VENDING

NORTHERN LIGHTS QUILT SHOW

Hanover, NH

 

What a great time I had, vending my hand dyed fabrics, this past weekend.

 

My guild really puts on one hell of a quilt show. The creative energy from this group is contagious.

 

I always come home jazzed up to try new things.

 

 

Here's my booth - there's only so much you can do under the basketball hoop

 at the end of the school gym!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHE'S AN ARTIST

I've always loved the words to this Bob Dylan song (from She Belongs To Me - 1965 ) - so when I heard that the upcoming exhibit at my local art center was going to be 

 The Written Word, works influenced by books,writing & text, I knew I wanted to do this.

I've had this rattling around in my head for awhile so it was really fun to work on.  

I used a tie dyed fabric from my abundant outta control stash 

Had fun with some freehand wavy quilting - Love this kind of quilting -  throw on some

 Dave Mathews and just get a rhythym going with the quilt.

Opening reception is this Friday night, July 27th, 5-7PM at the Library Arts Center, Newport, NH.

The show runs through Sept 7th - stop by and check it out. More info www.libraryartscenter.org

ALSO.... WORKSHOPS
 I'm teaching a few workshops there this summer - my first class, Creative Exploration in Fabric Surface Design is actually tomorrow night (Thursday, July 26th 6:00-8:30 ) - a few spaces are still open - go to the website (above) for sign-up info. I'm teaching my fast, fun and frugal fabric printing and stamping techniques. There will be tons of tried & true, time-tested, terrific textile techniques for the timid, trepidatious and truly terrified !!!  Hope to see you there. BRING FABRICS TO PRINT ON (pre-washed cottons recommended for class)


AND ....
 Coming soon ... Thurs, August 9th,  TEXTile class - fabric printing with the focus on using TEXT.  Personalize those wearables, home dec items and unique fiber art pieces that you see in all the catalogs & shops, using words & phrases that have special meaning to you.


Weds, August 15th, Innovative Fabric Painting - This class will focus more on fabric painting techniques.  We will be using Setacolor paints - which create gorgeous watercolor effects on fabric. I will show you how to use salt & the sun to give the look of texture to your fabrics. You will also use these techniques to create a beautiful silk scarf - I will provide one scarf and will have more scarves available for purchase at at reasonable price.

Click on the SURFACE DESIGN tab under the header

 to see a sampling of things we'll cover in the classes.

FOR ALL CLASSES:

 PLEASE WEAR OLD CLOTHES/APRONS. 

 BRING LOTS OF FABRICS TO MAKE SAMPLES OF ALL THE TECHNIQUES.

YOU WILL BE GOING HOME WITH LOTS OF EASY USEFUL TECHNIQUES AND IDEAS FOR COOL THINGS FOR YOU, YOUR HOME AND GIFTS FOR EVERYONE.

THE GIRLS

Art dolls made from fabric that I've dyed and stamped.

The stamps are handmade, super simple AND FUN. This doll pattern was in Quilting Arts Magazine Issue #8  Winter 2002

I've been dinkin' around with paper clay and air dry clay and these cool face molds. Very easy - just glued onto the dolls. The clay & molds can be found in most craft stores (ie. Michaels or JoAnn's ) usually with the Fimo clay stuff.

*** The face on the 3rd doll is pewter from Artchix  www.artchixstudio.com

Northern Lights Quilt Show

This past weekend I was a vendor at the Northern Lights quilt show. It was amazing - I had so much fun. I saw lots of old friends & met so many great people.

 

 A few pics of some of my fabrics - they look so much brighter in person.

My hand printed leaves are always a big seller so I've been replenishing my stash this week.

I also did a demo of my stamping & printing techniques. I use lots of recycled and repurposed objects in my stamping. As I was printing these leaves I stopped for a break & discovered a new repurposed stamp - my yogurt container.

Call the Hoarders show now & stop me from SAVING EVERYTHING.

I also bought a few Shiva paint sticks & embossing plates from my vending neighbor at the show. I've been wanting to play with them for a while. Very cool  - but very messy - need to do more experimenting.

Happy Birthmonth

Yes MONTH - one day is just not enough.

 And what better way to celebrate than to treat myself to a big juicy order of dyes from Dharma. Lots of yummy colors - can't wait to dive in.

I ordered this on Monday & it arrived yesterday. 2 days from California to New Hampshire !!! I love these guys, they are so great to do business with. They are very accomodating & they have the best info on techniques & product use - good prices too. They have the best catalog - it's like a tutorial for all kinds of fun fiberart and surface design stuff. Check them out at  www.dharmatrading.com - very cool website.

I have some quilts waiting to be machine quilted then I can get into the dye studio 

(A.K.A. the basement) and play a little.

Enjoy your day - finally feeling a bit like spring - heading into the 50's today, oh to be warm again.

Renewal -Yup I'm Back

Spring is here (well almost) - time for some fresh new fabrics. I love getting back in my dye studio again. I'm going to be vending at the Northern Lights Quilt Show in April  www.nlqg.org so I've been adding to my already huge stash. Today is a perfect day to whip up a batch of  bright yummy colors. Maybe I'll do some snow dyeing too before it's all melted.   

League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair

This is the quilt that I collaborated on with my friend Linda Dunning. It looks so good in this dining room setting, surrounded by beautifully hand crafted furniture & accessories

OCEAN

30”x90” Hand dyed cottons-hand painted silks –fused,machine pieced,machine quilted

If anyone is in New Hampshire this weekend you really should go to the Fair - Aug 1-9- This is one of the oldest crafts fairs in the country ( 76 years!!!). -350+ juried craftspeople –really extraordinary exhibits.

It’s located at Mt Sunapee in Newbury, NH. Music,workshops,demos,food,scenic chairlift rides & of course you can see our quilt in all it’s glory in the Living With Crafts exhibit in the Lodge. www.nhcrafts.org