Quilt in Houston

Nothing like seeing your quilt hung at the Houston Quilt Show. It took me an hour to work my way to the spot. I was so worried that the seams would be crooked, the polar bear wouldn't look right: but it was perfect. I met the young lady that hung it. She said she liked it , shot a photo of it and made it hand perfectly w/ a little extra time. Photos to follow

Houston on the Loose

My friend Elaine from Montana flew in last week.  We explored Love County, Oklahoma.  Tomorrow we leave for Galveston , Texas to sample fish from the Gulf of Mexico.  I hope we don't glow in the dark.  Then  Space Center Houston and the opening of the International Quilt Show.  Oh how exciting to see my Polar Bear  quilt  hanging in the Hands All Around exhibit.  If you are going you can see him behind the $10,000 winner on the back wall.

Have a good week quilt friends.  Photos to follow from the quilt show next week.

francine

And.......Renoir

I saw a Renoir at the Dallas Art Museum.  I want to make a quilt on silk.  Its the girl behind the veil.  It should be ok.  He painted it before copyright.  But, his heirs have the copyright.  I guess I will start it and if it looks good I'll ask for permission

I understand.......

When I first started quilting:  early days of internet...I couldn't pass up a quilt shop.  I was buying patterns w/ stars and "fancy square blocks".  What I don't understand....All these blocks are now on the internet and if someone puts together a 12 star block quilt.....Is it really theirs?  I don't have an answer for that.  So, if I want to start creating patterns:  Can I just make them on the computer....color them and sell them w/ my name on them?

Art of Technology

At the better quilt shows and yes it should be at all the shows....even the smaller venues that if your quilt includes a human:  not a fur person but a real person:  the quilter needs written permission to show the quilt.  When I was trying to find the "cajun"  it took a couple of months and then I found his name.From there I searched social media and found him on face book.  After several times I thought I was going to have to contact all the "friends" with the same last name.  And, then...he responded granting me permission.  So, if you shoot a photo of a human: the photo belongs to the photographer:  but if you want to make money for the photo or use it as a public performance you need to (legally) get that person's permission.  Not only ethically but legally....ummm what about the photos I take at quilt shows and copy their quilts???  Where do the ethics stop.

Age of Technology : buy a pattern: steal a pattern

Buy a pattern?  Steal a pattern.  In this world of technology I spent 6 months...Days  anxiously waiting for responses on "Sardine" .   I became so interested,  I requested a librarian to go through 7 boxes and diaries, receipts and journals in storage holdings in New York.  Making a quilt for personal use is allowed but hanging it at a quilt show or shop becomes public performance.  In other words if you have not been given special permission don't hang it.  I have legal permission for Sardine.  Yes legal.  Buy a pattern make the quilt.....leave it at home or give it away.  One should not be making money on someone else's art work.  In this age of technology it's easy to find the artist, through publication, social media, email etc. etc.  Give credit to the pattern maker w/ permission granted.  But again...that's based on moral principle and integrity.  It only takes time.

Age of Technology

Me?  The Queen of Technology:  15 years as a Media Specialist (school librarian):  Or with My Husband  George the guy with the tech degree...would be more accurate.
Copyright.  Copyright.  30 years : teacher/librarian and I just came from a quilt show where over 200 quilts were hung and I recognized some quilt patterns and the creator of the pattern was not named.  Oh how I hate that.  I also have issues with these beautiful quilts being pieced and maker pays a quilter to do the quilting and not presenting it as a two person quilt.  Copyright Copyright.  Who makes these rules?    Lord!  I have issues.  These are not grey issues but simply integrity.   But then  who am I to decide about another person's integrity?

more ranting about copyright this week.  No wonder the courts are filled with these issues.

just a simple quilter

Obsessive? Who me?

Can't think of anything but finishing Santa Paws and the cajun.  No yard work.  No dishes No bathing the dogs.  No bills..darn bills just keep on comin?

For all you quilters and pet owners:  the endless audio books.  the endless cokes...the endless nites w/ snacks and no supper.

Here it is:  Santa Paws quilted by me:  Photo by Michael Pettigrew.

In loving memory of Qtip who passed last year.

Finnally figured out the face......

Just a little high-lighting and off to the hat and t-shirt.   Thank the Lord for the internet.  Struggling w/ the Cajun's face:  over and over again.  While trying to find painting portraits:  I typed in Zydeco Music and after a zillion pictures found my guy>  His name is Paul Lafleur.  Now to find a way to get in touch w/ him for copyright permission to hang him in public performance.  Tried an attorney...but state and city guys don't mess w/ copyright.  Now to find a fed if Paul won't respond to my attempts at reaching him.  Damn!  he's got over a 1,000 facebook friends.  Maybe I should contact his mom..?

Looking good.

Oh! how I have struggled

A human is nothing like doing a fur person.  And, I do believe a design board is critical.  I've had the Cajun up for 2 weeks just listening to the flow of line and color.  Learned lots of things these past few weeks.  Shadows are done last.  Had to rip right half  his face out.  (always use smallest needle and change it constantly so if you must rip...these photo fabrics don't hold up well to ripping). It looked like a blob.  Put face in then did shadows.  Got the bottom 1/3 face done:  Neck four shades tooooo light.  Finally on impulse added lavendar.  My greys too dark.  Did the trick in one pass.  Lucky me.

