Colleen's Quilts

New Lights

2012-02-02T13:33:00.002-05:00

This may not be very exciting to you. But I am sooo excited as today an electrician came to install some new track lights for me in my studio. There is a huge long boring story behind this as the box of lights has been sitting in the studio for way too long but I won't bore you. It has become a joke actually in the family but I have been patiently waiting for a friend to install them-for months.

But today was the day. Look up at the ceiling-very exciting to have it done.

I had to clean before they came as they warned me about drywall dust. Not much dust at all but it is very nice to have a really clean studio.

This is taken with just the recessed lights on and daylight. The colors when I photograph are really washed out in comparison to how I see them.

This is a little better and brighter I think but I will have to angle the lights differently now that I see this. But definitely truer to the actual colors I see without really fussing with my camera settings.

One more picture of clear clean tables.

And now I will go deal with this. And not tell my family because the saga of the lights continues.

I also need to quickly get to work on the piece you just saw on my design board which is due on Sunday. I feel remarkably relaxed since I have to travel to Vermont tomorrow. The dog ate my homework or more likely the airlines lost my luggage would be a good excuse. I shouldn't even say that as both have happened before.

And I think I am just not so nervous about my class anymore. I am really accepting where I am and trying to not be impatient with moving forward. Challenged and working hard but not nervous. Nice to be back and realize how crazy I can make myself.

Jumping All the Way In

2012-01-27T21:48:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I haven't posted in such a long time. A nasty cold which turned into a sinus infection wiped me out. And a reaction to an antibiotic. And the rest of the time , I have disappeared into my studio. In my studio, hours fly by and I look up and can't believe it's time to go pick up the kids at 3. I am working very hard and really feel driven to get everything I can from my workshop. My days have flown by and I truly have jumped all the way into this online workshop given by Lisa Call.

Reading, journaling, thinking again before I touch the fabric. Learning how to give myself parameters for a piece and then critique it so the next one can be different and improved. And figuring out how I work and where I waste time and procrastinate. I am almost done with the Space and Repetition assignment due February 5th and I want to re-work the one ( Color and Value) from last week.

I just selfishly want to keep them to myself for now. I feel self-conscious showing them to you. I haven't figured out why yet. I guess when I am ready you will see them. Right now, I feel as if I am working very hard and have yet to be overly impressed with my outcome. Don't get me wrong- I am very,very excited about this whole class process and what I am learning. There is always so much to learn. But this is truly a great experience and I have jumped all the way in.

Seeing A Little Light From Down Under

2012-01-19T20:32:00.000-05:00

I am deep in week two of my online class given by Lisa Call. The past two weeks I have buried myself in reading information, thinking time, consistent journaling and actual work.

Last week we began by setting a theme or inspiration for our series and set parameters for ourselves: how large it would be, what finished would be for a particular piece and then needed to complete a sketch for our series that we would work from. All that information needed to be completed and logged into a private blog before the next 90 minute lecture on Sunday night. So here I share:

1. My Theme/Inspiration/Intention: Finding beauty in the architectural rooflines and windows of our local botanical garden, the Frederik Meijer Gardens.

Frederik Meijer Botanical Gardens

2. I wanted to use a motif incorporating and abstracting lines so this will be my motif. I set the parameters of working in a 3x3 foot size. ( I have never set a specific size for myself and stuck with it: challenge #1) I did specify that I would not drive myself crazy and try to actually complete the machine quilting during this workshop.

Series Motif

3. My final sketch for the series in week one:

Colleen Kole, 2012, Initial Sketch for Series Workshop

I haven't worked with lines before so thought this would be another challenge for me. I loved the making of the lines and hope for them to evolve into a little bit softer lines.

But as I have found this week, week two, you really have to be focused on your original intention for the series and shut the thousands of doors that you find when you start something new. That is the reason you come back to intention -which I fought , kicked and screamed about last week. I didn't want to do it.

Intention saved me this week. (More on week two later. )

Whew- I am pushing and pushing and loving putting all the pieces and parts together of what I had previously learned. Great stuff if you are thinking of taking Lisa's workshop.

Deep in The Rabbit Hole

2012-01-12T23:11:00.000-05:00

I signed up for an 8 week online class with Lisa Call called "Working In A Series". It actually was my Christmas present from my husband, Marc. Yes, a very sweet man who encouraged me to try it . Ok, I begged and he agreed for it to be my present. I really need nothing else.

Well, there is no "trying it". I am deep in the rabbit hole soaking it all up , pondering, making right brain meet left brain (ouch-very painful experience) , stomping occasionally having little fits and thinking things through in ways I never have before. Starting and starting again.

The online format to me was questionable with an art class. But Lisa has methodically and meticulously set up a private blog forum for the class. We receive e-mails three times weekly with loads of reference material and can post questions on the blog as much as we would like. That is in addition to lectures via conference calls -five 90 minute lectures. The first one was Sunday night and we are off and running with potential ideas for a series. Assignments are given and due dates described with finished work posted on the private blog.

I have to admit that I have not had intention, theme or meaning associated with my art. A whole new world is opening up for me. I am working hard and not ready to share yet. But I will. When I am ready. I am going to take my time with this one and try to push myself to understand working in a series.

Right now, I am deep, deep in the rabbit hole doing the work.

If you have an inclination to take her class, jump in. Soon. Lisa is a wonderful teacher. Week one assignment due Sunday.

Shhh...It's A Secret

2012-01-09T22:20:00.001-05:00

I am the worst person at keeping a secret. I just can't do it. I really was going to keep it to myself. But then you would wonder why I am so boring and why I am doing nothing. So, here it is: I am taking a class online. For the next 8 weeks. Can you guess with who?

Playing a Little More

2012-01-06T10:01:00.000-05:00

I am totally enthralled with this old piece I found in my work basket. Scraps of Japanese fabric which are perfect for hand stitching.

And thank you to the wonderful Lynne who gave me simple direct instructions for changing the size on this image. Hopefully my blog will load faster for you.

One more day of studio cleaning and re-organizing for me. I can't wait to settle back in again.

Trying to Figure It Out

2012-01-05T12:49:00.000-05:00

I took a photography class. I should have taken Photoshop class. Bear with me while I try a few pictures...
Just trying to see if these download faster and are appropriate for web uploading.

I have been using my I-photo and directly uploading them to Blogger. I think that was not a good idea as
over the long holiday weekend I had difficulty uploading. Any one out there using iPhoto and how are you uploading to Blogger?

I know-I should have been using Photoshop, right? Just seems like an extra step?

Thanks if you have an answer for my little computer brain.

Done Hibernating

2012-01-01T13:51:00.001-05:00

I traveled to Vermont the day after Christmas, and I feel like I was a bear hibernating for the past week. The weather was really dreary-rain, snow, rain but not unusual for this week.

I would sleep, read, play games with the kids and then come up for food. The daily walks never stopped. There was the occasional burst of energy but just lack of focus. I was getting frustrated and then I was reminded by my husband that it's ok to take a vacation.

So, I relaxed and gave in to the vacation. And I have woken up and feel much better. But I forgot the proper pile of fabric I had sitting on my table to bring with me. So, I made do with what was here without panicking.

Charity Baby Quilt, 2012, 36x36

Made a charity quilt to get going again.

I feel ready to move into 2012. Last year was my year of the technique learning as much as I could about different techniques and I believe this year is the- year of focus and doing the work.

Happy New Year!

Peace to All of You

2011-12-24T23:00:00.000-05:00

Take some time to slow down and enjoy the day. Look closely at the beauty the season offers us. And enjoy the wonder of the child Jesus born many years ago on that first Christmas Day.

I'll be taking a few days off with my family. I look forward to some slower hand stitching over the next week. It will feel great after all the busyness of the past few weeks.

Merry Christmas to you and your families! Hugs to all!

New Friends

2011-12-23T17:38:00.001-05:00

I have some new friends. They haven't lived in America for long-only 15months they reminded me today. I have been helping them for a year now get settled here after their move from Bhutan. Prior to moving here, they lived in a refugee camp for 17 years. Yes, 17 years in a bamboo hut and cooking over an open fire but they went to school and proudly could speak some English when they arrived. They weren't allowed back to their native land of Nepal nor did Bhutan want the refugees so they were stranded in this camp along with thousands of others.

I have had the privilege of taking them to their first grocery store trip, figuring out why there are three sizes of shoes on one box, helping them fill out paperwork, taking them to doctors appointments and just plain visiting with them and talking to them. I have tried their foods and they have disliked my foods. And they are friends enough to tell me why. :) I have been at the airport when more of their family members have arrived and celebrated with them. I have celebrated when Sita called me in Vermont and told me she could drive now and had a job. Both are now employed at a bakery.

When I asked them where they wanted to visit this month, they asked to go to the Meijer Botanical Gardens Festival of Trees. Today was the day we went to visit. The chatter amongst the two of them on the drive was amazing as they tried to figure out why we cut a tree down, put it inside and throw it away. The conclusion at the end of the drive was, if they "do the American custom" they will buy one in a pot and keep it. Good for them.

As we looked at the trees, each tree was decorated to represent a specific country and many questions again were asked about where the countries are and why they celebrate certain ways. They just want to know it all and their excitement over anything new just really makes me melt. I just love their enthusiasm.

But the absolute best moment of the day was when we entered the actual conservatory which was hot and humid and filled with bamboo at the entryway. Sita looked at me and said, "This is what my homeland was like and this is how I built my house with bamboo. " She sat on a bench and said, "Thank you very much for bringing me today. " I have never seen her smile brighter.

That was an absolutely perfect Christmas gift for me. I really need nothing more.

Be content and blessed by where we live, my friends.

A Little Sharing

2011-12-16T07:46:00.001-05:00

Thanks for liking my creations-warms my heart to even have you check in! The felted yarn basket was well received last night and that was a relief.

I am tired today. And I need to clean, badly. So today I have a "share" for you.

In your free time this weekend this weekend ( if you have any or find any) go to Deidre Adam's blog and follow her posts on her recent commission process. I read this and re-read this and stayed awake all night thinking-my mind was just buzzing with the possibilities.

I always have lots of possibilities. And that makes my day job very exciting.

Be creative, my friends!

Moving Along With Gifts 2, 3 and 4

2011-12-14T23:20:00.001-05:00

Sounds like Dr Seuss , doesn't it? Thing 1 and Thing 2....Well, yes, I still have my sanity. And I am still laughing. I did finish some gifts so that made me feel a little better and hope to move on to the prep for the holidays after this weekend. My family party is this weekend so I am glad I finished my sister's quilt in just the right amount of time to say-woo-hoo I finished just in time!

Maureen's Quilt
52x 55 , 2011

Commercial Kona and Lotta Jansdotter print

Quick, easy and simple and hopefully, exactly what she wanted. She wanted one print and the rest solids- many years ago when she requested one. So we'll see. If she doesn't want it, my husband said he is the taker of this quilt. That really surprised me. This was just fun to do as I had no expectations as to what wonderful art it needed to be. And to think it was for my sister really added to the joy of planning it and completing it.

And thing 2 and thing 3 are done too.

This is a scarf for the rather selective daughter written about previously. These are her colors and the color of her coat so let's hope she likes it. If not, I have purchased the perfect tag for her present. I have kept it a secret so we'll see about this too.

And lastly, this silly felted yarn basket I wrote about last time. I meant it for my "secret sister" in a new bee I belong to. It is just the container for her gift so I am no longer going to stress about it. Everything I have for her fits inside the basket so it will be the gift bag. It just turned out larger than I wanted but easily fits several skeins of yarn. ( It wasn't a hat as my daughter thought it was going to be. :)

At the end of last night when I had finished three gifts, I wondered: Do we not make gifts for others because we feel our gift is " inadequate" or because the amount of work is just too much? I think I feel self conscious that they might not like what I have made for them. Or that it will not measure up to what others have made. I am 50 years old- not in high school anymore. Time to get over it and have some self confidence I think. I do enjoy making for others. That has been my fun this Christmas!

Be creative, my friends.

And So It Goes

2011-12-13T00:17:00.002-05:00

I have to laugh-really laugh. My family is great although just doesn't know what to do with me at times.

I asked them what they thought of my latest handmade gift.

Child #1: Yes, I think that anyone would be glad to get something handmade. Good job, Mom.

Child #2: What is it? (This is the same child if I ask about how my outfit looks she will respond-it depends -are you staying home or going out? Brutal honesty...from this child.)

Husband (wise and previously been through the" make a Christmas gift season") : Who is this for? Any cookies this year? Have you thought about Christmas cards?

My response-

Child #1-Thanks
Child #2-It is a felted yarn basket. For you. Your only gift. What you have always wanted. To store your yarn. What every 16 year old wants.

Husband: No cookies this year. No Christmas card either. Make your own or start addressing cards.

Oh boy. Maybe there is a reason I stopped making gifts the month of Christmas.

Maybe I should of thought of it in July.

:):):)

Happy Sewing, my fiends. No friends, that is. Way too late to be blogging...

For Your Wish List Day #2: More Book Reviews

2011-12-09T18:13:00.001-05:00

I am just moving along on making those Christmas gifts one at a time. I wisely knew my sister's quilt would take me the longest so that is what I have focused on the past few days. There is a little bit of unsewing needing to be done on a few crooked lines. Tonight I will knit though on my first gift due on Thursday.

