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Archive for the ‘painting fabric’ Category

Send in the Clowns

Thursday, March 23rd, 2017

I have been working on this piece for an exhibit at Trinity with the theme The Circus of Life. I just had to do this piece because I feel as if Washington DC is a circus with a bunch of clowns trying to govern. Here are details:

I printed resistance words for the background.

It is very therapeutic to work on a piece like this. I am so frustrated with all  the bad stuff being done to our country. I worry about how we will ever get back to normal and doing things that are actually good for people and the planet.

I have been having fun teaching my wool felt stitching class on Wednesday nights at Trinity. Here are some photos of the designs they are working on.

I made this rooster to demonstrate adding the decorative embroidery stitches.

So you can see that I have been busy. I am having some trouble getting around because of plantar fasciitis in my left foot. I miss being able to take Scooter for long walks. Today, I went to REI and bought some New Balance walking shoes and orthotics. I am noticing a difference tonight. But, dang, they are kind of ugly shoes and I so want to have warm weather and to be able to wear sandals again. Hope springs eternal.

Textile Printing Class Wrap-up

Thursday, March 17th, 2016

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Last night was our fifth and final printing and collage class. There was still some printing going on, but most people tried to put together a stitched composition. Barbara made some stuffed fish that are swimming with some one dimensional fish. Nicely done!

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Adia had done several prints on pieces of canvas. She cut them up and started on a collage. We convinced her to remove some items.

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Here is her final composition.

Liz helped her fussy cut her ferns.

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The father and daughter duo, Scott and Tiffany, were hard at work.

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Tiffany ended up with a composition featuring an elephant.

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Marilyn was working on an underwater scene with colorful fish and water plants.

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Ann ended up with a trio of birdy prints.

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I really enjoyed teaching this class with my friend, Allan Oliver, but I am glad it is over. I came home, totally exhausted and in the worst pain. I woke up at 5 with pain and could not go back to sleep. I was at might wits end, but I had my STASH friends coming for our monthly get-together and lunch so I had to suck it up and get busy. We were chatting away when Mr C interrupted to tell me that Kaiser had called and wanted to schedule my knee replacement surgery. Who0pee!! I called them this afternoon and got all scheduled for May 9th. I could have gone the week before, but Mr C has a colonoscopy scheduled and I need to be able to drive him. I wonder if April is going to take forever or fly by!!

I am wondering if I can pull myself together to get two quilts done for upcoming shows since I will be out of commission for a bit. Stay tuned.

I’m Back

Thursday, March 10th, 2016

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I have not been a good blogger this week, I know. On Friday, I was hit with a vertigo attack due to allergies causing a major sinus infection. I spent most of the past week in bed as it was the only way to deal with the vertigo. Yesterday, I got up and went to a guild meeting, came home and took a nap and then went to Trinity for our textile printing class. Today, I am feeling pretty good. Have not had to take a nap!

I thought I would share some of the work our students did last night, including the piece at the top.

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You can see the people got adventurous, using more than one color.

Next week is the last week. Five weeks has gone by pretty fast!

Yesterday, Ann Johnston was our guest speaker at guild meeting. She told us about the conception and creation of her High Sierra series. They are huge pieces and based on the geology. She has put so much thought into the work. Just wonderful and inspiring.

Printing Workshop #3

Thursday, March 3rd, 2016

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We are moving right along. Last week my thermofax overheated and melted the screen material. Last night, when I tested it, the dang light, that burns the image did not go on. Then it went on half way through the process, burning only half an image. We found a way to work around that. I also found out that the laser copier at Trinity was producing really strong carbon images and I needed to turn the thermofax down. Then we had a great night. I love the image up there that Wendy made and printed on black with white paint.

She also has been experimenting with layering images which is something I have tried to encourage.

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This is James, who moved here from New Zealand last year. He loves taking art classes and being with other folks. His mother is a sometimes quilter. I just love James!!

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Steve did this very successful zebra print and layered in some grasses.

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Scott did this musical layered print using some nice clip art.

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I threw together this collage of leaves which I am hand-stitching to show them how they can use their prints to make a piece of art. Not sure that many of them will get to this point!

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I have been sooo busy with SDA work. We have a deadline for entering an exhibit tomorrow and lots of people are joining and renewing so that they are eligible. So, too much computer time.  I did make it down to the gym to do 20 minutes on the bike.

Week One of Printing on Fabric

Thursday, February 18th, 2016

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Last night was week one of a printing on fabric workshop that my friend, Allan Oliver, and I are teaching at Trinity. We have two wonderful assistants, both named Liz!! Mr C and I went down in the afternoon and raised two tables on pvc pipe. Then, I covered the tables with plastic, two layers of felt and muslin. I set up tubs for water to wash screens and stencils.

I also set up a sample for a demo to show how to layer designs with paint. I sponge painted a background.

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We had a full house, many of the participants were men! I think everyone had a good time.

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We have a big empty bulletin board where we hung work to dry.

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Here are samples of some of the best work.

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Today, I am just plain pooped. It has been a busy week so I am taking it easy.