18 May 2018

MidSummer Maine Workshop


You have just a bit over a month to sign up for the MidSummer Maine Workshop. This is going to be one of the most exciting workshops we have ever given. We are starting by making your choice of three types of sketchbooks to hold samples and notes from the workshop. Design will be part of creating two and three dimensional work as well as using various mark making elements on paper to use as our "palette" for collage. Here are samples of design elements.



We will be creating papers to weave


Finished piece 12 X 12


Making stamps




Batik on paper


Monoprinting on paper as well as fabric


Tyvec elements


Designing abstract pieces


Paint


Gelli prints for backgrounds


and collage elements


Fabric beads


Gelli prints for collage


Mark as stitch


White on black


Calligraphy as graphic


Painted negative space



Piercing


layering


Front of a finished book



and many more techniques.

I believe this workshop will be eye opening and "artistic" life changing.

June 22-24

July 20-22

$150. plus $35 materials 

Use the "Contact Form" below to sign up or for more information.

15 May 2018

At it again with inktense blocks




I decided to order a set of 24 Inktense blocks and a new paint tin and pans.


A few of these are similar to the 12 set but on the whole are much more subdued in hue. 


I have them all snapped and in their half pans.

  
and I've done a color grid


The top left most is white. I'll tell you one thing; once these dry there is NO re-wetting of the colors. They are permanent. Choose your application wisely.

11 May 2018

A Master Craftsman

A few years ago on DMTV, I watched a video about Ernest Wright and son. He hand makes scissors in Sheffield , England. He is a blurb about Mr. Wright and his son:


Ernest Wright and Son Limited is a family company hand-making finest scissors and shears in Sheffield, England since 1902. Our highest quality, life-time guarantee scissors and shears are still Hand Made in Sheffield using traditional skills passed down from generation to generation.
We often make items to order; but we assure you your hand-made scissors will be "well worth the wait". Thank you.
Click here to watch "Disappearing Art" by Susannah Reid; a BBC interview about our work. (August 2014)
You can browse or Buy Our Products on-line internationally.
Ernest Wright and Son Limited proudly making the finest Quality Hand-made Scissors in Sheffield since 1902.

After watching the video "Disappearing Art", I ordered a pair of the huge tailor scissors. I had to wait about four months because of the business generated by the video. That was a few years ago. Just recently I ordered a pair of the 8" sewing scissors in lime green. They came comparatively quickly, about a month. They are amazing and no more expensive than any fine pair of scissors and Sheffield steel is the finest in the world. I love them.




Thanks for visiting,
Beth

08 May 2018

An Invitation


My friend Rita who gave me all those great prezzies on yesterday's blog post has invited everyone to come and visit her on her blog, Sketchbook Wanderings.

I have known Rita many years and she is as sunny as the people she sketches. I always get a smile and a few OOOOOs and AAAAHs when I read her posts. She lives near me and her work reflects the lifestyle and beauty of coastal Maine! Please enjoy her work and writings.

Turquoise Mine



I started out making this quilt in a log cabin pattern because it is so fast and easy using the QAYG method (see tutorial above under header). I wanted this to be a "South Western" themed quilt. When I think of the southwest, I think of turquoise so I wanted to incorporate flashes of turquoise into the  piece. I decided centers (chimneys) would do nicely. When I looked at the finished piece I viewed each block and a mine shaft with that flash of turquoise at the end of the shaft. Another challenge came when I thought of the border. I loved the stripes in the inspirational photo but I was NOT looking forward to sewing all those strips together. I found two fabrics that might work. Problem: Do I have enough to make a border for the entire piece.



First I sewed the four "rows" of blocks together using pieces of left over strips sewed end to end then I quilted each join. I quilted from the back so I had to put the last bit of rust thread on a bobbin because that would show. The top thread now showing on the underside of the quilt was a different color but you can see how seamlessly (see what I did there?) the quilting pattern blends in the the previously quilted "strips"? This is another reason I love this filler pattern.


Four strips all joined and ready for the border fabric. Which to choose?