More book reviews on some really good picks:

1. Ilze Aviks Workbooks #1 and #2 . Beautiful workbooks which she describes in the introduction as "not a how-to stitch book---it is an investigation into the stitched mark " and that describes this book completely. I love them and look forward to bringing them with me to Vermont on vacation soon. A slower project will be going with me. ( Yes, you will see this too but just not ready to share yet.)

2. Rayna Gillman's new book: Create Your own Freeform Quilt. This book on improvisational quilting is a delight and really gives you the freedom to explore what you can do with all kinds of fabrics and makes good use of scraps and the undesirables you may have. It is another read from the front to back kind book. You will read it again and again!

3. PUSH Stitchery:30 Artists Explore The Boundaries of Stitched Art Believe it or not, I found this little book at a local outlet store for a few dollars. It looked like it had been used but for a few bucks, it was a steal. Very , very cool book of 30 textile artists who have absolutely pushed the outside limits of the textile arts. It was a current find and it sits proudly on my coffee table as I enjoy it -artist by artist.

Any books you would like to add?

Have fun working on Christmas things this weekend, my friends.

For Your Wish List Day #1 : Book Reviews

2011-12-07T18:32:00.001-05:00

In case you are looking for quilty things or books to put on your wish list for Christmas, I will spend the next few days reviewing some books and notions I have put to good use over the past few months. If I spend money on anything or am a sucker for anything, it's the books. My book wish list is always long and I do read the instructional books, sometimes from cover to cover.

So, in no particular order or preference, here we go.

1. Instinctive Quilt Art by Bethan Ash. This is a newly published book recommended on Lisa Call's blog a month or so ago. It is a beautiful cloth covered book that really is nice to touch. Other than the touch factor:), the contents regarding improvisational quilting really are superb. It is divided into exercises and examples from many influential art quilters: Bethan Ash, Lisa Call, Terri Jarrod-Dimond, Elizabeth Brimelow and the list goes on. It is definitely an instructional book with many , many pictures to inspire as well. Techniques are mainly fused but could easily be adapted to pieced quilts. Worth the money!

2. Finding Your Own Visual Language by Jane Dunnewold, Claire Benn and Leslie Morgan. I purchased this book when I went to their workshop last spring and had put it away until fall. I have enjoyed some of the visual exercises (am still at the beginning of the exercises) and this is another must have for purposes of making your own mark on fabric or with fabric. It is not just a surface design technique book, but a means of digging deep and expressing yourself with your medium. Another must have and again, worth the money.

3. Dyes and Paints by Elin Noble. This is a book I have borrowed from a friend and one I am reading a chapter at a time. It is a thorough explanation of applying color to fabric and it is filling in the gaps of the other technique books I have on dyeing. Every "famous" fabric dyer had their own methodology even though the process is basically the same. Elin, from what I have read so far, has freely shared both the science behind why it works and how it works. I love this book and wish I would have purchased it three years ago when I first started dyeing fabric. It's on my wish list for Christmas.

That's a start for you to puruse and I 'll have more tomorrow. Do you have any good reads you would like to pass on?

Be creative, my friends!

Don't Stop Now

2011-12-05T07:41:00.001-05:00

It has been almost a week since I last wrote. Where did the week go? Everything has ramped up in speed and just keeps going. I have been busy, too, both with making gifts and enjoying some of my Christmas events.

Marc and I went to the UICA's Holiday Artisan Market on Friday night. I was really surprised at the amount of people that were there and it was difficult to move around and see everyone's booths. I hope that they find a new solution next year for these artists because it was not conducive to shopping. I did buy a beautiful pair of earrings to gift but felt sorry for artists whose booths were blocked by odd table placement. I look forward to that event and it was rather disappointing because of the venue- not the art. I, also, went to the Lowell Artisans Market on Saturday. It was definitely a better venue and the crowds didn't overwhelm the merchandise. (Yes, I am looking for a place to sell things next year. )

I am currently working on my sister's gift. I have the top and back pieced and need to sandwich it for the machine quilting. When I measured it last night, I had a slight bit of panic as this little couch throw is 52x56 inches. It will take some time to quilt it so I better get going this week. A good goal would be to finish it by the end of the week...or earlier.

Also started and on the design wall is a table runner for my friend. Easy to work on while I was stuck on the other project.

And lining up these strips yesterday was just pure procrastination. Just plain and simple procrastination. No more of that this month. The list is written and in process.

Now off to look for my insurance agent's phone number to report my crash through a closed garage door this weekend. Of course, it had to be the 6 month old car. Oh how stupid I felt when I did that. Humbling but at least no one was hurt but the garage and the car.

Be creative, my friends.

Small Finishes

2011-11-29T09:55:00.001-05:00

I have finished a few small projects that have been hanging around way too long. The first one is a Christmas present for my daughter. It is the softest alpaca and she has been impatiently waiting for it once she snuck a peek at it. She has to wait a little longer though. I just needed to rinse it out and it will be ready for the stocking.

I also finished and delivered to our guild a little doll quilt and remembered at the last minute to take a picture of it. ( not a great picture) It turned out large enough for the doll and the girl to snuggle under-about 24x36.

At lastly, I finished this small piece last night. I had wanted to practice some "extreme" stitching before I started another piece and this worked out really well for that. I also had wanted to try to mount something to a canvas and last week I found this little pre-painted canvas from Michael's (yes, always use the coupon) which would work for it. Again, I had an awful time trying to photograph this morning as it is dark and rainy.

The Path
2011, Colleen Kole
4x4

I enjoyed how it turned out and have a few more canvases to try this again. I'd like to have four to mount together on a wall. And re-take the photos will be added to the to-do list.

Felt good to finish something as it has been awhile. I have my sister's quilt assembled on the design wall so next up this week will be sewing the top together.

Happy sewing. It really is peaceful to sew.

Last Week: Japanese Stitching

2011-11-28T08:00:00.001-05:00

Last week, I squeezed in a workshop from our local West Michigan Quilter's Guild titled "Sashiko : A Good Fortune Wallhanging". The workshop was given by Sheila De Rose who specializes in Japanese quilting and Japanese design. There were only four crazy people taking a class the week of Thanksgiving so we received lots of extra attention. Sheila has traveled to Japan and is very knowledgeable in all aspects of fabrics, patterns and needlework of Japan.

She brought in her fabric boards and I loved the shibori and the actual sashiko fabrics. I had thought sashiko was just the blue needlework stitch on white but there is actual sashiko fabric.

Sheila with one of her fabric boards

Shibori board

Sheila DeRose quilt shown during lecture

Sheila Derose Sampler

Sheila has a new book being published called "The Art of Elegance" coming out soon. She did an excellent job at the night lecture of explaining the Japanese use of color and design principles. I really enjoyed it.

The start of my wallhanging and, yes, I did measure and try to match seams! I can still do it if I need to. The piece will have sashiko stitched centers over a star pattern. Now I have two wintertime hand stitching projects to do. Why was I interested in this class? Long ago, I started a fabric collection of Japanese quilting fabrics and just never knew what to do with them but truly wanted to use them authentically. Now, I know how.

But time to get to work this morning on the Christmas presents. Anyone else making presents?

Be creative, my friends!

As Always, Grateful

2011-11-24T08:07:00.001-05:00

I am grateful for family. Oh how quickly they have grown this year in body and soul.

My husband who supports me in all this craziness. He is a little crazy himself....

I am grateful for the change of seasons. Looking throughout the lens of the camera has made me pause and truly see the beauty of the fall season.

I am grateful for the messes I make while I create.

The colors I am able to create.

The workshops I have attended. (Looking back through my photos reminded me it truly was the year of workshops:).

Benn/Morgan Workshop in May

The lessons I have learned while making mistakes. And the friends I have made while I create!
So many things that God has blessed me with.

Have a happy Thanksgiving friends. And be thankful for your blessings.

I Really Love This

2011-11-21T22:37:00.001-05:00

I have enjoyed watching and listening to this more than once. In truth, it brought tears to my eyes the first time I watched it and reminded me of why I create-for the sake of simple beauty.

Robin Ferrier is a very talented artist and I have enjoyed her amazing gift with color in her quilts and also her instinctive gift with photography. Way to go Robin! Her "simple" is more than pleasing to the eye.

Enjoy. I am off to a workshop tomorrow. Will share soon. I did finish my little doll quilt and hope a little girl enjoys this small gift and doll.

Ninety Percent and A Relief

2011-11-18T07:43:00.001-05:00

Ninety Percent: As I was laying in bed last night unable to sleep ( I really hate insomnia) , I realized that I have three projects ninety percent complete. Two of those projects are small Christmas gifts and one is a small study that I need to figure out how to complete it. That is really silly and why can't I seem to focus enough to finish them? I guess I know what will do this weekend and I have promised myself not to start my sister's gift until these projects are done.

A Relief: For about a year now, I have felt extremely guilty about retiring from being a physical therapist. I could be making money contributing to the family and helping others. It was and is a profession I absolutely love except for the dreaded insurance paperwork. I loved working with people one on one and helping them to see what their bodies could do. I gradually weaned out of it as my family responsibilities grew but always kept my foot in the door and my license active.

But, truth was and is that I no longer could do the part of it that I loved-the manual therapy, the massage and the treating of back pain patients. After many years of using my hands, they are just tired . They aren't as strong as they use to be and can't do what they need to do to be an effective set of physical therapist's hands. In feeling guilty at not working, I was forgetting one of the key reasons I am no longer a PT: my hands and back. They just can't do it anymore.

I wanted to extend the life of them for sewing. And that felt selfish. Has felt selfish. Until this week. I have been volunteering packing shoeboxes for an organization that is also near and dear to my heart: Operation Christmas Child. I will be done today. But I have been reminded of the fact that my hands hurt when I do heavy work and lifting. If I can't safely lift a 50 pound box with my hands and back, I have no business lifting patients. I have no idea why I keep forgetting that. I retired because I hurt too much when I work. I am strong but the joints are just worn down.

When I sew, it doesn't involve heavy manual work. I can take breaks when I need to. I will need a joint replacement in my thumb at some point but not now. It is a huge relief to be reminded of that. I can't tell you how much I have been beating myself up being selfish and making art. There isn't another career to go back to. My art is it. This is my career . And I am very grateful for being reminded of that! A huge relief to let go of the guilt of not being a physical therapist anymore.

You deserve a fabric picture after listening to me ramble. I did buy fabric from Pink Chalk Fabric earlier this month( which is why on the last post why I am not buying any more...) The top bunch is a group of solids from their fabric of the month club. Great way to add stash if you need solids. Then on the bottom, two new pieces from Lotta Jansdotter and the red piece from Anthology. Pink chalk carries both of them.

Pink Chalk Fabric Purchase

Ever onward, my friends. Thanks for listening to me. I am hugely relieved and hope to have some of my enthusiasm back again. I didn't even know it bugging me that much but it was. Now back to Christmas gifts.

Happy sewing :)

Beginning of Holiday Projects

2011-11-15T13:59:00.001-05:00

I started a small doll quilt for our guild donation. They collect dolls and doll quilts for the Santa Claus Girls , an organization in Kent County which provides gifts for needy kids at Christmas. It is an organization founded in 1908 and has continued for over one hundred years. That is a long term commitment to kids.

My goal for most of these projects is to just use what I have on hand. No crazy buying or getting things I won't use but just use my supplies on hand. I know I will run out of batting but with my Joann's coupon, I should not spend a significant amount of money.

You know me well enough that this will look different the next time you see it. It needs to be done by next Tuesday night so I need to get going on the finishing part of it. No time to procrastinate.

Are you making things for the holidays?

Happy Sewing , my friends!

A Lofty Goal

2011-11-11T20:59:00.001-05:00

I have made a goal to make a few Christmas gifts. Years ago, blurry from the last minute finishes , I vowed not to do this again. Ever. But ever has passed and I am going to try it again. I am not sure if this is a good idea but it is a goal. I have admitted it to you- so it is real.

I will let you know how it is working out and have also promised no whining...which will probably be harder than the actual completion of the gifts.

Happy Sewing this weekend. I must begin. Now. And find a new blog header as I am very boring.

And The Winner Is

2011-11-09T08:54:00.001-05:00

When I get to a certain point making these improvisational quilts, I ask myself the same question. Who is going to win: the quilt or I? Now, being a fairly determined person, I hate to lose.

So, the story of this little quilt began when I purchased a group of fat quarters from another hand dyer, Sue Cortese. I usually dye solids so all these luscious little pieces of multicolored fabrics were calling to me. I even dragged them with me to the last class and occasionally petted them thinking of what could be made. They just said the colors of fall to me. And I wanted to make a ribbon quilt so it seemed a perfect thing to make that would be quick.

My first mistake was making a prediction that anything involving quilting would be quick. Twenty some years later you would think I know that making a quilt is anything but quick. A month ago I started this very simple piece.

This was about the 57th revision. I have totally removed another section which had no relevance and wasn't even the same color. (Just temporary color blindness I have reminded myself. ) A loving child asked me what kind of chaos was I trying to crate at that point so that portion was removed. She said it was only slightly better after that portion was removed... I asked for no more comments please. ( Ok, she said it was no less ugly is the real truth.)

Falling Leaves
34x36, 2011

I also ignored the fact that some long strips were looking very skewed. Now, sometimes skewed is good. But obviously some are very straight and one are skewed. So, skewed here is not ok. It should have been randomly skewed.

