Dreamy day

Do you have those days that looked primed for productivity, that disappear in a swoon of experiments and ideas?

After three days of energy - so welcome after as many weeks stuck on the couch, I thought more intense sewing was ahead.

 But today felt like drifting downstream, paddle on lap. The notion of making my own images on fabric keeps turning over in my hands and head. Today's attempts varied from sentimental to autumnal.

Playing with stamps and brush on muslin

These were printed after a slow walk around the block in the mist with the dog.

Working back into long-ago dyed fabric, with acrylic paints

 I'll let them dry and see how I feel about them tomorrow.

Rocking the Fall

 

This October, I lead 4-week class in monoprinting at the Arlington Center for the Arts.

Gelatin plates, Gelli plates, and more. As I prepare, my studio fills with prints. 

 

Grids, stencils, leaves, paint, everywhere.

 Alexandra Sheldon's excellent collage classes taught me that, when students start with a good palette, the likelihood of success skyrockets. Good color sings. So I will provide coordinated colors to get us started, and provide pointers about  brands and buying.

 Also, a workshop this summer at the incredible Zia May Print Studio

taught me the value of that phrase "Supplies Included."

Don't know about you, but I was nervous enough just showing up. Everyone was helped by the right supplies waiting, and we learned more because we used the same tools. So I'll provide small Gelli plates, paints, stencils,  and tools. Students can get right to work.

Want to play with paint, line, shape? Curious about Gelli plates but don't know whether to buy one? Join me October 1, in  paint clothes and comfy shoes. We'll rock the fall with stencils, color and paint. Four fabulous weeks.

In the Studio

layered prints on reclaimed cotton

One whole day to work. A gift. The studio is hip deep in fabric and paint.

There's a chair there somewhere

 I am making scarves for the holidays. Each is unique intersection of time and opportunity. The fabrics range over a collection of years: silk charmeuse dyed by a local artist, kimono found at an estate sale, high-end jacquards from designer close-outs, plus vintage linens I've over-dyed.

In progress

Because apparently I cannot work in a linear fashion, I also find myself printing. 

 

Plus I'm hemming up some scarves from a black sheer I bought a year ago from a local designer. I hope to print these this weekend on the big print table in Lowell.

Experiments

And to fill in the cracks? Shibori-dyed vintage napkins. After cleaning out the basement this fall, the 1920s workbench converted nicely to a dye station. I'm on my second batch of shibori-style dying. This means lots of stairs. The dye station is in the basement (two flights down);  the tub (washing out) is two flights up. The laundry (final wash), is in the basement. The ironing is back up on the third floor. I suppose I could move that, but I do try to keep at least the kitchen and living room work-zone free. Piles for classes, yes. Ironing board, no.

Here's the next two batches of napkins, ironed:

Electric Blue and Blue Violet on Rayon/cotton blend

Same colors on 20" square linen/cotton blend

All for Open Studios in Lowell come December.

FreeForm Fabric Collage

 Freeform Fabric Collage at Arlington Center for the Arts:  Every time I teach this class it is a surprise, full of new talent and ideas.

exploring color

This year is no exception. The students are all experienced. They are working with paper as well as fabric. They want to experiment with form as well as design.

preparing fabric

The first week, students took an existing image and explored in line, value and color:

 

 Last week we worked on the surface, creating stamps and then printing and stenciling. 

abstract and image

Even in two session, people's styles emerge. Look at these. Same artist, two assignments:

      

This student is working with leaf designs. I love her layered pieces from last week. The left is from stamps, the right from stencils, but they work harmoniously together.

We alter surface once more this week, using gelatin plates. Then we start to shape andcollage, with glue, fusibles, and stitch. Cards, boxes, books, flags, all waiting to be born.

 

Thermofax Workshop

 Six students and I gathered at Lowell Fiber Studio this past Sunday to print with Thermofax screens. The class included artists Linda Germain and Deb Dugan, 
along with a Bard student and fiber artists from Lowell, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Once you start, the Thermofax printing moves fast. 

You need to keep moving and respond to what happens on the cloth.

These students embraced the challenge. 

 Everyone produced beautiful samples.

You could see ideas generating more ideas.

No one wanted to stop, not even for lunch.

All my life I've heard teachers say how much their students teach them.

It's true. 

This Sunday was another amazing group of talented people. 

I'm so glad they took the leap and came to work with me.

Stitching this now

Grey day. Soup on the stove. Gospel music on the radio.

 Almost finished with the stitching.

The piece has no right-side up. 

Troubling or intriguing?

Or is this really two pieces conjoined?

Still pondering that question.

Working on this now

 Take a garbage bag of canvas scraps. Add one stencil, plus sponge and acrylics. 

Printing this now

 Text. Tone on tone. Time.

 Marks. Memory.

 The deliberate, then the random. Intent versus chance.

 

 Impermanence, awareness. Loss. Resolve.