Franki Kohler

Oakleaf Hydrangea II

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Franki Kohler

I fussed and dithered and tried like crazy to use a couple of the fabrics I had pulled out for this project but in the end I edited down to just a few that really worked. I have to stop treating my audition fabrics like my dinner plate — I do not have to use every fabric that starts out as a possibility!

I’m very pleased that the silk deconstructed screen print fabric found a home here. It so nicely echoes the deconstruction of one of the oakleaf hydrangea leaves. And the Ghana wax batik mimics the blossom.

The copper and blue fabric — another ‘find’ while cleaning up my stash — is a hand-painted fat quarter. Straightening my stash continues to reap big rewards! And I was happy to find that some of the fabric I painted in Lonni Rossi’s surface design class worked well at the top — that’s linen painted with Setacolor opaque.

This piece really speaks to me of the earth and the cycles of nature — fresh and fading.

Posted in Art quilts | Tagged deconstructed silkscreen, Ghana, Oakleaf Hydrangea, surface design, wax batik | 8 Comments

Threadpainting Begins

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Franki Kohler

For me, the beginning of every art quilt with a cyanotype is threadpainting the print. And as soon as that happens I become excited about how the print will look when it is quilted. It’s hard for me not to jump ahead imagining the great definition that the quilting will provide, the real puff of each leaf and flower, the color and texture that the quilting will add. For now, however, it’s time to stay in the moment and enjoy the process as it unfolds.

The print captured so much detail! Many of the veins of the leaves are clear and easy to stitch in. And the papery-thin flowers create such an elegant, wispy design.

This print is on China silk, approximately 20″ x 24″. I’m using silk thread. It is stabilized with Pellon Shirt Tailor, a fusible interfacing that works perfectly for this kind of work. Unlike the paper tear-away products that I use, the Shirt Tailor will remain on the back of the silk print. Because of this, I stop every few leaves or flowers and give the entire piece a gentle steam pressing. It’s important to me that the silk remains flat and true to size.

I finished sorting and organizing my green fabrics yesterday and in the process discovered a piece of silk fabric that I screen printed in a class with Kerr Grabowski in 2007. Kerr uses a method she calls Deconstructed Screenprinting. I think this small piece may find its way into this quilt.

For now its living with the other fabrics I’m auditioning. We’ll see what happens.

Posted in Art quilts, Work in progress | Tagged cyanotype, deconstructed screenprinting, Kerr Grabowski, silk, threadpainting | 11 Comments

Back to a Cyanotype Print

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Franki Kohler

It’s time to start something new. I’m auditioning fabrics for possible use with a cyanotype print I did last year.

I shared the original printing of the oakleaf hydrangea here and the learning experience that came shortly after here. There is only one commercial fabric in what I pulled (fabrics on the right). Most have been created by me; the remaining are hand made by other fabric artists. I don’t have a specific plan right now — I’ll just have to start putting fabric on the wall and see what happens.

Posted in Art quilts, Work in progress | Tagged cyanotype print, learning experience, Oakleaf Hydrangea, original printing | 14 Comments

Santa Fe is Serious About Art

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Franki Kohler

Yes, indeed, there is gallery after gallery on Canyon Road, but there is art and inspiration that everyone can enjoy on just about every street you drive or walk down. Here are some final shots I found inspiring.

Meet “MAThilda,” the first Art-o-mat installed in New Mexico. You can find it ‘. . .one block south of Santa Fe’s historic Plaza, across from La Fonda Hotel. Put in $5.00, pull the knob, and ker-plunk. . . You’re an Art Collector!’ What a great color and a great use for an old cigarette machine.

Across from the Post Office this bull’s head is put into action with the wind.

Local stones create a fence.

Branches create a fence.

A few final doors I couldn’t resist, like this substantial, secure example which welcomes you with a string of local chilis called a ristra.

This gate isn’t keeping anyone out. It’s just here to enjoy!

I didn’t see very many red doors. The follow-through on the color scheme was very fun.

I love the door-within-a-door or gate.

No explanation needed here. . .

or here.

