Live Well and Be Happy.......

Words to live by, right? I just finished hand sewing the great orange velvet binding down. It measures approximately 44" x 10", a perfect table runner. The green/gold/black/gray base is all recycled wool clothing. blanket and ends. "live well and be happy" is from a very nice book called Applique Outside the Lines with Piece O' cake Designs by Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins. A fun book. it was shown as part of a wall hanging but I was immediately drawn to it as a single element.
I had it enlarged at Office Depot, traced onto freezer paper, cut out, ironed onto stitched background and used my embellishing machine (!!!!) to attach all verbiage. Machine stitched for permanence. The cotton velvet is the backing and binding.
Fun to make. This will be donated to a benefit my sister is having Saturday, for a good friend of hers' family. I hope it finds an appreciative home.

Quilt guild was really interesting yesterday. Wenda Coburn runs a program called "Just.....sew", teaching inmates in the Onondaga County jail to quilt and sew. It was truly fascinating to heat her story, from the inception of the program to all the security measures it takes to get through each class to what she has learned about women, jails and herself.

What a beautiful day today was. I took some time to sit outside since I know very soon it won't be an option. I took some stitching with me and....ahhhh, relaxed!

Now that the BBB challenge is finished I have been thinking about the current challenge.....symbol. My friend Tracy mentioned last year, when we were discussing signage for a dream quilt shop in my retirement future (emphasis on dream) that it has to have a winged heart in it....it's your thing. Hmmmm. It is. I am repeatedly inspired to work with this symbol, so it was a no brainer. Well not entirely. I did think I should so something else....had an idea...but it didn't feel right. So now how do I execute? I have a pretty cool idea right now. Can I make it work? I am going to try! Now I can't show you til the reveal in 5 weeks.

I have learned:

1. smokeassist.com. What a strange commercial. People look so strange smoking. 
2. Will I ever finish "Under the Dome"? pg. 844, 230 more to go. I need to find out what this dang dome is.
3. Project Runway. I like April. 
4. How many vials of blood do they need to run a few tests.....4 apparently. Wonder what they will say about me?
5. Mary Ann Scarborough's Salon at Medina's Shirt Factory Cafe was a very nice night out with friends. All her work is hand stitched and embroidered in silk. It was luscious. 
6. Debbie awarded my blog a Sunshine award! Thank you! I need to pass it on....it will take time.

"Cascade of Roses" Art Quilt

So I made the deadline! My online art quilt group's challenge was Beads, Baubles & Bangles. Well, not being an overtly blingy person and one who has limited time amongst all my obligations etc, I knew my piece had to be light bling. I sketched out a cascade of roses onto which i would sew reclaimed (from a Sally Ann sweater) pearls and desirous and now depleted delica beads that look like tiny rhinestones. Each rose is a ripped strip of sheer fabric, twisted and tacked to a felt background. All roses arranged and sewn to a felt backing, then all those beads and pearls sewn on by hand.

I rust dyed the background, then over dyed it with chartreuse Dynaflow dye. Love that color! I machine quilted that with shiny rayon, rust colored thread.
After sewing the rose cascade to the rusty fabric, I used the rust and a deep red thread to randomly stitch a bit.
While this piece has definite design flaws (from any distance, the roses disappear and it looks like a big red formation....ahh well.) I tried some things I have wanted to do and met the deadline.
It has been good practice to make those flowers since I will be doing something along those lines for Melissa's wedding flowers next October for the Wedding!
The next challenge is "symbol". Presumably, a personal symbol. I have an idea.....or two! Of course I look forward to doing a new technique. I have six weeks. They fly by.

Nicki's CQ mermaid block has gotten some good attention from me already. I have a few area's on that to finish up and hope to get it to her soon as I know she is anxious to see it again.

Th gift for the current Homemade Holiday Swap is still in its 1/2 way done state. I really love it. I hope to make another one for the quilt shows silent auction in October and another for a hostess gift. It will be ready to mail by the 26th.

