“Purple Pansy” finished

Purple Pansy (7-5/8" x 9-3/4") by Susan Brubaker Knapp

Yesterday, I finished “Purple Pansy.” It is a small wholecloth painted piece. I finished it by first doing a pillowcase turn with the batting inside, and then quilting it. I used only three thread colors, a pinkish-purple on the petals, a gray on top of the yellow area at the flower center, and a green on the leaves. 

The advantages of finishing using a pillowcase turn are that it is very fast and easy, and that the piece looks more like art than like a quilt. The primary disadvantage is that it sometimes leaves slightly distorted edges that can’t be corrected the way you can do when you bind or face a piece. This distortion occurs when the quilting is heavier in some areas than others, causing the piece to draw up in some places. You can see that the finished piece is not completely squared up. On small pieces, I think this can be rather charming; I don’t obsess about it too much. But if you are more of a perfectionist, this technique is probably not for you!

If you are interested in learning how to finish a piece with a pillowcase turn, I have a free tutorial (a downloadable PDF) on my website here. 

Here is a detail shot showing some of the quilting stitches:

Painted Purple Pansy

 

Here is “Purple Pansy” with the painting done. It is ready for quilting, and I am getting excited. I love how the stitching makes the piece come alive, adding more color, detail and texture. I do not usually do thread sketching (stitching on the surface before I add the backing and batting) on small painted pieces like this. There is enough detail in the painting, and I try to use just enough thread to enhance, and not distract or cover what I have done with paint.

If you look at the original photo, you can see that I adapted the background somewhat. I did a blue sky at the top, because the stuff in the photo was too distracting. In the green leafy area at the bottom, I simplified the leaf shapes. I also used a little more lively green to set off the beautiful purples, blues and red-purples in the flower.

After I painted the leaves, the green color was too strong, so I used a wash of white paint mixed with “Base Extender.” The paints I am using a lot now, and loving, are PROfab Transparent Textile Paints by ProChemical & Dye. 

If you are new to painting on fabric, I suggest purchasing an inexpensive kit that includes small bottles, such as the PROfab Textile Paint Kit (SKU SINK1). It includes one-ounce bottles of red, yellow, blue, green, white and black, and a two-ounce bottle of base extender for $10.95 plus shipping/handling.

I have been trying lots of different brands of brushes, and will try to post in the future about my findings. It is a bit tricky to find the right brushes for painting on fabric. I like ones that are very stiff, and allow me to push the paint into the weave of the fabric, rather than brushing or flowing it on. 

Teaching in The Netherlands this spring

I’ve been asked to post information for the workshops I’m teaching in The Netherlands, so here it is:

I will be there from March 22 through April 6, and have workshops scheduled for March 24, 25, 31 and April 1 at a quilt shop called Cordi-atelier in Groningen. These filled up quickly, and they added two more, but I don’t know the dates yet. On April 2 and 3, I’m teaching in Bunschoten. 

If you live nearby and are interested in attending a workshop, please e-mail me at susan@bluemoonriver.com, and I can put you in touch with Lya, my fabulous Dutch host and organizer, who can answer more of your questions.

The classes I am teaching are Wholecloth Painting and Threadsketching: Dragonfly. Here are the class samples:

Purple Pansy in progress

Yesterday, I worked on a new, small (about 8x10") wholecloth painted piece – the pansy above. In late March through early April, I will be in The Netherlands to teach 8 workshops. I’m teaching my Wholecloth Painting class several times, and while my host and workshop organizer, Lya Geven, and I were talking, she suggested that I do one flower that was a little more familiar to European students. The ones I usually teach are these – croton leaf, hibiscus and sunflower:

Tulips immediately came to mind, but it was not tulip season. I considered buying a bouquet, but then realized that my local nursery was filled with pansies, and I’d have far more options there. I went there in the fall and shot about a hundred photos, and got one that I liked a lot:

Choosing just the right photo to work with is trickier than you might think. It needs to be well lit, with details well defined. It needs to have a strong focal point. I also try to keep the backgrounds simple and not distracting, but sometimes it is impossible to avoid. Too much stuff in the background can detract, but it can be eliminated when you paint.

