Adventure Challenge 2012, Bias Bound, DMC Challenge, Slight Slip, Slight Slip, Uncategorized

Feb 2, 2012 Lost and Found

February 2, 2012 admin 6 Comments

The Spring like weather yesterday made me do a bit of cleaning and tidying up. Something I tend to put off as I want to get to work. But there were lots of piles of fabric sorted for furture projects- or at lest things I though would work together well. I put some fabric back on the shelves were it belongs and put the potential stuff in the yellow bins that I have for that purpose. It looks a lot better with the bins on the shelving were they go and the cutting table all cleared off. My goal for the bins is to keep all the parts of projects in one area. I then did a more of the same to the bay window. That area was filled with plants, painting supplies and lots of items that did not seem to belong any were else. After putting the paints back were they really go and watering the plants, I decided to give away the old printer that I have not even plugged in for over a year and a half . I can use the one in the computer/office room if I want to copy things. And de-cluttering the space was part of the mission. This morning I went confidently to the shelves with the yellow bins and started searching for a project. I remember putting the created, but unsuccessful parts in one bin. And in deed there was a bin full of just such items- but the background that I was looking for, the first one created for the basis project that was too soft in color, was not in the box. So I looked in all the bins…. no background. A side benefit of the cleaning the day before was that I had found some spring green fabric that I though would make great Yo-yo’s for the next Adventure Project. So I had cut the circles and did the work last eve while I watched TV and I wanted to scatter them on the background. “It has to be here,” I told myself. ” How could I lose it?” Then I looked across the studio to the area I had not cleaned. The chair serves as my staging area for work that I will do by hand had been overloaded and the pile had slipped to the floor. OK, I though, I will at least pick that up before I start the blog- and then look again for that back. So I plied the whole bit on my desk and sorted and folded. Found the lost back!

Adventure Challenge III

pale green with purple and cream background. — Lost Back

The yo-yo idea came from the next book I selected. It is called “The Art of Manipulating Fabric” by Colette Wolff. This one is only 8 years old.

Apple green yoyos and purple matalic paper that is insidw — Yo-yo's

Adventure Challenge I Bias Bound

This project got a lot of attention this week. The quilting is reflective of the actual bias lines. I am calling this Adventure Challenge I even though this was the third back that I created, the bias was the first book idea that I have tried. The idea of doing “frogs” is still in the idea stage , but it will come to the surface with time.

Adventure Challenge II, DMC 4 , Slight Slip

This quilt fits under all three ideas. I used Dawn’s fabric in her layout for this project (look at old blog to see layout). When I decided that I wanted to slice the quilt in two I did not consciously think about the Faggoting stitches with beads until later.

Crimson, with blue green and turquoise squares — Slight Slip DMC 4

The close up is of the faggoting on the left and the metal beads across the center. I really like this look, but the process is very slow.

matalic triangel beads with green seed beads on top and the faggoting on the right sided — Slight Slip- showing Faggotting

This last detail shows the candle floats with clear beads in the centers. I like how this idea is similar to Sasha mirrors that are used in middle eastern works sometimes.

Close up of the candle floats on the crimson — Slight Slip - close up 2

Pillow Tops I created these two pillow tops from the leftovers of Twinkling Tracings. They will include the blue fabric when completed and will accompany the wall pieces. I still have lots of leftovers so I am sure the color combinations will turn up again.

Brown, blue and aqua blocks arranged in a random fashion for two pillows. — Pillow Tops

Wholes Series- Circular Openings I am still in love with wholes so I decided to start a new quilt in this vain. I also thought that this time I would create the shapes first and face them at the beginning. Then I would build the quilt around the pieces. I hope this is works.

Purple and blue faced shapes and cut opening — Faced Circles

This shot shows the fabrics sewn together and ready for clipping and turning. After I have done that step I will sew as close to the seam as possible so that when it is flipped it will lie flat.

There is lots of work ahead of me this week . I will try to keep the studio tidy so I do not lose anything this time too.

