Focus on Fiber

Block of the Month

2012-01-30T07:31:00.000-08:00

http://craftsy.com Is where you can sign up for a free class to learn two blocks every month. I rarely do traditional work but have learned some things from watching the video, so I did January's blocks. I don't remember the names. For the upper right, I learned how to determine the amount of the strip to leave at the beginning, so that the corner comes out correctly and no fabric is wasted.

Take a Stitch Tuesday

2012-01-27T11:25:00.000-08:00

This is the Cretan Stitch on wool stitched in an irregular manner. It is one I use a lot, because it flows so well.

Here is a sample using it as a filling stitch in an assortment of threads by stitching it close together. The second one down is the fuzzy thread I've been using but the eyelashes are matted down by the close stitch. The left side is a rayon over a ribbon thread.

It makes good flowers and leaves.

It is also a good way to attach Shisha.

Quilt

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

The design for this one is a cut paper one I did years ago. Chain stitch is the filling stitch I used, because I hate doing Satin stitch. The thread is some I hand painted and is embroidery floss and Perle cotton.

I echo quilted it and wish now that I had cropped it closer.

Felted Book

2012-01-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

I do like doing the felting. This is one of the books with a felted cover. I baste it first with the hand needles then secure it with the embellisher. After blocking it with the steam iron, I machine quilt it with metallic thread. This view is the back.

Inside has three signatures each with a painted cover sheet. It's a good way to use up my painted papers, so I can make more.

Here's the front with a ribbon and button closure.

Take a Stitch Tuesday

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

Feather Stitch is this week's stitch for Take a Stitch Tuesday at www.pintangle.com It's another favorite of mine-and, yes, there are stitches I don't like.

Here are some variations.

It makes a good filling stitch especially when done in a variety of threads to create interest.

Blogger wanted this in the middle. I've been playing in the 13" of snow we had or stitching by the wood stove. That is-or was- a tall Flowering Plum tree. It has 2 major splits, so I hope we can save it. Melting and messy now but such a surprise for an area that rarely gets much snow.

Historically, it was used a lot in Crazy quilt and finds it's way into all of my blocks. A friend gave each of us in the quilt group the "lady" fabric and challenged us to do something with it.

Fiberactions Quilt

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

The Fiberactions Challenge this time was to work in a color scheme that takes you out of your comfort zone. Neutral tend not to appeal to me-definitely a color person!

I found the leftover Seminole Patchwork pieces in my stash and decided that they made a good starting point. The African fabric sort of had an Indian feel, so it became part. The rust just had to go in the quilt to spark it up a bit.

Be sure to check out the others on the Fiberactions blog by clicking on the button at the right.

Take a Stitch Tuesday

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Buttonhole Stitch is the next one given by Sharon at www.pintangle.com It is also a favorite of mine. More stitching on black wool. Black makes colors sing.

I have a flower sampler started and addid this to it. It is all buttonhole even though part looks like Feather stitch-a relative of buttonhole.

Shisha is something I used to teach. Buttonhole is one way to attach objects to the cloth. In this case it is a large sequin which is lighter in weight than a mirror for clothing and comes in wonderful colors. There is a second row of buttonhole which is hard to see. The garment is a vest.

Buttonhole used in rows changing the thread for each row to add variety. It makes a good filling stitch. Then it is used to couch a yarn.

Quilt

2012-01-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

Vicki at http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/ mentioned a Palette of the month challenge based on this photo she took. The details are on this post http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/page/2/ The colors appealed to me, so I decided to try it. At first the top was exactly the same as another I made several months ago and had forgotten about. So to create a new one, I offset the pieced blocks and like it much better.

Beaded Cuff

2012-01-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

From the comments I already have-thank you by the way-I realized I should have added more technical information.

I felted the roving to a piece of felt a little bigger than the finished size. First I tack things in place by hand, then I take them to the embellisher to really felt them in place.

Once the beading for the center is in place, I backed the cuff with a piece of synthetic suede by lightly fusing it. Remember to do this with the beading cushioned of a bath towel, so it doesn't get hurt. My beads are glass, so melting them wasn't an issue. Then I finished with the edging.

Bead Journal Project

2012-01-11T07:43:00.000-08:00

This year for the Bead Journal Project I'm doing beaded cuffs. This is the first one.

First I felted a background with roving and a thick and thin yarn. I machine stitched to echo the yarn then accented it with beading. The edge is picot stitch using seed beads. I'm also trying to use the pearls and pearly type beads I keep buying and just seem to store. It closes by overlapping and snapping.

Take a Stitch Tuesday

2012-01-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

I love to do hand stitching and decided to take part in Sharon Boggin's TAST challenge this year at http://www.pintangle.com The first stitch she posted was Fly Stitch-one of my favorites as it is so versatile. This is a section from an old sampler showing some variations.

Another old sampler with more variations.

This is on wool fabric which I love to stitch on. It is soft to the hand, easy to stitch, and has enough body to support the stitching.

Here is a Crazy Quilt block I'm working on where I used the Fly Stitch to decorate both the painted rickrack and the satin ribbon. It's a bit subtle which is the aim for this set. The rickrack was in my stash from ages ago in all the bright colors it came in. I found that I could paint it with acrylics and get something I was more likely to use.

For this one I used some weird yarns to stitch. The orchid has long threads hanging from it. I love what the blue did. It's the yarn across the bottom of the photo. I must use more of those types of yarns in my stitching but never did before. It adds an element you couldn't get any other way and a surprise.

Quilt

2012-01-06T06:30:00.000-08:00

The center is a piece of Japanese print fabric from my stash that I machine embroidered to accent parts of it. Japanese silk obi pieces make up the wavy border which seemed to fit with the flowers. The quilting is by machine and is wavy too.

