It's been fun

 It's been such fun doing the photo class this year.  We have explored several ways of using the computer and our photos for getting creative and satisfying quilt results

Now it is time for you to practice, and next year we will go further and put together more wonderful quilt art.
Until I get my knee replaced there will not be any classes scheduled, but I will try and post various things for you to try so you won't forget about me and what a good time we will have when we do get back together.
I am going visiting me three daughters for most of July.  I will be about a week at each of their homes, and then off to teach at the Silk Painters International Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  And if that isn't enough fun it is the bi-annual Ricks Reunion, and my family is in charge, the first week of August.   The posts will be sparse during that time, but check now and then.
I'll look forward to seeing you again in the near future.
PS  e-mail me photos of your work to post.  bobbydi@charter.net

Finished

 Today I finished the  silk quilt created from photos of a magnolia blossom. A few posts back you can see it in progress when it was just copies of the drawings.   Now it is all quilted and everything.

Detail of the blossom.
THis Week will be our last photo class and I have something fun to show you.
See you in class.

Teaching in Riverside

 I will be teaching the FAR Group in Riverside tomorrow.  We will be doing "Crazy Patch Bobbin Work".  It is a quicker way to get the stitches between the blocks when you do crazy patch.

I had a bunch of indigo pieces and I love them put together with just white #5 crochet cotton.  I did a few hand stitches and added some chalk white beads just for fun to see how it would look.  It looks good.   I only used the utility stitches, nothing fancy.  We will have to explore more of this later.

What fun

I

 I have had three days in my "studio" creating and playing.  I am so excited with the results.

 Using a photograph I had taken I traced a simplified version of the lines and had it enlarged at 125%, 150%, and 200% and then started to play with the images.  I love, love, love what is happening.

 This is a detail of putting it together ready to quilt.  It is raw edge applique.

 I am using the artistic manipulated photo printed on fabric as part of the finished quilt.  I love how it is coming together.  The main quilt still needs the quilting, but the little photo part has been quilted cactus prickles and all.

The magnolia is being done in hand dyed silks and I am doing a turned edge technique.  It takes longer, but I think it will look great when it is finished.  I could hardly sleep last night I am so excited to get back to work on these two projects and so jazzed to show you all how it is done.

Photo Class has started

Photo class has started at Claremont.  The first week is always a bit hectic as everyone needs to get acquainted with their computers.  Next week we will be old friends, (I hope) if everyone did their homework and practiced what was taught last Wednesday.

Yesterday afternoon I came home and worked on the border of this quilt.  I had already printed the photo on the fabric, but did not know what would make it interesting and fun to do.  I had purchased the "Child friendly" fabrics awhile back when I thought I would do something else with them.  Then I thought of making the border look like children's building blocks.  I printed block letters and numbers onto fabric and cut them out and set them in a tumbling block pattern I had used much larger for a grandchild quilt a few years ago.  I think they worked.  I'm excited to finish this quilt.  It would be a good Christmas gift for my sister.  The child in the middle is our mother, flanked by her sister Val and brother Homer.  Love the dolls and the hair bows.

Don't forget to practice!

"Blue Boat on Capri"

If you would like to see all of my paintings from Italy, click here.