Starting my jacket

It's always fun to have one of Priscilla's classes here at the studio, and I took advantage of the opportunity to join in the jacket making.

I've been wanting to see what I could do with the beautiful silk scraps that my friend, Marcia Murphy, shared with me and decided to incorporate them into a kimono-style jacket.

Many luscious pieces, but most of them in odd shapes and small sizes, make it a challenge to decide which ones to use.




The color choices changed many times before I settled on the purple and green pieces.

The back and the two front panels are "roughed in."






The front panels will have less organic and more hard-line geometric shapes to better match the rectangle shapes on the back panel.

The sleeves will be made from more of the dark purple fabric, and the front band will be black.

Hopefully there will be time next week to work on it some more....

Jacket class pictures

A few more pictures from our jacket class....

Nancy Crouch is surrounded by the beautiful fabrics she is creating for her jacket.







Donna Patrick worked on a piece of fabric that she had scrunched. She had wet the fabric, twisted it, and let it dry to create texture with the resulting wrinkles.

Now she is sewing various threads and ribbons onto it.





Here's the final product, due to become a section of the front of her jacket.








Liz Scott is busy getting the lining ready to be sewn into her jacket.

Jacket class - Day 3

This was the last day of our class with Priscilla. It was over much too soon, but everyone made great progress on their jackets.

Liz Scott finished her Halloween jacket and modeled it for us, complete with matching green shoes!
















Here's the back of Liz's jacket with several of its fun fabrics. Liz also made the lining for her jacket with more of her Halloween fabrics.














Caren Betlinski finished the pieces of her vest by couching on rows of red beads and gold cording. She's getting some advice from Priscilla on adding a button closure.











Caris Burton changed patterns for her jacket and reorganized the fabrics she'll use. By the afternoon she was busy sewing it together.

Jacket class - Day 2

Priscilla brought in her beautiful turquoise coat that she made of "scrunched" batik fabric so she could better explain the scrunching and embellishing options. Caren Betlinski, Liz Scott, and Nancy Crouch were checking the coat when Inspector Suki came along to help.






Liz has made a lot of progress on her Halloween coat, and Nancy is making more fabrics to go with her beautiful focus fabric by Sherrill Khan.







Donna Patrick completed the back of her jacket.










Caren has the pieces of her red and black vest completed. I think beads and then the lining are on her agenda for tomorrow.

Jacket class - Day 1

We're having another jacket class with Priscilla Kibbee here at the studio.

Caren Betlinski completed a lovely jacket today -- one she started in Priscilla's last class.














The back of her jacket features one of her threadpainted flowers.

















Suki picked her spot this morning, joining Nancy Crouch at her table. Nancy had the longest drive from Montour Falls, but made it even with all the rains in her area.






Donna Patrick is starting her jacket with a central panel on the back that features a mola from Priscilla's last trip to the San Blas Islands.

Sunday in Buffalo

I had the opportunity to accompany friend Jeanne Beck to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo and visit it for the first time.







We were specifically interested in seeing the Topographies exhibit and would recommend it. We liked the installation of Polly Apfelbaum's dyed synthetic velvet pieces that covered the floor and looked like the wonderful colors of a large bed of perennials.



Since I hadn't been to the museum before, we wandered through most all of the exhibits -- and everyone who went throught this room had to walk under the table.








A wonderful visit was topped off by a delicious lunch in the museum's restaurant, where we got to admire the sculpture garden.

A work session

A regular work-session day was scheduled, and the weather was sunny and clear, allowing for easy travel for everyone to come.












Even with a very late-night return from her trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, Priscilla arrived bright and shiny and ready to go to work.






Everyone completed their homework that was assigned at the last gathering.

As a way to study the use of line in composition, we each looked for a photo or picture that used line and then created a block or composition inspired by that picture.

Sunset and Suki

The usual January thaw arrived with some bright sunny days and rising temperatures. The beautiful sunsets closed these days that punctuated some relief from a cold winter spell.









The layered cumulus clouds provided a 30-minute light show as the sun descended toward the western horizon. Each frame was more brilliant that the one before. We'll have to learn how to use the movie function on our camera.....











Nancy Hicks uses this red bag to carry her featherweight sewing machine and she left it open for use. Inspector Suki checked it out as a possible spot for a nap.








Suki's role as defender of the property was put to the test. A large black fluffy intruder appeared at the door one recent evening. Suki immediately responded and then took up a sentry position in a chair near the door and remained ready to repulse any invasion!

Pat's Big Leaf and Suki

This is Pat's lovely "Big Leaf" quilt that she made as a sample for her upcoming class at Patricia's Fabric House in East Rochester on January 21 and 28.











Suki was immediately drawn to the quilt and wanted to help Pat with sewing on the binding.







One of Suki's favorite activities is to "tunnel" inside things and/or under blankets. So she was very happy that Pat had left her quilt folded with a flap that she could explore.











And I think at this point she had found a comfortable spot and was "keeping an eye out" to make sure no one took it away from her!

Sewing Day

There were more snow flurries yesterday, but three quilters made it out to the studio.

Priscilla had planned to come, but sent us proof of her car stuck in the deep snow instead (http://www.priscillakibbee.blogspot.com/).



Nancy was called in to help at her volunteer job and had left some of her fabric on the design wall.

Since she couldn't be here, Jeanne stepped in and arranged the fabrics for her.












While we don't enjoy all the shoveling and would really like some warmer termperatures, we have to admire the beautiful snow-covered scenery. This scene is in our back yard near the deck.









This is the big marine locust tree that is beyond our fish pond. I like the way the snow makes the tree branches look like they've been frosted with icing.

Outside / Inside

The January snow continues. We are up to a couple of feet, with more on the way. Skiers and snowmobilers rejoice, and the rest of us get good photo opportunities.















We have icicles too! Our friend Priscilla posts pictures of her home in Wolcott covered with them along with six feet of snow.

We are happy that we live further inland from Lake Ontario and are content being "baby cousins" at this end of Wayne County.

The African violets brighten up our spirits. They seem to have no particular season, but produce new blossoms all year long. It is no wonder they are such a popular indoor plant.












Our Florida orchid continues to develop. The long stems of flowers reach for sunlight as they spread out from an inner-wall spot. Their friends are across the room in a south window and are starting to show swelling buds that promise color in another few weeks.