Friday, November 30, 2012

Getting ready for Artfete


I had a fun visit in the studio with Maria yesterday. Although, the camera was handy, we got so involved that I forgot to take photos!

To thank me Maria brought lunch, including her famous Swedish ginger snaps! O.M.G....yum!

Today, I'm taking the day off from working at Star's Beads and heading down to Alexandria, Virginia for Artfete (formerly ArtFest). This is a wonderful annual event given by The Art League School to celebrate the work of teachers and features teacher and student work. There is the annual Ceramics Sale (a personal favorite!), Jewelry Sale and for the first time this year, a fiber fashion show. Of course there is lots of yummy food and live music. This is also an opportunity for teachers to mingle with prospective students, show samples of class work and hopefully drum up enrollment.


Every year, I go down early. I shop for gifts at the Ceramics Sale and spend the afternoon helping with set up. I'm bringing lots of class samples hoping to entice people to take some of my classes.


I'm bringing my camera and this time hope to remember to use it!!!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Before and After


My friend, Maria, is coming over for a play date in the studio.


Hmmm....table not quite ready...


Getting distracted by beach pebbles from Baker Beach in San Francisco. I liked arranging them on a piece of wipe up cloth.


Finally, more presentable and ready for tomorrow!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Fabrics and a Friendly Rendezvous?


 Here are a few more fabrics that I created for Julie B Booth Surface Design News Issue 7. There was so much going on in this issue that I couldn't include all the fabrics.




Jennifer Q is in the vicinity visiting family this week. We are making an attempt to rendezvous this afternoon. I am hoping to finally get the chance to meet her daughters. It will be so great to see her in person (vs. Skype). Keeping my fingers crossed.

Have a little something for her too!


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!


Happy Thanksgiving to you all. I am off for our annual tradition before getting together with family.

Every year we head out to Great Falls on the Potomac River. It is mesmerizing to watch the water spilling over the rocks and the kayakers gliding through the white water with skill and precision.

Just wanted to share one of the fabrics I made for Issue #7 of Julie B Booth Surface Design News. I'm really excited about this issue...lots of stuff happening!

Have a yummy feast!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Busy in the Studio and Winner Chosen


 It's been a busy weekend in the studio. I've been working on a number of projects.


First, I wanted to create some fabric sets for Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery. The jury for the Holiday Show is tomorrow. I printed up some smaller pieces of colorful fabric. I decided to call each set a Deconstructed 9-Patch. There's enough fabric for a miniature 9-patch quilt including the binding. They were fun to make but if I decide to enter them on a continuing basis, I will have to come up with a more efficient way to make them.


I also spent a great deal of time working on the project for the next issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News. The next issue (#7) comes out on Saturday, November 24. It's a multiple step project and the fabrics are now covered with a flour paste resist and need to dry completely before the next step. I'm looking forward to seeing how the fabrics turn out and part of the project is using the fabrics to wrap things up. If you would like to subscribe, it's very easy. Just go to the Newsletter Sign Up in the right hand column, input your email address and press Subscribe.

Oh yes...I haven't forgotten...the names went into the hat and my husband pulled out the piece of paper...that said Ersi. Congratulations! You are the winner of the Violet Challenge Fabric.


Now it's back to work!


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Searching for Roy G Biv Challenge: VIOLET

Orchids at the Ferry Building's Farmer's Market, San Francisco

Plums at the Ferry Building's Farmer's Market, San Francisco
Detail of Vera Wang gown, Savannah


Violet berries, Vienna, Virginia


Violet house, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Hope you'll join in the fun by posting up to five VIOLET photos on your blog, website or Flickr page and leave a comment here. I will continue to update this post throughout the day with a link to your photos. If you do not have a blog, website or Flickr page and still wish to play along, I will be happy to post your photos. Leave a comment with your email address and I will be in touch.


And, once again, here is this month's Challenge Fabric.


A labor of love, if I say so myself!