Keep Crating Friends

Hugs

Carol

Adventure Challenge 2012, and Brugundy, Black, DMC Challenge, Limber Loss, Paper Quilts, Re Work, Slight Slip, White

Jan 26, 2012 Power

January 26, 2012 admin

This morning I blew a fuse and lost the power in the studio. What a way to make one come to a halt. As I sat in the pale light that came through my bay window on this gray day, I was suddenly aware of how much I depend on this magical stuff we call electricity. I was in the middle of sewing a seam so the stop really make me take notice. How many items were on before it happened I asked myself? The sewing machine of course, the two Ott lights on the desk, the two power bars of three lights that are over head, the iron, the two spot lights from taking pictures for the blog, the extra heat unit in the studio, and the light in the laundry room downstairs is also on this line. And did I leave the light on in the closet when I went for fabric, I wondered? That is a high demand, I thought, and some of that is unnecessary as well as a bit lazy on my part. So I went around the room and turned off things- including the sewing machine as I like to always use the switch to start it, and went down to the basement to throw the fuse in the box. In the process I discovered that the light for the area leading to the fuse box is also on that circuit and it was on because that leads to the laundry too. I do not think that I have more items then most folks, but I do think I need to be more mindful of what I am using. If the problem had been caused by a source that I could not fix my day would have really been stopped. So with that in mind I will try to use power carefully, remembering to turn things off when not in use and keep in mind what are the consequences of its loss. Electricity is a powerful material that one can easily take for granted until it is taken away. So to keep the magic of Electricity in my studio I will be a better steward of its use.

Progress Report

DMC Challenge- Limber Loss and Slight Slip

I finished up Limber Loss this week. I still need to do the pressing, but I am happy with the look. It continues the theme that was started with Amended Squares.

I like the way the units all work together here. In the detail one can see the metal additions. They are the units off the bottom of candles that allow the candle to float. In this case I trimmed off the points that stick into the wax. You can also see the close alignment of the bugle beads to create the circle

Slit Slip is coming along nicely too. I have completed the quilting and I am almost done with the facings.( you can see the last ones on the bottom. I plan to use beads between the two units to connect them and create one big irruglar shape with it.

Re Work – The Moon She Called Me

I have given lots of works away this year as a part of my Project Divest , but there are some works that I am finding in that process that need a bit of sprucing up. So I have saved them to do just that. This old piece has been hanging on the back of the door for mouths. I decided to add a moon to the surface of the work and add some additional quilting. Here is were I am sorry to say that I have not taken enough photos so the progress is not documented. I am still learning. I made several moons and they have been rejected-Too small, too transparent, too busy and finally I created on that I was happy with. This Moon is water marked satin with dark fabric underneath and lots of free motion quilting on top.

Adventure Challenge- Black,White, and Burgundy

This is another case were the the act of creating go away from me. I was having such a good time crating a background that it got far too complex. When I realized this I just kept going, but it will have to end in a different fashion as I do not want to use the bias strips on this surface, there is far too much action for that to work. I am still using the three colors that I had selected last week.

Black, White and Burgandy — Black, White and Burgundy

Adventure Challenge- Bias Bound

This is the top I will apply the bias strips too. It is much quieter and I hope I can make it work. The same three colors are still in use. I an thinking that I will cut it down a bit too. But I must make the visual decisions visually.

Paper Quilt

I had started this paper quilt last week. I think I am going to call it Crannies. But I still need to think on this title. At the moment it is cut and there are a few openings. This is and in progress piece.

I have lots of options for this at this point and I am still running them around in my mind and on the pin wall.

I plan to spend a lot of time in the studio this week and hopefully make progress on many fronts. I hope to get the post from the 5th of Jan fixed this week too. Every entry gives me more confidence and helps me do a better job I think. There is still a long way to go- but each mistake is a part of the growth process.

Keep Creating

Hugs

Carol

Adventure Challenge 2012, Amended Squares, Button Necklaces, DMC Challenge, Limber Loss, Slight Slip

Getting Started January 19, 2012

January 20, 2012 admin

It was so very cold this morning and still dark- I so wanted to stay in bed…….. But others needed rousing and the day would not do its self, so I rolled out and did the morning rituals. Still unexcited I then off to the studio. I had a “no mind” project to work on- the Scrap Happy quilt. So I stared by sewing on the pre-pinned row of blocks. Before I knew it I was sewing on the last row and an hour had passed. My mind was fully engaged in how I wanted to attempt the problem that was on the pin wall. I realized I had won against the winter doldrums……” Just DO IT” as the saying goes. It really dose work- that plus stopping on a project were the next step is obvious really dose not hurt either.

Progress Report

Pink Button Necklace

This project is now done. I am working on getting the instructions completed too. They will go up as a tutorial when that is finished. My goal is to have that complete by next Thur. I am still cleaning up details and I know I need to write read, re read let some time pass and check again before I put up instructions so it takes me time to do it correctly.