Made the Weight Watchers vegetable soup today, this semi-chilly Sunday....0 points! Now my sister is on board with all 4 of us. And I am tracking...the hardest part for me.

Watching "Fallen" on AMC right now. Good movie.Denzel Washington, 1998.

Thanksgiving may find me in Cincinnati, OH. My sister and I, along with our kids, are all that remain here in western NY. Relatives scattered across states, disconnected by previous relationship disasters and busy lives, will hopefully rekindle and stay relevant. I will be thankful.

Took Michael back to Fisher this morning. He asked about his jersey quilt....! I have a deadline now. His 22nd birthday, October 23rd. I work so much better within a parameter of time! So I will add this to the list!


I have learned:

1. M & M's commercial for the new pretzel version of the candy is funny.
2. The Bills 10 vs. Miami 15. Bills fans are ALWAYS so hopeful. oh well.
3. oneprettything.com is a great site with links to alot of creativity
4. Crazy Heart. Jeff Bridges was worthy.

Rusty Fabric Beautified!

My rusty fabric overdyed with Dynaflow's chartreuse. I love that color. I have used this gorgeous fabric, cut up and resown of course...why do anything simple. I did have some issues with the needle/thread/rusty fabric however. It seems some metallic residue remains in the fibers so when I had more than two layers of it to sew through my thread broke. I had the best luck with a topstitching needle.

My friend Terry's daughter works for the VA. They have a great need for Foley bag covers for the patients to use on their wheelchairs. I spent some time sewing six together this week. Perfect mindless sewing and the gratification is wonderful. I will definitely stitch up more of these for veterans.

Weight Watchers...again. Goal is two dress sizes down by the Melissa's wedding next October. She is also on board, along with Cory's parents. Melissa wants this dress!

I have learned:

1. My Dunkin Donuts is closed til the 22nd for a remodel and I want my familiarly delicious coffee, bad. It will be the longest time without it in 15 years!
2. In 2009 WW nationwide....people lost a total of 4 million pounds.
3. Chester, my old codger cat, loves white wine!
   

Quilted "Freedom"

I have been plugging along on this project. The machine quilting is finally finished. I have sewn a facing to it, so the last thing is sewing that down on the back...oh and the sleeve! I like it.

The next challenge, due on the 12th, is Beads, Baubles and Bangles. I nixed the first attempt and have 75% progress made on this one.  I can't show pics of what I have done until after the reveal next week.
Also in the works is the current Homemade Holiday Swap. Can be either, Halloween, Autumn or Thanksgiving theme.I have been looking for a way to use some of my beautiful wool bits I have been collecting. There is parts of a blazer, blanket, suit coat and wool remnants in my gift. I used my sewing machine and my embellishing machine. I am happy with it and hope my recipient will feel the same. Of course, no pics of this either as it is a gift. After the 26th I can post that pic.

Thearica has possession of Atomic Number, my Nancy Crow class quilt. As I suspected, she is going to have a blast quilting it. I knew she was the woman for the job!

My quilt guild's biannual quilt show is this October. One of our younger, more tech savvy members created an online registration form for registering our quilts...what an efficient, time saving option! It's always the multiple step things (find form online, take laptop to printer upstairs, after finding paper..print, fill out form, mail or take to meeting) that give me troubles. I am curious how many of our membership used it.

I have learned:

1. my shift key broke off so every time i have to make a capital letter i have to delicately press this tiny rubber boot, which has also come off. not fun. not good. laptop nearing its demise i fear.
2. i have a favorite bead...a delica i am sure...charcoal hint with a crystal rhinestone shine. i don't know where they came from. not sure if they are vintage. i want more. lots more!
3. my elmwood art fest acquisition. i love the whimsy and tone of this piece.

1. i joined this 1-yard-hand-dyed-fabric-a-month courtesy of judy robertson of just imagination. she was a vendor at QBL and i could not resist a few pieces of spectacular fabrics. i just got my 2nd months gem. 

