Pacific International Quilt Show Pictures

As usual, PIQF did not disappoint. Here are some pictures of quilts

 I really liked for one reason or another.

This was a wonderful, large quilt. I did not write down the artist's name

 and did not take a picture of the label because I was running out of photo storage on my phone.

 This artist's use of color and shape is fabulous.

Below is "She Persisted in Her Quest to Reach the Shore and Sing the Anthem of the Sea"

 by Sarah Ann Smith

Below is a closeup of the waves section.

The quilt below is by Kathryn Harmer Fox

Below is a closeup of her exquisite threadwork.

The quilt pictured above was part of the Drips and Spatters exhibit. I think it was by Deborah Weir, but could be wrong. If any of my viewers know who this artist is please let me know.

This beautifully painted and quilted piece above is by Judy Coates Perez, 

who always creates amazing pieces.

This piece by Israeli quilter, Rachel Steiner is called "Migrating Birds." The description said she discharged black fabric using a q-tip. Incredible!

Tucson Trip

It's been a little while since I last posted. Took a wonderful trip to Tucson, Arizona

 to see my best friends from high school. 

 We try to get together every five years. Needless to say, we had a great  visit.

This was one of the many beautiful, colorful murals we saw in Tucson.

This is Mission San Xavier del Bac, founded as a Catholic mission. Construction on the current church began in 1783. It has a very interesting history. To find out more about it, go to:  http://www.sanxaviermission.org/History.html

Very intricate carving and bric-a-brac galore!

It reminded me of Mission San Miguel, which is a few miles up the road from where I live. There's almost a gaudy quality to the interior.

Visit to Point Lobos

Earlier this month, my husband and I took a short trip to Carmel.

  It is one of the most beautiful areas in the whole country. 

We visited Point Lobos, which is spectacular!

Below is a picture of a very unusual plant with trumpet like blossoms that we saw in the Barynyard shopping center in Carmel. If anyone knows what the name of this plant is, 

please comment to let me know.

Arashi Shibori T Shirt with Fabric Paint

In my last post I wrote about the class Kathi and I taught using fabric paints to create wonderful textures and designs.  In the class I had unwrapped a T-shirt I had painted the day before using the arashi shibori technique, but with fabric paints instead of the dyes I usually use. I liked it except for a large white area that didn't get the paint.

So the next day, I rewrapped it around a larger cylinder, using an 8 inch diameter concrete form made of thick cardboard. This enabled me to stretch out the part of the T-shirt needing the pattern. I added the paint, continuing the lines from the rest of the shirt.  I think it turned out pretty good. The back is a little bit lighter than the front. So my conclusion is that paints are a little easier to use because you don't need to deal with chemicals and soda ash soaking, mixing powders, etc., but the dyes give you more intense colors because they penetrate the fabric more than the pain does.

Textures and More with Fabric Paints

This past Tuesday, Kathi Battles and I taught a class on using fabric paints. She is also a member of The Cutting Edge Fiber Arts group. These classes were taught at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles, in conjunction with our Art Quilts exhibit.

 Below is a picture of Kathi teaching and demonstrating to everyone how to take advantage of the versatility of printing techniques one can use with the gelli printing plates.  Her enthusiasm was catching and students made some very. cool and complex, layered prints.

Here's everyone painting away!

I taught the first hour of the class showing how to use wet into wet watercolor techniques to create textures, followed by painting on dry fabric with a natural sponge  in an impressionistic style. This was followed by showing everyone how to do simple arashi shibori.

One of the cool things about using paint is you get two fabrics from the work of making one. One side is always lighter than the other.

We ran out of time and didn't get a chance to do the Itajime with paint. My sample is below. It is accordion folded first one way then the other way and clipped together with clothes pins. Paint is then brushed onto the fabric, getting into the folded layers. Let it dry, and unveil 

for some interesting patterns.

Below is a picture of all the fabrics drying. 

Fabulous Fused Fabric Collage Class

Today at Studios on the Park, Rene Jennings did a wonderful job teaching a class in how to fuse fabrics to create a collage of either a fish or face.  All thirteen students had a lot of fun making their creations. Here are a few examples.

Cutting Edge Good Fibrations Show at Studios on the Park

Our Cutting Edge Group has a show of our work at Studios on the Park, in Paso Robles. If you are local, hope you will get a chance to check it out. It will be up through August 26th. 

There's one spot left for the August 14th class, Fabulous Fused Fabric Collage and 

room for a couple more students in the Fabulous Fun with Fabric Paints class

 for Tuesday, August 21st. For more information, leave me a comment or email me. 

Here I am with my stitched shibori quilt, "Waiting Out the Storm"

Here's Andi Perejda with two of her beautiful quilts.

Here's Jeanne Surber with one of her gorgeous quilts.