When I teach, I have to make sure not to choose a subject that is too complex. Most students in my class take the entire six hours to complete the croton, hibiscus and sunflower (and this is just the painting, not the layering and quilting). These pieces are also about 8x10".

The photo below shows a printout of the photo (on the left), and the first bit of painting on the pansy (on the right). 

I usually trace my lines onto the fabric; this time I just positioned the fabric (a tightly-woven PFD fabric) on top of my traced line drawing. Tracing the lines onto the fabric is important if you want to do one base color and then paint darker colors on top, because you will still be able to see the pencil lines this way (but you would not be able to see the lines on the printout through the fabric and the base color paint).

My students often have questions about how many colors to mix, and how many tints and shades to prepare. It is tricky to get the right number of colors, and the right values to create depth. You can see my palette in this shot, and get an idea of how many I mixed for this piece so far:

Here is a shot showing a bit more painting done. You can see that I changed the overall color scheme of the pansy somewhat. I find that as long as you keep track of the values, you can do this without a problem. As with traditional quilting, value is far more important than color in the overall effectiveness of the piece. 

Here is another shot of how it looks now. I am going to add a few darker values to give the petals more dimension and depth. It’s good to think at this stage about what you are going to add when you free-motion quilt. The thread adds color and detail, too, so you may not need to paint everything. After that, I will move on to the background. 

Start spreading the news!

Please help us share the news about Foto/Fiber 2012, Virginia Spiegel’s fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, with family, friends and associates. The person you reach may be the one who helps us meet our goal of $7,000 to add to the $215,000 Virginia’s fundraising efforts have already donated through Fiberart For A Cause. I’m participating in this fundraiser, and I would love it if you would help spread the word, and/or make a contribution when the event starts.

It’s easy. Just go to Virginia’s blog here to get logos, sample blog posts, signature lines, and more. Then let Virginia know where you have shared the news about Foto/Fiber 2012 and you will be entered to win one of several great prizes. Go here for more details.

Wow.

Wow. I just found out that my piece, “Hope is the Thing,” is on the cover of the February/March 2012 issue of Quilting Arts magazine.

I started this piece the morning I found out that my mother had died, and it has come to represent the space between us now that she is gone. It was juried into The Space Between, an exhibition curated by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison for Dinner at Eight Artists, and has already gone to International Quilt Festival – Long Beach, and International Quilt Festival – Houston in 2011. 

This issue of Quilting Arts also features the work of other amazing artists in The Space Between: Susan Fletcher King, Sherry Kleinman, Jayne Larson and Linda Teddle Minton.

In this past year, even as I have mourned my mother’s physical presence, I have felt her emotional presence very close to me in my darkest hours. This feels like another sign. Love you, Mom.

Felted pebble necklace

Ever since I saw Jane LaFazio wearing a fabulous felted pebble necklace at International Quilt Festival this fall, I’ve had a yen for one. I kind of have a thing for rocks. I have some that I collected in my childhood, and I always pick them up on my travels, and bring them home to display in glass jars. The smooth river rocks with bands of white – like the ones in Jane’s necklace – are favorites.

I found the Etsy artist (Delica) whom Jane bought hers from, and have drooled over her lovely things. She has beautiful felted pebbles, chocolate truffles, hearts, acorns, soaps, garlands, brooches, bowls, necklaces… and they are all very simple and elegant. I think her prices are very reasonable for these items, which are pretty time-intensive to create. 

Last night I decided to try my hand at making my own. I love how it turned out! And it is so lightweight, you barely know you have it around your neck.

New life for a stained textile

Yesterday, I stopped in an antique store that is closing in my hometown. Lots of things were 50% off, and I snatched up a wonderful crocheted lace tablecloth for $8. It was in pretty good shape except for a few places that were unraveling, and a fair number of stains. Even after bleaching, they were still somewhat visible. This morning, I cut it into panels and hung them as curtains in my laundry room. 

