Trick or Treat!

First the trick, these aren't designs on paper or canvas,

 but rather drawing and marbling in royal icing on cookies!

Although cooking and baking don't generally qualify as fun in my book,

making fancy holiday cookies does.

Guess it's because I get to draw and make something beautiful,

with the added bonus that these cookies taste amazing!

If you're interested, here are two other posts that talk a little about the how-tos ~

here and here.

And while you're at it, check out the ultimate cookie queen,

Sweet Sugar Belle.

She's got all the answers!

Finally, a couple images purposely defocused with creative color,

just for fun.

Happy Halloween!

Hope your day is filled with treats :)

The Changeling

In my last post, I mentioned that while teaching at ISQSC

I had a free afternoon to walk around town with my camera.

I spent part of the time chasing reflections,

which is kind of like playing with a changeling ~

magical, elusive, dancing this way and that.

Should I shoot straight on or at an angle?

In full light or shadow?  Low POV or high?

High contrast or low?  

Look for vivid color harmonies or subdued?

Question after question arose, as I tried to find logic within the

light, angles, colors, and shifting shimmer.

Yes, indeed......like playing with a changeling!

Design Framework

Whether making a photograph, art quilt, or piece of elaborate beaded jewelry,

 I first seek out, or design, a solid framework for the artwork.

The framework is a combination of tonal values and lines.

This is the base that all other elements,

 such as mood, color, story, and meaning,

rest upon.

While teaching textile and beadwork at ISQSC in Fargo, ND,

I had one long afternoon to myself.

So, I walked the downtown streets and alleys with my camera.

I think the design framework is particularly apparent in the geometry

 that I found within the urban landscape.

Wishing you a creative week!

The Latest

A couple bits of goodness ~

Recently, I was featured in the Impossible Project's Analog Travelog Series.

This is the Polaroid version of my summer trip to the city,

 taken with Impossible film.

Hope you can check it out - here.

Secondly, I just got back from teaching at the 

Indian Summer Quilt Show & Conference.

Many thanks to Muriel, Marcia, the friendly guild members, and all

the enthusiastic students that I had the pleasure of working with.

It was a delightful week!!!

Wishing you joy in creating.....

it's a wonderful way to live.