Dark Matters

This is not a post about fabric or colours. It just happened that the month of February was the month to explore modern dance. Three different performances being so unique and thrilling in their choreography.
Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre
Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre group performed as a part of the Black History Month. ( on-stage)

Pina
Pina for Pina Bausch by Wim Wenders ( nominated as best foreign film Germany)
OMG!!!

Dark Matters
How lucky was I to get to this performance last night and getting prim seats. Award-winning choreographer Crystal Pite and his 6 dancers got a standing ovation .
Thrilling!

Values

This was always a grey area for me how to place fabric with prints and colour in an eye- catching and pleasing combination. I arrange my choices with instinct. Making a " scrappy quilt" I never think about values. Some quilts struck a core in me and I always wondered why? It is the value and colour which enhances the pattern?
So I signed up for Judi Warren Blaydon's class hosted by YHQG.
In a few words Judi explained:
Colour gets the credit and value does the work.


First we sorted our fabrics into darks, middle values and lights.

We all got the same geometric block template and worked on diverse solutions to express our own style.

1. The beginning. Values refers to the lightness or darkness of a certain area.

Here I exchanged different prints to make it more interesting. They still read as lights and darks.

class samples

( the upper right sample is made by Ilona - never quilted in her life and nailed it 100% Beautiful!)

Extreme Macros from a fabric lover

A few months ago I picked up a digital photography magazine and read an article about Thomas Shahan. As a student on a low budget he discovered by that by turning the camera lens the other way he achieved a macro image.

Use a fixed lens for example 50mm or 40mm , unscrew the lens and carefully place it in front of the camera. Lower the f-stop to get more light in. The focusing distance is reduced and the magnification increases.

So I took some objects from my sewing table like pins,snaps, spools and buttons and tried the technique.

Shopping trip to Buffalo

You ask me Buffalo..... I love to go. Yes, coupons can stretch your budget for crafter and quilters.
Joann's had 50% off on almost all notions and an additional 10% for President's Day and I bought several Clover Water Soluble Markers ($3.20). There is a fairly new Hobby Lobby On Military Rd and I got this fabric to make some shopping totes. I got this pattern from Noodlehead here.

Pages  ClothPaperScissors

I found the premiere issue at Barnes and Noble. A magazine dedicated to books and art journals.

Stopped at Target and found this:

The new Vaseline container in thumbnail size for travellers.

On my return to Toronto I detoured through Niagara -on-the Lake.

Bee Fabric

Love the tiny strawberry print from Japan.

I know that my friend Martha would love these little hedgehogs.

And the last stop was in the hamlet of Jordan at Stitch.  This is a gem for wool and fabric lovers!!!

Her charming interior wanted to make me sit down and knit. I will be back.

We are so good together!

Tea bags made from solid Kona fabric coral/snow.

Happy Valentine!

My favorite magazine arrived from Australia

This is number #4 from Paper Runway. Last year I got an email from Cybele Young, a well-known exquisite paper sculpture from Toronto that she was featured in one of the first publications. The magazine a little bit pricey with the postage from Australia is every dollar worth. Every issue features new artists. Truly, I am tired of the same repeats in some craft magazines. You can open  these magazines and see articles and I can tell by the style,  that this person took a class with this teacher and the new creation has very same  " finger prints" as the teacher.
I like Paper Runway's little details, paper goodies, a hello from one of the artists and the spine is lovingly Singer sewn.
PaperRunway paper goodies. This time: postcards illustrated by Grace Lee.

The next article is about TSA WORKS. Martin Boettger with his studio in Berlin installs huge paper structures.

Philip Sheffield

Read more about his stunning sculptural pieces here.

... and this is my farorite article it's about ART PARK. Why I like so much.... I think it's my dream. This is a story of Craig Rochfort and Paul McNeil setting up art spaces with the idea of exposing people to fresh ideas.

Lined String Bag

This is another sewing project I learned at the workroom. Gathering around a big cutting table you always meet funny, kind and like-minded people. The bag is lined with batting and perfect to carry your camera in or use it as a sock- knitting bag.

So last night after my yoga class I went to work and picked these fabrics.

Fabric  from Far Far Away and natural dyed checkered grey/white fabric from Japan. At midnight I finished that:

You can find also this on-line tutorial for a string bag here . Today I went to the post office and send the sleeping princess off to Germany.

Say: YOU CARE

Yes, it is February the month of candies, flowers and sending cards. Here is a quick project, punch a mini envelope out of paper, cut a heart out of red felt and string it on a red/white ribbon.

I left the banner for my postie/ postman on the mail box. Who wouldn't smile seeing this mail?
( P.S. but I don't smile at Canada's postage fee, for example a small envelope to London/Ontario $8.)

i-Phone Project 365

I am so happy to have uploaded photos of my first month in 2012. This fun app is like a memory lane for the past month. I had trouble getting it to my blog, taking photos and channeling through different photo apps to the project. This month new photo app I purchased is Scratch Cam. Not to get too lazy by pushing buttons back and forth on my i-phone I am taking Susan Tuttle's on-line class starting March.