I love the airy, delicate feel they give this space. My laundry room used to be a side porch on my 1916 home; it was closed in before we purchased the house 15 years ago. That’s why the ceiling is bead board (wainscoting). I painted the walls the same cornflower blue as the kitchen, as the room is visible from the kitchen.

There are certain times of the day – early morning and late afternoon – when the slant of light is just right, and it pours in through these windows. That’s when I think I’ll enjoy looking at this lace the most. And it makes me feel good to recycle something so beautiful, something that someone put a lot of work and time into making.

My first post for The Sketchbook Challenge

I posted today for the first time as a “host artist” on the blog for The Sketchbook Challenge, an online project started last year by Sue Bleiweiss to encourage others to grow as artists by working in a sketchbook.

Other artists hosting this year are Jill K. Berry, Sue Bleiweiss, Pam Carriker, Laura Cater-Woods, Jane Davies, Jamie Fingal, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Lyric Kinard, Jane LaFazio, Kelli Perkins, Carol Sloan and Susan Sorrell. 


The theme this month is “Doodling.” Here’s my doodle:

and here’s how I interpreted it in fabric and thread:

You can read all the details on The Sketchbook Challenge blog. If you’ve ever wanted to work more consistently in your sketchbook – or if you’ve never worked in a sketchbook before – please consider joining us as we sketch our way through 2012! 

I’m interviewed today on Virginia Spiegel’s blog

 

Virginia Spiegel has an interview with me on her blog today. It is publicity for her next big fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Virginia’s “Fiberart For a Cause” has already raised more than $215,000 for them, and in February, she is hoping to raise $7,000 for the ACS in just ten hours over two days through “Foto/Fiber.” I’m donating two handmade pieces of usable art as bonuses. I hope you’ll mark your calendar for Feb. 15 and 16, 2012, and consider making a donation to this worthy cause. 

Here is Virginia’s post about how this fundraiser works:

Foto/Fiber 2012
90 Photos AND 90 BONUS Fiber Surprises
Beauty and Mystery Unite to Fight Cancer

Gold Donor Day - February 15, 2012
Make a minimum donation of $100, choose a photo by Virginia A. Spiegel, and choose a BONUS Fiber Surprise by a specific artist from an amazing list of generous fiber artists.

Regular Foto/Fiber - February 16, 2012
Make a minimum donation of $50 and choose a photo by Virginia A. Spiegel. Your BONUS Fiber Surprise will be chosen at random  for you from the list of generous fiber artists.

Artists donating BONUS fiber surprises include:
Natalya Aikens,
Frances Holliday Alford
Pamela Allen
Liz Berg
Sue Bleiweiss
Nancy G. Cook
Jane Davila
Vivika DeNegre
Diane Rusin Doran
Jane Dunnewold
Jamie Fingal
Leonie Hartley Hoover
Leslie Tucker Jenison
Lyric Kinard
Susan Brubaker Knapp
Lynn Krawzcyk
Jane LaFazio
Susan Lenz
Jeanelle McCall
Linda Teddlie Minton
Karen Musgrave
Gail Myrhorodsky
Karen Stiehl Osborn
BJ Parady
Cate Coulacos Prato
Yvonne Porcella
Wen Redmond
Sue Reno
Lesley Riley
Susan Schrott
Cynthia St. Charles
Lura Schwarz Smith
Sarah Ann Smith
Terri Stegmiller

Drawings for Fiber Art throughout the event.
All patrons of Foto/Fiber 2012 will also have multiple chances throughout Foto/Fiber to win amazing fiber art donated by:   
Leonie Hartley Hoover
Lyric Kinard
Lynn Krawczyk
Yvonne Porcella
Mary Ann Van Soest

For updates on Foto/Fiber 2012, go here: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/FotoFiberHowItWorks.html

Want to help? Need to know more? Contact Virginia(at)VirginiaSpiegel.com for more information. That’s Virginia@VirginiaSpiegel.com

An old teapot for a New Year

Yes, it has been a while since I posted. You probably know why. Trees, cookies, relatives, hams, gifts, garlands, malls … chaos! Lately I have not had much time for blogging, or much time in the studio. I hope that things will get back to normal in the New Year.

