My sketch to quilt class projects!

Friday and Saturday I taught a fun class called "Sketch to Quilt". I give the students a few basic drawing tips and some simple instructions and then I turn them loose to sketch some simple still lifes I have set up. I am always amazed how well they all seem to do with a few sketching secrets. After they have sketched a bunch of quick drawing they can combine them or just use the one they like best and they transfer it to watercolor paper. At that time I gave a painting and collage demo and then they were off painting up a storm and adding empherma! The original paintings turn out fabulous but then  I take them home and transfer to fabric via my computer. The next day they add more color, text and even do some discharging. What they end up with is an amazing little quilt block that they can add to and make larger or they can make a small wall artquilt. Here are some of my students amazing little paintings and fabric transfered pieces, can you tell which is which?

I had a few students that managed to sneak out before I could photograph them. I hop they will send me their finished photos. Congratulations to my talented students for creating such amazing pieces of artwork!

Fun day tie dying!

Friday my artquilt group had a playday at my house. We had seen a piece of fabric that someone had dyed using a method in the Quilting arts magazine and loved it so we decided to try it ourselves. It calls for 5-6 mens silk ties and a aluminum pot and some vinegar. The article went through the whole wrapping and dying process and we decided it would make a fun playday, so we all began to gather ties from our local thrift stores and met last Friday. Kay brought some wonderful extra pieces of silk and we ended up all sharing pieces of our ties. The fabric turned out amazing, I even liked the muslin that we wrapped our silk in so much I am keeping that too. The day turned out perfect, the weather, the food, the friends all were perfect. I love this group of women, they are all so talented and supportive to each other! Here are some of the pictures from our day together. We wrapped up our silk fabric and ties into long sausage like bundles and stuck them into a pot of water, then boiled it with vinegar for about 20 minutes. We then rinsed them and let them cool to touch, just enough so we could open up the bundles to see what awaited us inside! Picture #3 is just the pile of ties and silks we used to dye our silk fabric.

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One of my dyed pieces, I added some details with a pen, see the houses and the cars and the fish?



My crazy life

I find that life seems to come in waves of my time verses everyone elses time. As moms and wives and working women it seems as though our lives are a constant wave of juggling. We put our needs on the backburner as we attempt to make sure everyone elses needs are met. Right now, I find that I am pulled in so many different directions that I have lost my ability to do it all! Its amazing how we have this juggling act going on to get it all done and when a new, often unexpected event happens it causes all the spinning plates to fall to the ground. Trying to regroup and start the plates again but need a day without interuption! Is there such a thing??? I am not complaining mind you, I am just sad when I am unable to do all the things I have promised to do. Can I hear an AMEN!

Plain air paint out reception

Tonight was the opening reception and award ceremony. I only had one painting in the show but it managed to get an honorable mention! I was so surprised considering how many wonderful paintings were there! Thank you judges! I guess I will have to keep practicing! I won cash and a gift certificate for frames! Awesome