Felted Purse

2012-01-04T06:30:00.000-08:00

The flap on this purse is felted and was a more muted color than I'm used to working in, but I decided to decorate it anyway and couched a couple of cords down in the swirled pattern around the Shisha I had put on the piece. Then with Perle Cotton, I used running stitch to echo the couched lines.

While debating how to use the piece, I noticed that there was a piece of orchid Ultrasuede in the closet-have no idea where it came from but it was a perfect match. The cord was made on one of those plastic cord makers and is from yarns in my stash.

I'm glad people liked my rusted fabric and gave suggestions on where to find the soapless scouring pads. I did find some in the auto section but will look in the other places too. Thanks for the input-always love to get it.

Experiment

2012-01-02T08:08:00.000-08:00

Here are some more samples of fabric I rusted. When I first tried years ago when the concept was new to fiberart, I didn't have much luck.

Thanks to the internet, I found a way to do it that works for me. The fabric has the soapless scouring pads put on it, sprayed with vinegar, and wrapped in cling film/plastic wrap. It only takes an hour or two to work. Then the metal is thrown away, and the fabric washed.

The hard part is finding the soapless scouring pad that isn't treated so it doesn't rust! The other thing to watch out for is not cutting yourself on it when you cut and pull it apart to layer it on the fabric.

Quilt

2011-12-30T06:30:00.000-08:00

In keeping with my using leftovers this year, I found the floral print that was left after making a Wearable Art garment. The leaves had the machining on them, but the rest I did in making the quilt. I rather like the print and am glad to not waste any of it. Blogger, of course, put it on its side.

The wild border seemed to belong with it. I tried carrying out the design into the background with the quilting. It's subtle but was fun to do.

Happy New Year to everyone. Let's hope it's a good one.

2011-12-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

When I started the Journal Quilt challenge at www.3creativestudios.com I said I would do l a month which wasn't much of a challenge, since that was also what I was doing for the Bead Journal Project. Next thing I know, I'm pulling out samples from things I've tried over the years and putting them in Journal quilts. It's the perfect solution for saving the samples and organized some of them( I like to try things and experiment).

It's still hard to believe that this is number 52! It was a fun trip. Quilt group is today, so I'm bringing them, so everyone can choose one for their Christmas gift. We exchange hand crafted things---or candy. What could be better?

Gifts

2011-12-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

These are the gifts I received from Vicki at www.3creativestudios.com for being in the Technique of the Month Challenge. I've enjoyed all the challenges and will miss them when she and Terri close the site at the end of the year. Thank you so much not only for the gifts, but for all the hard work you've both put in.

The pressing sheet will get lots of use, the book looks interesting and is one I don't have( a bookaholic), Misty fuse is my favorite fusible. The fabrics beautiful. The journal from Sue B stunning, and a handmade card.

Quilt

2011-12-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Here's my motif again. I had the striped fabric from another project and wondered how it would work as patchwork sections. I like the effect and need to do more exploring. Again, I quilted it to echo the design lines.

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Painted fabric

2011-12-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

I managed to do a couple more small pieces of fabric with the Sharpie Permanent Markers and alcohol. It pleases me to think that something that is "permanent" is so easy to manipulate.

Now I have a few pieces that relate and need to do something with them.

Journal Quilt

2011-12-19T07:59:00.000-08:00

I cut a stencil from freezer paper and ironed it on turquoise fabric. Then I used small round labels and page reinforcers also as resists. Next came green paint. I hand stitched around the resulting shapes using hand dyed perle cotton and the back stitch and buttonhole stitch.

The result was the right size as a base for another journal quilt by adding the gold painted strips. It is machine quilted in those areas and edged with Chenille yarn using the zigzag stitch.

Quilt

2011-12-16T07:46:00.000-08:00

I finally quilted the piece that uses the motif I work with and batik fabrics. I do love batiks. Sometimes it takes a while before the piece tells me how it wants to be quilted. Two are waiting in the studio right now. For this one I followed along the shapes of the dark areas and then added a few lines where they seemed to need to go. I mark with a soap sliver which comes out easily with a shot of steam when I block the piece after the quilting. Be sure to test though, as I've known people who were sorry with their marking method.

Lace Purse

2011-12-14T07:30:00.000-08:00

When we were in California, a friend and I used to go to a special antique store. I always look for purse frames. Since this one isn't antique, the nice lady gave it to me.

It has sat around here for a long time but the painted lace seemed like it needed to go with it. I painted the lace with acrylic paints then bonded it to lining fabric. To make a pattern I traced just inside the frame then flipped it to create the bottom shape. I cut it out after adding seam allowances. Once the fabrics were seamed and the lining attached leaving the bottom of the lining open, I beaded the flower centers.

Attaching it to the frame was a challenge, since it is hard to sew that close to the metal and is done by hand. To cover the stitching, I put 4 beads on each section then hand stitched lace on the inside to cover that stitching. It's the way the antique ones were done. It's not my favorite but was a good learning experience.

Journal Quilt

2011-12-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

In a box of samples, I found this painted flower that I did sometime in the past. Machine embroidery brought out the colors more and added definition. It is machine echo quilted with a variegated rayon thread and edged with a fuzzy pink yarn.

Quilt

2011-12-09T07:43:00.001-08:00

Years ago I played around with Shiva Paint sticks using masking tape as a resist. I put the paint on the tape and used an old tooth brush to pull it onto the black fabric. I like the way it shades out using that method.

In this time that I've been pulling old samples out and seeing if I can do something with them, I found this and decided to hand stitch along the edges of the paint using Chain Stitch.

All the things I considered for finishing the piece were too complicated and detracted from it, so I went with a simple black border. To stop the lines from taking the eye off the center, I hand stitched a small border using Back Stitch.

The hand stitching is done in a cotton thread that I dyed. The quilting is straight line in black thread.

Woven papers

2011-12-07T08:24:00.001-08:00

I have so many papers that I decided to see what would happen if I wove them.

It's not the traditional weaving.

I made slits in a paper and wove strips through the slits.