I loved the way this entry begged you to come on in.

This last one looks rather plain

until you get up close to see the charming hardware.

From beginning to end, Santa Fe was a real treat. You can read about some of the other things I did while there here and here.

Posted in Inspiration, Travel | Tagged art-o-mat, branches, bull, doors, fences, New Mexico, Santa Fe, stones | 4 Comments

Doors

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Franki Kohler

Appreciating architectural details in Santa Fe can become a full-time occupation. My eye is always drawn to doors. The first two are on the front of the same house.

This wall and door provide privacy. When the greenery fills out in a few weeks the house will be completely obscured under its shade. I find the sunflower on blue tile very charming. There is a door knocker mid second row. I wonder if it really alerts the household.

Complete blue.

More blue — less security.

Nothing seems quite straight here. But the combination, including the crooked mail boxes, is so charming.

At first glance, this design may seem haphazard but I think it was carefully thought out. I particularly like the use of simple natural elements to create texture and privacy.

Posted in Inspiration, Travel | Tagged architectural details, blue, branches, Door, mail box, natural elements, Santa Fe, security, stone | 14 Comments

New World Cuisine – Chocolate!

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Franki Kohler

I’m in Santa Fe for a SAQA conference and had a morning open. My friend Carol Larson suggested a class on mole at Santa Fe School of Cooking and I said, “Count me in!” David joined us and we had a great time.

Chef Tracy Ritter took us through an historic background on chocolate, a variety of peppers and other essentials before the cooking began. Dishes to be prepared included:

Mole

Chipotle shrimp in adobo

Arroz verde

Calabacitas

Chipotle black beans with cacao

Warm Mayan chocolate pudding

Chef Ritter started by taking us through a primer on a variety of chilis that are used in southwest cooking, including their heat levels and fresh and dried appearance.

The mole was the first dish to assemble since it would take the longest to cook. Mole can consist of a wide variety of things — and, surprise! — it doesn’t always contain chocolate. We learned that the three primary cornerstones to a mole would include chilis (2 or more varieties), nuts and seeds, and fruit. Chef Ritter cooked a recipe that she has developed containing 19 ingredients including ancho and guajillo chiles, pecans, sesame seeds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), green apple, dried apricots, Mexican chocolate and bitter chocolate — this was, after all, a class about chocolate. Among the many essential steps of creating mole is toasting seeds, nuts, chilis and spices — toasting these ingredients releases flavors essential to the mole.

Here is Chef Ritter tending to the Calabacitas, a dish common to the southwest containing corn squash and beans — also known as the three sisters.

Chef Noa helps with final touches.

Once cooked, lunch is plated.

Mirrors make watching all the action so easy.

And here’s lunch. Chipotle shrimp in adobo are plated on top of the mole. Yum! Yum! Yum!

Having the historic and cultural background for the foods and preparation of the dishes was key to enjoying this class and meal. Future travel plans will include cooking classes for me.

Posted in In the Kitchen, Travel | Tagged carol larson, Chef Noa, chilis, chocolate, mexican chocolate, mole, pumpkin seeds, Santa Fe Cooking School, southwest cooking, Tracy Ritter | 6 Comments

Dinner with Deborah Madison

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Franki Kohler

I have long been a fan of Deborah Madison, her cooking philosophy, Greens, the San Francisco icon she opened years ago and, above all, her cook books. More than pages filled with recipes, her books are truly a culinary education. When I learned about a dinner/book-signing event at Camino, one of my favorite Oakland restaurants, I couldn’t get tickets fast enough. I picked up a copy of her new book, Vegetable Literacy and pulled out my well-worn copy of Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone and was ready.

We arrived for the event a few minutes early and chatted with the folks from Mariquita Farm of Watsonville, CA. They deliver farm-fresh vegetables once a month in front of the restaurant. Mariquita Farm also supplied all the produce for the menu that night.

Note: All photos by Shelley Kadota

Owners Russell Moore (Executive Chef) and Allison Hopelain put together a stunning menu. (The preface to each of the courses here reference the categories that Madison uses in the cookbook.)

