Monoprints - 1st pass and then the "ghost" image

The monoprint class Debbie Livingston taught this week at the Book Arts Roundtable was fun.  You lay down oil based ink onto a piece of plexiglass -  on this sample (left) I "rolled" down a couple of colors (the background stripe).  Then I laid down thin pieces of "texture" leaves, lace, screen, sequin waste, etc. and rolled down some more ink.  You then sandwich this plate onto the bed of an etching press and cover with damped printmaker's paper, newsprint, a wool blanket and press it.  There is usually enough ink on the plate to get a second ghost print (Right)- usually lighter.  Before I took the second pass I picked up the "texture" that had been inked and flipped them over, creating a different look. The results were always fun, informative, and a surprise!

Horsemen's Gate - quilt and photo collage

The quilt on the left was executed in cloth using the photo collage on the right.  Judy Blaydon's assignment was to make a collage out of our own photographs and then to interpret the design into fabric.  This assignment forced me to be much looser and more painterly than my normal - "oh too tight" - work.  I was thrilled that I was able to use a lot of my own surface design/dyed cloth.  Can you find the "horse"?  He's there.   

3 Hudson Valley Mansions

Left: Clermont - built by Livingston

Mid:  Wilderstein's stable by Vaux

Right: Olana - built by Frederick Church 

Just a glimpse of some of the mansions I saw on my Hudson Valley Adventure.  Some are historic sites which means money while the Wilderstein stable is not opera ted by the state or government, so the volunteers  keep the main house in good condition, but this stable looks like its on its way to final decay.  Too bad.  

Armory Square

The cloth on the left is a "deconstructed" print from the photo on the right that I took in Syracuse a few years ago.  I first converted the photo into a black and white image which I then burned onto a thermofax screen.  Using thickened dye I laid down the image on a blank silk screen and let it dry.  

The print was made by pushing release paste through the dried screen which slowly softened the thickened dyes edges and transferred the image onto the cloth. I love the "break-up" of the image on the photo due to the bricks.  Then of course when I printed it - the image got even more broken down from the deconstruction process. Let's face it: I love the Wabi Sabi, the beauty of decay, more than perfection!     

Starving for Color

 I have had my first call from a client - let's plant shrubs!  So today I am off to the nurseries searching for whatever elusive shrub they want.  But I can't wait, for soon the show will begin!  I plant massive amounts of spring bulbs in the fall, so all my clients get excited about the new garden season. Let the show begin!  

FAB Collage: Samurai, Crossroads, Moonbeams

Left:  Samurai  (sold)
Mid: Crossroads (sold)
Right:  Moonbeams

I love combining paper collage with fabric.  The paper collage gives me imagery to work with that I just can't get with fabric.  I find imagery I like and make a paper collage which I then print on white cloth.  Then I can use that as the "jump off" for the FABric collage expanding the idea with different fabrics, stitches, and beads.  The trick is to stop before I go too far!

Circadian Fuge & Diatom Episode Quilts

The world is waking up after a long and cold winter.  I looked out the window yesterday and saw all kinds of bugs flying around.  Darn, they are also flying inside!  I bring a lot of houseplants in for the winter, and I think they must bring in the bugs!  I can't wait for it to warm up enough to send everything outside again. But meanwhile, I have brought out more of my quilts - I guess being a professional gardener endears me to the natural world.