But after many re-sews and cuts, I have declared myself the winner and the quilt the winner as well. A tie. The quilt wants to be crooked in spot where I don't want it to be. But I finally just let it be what it wanted to be.

And I win because I actually finished piecing this thing and enjoy some of the fabrics. The top is done where a year ago I would have given up. Crooked but done. I will eventually quilt it. I just need a teensy break from it.

So, I remind myself not to make predictions of how long it will take to complete a piece. If stuck, move on. And, sometimes, it's ok to let the quilt win. Or tie. :) I am more than ready to move on to the next thing.

Be creative, my fiends.

A Week of Yardwork

2011-11-04T14:04:00.000-04:00

At the end of the week, I stopped to wonder where did my week go? I finished that small piece on Halloween but hadn't sewn since then. I spent the majority of the week cutting down my perennials , shrubs and grasses and raking up leaves. I had high hopes for lots of after school assistance from my able bodied teens. However , they had winter sports practices starting already so that didn't help me out...oh well.

I did venture to two fiber arts lectures or meetings. The first one was last Saturday and I heard a three hour lecture from Terri Watson and Beth Ann Williams on machine quilting covering both domestic and long arm quilting. It was nicely presented and they had oodles of luscious samples. I wouldn't hesitate at all to have Terri quilt one of my pieces in the future. Very talented women and I enjoyed it.

The second event was a meeting of the Lakeshore Fiber Arts group in Holland. They were doing a mini workshop on various surface design techniques: gelatin mono-printing, crayon rubbings with various plates and a bit of Notan using black and white paper. I didn't get to try the techniques as I needed to leave early but plan on trying them next week. Very enjoyable just to spend a few hours with friends from Holland and new to me fiber artists from the area.

So, at the end of the week as I finally ventured upstairs and opened up the blinds, I am still caught by the beauty of the sun shining in on my fabric. Such lovely sunshine and such lovely color at the end of the week and I am glad I stopped to breathe and appreciate it.

And clean it up to start again. Many things in process but need to make progress.

The yard will be done this weekend so hope to return to sewing next week. I picked up something fun and want to do it next week.

Be creative, my friends!

Boo To You

2011-10-31T22:48:00.000-04:00

Here's hoping you found some chocolate somewhere today. I decided to play with some orange and yellow scraps and just came up with "candy corn". Seemed like I should get to play when all the others are trick or treating.

Candy Corn 2011
15x20

I just liked playing around with the dense quilting using this orange and yellow variegated thread. Sometimes, you just have to play.

Hope you had a fun Halloween and all your goblins-if you have them- are stuffed full and sound asleep.

Be creative, my friends.

Quilts Needed

2011-10-29T22:16:00.001-04:00

Before it gets too busy around the holidays, think about what you can do to help. We all have plenty of fabric. Think about the time you might waste trying to make the perfect art piece. And it just isn't working out. Stop. Take a break and make a quilt for someone who just needs to be warm this winter.

We all can make a difference. Get going and make a quilt - a warm , cozy snuggly thing and remember why you just like the sewing part of it. And the gifting part of it. Think of these places that NEED quilts:

1.Margaret's Hope Chest
2. Bumblebees Basic
3. West Michigan Quilt Guild: Neonatal Unit

Thanks in advance for helping someone who really needs help this year.

Be creative and make a difference, my friends.

Chopping it Up

2011-10-28T10:16:00.001-04:00

I had forgotten how much fun this is. When you don't like something, chop it up and use it for something else. The last piece I made this summer was really bugging me I guess because I could have done better and the colors just didn't feel right to me. I didn't want to spend loads of time taking it apart and trying to make it work. So a quick decision was made to re-purpose it. I love that word re-purpose which removed all the guilt of having it lay there in my workbasket for the next ten years because I hated it.

This time I thought I would actually use this re-purposed piece for something functional and make it a soft quilt to use while you read or watch tv in Vermont. The throws that I have there are embarrassing-in a home where one sews regularly!

It took a little longer than I thought but I am ok with how it turned out. Much better than not being used at all or sitting there undone for years.

I realized as I flipped the photos to see which way it looks better that it didn't matter because it wasn't intended to be hung. Fun and easy to do. All the pieces and parts for the squares came from this original piece which felt like a silly beach blanket.

Maybe I should see what else I could chop up....

Be creative, my friends! I hope to go to a 3 hour lecture on machine quilting tomorrow. What are you up to with your art this weekend?

Coffee and Used Bookstores

2011-10-26T08:32:00.000-04:00

Other than fabric, two of my other favorite things are used bookstores and independent coffee shops. First, the cup of coffee and then a trip to the bookstore . There is really nothing better than snooping around a used bookstore pretending as if I have all the time in the world to read many, many books. I don't at all mind that kind of dusty smell and messy piles of books on the floor or piled high to the ceiling on shelves. Thumbing through one of the shelves last week or the week before, I found a wonderful book.

What a beautiful cover for this hardcover book. I have a particular fondness for hardcover books and I will not sell or pass on any of them. I know many people think I am silly when you can put it on a book reader but I love my books I can hold in my hands.

These color swatches in preparation for dyeing are lovely.

Why wouldn't I have done this before I dye? I cut a small piece of fabric (sometimes...) after I dye but what a great resource this would be if I took the time to do it before I dye.

I ordered another book (suggested by Nellie Durand in her blog tutorials) from the huge internet place in the sky. It is a great resource book and maybe will help me in my quest to understand color better.

The older books seem to contain more art theory contained in them rather than a specific artist's technique to approaching color. Feels like I need more of the basics at this point. Both used books were purchased at low prices even with the shipping I had to pay on the last book.

Give an old book new home, my friends and you might learn something new! Don't forget the coffee when you sit down.

Striving For Consistency

2011-10-24T10:21:00.000-04:00

I am striving for some sort of a consistent schedule and realized there is none. So, this week, I am going for what is available and it is scheduled in pen this week. No loose floating around and never getting much done. Very easy to do when you work from home, isn't it?

I started a piece last week and also vowed to be more consistent in photographing my work as I design it. I had lost that process somewhere along the way. So, here is the beginning of what I though was going to be a possibility.

I had wanted to use some hand dyed fabrics and some commercial batiks. But something wasn't right about my choices. ( Maybe I should be doing color studies but that's a whole other post...) So, I switched my camera setting to black and white.

It was an immediate ah-ha moment. Even though the pink was bright, there just isn't much value contrast . Maybe I chose the wrong colors. For all that fussing and fear of black and white a few weeks ago, I sure have found that seeing it in a photograph and doing black and white sewn studies are really valuable to me right now. Nice to stop and reconsider before I get it all designed and sewn together. Who knows what you might see next!

So, the goals of the week are consistent studio time and consistent photography of works in process.

Be creative, my friends. You keep me accountable.

The Colors of Fall

2011-10-18T14:02:00.001-04:00

Back and better. I just had reached my quota of "mean" for the week I guess. :) I would miss my friends if I quit blogging is the bottom line. Yes, I would. You put up with me in all my wonderful moods....

I have kept sewing the past week.Usually after one of those intensive workshops, I am no good for a few weeks. But the machine has been put to good use , although no spectacular artistic output. I cut apart and re-purposed a piece from my workbasket. That felt good. ( I'll show you next time before and after. ) I pieced two charity baby quilts from the little charm packs. Seems I always get behind with that around the holidays.

I have taken lots of pictures outdoors. What a great fall we are having.

I am trying to incorporate some of these colors in the next piece. And stay away from my typical blues and greens.

These are really beautiful hand dyed fabrics from a friend of mine here locally. I have been anxious to use them.

Be nice while you are being creative, my friends. Thanks for cheering me on.

Not Being Nice: A Case of the Nasties

2011-10-17T08:02:00.001-04:00

Maybe it's being gone from the land of blogging for a few weeks. (I didn't take much time to read posts the last few weeks.) Maybe it's the fact that there is a lot of laughing at others going on at my house lately-the not so nice kind of laughing-the laughing at and not the laughing with someone. But I am very sick of some of those bloggers out in blogland.

You probably remember some of those kids from the kindergarten sandbox. When you aren't looking, they throw sand at you. Or hurl nasty names at you and the others join in. I have always been taught to be nice. Sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad thing. I have taught my children and I have worked hard to -if you disagree with what someone is doing or saying there is a kind way to express your opinion. Constructive criticism. You say what your opinion is and the person knows where you stand and you feel better because your opinion was heard. Say it and move on. So here I go. This is what is bugging me with blogland.

Dear nasty blog post writer:

Comments: For the most part I am a lurker. But for the times when I am brave enough to leave a comment on your post, do not spew back some nasty or snide remark to me. I will not leave denigrating remarks on your posts-never have and never will. It is not nice. So I expect the same respect from you. E-mail me if you have anything of length to say to me.

Your blog posts: I certainly hope if you are criticizing someone in a post, you have contacted them prior to your post to express your opinion. I know- I know -free speech and all but mud flinging in blogland seems a not so nice sandbox kind of a thing to do. I know art quilters are trying to elevate their art to a different level, but constructive criticism is one thing and just mean nastiness is another. You are now deemed a nasty person and I will boycott your postings from now on. I don't care who you are-how many awards you have won or what exhibitions you have been in you are but you are not nice. You go on and keep posting your nastiness. I am done reading your posts.

I am just done with mean. Really done with it and disillusioned with it. As much as I dislike my kids listening incessantly to Taylor Swift, I take the words to one of her songs: why you gotta be so mean?

Debating the need to keep blogging. Maybe I should be spending the time to sew rather than the time it takes to blog.

Soaking It All Up and Inspired

2011-10-10T08:24:00.004-04:00

I did. I just soaked up every minute of the Barn last week for the Improvisations class given by Nancy Crow. It was a tough class for me-quick paced and some of the art concepts were obviously things I hadn't really thought of fully before I design a quilt. Or even knew.

Nancy divides the class into a series of exercises which need to be completed in a specific amount of time. Some of the exercises are done in black and white and some in color. I was really worried about this class but went into it with this attitude: each exercise given to us to- was just an exercise. Not a wonderful quilt that I would produce but an exercise I would learn from. I did complete most of the exercises but failed miserably at the middle one. Obviously one I need to re-do here at home. I won't tell you more about these specific exercises but I will tell you this:

1. I learn more at my one week workshops at the Barn than I ever did in a semester of college. Ask others and they will say the same.

2. It is absolutely wonderful to share time with others who have the same goals and interests. And laugh with them. Making art is lonely and a sharp contrast to what I did before with people every minute I was working. I didn't realize how lonely I was!

3. Nancy, her family and Margaret Wolf work together and give above and beyond to make this a great learning experience. Nancy spent a considerable amount of time with us and for that I am truly grateful.

4. Yes, I did sew spending from 7:30 am -10pm there working away. Uninterrupted time except for meals. Wonderful meals.

Working on a black and white composition

another work in process

5. Carol Soderlund was teaching a surface design class there at the same time. It was a treat to see what that class did and see Carol's happy face. I think one of Carol's classes will be next in line for me.

6. Set aside comparing yourself to others and what they are doing. You can't be at any other place than where you are currently are at in your artmaking.

I am grateful to have had this opportunity. If you have a chance to go to the Barn, don't hesitate to go. The experience will exceed your expectations. And that expectation should be about learning as much as you can and not about producing the miracle piece.

Be inspired, my friends- I am over the top inspired. And a little tired.

The End of The Week

2011-10-06T23:57:00.000-04:00

I am going to bed and hoping some how and some way a little finish fairy will visit my work station and promptly complete another exercise assigned to us this week at the Barn. I am assuming that it is due around 2pm tomorrow. This is piece number 6...(this is a very fast paced class not for the faint of heart)

Lots of strip pieced fabrics which need to be cut up. They are curved pieces which I hadn't done before...slow poked along I did, I did. And by the end the pile of fabric was way too high. And it needs to probably be cleaned up by 2 as well!

I have been here for 14 hour days. My right brain hurts-but it has been a good hurt. Coming here is a gift which I don't take lightly.

Off to bed to try to sleep- I usually am too keyed up to sleep much. But I will try.

Don't stop being creative, my friends and stretch a little bit. It really is good.

What About My Art?

2011-09-30T17:36:00.000-04:00

Yes, I have been spending a lot of time looking at art, but what have I been doing this week as far as my work is concerned?

I spent the week cataloging or organizing each piece I have made in the past two and a half years. I found a program that is super easy to use called Flick. I struggled for about 6 months trying to learn excel on my own. Oh for pete's sake-sometimes I wonder what I was wasting so much time on. I re-photographed some of the pieces so they have "real" pictures. Everything that is completed is priced and has been photographed. And a pile has been made of those that are unfinished and deemed worth the time to finish. Others have been let go of-trashed or cut up for other things.. What a great thing to let go of unfinished junk! In the end, I had 46 finished pieces. It was an overwhelming task to tackle before the 30$ purchase of this program. I refuse to think about all the valuable time I wasted before trying to do this on my own.

My inventory list also served as a way to prepare a short presentation for my class next week. (Where I came from and where I am at right now.) I really hate public speaking-really hate it but want to act like a mature adult and do a good job. Let's hope I don't cop out as it is optional. This whole inventory list really helped me to see a chronological history of my work-what works and what doesn't work.

