Spring Retreat 2018

Hello,

The big event for last week was the Schweinfurth Spring Retreat. This time I was in the dry studio as I seem to have a lot to catch up on and I did not feel I needed to work wet again. As is the point of these little retreats we all worked away on our own challenges. This first shot is of Linda quilting a piece for her self. She finished it and pin basted seven more baby quilts that she had waiting. Liz spent the time doing a mystery quilt that the guild is doing. She was weeks behind and did accomplish a lot. Nancy spent the week end building a quilt for one of grandkids. Linda S. worked thread painting/quilting on this owl and a hand painted sea shell. She does such beautiful work. And so detailed!Kitsy worked away on these two projects.

One of our usual participants is fighting cancer so we all make blocks to put into a quilt to encourage her to wellness. Each block is to have a W on it. Liz went a bit crazy and did five. I brought mine block all finished.

Maureen was in the wet studio and she did some beautiful shobori work.

I worked on more thread painting and use of wash away techniques that I learned from the class I had last fall.T he branch is from the class and made thread painted birds to be a part of that project. The intensity of doing the tight work with the sewing machine , made me tense. So I did two scarves as a

a way to relieve that tension.This green one has silk paper along with yarn ribbon and sequins on it The brown one has lots of ribbons and yarns only. I also did drawings for several other birds.

Monday I went back to the Schweinfurth to help take down the “Both Ends of the Rainbow” show. I picked up and returned several of Sharon’s pieces too It has been a busy week.

Progress Report: Dill This work is 12 “ X 12 “. The seed heads are beads that were stitched on top of the thread painted dill plants, that were stitched onto a wool and fabric background. Then I stretched the piece to finish it. I enjoyed the process.

Asters I am to the stage where I am ready to add the flowers on to this work. I am doing the petal’s now and will add the faced flower centers on top of the 1/2” petals next. All is done with raw edge applique.

Fiddle Head Ferns The fiddle heads are all done and the background is ready for the addition of actual open fern leaves now I think.

12” X 12” I am starting work on my entry for the SAQA 12X12 auction. At this time it is only tacked up.

Altered garment After purchasing a great jacket in Florida with lace applied to it – I wanted to alter a jacket of my own. I am auditioning lace on this coat now. I have a great collection of old lace and tatting that my grandmother and aunts did. I will give these works a new life with this project. Again things are just pinned down and nothing is stitched.

Daily Practice I just keep adding stitch work to this top. They are adding up but not to the degree that I want yet. But that is to be expected as this is only the second week.

Necklaces I stopped at Jo Ann’s this week and because I was tempted and the beads were 50% off I purchased some. I told myself I would make at least one necklace with them using beads from my stash. These two necklaces are the result.