Monday, August 30, 2010

Prints




These were two pieces of greige cloth I dyed green (ages ago.) I wasn't happy with the color so I used the peices as practice sheets as I played around one day with leaf prints.
The leaves are Tansy, Yarrow, Queen Anne's Lace, and a few other bits from around the garden- all printed with textile paints.
I wasn't really happy with that result, so I added a faint monoprint over each using MX dyes with diamond shape bubble wrap on a piece of plexiglass. Better, but they still kicked around in the studio. Recently I was printing blocks for a quilt with a set of silk screens I made up. I decided to add just two prints, each in chocolate brown (MX dye.)
These two pieces seem to be complete at last...

Friday, August 27, 2010

Roses in Bloom

When I need something to cheer me up, I usually need to look no farther than my own backyard.
When I visited the "David Austin Roses" booth at the Philadelphia Flower Show this spring I treated myself to two new roses.
This first soft pink beauty is an English Rose called "Eglantyne." It is named after Eglantyne Jebb, the woman who founded the 'Save The Children Fund.' The blooms are large and have a sweet Old Rose scent.
I almost didn't purchase the second rose here, "Carding Mill." In photos it looked quite orange but I was assured the blooms were apricot. 'Apricot' doesn't begin to describe the beautiful blend of pink, yellow and apricot that make up the color of this flower. And it has that wonderful Myhrr fragrance.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Back In The Studio

Here I am working at my big drafting table in my studio. I'm printing a series of bird blocks for Baby Quilts I'm making in chocolate brown and pink.
Next I'm going to print the same set in teal and chocolate.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Intentions

My brother passed away on August 5th.
There's a little post about him here:

I had planned a vacation at the beginning of August, intending to update my blog when I returned.
I've taken lots of photos and I've gotten back to work in the studio, so I'll be following through and keeping my 'on-line journal' here up dated more often.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Baltimore Herb Festival 2010

For us this is the official beginning of Summer. Leakin Park is filled with vendors offering plants for sale.
There are lots and lots of people and some great music.
Bluegrass Band Durham Station performed during the event.
And new to Leakin Park this year is the Hopi Labyrinth. This was added as part of three sacred sites that are now a permanent installation, along with the Sacred Magnolia Grove and the Navajo Ceremonial Circle.
I've been reading up on Walking The Labyrinth as a meditaion and this was my first opportunity to do just that. It was interesting to watch adults walking it, some carrying their newly purchased plants with them, then came the children- their only thought was to run through the maze as fast as they possibly could....

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Philadelphia Flower Show


On Friday we took the drive to the Philadelphia Convention Center to visit the Flower Show.
A very nice event (although it was very, very crowded) and just the thing to welcome Spring.

Details

Glazed turquoise Buddha head statue,  wooden reclining Buddha, brass statue in front of a luscious, inviting  tent....

Artist's View


A peacock made of flowers and feathers, the Artist's point of view... and one of the few things I will stand in line to see: the Bonsai Exhibit.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Main Displays

This little 'crooked shed' was really fun.
And the big lobster made from flowers with red pepper claws.



Lots of the exhibits featured recyled elements- chairs made from bicycles, beer keg table, a black hose trellis.....

Flower Show Favorite


My favorite of all the displays- the PNC Exhibit featuring recycled industrial bits and pieces, filled with plants and road signs, and joined with rusty metals.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Silk Screen Printing Class

Here's the results of the first Silk Screen Printing Class I've held in the new studio- Deconstructed Silk Screen Printing. I had three students who printed on cotton fabrics using two different method- using objects collaged on the screen to create a resist, and drawing and painting directly onto the screen to create a resist.
This was a fun class and one I will be offering again in the Spring.

Finished Fabric Panels

Here are a couple of shots of fabric panels after the excess dye has been rinsed out.