Adventure Challenge

Last week I talked about getting inspiration from some of my older books, and I think this will be a fun thing to do. I decided to use the Louis Ericson book Design&Sew it Yourself for the first project to try. I selected to do some work with bias strips. I loved the look of the frogs in the book so I sort of started with that in mind. But the material I selected- a black and white print was far too busy for the fancy work of the cords to show up. Perhaps later I can try that. So I built a background of light green, with a pale purple and white strip across it. Then making a visual decision visually, I decided that this did not show off the bias to its best advantage and created a new color combo to use the strips on. This works a lot better for my eye. So I will build a new platform for the bias work using these fabrics.

Blue Fantasy

I have been working on this quite little piece for a while. I hold onto fabric for a long time as I made the marbleized fabric in a class at Quilting By the Lake before 1985.

I enjoyed applying the bead work and french knots to the surface to enhance the marbleized area. It is now a completed work. I like the horizonal format and the close color palate.DMC Project

There are several quilts in this project that I worked on this week.

Amended Squares is the oldest one. As the pictures shows I have done a lot of the machine quilting and some bead work here. I feel that it is complete at this point.

This sloution is far less clutterd than the first attempt with this lay out. I am still very close to the works and find they both have strong points. I do feel that this one is a better place to work from for the next two in the series however and so I kept the others similar in feel and simplicity.

Limber Loss is the next one in the series and they are Marty’s colors and her lay out of the pieces. I think it is a fine complement to Amended Squares.Limber Loss is in the bead application process.

Slit Slip

This is the third in the revised DMC series. I really altered this lay out one- but I followed the rule 5- If you want to do it- DO IT. I am plan to join the two units with beads in the opening….. I hope I can pull this off successfully.

Paper Quilts

I enjoyed my work with the openings on the paper quilt that I worked on last week that my mind went running in a new direction with that concept. So I painted up two more colored paper piles and built two addition surfaces to work on. No titles yet but that will come as I play with the work. I am enjoying the process.

I hope the week will be a good one you.

Keep Creating

Carol

A Few Fishers, Amended Squares, DMC Challenge, Limber Loss, Paper Quilts, Sphere systems

Adventureus…Jan 12, 2012

January 12, 2012 admin

I have been working away in the studio as usual this past week. One of the things that I was finishing up was the commission- Twinkling Tracings. The last step in the studio when I am doing something as large as this one is, becomes the flattening step. I do the ironing thing of course, then while it is still a bit damp, I lay it out on the floor on top of a sheet. I put a second piece of fabric on top and then place my big cutting matt or 3 matts in this case, on top of that. The final bit is book stacks that cover the whole area of the quilt. I had almost all the books from my studio shelves on top of the quilts. It was quite a sight- but I did not think to take a photo….next time. Anyway, when I started pulling the books off the quilt and re-shelving them, I realized I had not looked in some of the books in years. So I paused, spread the covers of ” Design &Sew it Yourself” by Louis Ericson and Diane Frode, a book I purchased in 1988, and my mind was off and running. This book is directed at clothing embellishment- but the same ideas can be applied to fiber work. I decided that I would be adventurous and try to use these ideas in some of my new works for this year. I am in a different place then I was when I got this book- so it will now be used in a different fashion. The Adventure Challenge will be to pull a technique from the old books( I saved five as I was re-shelving) and combine it with a concept or idea that I am thinking about using in my art over the next year. Now I love books and have a big collection-I got five new fiber and art related books for Christmas. So I am not sure how much of a commitment I am making, but the adventure will be stimulating!

Progress Report

Paper Quilt-A Few Fishers

close up showing details of gold sequin waste two partial openings and one added circle — Close up A Few Fractures

blue and purple paper quilt with gold cirles and openings — A Few Fishers- Jan 2012

A Few Fishers is the name of this new paper quilt. This first shot is a close up of the center area were you can see the painted paper and fabric as well as the sequin waste. You can also see the cut paper circle- pale purple- that was added and two of the reflective circles. The two openings have painted ground cloth behind them so you do not see the wall behind the quilt. The second shot is a full view of the final work. I need to add a hanging bar to this for total completion.

