Eastern Ontario Visits

It's been a busy week here, but I've been playing with an idea based on a photo I took of ferns on Vancouver Island. I really love these Touch markers by ShinHan Art, especially the grey set that runs from palest grey up to black. Really fun for working with value.

On Monday evening I travelled to Cornwall, Ontario, to give a lecture/trunk show for the Cornwall Quilters Guild. Wow, I saw so many familiar faces  many women I've met again and again over the years at various events in Eastern Ontario. The President, Chris, on left, me in centre, and Program Coordinator, Sharon. on the right.

I did talk a little bit about the importance of value (lights, mediums and darks) in my lecture, and this concept was well demonstrated by the displayed blocks from the guild's block challenge that members had participated in.

On Tuesday afternoon I headed off to Napanee, Ontario, where I gave a lecture in the evening for the Heritage Quilters Guild of Napanee. The next morning we gathered for a workshop on Hosta Leaves. I was really glad I'd dyed some green fabric last week.

Janet and Carol were among the first finished.

This student decided to make a bright purple and green hosta leaf. Why not? It is all about the lines. I wrote down the student's name and now cannot find the slip of paper I wrote it on! 

 Pamela, the Workshop and Program Coordinator.

 Carol's finished leaves.

Here's the finished purple and green hosta leaves. Now the decision is about whether to add a purple stem or a green one?

That concludes my speaking and teaching commitments for 2015. I shall be having more time in the studio coming up.

Reflections on a Visit to the Upper Canada Quilt Guild

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting the Upper Canada Quilt Guild. This group meets in Morrisburg, Ontario, but our workshop took place in Williamsburg, Ontario. It was an hour's drive for me through beautiful Ottawa Valley farm country.

Our workshop took place in the community room at a Seniors Centre. I love venues like this because they are usually well-lit and accessible (read, no stairs). It would be my wish that all classes and guild activities could take place in venues like these. While my cortisone shot helped, I am still not where I'd like to be with my knee.

We had 15 eager students in my "Reflections" class. Some had never tried cutting fabric free-hand before.

A couple found it a bit stressful, but most took to it like a duck to water and happily cut and sewed all day long.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished pieces, especially Bev's, since she incorporated many of the hand-dyed fabrics she dyed in my "Dye Happy" class last year.

Etta's colour scheme is modern and fresh!

This one is soft and pretty. Please, if someone knows the name of this student, share it with me so I can give proper credit.

Bev brought her work with her to show me how she had used a multi-coloured parfait fabric she had dyed in my class last year. It works really well in this piece because of how it brings light through the centre. She used a Gloria Loughman technique for her background.

Debbie brought a finished work to show me that contains fabrics from my "Falling Leaves" line from Northcott. They were perfect for this pattern by Beth Cameron.

It is back to the studio and the dyepots for me this week. And I need to package more hosta patterns for my workshop in Napanee next week.

Have a great week!

Quilts = Art = Quilts 2015

I am pleased to share that this year I had a quilt accepted to the Quilts=Art=Quilts show at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, New York. The opening reception took place this past Friday, October 30. Yes, "Encore" is back from its travels in Europe, and will be hanging at this show until January 3, 2016.

More information about the show is available here. There is a video of the show at this link.

My teaching schedule is slowing down at this time of year, so I am going to have some time in the studio. So far this past week I've gone through a lot of images and pulled a lot of fabrics for possible use. It has been so long since I've made new work that I'm feeling rather paralyzed. Yes, I have lots of ideas, but all of them either feel overwhelming or too similar to what I've done before. Hopefully I will get warmed up soon :-) On the other hand, taking a rest isn't such a bad idea, is it?

On Saturday I'll be teaching a workshop for the Upper Canada Quilt Guild, who meet in Prescott, Ontario. Then stay tuned for new work over the next few weeks.