Photo - Lavender Farm

Invitation

We went to a Lavender Fest in NY State a couple of weekends ago. Can't you just smell the fragrance and hear the bees buzz!

Porthole - Papillon

Porthole - Papillon

I did love searching my special fabrics and matching them up with other fabrics that made sense to  me. The glowy clamped piece suggested a butterfly to me and the side pieces made me think of the fluttering motion of their wings. I do love the way the variegated threads add to the tension in this piece.    

Porthole - Cross Cut

Cross Cut - Porthole

I'm not really comfortable with the color red. I wear it, but designing with it is tough, so many reds to choose from and it is so terribly dominant! So I challenged myself to work with it. I  am guessing that the fact that both of the main fabrics in this piece had a blueish green helped me use it - they almost screamed that they needed to be with each other.  

Photo - Stone Quarry

Framed Feathers

Iron Calligraphy

One of my favorite places on this earth is Stone Quarry in Cazenovia, NY.  I try to visit every year.  Part of the draw to me is the discovery of the sculpture that you happen upon while you walk around the 200 acres. I never know what is just around the corner.  Just like life!

Porthole - Summer Moon

Summer Moon (sold)

I loved this fabric - the dark mysterious green against the yellow - the edge between the colors is mighty fine!  All I had to add was add the "moon" fabric. This moon fabric started out as a garish yellow "innovative marble" that I made in an Elin Noble class.  But I find the marble fabric really hard to use as-is.  I clamped the fabric with circles and dipped it in dye a 2nd time - and the magic happened.  NOW I know what to do with all my marbled fabric!

Another friend bought this while I was at the artist retreat.  I love it when friends "get" my work.  Alas, I didn't get great shots before they went to their new homes.  But I do love that the pieces got bought by friends - they will be loved and that makes it all so much better!

Porthole - Fence

Fence - (sold)

Yes indeed, there is nothing so satisfying as selling a piece - especially to a good friend that I only see occasionally - validation galore!  She picked one of my favorites too!  

I have just returned from an artist retreat that I have been going to for over 25 years.  It is a gift I give to myself every year.  I basically unplug my phone and my computer and just immerse myself with art and design.  I studied under Cynthia Corbin for the first week and Rosalie Dace the 2nd week. I highly recommend both of them.  They are great teachers and very fun to hang out with.  I soaked up everything they were willing to teach me, plus I learn so much from the other students in the class. If you ever get a chance to go to a retreat I highly recommend it - I go to Quilting by the Lake  in Syracuse and I have learned so much there. 

I concentrated on making small works from my own hand-dyed fabrics. I found that the cloth was so luscious and interesting that all I had to do was find 2 or 3 pieces that created some kind of magic together and sew one or two seams.  

I had a blast!  

FAB Collage - Rustling

Rustling

I love to take photos of "junk".  Looking through a camera's viewfinder I somehow am able to "see" what I wouldn't even look at if I was just passing by.  The "rusty man" was found in a pile of junk and who knows what the turquoise wheel was originally.