This makes them 2 sided. Now I need to use them for something.

Journal Quilt

2011-12-05T08:52:00.001-08:00

The final Journal quilt for www.beadjournalproject.com It's hard to believe that another year is gone. This also works for the journal quilt a week for www.3creativestudios.com I'll miss them now that they are going on to other things. The Bead group is going for another year at least. It's a lot of work to do this for people, and I appreciate the efforts of both groups.

Somehow December seems gray and silvery to me, so that's why I picked this color palette. I had the silver leaf trim in my stash having bought it on a trip with my friend. The beads are clear, so they are hard to see.

Quilt

2011-12-02T07:30:00.001-08:00

As usual blogger put it sideways, but I like it this way. It's a machine quilted hanging that's about 18" by 28". The Batik was my starting point. I wanted to hand stitch with back stitch to highlight some of the print then wondered what would happen if I extended it into the blue surrounding fabric and changed the color to the red.

I think it's a good way to "marry" the batik with the background. Here's a detail. Batiks are some of my favorite fabrics.

Painted Papers

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

Years ago we used to go to a Paper Event at Portland State University in Portland, Or. I bought some papers that had a resist printed on them. The site on the package is no longer available, so I doubt that I can get any more.

They are painted by sweeping an ink pad over them. It needs to be a juicy one--at least with my old papers.

I found them again recently and decided to color them.

I did try other things-watercolors, ink pens, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, and pastels, but the thing that works are the ink pads.

They came in lots of different patterns.

I'll use them for cards or in books.It's been a good project for this crazy fall we'd had.

Thanks for all the suggestions on the Journal quilts. It has given me ideas. I might use the batik ones I did several years ago for www.beadjournalproject.com to make a bigger quilt by joining them. I'll need to make one more, as I traded with a lady in Medicine Hat, Canada. To see them check the site and go to the Journals section. My page is Sandy Jandik.

A book is another appealing idea for some of my favorites.

Selling is something I used to do-did craft shows, boutiques, sales at home, and galleries. It takes a lot of time and energy. I'd rather just create now and trade with people who want them.

Journal Quilt

2011-11-28T07:26:00.001-08:00

Another Journal Quilt for www.3creativestudios.com I find it hard to believe that the year is almost up, and I've made a Journal quilt for each week. Now--what do you do with 52 Journal quilts? My quilt group will each get to pick one as their Christmas present, but that still leaves 40 of them/39 of them. I gave one to my doctor this week for putting up with me. Any ideas?

This is another fused one using a print fabric with fish motifs. The leaves are freehand cut and machined in place. It is machine quilted and edged with a zigzag over yarn. When I do that type of edge, I go around two times at least so it looks full enough and covers the raw edge. A permanent fabric pen works to cover any batting still showing.

Quilt

2011-11-25T07:49:00.001-08:00

Another small quilt based on a felted piece. A thick and thin yarn was felted to a background piece of felt then hand stitched. I had some wire shapes I'd made to try a jig for bending wire that wanted to go on the piece. After applying the felt to a batik cotton and bordering it in a solid, I machine quilted it adding some machine embroidery to extend the shapes of the yarn areas.

Here's a detail.

2011-11-23T07:46:00.001-08:00

I was just playing around the other day and decided to try a wonky 4 patch in batiks. It is always fun to arrange colors and this is what I came up with. It's about 45" by 50". I'm not sure when or if I'll quilt. I just like to strip piece.

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate.

Journal Quilt

2011-11-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Years ago I made a stencil from a file folder in a class with Beth Jennedy. After cutting it and adding net to hold all the sections together, the piece is coated on both sides with acrylic paint to seal it. I save the cutouts and have the negative image as a stencil too.

This is a hand painted background cotton with Lumiere stenciled on it. Then I used Herringbone Stitch to cover the lines. Another hand pained fabric forms the binding.

Painted fabric

2011-11-18T07:32:00.001-08:00

A couple of friends were over to have a play with Sharpie Permanent Markers. I think it is a blast that these "Permanent" marker bleed when you add alcohol to the painted surface and create nice patterns. I started with a painted background that's on a synthetic fabric.

I drew squiggly lines with the markers and then added the alcohol. I like it much better now.

I meant to take pictures, but we were so caught up in experimenting that I forgot.

Quilt

2011-11-16T07:23:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was the real day for Fiberaction, so here is the quilt I posted. This time in the correct way. Blogger likes to play. The word was Structure which to me means rigid and organized.

The fabrics are painted cotton scraps that I bought at a quilt show. They seemed to want to play together. The brown was just strips which gave me the idea. The machine quilting was to echo the structure of the shapes. I think this should be part of a series, but I didn't get back to it yet. Fall is being a challenge.

Be sure to check out the others using the button at the right.

Bead Journal Quilt

2011-11-14T07:27:00.001-08:00

Here's the November Crazy Quilt for www.beadjournalproject.com After piecing a background, I added lace and the flower trim by hand then beaded it.

This also works as the weekly journal quilt for www.3creativestudios.com I love getting more than one use for a project.

Quilt

2011-11-11T07:51:00.001-08:00

This is my latest piece featuring a felted insert. I hand stitched the large sequins in place by using the foundation for a Spider Web then surrounded them with Chain Stitch. To echo the Sequins, I used Back Stitch and more Chain Stitch. It was then applied to a hand dyed cotton and machine quilted. The edge is yarn zigzagged by machine. The piece is about 16" by 20". Blogger insisted that it be sideways, but I like it, so I left it.

Here is a detail. The color is actually a bit more intense.

Jewelry

2011-11-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

I like to take larger beads and create a ruffle around them, so I was working on some brown ones thinking I would make a complicated necklace from them. Then reality set in. I don't like brown; I don't wear brown. Did I really want to spend so much time on a necklace? NO It wouldn't look good close to my face anyway.

