New Work: Links (part 2)

So far I photoshopped - scribbled - screen printed. Time for stitch.

Next I created a shibori stitched circle (running stitches around, and around, and around, and around.... ), gathered them up tightly and painted on some foil adhesive. I didn't wait long to snip the threads and pull it out as I didn't want the glue to dry over the threads. I was very careful not to mess up the glue as I pulled out the threads then let it dry. 

I could have applied the gold foil next but chose to layer and quilt the piece next. I was hoping the foil would cover some of the stitching. I simply followed the designs in the printed cloth, loving every inch of the wide open space on my Handi-Quilter 16 as I free-motion quilted. I thought for a bit about continuing the circular quilting onto the white cloth but chose instead to balance the circles with some simple vertical lines.  Too much of a good circular thing is...  too much.

The foil went on next - just the gold to start with. Between each step the work goes up on the wall so I can step back and get a longer view - see how things are going. At this point I saw I needed something to balance the larger gold circle but didn't know what and was too far along to do anything drastic without testing first.

Easy solution. Take a picture, print out a few copies, doodle until something looks right. Three more circles on the lower left were my solution this time.

A few pins to test out thread weight then I decided that I needed red in the shibori circle - then more red and gold in the lower circles. And then it was really, really late and I needed to go to bed. 

So - I think first of all I need to take lessons in how to photograph white work. I have a really wonderful and fancy new SLR camera that I have no idea how to use. I'm working on it. Slowly.

I'd love to hear your comments and critiques.

Just Foiling Around

Next month I'll be teaching one of my favorite classes at the American Quilt Festival in Paducah, Kentucky. This is one of the BIG shows in the quilt world and it will be my first time there. I'm excited! I've heard so much about Paducah's Artist Relocation Program, it sounds like a dream come true to me. Caryl Bryer Fallert has her studio there now and I've always wanted to be Caryl Bryer Fallert when I grow up.

But I digress. The class I wanted to tell you about is called "Just Foiling Around: Foil, Glitter, and Painted Wonder-Under." Yup. You heard right - painted Wonder-Under. It's fusible paint - you can tear it, cut it, play with it, and I'm completely addicted to using it in my work. It gives a lovely and mysterious texture to the surface of your work and is a very versatile.

I'm also addicted to the shine and whimsy and wonder of foil. It can be very subtle or flashy, smooth or textured, and yes, it comes in many colors other than gold - I just have a thing for gold.

There is still space available in the class. #6504 on Wednesday Evening the 21st of April from 5:30 - 8:30pm. Late in the evening I know - but I'm hoping to have enough room in my suitcase for .... chocolate! If that isn't worth coming for I don't know what is!? Hope to see you there.