Also, spent time machine quilting. Machine is back in working order and did so well I kept going and didn't realize I had a huge wrinkle quilted on the back. I'll sit and remove it tonight while I watch some baseball. ( Love the Tigers for ripping out bad seams and bad quilting.) I really want to get it done before I leave on Sunday but that feels overly ambitious.

Then, I have been obsessively cutting stamps out of erasers and stamping black on white with Setacolors paint. And monoprinting. Obsessively. For as much as I hated black and white a few weeks ago, I crave it now. Crisp, truth-telling and beautiful. I am just going with this obsession for now. I'll let you know where it leads me.

Be creative, my friends.

More, More and More Artprize

2011-09-28T22:45:00.001-04:00

In case you are wondering, yes, I am absolutely enjoying Artprize. I went down again and more photos for you to enjoy.

Not very many fiber art pieces (or I forgot to take pictures of one or two of them!). This one was very bright and used lots of different materials.

Just beautiful and there were thousands of pieces of silver leaf floating . Hard to capture.

This emerging artist came all the way from Australia. He packed his piece in the base for shipment here. He was so excited to be here .

This sculpture looked like it had always been there.

Grand Rapids skyline. Not great weather here this week but the crowds still came out. And the voters overwhelmed the voting system-computers down all day on the last day of voting....

A stunning piece of furniture-this sleek bench by Cameron VanDyke. His wife is also an art teacher for our kids high school.

Close up of Taylor Mazer's piece

And last but not least the piece made from coffee sticks-at Kendall College of Art and Design.

Tomorrow is a day with my friend Nellie Durand and we will soak up more art and find a place to eat lunch and talk about more art. The weekend will be for packing and traveling to the Barn for a workshop next week. Guess it is another month full of art and inspiration. Back to work next week!

Be inspired, my friends!

( I am having an awful time uploading photos-will try a few more tomorrow)

Day 2 at Artprize

2011-09-24T21:08:00.001-04:00

Snuck down for a few hours on Thursday afternoon and I just am having way too much fun. More pictures for you.

A Year Through Our Eyes by Todd and Brad Reed

On a grey and gloomy afternoon, it was pretty obvious that I was drawn to the bright colors. For the most part, I have followed each piece with the artist's name.

Quite a few of the artist were still standing by their pieces, so I enjoyed talking with them and have them share a little about their process or their inspiration. But, what I enjoyed the most was the excitement in their eyes when you shared with them how much you appreciated their art and why.
This event has given them a time to shine and dream again. And how absolutely great is that.

Be inspired and creative, my friends.

Opening Night at Artprize

2011-09-23T09:21:00.002-04:00

It was a beautiful fall night. The crowds were larger than last year as the buzz is spreading about what a great event Artprize is. I even convinced my husband and son to go and they were disappointed when the night was over. Enjoy a few peeks at a great first night.

The lovely Nellie Durand with her piece "Imelda's Dream II. I am always amazed at how talented Nellie is and her workmanship flawless. A pretty piece with very detailed shoes. It was wonderful to see her and her husband Lee . The location of her piece will allow many people to view it and vote for her. Go Nellie!

"Grand Rapids Inside and Out" By Alex Myrhodorsky

I missed taking a picture of the inside of the piece. Alex is the husband of one of my fiber arts friends, Gail Myhorodorsky. They are both very talented. Alex explained how these panoramic views took 600 shots to accomplish this piece. The inside shots on this piece are just as fascinating as the outside views -another definite thumbs up view!

A moving photography exhibit by Ryan Reed Spencer

"Crucifixion" by Mia Tavonatti

This was a 9'x13' stained glass mosaic. The intricacy of the piecing was stunning.

"The Game" by TAFA

The DeVos Exhibition Hall

I only made to two of the buildings and a few along the street as we walked. I ventured down yesterday afternoon for about 2 hours. More photos coming. I am taking a break from making and just enjoying being inspired.

I know my pleasure comes from the making of my art, but many this week are taking pleasure in viewing the of arts. It isn't enjoyed this way unless it is out there, is it? Congrats to all who have entered and good luck on the voting process.

And Let The Fun Begin: Artprize 2011

2011-09-19T19:33:00.000-04:00

Wednesday is the first day of Artprize here in Grand Rapids. I was downtown this weekend and I was having so much fun watching a few of the artists install their pieces. It was almost as busy as it is during the actual show. I am choosing not to show you the pictures I took as not all the artists names had been put up yet.

I did register to vote at The Hub on Saturday and was rewarded with my free T-shirt and cider and donuts if I wanted them. The Hub is the old UICA building and they are using it very wisely for this event. There was a slide show running of last year's entries and I walked in and whose is the first picture on the screen : Nellie Durand! That was huge fun to see it again. I look forward to going to the opening on Wednesday night to see the piece she has for this year!

Enjoy this retrospective on the event. It is really special.

I have my walking shoes ready and I am getting my chores done so I can see as much art as I can.

Keep Looking For That Road

2011-09-14T11:05:00.000-04:00

I just finished a few more black and white pieces. I just wanted to push myself to use these small pieces to critically take a look at what I did and didn't like about a quick improvisational design. (And to get ready for a certain class which you inevitably start with a black and white piece which I dread). I didn't spend much time on them but, again, they do bring the design sharply into focus.

But the saving moment for these little pieces: they just got me moving and wanting to do more. And gave me time to think about what I want to do the next year and bring in to focus what I really don't want to do. You may wonder why I would want to finish a "study" piece and the answer is-practice and more practice.

Looking For The Road #2
15x19 - 2011

Looking For The Road #3
14x18 -2011

I just want to add paint to these. But I won't. I will just let them be black and white. And not be afraid of it when I have to use it in a few weeks.

But to add to that- that is not to say I may not try more with paint added. Aren't I fickle?

Be creative, my friends.

Support Your Local Farmers

2011-09-10T18:54:00.000-04:00

There really is nothing better than summer farmers markets. We have been spoiled both here and in Vermont at the plentiful fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses.

Fulton Street Market

Not a great picture but our market is really busy on a Saturday morning.

I love how the vegetables and fruits are displayed.

Gladiolas are here.

Looks like some great dinners ahead this week from my market bag. I already ate two of the honeycrisp apples. Support your local farmers. They work incredibly hard and I am always willing to pay their prices. You can't beat the freshness.

Be inspired.

And So It Goes

2011-09-09T22:03:00.001-04:00

The end of the week and nothing to show you. I am really disappointed. For some reason, I feel as if I am swimming against the current.

Today, I was at the local farmer's market at 8am and proud to have this done early. I forgot my wallet.

I was ready and dressed for yoga (the first in 4 months) after my doctor's appointment at 10. He ran an hour and a half late. I missed yoga . Ok, I will go exercise. Didn't have my tennis shoes once I got to exercise. Went home and took the dogs for a walk instead which is what I usually do.

Did my chores and then sat down to sew. Time to pick the kids up from school. College girl comes home and the weekend begins.

Clearly, my day is best when the time in the studio starts early in the morning. I am working on machine quilting some older projects. I have at least figured out that I will feel better and be freer to move on once these projects are done.

I am hoping for a more focused week- next week. I can make it happen.

Be creative, my friends.

On another note-Mom is good and news is positive! Thanks for your concern and prayers.

Like a Squirrel

2011-09-07T21:43:00.000-04:00

Every time I dye fabric, I feel a little like a squirrel. I watched them today as I was outside doing yardwork and they were all scurrying about trying to carry as many nuts as possible back and forth all morning. I understand their hurry up attitude because I feel as if I need to dye as much fabric as possible before winter. So, it really is no surprise to you or to me that I dyed another 40-45 yards last week. I really only needed a few yards of red. The mess and fuss is already started so I might as well dye more. And maybe a few paler shades might be nice too...and so it went. Then came the ironing. So, I have been working.

Beautiful paler shades. And the red which continues to turn out on the orange side no matter what I do.

Also, found a larger rack and just put it up by my machine. More beautiful color.

Craving color as I machine stitch two black and white small pieces.

Just little study pieces to get myself back in action again. At the beginning of the school year, I always take time to think of what my plans will be. A list might be needed here in the sewing room. Just thinking.

Enjoy the cooler days, my friends. Be creative.

Thread Storage

2011-09-03T20:50:00.000-04:00

Every time I start looking for a specific spool of thread, I am reminded of how out of control my thread management system is

Some is stored neatly on this little bobbin rack and in the old antique thread drawer.

I arranged the bobbin thread for you otherwise it was a jumbled mess in this plastic bin.

Most of the time it just kind of waits on my sewing machine table waiting patiently to be put away or get tangled up into the next project.

More finds from another drawer.

And then the disappearance into the bottom drawer. I really would like to be more organized with all this thread. It feels like a hot commodity with the price of it lately and I feel like it should give it more respect. So how do you store all your thread? How should you store it?

What If I Tried Something Else?

2011-09-01T08:56:00.001-04:00

After talking to an old friend, Linda, last night, I hung up the phone and pondered alternatives. What part of this creating process currently thrills me? (Keep it clean please.) My quick answer , of course, was adding color to the fabric. Not just dyeing of the fabric but any technique that adds color to the fabric.

So out comes the table and out comes everything else in the garage related to fabric and color.

And then take that "color" and add it to my last study.

I only had a few tubes of acrylics and just went with what I have. Not exactly great colors but that wasn't the point, was it?

Mmmm....well I was able to try to add to where I thought the piece was lacking but couldn't totally correct it. But I did learn one thing: Never fling acrylic paint in a fairly new garage. Thank goodness I moved the cars out. I liked how the acrylics emphasized the texture of the stitch.

I will dye fabrics today but not that many. I forgot to dye reds when I was in Vermont and I will take advantage of the hot weather today.

Be creative, my friends.

Looking For The Road

2011-08-30T17:32:00.000-04:00

I really am not looking forward to the next class I am registered for. And I knew, that as my week passed, I really better have an attitude adjustment. It wasn't the amount of work or the inability to want to stretch a little further. I kept thinking about what my problem was with the class and after quite a bit of time wasted on figuring out my dread really was, I finally figured it out. Two dreaded words: black and white.

I know the first exercise will be working in black and white. It makes me shudder just thinking about it. So, the only cure for my dread: get out the black and white fabric and get to work. I wear black all the time. So what is the problem?

With a black and white piece, you can see all the design flaws up close and personal.

Keep going. Keep going. Get it out anyway. Make a small piece and move on from there. So, I did.

Looking For The Road
12x20 , 2011

I even finished it. Just to remind myself that black and white isn't so scary even though you can see all the design flaws. I see what I don't like but I also see what I do like. It is a start.

Be creative, my friends.

Friday Finish:Looking Through the Lens :#2

2011-08-26T22:58:00.000-04:00

Well , I guess maybe a finish. I struggled this week to just barely finish piecing this. I am not very excited about this because I felt so RUSTY.

Looking Through The Lens #2 2011 (unquilted)

   I have learned something very important though. Never stop working. Just keep going with some part of the process. I kept justifying the dyeing as part of the process. It is. But the designing and actual production of my design is the part that must be done -for me. All the time. I see many things about this I don't like but it's a start and I will finish this one. And I will keep going with this series.

   Just felt good to keep pushing through. In just fifteen minute increments this week, I was able to do it. My oldest is moved back to college and the younger kids go back to school on Monday. I am ready for a regular schedule as much as I have enjoyed my summer.

   Be creative, my friends. I can hardly wait.

On My Summer Reading List

2011-08-23T16:21:00.000-04:00

A few good books from my summer beach bag:

This is one of my favorite books: The Creative Habit by Twlya Tharp. This explains how hard you need to work and how disciplined you need to be to forge ahead. I wrote in it, marked it up and wrote things in my journal after I read each chapter. Now, I am not really good at being consistent about journal writing so it must have been convincing. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. ( I really detest self-help books because it just makes me mad I would need soo much help. :) There is a difference between self-help and education, right?)

Another good book and reasonably priced. I didn't move on to fabric with any of the principles in the book but I will. Black and white paper in my sketchbook worked just fine for some of these exercises. Notan by Dorr Bothwell and Marlys Mayfield .

The next and last book I conquered was Wild Color by Jenny Dean. THE BEST BOOK on natural dyeing.

   I found this book in Vermont and it is the new updated edition of 2010. It has nice step by step directions, great explanations and gives you the ability to achieve specific colors by adding different mordants.

   As lovely as other books are on natural dyeing, it has always remained a bit of a mystery. This book breaks it down into repeatable steps with the variable being your natural material. A very big variable but it made me want to keep trying small experiments of natural dyeing to add to my toolbox. And with fall coming it will be fun to try more natural dyeing.

   Very specific instructions and great pictures. I am glad I purchased this as it will be a great reference book. Even though I didn't make many pieces this summer , I kept pushing along! Also read many just for fun and my favorite leisure reading book had to be : Unbroken by Laura Hilldenbrand. I read it in less than 48hours.

   So what are you reading ?

   Be creative, my friends. No word on Mom yet-thanks for all your kind words and prayers!

Home and It's a Good Thing

2011-08-20T21:03:00.000-04:00

   We came home late Wednesday. Lots to unpack and re-group. I was really anxious this year just to be home. To the point of not really sleeping well at the end and then almost packing up and coming home early. Very unsettled.