Scrap Happy-

Red and White

I am always working on what I call my Scrap Happy quilts. These are all full sized quilts that are made up of scraps from other works some of them are failed experiments. I just save the scraps and such in a box and when it is full I will assemble all the scarps into big sections that I then cut into 2.5 inch strips. The strips are then applied to both sides of a 4.5 inch strip that is cut into 8.5 inch blocks. A Roman Strip of sorts. The blocks are them arranged and built into a quilt. I build these to give away as fundraisers for organizations that I support and to give as gifts when I think someone needs a cozy wrap.

DMC Challenge- Circling Galaxies- Amended Squares-Limber Loss

This is the one going project were the limits were set by the three participants.

blue green backgrouns with turqupise strips and crimson blocks on top — DMC Carol's layout

1.Each of us chose a color-Crimson, dark Turquoise and I chose blue green.

2.Size limit 18″X24″- with at least one irregular edge.

3.If you want to do it – then do it.

We each purchased material to fit the color choices in amounts to make three tops. We selected the location of the parts and pinned them to the selected back ground color. Then shipped our selection off to the other two. Extra fabric was shipped as well.

Circling Galaxies

This one is my fabric selection so I started with it. I liked using lots of texture. I do feel that there is a lot going on in

this piece so I will try it again and try to be simpler with the presentation. There is always more than one solution and I am pron to try to put too much into a piece if I am not careful. I learned a lot about the irrugler shape challenge with this project.

1. Keep it simple

2. Make the protrusions at least an inch long

3. Press the corners and cut the binding at a 45 degrees

Amended Squares

Because I had a lot of fabric left over I tackled the problem a second time. I was going for a much simpler solution with this effort. I also wanted to use some unique metal candle floats that my friend Dorla had given me earlier this year. I liked the shape and thought they would work well with the triangle metal sequins that I had.

Blue green background , turquois strips and crimason squares- second approach — Amended Squares

This is a shot of the metal candle floats. They are sharp and I hope that they do not tear up the material.

Limber Loss

Cromsin background with tuquois rectangle and blue green square — DMC Project Marty's layout

This is the layout of Marty’s fabrics for the DMC projects. I am trying to stay in the same feel as I did with Amended Squares for this one as well and so I have cut and assembled it in this fashion.

Crimson turquoise and blue green squares top — Limber Loss- early

I am ready to trim this and start embellishing. I think I will use the metal candle floaters again- but see if I can change the shape a bit by trimming off the edges.

Capture

turquoise and pink quitl with 3-d parts on top — Capture

This is a quilt I am amending. The 3-D additions are plastic units that have big purple beads in the centers, and all of this is trapped under pale purple nylon net.

blue background with pink plastic and purle bead under nylon netting — Capture - close up

The close up shows better how the beads are under the nylon netting. But I am still not sure this is how it will remain.

I seam to have lots of stuff in process at the moment and that is true. I may not get back to some of the problems quickly but I am sure that with time I will do so.

Keep Creating

Hugs

Carol

Chamomile, DMC Challenge, Farctured Fragmants, Goddess Series, ISIS quilt, Machine Drawing, Paper Quilts, Sphere systems

Crows January 5, 2012

January 5, 2012 admin

Drawn by the sound of crow calls I watched the birds take there flight in the early dawn this morning. They were commuting against a strong gusting wind as they departed from Oak-wood Cemetery were they roost in the winter, to each of their respective hunting grounds. The flight is powerfully beautiful in its grace of movement as it was contrasted against a silver gray sky that was dotted with little blown snow flakes today. Living with the daily routine of these creatures has made me pay attention to their existence and has enriched my life. I have made several quilts with crows as the stars. Their simple dark forms show up so very well against so many surfaces that I always find it to be an enjoyable task to build a work around them. Sense they are present so much around were I live I have many opportunities to watch them in their daily routines. At the moment with the fresh snow they stand out quite sharply as they dance around the ground in there search for food. I like too how they cluster together in the evenings as they gather for the night. All heads facing the wind and raucously shouting to one another filling first one tree top then another. Then taking flight at the same time without a seeming signal as they then move a bit closer as a cluster toward the final roosting place. All the time the numbers increase as they move toward a movable base and the sound becomes louder and louder as more birds stream back. I have tried to walk to the center of were they gather for there night roosting- I have never been successful. But that is the fascination of it for me.

Progress Report:

DMC Challenge Sphere System-

This challenge started on my is visit to Marty in Oct. I spent a lot of time this week working on the DMC project.

This was one attempt with two partial copies of were I thought I was going. I experiment by pinning things up and this is an example of that process. As it turned out I hated the layered X- cut fabric on top. I like the texture- and the idea – but it is not the place to use this idea.