The result became a bracelet, because I just needed to stitch the finished circles to ribbon that had stabilizer behind it. It's backed with ribbon to have a finished lining. The edging is picot stitch. A button and loop became the closure.

Next I'll work on a color I like!

Journal Quilt

2011-11-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

Here's this week's Journal quilt for www.3creativestudios.com It was done on a very light hand painted cotton. I rarely do light and hadn't really used the piece. The appliques are all from the box of scraps with fusible on the back. It's machine quilted with yarn zigzagged to the edge.

Quilt

2011-11-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

Blue Zen started out as a drawn zentangle that I enlarged and transferred to a hand painted cotton. When I enlarge something, I transfer it to fabric by hand stitching with a contrasting thread through the tissue copy. It is more labor intensive, but you don't have to worry about a pencil or pen not coming out of the fabric. Do watch out for the color of thread you use. Once I used a dark green on a light fabric and when pulling out the basting after the stitching was done, it left dye behind. That's the time you get creative to cover the mistake/design challenge up.

Here is a detail. It is hand stitched with Perle Cotton, silk and embroidery floss using Chain and Back Stitches. The sequins are held on with a bead.The quilting is by machine.

Journal Quilt

2011-11-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

Two more pieces of fabric from McIrishAnnie http://quilttilyouwilt.blogspot.com went into this Journal Quilt. It was a fun package full of treasures that she sent me. Mother of Pearl buttons decorate the center panel. The edging is zigzagged yarn.

2011-10-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

I took a class from Christen Brown through www.joggles.com several years ago and liked the concept of beading on ribbon to make a bracelet.

I decided to try my own version by making a narrow one and doing the closure differently. I also made it more geometric. The ends lap over and snap together. The big snap is very secure, believe me. I have trouble getting it off! I used some of the buttons from my collection and am pleased with the result.

I tried to take a photo of it on my wrist, but it didn't work at all. It's too small to fit anyone else. I also forgot to take the camera to my quilt group, so one of them could take the photo. So this is what you get to see.

Quilt

2011-10-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

This was a piece I'd started ages ago and found in a pile of fabrics. I decided it was worth finishing, so here it is. It's about 20" by 40". The grays are hand dyed but the rest of the fabrics are commercial. I like the red stripe.

Here is a detail of "Marching Along". No matter how I tried to give it another name, this one was insisting on being the name.

Journal Quilt

2011-10-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

Another weekly Journal quilt for www.3creativestudios.com This one uses some leaves that had fusible on the back. They are machine embroidered using a straight stitch then echo quilted. The edging is a Chenille yarn couched down.

Class

2011-10-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

Here is the piece I did in Kari McKnight's class http://backporchartessa.blogspot.com at Portland's Art and Soul. What a giving, fun teacher. It is on a stretched canvas which is something I haven't done much of. The scenes are copies of photos I took from a canoe on a river in central Oregon. Leaves and Nature-always my theme. The writing is my motto-I am of the Earth.

Quilt, Gift

2011-10-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

This is about 30" square and the strips are from leftovers. I've been organizing scraps by cutting them into strips and joining them. I decided I needed to see if I could make a quilt with them before I put more effort into the project. I use the cut strips as the starting piece when I strip piece a top and in between sewing sections of it, so I'm not using creative time on this.

My Journal Quilt number was drawn to receive the prize this month at www.3creativestudios.com , and I received this beautiful packet of hand dyes from Vicki called Rosebud and also a package of Misty Fuse. I love getting things! Thank you Vicki.

Book

2011-10-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

I had tried felting scraps of fabrics of unknown fiber content to a piece of craft felt to see what would happen. The finished piece sat around for ages when inspiration hit-a book cover! Because the fabrics were assorted, I machine quilted a wonky grid on top of them to make sure it didn't fall apart. It's tied with a leather strip that had also sat around for years. It's so satisfying to be using things that I couldn't part with but had not found a place to put.

The signature covers are painted papers. The two toned one is embossed wallpaper from a sample book.

Journal Quilt

2011-10-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

MaIrish Annie http://quilttilyouwilt.blogspot.com sent me the center piece for this Journal quilt when we exchanged things. It is so pretty that it needed little else. I bordered it with painted fabric and edged it by zigzagging yarn to it. The buttons are from my collection.

This is another Journal Quilt for www.3creativestudios.com It's been a good exercise to do one a week and get a chance to experiment with some ideas.

Art and Soul

2011-10-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

I took the Letterpress book class at Art and Soul given by Sharyn Sowell http://sharynsowellartblog.blogspot.com She had so much to share, so I made lots of printed images. Here are just a few.

Of course, I had to do the chickens. Now I have quite a stack to use in projects.

This is my version of the book. I liked the idea of a button closure.

This is how one side looks opened.

And I put decorations on some of the pages with tags in the pockets created by the way we folded the paper.

A fun class and teacher. I'm looking forward to seeing her again.

Felting

2011-10-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

A while back I made this purse from a piece I had felted on the embellisher. It's machine quilted with metallic thread.

The closure before was a pin from my collection. When Sue http://suebleiweiss.com/blog/ sent me buttons she had made in a pottery class this summer, I knew this was a much better closure. Here is a detail.

Bead Journal Project

2011-10-10T06:13:00.000-07:00

This 4th year that I am parat of www.beadjournalproject.com I decided to do a Journal sized crazy quilt piece. October to me means Halloween and orange, so here it is.

After piecing the background, I sewed on braid, then stitched over the other seams and added beads.

This also meets the Journal Quilt a week challenge at www.3creativestudios.com

Class

2011-10-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

These are four small collages I did in Jane Davies Class on Scribble Collage. What a fun lady. http://janedavies-collagejourneys.blogspot.com/ If you get a chance to take a class from her be sure to do it.

We decorated papers with paint in the morning to use in our collages after lunch. There were lots of methods for texturing the paint. It was nice to see what everyone was doing, because other people have other ways of looking at things.

