Patt Blair's Students at Alisomar (Empty Spools Seminars)

All the while we are using our inks to create, this is the landscape at Asilomar....a slice of heaven for sure.

Patt Blair, our instructor,  said if you can trace and see, you can create something beautiful and I had to take that leap of faith because I didn't share those thoughts before this class.  I thought you had to be an artist with the ability to draw to create art....guess I was wrong!!!  Using Patt's E-Z Drawing Method we were all able to trace and ink our way to our own art quilts....

In many cases, textures were added using rubbing plates.  This gentleman's shirt is an example of a rubbing plate used behind the fabric to create the design. 

These are some samples from the students work in Patt's class.  None of them are mine, I'm saving that for the next post....yes I'm very naughty!!!

Grins and Smiles,
Kelly

The Trip to Alisomar

Southern California is so beautiful.  I narrowly escaped the snow storm and arrived in San Diego Wednesday afternoon.   Thursday morning my girlfriend and I started our trip north to Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove California.  The photos I'm posting are of the scenery along the way. 

Mountains!!!  Something the area of Ohio I live in doesn't have.

 

We stayed the night in Morro Bay last night in a lovely hotel directly across the street from the Cotton Ball Quilt Shop but we arrived after it had closed and left before it opened.

Wildlife...up close and personal....

 

....otters playing in the water....so fun to watch.

 friendly squirrels....a gaggle of them....(is there a word for a group of squirrel Gene?)

 Elephant seals deliver their pups on these beaches....between Morro Bay and Pacific Grove.

A real treat for the eyes of a winter toasted Ohioan for sure.

Amazing views all along Route 1 going up the coast.

A rare site on the beach....that winter toasted Ohioan...yep...I went for a brisk walk on the beach after unpacking here at Asilomar.  All I can say is I'm so incredibally happy to be here and I'm tail wagging excited about my class tomorrow :)

Thanks for sharing the road with me today!

Big Warm Smiles,

Kelly

International Quilter Weekend

Did you know you only have one week before International Quilter Weekend Begins?  Do you have any big plans? 

Graphic from Stamping Julie...CLICK HERE to visit and download this page for yourself

I made BIG PLANS several months ago and I'm so excited my toes are even tickled!  I'm headed to an Empty Spools Seminar at the Asilomar Conference Center in California....yep, leaving the snow behind for awhile!  

I'm going with a dear friend and I'll be celebrating my 50th birthday while I'm there.  This trip has been in the works for months and it is intended to nourish my creative soul.  I have never taken a 5 day quilting class and I'm really venturing into scary territory....I'm taking an art quilting class with Patt Blair, Textile Artist and Quilter.  I'm going to learn how to take a photo and turn it into an amazing art quilt.  I love art quilts and have several of Susan Brubaker Knapp's pieces. 

This is Vanity, a Susan Brubaker Knapp work of art that I own and absolutely love.  You've probably seen it on the cover of Quilting Arts Magazine a few years back.  I have dreamed of taking a class with Susan but my schedule and her's has not worked out as of yet so I'm tickled pink to be taking an art class with Patt Blair.  

Fear?  Oh yes...tons of it...and it got so bad I actually e-mailed Patt a few times.  She is so sweet and has answered every question with wonderful detail.  I'm not an artist...and when I say that....I really mean it.  I draw primitive stick figures and houses....never had a class in art in my entire ...almost 50 years!   This is a huge step for me and I have not chosen my photo yet.  A few weeks ago I surfed the internet for all sorts of images that might inspire me and I found this one:

Blue Mountain by Corina St. Martin

Isn't it absolutely amazing?  I fell in love instantly.  Naturally I can't take her photo and make an art quilt without her written permission...guess what????  I have her permission!!!  She was so kind in granting me permission to use it as an inspiration and I'm really considering using it too....except I'm still scared.  Do you think I can do it?  Make an art quilt that looks something like a real elephant? 

Do you know about the Empty Spools Seminars ?   Just in case this is the first time you are hearing about their seminars I'll give you a quick bit of information.  They have five 5 day seminars and there are 11 teachers and you get to take a 5 day class with one of them.  Click on the link above and check it out for yourself.

So...what do you think?  Do you have any recommendations for me?  Have you taken a class with Patt Blair before and what did you think?  I hear she is a great teacher so that helps me relax somewhat.  I'll be honest with you...my fear is having a piece of cloth that looks like I poured ink or pain on it without any form or reason.  Perhaps I should take a piece and do that when I get there so my fear is cleansed and I can get on with it...

Smiles,

Kelly

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