   And now I know why: my mom's cancer has returned. She had breast cancer ten years ago and now - not very good news. She just isn't feeling well. But she will finish her fundraiser she is in charge with to raise money for the cancer center in the next week. She has had a big heart for volunteering all her life and she never quits giving of her time to fight cancer. I feel sick about the spots on her lungs- but am grateful I live in the same city now after all our years of living in different cities.

   Spend time with those you love- I'll be in and out next week but still here. My studio is unpacked and clean as of today. It was as if I needed to use all my nervous energy and nest when I got here and heard about my mom. Weird what we do when we are nervous.

   Happy Stitching-

Trying Again With Natural Dyeing

2011-08-13T09:42:00.000-04:00

   I was rattling around in a cupboard and I found a lovely blue enamel pot. I looked inside of it and not a speck of rust or chip inside of it. Perfect for bundles I thought to myself. I forgot I had bought it last year at a yard sale. So, I scrounged around in one of my boxes I am packing up to send home and there was a perfect piece of white fabric. I chop it up into about six pieces-and went on a hunt.

   "She is looking for things to wrap up in fabric. She is going to boil it and it will smell,"says one daughter.

   "For real?" says the other daughter.

   "Yes, for real,"says the mom." It is called eco-dyeing. " Lots of eye-rolling.

   And after I wrapped and boiled some birch leaves, coreopsis, hydrangea leaves and flowers, onion skins and some alum, I ended up with this:

I was really hoping for some brighter leaf imprints but, of course, couldn't find the book I needed. I think I already sent that home.

I really have trouble remembering where I leave things. And which light switches turn on which lights. No wonder they think I am crazy. But I ended up with some pretty yellow fabric which they thought was pretty as well but involved too much work. Buying it at a store was mentioned....but then it wouldn't be mine, would it?

   I like the marks the coreopsis made-nice and gentle. I thought I was all done with dyeing but I guess it wasn't done with me.

   Be creative, my friends!

A Better Meadow

2011-08-12T21:40:00.000-04:00

I am trying in some small way trying to redeem myself from my last small piece. It didn't really portray what I wanted it too. So I tried again- I just wanted a simple abstract piece which reflected the colors of my Vermont meadow. This is too simple for me so I guess I need to try again until I get it right.

Vermont Meadows
about 24x55 unquilted

I always resort to this simple design of strip piecing to jumpstart my design process again. Sure wish I didn't have to. But , I do and I did. It bugs me to slide backwards. Kind of a warm-up? I don't know but I just did it. But the best part about this piece-I am on my way back again to sewing. And it felt really good to sew again. I will take it home next week when we go back to Michigan and start quilting it. Ever onward.

   Now that I see it here -I feel like it needs to be twice as wide and it's missing the other half....Sometimes they just keep getting bigger.

   I have another piece on my design wall which I would love to get pieced before I leave.... don't know if that will be realistic but it is a good stretch goal.

   Enjoy summer, my friends.

The Last Hurrah

2011-08-04T21:27:00.000-04:00

I have finished fabric dyeing for the summer of 2011. Oh,what a great feeling that is to say! At least until I get home from Vermont , unpack and sort it all and see what I didn't dye to fill out my stash. So, I will feel absolutely amazing and kind of like superwoman -until I get home. I think the final count is 250 yards since May-craziness.

This past week I dyed reds. And then an old friend from my Connecticut days, Lynne, came to spend a few days doing some dyeing and surface design with me. And it wasn't just some, it was many yards of beautiful fabric that we created.

It was a hot day on Monday but our pieces dried nicely on the line. Lynne just didn't stop and created lots of small pieces of fabric and I think her favorite technique was monoprinting using parchment paper.

Lynne's beautiful hand dyed fabrics. My favorites were her top fabrics- deep rich overdyes.

I love these pieces that I clamped but should have used a higher concentration of dye to make the prints darker. Always learning something new each time I process a fabric.

Just playing ended up creating nice texture.

Using up the dyes on the last of my white cotton floss.

After many loads of laundry , caffeine, ice cream and lots of conversation, we created oodles of fabric to use the next year. Not much cooking got done but lots of fabric dyeing. Oh and my dog escaped to kill the neighbor's chicken(not good). There is always a dog adventure whenever Lynne comes!

   Lucy, my Bernese rarely chases anything...but I guess the chicken lost.

   Thanks for coming Lynne. Next time, no dog adventures. We both will need a good nap after we iron all this fabric.

   Be creative, my friends. I can hardly wait to return to actual sewing again.

Jumping Off My Lilly Pad

2011-07-29T17:31:00.000-04:00

I have been floating around in this pond of fabric dyeing all summer and am almost done with my 200 meter goal for the summer. So I decided it was time to take a break from the dyeing and try one of the new techniques from my last workshop. ( And thanks to some wise words from a friend.)

Deconstructed screen printing was it yesterday. So I jumped in and tried working with some screens I had prepared last week. I didn't read a thing from my notes but just jumped right in. I knew I didn't have the right print surface prepared but just tacked my fabric down with some clamps. It actually worked ok, but the clamps didn't allow me to print off the side of the surface. It was kind of gooey but fun to see how the screen broke down with repeated sweeps of the squeegee and print paste.

I had brought two screens with me. They were varnished with polyurethane so didn't need taping. I did forget to tape in a well though.

First draw through. Nice marks aren't they?

First screen after the washout. Much lighter than I thought it would be. Next time I can be bolder or I can add color to this.

Second screen after the washout.

Close ups of some of the more interesting areas. Really nice prints . I need to remember a few more things next time and make an official printing surface but this was a great first try and a technique I look forward to using again.

I only have about 30 more meters left to finish up of fabric dyeing here in Vermont. My friend is coming next week and we will spend two days doing surface design techniques. I made a list of all I wanted to do and it is long.

Jumping off the lily pad from the pond I was in to something new definitely helped push me forward. (Thanks friend for your wise words.)

Be creative, my friends.

One

2011-07-26T15:31:00.000-04:00

   If one would be thinking too much about how nice it would be to have one's own style or voice and not yet have it, one might be discouraged and create no art.

   If one would be thinking too much about what one read recently about one's work looking too much like another's work or in a specific style that too recognizable , one might not make any work because it didn't feel like what they were making was very original.

   If one felt they weren't making any progress, then one might not make time to work or make it a priority.

   If one thought that dyeing alot of fabric to work with was plenty of work, one would not make any art. She already did enough for the day.

   If it was too hot and there was too much company last week, so what a perfect excuse to make no art.

   Just excuses, aren't they? Being much more honest with myself, I find it hard to return to making things after I have had a break. Much easier to keep something going. I don't care who my work looks like right now because I just need to keep going and keep creating. I looked back at some famous ones earlier works and they all look the same. I hope never to criticize others who are working through it in the early phases of their work-no matter who they work with, how they work with and what they work with.

   I did stitch last night. I am back in my own barn today making my own marks on fabric.

   Be creative, my friends and keep moving ahead. And don't think too much while you do it because you might end up being your own worst enemy !

If I Had My Own Store

2011-07-19T10:44:00.000-04:00

If I had my own store, I would have one that looked exactly like a new store I visited this weekend in Burlington called Nido. It was in a beautiful second floor setting of an old building with exposed brick walls in the heart of Burlington city.

The brick walls set off the crisp racks of fabric and this was one of a kind fabric from Ink and Spindle, Japanese fabrics , Denise Schmydt fabrics , fabric packs and , of course, cotton solids. Despite being in an old building, it was light, bright and airy. Everything was displayed so nicely. Too bad I spent most of my money at the Vermont Quilt Festival because I could have spent a lot on the cotton voiles and yarns from local Vermont artists. Beautiful yarns.

A few solid wooden tables were off to the right for classes and it was all part of the same space as the shop. What a great way for newcomers to catch the excitement of a class.

Best of all, no sewing machine sales. I loved that the owner ( I think) wasn’t thinking about what machine she might like me to buy. Just what I came in there for. Fabric or yarn.

If you are ever in the area, stop and see Nido. Otherwise , check them out on their website. They were eager to please and often, you just don’t find that anymore!

Be creative, my friends! As I stitch away, I am daydreaming of what I would want if I had my own store….and not the hours I would have to work to keep it going.

Summer Meadows

2011-07-14T17:36:00.000-04:00

I spent an inordinate amount of time waiting for things here in Vermont this past week. As my daughter reminded me-we are on "Vermont time" not real time. Which means when you are waiting on a repair person who is coming in the morning, 7pm at night is just on time. He made it the day he said he would.

So I waited for people and waited even longer for fabric that was due last week. I only needed to dye two yards of navy blue to finish a piece I am working on now. Not done yet. So, I did some therapy strips and just chilled.

Summer Meadows, 9x12

I love the colors of the meadows and wildflowers here. Along with the sunshine. No different than the flowers in Michigan, but I think I just am able to take time and enjoy them. This piece should have been much larger but I made just a few too many cuts....so tiny it is.

Found a few more stray pieces to dye some gentle colors.

Tried to overdye some browns and blacks but still couldn't get deep dark brown or black. I am not sure what went wrong here. Also. played with some thermofax screens and one silkscreen.

And for one or two of you missing mountains, a hazy mountain shot on a ninety degree day earlier this week. Yes, I am high up in the mountains.

Enjoy your summer and be creative, my friends!

Up, Up and Away

2011-07-12T09:48:00.000-04:00

I am back to work this week. The two lovely children in the last post were acting a little ...not very grateful. So this mom decided it was an "on your own" day yesterday. Meaning, they must find something to entertain themselves and not me entertaining them. :) So, I took the day and worked on piecing another top. Almost there. So you will actually see art this week.

We went to the annual balloon festival this past weekend. I haven't been in a few years so it was fun to be outdoors and enjoy it.

They all had quilt patterns on them, didn't they? I liked the one on the left the best. I kept thinking of how much work they do for such a short flight. But they sure looked like they were having fun.

What are you working on this week?

Enjoy the summer, my friends!

Summertime in Vermont

2011-07-10T13:49:00.000-04:00

I am very relaxed and sinking into the summertime.

Enjoying smiles on the girl after a week of hard work getting cows ready to show in a 4-H dairy show. Meet the Supreme Grand Champion Pesto.

Watching the beautiful architecture of barns made long ago.

Taking pictures wherever we go.

Enjoying summer with not much to show for my art life this week. Stitching by night. I did order 150 meters of fabric to dye and was all prepared for a marathon dyeing week-except they shipped it to the wrong address back at home. So, I took it as a week to enjoy time with the kids and animals here in Vermont.

Enjoy summertime, my friends!

Finally Finished Fireworks on the Fourth

2011-07-05T09:45:00.000-04:00

It was a picture perfect day here in Vermont. Enjoyed the great outdoors and stayed away from crowds with the exception of fireworks in the mountains. Walk, bike, read, relax, barbecue and stitch. What more could you ask for?

Kind of hazy but a great breeze and sun.

Fireworks are really hard to capture. Just when your lens focuses, they are gone.

Fireworks 2011, 17x24

This isn't a piece I like but just a piece that needed to be finished. So, I could finally finish something! And move on. The fabric reminded me of fireworks and I had fun adding some big stitch to it. ( I am really tired of these neons so you will be as relieved as I am that I am moving on.)

And if you put the fun back into it, it sure goes quickly. Which leads me to the question, why would I be finishing things I really didn't want to do?

Be creative, my friends and make something you enjoy doing.

Fabric Dyeing Days:#6

2011-07-02T07:00:00.002-04:00

I was weeding the garden this week and really was struck by the purples right now.

I spotted this columbine under the trees and almost missed him in my hurry to finish weeding. I guess I do need to slow down.

My ferns are finally filling in.

Definitely a week of purple flowers. Could I make a gentle purple-more natural?

I think I did it and it is nice and gentle.

Started on the oranges and wanted more of an orange red so will try to do another batch. All out of fabric and will need to order some more.

Very pretty and a beautiful start to fabric dyeing here in Vermont inspired by the colors here. Now if I can get them ironed I will feel like it was a productive work week. Our friends are coming this weekend and we hope to go canoeing.

Be inspired by summer colors out there.

Finding Out More About Myself

2011-07-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

I signed up and took part in two workshops at the Vermont Quilt Festival: Small Silk works by Sonya Lee Barrington and Introduction to Long arm Quilting by Debbie Brown. Both are excellent teachers with an eye for detail and great skill in making you feel at ease in a workshop and getting the information to you in a clear manner.

The first class was a day long workshop and I took it primarily to see how to work with silks. I had dyed a bunch this past winter and before I cut into the silks , I wanted to know what I was doing. Sonya makes beautiful pieces large and small, purses and many of her pieces are framed very nicely. The packet of dupioni silks were gorgeous that we used for the class kit and the instructions well written.

I was a diligent student opening the packet and piecing things together as the pattern indicated but by about 1 pm, I could do no more. I am now officially an improvisational piecer. I can’t use a pattern anymore. I don’t want to use a pattern is more accurate. There was not a scrap of my brain that wanted to use a pattern. I think she thought I was crazy when I spent the last hour just piecing randomly as everyone was dealing with tiny one inch pieces which fit so nicely together.

It doesn't look a thing like the pattern above, does it? I couldn't do it.