The first three are sort of a series, since they are all geometric and use green.

This one is so different. It was the end of the day, so I was tired and just sitting and playing, but I think it is probably the best.

Five years of going to Art and Soul and taking 4 or 5 classes each time with never a bad one! http://www.artandsoulretreat.com/

Journal Quilt, gift

2011-10-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

Art and Soul is over for another year. I'm pleasantly tired and will show things once I get organized. Another year with 5 great classes.

This journal quilt-on its side thanks to blogger, too tired to mess with it-started with the Challenge of the month from www.3creativestudios.com It is fused triangles on a marbled background. I machine quilted to echo the spiral and edge it with satin stitch. I seem to still be doing spirals.

Vivika from the Fiberactions group sent each of us a Prayer Flag. Isn't it wonderful and so nice of her? I'm hanging it in my studio.

Journal Quilt

2011-09-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

This Journal Quilt for www.3creativestudios.com started as a piece for their Technique of the month. The flower is a tracing from a photo I took and is done on the machine using bobbin work and a metallic heavy thread. The quilting is done from the right side with a variegated rayon thread. The binding is a batik and has beads attached where it meets the piece. The scanner took off 3 of the edges but you can see the bottom area.

I couldn't resist showing this. The leaf is from a house Begonia and has designs I want to work with, so I scanned it before throwing it out. On the plant the leaves are green. The feather is about 2 inches long and one I found in the front yard. It looks like someone took a paint brush to the tip-wonder what kind of bird it's from.

I'm going to Portland's Art and Soul this week and have classes through next Monday, so I'll be back after that to show things I've learned. I commute but that adds a lot of time to my day-45 minutes each way unless there is traffic. It should be great fun.

Quilt

2011-09-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

This is a small quilt about 20 by 20 inches. The green "print" is actually fabric I made by putting scraps and threads between layers of water soluble fabrics and then machine stitching heavily to make sure it was all secure and wouldn't fall apart when I cut it up.

I wanted to see if I could use this type of fabric for piecing. IT WORKS! Then to use it, I made a 4 patch and bordered it. The machine quilting follows and extends the piecing lines.

You might be out a little time and supplies when you experiment, but even if it doesn't work, you learn. If it does work, you have a new technique to use.

Dyeing

2011-09-21T05:38:00.000-07:00

All of these fabrics were off white to begin with. I decided to try some tea dyeing. Using two generic tea bags, in a two cup measure I made one cup of tea as strong as possible. Then I jammed all the fabric pieces in it and left it for several hours before rinsing.

I'm not sure where the gray comes from, but it is always interesting to see the surprises that happen. Since the fabrics were scraps, I can't be sure of the fiber content, but I thought the gray one was silk. I love to experiment.

Journal Quilt

2011-09-19T05:40:00.000-07:00

Another one for www.3creativestudios.com I would never have thought that I could manage a Journal quilt every week, but it's been a good challenge.

This one started with a felt base then had fabris felted into it with the Embellishing machine. Next came Machine quilting with rayon thread. I painted lace to go on it with acrylic paints.

Here's the back. The circles and the rayon thread created a whip stitch that I quite like.

Quilt

2011-09-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

The Fiberaction reveal was yesterday. See the button on the right to check out the other pieces. The word this time was Texture.

I had fused painted lace to a piece of cotton and then layered it with a green hand dyed cotton. Slashing and rejoining created the wonky checkerboard. The sequins that decorate the green areas are hand sewn down with a spiderweb stitch that is just the base part of the stitch. It looked too blank, so I stitched around each by hand using the chain stitch.

I have found that the big sequins work well for doing Shisha type stitching, because they are lighter in weight than mirrors and come in lots of colors. Also, if you want to change the size or shape, you can cut them with a scissors.-not your good sewing ones please.

Here is a detail. It's been great fun being in this group and trying to come up with pieces to fit a word/idea.

Gifts

2011-09-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

Look what was in my mailbox when I came home today! Beautiful hand dyed fabrics from Sue http://suebleiweiss.com/blog/ And the wonderful buttons she made this summer. How did she know I needed something good to happen? It really made my day and made up for all that's happened.

I've had (to put it politely)a challenging couple of weeks.

I know exactly what I'm going to do with the buttons. I've been wanting to make some purses-perfect closures as well as inspiration in the patterns.

Journal Quilt

2011-09-12T05:41:00.000-07:00

Another Journal quilt for the www.3creativestudios.com challenge.

On the strip pieced fabrics I stitched circles of machine decorative stitches-the ones you get tons of, get excited about, and then wonder what to do with. Then I cut out sections and pieced them into an African fabric. The edging is zigzagged yarn. It's machine quilted to echo the insets.

Quilt

2011-09-09T05:37:00.000-07:00

I kept a decorative tin next to the TV watching area with Ultrasuede, thread, and big sequins in it and stitched, if I "watched" any TV. It ususally puts me to sleep unless I keep busy. It's amazing how much you can get done this way.

I often use the big sequin instead of mirrors to do a form of Shisha, because the weight is less. They also come in lots of colors.

The background is velvet and the threads Perle Cotton and Embroidery floss. It is machine quilted.

Projects

2011-09-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

Some years ago I became the family caregiver going where necessary to take care of whomever needed it. I'm not a nurse, trained as a teacher, but nothing bothers me about dealing with illness or injury when that is needed. One time I was stuck without my hand work-emergencies don't give you any warning!

It was a good lesson to always have something ready, so here is a case that I bought from a cosmetic section of the store. It has lots of divisions and pockets for things. I prepare crazy quilt blocks to put in along with the threads, scissors, and needles in a case. Another handy thing to have is a small sketchbook for thoughts and ideas as well as something to write with.

This needs to be a project without a deadline and only worked on in other places like doctors' offices or the hospital. It's worked well, and I have a stack of completed blocks-a great stress buster.