I did find time – and a few rare moments of quiet – for a few sketches, and I am sharing one of them with you here. This is my favorite teapot. I use it nearly every day in the winter, as I am a big tea drinker (I picked up the habit during my junior year abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland). It is by Furnivals, a china company in Staffordshire, England; the pattern is called “Denmark.” I bought china in this pattern for my first apartment. I can still remember that day. (Admittedly, I have a bit of an obsession with china, but that is another story for another day.)

A few years ago, I chipped the spout. (If you look closely at the drawing, you can see it.) And I cried. But I love this teapot, and I kept using it. Sure it has some crazing, a chip, and some tea stains I can’t seem to get out. But it is mine. It is part of me now. And perhaps I chose to sketch it now because it is kind of a metaphor for me, for my life. Fitting for one of the last few days of 2011. 

“And now let us welcome

the new year full of things

that have never been.”

– Ranier Maria Rilke

The Anniversary Quilt

Earlier this year, a wonderful old family friend commissioned me to make a quilt for his wife that would commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary in June. I told him I couldn’t do it by June, but could have it ready by Christmas. Well, it is going in the mail today!

I’ve been so busy finishing this up that I haven’t done any give-aways recently, but there are more coming, I promise! And some good ones, including Lyric Kinard’s Bead it Like You Mean It DVD and Ana Buzzalino’s new DVD offering from Quilting Arts/Interweave! Stay tuned.

Susan’s So Thankful Give-Away #17: American Patchwork & Quilting tote

Oooh, don’t you just love the beautiful orange and white fabric in this tote bag by American Patchwork & Quilting? It is today’s give-away. American Patchwork & Quilting magazine was one of the first quilting magazines I subscribed to when I started quilting, and I still love it. I think they do a great job of including projects for all levels and types of quilters. The directions are always clear and easy to follow. I also think it is very well designed. Visit allpeoplequilt.com to learn more about the magazine (psssssst! there are some great give-aways going on over there, too).

Make sure you check out the page on their 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge. Quilters all over the country are making pillowcases through this program; they are passed on to people who need to feel some love – such as foster children, cancer patients, and victims of domestic violence. 

When I was in Houston for International Quilt Festival this fall, I visited the project’s booth, where they were very busy helping attendees whip up pillowcases. They were already up to 869 pillowcases; all were going to Houston Children’s Charity. 

Here’s your chance to win! Leave a comment after this post and tell me where you live, and the things for which your town or area is known. I’ll pull a name at random at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15, and send you the tote bag. AND THE WINNER IS… Jennifer!

Susan’s So Thankful Give-Away #16: IQF-Cincinnati Tote Bag

This is the official tote bag of the 2011 International Quilt Festival – Cincinnati.  It is made from recycled water bottles and other recycled plastics. You can use it until it wears out, and then recycle it again. 

It is spacious and sturdy, and features a beautiful contemporary quilt called “Basket of Tulips” by Andi Perejda, Joan Bruce, Barbara Collins and Rene Jennings. This quilt was featured in the special exhibit “In the American Tradition 2010.” It is featured on the front and back, and there are baskets of flowers from the quilt on the sides.

One of the things I love about this tote is that is structured inside. It has a section inside that folds out with spaces to hold three large bottles. The bottom is also reinforced.

Here’s your chance to win! Leave a comment after this post and tell me if you have been to a big quilt show, and if so, which one and what you liked best about it. I’ll pull a name at random at 9 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 14, and send you the tote bag. AND THE WINNER IS: Salsy!

Aurifil’s Designer of the Month: Sharon Pederson

Sharon Pederson’s free “Aurifil Christmas Tree” Pattern

Designer, author and teacher Sharon Pederson is Aurifil’s Designer of the Month for December. I met Sharon in person this fall at International Quilt Festival in Houston. (She was shooting video for The Quilt Show, and she interviewed me in front of one of my quilts.)