So what I ended up with is this:The irregular edges are proving to be a challenge, but I think I will work it out.

Machine Drawing

Chamomile

I had originally though that this quilt would be done as machine drawing of Golden Rod. But the silk thread was too heavy for the machine and kept creating a mess on the back of the quilt so I took it all out. I could not look at or deal with the work for several mouths. Returning to it, I found I really like the fabric lay out, so I looked for a new subject matter. I came across this card of Chamomile and used it as my inspiration instead.

I have only completed one of the plants in this photo. I have sense put in two more- one on each side of this one. the additional quilting adds to the final effect quilt nicely. I am in the process of adding the facings to this work and I am sure I will complete it this week.

Twinkling Tracings

I have continued to work on the commission too. It now has a title and is called Twinkling Tracings. This is the first panel in the series. It is currently being pressed flat under my big cutting matt with half of the books from my shelves resting on top. The two other panels will get the same treatment and then I will be done with the studio part of the job.

Gold and brown field with blue zig-zagging across — Twinkling Tracings-

ISIS Quilt

Horizonal quilt of Isis in gold on a cream filed surrounded by other Egyptian images — Isis

This is the Isis quilt all finished. It came out quite quickly for me . I think this will be the last of the Egyptian quilts for a while. I do not think I even would have done this last one if I had not been reviewing my goddess series and wondering how I could go forward with that idea. The question remains what will be the next goddess quilt?

Fractured- paper quilt and Fragments

We all have times when what we thought would work is a failure. Well such is the case with this piece. I started out making a quit that would feature a three dimensional tunnel shaped addition. The back got created and the tunnel got created- but they did not work together at all.

Paper quilt in blue and white with gold ribbon — Fractured

So I created a cracked paper quilt to put the tunnel on. They did not work together either……. So I played with the paper quilt . cut some triangular wholes- added some paint and gold ribbon. Fractured was born and I like it all on its own. OK- so this exploration has lead to one more project.

I took the fabric quilt back that I had originally made for the tunnel and applied the flattened beads I had created with play dough to its surface. The beads were made as a play project with my grand son a few weeks ago. I had stamped them with an Egyptian stamp and though they might be used on one of the first Egypt quilts. But they did not work there. Too much of a color contrast for those works.

Gold and blue background with blue add ons — Fragments

Blue playdought bead with silver paint — Fragments- close up

This detail shows a close up of one of the beads. The surface was brushed with a white paint to high light the presses images.

I still do not have a home for the tunnel- but it may be like the beads, something that just has to shift around in the studio for a while before it finds a home. I will be OK with it if that never happens because I know it was an experiment and there are bound to me miss fires when one is playing that way.

I have had a good creative start to the new year and I hope I can continue to work successfully solving the problems as they come my way.

Keep Creating

Carol

Farctured Fragmants, Post Cards, Uncategorized

Thursday Dec 29, 2011 Years End

December 29, 2011 admin

We have reached the end of year 2011. I am happy to say that I feel that I have come a ways along my path toward a more creative life this year. Leslie Riley’s suggestion that I keep a log of the projects that I work on at the end of each day has been a real eye opener. By noting the slow but steady progress that I put in each project I can really see how much I am doing. I will admit that some days all I can write is the fact that I finished doing the hand work on the one facings of one quilt. But each little step no matter how small is all a part of the process and all those little bits add up over time. Now the fact that I taught school for 36 years and had to change what I was doing every 40 min makes me feel like I need to change gears every hour or so even now. I saw that idea as meaning that I was unable to stay with an idea, but I am now seeing that as a positive thing. It may mean that it takes me a long time to complete a project but it also means that I stop when I make a mistake and fix it. Completion of the task is not the main goal any more. Over the course of a week I really do get a lot done! Writing the” Night Notes” as I call them has made the idea come into sharper focus. That is not to say that some projects may set for weeks or mouths before I return to them – but the” Nightly Notes” help there too as I look back over the week and read the list of items I have touched. I can easily see stuff that has fallen by the way side and pick them up in the up coming days to finish or not. The listing keep me aware of the things I have done and I do not waste time lamenting what I have not done.

Progress Report

Post Cards

I made two post cards this week. I was using up bits that were on the cutting table and tidying up a bit. There seemed to be little time in the studio- so little quick projects like these filled the bill.

I will use the beetle as my entry to the Paper Scissors Cloth post card challenge and send the other to a friend.

