Quilt Cat

Sometimes I sew my quilts, and sometimes I paint them....

A Positive Class

...or was it negative? Actually it was both! Surface design, that is. As an experience it was positive... what we worked on was applied and discharged surface design - what I call positive and negative images. Continuing with my Arts in Education workshops through Associated Artists and the Arts Council, this time I was a guest at North Forsyth High School.

The art classroom was perfect for this workshop, having a large double sink station and a major exhaust system. We started with the negative - discharging - using Soft Scrub with bleach and bleach gel pens. Students stamped, drew and painted their designs...and thanks to the inspiration of Rayna Gillman's wonderful book I went loaded with unique stamping items like sliced pool noodles, bubble wrap, and rubber shelf liners. Fun, fun fun!

Next the students worked on the positive - applied - using craft paint with textile medium and the same techniques of stamping and painting to achieve their designs.

It is always inspiring to see what they come up with, and also to see what things they have been working on in their regular classes. One of the things that I saw on this visit were some really great linoleum block cuts and the prints they had made from them. They got to keep the left-over supplies from my workshop...I'm hoping they give them a try on those block cuts! I think they would get some great results, just as they did with me.

Holiday Wishes

This beautiful collage piece that I bought was made by Lisa Flowers Ross and it now lives in my studio. It says "Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come." I just love that.

For me the green tree represents a spirit of gratitude and a willingness to be open to growth and new possibilities, and I think without those two things opportunity will simply pass by. I like having this reminder close at hand...it keeps me in a right frame of mind.

As we come into the heart of this season of holiday celebrations, my wish for all of us is that we "keep our trees green" and wait with excited anticipation for the good things that will bless us all in the coming New Year.

:-)

Let It Snow!

Since I live where it rarely snows, I have had to satisfy my wish for a white Christmas by playing with virtual snowflakes...and it is FUN! Mrs. Goodneedle found this neat site Make-A-Flake where you can "cut" your own "paper" snowflakes. How cool is that?

I think I'll have to go and make some real ones with my kids...they're wishing for a white Christmas too!

Blessings of the season to you all!

I've Been Tagged!

Salem Stitcher has tagged me in a challenge where I am to go to my 4th photo file and pick the 4th photo, post it, then explain what it is...I take soooo many pictures, it's hard to tell, so here I go...let's see what I find..... (there's NO telling...)

Well, hardly a glamorous photo, but one that brings back great memories! Last year I had the privilege of being the interior designer for the renovation of the old Coast Guard Station on Ocracoke Island, which became the Eastern campus for The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, or NCCAT for short. It was one of my most favorite projects ever! This photo was taken on the day that the furniture arrived and was being installed, hence all the boxes. The building in the picture is the dining and staff quarters building; it is connected by a large deck and covered walkway to the main building. And in the far background is water...the views from this facility are AMAZING!

The people of NCCAT and the people I got to know on the island are just the best! And now, because of this project, I have a "very most favorite place to go." I fell totally in love with Ocracoke Island. I have to share a few more pictures...enjoy, and you'll see why I think it's such a fantastic place!

Pic 1 is the NCCAT campus, Pic 2 is the Ocracoke lighthouse, Pic 3 is this funky gnarly tree that caught my eye, Pic 4 is of some of the wild ponies on the island, Pic 5 is us surf fishing (the beach is pristine...all natural, no buildings!), Pic 6 is sunrise from the ferry (the only way to get there is by boat), and Pic 7 is a shot taken in the main lobby of NCCAT...notice the Mariner's Compass quilt...done by yours truly! (I had to make this quilt related somehow, right?)

So, now I'm supposed to tag 4 people...but I think I'll just tag you all! This is fun...be sure and let me know if you consider yourself tagged, so I can come visit and see what's in your 4th file!

got fabric?

Our bee - Miss Bee Haven - is selling those fabulous got fabric? shirts, with the proceeds to be gifted to the Women's Fund. If you are interested in having one for yourself and all of your friends, you can leave me a post here, or email me at KNFDesign@aol.com and I will get you sent to the right place for ordering. Sorry for any confusion for anyone who has gone to the Foundation's site looking for how to order! We are working in the background to give them a holiday surprise... :-)

Be sure and let me know how to get back in touch with you!

A "Miss Bee Haven" Christmas

Huh? Christmas? This motley crew?

Yep...that's us...the ladies of Miss Bee Haven at the annual Christmas dinner of Forsyth Piecers and Quilters Guild. What a HOOT! Casting aside the traditional notions of sparkle and elegance, we decided to live up to our name. Donning our do-rags and "Born to Quilt" tattoos (temporary ones!) along with our "Got Fabric?" tshirts created by our fearless leader Leanne, we turned a few heads to be sure! The Bees of the guild were asked to decorate tables...our table was decorated in black fabric and chain link with metallic red spirals, complete with a motorcycle riding animated Santa that played "Get Your Motor Runnin..." (I had a good time playing with that...it was just too funny!) But it was not all just for fun...it is also part of our fundraiser for The Women's Fund of Winston-Salem. The tshirts are for sale! Santa also rode off to a good home in the guild's Toys for Tots drive.

Thanks to my son John for being our photographer and capturing the memory of this fun evening!