The Challenge will continue until midnight, Saturday, November 17 Eastern Time USA. Drawing for the  VIOLET Challenge Fabric will be on Sunday, November 18. Remember to be eligible to win the Challenge fabric you must play along.

Also be sure to visit Jennifer's blog for more VIOLET inspired by her twin daughters.

There's something about those gorgeous VIOLET skies in Greece and Ersi has captured them exquisitely! But I have to say that the VIOLET fog in Spain just blew me away...

Fiona at Paper Ponderings speaks of taking in the little moments in life and provides us with a burst of VIOLET from her garden.

Lisa at Arzigogolare takes us on a VIOLET tour of the town of Montepulciano in Italy. She not only found our Challenge color in the town, but in the lovely countryside nearby.

Here are some VIOLET shots from Joan...

Tudor Place, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Tudor Place, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Tudor Place, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Tudor Place, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

St. Michael's, Maryland

Produce from Joan's CSA


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Visiting Violet


After enjoying a brief visit with my brother Jeff and his girlfriend Robbin as they passed through on their road trip back to Maine, it was back to the studio to visit with violet.

I spent the better part of this afternoon working on the challenge fabric for this Thursday's Searching for Roy G Biv Challenge.

After ironing on spiral shaped freezer paper masks and applying paint with a roller (see Voluptuous Violet post), I tore and taped down some freezer paper strips. I slipped a hot glue block under the fabric and rolled golden yellow opaque fabric paint over it for a bit of texture. Then I mixed a couple of opaque purple/violets to apply with my foam dauber.





After that, I brushed on some diluted transparent violet fabric paint.


When all was dry, I peeled off the masks and went back in to add hand painted details.


Here is the final piece...ready for Thursday...how about you?


Friday, November 9, 2012

Memories of Florence


 A few days ago, I received a beautiful gift from an artist and writer I met through this blog...Lisa McGarry. I usually refer to her as Lisa at arzigogolare. She has been perhaps the most dedicated player of the Searching for Roy G Biv Challenge. Every month she has written the most thoughtful, descriptive posts about each color and has provided the most luscious photos from Italy to illustrate them. In her most recent post about Indigo she created an awe-inspiring piece of artwork full of history and mystery.

So you can imagine how delighted I was to receive a copy of her book, The Piazzas of Florence!

The timing couldn't have been better. It arrived the day before my birthday. It's been a crazy week for me, but I just had to peek at those first few pages...and I was instantly drawn in...









It's been more than thirty years since my friend Jean Cook and I hauled backpacks on our shoulders and with Eurorail passes hidden in our money belts, made our way across Italy and France. I have particularly fond memories of Florence...a city that seemed to glow a soft terracotta orange. I remember staring in amazement at the shear size and beauty of Michelangelo's David.

I am looking forward to being whisked away on an historic and artistic adventure. Thank you, Lisa for your generosity!

A beautiful map of the Piazzas created by Lisa. She has maps throughout the book.



Thursday, November 8, 2012

Roy Reminder: Voluptuous Violet

Roy G Biv at the Farmer's Market in San Francisco

 Just liked the sound of that...Voluptuous Violet. Yup it's that time of the month again...the one week reminder for the Roy G Biv challenge. If you are new to the game, click here for the details.

It's hard to believe we are nearing the end of the rainbow. Jennifer and I do have plans to extend the Challenge by one more month for Black and White.

I've been working on the Violet Challenge Fabric. If you play along with us next Thursday, November 15 by posting your violet photos and leaving a comment, this fabric may belong to you.


This one is going to have a few different layers.


Looking forward to seeing lots of Voluptuousness!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Art Installations Brought to You by Nature


 I'm just back from a long weekend in Virginia Beach visiting my friend Laura. We took a 6.5 mile walk on Saturday through the forest and finally to the ocean beach.

The wind and rain from Hurricane Sandy created some interesting art installations.



 







 Andy Goldsworthy would be proud.