More disasters to follow.  Check back to follow as I learn to thread paint a human...And, it started one afternoon strolling down the French Quarter and hearing a Zydeco Band.  Never would have made these mistakes w/ Lily, Maggie, Cali, Lyle, Smokey.lizzie or the other animals I just feed and feed and feed.  My Cali brought home kittens that were starving.  (i fear too old to socialize)  I can't bare a hungry animal. However I will be making pet beds for local shelter.....since I'm so frickin broke feeding the neighborhood again can't go anywhere.  Thank the Lord for $5 movie day.

Obsession: How do I finish.

Almost done with Santa Paws.  Just contacted Mr. Pettigrew the owner of the photo to find out the names of pets.  I only remember Q-Tip.

Just can't seem to do anything but work on Santa Paws.  No dishes, no gardening, no other quilting....

Updated my web page:  thephotoquilter.com

Run the dogs every day and then work on Santa Paws.  One talking book :  3 murders and I look down and I 've only completed 3 square inches.   The back ground is so tedious.  However the bricks were fun once I got into a rhythm.  Now to finish the top left. 

Slowly been working on my cajun:  Washboard 1/4 done:  think I will start working up.  Worried about his face eventhough I have done a practice.  Better do another.

Sardine

WoW! chance of a lifetime. I can't wait to take "Sardine" to Dallas museum: Hawthorne did not do animals. He was commissioned. I'm so fortunate to have been given permission to copy his work and make a wall hanging.

Wow! its been a month

Wow!  its been a month.  Totally obsessed with finishing this thread painted quilt.  Now time to shower , watch Netflix and do the dishes.

Renoir vs: another comparison of Picasso and Matisse

True Art

                                                       Thread Painting almost done. 

Top left and tail. In this technique you can't skip around or you have to do stitch "surgery". This is Sardine painted by Charles Webster Hawthorne, 1903, oil on canvas, Courtesy of the Jean and Graham Williford Charitable Trust]. I can't wait to send him to the DMA. Hope to finish before the fourth. 

Speaking of Art I went to the OKC museum  and saw Matisse.  Also Picasso etc.  Well here is Matisse's version of the Algerian Woman and Picasso's version:   ummmmmm also a touch of eroticism : but more of that tommorrow

Geez! E-books galore

More from the butterfly museum

For the last 10 years I have been following Quilting Arts TV  :  Well they have 17 seasons:  maybe longer. I started w/ season 1.   Every year Interweave the parent company has a hurt book sale.  I always put in my cart 10-15 books and then whittle it down to 5 or 6.  I can't rationalyze $26 books (now $30)  when I pay $2.50 at the library:  interlibrary loan for anything I desire.  So, of course tonite is the deadline for the hurt book sale where the books are 50-80% off.  Never ever had a book not in perfect condition. I have a wonderful library of quilt and mix media books I use all the time.  Constantly.      I only found 6 to put in my cart tonite.    I am  oh so very, very disappointed.  There were about 20 that I would have liked but they were e-books.  I like to smell a book, write on a book, dog-ear a book and hold a book in my hands.  I don't want to cuddle w/ an electronic device at nite.  Anyone out there listening???  Anyone have a connection to Interweave???? Anyone have a connection to the publishing world.  Please let them know I want to cuddle w/ books at nite.

just me:  Oh So Disappointed.

Wise Enough

I'm old enough and wise enough to understand that when you read a book you bring your own personal baggage to it.  I have always been able to escape myself and become part of the place and time I'm reading w/out judgement of being a modern American Woman:  However this book I'm reading...............is a world with no literature.  I cannot imagine that no matter how hard I try

Imagine a life w/ no electricity, clean water, or literature in a large city. Imagine unhealthy babies and no access to health care because you can't read or get a job: A world of superstition: A world where teachers and professors are killed: Khmer Rouge

Read: Rent Collector:Camron Rachel Wright
“Love Forever

If I were the trees ...
I would turn my leaves to gold and scatter them toward the sky so they would circle about your head and fall in piles at your feet...
so you might know wonder.
If I were the mountains ...
I would crumble down and lift you up so you could see all of my secret places, where the rivers flow and the animals run wild ...
so you might know freedom.
If I were the ocean ...
I would raise you onto my gentle waves and carry you across the seas to swim with the whales and the dolphins in the moonlit waters,
so you might know peace.
If I were the stars ...
I would sparkle like never before and fall from the sky as gentle rain,
so that you would always look towards heaven and know that you can reach the stars.
If I were the moon ...
I would scoop you up and sail you through the sky and show you the Earth below in all its wonder and beauty,
so you might know that all the Earth is at your command.
If I were the sun ...
I would warm and glow like never before and light the sky with orange and pink,
so you would gaze upward and always know the glory of heaven.
But I am me ...
and since I am the one who loves you, I will wrap you in my arms and kiss you and love you with all of my heart,
and this I will do until ...
the mountains crumble down ...
and the oceans dry up ...
and the stars fall from the sky ...
and the sun and moon burn out ...
And that is forever.”
― Camron Wright, The Rent Collector

