Becoming a Smurf

Learning color relationships

New week, new class at Quilt Surface Design Symposium in Columbus, Ohio. The official name of the class is "Just Silk Screens" but if you could see my hands, arms, even toes, you'd think the class is about "Becoming a Smurf." I manage to dye as much of my body as I dye fabric, and I love working with blue and turquoise, thus my increasing spiral into Smurf-dom. I'd be a full Smurf already were it not for my apron and rubber gloves.

While I've done photo emulsion silk screening in the past, this class, taught by Pat Pauly, is devoted to working with thickened dyes. Our first exercise was to create a half yard piece using all eight colors provided to us toward discovering how they relate to each other. We're working with Procion dyes and print paste, which when used with a color, lightens the color. We've got two yellows, fuchsia, red, blue, turquoise, green and black.

Newspaper blues

Our second assignment was to tear strips of newspaper to use as a resist. The white areas are where the newspaper covered the screen so no dye could get through to the fabric. This piece will likely get a background added to it before week's end.

Next up was using Tyvek as a resist. I cut a shape reminiscent of a columbine leaf out of the center of a square of Tyvek then printed two of these shapes in green on a half yard of fabric. Can you see those shapes under the additional printing I did on this piece?

Tuesday afternoon we did rubbings — a stencil or raised shape is placed under the fabric then the dye is rolled or scraped across the stencil or shape — and to place a stencil on top of the fabric then apply dye with a dense foam roller.

How many textures can you find? I used a bathmat, a sink mat, shapes I cut from adhesive fun foam and several commercial stencils to add texture to this piece. It's a learning piece but I'm liking it more than I thought I would. Making it added green, orange and yellow highlights to my otherwise blue Smurf look.

Another assignment was designed to help us learn how to create dark, medium and light shades of colors. Step 1 was to cut a large shape from Tyvek. Step 2 was to print it multiple times moving from light to dark in one of several possible patterns toward achieving an ombre effect.

This piece is not finished. It will get a background treatment at some point. What do you think this shape is? I have one quilt bud who I suspect will see a macaron.

Three days to go so I expect to learn a lot more techniques as I create more unique fabric. Check back in the next few days to see what comes next.

1 Spot Left in June

Demystifying Class

There's one seat left in my June 23 and 30, 2022, open enrollment "Demystifying Design for Foundation Piecing" class. With a maximum of 10 students, each person gets one-on-one attention as they create a block design and then a quilt design working from a photo.

Bird on a Branch ©by Dana Jones

Signing up is easy. Just go to the Book Online heading on my website.

Thoughts on Quilting and Art Coming Soon

In the next few days, I'll share some thoughts on art and quilting. I've been on the edge of multiple conversations about this while here at QSDS. I'd love to know your thoughts on this subject now and/or after you read mine. So watch for that soon.

It Could Be a Sign ...

Sign posted in restroom at Columbus College of Art and Design

You know you're at art school when this sign is posted in restroom stalls. Check out the end of the list. Pretty sure that includes not flushing my rejects from silk screening class, which I start today. I'm posting this in the morning so watch for photos from class this evening. We'll see what I produce on Day 1.

Making Plaid and More Plaid

I'm making a second plaid for my "I'm Not From Ohio" quilt.

I'm afraid I'm a bit addicted to creating "fabric" for quilt blocks through piecing. I just spent a day and a half making my second plaid, and it's not quite finished. I needed a smaller repeat than with my first plaid. In case you didn't see it a few days ago, here is my first plaid in a finished block.

I have another color to add to the plaid at the top so I'll likely spend most of tomorrow on that. Some folks here at Quilt Surface Design Symposium think I'm crazy to do this work, some don't get it and some do similar detail work. The beauty of quilting is the range of what each of us enjoys and makes.

Meet Some of My Classmates

I had hoped to show you what my classmates have worked on here in Columbus this week but I really can't do so. Many are working on pieces they hope to enter into contests. If preliminary photos get out, that can destroy those opportunities. So I'm sharing their past work and links to their websites so you can see more. Most sell their work so if you are a collector, don't miss their shops.

Patty Kennedy-Zafred (Patty K-Z) has worked at the table next to mine this week. She is a delight. She makes the most amazing quilts working with archival photos, shibori dyeing and screen printing. Her work has been exhibited at Quilt National and in art galleries across the country. In fact, we had a chance to see one of her pieces at the Ohio Craft Museum yesterday. She is hatching some new ideas so watching her work into the future should be exciting. Check out her website.

Cindy Grisdela is not only an incredible quilt maker, she's also a gifted teacher and author. She shares some of the new directions she's going with her work on her website. While you're enjoying her work, check out her classes. You're likely to find one you want to sign up for. If you enjoy improv or want to try it, her books are must haves.

Kevin Womack worked at the table just across from me so I got to watch his process of putting his dyed and surfaced designed fabrics on his design wall as he looked for just the right combinations for his aesthetic. I especially liked his fabrics that include writing that only he can read though you are sure you should be able to decipher it. Kevin is not only taking classes here at QSDS, he's also teaching. Check out his website and don't miss his shop.

Art Gallery solids from Sew to Speak sewing shop in the Old Worthington neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio.

A Longer Lunch Break

I took a bit longer lunch break today so I could mail several copies of my book — thank you to all who have ordered them recently — then visited Sew to Speak sewing shop, where talented quilt artist and friend Rachel Wallis teaches and works. I couldn't pass up the shop's wall of Art Gallery solids. The hand of these fabrics is smooth and sleek, making this my new favorite brand of solids.

I picked up reds and oranges to round out my stash. Ditto for several rich browns. I had to toss in the turquoise just because. I got 1/2 yard cuts but met a woman who is enrolled in a two-week class with Nancy Crow who was buying 3 yards of just as many colors, maybe even more.