Sharon’s “Rose of Sharon” quilt (below) is absolutely spectacular, and represents a partnership between Electric Quilt, AccuQuilt, Alex and Ricky of The Quilt Show, Aurifil, Bernina, Island Batik, and designers of 850 blocks from quilters in 11 countries. The result was a quilt that has helped raise a lot of money for Alzheimer’s research through the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative. You can read all about it on Sharon’s website.

Pat Sloan has interviewed Marianne on the Aurifil blog. (That’s where you go to download the pattern for her free Christmas tree project!)

Learn more about Sharon here:

Website: http://www.sharonpederson.com/

Blog: http://sharonpederson.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nine-Patch-Media 

To learn more about Aurifil thread on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aurifil.quilt.thread 

Each month this year, a different designer has been giving away a free pattern on the Aurifil blog (my month was January). Remember – if you make any project from the design team, load a photo to our Aurifil Flickr group; this puts you in the running to win a fabulous Aurifil thread prize!

There are fun things planned for next year, too, so please stay tuned!

GIVEAWAY!
Each month this year, I’ve given away a pack of Aurifil minispools (like the one shown above) when the new project is announced. Just leave a comment after this post telling me if you are making a quilt for the holidays – either for yourself, or as a gift. I'll pull a name at random on Saturday, January 7 at noon EST. The sampler pack includes great colors in different weights.

Interview: Debra Gabel of Zebra Designs

A few weeks ago, I had a give-away of Debra Gabel’s new book, Quilt Blocks Across America. I always enjoy reading interviews with artists and designers, and I thought you might find a chat with Debra insightful.

Debra, I’d like to start by getting a little background information on you. Can you tell me about yourself? Born in New York, I started sewing as a child, and quilting as a teen. After several professional moves around the U.S. in adulthood, we finally settled in Maryland. Armed with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design, I worked for many years as an Art Director in the packaging industry. My independent graphic design business, Mixed Media, has operated since 1988. After rediscovering quilting in the late 1990's, I started teaching quilting locally in 2000.

I have steadily built up my own pattern line that includes 30+ beautiful florals,  24 birds, 12 butterflies, 12 Bible stories, 12+ Holiday Houses, over 70 signature stamps, several baby quilts, and many unique quilted projects and art quilts. I now teach and lecture nationally at guilds and quilt shops in the U.S. I enjoy and have had success entering and showing in national shows, and have had quilts published in calendars, quilt books and on web sites. My intentions are to continue lecturing and teaching, to evolve into an international quilter/speaker/author and to travel the world through quilting.

Prairie Point Stocking

What was your very first quilting pattern, and how did it come about? My first pattern was my Prairie Point Stocking pattern. I designed this pattern in 1999 for our new house. It was just for personal use. I could not find a nice affordable pre made stocking so I decided to make my own. I made 5 stockings for my family and brought them to my local quilt shop for show and tell. Well, that show and tell ended up providing my first teaching opportunity. The owner asked if I had a pattern and would teach a class. I had to make a "real" pattern with directions for my class. That was the beginning of Zebra Patterns even though I did not know it at the time. Being a graphic designer the layout, photography and pattern making was very natural and easy. However - writing out those directions was not on my “favorite things to do” list for sure. And guess what … It has NOT moved up on the charts in my life to this day! I love everything about patterning, except all the written copy! UGH!

Baltimore stamp design by Debra Gabel

How do you think your background as a graphic designer has influenced your style? Being a graphic designer is the reason so many of my patterns include type. I LOVE LOVE LOVE typography. I love bold graphic messaging. My signature stripes are included in most of my work. I tend to use bold jewel tones and design my patterns with “simplified reality” as my main intention. Being a graphic designer I pay close attention to line and composition. I design with an artist’s eye in a quilter’s world. I have been using computers and design software since 1984. I used the original Illustrator software. It was AMAZING to be able to draw perfect circles and lines without a radiograph back then!

Debra’s new book

What was your very first job? your worst/most unpleasant job?  My first job was babysitting at 12 years old. Funny, but that is where I learned to do raw edge appliqué. I was and still am a high strung individual. I would always need something to do when the children were napping while babysitting. I worked for a lady who was a quilter. She found out that I was artistic and asked if I wanted to help her with her professional craft business. She made pillows and totes with Raw Edge Appliqué way back in 1974 and sold them on the ACC circuit! No fusible — just limited calico fabrics and pins. When the children were resting I would cut out appliqués from cotton. That is how far back I go with raw edge appliqué. I worked with her though out high school and college.