after 10 years

After 10 years and 10 billion classes my Polar Bear Quilt has just bee accepted for Houston Quilt Show.  I remember the first time I registered for a class...It was the last week in August and I had just moved to Texas.  I picked out 5 classes.  Those days you had to wait for a letter to see if you got accepted (now its current time on-line).  Early Oct I had to tell my school pricipal I'd been accepted to 4.  I agonized how a newbie could miss a week of school.  Love that boss.  He let me go.  Also a shout-out for Jennifer Day:  that class I took in Santa Fe:  she taught thread painting.  I felt like I sucked her brain.  I love thread painting:  I turn on a talking book:  murder mayhem and zone out.

starting santa paws

Almost done with Sardine.  Have to fill in the background (green) under her belly before I finish her back leg and tail.  It makes a bubble if you skip around.  Tedious.  Been staring and staring at the pets haunches.  Trying to figure angle of fur for Sardine.  Finally took photos.

                                                  different angles: ummmmm

 back leg and tail:  then I'm done

More photos from this weekend.

Chimps would make a wonderful quilt.  I think I will send one of the cheetah's off to printer.  I use Sano Designs out of NY.

I can't believe these are my photos.

Spent the nite in Dallas. Dreaded coming home to my Lily. Neither Lily nor Maggie ate while I was gone. Liz ate so much she has diarrhea. The outsiders + blue jays went through a week of kibble. Lily brought out every toy from toy box. Moved couch away from wall (she's strong - looking for ball) and she brought out my underwear & sweaty t-shirt. I bet she was missing her mama. Went to butterfly museum and photo safari at zoo. Cathy our leader challenged us to have different photos than the person next to me.
more photos to follow.

I sit and stare

I sit and stare at my Guy.  Never done a human.  If I mess up on an animal I add more thread and its looks like "special" detail on fur.  Humans can't be done that way.  I have 2 black and whites and one color to practice on :  I still can't start.  Wait!!!!!! I can use color pencils.  Sometimes blogging is so cathartic.  Now I can begin...Have to go buy some colored pencils. Egads

                                                               posterized

I used to think artists did art from their head.  Now I know there is lots of prep time prior to the masterpiece

Cougar is done

And Lily wants to show you how to stay cool.  Remember to lay under the fan

photoshop 101. Saving to folders.

Took me all afternoon to find my Cajun.  So frustrated I even shampooed the carpet.  Haven't done much like dishes, dust, clean bathrooms, work on quilts because I'm so close to getting cougar done.  However I'm now getting ready for Santa Paws and Cajun.  Remember way back when when you made a photo copy of a photo copy and you lost clarity???  I felt the same way about digital photos.  So I broke up all my files and put flowers w. flowers, dogs w/ Max or Lily or Maggie etc. etc.  Then the technology caught up and I've gotten lazy.  I got files of birds, flowers and  cats together.  Vacation 1 with vacation 2 with quilts.  So now I leave original file in original file and make a copy of photo and put it into its proper file.  Darn it!!!!!  Only been doing that for a few months:  So, it took forever to find the Cajun:  Here is the photo for another  thread painted quilt:

                                        

Cajun oh Cajun: How do you do?

Getting ready to do my Cajun Guy from New Orleans.  Never did a guy before.  Never done a human before.  Never had a desire to do a human.....  I stare at him and stare at him.  Scared I won't get the angle of his face or arms right.  Whining to George last nite.  And, wined some more.   My dear husband:  (guys think so differently than us girls).  suggested I make a small version and practice.  But, his face is just a small part of photo.  So, I made an 8 x 10 of only his face to practice on.  What a great idea.  Looked at more face portraits.  Played in photo shop.  I have both a color and and black and white.  Maybe I need cheese w/ that whine!  Photos to follow.  Less than a quarter of the background left on  my cougar and she is done.

the difference between the Smoke and Cougar

Yes the cougar is a photo taken and printed on fabric. Eye nose and muzzle complete. Working on ear today. Lots of trial , and error. Then I remembered what my art teacher said: use computer and blow up the section on lap top trying to paint. I saw how the hair was short: I then did short stitches. I also took a thread painting class w/ Jennifer Day: she taught us color and layering. I filled in all the black first. then cover w/ several layers of beige. Her muzzle has 3 different blacks. I will post the Smoke again: her fur is much longer and I used much longer stitches. Thank you for the support: The ear (as jennifer taught) should have 10 or 12 colors for detail.

 face muzzle nose complete on cougar:  short stiches  whiskers first:  Smokey whiskers last

   I now use Sano Printing out of New York

I forgot

I just shot photos of some of my hand-dyed fabric.  I forgot how luscious it is.  I've been using scraps making traditional quilts for the class I teach:  Ugh!  But here is a photo of the cougar I've been working on.  yippee.