I do appreciate and admire people who can use a pattern. I am too far gone I guess ! I learned how to do a Y seam, how to fuse pellon 880 f to make the silk easier to handle while sewing but most importantly I learned something about myself as a studio artist : I don’t want to -use a pattern and I am not at all about precision anymore. A sketch- yes, a pattern- no. I am not sure why this was such a revelation to me but it was.

Then on Saturday, I took an intro to long arm quilting workshop . I had it in the back of my mind that maybe this was a route I wanted to take.

Buy a long arm machine( money is a slight issue- ;) and be a quicker worker producing oodles of artwork. Oh where do I dream these things up? Now, I tried a big machine for about ten minutes. I knew right then and there, it is not what I want to do either. Too big for me. I don’t want to have to add another tool to learn to use, maintain or justify. It just wasn't me-right now.

I spent I think about 100 dollars to learn these things about myself. I could feel really guilty about that. But I figure it was much less than a semester at a local art college taking a 4 credit class that would have cost a lot more and been more painful to finish. Or a huge expensive sewing machine...

Oh the things I am learning about myself thorough this whole process!!!

Thanks for listening to this very long post . Slow down and enjoy the journey. I think I need to. It was a relief to eliminate some things and not wonder if I was missing something. :)

Slow down and enjoy the journey, my friends.

Fabric Dyeing Days:#5

2011-06-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

I really do love to dye fabric. That isn't a big secret, is it? Started back in on dyeing this week since we had a stretch of sun and warmth. The colors I chose reminded me of the meadows here.

First the lighter colors.

Then a little darker and deeper shades of the same.

I am trying not to do all my typical jewel tones and bright neons. But I missed them when I went to wash these out. More fabric dyeing tomorrow. Stitching at night. Relaxing into summer.

Be creative, my friends!

The Vermont Quilt Festival

2011-06-29T16:47:00.000-04:00

First, thanks for your nice comments on the last post. It was a surprise indeed and I always appreciate your encouragement.

A peek at some of the quilts there this year:

Candy Apple by Colleen Cote

Art Quilt Exhibit

Judith Reilly

Karen Kamentsky

Noah Patullo-the 14 year old artist

Marilyn Gillis

Pamela Druhen (the front of this piece)

Pamela Druhen( the back of the same piece)

And unfortunately, I mixed up the last few artists credits and pictures so best not post incorrectly. Nice to see such a wide variety at this show. Inspiration indeed.

Fun to see and always a pleasure to attend. Got me back into my sewing groove again.

I missed you Lynn-maybe next year.

Be creative, my friends.

The True Beginning of Summer

2011-06-26T17:15:00.000-04:00

I arrived in our second home in Vermont on late Wednesday night. Early Thursday morning, I got up early and drove to Essex Junction for the Vermont Quilt Festival. I had signed up for two small workshops the first two days and arrived to find I didn't have the right supplies-the festival catalog had misprinted a few of the classes. The class I thought was Thursday was actually Friday. So I scrambled and went on a quick shopping and borrowing spree from my classmates....and rallied. I settled in to a day long workshop with Sonya Barrington on small works of silk. More on that and the other class in the next post. I promise.

Overall, the Vermont Quilt festival was very busy and very well attended. I think it was the busiest I have ever seen it and the rainy day probably helped. I thought in all my years of attending, the show itself was very good. Primarily, it has had an abundance of traditional quilts but this year, there really was a nice variety. Also, there was a special exhibit of Vermont art quilters- one of whom I had met at the Barn this last time with two of her pieces finished-Marilyn Gillis. The other artists that I can remember: Karen Kamensky, Judith Reilly, Pamela Druhen and Noah (he was only fourteen and I was so proud of this kid and I am not his mom!). Very, very nice to see them all.

   I was really excited to have won with this piece -1st place in Wall quilts and Best Contemporary Quilt. I never expected it and really my goal was to be brave enough to enter shows. Now, I must get back to making quilts, right?

   I am being kicked out of the local coffee shop right now-sorry, I wanted to upload more photos for you. A coffee shop that closes at 5...mmm...back in Vermont. That's ok. More later on the Quilt Festival.

   Be creative, my friends. The beginning of summer- I love it. What are you working on?

Freedom

2011-06-20T22:59:00.000-04:00

   Well, that didn't take a week, did it? Just a quick thought to remind myself: I want to feel free enough to create fabric like she is working with paper and watercolors: Alisa Burke.

   I am getting excited to see one of my pieces at the Vermont Quilt Festival this weekend and , of course, go to two classes there.

   See you when I get to Vermont, maybe Thursday....

Just tired

2011-06-19T00:30:00.000-04:00

Hi guys-

I am supremely tired. I have had to fight some battles for my kids the past two weeks and I am just tired. School battles and coaches battles. Silly things that really shouldn't have been done to kids but that have taught my kids that honesty, integrity and decency are important. And my kids have shown me amazing things and that they are bigger than the adults involved. Much bigger. My heart is swelling with pride and they did good in some really unfair situations. But at the end of the school year, it just wasn't what I needed. So, I am taking the week off. No wonderful things will be made. I will go on vacation to Vermont and settle in. And I hope that my big heart will heal after my kids feelings and hearts were hurt. And maybe the mountains will help me be a little less disillusioned by the adults I have just interacted with.

So with that- I'll be back in a week or so. Stop back and don't stop being creative just I am not.

Making Marks and Processing

2011-06-17T08:24:00.000-04:00

I spent some time visiting this week with art friends. On Tuesday , I met a friend Elizabeth for coffee and shared what I had learned at the Barn workshop. She is so enthusiastic and it's nice to be able to share with her. And sharing with her helped me to clarify what I had learned and what techniques I really didn't want to focus on. I came home and looked through my box of supplies and you know what tools I liked the best?

Simple things: a credit card for scraping thickened dyes on, foam rollers I cut into, a dishpan scrubber, the cheapo one dollar paintbrush with some bristles chopped off.....

A spreader with great edges

A piece of plexi-glass with duct tape on it. I used it for mono-printing.

a piece of a plastic doormat

foam rollers

a needle nose bottle with a plastic tip

I found I liked the simple things you can find at your local hardware store or scrounge from a workbench.

I spent some more time sorting fabric and completing my inventory for fabric dyeing this week. And beginning to pack for Vermont. I leave next Wednesday and I am trying to be reasonable with what I really want to accomplish this summer. Also, I do this after every workshop. Just kind of stop and ramble around until I might process what I have learned. Maybe it's being overstimulated. Don't know but I am not fighting it this time. Some hand stitching usually moves me on.

Talk about being overstimulated-had lunch with the wonderful Nellie and her niece Diane. More about that later.

Be creative, my friends!

My New Big Blue

2011-06-14T16:20:00.001-04:00

I took some of my birthday money and bought myself a present. I have a small addiction to these great pieces from Paula McCullough at PaulaArt. This one came and it was even better than I thought it would be. A beautiful bright blue and the marks on it were really special. It even had a dent -all scritchy, scratchy and scraped where the dent was. I just loved it and want to get some flowers for it next. Go check her out with her three different etsy shops. I have never been disappointed in what I have received!

Blue Vase#8
Paula McCullough

   I refuse to count how many I have. I just enjoy them and when you turn 50 you can get whatever you want for your birthday. :)

   I am working but just not on something I can show you yet. Also, recuperating from the end of year school stuff and trying to process things. Trying to weed out what techniques I want to work on and incorporate into some pieces and what I want to let go of -for now. It's summer, after all.

   Be creative, my friends!

Color Days:#4

2011-06-09T14:16:00.000-04:00

I am going to keep track of how many days I actually spend dyeing this summer and will share with you my results. I hope you aren't bored to death but I will spend a considerable amount of time dyeing. Now, I dye for a few days and then I just get itchy to start stitching a bit.

It is a love-hate relationship I have with ironing. I have just finished ironing 45 yards of fabric the past week. Not the part I like. But I sure do love the way newly dyed fabric looks when you are done ironing. Yards dyed=yards ironed.

The pieces on the right were pleated and tray dyed with an indigo color. Very pretty.

   I will try keeping a better record of my process this summer. At least that is the goal the first week. Just want to see what works and hopefully achieve consistent and reproducible results. I also need to go through my existing stash tonight and see what I need. I know reds, greens and browns.

   Off to stitch. Be creative, my friends!

   Whew, now back to stitching.

Color Days:#3

2011-06-08T08:24:00.000-04:00

Busy, busy, busy at the end of the school year. From one hour to the next and trying to be efficient and not forget any food I have to bring to all these events. I conclude that May and the first two weeks of June are busier than December. Enough though! It has been deliciously warm here and I have been squeezing the fabric dyeing in at very odd times.

   My son said,"Great texture Mom". A man after my own heart. I love it.

   He graduated from 6th grade this week. Hard to believe he is done with elementary school and so am I. Knowing they are ready to move on and yet not wanting to move forward. Very bittersweet.

My sweet, sweet little man.

And my sweet, very hot girl whose team keeps winning in all this heat. 95 degrees last night on a turf field.

Almost to the lazy days of summer, but not quite yet. Just enjoying the kids and trying to dye fabrics this week. I just washed out about twenty yards from yesterday. More tomorrow.

Be creative, my friends!

More on Color Days: Shades of Blue

2011-06-03T21:57:00.000-04:00

I had two really remarkable dyeing tips come to me the past few weeks-one at my class from a pair of warrior dyers and one I stumbled on this week. I will share with you. (You can laugh if you already knew this stuff and shake your head at my ignorance. Just don't tell me you already figured it out. )

When I dye, I prewash even the pfd fabrics. Then I soak them in warm water, wring them out and dye them-dye, soda ash, process them and rinse. Dry and iron. But this time I mistakenly placed all of them in the my soda ash bucket for about 30 minutes. So it was soda ash, dye, soda ash again, process and rinse. LOOK AT HOW SOLID THE COLOR IS!

I was blown away by this. Now, I know that many things enter into a successful dyeing day-temperature, water, etc....but why have I never tried this before? The soda ash prior to adding color made a huge difference. No mottling at all-just solid blue. (The two pieces on the bottom don't belong in this photo so sorry to confuse you.) I know I would need to reproduce this sequence to claim success but for yesterday, this was a good day. No rolling out, no significant squeezing, just dyeing.

  Ok, tell me-do you do this? Add soda ash prior to adding the dye ?

  Second fun dyeing tip: When rinsing, dump excess dye from your container. Place your piece of fabric in a bucket of cold water with a few drops of synthrapol for about one hour. Dump your water. Start fresh with your fabric in the bucket -this time hot water with a few drops of synthrapol for one hour. Dump your water, rinse lightly in cold and plop them in the washer with synthrapol. No excessive rinsing even with red. What a difference this makes in the washout. Now like colors need to go in like colored buckets. But the amount of dye going down the drain is really reduced meaning -more stays in your fabric.

   I love anything to make it easier. Maybe it was just the day though...I will find out when I try it again.

P.S. I turned 50 today and as much as I dreaded it -really worked myself into this mid life crisis the past year-I feel no different than I did yesterday. :) I just love driving myself crazy, don't I?

Be creative, my friends!

Color Days: Shades of Blue

2011-06-02T08:38:00.000-04:00

I started out a bit slow yesterday making silly mistakes. After not dyeing all winter, I had a bit of re-arranging to do and I wanted to make a list of what colors I really needed to dye. Since I had been using blue like it was the new black all winter, blue was the color of the day.

Not as hot as Monday but a beautiful day to dye some fabrics and let it dry on the line.

Great texture on this linen. It is my new favorite to dye and I am saving these pieces for some hand stitching this summer.

Also took some time to set up some screens to try de-constructed screen printing that I never had a chance to try at my class secondary to the high humidity. Hopefully today but now must rinse out 15 yards of blues.

I wil let you know how it turns out.

Be creative, my friends!

Making Bargains

2011-05-31T10:48:00.000-04:00

I am making a bargain with myself. I know there is vacuuming to be done, a garden that grows out of control and many errands that need to be done. Which I will do AFTER I make myself a print surface and mix up some dyes and print paste. I worked all weekend and want to squeeze in some fabric dyeing in the middle of the last week of school and the sunshine. I will do the other things after I do this. :):)

I will let you know how it turns out. I need to scrounge around for the other table.

Be creative, my friends!

Finally, the Fabrics

2011-05-27T08:11:00.001-04:00

I kept waiting for a brighter day to take pictures of my fabrics I made last week but the rain just kept coming. So last night, in some very bad lighting, I took pictures just so I could remember all the processes we covered.

Some are really bad and not to be shown. I took it one layer too far or some of the colors bled into the other areas... but the fun of splashing all that color over a white piece of fabric was amazing. So here we go. I used a yard of fabric for each piece so that is a lot of dye and print paste.

Soy wax resist using a large paint brush on cotton. The small tools to apply wax were in big demand so I went big. I was worried about washing it out when I had so much soy on there but it was easy after I soaked it in hot water.

More soy wax resist on linen. I ended up loving working on linen as it accepts the dye so well and wished I would have brought more of it.

Masking tape on a silk screen and then print paste with dyes applied through it . The big squeeze bottles full of color were so much fun. I felt like a kid in the candy shop and I had been given ten bucks instead of a quarter to spend.

Dry brushing with the liquid dyes.

Monoprinting on one of my small plexiglass pieces I brought. This blue piece took me a long time and then I don't enjoy the blue color.

The orange piece above is just trying out different things to obtain texture.