I couldn't resist leaning over the upstairs railing and taking a photo of the Begonia we have on the wood stove. The leaves are larger than my hand span. Not sure where I'll put it once we need to use the stove. It also shows the wooden stamp collection I have. There are more in a basket too. They get moved in the winter, so they don't get harmed by the heat of the stove.

2011-09-05T11:53:00.001-07:00

Here is the September Journal quilt for www.beadjournalproject.com The background is pieced and has a metallic ribbon on it. The seams are hand stitched and beaded.

Gifts

2011-09-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

Imagine my surprise when the mail carrier left a box for me yesterday from my Daughter-in-law's mother. We have travelled together and exchanged things before, but I certainly didn't expect anything. She lives in San Diego and is the best antique, estate, and garage saler I've ever met.

The pin she said reminded her of me and is perfect. She found it on ebay. I'll wear it to the guild meeting which is on using old linens in our work. It will be on a jacket that is decorated with crochet motifs she also sent me.

These yarns were also in the box and perfect for the felted backgrounds I've been making recently. The green is so soft and will edge the journal quilts. It made my day.

Quilt

2011-08-31T05:34:00.000-07:00

This is a small quilt of about 20 inches square. It started with a monoprint on a white coarsely woven fabric.

I layered painted cheesecloth and braid on it then stitched some of the spirals by hand with perle cotton. It still needed something, so I cut Ultrasuede spirals and applied then to the top.

It is so busy that It needed a simple border. It is machine quilted echoing the spirals in the center and having straight line quilting on the border.

Journal Quilt

2011-08-29T05:53:00.000-07:00

Today is Journal quilt day for the challenge for www.3creativestudios.com This was a piece of white satin that I used transfer paints on to create the leaves. With transfer paints, you use fabrics with a high percentage of polyester. I painted papers with the paints, let them dry then laid real leaves on the fabric to act as a resist. After placing the painted papers on top, I ironed the piece to transfer the colors.

It is machine embroidered to make the leaves stand out-it was a faint print. I used a Pigma pen to make dots along the edges and the veins to add dimension. It's edged by zigzagging a yarn to the edge.

I'm glad Hurricane Irene is past for our friends on the east coast and hope it isn't too long before things are better. Every place seems to have challenges weatherwise, but I don't think I'd like to be in a Hurricane. We are pretty lucky here on the West Coast of the US.

Sketchbook

2011-08-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

Each day I write down what I do fiberwise. It is a way to keep me working and really shows me if I accomplished anything. After I had completed this book with it's poor quality paper, I decided that I liked the covers on the book so well that I needed to do something with them. I took the wire binding off carefully and got rid of the cheap paper. It wasn't worth even using as background, text covered pieces. Next I cut plain and hand painted papers to size, punched the necessary holes and rebound the book using the Bind It All.

I love the cut out in the front cover showing the "centipede". I like bugs. They are so varied and interesting and sometimes have the most beautiful color schemes.

This is the only page spread I've managed to do this summer. It's mostly rubber stamps and stencils. I didn't realize how many bug related ones I had.

Quilt

2011-08-24T05:33:00.000-07:00

My Art Quilt group meets here today, so it seemed appropriate to show a quilt. Also quicker, so I can get back to cleaning and getting ready.

I had made the violet and dark turquoise stripes into fabric years ago and decided that it was time to use it. The floral batik worked with it. I was going to add more, but the quilt didn't want it. We really don't have control, so it's better to give in to the quilt than to fight it trying to add something only to have to give in to it in the end.

Journal Quilt

2011-08-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

This week's Journal Quilt for www.3creativestudios.com is done on a commercial white on white print that I painted over. It's a fun thing to do with surprises when you see what the print does. Next came more of those Ultrasuede spirals I cut years ago. I love using Ultrasuede for applique, as you don't have to turn under the edges which was a problem for me. They are machine stitched with metallic. The machine quilting is in a variegated rayon and echos the spirals. The edges are finished by zigzagging a yarn to them.

Quilt

2011-08-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

This quilt was done by using masks. I started with a light blue painted fabric and cut freezer paper masks to iron on it. The circles are those dots that are stick on labels. The rings are page reinforcers used in notebooks.

After masking the piece, I used more paint on it. The outer border is a hand dye. The shapes are outlined in hand stitching with Perle Cotton and a matte silk.

Painted Threads

2011-08-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

I started with the pink perle cotton, because I had a cone of it in machine knitting yarn. I added blues to get the blend using Colorhue. In later experiments, no matter what I colored it with, it came out in this blend. There must be a finish on the yarn, so I'll try something else to change it. I'm more likely to use the thread for stitching than knitting, so it would be nice to have a color range-only so much pink can be used.

Thanks for everyone comments. DH had cataract surgery this week, so I've been playing nurse. Men need more TLC,

Bead Journal Quilt

2011-08-15T05:34:00.000-07:00

This Journal quilt does double duty. It is the August one for www.beadjournalquilt.com and the weekly journal quilt for www.3creativestudios.com I love getting two for one.

The braid is one that a friend gave me in a box of trims she gave me to use. Crazy quilt is the technique with a pieced background, then the braid was sewn on by hand, hand stitching was next, and finally lots of beading.

Altered Book

2011-08-12T05:32:00.000-07:00

I just finished a class at www.joggles.com from Sarah Whitmire www.souljournaling.com We did all sorts of things to the book, and I keep learning more about the products needed to do it. She's a good teacher and it was a fun class.

Here's the back. I used Vintage Ribbon on it that has a history. 4 of us were going to San Diego to the Fashion Show at Bazaar del Mundo when we stopped at an Antique Mall near the Los Angeles airport-not exactly on the way, but we wanted to go to the ribbon store there. The ribbons were on bolts of 40 yards, so we each bought one.

At the motel that night, we unwound all 4 and divided them, so we all got 10 yards of the two greens and two blues. This was not easy as the motel row was so little that the two double beds filled it and everything had to be done on them-no floor space. It was a crazy weekend and good memory.

