Architectural Visit!

When I was in Chicago for Quilt Festival I was able to take a day and go into the city. My daughter and I took a two hour tour entitled "Architecture and Commerce" that was fascinating! Our guide took us through stores, hotels and into what was once the City Library to see interesting details in structures and facaeds. I'd highly recommend a guided tour to see spots that we wouldn't normally find on our own.

Here's some pictures of the ceiling of Macy's Department store, a fence around a city garden (perfect for my Stained Glass designs) and an arch in the Chicago Cultural Centre. I was so excited by seeing all these wonderful design concepts! I'll be busy for ages!

Spring Flowers

One of my favourite flowers for the spring are the Primroses. I know they're rather ordinary and common and have been bred into a wide range of colours but I just can't help smiling when I see them! They're such cheery little bits of colour and we need it here in Victoria! Can you believe we actually had snow last weekend? I was bragging to friends in Ottawa about having to cut the lawns already and we had snow....I hang my head.....

Chicago Quilt Festival

Last week I spent four days teaching at the International Quilt Festival. One of the classes was "Dye, Print, Paint Day" with presentations by five teachers. Students went around to each teacher for demos and questions on a variety of topics all about surface design. My topic was Clamp Dyeing for Special Effects and you can see the the variety of fabrics behind me in this shot.

I also taught my Shattered Garden class and here are some pictures of works in progress from the different students.....lots of fun and exciting results.

At the Seaside

A few days ago I taught a class for the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria where we painted sea and beach-scapes in the morning and then stitched and embellished with threads, beads and interesting bits in the afternoon.

Some students brought pictures for inspiration and others brought twigs (for logs on the beach) and shells and such. We all had fun and learned about some of the possible interpretations of "At The Seaside".

The Quilt Show

We went to LaVeta this week to tape an episode of The Quilt show with Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson! It was so exciting and fun, fun, fun! All the staff were so nice and made it all very easy for us! We chatted, demo-ed, chatted some more and met so many very nice quilters!

Thanks to everyone! The episode will proably air sometime between late August and December.

I'll keep you posted!

Metal and Decay

I was in Vacnouver over the holiday weekend and saw some great old buildings in a state of disintegration by weather and time. They were once part of a large shipbuilding industry and now are moving back to their orgins...the earth.

If you live in North Vancouver, they're right by Lonsdale Quay. I took a couple of dozen pictures so if you'd like to see more let me know.

I think they'd make great quilts as printing on fabric or silkscreens...wow, I'm excited now!

Stamping on Fabric and Paper

I spent a weekend working at making more stamps. I bought cheap erasers at the $ Store and carved into them with my lino cutter. I love that lino cutter and all its little blades, it does so many cool things.

One thing I did that turned out ver well is to carve three stamps while they're all lined up. Now I can use them singly, doubly or all three together. I've got a array of different designs from just one group of erasers!

Here's some pictures of stamping in my sketch book. I also filled in some of the lines with coloured pencils.

Clamp Dyeing

I've been working on a presentation for Quilt Festival in Chicago in April, so have been dipping into the dye pots with some wild bits of apparatus-clamps, wooden and plastic shapes, lids and metal washers. I've been taking some pictures as I go along to show my progress and illustrate some of the technique.

You can create some wonderful effects with simple stuff and a regular fibre reactive dye bath. Remember to work from light to dark in the baths, think about your basic colour theory (yellow and red = orange) and be prepared to get excited!

Here's a couple of pictures to see how its done!