This is a section of a large piece of fabric that I worked on for a few days waiting and batching in between processes. And then trying different marks on different areas. I think it has about five layers on it and I even worked it from the back. I was looking to obtain really saturated colors and now I know how. You can see from the close up how much bleed I was getting from the masking tape. I wouldn't do such a rigid thing next time. I might go back to it and make the neon yellow lines a different color. Or cut it up and use it for something else. (But that's the whole point of trying to make compositional cloth-it is the composition.)

It was very freeing to know that every fabric can be fixed WITH A BUCKET OF BLACK. And if you go into surface design with that approach, you smile a whole lot more when you pull your piece out of the final rinse and you don't like it. I gave myself permission to be the newbie and just learn the techniques this time.

Two of the many things I will forever remember from Claire Benn and Leslie Morgan:

1. Stitch alone cannot fix a bad composition.
2. "Don't get your knickers in a twist." I love this phrase.

So back to work I am , stitching on a new piece and enjoying their phrases as I try to make sense out of a piece I need to finish! They were great teachers and if you ever have a chance to take a class from them, sell a sewing machine if you need to and go.

Have a good weekend. I hope to enjoy some sun , soccer and the garden.

Be creative, my friends!

2011-05-23T21:45:00.000-04:00

After spending the week at the Barn, I keep thinking about all the things I learned there and a few things really need to be written down tonight in my journal. While everything is still fresh. So instead of words tonight , I will give you some pictures from the workshop.

Art outside at the Barn

Finally some sunshine on Friday

The Barn

Collection of baskets

starting to hang up the fabrics at the end of the week

I didn't do a great job of photographing fabrics so will have to go back and label some of my pieces. It was hard to stop and take pictures with wet hands! Great teachers, great place to make art and be energized and be fed amazing food by the wonderful Margaret Wolf.

Be creative, my friends!

A Class at the Barn

2011-05-22T22:27:00.000-04:00

What a great week at the Barn with fiber artists Claire Benn and Leslie Morgan. First of all, I want to tell you what excellent teachers these two are. Their enthusiasm for surface design and teaching skills are truly gifts. I went with really no idea of how the class would be structured and what we would accomplish. Each morning a design technique was covered and generally in the afternoon and evening, we would work away or should I say play away.

The wet studio is amazing. Large sinks, large print tables and we each had our own space-wet and dry with unlimited access to all the supplies.

We learned about print paste, screen printing with the dyes, using unlimited amount of mark making tools, de-constructed screen printing, thermofax screens, freezer paper stencils, paper lamination, monoprinting, soy wax and lots of other things...So many techniques that I was overwhelmed and didn't end up trying two of them.

Some were old hands at the techniques and came for more of the design aspect of creating a compositional cloth and others like me were new to the techniques. There were several very talented artists. And it was a joy to watch them work. All of us played very hard and really didn't let the weather hinder us. It rained the entire week so we couldn't get our screens to dry for de-constructed printing. Getting things to dry and not bleed was a challenge as well with the high humidity.

   I met new friends from Canada and Australia. And got to spend time with an old friend . Dorothy Caldwell was in the upstairs studio with a full studio and we had 21 people in class. It was a busy place but never felt crowded.

   More tomorrow.

Be creative, my friends.

Sneak Peek: Day 3

2011-05-19T06:57:00.000-04:00

We stayed for a lecture last night so ran late... I feel like day #3 was kind of the crossroads for me. I am figuring what techniques I may want to add to what I am doing and what I just don't like.

And sometimes, it is just what you have the capability to do at home versus the perfect studio which you have here at the Barn. Wet studio that is or having a thermofax machine or investing in lots of mediums. I need to think about it more. But now must run to wash out more fabrics for the next processes.

   I am leaving at 4 tonight to travel to a local museum for an art exhibition. Should be fun. Really wish it would stop raining.

   Be creative, my friends.

Sneak Peak Day #2

2011-05-17T22:38:00.000-04:00

I am have come to the conclusion early in the week: compositional cloth takes a long time to produce. We were given instruction early in the week that mastery of any technique or process can take 10,000 hours. After my past few years of working hard at home and two days into surface design( yes , you may smile! ), I absolutely believe that. And after all the layering of these pieces we are doing day after day this week, it may not even turn out. But the amount of knowledge we are learning each day=one semester at any college. Any college. My head is spinning. I didn't get to try two of the techniques today but hope to catch up tomorrow.

Today was really cold and rainy which made for awful batching and drying of our fabrics. So now they are wrapped in plastic and being kept warm in an electric blanket.

   Look at that - I am not even working in a grid. Amazing and kind of freeing.

   Be creative, my friends! Very excited and very tired....I will be washing fabric in my sleep.

Sneak Peak Day #1

2011-05-16T21:50:00.000-04:00

Oh so very tired after starting at 8:30 and going until 8 at night at the Barn workshop.

Learning how to print with a silkscreen and print paste.

And do an unlimited amount of things which I am way too tired to explain. 41 people here all working hard together to make beautiful art. With that I will have a glass of wine and fall fast asleep with sweet dreams of more to come tomorrow.

Be creative, my friends.

Colorplay #4 : Too Much Orange

2011-05-13T22:39:00.000-04:00

I always love what I see after I complete a piece and look at it through the camera lens and on my computer screen. With this one, I see two things: 1. The light purple line on the top left is way too distracting for me and doesn't seem to fit. 2. I really do not like the teal green combo but wanted to try it. On a positive note, I was bold and tried the orange thread. I can see my machine quilting is slowly improving with tightly spaced quilting lines.

Colorplay #4
16 x 25

   I am trying to do a better record keeping job in hard copy and in my journal. Maybe it will give me a better perspective when I can look back and see things in one place.

   I seem to have lost another day with blogger issues. I know tomorrow is unlikely for a post but hope to post during my week away. I have no idea how I will be ready to go by Sunday morning at 8am. And then my father-in-law is having open heart surgery on Monday so I am leaving Marc with a real mess. I feel badly leaving but he says -go. Is everyone's life this crazy? Maybe.

   Being creative definitely keeps me sane. Try it, my friends!

It's Wednesday Already

2011-05-11T15:55:00.000-04:00

I have been playing in the sunshine. Finally beautiful weather with no coat on and my piggies in the flipflops. I can breathe again. No turning back now.

Snippets from my week so far:

1. I have been watching a robin's nest the past few weeks. Each spring a nest is built on this wreath I have on my side door. The kids love to watch the babies grow. They are peeking out and mom is way too busy feeding them.

getting bigger

I know someone is watching me

Is it ok to jump yet?

And today I startled them by snapping a picture and off they flew. Made my day to see that happen.

2. Loving polka dots. I see these clamped and discharged-itajame with circles.

3. Persevering with machine quilting a small piece. Until I put the binding on wrong last night when it was way too late to be sewing. I hope to finish it tonight.

4. Getting excited to go next week and just itching to start dyeing. I did a little pole wrapping and dyeing on this silk scarf. Not exactly what I wanted but still turned out well enough to wear it. I still can't get consistent dye take up with the silk and will try a larger diameter pole later.

5. Getting excited for my class next week. Leave on Sunday and am accumulating my supplies.

Yes, it is definitely Wednesday already. I thought I didn't have much to tell you and here I am writing away yet! :)

Be creative, my friends!

A Different Kind of Wish

2011-05-08T15:26:00.001-04:00

Right now I could jump up and down and wish you a Happy Mother's Day and and tell you how wonderful my kids are. They really are and I love being a mom.

But this wish is for my friends who are hurting today. The one who recently had her mom die unexpectedly. The one who had a miscarriage and misses what might have been. The friend who made poor choices when she was younger and needed to place her child up for adoption and now misses a child she never knew.

A friend of mine who died as a young mom and now her son is sixteen and wondering what his mom was like. The mom who placed her adopted child in another home in hopes he would heal.

For you , friends who are hurting today on a day filled with lots of love and sentimentality, I wish you peace and a little time to be good to yourself. And just like the hope that spring brings, I wish a good dose of hope and love for your day today.

Hugs, my friends! Be creative.

Friday Finds

2011-05-05T22:52:00.000-04:00

I spent a little time at the carwash this week. Cleaning up the Yukon. But a little time turned into a lot of time when the battery died -in the carwash. :) Seriously and I did laugh while some nice car washers jumped my battery. In the carwash. A week of fixing things. It really has been a year of fixing things so far. New car has been obtained and I am very happy about that. ( The dogs do not like the new car. I feel a little guilty about that. Soon the new car smell will be gone and they will be at home again.)

Doing good on staying focused. I have another small piece basted and have begun quilting it. Nothing to show yet. But I found some really fun things happening in blogland this week.

1. Kathy York has organized an Artist Quilt Village project through May and you can follow along through the artists' blogs.

2. A few lucky people are at the Barn and posting about their time there- Robin Ferrier and Christine Mauersberger.

3. Lynn Krawcyzk has another great idea and is offering a thermofax screen of the month club. I just used one of her screens today and was reminded of what quick easy fun printing is using a thermofax screen. She only has a few spots left so go check it out. It is another addicting way to add design to fabric.

4. And for those of you awake yet, yes it is only Thursday. But Friday Finds sounds kind of fun, doesn't it?

Back to the Clothesline

2011-05-04T17:07:00.001-04:00

I think it is finally spring although only 50 today. I was able to hang and photograph a completed piece on the clothesline. Amazing when you just devote 4 hours of time to one thing and focus.

L Series- # 6 , 12x18

Looks like I have another project and that's organize this years quilts names and labels. But I finished something even though it's a small something! small. The road to completion recovery .... hope has arrived.

Be creative, my friends!

Taking Stock, Being Honest and Finishitis

2011-05-02T10:16:00.000-04:00

   Is there such a word-finishitis? Don't know but I certainly seem to be queen of it lately. My definition: not staying FOCUSED enough to finish the task at hand. In my excitement of learning new things or wanting to try different ideas, I have developed an uncanny inability to start many things and never carry them through to completion. If I get stuck on a piece, I start another one.

   Now, I do need one or two on my design wall to spur me on and when I do get stuck then I can bounce back and forth between them. That actually helps me move on. But, over the last few months with learning all these techniques, I let things get way out of control. I realized it last Thursday when I couldn't see over my fabric pile to the design wall. And the pile of unfinished quilt tops was getting larger again.

   I blamed it on everyone but me-my poor family, my husband, the dogs-well heck they did keep bringing in half the dirt and rain from the yard last week. Until finally, I gave myself a little talking to. Put all the currently unneeded supplies and fabric away. Tidied and cleaned.

   I can see my walls again with works in process.

Things are piled neatly according to projects on the tables. Fabric fold neatly and books put away. (Another form of procrastination, I know. )

This is one of my piles of unquilted tops. Two just need bindings and sleeves. The rest need to be sandwiched and quilted. These are the ones that are ready to go as far quilting is concerned. I procrastinate on these because at this point the machine quilting is a hard skill for me yet. There is another pile of unfinished tops which I would like to hand quilt....

Sewing of various parts together on the wall has begun again.

I am my own worst enemy. I need to finish things and this recurrent theme is really bogging me down.

Nothing is standing in the way of my art-but me. Not unlearned skills of lack of talent. Just plain old me. How do you know if there is talent there if you don't finish it?

Another silly list that will be made. But it's up to me to knock it off, isn't it? Being honest to or with yourself is sometimes the hardest thing.

Be creative and finish things, my friends!

Excuse Me

2011-04-28T22:15:00.000-04:00

   Yes, indeed. Excuse for awhile as I deal with life-family, marriage, kids, house stuff and cars. I continue to work amidst the chaos that is mine. I am ok. Plenty of stuff is on my design wall. Ok, an absolute insane amount of things are up on my wall. In fact, at one point today, I needed to move a pile of fabric to see the wall.

   But , somehow, it is all inconsequential to what I need to deal with. It is not first priority. And that's ok, too.

   If I finish one of the five pieces I am working on, I will let you know. Chaos begats chaos, doesn't it?

   See you soon, my friends !

An Old Treasure

2011-04-26T19:54:00.000-04:00

Just can't seem to get a rhythm going this week. Haven't made much progress but I have been staying up way too late the last few nights. Just reading a good book. Have you read anything new lately?

My brothers came for the holiday weekend and we had a great time catching up. My youngest brother brought me an amazing old treasure. I had forgotten it and actually didn't know who had ended up with it or if it was even in our possession anymore. Look at this....

Bad picture. Let me try again.

My dad's old camera- he died nine years ago from cancer.

old leather lens cases

   And a gorgeous, gorgeous old heavy duty tripod. The camera is not going anywhere once it is set up on this baby! And the best of all, my brother said I should have it since I am enjoying taking pictures as much as I do. I never wanted anything at the time-just my memories. Nothing could replace my dad. But now that I have it, it feels really special to be able to appreciate it. I think the only thing that is usable is the tripod and lens cases. There is film in the case but no batteries. I will probably take it to the camera store to see if I can retrieve the film.

   Doesn't really matter if I can use it. I am just enjoying this very old treasure. Thanks Dad! It felt like a hug from the past.

   Be creative, my friends. Sooner or later it will stop raining.

Process, Comparisons and End of the Week

2011-04-21T08:40:00.000-04:00

   Yes, it will be the end of my studio time for the week as I am leaving shortly to pick up my daughter from college for the Easter weekend.