I had less of the thin stripe and would be left with a tiny border which would look skimpy in proportion to the main body of the quilt. On the other hand I just LOVED the batik amoebas on the black spotted background AND I had an entire yard. YEAH!


I took a photo of the mitering of the corners but after downloading it, it was blurry. Sorry. Instead of sewing seams, I pinned both border fabric and backing fabric and top stitched AFTER inserting the batting into the border "sandwich". You can really see it in the photo below.


Here is the quilt all sewn without a binding. 


Only black would do.


Look how lovely the black binding looks and the mitered corners came out perfectly.


Border quilted


Fini


I really think this is the best of the three. It is being delivered to puppyloveme.org today!!

These are the previous two.


Psychedelic Magpie Sunrise


Rail Fence

 None have gone up for sale yet. If you are in the area, please come:


SUMMER CELEBRATION FUNDRAISER

June 30, 2018 @ 8:00-2:00 | Orr’s Island Schoolhouse, Route 24, Orr’s Island. Maine
Yard Sale. Raffle, Silent Auction, Crafts, Puppy Love “Bow-Tique” and more. Lunch items available for sale
All proceeds go directly to saving lives

For More
 information use my contact form below. I'll be there.

Thanks for visiting,

Beth


04 May 2018

While assembling the QAYG

I have an artist friend who does amazing sketches and watercolors. She hates clutter and I am the happy recipient of her cast offs. She brought a new batch of goodies yesterday.



Above are from left to right: a permanent ink pen, a Windsor Newton watercolot marker, five "Marabu" watersoluble crayons, a bottle of permanent document ink for a fountain pen, some loose half pans of Windsor Newton watercolors and a stick of Windsor Newton watersoluble crayon.


This is the Windsor Newton solid watercolor stick. The color is very timid.


This is the Windsor Newton watercolor marker. The color is very timid as well. I actually can't think of a reason I would use this but it was fun to play. My results are below.


These are Marabu watersoluable crayons from Germany: thick, lush color, smooth application, lovely wetting.


The upper two images are the Windsor Newton solid block color and the two below are the W.N. watercolor marker. Both very timid pale and not useful.


These are the Marabu watersoluble crayons and they are very nice. The metallic gold crayon stayed metallic even when thinned with water. I haven't tried the document ink yet but it looks lovely. Soon!!!!

Thank you Rita.

Thanks for visiting,
Beth

01 May 2018

Third quilt for puppyloveme.org

I have been working on this quilt for a few weeks. I was thinking I would have it banged out in a few days. I guess technically it has been just a few days just not consecutive days. I may have mentioned a long time friend "went out" of quilt making and offered me some of her fabric. Her stipulation was that I use it and not just add it to my stash. I used some of it to make Psychedelic Magpie Sunrise. I was also considering some of these southwest colored fabric for Magpie but decided instead to do an entire southwest themed quilt. I decided to do another QAYG (Quilt As You Go) lap quilt in browns, rusts and oranges with a flash of turquoise. How to get the flash of turquoise in the quilt was a puzzle until I decided to do a log cabin with the turquoise in the center (chimney) and call it "Turquoise Mine".

Remember that really bright turquoise from Magpie? It turned out to be too in your face especially working with batiks. Fortunately I found a piece of brown and turquoise fabric and I fussy cut the brightest bit of 2X2 squares which were still very muted.

This was my inspiratinal photo



My pile of 2" wide strips and 16" squares of quilt batting



Here I am with two piles of fabric strips: one oranges and one browns on the bed behind my sewing machine. For complete step-by-step directions for making a QAYG quilt, see the tutorial at the top of this page.



The turquoise center



All the "left overs" are in a basket from my ironing table racks.



Here are the twelve 14.5" squares.



Here I have added the "join" strip with batting on the back.



I made a sandwich of the "top" which already had the batting attached with a 16" X 54" long piece of white fabric for backing.



Pinning the layers getting ready to quilt (below).



Quilting started. I used my favorite pattern of leaves and vines. They go well with both a "log cabin" as well as a "turquoise mine"



One strip quilted.



Front and back



 close-up


Today I am working on joining the three strips and making a border. After that, all that is left is binding.

Thanks for visiting,
Beth