My most unpleasant job … hmmm … that is an interesting question. I usually find something fun and interesting in everything I do and have done. That said, I do recall an unpleasant experience that was a bit bizarre. I was around 16-17 years old and I worked in a sporting goods store part time. I sold sports equipment and restrung tennis rackets. I made good money doing the stringing but I was required to cover the floor if we got busy. One day a large woman walked in looking for a pair of tennis shoes. She told me she was size 8. She picked a pair of sneakers and I sat down to help her try on the shoes. I put on the first shoe and she said gruffly “I will do the other one!” I thought hmm that is strange because I do not think this woman can even reach her feet ~ Well she bent over and started twisting her knee. A few brisk turns and her leg came off below the knee! Oh MY! I was not expecting that! I just sat with my mouth open. I think the lady enjoyed my reaction as she looked at me and gave a half smile smirk. The good news is that she did buy the shoes and I did get my commission. That was not too much fun at the time - but is quite comical now! 

You produce an amazing number of designs. You just put out Quilt Blocks Across America, and Quilt Blocks Around the World is coming out soon. How do you get so much done so fast? I used to be a designer of handled paper shopping bags, gift wrap and gift boxes. I worked as art director for a few large paper and packaging companies. I had the pleasure of designing several national lines of gift packaging. I got quite quick at designing on a computer as early as 1984. As mentioned earlier I designed art with Adobe Illustrator on a little Macintosh! I have been using computers since then to do design layout and production art. The computer make things go so much faster than hand drawing and if you know how to do it, you can design and be creating almost camera ready art at the same time. 

I am also a self diagnosed ADD and OCD person. I just try to harness all the energy and obssession into design. I really think about designs all the time. That is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that I look at the world a bit more scrupulously that the average Joe. I get an idea, might write it down, but have that idea in my head. Once a clear direction is worked out in my head I go right to design. When I sit down to actually create a pattern I get it done quickly because the whole thing was already “baked” in my head. It becomes a simple task to translate the idea digitally. All of that saves a bunch of time. 

So the answer is “with focused obsession and 25 years of experience it comes naturally to me.” I also work fast and confidently. I am a production junkie. If I am producing and creating I just get more and more fired up. 

If you weren’t doing what you do now as a career, what would you like to do? Tell me five jobs that you might consider (setting aside things like your age, need for training, etc.)  Hmm....I am doing exactly what I want to be doing and should be doing but to answer the hypothetical question here goes…
I could picture myself as:

• a psychologist - love all that head shrinking analysis and I like to help people figure out problems.
• a teacher of smart highly motivated students
• quilt shop owner - I would love to make the most inspirational quilt shop in the world!
• interior designer for really rich people (LOL)
• a costume designer for Cirque du Soleil – and if talent does not count I would be one of those little bendy Asian girls in Cirque who puts her feet on her head like a pretzel.

What was the last movie you went to see? Book read?
The Help. Great movie!
Last book.... The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I read and re read that book often.

What would you most like to accomplish – on a professional or personal level – in the next 5 years? Professionally, I would like to continue to grow my business to be able to hire several employees. I have always wanted a business where people LOVED to come to work, a place where creativity, sharing and personal/professional growth are premier. I would like to get out my fabric lines and continue to author books and patterns. I would like to be traveling internationally lecturing and teaching.
 

Personally, I would like to continue to learn, grow, and create every possible minute.

“It’s a New Day” by Debra Gabel

Everyone, make sure you check out Debra’s gallery of art quilts on her website here. And if you want more information, visit:

website: www.zebrapatterns.com
blog: zebrapatterns.wordpress.com
email: debra@zebrapatterns.com
Facebook: Debra Ogden Gabel
Facebook Page: Zebra Patterns

NOTE: Debra is giving away a copy of my book, Point, Click, Quilt! on her blog here.