Quilt

2011-08-10T05:35:00.000-07:00

This is a small hanging of about 24" square. It's the leftover squares of two other hangings. When they were sewn together, I didn't like how they looked and put the sheers over them. I think that helps, but it still isn't one of my favorites. The quilting is by machine and echoes the applied sheers.

Blogger posted it on its side, but I think I like it better this way.

Journal Quilt

2011-08-08T05:56:00.000-07:00

Here's another Journal quilt for www.3creativestudios.com It's a little different. I've used paper I made, crumbled, then colored with ink pads--the white. The purple/blue is painted Lutradur and so is the triangles of orange The spirals are more of the leftover Ultrasuede-never throw anything out-attached with hand Chain stitch. The background has Seed Stitch by hand. Sequins and beads were also used.

I'm glad everyone like the Sunprints. They are easy to do but be sure to heat set the paints. Thanks to everyone who commented.

Sun Prints

2011-08-05T05:52:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday a friend and I got together and made sunprints using Setacolor paint.

The shapes put on top of the fabrics in two of these are the wooden ones from the craft store. They are cheap and work well-heavy enough not to blow away, if there is wind.

She has metal plates that we put under the fat quarters of cotton, then sprayed water on the fabric and painted them. After exposing them to the sun, we had the prints.

I really love getting comments and try to reach people, but my server doesn't want to give me the email from someone's profile. Email me, and I'll answer. It's fun to exchange ideas.

I also have to remember to give more information on things. The fabrics from the last post were fat quarters, and I wanted to use only fabrics from the bundle, so the piece is about 30 inches square. Most of what I do is small, as that is what I enjoy making and why I get more done. My family all have lots of bed quilts and don't seem to use them anyway, so I rarely make them anymore and mostly for charity when I do. Also, what I do tends to be labor intensive and can be fairly heavy with embellishments, so hanging is an issue if they are large.

Quilt

2011-08-03T05:34:00.000-07:00

In June at Quilt group a friend gave each of us a bundle of fabrics from her stash. Another challenged us to do something with them. I decided to use my motif and came up with this small quilt. It was fun to try fabrics I would not usually have.

Journal Quilt

2011-08-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

Here's this week's Journal Quilt for www.3creativestudios.com It's very traditional which is unusual for me, but it uses three leaf blocks I had.

Quilt

2011-07-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

The friend I marbled fabric with in California taught fabric painting and gave me the fabric.I hand stitched to outline the shapes then machine quilted to echo the lines. It was a relaxing piece to work on and in colors I enjoy.

Here is the entire hanging. It was fun to get her painted fabrics.

Journal Quilt

2011-07-27T05:39:00.000-07:00

This week's addition to the Journal Quilt Challenge at www.3creativestudios.com Again I used leftover blocks of hand dyed fabrics and did the vine by machine to quilt it.

I'm glad everyone liked the sunprints and thanks to those who commented. It's easy to do with Setacolor Transparent paints but must be the transparent ones.

Sun Printing

2011-07-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

We actually had sun yesterday in the Pacific NW. I managed to do two sun prints before helping with the deer fence. Today it is raining again.

Living in the woods gives me access to lots of ferns, so I used two types on this piece and Setacolor Transparent paint. It has to be the transparent type to sun print.

The resists on this one are the leaves from a weed. I used one pin in each to hold them in place. There wasn't any wind so that worked. I like the shadows that create different values when the pieces are not totally anchored down.

Thanks to everyone who comments. It's fun to hear from people.

Bead Journal Project

2011-07-22T05:33:00.000-07:00

Here's July for the Bead Journal Project. It's been done for a while, but I almost forgot to post it.

I'm doing Journal sized pieces in Crazy Quilting with lace applied and hand stitching the seams before hand beading them. The appliques is one I Painted.

Sketchbook Challenge

2011-07-20T05:32:00.000-07:00

The button on the right takes you to the Sketchbook Challenge. This is more of a challenge to me as I am one of the people who "can't" draw.

I find that taking a photograph from a magazine and extending the design really is helping me and is fun to do. It's teaching me to "see". I quite like the results.

Quilt

2011-07-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

It was time for the reveal for Fiberactions-see button at side to view the rest of the pieces. Here is a detail of my piece.

The word was Departure, so I used a commercial print which I normally don't do. I also cut up the felted piece after it was hand stitched and beaded. It's faced on the sides and has binding on the top and bottom which is also different.

Journal Quilt

2011-07-15T05:42:00.000-07:00

This week's journal quilt for www.3creativestudios.com It's a painted background with Ultrasuede shapes applied by machine and edged with Chenille yarn.

Quilt

2011-07-13T05:34:00.000-07:00

Here is my motif again in a small hanging. The machine quilting is wavy rows. The green is commercial fabric; the rest hand dyes. I decided to try the block using pieced strips instead of solid strips. It's something I want to try again.

At night after we've worked on the greenhouse, I'm too tired to do much except sew binding, so I get pieces ready to that point and have them waiting for work days. That way I feel like I at least was able to sew a bit.

The greenhouse will be for wintering over pot plants from the porch, starting cutting of plants, and starting vegetables in the spring. My husband was so frustrated with our wet spring when he couldn't garden. Once the garden finally was growing, the deer managed to get around the 8ft. fence and more or less mowed it. I've gotten some radishes, a handful of broccoli, and a few spinach leaves for salad.

Greenhouse

2011-07-11T05:56:00.000-07:00

I don't often post something that isn't fiber/art related, but this shows why I didn't get anything else done over the weekend. We are building a greenhouse and are of the school of "We'll do it ourselves without help."

A good foundation is important.

It's a kit that my brother built, and it's holding up well in Montana. Everything snaps together and is pegged. The problem was excess plastic on the window panels that had to be trimmed on all 4 sides.

There's still more to be done, but we made good progress.

