Prep Work

(Above:  Yard and yards and yard of polyester stretch velvet from Spandex World ... already prepped with yards of Pellon's 805 Wonder Under ironed to the reverse.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Steve and I returned to Columbia after a glorious western adventure to Great Basin, Capitol Reef, and Zion National Parks.  We returned to a disaster area.  Why?  Well, before we left, a storm compromised part of our back roof, leaking in gallons of rain water, and taking down the sheet rock ceiling of our guest bathroom.  While we were gone, another summer storm ripped through downtown Columbia and hit our neighborhood particularly hard.  Our neighbor's half-dead, gigantic pecan tree toppled onto our parking lot.  It took down the electrical wires, cable/Internet wires, the security lamp, and the fence.  We've been dealing with tree removal services, Dominion Energy, AT&T, contractors, and insurance agents since we got back in town.  It's been crazy ... especially since my personal "to do" list included prepping material for an upcoming workshop for the Rocky Mountain Creative Quilters Guild!

(Above:  My ironing board ... in the process of ironing Wonder Under onto my newly purchased stash of polyester stretch velvet.)

Steve and I are driving to Colorado.  We leave at dawn on Wednesday.  Having taught two workshops in Wisconsin and another in Columbus, Ohio, I really needed to replenish my workshop supplies.  I bring EVERYTHING needed for my HOT workshop ... including a vast collection of polyester velvet already backed with Pellon's 805 Wonder Under, a heat activated adhesive.  I stock up on this product every time there's a great coupon at Joann Fabrics.  I was ready.  I ironed over 90 yard of Wonder Under onto the newly purchased stash!

 (Above:  Wonder Under ... painted with a thin wash of acrylic paint, stapled to the table in our framing garage.)

Another sixteen yard of Wonder Under was painted with thin washes of acrylic.  This is also needed for my HOT workshops, but that's not all!

 (Above:  A stack of 8" x 10" mats into which I've cut 4 1/4" x 6 1/4" openings.)

I promise that every participant in a two-day workshop will complete at least two finished and matted projects.  In order to fulfill this promise, I need an assortment of pre-cut mats.  So, I've been cutting mats! I think I'm ready to pack the cargo van on Tuesday afternoon!  I know I'm ready to see the Rocky Mountains!

 (Above:  Even on the Ski Slopes My Lipstick was Perfect, Wall of Ancestors. Anonymous, vintage photo with a collage of letters clipped from assorted ephemera.  Framed: 16" x 14".)

Yet with all these things happening, I still find a few minutes to alter another, anonymous photo.  I can't help myself.  I don't actually have another show scheduled for this installation but I can't stop seeing narratives in these neglected images.

 (Above:  I Lived in the Shadow of His First Wife, Wall of Ancestors. Anonymous, hand-colored photo in antique frame with convex glass.  16" x 12".)

Here's another piece in the same series ... and, of course ...

(Above:  Integration Wasn't Easy, Wall of Ancestors.  Altered, anonymous photo in antique frame.  13" x 15".)

... how could I resist this striking image?  It just had to be made!