   I am still working through that piece I showed you Tuesday. It's in a lot of sections with little progress. Not by any means giving up. Just busy with other things this week.

   I needed to order my supplies for the next class and take inventory on all my dyes. As I was doing that, I received my list of who is attending my next workshop. I had a day and a half sheer panic - I am not worthy, why am I going, why in the world would I think I could take classes with them....they are established talented artists....

   And then I came full circle. I am excited. I am very privileged to be able to go and it's not cheap. I want to learn all of these techniques and really don't want to let my fear of- not knowing things - of not succeeding-get in the way. Once I get over that -every time I go-it's this little magical adventure that is a treasure because it's uninterrupted studio time for 12 -15 hours a day . Uninterrupted is the key and not necessarily the hours.

   I don't want to compare myself to where they are and what they do because I create with MY hands. And I alone need to be happy at the end of the day with what I create with MY hands.

   Whew- this whole art thing just really messes with your head, doesn't it? I don't remember any of this from being a physical therapist. If another co-worker's patient was progressing faster than mine, I would just ask-what protocol are you using? can you show me the technique? can I try it on you? Not so much with art.

   I am happy to go and look forward to seeing how others work and what they do. But I am going to wrap my little head into thinking about what -I- am going to learn. And not how much others know or do. My hands and my heart. With lots of enthusiasm.

   Just a few more shibori silk experiments. Having family here this weekend so have Happy Easter! Back Monday.

The Last Seam

2011-04-19T08:07:00.000-04:00

I really wanted to put this piece away. But, I kept thinking and thinking about it. I will never really know until I just finish it. It may not be good or even great but honestly, it is in the completing of the design that I actually LEARN. And the sewing together of the top.

It started here. Random blocks that looked way too clunky for me. And dark. Didn't like it.

I had the whole piece up on the design wall and didn't like it. So, changed it up adding another border around these "blocks".

mmm...that didn't feel right either. cut some more.

Realize I have driven myself and my family crazy. Now, procrastinate and make a small piece out of the scraps.

And then get brave enough to start sewing it together-sewing numerous parts several times to get it to fit together. Finally, am down to the final seam.

Big clunky part on the lower left doesn't seam together right no matter what I try.

What a mess that I am afraid to cut in to. No -let me re-phrase that- I don't know what to do to make it work . Better recruit a friend who is a better seamstress to give me some advice today.

This is quite the process that I am not sure I would tell anyone else but you how I got to this point. All this and I don't even like it. Really I don't at all. I just want to finish it. How crazy is that?

Now, maybe it just doesn't need to be quilted but that I am not deciding today. It's all a learning experience.

Be creative, my friends.

Making Babies

2011-04-15T09:51:00.001-04:00

Well that woke you up this morning, didn't it? I went on a road trip with a group of seven other women last night and we got home at one. I am too old for 5 hours of sleep. I am very punchy on little sleep. Already brought my beasty gas guzzling Yukon in for yet more work this am . Oh why- oh why- didn't I do a trade-in when I should have? My kids told me not to talk badly about her when I am with her. Funny how attached they are to her, too. Luckily, they did tell me she has much life left yet in her. After these repairs, of course.... She might retire soon to the land of Vermont vacation mobiles. ( I haven't told her yet though. )

Oh yes. Back to making babies. I am sitting there as I contemplate every seam I sew on this big guy quilt on my design wall and keep getting stuck. So rather than waste too much time, I pick up the scraps and just sew them together. And slowly, the solution for the next seam comes along.

leftovers from scraps

Making babies from the scraps. ( about 12 x 20) I wonder how many babies I will have to make to figure out all the seams. Not nearly as exciting as you thought this post would be, is it?

On that very tired note, have a good weekend.

Be creative, my friends!

Spinning and Spinning

2011-04-13T08:40:00.000-04:00

I do love the design aspect of this. But when I get stuck I have a bad habit of putting things in a ziplock bag. Except that bad habit is making me feel too guilty with the price of cotton slowly increasing. So this time I decided to be better at photographing and then cutting the photo up first before the fabric- once I had it pieced.

Well that didn't help at all. I have run a marathon with this piece. And I do have a solution. But I have no idea how to sew it all together. I look at it and I want to run the other way. But last night, I started to sew it together -one seam at a time. Right now I estimate it will be 60x 70...you will have to wait.

Meanwhile, I found the latest issue of Stitch. And bought it. Great article on indigo dyeing. Not sure I want to try it but would like to research it as I love the colors that you achieve.

I was lost in the list of resources last night. (Yes, another form of procrastination I know.)

Focus is the word of the day I think.

Be creative, my friends!

(Blogger is stuck in caption mode-I give up trying to fix it...)

Back To Sewing

2011-04-11T09:36:00.000-04:00

I have finished the Color Theory class and only need to upload photos to the class group list. So, I was really excited to start sewing today. And not a bit frustrated last night when I realized my two current pieces were going to take longer than planned.

Hand stitching seemed to suit the piece better with some hand dyed floss. I want to be happy with it rather than race to the finish with this one.

And the next one has sat on my wall for the past week but I knew it wasn't right. We went away to Traverse City this weekend and after returning, I decided to re-piece sections of it and introduce a new color. What started out small and something I wanted simple, is neither of those things.

   But that's ok.

   Nice to be back sewing again and not working on homework.

   Be creative, my friends!

Early Morning Painting

2011-04-06T08:59:00.000-04:00

I have always been a morning person. I love a cup of coffee and the quiet of the mornings when everyone is still sleeping and even the dogs are snoozy yet. And this week is no exception. It is rainy and dreary here so my kids-on spring break- are sleeping in.

With the extra time in the mornings , I have been working to finish up these last class assignments. I only have two more assignments for the Color Theory class and I want to finish them by the end of this week and have all assignments posted. I am really ready to transition back to sewing.

It looks so easy to mix paint colors but getting an accurate color is really difficult. This palette on the left is a really beautiful color palette with raw sienna added.

I can't bear wasting textile paint so I would paint a piece of white cotton with the leftovers on my paint tray. I have a pile of these fabrics now.

To think I almost washed the paint down the drain. Even after ironing, the paint remained a bright color and the Setacolor paint left a really soft hand to the fabric. Unlike diluted acrylics.

All in all, a great way to spend my early mornings with a cup of coffee.

Trying Some Arashi Shibori

2011-04-05T15:54:00.000-04:00

This past week's lesson in the online shibori class was on pole wrapping or arashi shibori. I took an old piece of pvc pipe and wrapped my fabric around it. I methodically and slowly wrapped the pole in about 1/8 of inch increments and then dipped the pole in colorhue dye. Instant color.

For these four pieces of silk, I used the color eggplant and rose which I really did not like. Maybe I will try overdyeing this.

That's what I love about dyeing-you can always change your results-until you get mud....then you just start fresh with white again.

Let's see what else I can sneak in this week while they are sleeping in.

Be creative, my friends!

How Do You Organize?

2011-03-31T21:27:00.000-04:00

   I have spent some time re-organizing and purging my studio the last week or so. I feel like I do it every few months but I am now actually getting rid of supplies I know I won't need. I moved some tables around and it just feels better now. And more room, of course, makes room for more fabric I will dye this summer. But the kind of re-organizing I need to do now is the kind I really don't have a good system for-a good record of completed pieces. Sure, I have managed to loosely organize my photos but need things like measurements, dates completed, etc. The stuff you are looking for when you go to submit a piece to a show.

   So, my question for you is -what are you currently doing to organize your record of completed pieces? Just on your computer ?

   My kids are on spring break starting tomorrow. We have been left behind in Michigan where the rest of the population has left for Florida. Seriously, I am always wondering why it doesn't just fall off and into the ocean with all the people that will be there from Michigan. We decided that rain, snow and 45 would be lovely instead.

   How do you organize that info? It would be helpful for me to know!

   You might have to be creative for me for the next week...I feel like every time I get going there is an interruption lately. My kids told me that this week's creation up on my design wall looks like a beach blanket. After a day or so, I had to agree. I am taking sections of it apart. I don't think beach-like is exactly what I was after. That's life, my friends.

   I suspect I will be in and out the next week.

Catching Up

2011-03-30T08:27:00.000-04:00

   First, let me thank you for your comments on my last little piece. Orange feels more comfortable now. Not a like but definitely more comfortable.

   Back at it again this week after a quick trip to Connecticut for a funeral. I had so much fun catching up with old friends, enjoying Connecticut scenery and eating some great New England clam chowder. It is a place I easily slipped back into despite the sad circumstances. Hard to leave.

   I came back with a clogged tear duct which needed medical attention. It has happened before so I hope I caught it early enough....just something odd to deal with while playing catch up. Bothersome more than anything.

   I ended up spending the last few nights catching up on my shibori class. The stitching for these small exercises is time consuming. But just like everything else that takes time, the results are really pretty. Everyone keeps asking me what I will do with these samples and I have decided that the successful ones will be part of a class sampler-all included in one piece once the class is done. Two more lessons are coming my way in the next two weeks.

I didin't realize that there are different names for different stitching techniques and this blue one is makiame.

Oriniui example-this one was the most time consuming.

Another makiame. I thought the heart could be for a special bookmark.

A few nights work. When I think of the beautiful kimonos I have seen, I am in awe over their patience with stitching such intricate designs.

Now waiting for another lesson to come today.

Be creative, my friends. Off to take down Christmas lights. That is really pathetic.

A Little Orange

2011-03-24T09:05:00.000-04:00

I like orange but never have really used much in any of my pieces. So, in the wonderful quest of self improvement and art improvement that I am on, I chose orange. ( Yes that was a little sarcastic but I did choose it because I wanted a little challenge.)

   Colorplay #3
   14x20

   Funny how I go back to simple strip piecing and am happy with it.

I continue to like tight dense quilting. It just looks crisp and clean.

I had a proud mom moment this week. My son Ben won an award at the speech meet. He recited the JFK inaugural address without an one mistake-boldly and confidently. I was beaming. The pictures were all blurry so I am waiting for another mom to send me some of hers. Which led me to schedule an eye appointment for today! I kept noticing how blurry everything was I was taking. Ughh... I hate missing kid photo moments.

   The sun came out after the ice storm . All my class fabric samples from the last month and it captured the sunlight so beautifully.

   I am off to Connecticut this weekend for a funeral of a dear man and pastor of the church we used to attend. I haven't been there for a visit in a long time. It will be a time of re-connecting with old friends and memories. Must pack and get the kids ready for the weekend. They are staying home with Dad.

   Appreciate those you are with, my friends. And be creative.

Aliens and Shibori

2011-03-22T13:51:00.000-04:00

I was taking some pictures before I dipped the last few pieces of silk in the dyepot and my son said-"what are they-aliens?" I agree it is kind of bizarre looking but this is how the silk is after I have stitched a pattern in with upholstery thread and pulled everything tight.

They are all bundled tight and placed in water before I stick them in the dye. And then after a quick rinse, the pulling out of the stitching begins. And the reveal is made. Better than opening a present.

   The first one on the left was from a previous post and the thread had broken when I was removing it.
The other two purple pieces are finally a little better results. The lower right are a few itajame pieces but I still can't get clear results and I suspect my results might improve with a smoother silk versus the more open and nubby weave.

   Don't ask me what I will do with all this beautiful silk yet because I don't know.

   Another storm warning for tonight and this time calling for ice. But first we will sit in the slush for the first soccer game of the season. :) Oh boy.

Be creative, my friends!

An Art Raffle From Paula Art

2011-03-20T17:26:00.000-04:00

I would love to let you know of an art raffle being held over the next two weeks by a very talented artist Paula at Paula Art . She is probably the hardest working artist I know and is very passionate about what she does and how she does it. You can read about it here and here .

I have been lucky enough to collect some of her pieces and am in love with her vases. I have used them for a utilitarian purpose of keeping my sewing supplies from being lost amidst my piles of fabric in my sewing studio. I love them because they are heavy, the colors marvelous and they just plain make me smile and give me a long distance connection to a talented friend. An artist pursuing her art passionately.

Vase from Paula Art

.
But they also look great on my windowsill. Definitely art from Paula Art. Check her website for the raffle and check out her other items for sale on etsy. You won't want to miss an opportunity to help another artist out.

Vases by PaulaArt

I have more but they are in Vermont! They are kind of addicting. And a clock too.

Support Paula's raffle, my friends!

The Softness of Silk Continued

2011-03-18T22:02:00.000-04:00

I am really happy it's Friday. I am even happier that I am done with elementary school carnival volunteering. Tonight was the last for me. I will miss lots of things about elementary school but not the dreaded carnival.... a big sigh of relief ...ahhh...my feet are up and I am relaxing.

I really do love this silk. This week we are working on actual shibori- stitching and then dyeing. I have a new respect for the amount of time it takes to stitch intricate patterns. I had trouble tugging on the thread too hard so hours of stitching were lost with a broken thread. But I did come up with a lovely piece of fabric despite that.

I have two more small pieces in the works so hope to dip them tomorrow. The reveal when you undo it is just too much fun. One thing I know for certain is that I love to dye fabric of any kind. (I need to figure out how to post on the class site....)

Also, snuck in another small piece. I am trying to not post until things are finished but just a little peek.
I made myself use orange. And I am liking orange.

Whew, I am glad it's Friday, aren't you?

Be creative, my friends!