I also created this stamp of Isis this week. It is the start of a new Egyptian piece.

Fragments

The only other work that I put time in on this week was the Fragments quilt. This is a close up of the parts that I am adding to the surface.

I am enjoying this project.

I hope everyone is having a creative and enjoyable holiday season.

Keep Creating,

Hugs

Carol

Idaho

Iron Quilter/Idaho

October 20, 2011 admin

Thursday Oct 27, 2011

Oct 1 was the day that I participated in Iron quilter. This is a challenge were you work for six hours and go from nothing to a finished quilt with selected theme, a sleeve and binding the allotted time.

This is the set up before the six hours of work began.

This is how it looked after two hours when I came back from lunch. I started to work assembling at a fever pace at this time. I felt a little rude to the folks who came along and talked to me as I could/ did not look up and see their faces as I stitched along. I had all the parts put together with an two hours to go. Then I stared quilt drawing. I heard the announcement that I was the first to start that step. Keep your head ti the grind stone!

I hurried to the end of the process and felt like the quilt really needed more quilting- but the time was up. So I pinned it to the board and breathed. I was impressed with the wide range of work that was created in such a short time by my fellow quilters. Then as I tided up my space the judges made their decisions.

Much to my surprise I won the Viewer’s Choice Award! What an honor!

Ideho

The major reason there has been no entries for the early part of this mouth is the fact that I have been traveling for the last two weeks. I had a wonderful trip to Idaho and enjoyed the time I spent with my friend Marty. In two week a couple of gals like us can really get into trouble. We visited the mountains and I took tons of photos. Our visit to the big Cedar area was amazing. I get so inspired by the textures and colors of it all. The size and age of the trees made me stop and think about time in a long slow flow process as opposed to the frantic rush our time seems to demand.

I loved all the textures!

It was so peaceful an enjoyable.

Then we painted tennis shoe. . It took two days to create all the texture that finally

When I wear these I really feel lighter in my step. So joyful!

We went to visit one on Marty’s friends and had a great time. Getting three creative minds like ours together and we created a bit of a challenge for our each other. There are only five “rules”.

Three colors- crimson, dark turquoise and blue green
You cannot change the geography of the color( we will each arrange the colors as we see fit and pin them down before shipping- Nov 6)
One side needs to be irregular
The final size of the three quilts will be 18”X24”
If you want to try something -“Do It”

The process now has a title- DMC project. So now I need to get my fabrics. They are Crimson, Dark Turquoise and Blue Green. We all selected one. I have done a bit of shopping – but I am not happy with the color choices yet. It is exciting to be on this new path for me.

Then getting home after being away always means lots of catch up to do.

Class this week with Leslie was on Creative Block. The creation of work has never been a problem for me. I love the process and look for every opportunity to keep at the creating process. It is the “Championing of the work” has been and continues to be the challenge. So I will work away on that part of the equation.

Progress Report: Curling Coils is done now. I like the flow of the work.

X’s and O’s will be the first thing that I work on when I get the Blog done this morning.

I did put pin backs on five of the Spirit Dolls this week.

They are so much fun to make even though they do take a long time.

The Tyveck beads got hit with the heat gun. I have mixed feeling about them. I tried heating the felt too- but that really did not do much at all. So I sprinkled the 1inch felt squares with sequins and Angelina. I love the glitz but I do not see where I will use them.

Talking Totems

I finished the quilting on this work this week and I got the facing done as well. It is all ready for the world. I enjoyed using the rubbing plate that I had created two summers ago. Susan’s encouragement really helped me with that project. The machine drawing of similar heads was also a fun thing for me. I like to make the lines come to life!

I worked on one more piece this week- Wampum.

It has lots of hand quilting and I have been slowly doing that part of it over several mouths. It is good to have it completed. I do happily have a home for that work. I will give the finished quilt back to the gal who gave me the beaded sections. They mean so much more to her than me. I see them only as texture and she has memories of wearing them. It will be a good match.

