour ride and walking around the town for its 2nd annual Quilt Extravaganza...its a beautiful historic town with the friendliest people and artists' shops and studios. 

Here are photos taken at the Museum of Design Atlanta of functional items by contemporary African Artists.  And can you guess the intended function of the last piece pictured on the bottom right?  I'll provide the answer and a prize for the correct answer.  And as always on my blog you can click on the image to enlarge it.

 

 

 

  

Sale or Trade

Handmade Silk Paper by Kath Russon  (clickable link to amazon)

I purchased this one and Take Silk by Judith Pinnell  (clickable link) at the same time to compare.  Its my policy to have only one book on any given technique or process.  Russon's book goes into more detail on using a variety of silk fibres and dyeing them and more processes than Pinnell's.  Pinnell's has more "projects" but doesn't cover the dyeing or using more processes the way Russon does.  I love the silk fusion but will not go so far to invest in the various silk fibres to use and am happy to purchase my silk fibres already dyed so I'm keeping the Pinnell book.  If you're interested in Russon's book at 12 bucks plus the cost of mailing or want to trade something as enticing, email me at karoda2743 at aol.  Put an identifying title of the email so I will not delete just in case I don't recognize your email. 

I did a piece today along with some painting and tissue dyeing of fabric...pictures in a few days.

College Week

The National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta was held the week before we arrived.  If I hadn't forgotten about it, you bet I would have backed up the college visits for our one and only daughter to coincide with events from the Festival!  But alas, it wasn't about me...so we visited Agnes Scott and Emory.  She fell in love with Agnes Scott and so did I but I didn't let her know because I want this decision to be hers.  P. and I are here to keep perspective on just how this can be a life changing decision and should be made with great care and thought and commitment.  We'll return in a month or so to re-visit Agnes Scott, Spelman, and Wesleyan in Macon.  I really would like the decision to be narrowed down to 2 before winter so that the remainder of the school year can focus on finding and applying for scholarships.  It was great for M. to hear others (besides parents) talk about the importance of GPA and SAT scores...soooo, hopefully her behaviors will match her ambitions.  Science and Math are her Honours classes but she gets lax in English and Social Studies.  (God willing and if the creek don't rise, she'll keep her eyes on the prize...I've finally reached the age where I can say these old-timey wisdoms with just a little bit of insight, eh?)

Even though this wasn't a vacation in the ideal definition, I did manage to squeeze in a visit to Fiber On A Whim where I purchased some corn and potato dextrins, batting, print paste, and foil glue.  I did wonder if a store like it could make it in Louisville.  Do you think a store that catered to embellishments and surface design could survive as a store front in your area? I think I would only want to carry PFD fabrics only as to not compete with the quilting stores.

On the way out we stopped at MODA to see the very uniquely and artistically designed functional and decorative items by contemporay African artists and then over to Via Mundi Gallery to see more contemporary works by African Artists.  This exhibit can be seen online.  I fell in love with the work of Bethel Aniaku.  Most African Art Exhibits focus on antiquities  and un-identified works but usually by the end of viewing I'm reminded more of how a People's contributions can be X-ed from historical records and most of the academic reasoning falls short as to why this is so in my opinion.  The grace I find is that I don't perceive history and culture as "fixed" entities but ever evolving and in flux...there is still vast knowledges to be uncovered and I'm thankful to those who dedicate their lives and careers to such endeavors. 

As tired as I was from the trip, I wasn't about to miss my guild meeting tonight.  The only thing is after any sharing with others that is quilt related, I'm so wired I can't sleep.  I did some hand embroidery before writing this post but lord it is 2am and I have to be up at 8:30 to taxi M and my niece around on some errands tomorrow...I'm sooo looking forward to my kiddos going back to school.

Whew! what a week it was!!!!!!!!!!

The symposium started on Saturday at 8:30 and ended on the following Friday.  Each day ended around 9ish except for the Tuesday which ended at 6ish to give the participants a chance to rest before heading out to Paducah on Wednesday.  I had originally signed up for 4 days, Sat-Tues. but Sunday night when I left I was so high and energized that I had to call a girlfriend, my sister, and relay the events of the day to my family too!  Didn't fall asleep until 2am and the thought of ending on Tuesday I just couldn't bare it! I didn't want to miss a single thing other than the trip to Paducah which gave me a chance to rest.  That Wednesday I didn't get out of bed until 2pm!

Between the week at MACA and the symposium I was fit to be tied!  Most of the participants came from out of state and have been attending the symposium for the 3 years it has been in existence.  Even though Juanita will be moving (I'm truly going to miss her) she has agreed to do it again next year as well and I'm so thankful.  She gave us 7 goals to work on between now and next year which puts even more ooomph into getting together again next year.  I'll share my goals later on but here are some photos from the symposium.

Instructors instructing and participants participating.

Incredible discharge pieces!!! 

Marti lead us in designing our own motif workshop and this one for me was the keeper that I used in the workshop that Kathy lead on construction the next day.  I'll show the completed piece in a few days.

The symposium is geared toward helping each one find their own individual style and voice in creating quilt art or fiber art and it really does an awesome job at that!  The 2nd week of July is hereby designated as Symposium Week...see ya' next year y'all!

Studio 3 Continued

Okay, before I get to the awesome...I mean AWESOME (sung in an operatic tone) symposium that Juanita organized I'm going to finish up the report on Studio 3.  But if you get eager to get a peak at the symposium week, click right here!

The side and entrance of the small renovated barn that houses 4 studios and a loft that runs the length of the barn.  I love the colours of the stone.    

The large barn is still unrenovated but is occupied year round by a sculptor.

 Windows in the barn's kitchen.  The kitchen makes it convenient to take meals close to one's studio.

Steps leading to the loft.   

The brick?  The dirt and rocks? Simply because I like the pattern and colours.

A view into the loft.

Tomorrow I'm off to

Master the Quilted Surface.  Its only 10 minutes from home, 15 if the lights catch me and the traffic is heavy...well the traffic is always heavy but its in my hood and close by and the materials are included in the symposium fee, so not a lot to carry other than the basics! 

The rest of the pictures on Studio 3 will have to wait until after Tuesday, which will be my last day at the Symposium. 

Peace,