Journal Quilt, Family

2011-07-08T05:38:00.000-07:00

Here is another journal quilt for the challenge at www.3creativestudios.com It is piece of fabric that I had marbled years ago that became a good opportunity to try quilting with the decorative stitches on the machine. Chenille yarn is zigzagged to the edge. The buttons create a focal point.

I'm back from a visit to Houston, Texas to visit our son and his family. The kids made me this artwork. The back has hand prints with their signatures in them-a treasure to keep for years. It's always good to see them-wish they didn't live so far away.

Quilt, Postcard

2011-06-29T05:48:00.000-07:00

I won a postcard from Deb Levy for the Technique of the Month at www.3creativestudios.com She does the quilting before painting the piece. Isn't it wonderful?

I found more leftover blocks/scraps from a very early Nancy Crow workshop and put them together to make this quilt. It's about 15" by 30". The machine quilting just needed to go lengthwise.

Journal Quilt

2011-06-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

www.3creativestudios.com has two challenges that this works for-The Journal Quilt and The Technique of the Month which is freemotion Couching.

I don't have a Bernina which has a special foot for this with a guide for the thread you are couching. I have a Pfaff which I love but this was hard without the guide. I kept trying to rig a guide up but so far none of my ideas has worked.

The leaf shapes are fused. Then I used a knitting braid for the couching which also becomes the quilting. I think this technique has lots of possibilities.

Sketchbook, Quilt

2011-06-24T05:51:00.000-07:00

The Sketchbook Challenge(see button at right) has Pathways as the word for this month. I love the word and idea but was having trouble coming up with an idea. Last night we were watching "Through the Wormhole" on the Science channel on TV and it hit. I'm fascinated by the concept of TIME, so I sat there and did a mapping of all the things time can be.

Years ago I did this quilt called Pathways and here is a photo of it in a gallery. Until now I didn't realize that they didn't hang it flat. It's from a piece of fabric I airbrushed. It is part of a series on the 5 stages of grief that I did during a challenging time in life. It is "Echoes of Rage" but the name I use for shows, so it is more socially acceptable is Pathways. It is the way I felt at the time. The strips are fused before having yarn zigzagged to the edges.

Journal Quilt

2011-06-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

Blogger doesn't want me to add a photo this morning, and I'm heading off to Quilt Group, so I did a copy and paste. Sorry it's not larger.

This was done from some leftover quilt squares, machine quilted, and then the leaves were sewn down with metallic thread. The edge is a fuzzy yarn. I love weird yarns---fabrics, beads, buttons, trims.

It is going on the Journal Quilt Flickr album for www.3creativestudios.com Check out the other there.

Gifts

2011-06-20T05:35:00.001-07:00

My name was drawn for one of the prizes at www.3creativestudios.com and Donna Funnell sent me these things. The purse is very nice with lots of work on it. It's fun to have the magazine with her article in it showing how to make it.

Thank you Donna.

Quilt

2011-06-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the detail of a beaded and stitched design I did.

Now it is made into a quilted hanging.

Bead Journal Project

2011-06-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

Here is June for the Bead Journal Project. It's hard to believe we are half way through the year. Again it is Crazy Quilt with lace, stitching and beads.

It took me an hour to get online this morning, so the mood is NOT good. I think I'll sew-it always helps.

Trade

2011-06-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

Look what the mail brought. Judy and I have emailed for a number of years and decided to do a trade. I love this fun piece that now brightens up my studio wall.

http://judyrys.blogspot.com/ is her link. She does fun creative things.

This is what I sent her.

Class

2011-06-10T05:35:00.000-07:00

I'm taking the Personal Symbols class by Susan Sorrell at www.joggles.com In this lesson we used some of the symbols we drew in Lesson l to carve stamps. Here are my test impressions of the 4 erasers I carved. I need to lean harder on the stamp but like the images I carved. It's fun to do your own designs. It's also fun to see, if they create secondary patterns when stamped multiple times.

Thanks for all the comments on the Red chyrsanthemum quilt. It's always interesting to see which ones people like. This is not one of my favorites and will probably be the hostess gift when I visit my son and his family this summer.

Quilt

2011-06-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

Here is the detail of a Japanese print fabric that I machine stitched the main lines of.

Blogger is playing with me again and insists that the hanging be on it's side and won't delete it.

Here's the hanging right side up.

Quilt

2011-06-06T05:44:00.000-07:00

Here's the next Journal quilt for www.3creativestudios.com I can't believe I'm actually doing one a week, but it's a good way to get to the studio and work.

The leaf is a commercial fabric that is fused to a scrap of marbled fabric that I did in California when we lived there. It was then machine embroidered and machine quilted. The edging is fuzzy yarn zigzagged in place-love that finish.

2011-06-03T05:45:00.000-07:00

The necklace I posted on May 23 appealed to Ann at http://quilttilyouwilt.blogspot.com/ , so we did a swap and this is what she sent.

Sequin fabric, bias silk ribbon, yarn, lace, clock parts backed by a silk scarf.

More lace, Japanese fabrics, silk, and those cool needlelace flowers.

Fabrics, especially the purple.

Hand dyes, beads, leaves.

I was overwhelmed and am going to have so much fun using everything. I love bits and pieces. What is it about getting something from someone else that is so much more exciting than buying something? The anticipation, the seeing things in a new way, having things you don't normally think of. It really gets my muse going. Thank you Ann.

Class

2011-06-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

I'm taking Susan Sorrell's Personal Symbols class at www.joggles.com , and spirals keep coming up for me.

This piece is stitched on painted batting with gold rubber stamped spirals on it. The big spirals are also painted batting machine stitched down then the hand stitching was added. Standing in line at a craft store, I saw and couldn't resist the spiral sequins-now finally a place for them. They are hand stitched in place. Cross stitches fill the background.

No matter how I tried to bead the spirals, they just refused, so the beads hold the binding in place. It was a fun piece to do.