Bra for a Cause 2010..."Rebirth"

This precious vintage buttlerfly was adorned with....

pretty little crystals. Adorning my....

Bra for a Cause 2010.
I picked up some faux hydrangea flowers and set to pulling the petals and leaves off the stem. I glued the leaves over the cups as a base....glued the petals over that and added crystals in the center of each for a little sparkle. The butterfly was a great buy at Sally Ann's a while back. It has been hanging on my fridge aka, design wall, just waiting for a perfect application. Pink satin ribbon replaces the straps. I like it!

Sneak peek at my next project for my art quilt group...Bakers Dozen, the online group of 13 women making art according to the current theme. "Beads, Baubles and Bangles". I am so glad we decided to do anything, not just a flat quilt! I have a vision, but you will have to wait til September 12 (I believe) to see what that is! Hope it keeps working out. If not, I have a plan B.

Tomorrow is another outing to Buffalo for the Elmwood Art Fest. They are calling for 90's! Should be a good time.

I volunteered to teach an art quilt class at the COF (Circle of Friends) HGTV messageboard quilt retreat in April. Of course I said yes having NO idea what I would be able to teach in 2 hours! Saying you are teaching an art quilt class is like saying you are teaching a quilt class.....generic, non discript,limitless opportunities. So I guess it's up to me to decide what art quilt will be for my class!
A technique that translates into an art quilt or becomes the base for other techniques seems the only answer. The time frame dictates what is possible. I really didn't want a sewing machine to be needed since many women are flying and not bringing a machine. SO fusible was the answer.
Most people want to leave a class with SOMETHING they can use SO I will take a hand dyed/painted FQ with discernible light and dark area's....

one outcome...

It is just laid out..no stitching. I did this (below) with the marbled fabrics from Sarah Terry. It served as a base for the quilt.

(Not a great picture)

I have learned:

1. Dean, my 83 lb greyhound, stepped on my foot this morning....it hurt...bad. It is swollen now. I can't bend it. Same toe that a 2 liter of Pepsi broke over 20 years ago. 
2. Ahhh. Pedicure. An hour of  bliss and pretty toes too!
3. Mailed my UFO to Quilting Arts. It's the Blue IAQ. Will they or won't they use it for their new segment, Save My UFO! that gives real people advice on finishing a piece? Maybe that thing will be done yet!
4. Mailed my Nancy Crow quilt to my friend in North Carlina for some custom quilting. Threarica is a talented long arm quilter that is up for the challenge. I included a quilting "map".Here's another look at it....

 

First Applique and Ina Randall's Art Quilts

Yesterday, after our monthly quilt guild meeting, a member of my guild gave us an applique class. This is my first applique block and it doesn't look half bad! Of course I loved the process...hand stitching. I used a thin clear plastic overlay with the pattern on it instead of on the fabric.
We had Ina Randall, an are fiber artist do a trunk show of wonderful things for program at the guild meeting. Tracy & I hunted her down at the Amherst Quilt Show a few months ago after we saw some of her very interesting and beautiful quilts! I love her aesthetic. Reusing, repurposing and innovation are a normal part of her process.

This underwater scene was arranged over a convergence (Ricky Tims) quilt. It includes painted fabrics, beading and unusual materials.

Ina bought a card she loved, contacted the artist to ask if she could interpret it on a quilt. The owl is all thread painted.

Black tulle overlays this landscape. I especially liked the twisted fabric tree trunk.

She also does traditional. Note the appliqued leaves across the top. But I love the back just as much....

I think many of us left inspired by all her gorgeous creativity!

I went and volunteered for 2 more years as V.P./Programs person. I was trying not to, but Elaine sid she would be my co-chair so that makes it somewhat easier. Two heads and four hands are better. So I best get a move on for 2011.