The Egyptians is now finished. I like how it came out and feel that it needs a second unit to complete the idea. I will have to work on that idea…

Keep Creating

Hugs

Carol

Time

Fall Beginnings Thus Sept 22, 2011

September 22, 2011 admin

It is a bit gray out of doors today with a gentle rain falling. Real good sleeping weather- but I am not going to do that today. My plate is full of run around stuff including the first fall meeting of Thus Morning Tea Cups- a little group of quilting gals getting together to work and talk. Most of us were off at Mill Site Lake for the week end. Judy a member was so very kind to invite us all up to her cabin for the weekend. It is wonderful to get away and work with” like minded”, folks for two and a half days. We ate, laughed, shared stories and all worked on our various projects. We walked a lot both in and out of the woods and went out on the water. It was so inspiring and calming at the same time. I do love going up for this event. This almost yearly event is one I associate with the real beginning of fall because we usually do it the first weekend after school begins. We were a little late this year but the association remains in my mind.

The class with Leslie was as inspiring this week as last. I am still working away on the home work. I am finding it hard to decide what I really want and being specific about that. Dreaming is good- but I need to focus in and be totally directed to get to the goal and deciding on what goal to pursue first is proving to be a challenge for me. I will try to make a choice and visualize the idea totally today when I take me walk. I am finding that if I put a specific time on something I seem to get it done.

I am going to need to do follow up today on things. I have not herd back for the Drama folks about the show and I have not received my post cards yet. Both are things I was hoping to have in place by this time.

I have also learned that even though I know that I want to have more pictures for this blog- It is a new habit and I am not real good at it yet. I need to be more aware of my processes so I can take pictures as I go along and have them to post. I did not do so hot in that area this week so I will put a renewed effort into paying attention to that detail. And I will go back this morning and shoot additional stuff to supplement.

Progress Report:

The quilt X’s&O’s is coming along. I am enjoying doing the hand applique- but it is slow. I took it along on the Mill Site trip and discovered that I could only add three circles in about an hour. I also discovered that I did not like the fabric that I used on the back showing. (It’s white) So I am using permeate markers on the back edges of each shape before I put in on the top. Sometimes I get to have two colors on the backs too so I am enjoying the process. I have one of the X’s appliqued and I am working on the second. It is slow but the effect is so worth it.

Curling Coils got attention this week. I have finished the quilting and added the facings to all four sides. I started to stitch down the smaller of the two coils last evening. This will just take time.

For the trip up to Mill Site I pulled out other hand work too and carried along the bag full of odds and ends that I am using for faces for my Spirit Dolls. My mini goal is to do ten of the little doll pins every mouth. I had a lot of prepared body units to begin with.

Nancy really was fascinated by the process and she laid out several faces for me while I stitch then together. Yesterday I did the machine work were I added hair and arms to the body when I stitched on the backs. Now to turn, stuff, and stitch the pin back on them and they will be complete. I will take that project to Tea Cups this morning and work on that project as it is all packed.

There is one other project that I worked on too. It is also a part of the Orange Challenge. This one stretches the idea with the addition of both green and black in the field. It is mostly a reflection of the colors of the trees as they head toward fall. I used leaves as the subject the free motion drawings for the bigger blocks. I really like how that looks too. By using variegated thread sometimes the edges disappear and that makes me think of how the leaves decompose.

I used the trees from the yard- Oak, Maple and Dogwood. The machine step of the facings is complete and now I need to move onto the hand step. I need to also come up with a title for this work.

Keep Creating

Hugs

Carol

History

Thursday Sept 8, 2011

September 8, 2011 ckboyer 1 Comment

I am a bit distressed because when I opened this file this morning I discovered that all the work for four of the last five weeks is gone. I am sure it is something that I did- I am just not sure what. Tech knowledge can be wonderful- but it can also provide lots of frustration for some folks- me included. I think my photo work had something to do with that loss. But I will keep trying.

Continue reading Thursday Sept 8, 2011 →

History

Beginnings – Thursday September 1, 2011

September 1, 2011 ckboyer

It is the start of a new month and the beginning of fall. Or at least I feel that way. Thirty six years of teaching school and this time of year always makes me feel like new beginnings. The beginning of the year feeling comes from really from a teaching point of view. I spent time this week getting two of the grand kids ready for the start by shopping and getting hair cuts with them. Continue reading Beginnings – Thursday September 1, 2011 →

Cre-8

Feb 2, 2012 Lost and Found

Jan 26, 2012 Power

Getting Started January 19, 2012

Adventureus…Jan 12, 2012

Crows January 5, 2012

Thursday Dec 29, 2011 Years End

Iron Quilter/Idaho

Fall Beginnings Thus Sept 22, 2011

Thursday Sept 8, 2011

Beginnings – Thursday September 1, 2011

Creative Fiber Collage Artist Carol Boyer