CQ for VA

Our guild quilt show was this past weekend. Tracy J and I ran the silent auction again. This was my donation. Kaffe Fassett fabric crazy quilt. Mary Lowe was the successful bidder and I am happy she will be hanging it in her home! 

We raised over $1100.00 for the Batavia VA. 

Just started watching True Detective. Hardcore for sure. Good though. 

I have learned:

1.  Nothing. Absolutely nothing since last post. 

Hop the World...

My friend Diane of Dimity's Fiber Adventures, Diane's.wordpress.com ( I still don't know how to link to pages on this Blogger App), passed the Hop Around the World blog hop torch to me. The idea is to find new bloggers along the way and to answer these four questions.....

WHAT AM I WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?

Those that know me know I truly have no less than a dozen things going on one time. 

A Deployment quilt

A mono printed bag

A mermaid crazy quilt

A wool cat pincushion

A knitted sweater

Needle books

Baby boy quilt

Snowmen embroidery and blocks quilt

Small handmade book

Baby slings for Jenn and Melissa

Fiber PC for Michael's 26th birthday on the 23rd

Quilting a community service quilt

HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS IN MY GENRE?

I don't think about me vs. others much. I know my quilts usually look like me because my recent Japanese Coins apparently does NOT look like me. It was fun none the less!

WHY DO I DO WHAT I DO?

I love it. I think it all the time. I am cranky if I don't get a stitch in or ponder a project. 

HOW DOES MY WRITING/CREATING PROCESS WORK?

I'm not a planner. I never know what things will be in the end. I like to decide the next step as I go. Intuitively. 

Now I must pass the inquiries to a fellow blogger Thearica of Pig Tales and Quilt blog. She's my southern friend and an active blogger. (Pigtalesandquilts.com)

I have learned:

1.  Glasses.com. Thinking of trying this site out when I get my eyes examined. 

2.  Quilt show madness the next three days! Alexander Fire Hall. Friday 10-6. Saturday 10-5. 

3.  Check out Doug Seegers "Going Down to the River" on YouTube. Interesting story too. 

Jody's Altered Book

I have had jody's altered book for longer than I want to admit. I finally sat down this morning and finished it up! Feels good. On the left I thread sketched over vintage book pages and used water colors  on them. The right side is a bevy of tags stuck into pockets formed by tearing pages down and stitching the sides. Each tag has a sentiment....clarity, kindness, see magic, calm and hello. I truly love doing this mixed media work, it just makes such a mess.  You gather supplies, then think of something else and gather more!  I am hoping to get a couple of mine and Melissa's books back that are out there somewhere. The work put into these pages is very personal. Good fun. 

Yesterday Fiberistas met, just three of us, but what a grand day it was. Mary lead us in making books. Always intrigued by the process, I was excited to turn out four different pieces.  The first book we made signatures and added bits of cloth and papers in each section. Mary showed us how to make the holes and stitch a signature together, then how to weave a spine to make the book whole. Having time left to play I made another smaller book with the gorgeous cotton paper mary shared with us and vintage  scrapbook papers I had on hand. 

We also made two types of folded books from paper, that are perfect for a bit of embellishing and journaling. Loved every minute of our day together. 

Today I am not getting out of pajamas. I already made homemade sauce and roasted peppers. Now to sew the sleeve onto Japanese Coins and Nancy Crow quilt. I'll watch the Bills game, take a hot bath and read my book. I need my Sunday's to regroup and be homey. 

I have learned:  

1.  Mary recommended "Night Circus", by Erin Morgenstern, to me. Promises to be a good read. Has that ethereal element I love so much in Alice Hoffman's stories. 

2.  15 months 10 days to retirement 

3.  Melissa's baby boy is growing in gestation! She likes Eli this week. 

4.  Maddi smiles!

Paper Crafting

Last night I spent some time making this Halloween gift box and many cards in a class with Jen, a talented Batavia paper artist. I took a class with her a few years ago, making beautiful Christmas cards, but now she's offering classes for up to four in her truly comfy and enviable craft room. How nice it was. We learned to dry emboss using a Sissix machine (the Bingo numbered pumpkins, a Tim Holtz press). We got to work with pearl powders, embossing powders and distress ink. Jen had all the components cut and stacked, ready for us to follow along. Great fun!

I've been getting facings and sleeves on my quilt pieces for our guild quilt show in a month. I'm at a good point, not overwhelmed with all that's to be done. Also steadily stitching the Mermaid CQ bit. So enjoy doing that. 

I have learned:

1.  The Blacklist. Good. 

2.  35 years at same company. Awards dinner nice.  $225 gift card Sears. Thanks

3.  Mela is running! Trying to climb out of her crib. Showing a tenaciousness I like. 

4.  I took in a plant from Martha, and it's growing! I don't tend to greenery well. It is a succulent so it does stand a better chance. 

5.  Maddi is smiling! Such a sweet little peanut. Michael said its the best thing he's ever seen.