Our quilt show is only 2 months away. We are having George Siciliano do a workshop on Friday & Saturday and a lecture Friday night. I already have the day off for Fridays class. He is said to be a real "hoot". If you live in the wetern NY area and are interested in the workshops, there is still room!

I am almost done with my Bra for a Cause. I attached pink ribbon straps, just have to tack it to the padded hanger and post a pic. They will be displayed at GoART! all September before auction in October. I seem to have persuaded at least one person to make one....Elaine.

All quilting done on Freedom! Today I worked around Fiona who thought every time it was still it was an invitation to lay on it and nap! Just have to trim it up and finish edges somehow.

I finally finished my work on Jody's cool coffee themed CQ block. I love this piece. Calm autumn colors. Fun to do. I will get it to you this week  Jody!

The bit at the 8 o'clock-ish spot is a bit of a fabric belt I picked up at Sally Ann's. Folded it and stitched with the brass hardware left on it. I used semi-fabric vine with leaves, top. which is actually a scrapbook item. Layed that over a great lace I trimmed out to look like X's and 3 yo-yo's as flowers. Jody, this picture does not do it justice. You will love it, almost as much as you love your coffee!!

I had to include a picture of her journal that accompanied this block. She made it from paper lunch bags. I love this idea.

These are Colleen's cool front and back for her book in our Book RR. This has been the best RR. We are all on the same page (!) Each book is different and you are inspired to do good work. Colleen's style is closest to mine. I "felt" these when I took them out. I am taking her lead and gathering bits and bobs of what I love and sew them down. I want to put all my other obligations aside to work on this but it will have to wait.

I have agreed to teach something art quilty at a retreat in Charlotte, NC next April. What to do? I don't want to have a kit and have everyone do the same thing....I thought maybe having participants work on backgrounds. I have 3 ideas that could encourage further creativity in mind. I would have 2 hours, so not alot of time to get very involved. I also thought of  doing some painting on fabric techniques, much like our workshop with Barb Murak. I must develop a plan!

I have learned:

1. To use a zip tie to make a stem for my applique flower. 
2. Project Runway. Hmm. I like Valerie and Gretchen's work.
3. How to make sauce from tomatoes! Yum. 
4. New quilt shops withing 20 mile radius. Hope they are open on Sundays!
5. I decided to have my Nancy Crow quilt machine quilted. I just can't push it through my machine. I want it to look good so I hope my friend says she can do it.

Canadian Sunset

One of the gorgeous sunsets in Sunset Cove, Callander, Ontario, Canada. My first successful try at a panoramic shot. This was the day we actually had the fire going in the cottage all day. Good times.

I finally started my Bra for a Cause today. I pulled the petals and  leaves off a hydrangea stem of fake flowers and glued them to the cups of the 36C that is a specified requirement. It is still drying. 8 hours later. Humidity not conducive to quick dry time. I have a vintage butterfly motif I picked up at Sally Ann's a couple years ago that will be the finishing touch to the piece.

I broke more needles quilting Freedom. Ugh. It is thick in some places and I realized I had to take one stitch at a time in them to avoid the breakages. I defined the belly button, outlined the curves with some pebble stitching and quilted wavy lines on the red stripes. I need to stitch white on the white stripes still. I know why I don't machine quilt much. I hate struggling with the thing....mangling and rolling and pushing constantly.

I had hoped I would make more progress on various projects I have going but just couldn't get in the zone today. I was all over the place...mixing house/yard work in with some creative endeavor. I did manage to finish Jody's CQ block. She is going to love it!

I have learned:

1. How to take a panoramic pic!
2. "Shutter Island". Pretty good movie. I was advised to watch it just for the ending. Worth it.
3. Lauren won "So You Think You Can Dance". 

 Here is a great little house in the Buffalo Cottage District on the garden walk. I pretty interesting sculpture on the front lawn and....

 Her backyard "lily pond" was a small built in with vintage cups and saucers. Also showcased her crocheted potholder collection and....

 this awesome painting incorporating vintage gloves!