Cocktails, passed finger foods, book signing and enjoying the ambiance of the restaurant occupied the first hour of the evening. Here’s Deborah signing and chatting.

Preparations in the open kitchen.

Just browsing the restaurant and watching the preparation was fun!

Here is a view of the restaurant from the kitchen.

About 7 p.m. we sat down to dinner. First course: Fava bean, beet and carrot salad with yogurt, sumac and herbs

A photo of the second and fourth courses was not available. Believe me, they were every bit as visually appetizing and delicious.

Third course: Wood oven-roasted asparagus with cardoons, farro, dukkah and sheepsmilk ricotta grilled in a fig leaf (We were advised not to eat the fig leaf.)

The recipes on the menu are not found (literally) in the book. Here is Deborah thanking Chef Russell Moore for his interpretation of her recipes for the menu.

The evening was a complete success. The food and wine were incredible, the service was impeccable and it was quite fun chatting with so many people who were toting cookbooks that they couldn’t wait to get home to. Bon Appetit!

Thank you again Shelley for sharing these beautiful photos!

Posted in Special Events | Tagged Allison Hopelain, Camino Restaurant, cookbook, Deborah Madison, Mariquita Farm, Russell Moore, Shelley Kadota, Vegetable Literacy | 4 Comments

Reorganizing the Stash

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Franki Kohler

Last week I did some printing and painting with my friend Denise. When I saw her fabric stash it was like a slap on the side of the head. Today I’ve begun the reorganization of my stash . . . top shelf done!

As I’m going through the stacks I’m weeding out the fabrics I won’t be using anymore and I’ve begun selecting fabrics for the next project. Based on the results with shelf one and the condition of shelf two, it’s clear how much easier the selection process will be in the future. Thank you Denise!

How do you organize your supplies?

Posted in Inspiration | Tagged Denise Oyama Miller, organizing | 11 Comments

Sunflower Scrap V Done

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Franki Kohler

After making several of these foot-square sunflower quilts my sister shared a half yard of sunflower fabric with me. When I saw Christy last month, she handed me a scrap of another sunflower fabric. It came together. . .

I shared the beginning of this piece here. The half yard of light-colored sunflower batik provided a perfect backdrop for the portion of a large sunflower on the darker batik fabric. Here it is well on its way.

For the first time, adding stems to the flowers made complete sense. I think the stems make the two fabrics more of an equal partnership here. What do you think?

I used 4 threads on this project: a variegated Madeira metallic for the large sunflower, 50-wt. DMC yellow-gold for the small sunflowers and some of the background quilting, 60-wt. Mettler thread in rust for leaves and the stem on the large sunflower and a 60-wt. Mettler in a neutral color for the rest of the background quilting.

As often happens, I had one set of beads out to fill the center of the flowers but changed my mind mid-course.

New images of the entire series can be seen on my gallery.

Posted in Art quilts | Tagged batik, Sunflower Scrap Series | 10 Comments

No One Likes Rejection

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Franki Kohler

but let’s face it, it’s part of life. I do my best to feel the sting of it and then let it go.

I received a bit of that sting yesterday when I learned that Woodwardia Wonder was rejected for an upcoming exhibit. I have been working on this piece since last December and I haven’t been able to share it here — one of the rules was that the work submitted for entry could not be published in any way before learning about acceptance or rejection for the exhibit. Now I can share it.

This quilt started with one of my favorite things to do — a sun print. Here it is, Setacolor Pernod yellow paint applied and fern frond firmly pinned in place.

Detail: that’s rice and rock salt scattered over the paint. Applique pins secure the tips of each leaf.

When dry, the fern, rice and salt are removed and the fabric is pressed with a hot iron. Now for the thread painting. I use a medium-weight tear-away stabilizer and copper-colored cotton thread to define the leaf clearly.

By mid-March I had completed the quilting. Here is the piece being blocked.

And then there are those beds to consider. Some pieces just yell “BEADS!” at me during the quilting process. I have to listen to that.

I bound and beaded it, then put the final touch on — metallic cooper paint defines the stem. The piece was completed and photographed by the end of March.