Oak Bay Studio Tour 2014

My neighbour is a retired potter turned full-time acrylic painter and his partner is also an artist.  Both she and I work in fabric.  This year the three of us were part of the Oak Bay Studio Tour, and I have to say, it was a very pleasant event.  Of course it didn't hurt that the weather was lovely and that, to even arrive at my neighbour's studio, everyone had to walk through his very lovely garden....which meant that everyone was transported by the positive magic of nature before they even entered the studio!!  It was a really wonderful couple of days and we are making plans to show again next year.

This picture shows the end of the studio where Myrna and I showed our work. My work is at the far end and includes all the pics shown except the one directly under the clock, which is one of my neighbour's acrylics.  On the left hand wall are two acrylics (the boats) and the rest of the wall that you can see features Myrna's work.  She starts out with white fabric that she paints, then cuts to the shapes she is wanting and then she finishes each picture by painting into the cut shapes with oil pastels.  The effect is very unique and extremely beautiful.  The other end of the room is filled with about 30 very impressive acrylic paintings.  All in all, I think it was a very good show, both for us and for those visitors who came to see the studio.

 In the meantime, I am working on my pieced quilt and hope to have some bits to show you next time.
I'll be back.....

More printing in the Linda Germain class

I am really enjoying the class on monoprinting that I am taking as an on-line class with Linda Germain.  These are some of the prints from yesterday's printing session.

Linda gives great instructions for making a great gelatin plate and I find that it is holding up super well under daily use.  And it doesn't need to be refrigerated, which is great, and there is no problem with mold.  Also great.  It's not difficult to re-constitute when the time comes either.

It's a great class.  Do check out the link:
www.lindagermain.com

I'm busy working on my pieced quilt as well.  I'll show you that in a bit.
Soon, I hope, I'll be back....

Enjoying April and (Hazel) Mae

So it's not as if we've been doing nothing around here.  My son, his wife and my little grandson live in my suite. And they are expecting.  Well they were.  The other morning, early early, my daughter-in-law phoned and said "So, I don't know if you heard or not, but we had a baby last night."  What!!!???!!!  Nearly two weeks to go and the sweet little thing seems to have decided on an early coming-out-party!!  She is a tiny little doll and my little grandson is being an absolute trooper.  Of course, by some amazing magical foresight Hazel (who was born at home here) managed to do some early morning shopping and arrived with a couple of toys for her big brother...clearly she is scoring points right from the get-go!!!

I am taking a printmaking course (a fabulous course) with Linda Germain.  I've put a link to her blog below.

There is a lot to take in since this is all new territory for me but I am certainly enjoying it.  There is a new video each day (monday to friday) for the duration of the six-week course and tons of inspiration. I am doing my best to keep up (what with babysitting and all) and struggling with techniques that I find somewhat daunting but promising at the same time!  When all is said and done I hope to apply some of this to fabric.  In the meantime I am using the water-based printing inks from the supply list and an amazing gelatin plate that I have prepared following the instructions in the course.  It's working ever so well!

And then I am working still on my on-line class with the Kemshall's.  I am doing the part where I have to prepare a pieced quilt.  Well, since it's no longer technically City and Guilds I am taking a few liberties with the interpretation of 'pieced'.   So here is the start.  These are my own hand dyed fabrics but here it's not really pieced yet.  I have actually made a bit of headway since I laid out these pieces but now I am struggling with the whole quarter-inch seam thing.  Every time I sew a seam I am reducing the size of the original piece by 1/4 inch on each side so I am driving myself slightly nuts with proportions and colours, adding and taking away, what if, what if....  It has advanced somewhat from this stage but I don't have any pictures at the moment.  I'll have to get back to you.  When I'm not babysitting.  Or printing.  Or enjoying our April weather which is glorious beyond words!!

Hmmm.  It would seem that the balance of this post is going to be centred along with the picture.  Oh well.  figuring out computer stuff is most definitely not my strong suit.                                                                   

I'll get busy with some more of these pieces and get back to you in a bit.   

here is the link to Linda's site:  do have a look.  She does lovely work!!!

  http://www.lindagermain.com/

And if you don't know it yet, do also check out www.lindakemshall.com