Quilting by the Lake -- Week 2 Tour Day

Although I had to go to this tour alone, I met several people there that I knew. I really wanted to see what was going on in several of the classrooms (Rayna Gilman and Jane Dunnewold had classes). Was greatly surprised to find my daughter's first viola teacher (who is now the first violist for the Rochester Philharmonic) was in Jane's class and has taken up surface design with gusto! Small world! The work in Jane's classroom was amazing -- they were working with all sorts of water based resists and were having a grand time!! I enjoyed Rayna's classroom as well but would really have liked to see more of what was done the first few days she was there in the surface class. I heard from one of my friends that it was excellent though as she was in the class.

The picture above is looking toward one of the sculptures on campus. It is a pretty campus with a lovely walkway which crosses a woody ravine .

It was really worth going to this second session as there was a lot of interesting work going on and I saw many of my old friends who I had missed the first time around! After you go to QBL a number of years, you meet people that you only see once a year but who become QBL friends and someone to be hugged when you run into them in faraway places (like Houston).



This was a piece by Sue Benner who will be teaching next year. I loved her use of color and pattern!

These two pieces are both by Elin Noble who I can't say enough good about!! The first is illustrating the indigo which she will be teaching one session next year and the second is a piece illustrating some of her marbling. Double click to look closer as it is fantastic. The pictures are a little blurry as I wasn't using a flash. Please make sure you don't sign up for the indigo class before I get the chance to get in!! Her classes fill quickly (as well they should).

This is Caren's class work from Bob Adams class. The top piece was one she worked on in Cynthia Corbin's class two years ago and is going to use the machine stitching she learned in Bob's class to complete. I was blown away by his work, many of which follow!
These next few pieces were in Bob Adams' classroom and I really liked them!! He graciously gave me permission to photograph all of them! Yes, I told him they would be in my blog! You really need to double click on these to see the detail. He uses discharge techniques extensively as well as a LOT of machine stitching!

A Day at Quilting by the Lake (QBL)

Well, between the rain and the thunderstorms, we had a practically rainfree time at QBL on Thursday. They are at their new venue at Onondaga Community College just west of Syracuse but an easy drive from Rochester. I usually take classes but because of the stock market and the new house, I passed this year but will probably be going back next summer for at least one week.

After dire warnings about how terrible it would be if we photographed any of the quilts in the show or in the classrooms without the owner's persmission (and of course none of the owners were in the classrooms as they go to lunch during the tour), I was frustrated. I have always found it flattering to see my work displayed in someone's blog or Flickr site as long as someone wasn't portraying it as their own work. If I didn't want work to be seen, I wouldn't be doing it in a public classroom or entering it into a quilt show. I get quilt shows where there is a catalog or book not permitting pictures. I get artists not wanting to display their work before they publish it. Thankfully some friends were there and said as they always do -- sure!! I liked one person's approach which was just to put a sign saying "No pictures, please". I have suggested we do that at quilt club for those who don't want pictures of their quilts taken.

This wall hanging was done by Sarah Terry who is a member of our RAFA group. The inserts are all marbled fabrics that she has done and machine stitched.

This is a spectacular piece by Marilyn Belford who was teaching there this session. You can see how big it is from the woman standing in front of it. She is an incredible artists and is from the Binghamton area now although originally from NYC. She switched to fiber as a medium (she started with traditional quilts if I remember correctly) rather late in her career as an artist when her Binghamton studio space was not sufficient for the type of installations she was known for in the art world. She laughs that she never ever thought she would do representational work which is what she is so well known for in the art quilt community.

This is the "Thanks Kaffe" ensemble made by our very own Priscilla Kibbee for one of the last Bernina shows in Houston. Pictures never do justice to these magnificent garments which must be seen on the runway to fully appreciate the bling!!

I loved this quilt that was hanging in the show -- loved the leaves.

These two pieces are being done in Marilyn Belford's class. The artist is Caren Betlinski who is also in our group. The first picture was taken at lunch and the second at the end of the day. This is from a picture of her cousin's niece. A beautiful picture of a very pretty girl.

A Marbelous Day at QBL

Well, it is the end of the first day and I am pooped already. As usual, my class is the furthest distant classroom from the dorm I am staying in. It doesn't matter which dorm I stay in, this is always the case!! Anyway, lots of walking.


Well, the class I am taking is Marbling which is a monoprinting technique which uses acrylic paints which float on a size and then you print fabric that has been pre-treated with alum (yes, the same stuff you use for pickles).


Elin Noble is the teacher and as usual she is fantastic! I have picked up enough new hints today that I have gotten my money's worth already!! That always seems to be the way with Elin's classes. She is extremely knowledgeable and totally likeable as well so her classes are always entertaining as well as filled with information! I really arrogantly wasn't sure how much I could learn new. I have marbled (mostly badly) a bit in the past so figured I would just have a relaxing week of playing. Well, it is that but I am also going with Elin's totally new approach to it which is great.


This is the classroom which is really half of the gym for the school. We have tarps and plastic everywhere!

These were my first three attempts. The middle one is my very first. If you cut very small pieces from them, they might be okay!
This is the class's output hanging on lines. Everyone seems to be doing more than me and much nicer pieces! Oh well, I am old...


I really liked this one a lot.
I thought these were very cool also.