Latest News, Quilt Canada Reminder, and Art Quilt Series, Session 3

Here's a reminder that registration for Quilt Canada 2017 is taking place and is now open to non-members. Register early to avoid disappointment (classes get cancelled due to low registration when people wait until the last minute, or the class might also be full if you wait). Info here. I'm one of 11 teachers that will be offering a wide variety of workshops during the conference. Of course there is also the National Juried Show, featuring the best Canadian quilts, and a tempting merchant mall. 

June 14-17 at the International Centre, Toronto.

I've just finished a four-week on-line class covering the basics of PhotoShop Elements with the Pixeladies. I highly recommend it, and am beginning the second level later this month. Here are a couple of cool things I did in class.

I took this photo of bottles in Spain a couple of years ago.

I did a few manipulations to turn them into black and white, remove the third bottle in the background, and then simplified the values to create an abstract black and white composition.

Our final assignment was to do several manipulations to a photo. I had this nice photo of reflections that I took in Venice (I think Burano), but it always bugged me that buildings seemed to be leaning and the reflections were angled.

I straightened the photo, cropped it, pumped up the saturation on the reds and yellows, and then added a copyright watermark.

While home this winter, I am still enjoying making good food! That includes bread. This is one I made in the past week. I just signed up for a bread making class on Craftsy (Craftsy.com), so stay tuned!

I am making my own granola and yogurt now. I know what ingredients are in it, it is far less sweet than store bought granola, and I sure can find the nuts in mine!

My yogurt maker makes both Greek and regular yogurt. It came from Amazon.ca and cost about $65. Love it and the yogurt it makes.

Here is the little seat of the pants composition I started as a demo in my Art Quilt class. I finished it this past week. Once I got the basic shapes down I sort of started to take liberties with the design. It may become a small study for a larger piece.

Yesterday I taught Session 4 of my Art Quilt Series. The topic was creating a more planned design by creating your own pattern. I encourage students to work small so they wont treat the work as so precious and will be willing to take risks.

Is this not a cool design by Lynn? The exercise was to use at least 5 values of one colour, with the possibility of adding in a second colour. Orange, being the complement of blue, makes this design sing.

Virginia was well on her way with another landscape. See how a variety of values can really make your work come alive!

Another landscape, this one by Heather, almost finished.

Marion was working on a butterfly design in values of blue.

Joan was working on a whimsical landscape in aquas and teals.

A few students brought back finished pieces from the last class.

Virginia finished her landscape design. A little bit of a diagonal design, but also a little bit of L-shape.

Cindy finished the landscape she began in the previous class.

and created a second piece inspired by that class. Both of these pieces were completely finished!

Tonight I am going to begin ironing the many meters of fabric I have started dyeing for my spring and summer teaching. Another 100 meters of white cotton is on order. We have packed all the hosta patterns for spring and summer teaching (my husband did the folding, and I did the assembling and packaging). We will undertake the floral patterns later this month. Everything is being planned in advance and spaced out better than last year. I am optimistic the year will be more manageable.