Tags

Since we are still in holiday mode and not doing as much creating, I thought I'd show some more of the tags that I made for the class at www.joggles.com Tags are fun to make, give me a chance to use up tiny pieces of leftovers, and are relaxing to do.

Gift

This is the hanging that I gave my husband for his birthday just before Christmas. I had done one of our granddaughter at about the same age, but it has lots of lace on it-not the thing for a boy! He's in his Halloween costume.

Take It Further

Here's the finished Take it Further piece. I'm not sure about the buttons and the quilting together, but I like each separately. Thanks to Sharonb http://www.pintangle.com for a year of challenges.

Bead Journal Project,snow

Robin http://beadlust.blogspot.com/ requested a detail of my December Bead Journal Project, so here it is. I'm so glad she started this project. I've enjoyed it so.
I only thought we had a lot of snow on Monday. You can see from my car that I'm staying home.

It is so beautiful out there that walking the dog is a pleasure and an excuse to be out in the snow. At 5am for our first walk, I don't need a flashlight, and everything has a blue cast. Last night's footsteps were gone this morning.

Gift, Bead Journal Project, snow

See what Ati from Unlimited Textiles sent me. It's done with felting and hand stitching and is wonderful. Very appropriate for our weather this year too. Normally, the Pacific NW USA has very little snow, but this past week the weather has been much more like Montana where I went to high school and college.
This is the view out my patio door! The stairs to the deck are slick, so I'm walking the dog on leash which is just a good excuse to play in the snow. Deer tracks and rabbits tracks are everywhere. Our chickens won't come out of the coop and need to have new water every several hours when the other bowl freezes.

Here is December's Bead Journal Project quilt done with sequins attached by the back stitched beads.

Class Tester

This is a very clever box. I couldn't resist using the bug fabric that a friend gave me. I love bugs in all their diversity. Watch what happens to the box.

It's a game box complete with X's and O's. The box folds up nicely to store the game pieces.

The lesson is one from the new Box Making class that Sueb is offering in the New Year. You can find the information at www.twocreativestudios.com

Take It Further

I'm doing the color scheme again in the Take it Further Challenge offered by Sharonb http://www.pintangle.com/ This is a block I designed with Electric Quilt when I was checking out some blocks to use in a Nancy Crow class.
I had 4 blocks left that had too much white in them to fit in the top, so I started slashing them, rearranging them, and joining them again. I like this better and have put borders on it, now to quilt.

Award

Blog Award
Carol at http://carolclasper.blogspot.com gave me this award. I'm flattered. Instead of picking 5 others, I award this to all the fiber related blogs that inspire me so. There are just too many to list, and I thank them for inspiring me.

Exchanges

Look what I received in the mall yesterday from Pat http://calendargirls2008.blogspot.com/ Isn't it wonderful. The molding paste certainly made the flowers stand out. It had a piece of beautiful lace with it.

Here is the one I am sending out. The pot is Ultrasuede; the flowers silk with a bead in the center. The background is dyed.

I am also sending out this month's Quiltie with a Winter theme. The tree is done on the Embellisher. Beads decorate it and border it.
I finally did a 3" by 3" piece representing winter for the 4 Seasons Fiber piece being put together by 2 ladies in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. It took a while to figure out how to use a similar motif for winter. It's also hard to work so small.

Gift

This is another small wall hanging that's a Christmas gift. I'm using up all the strips I'd cut years ago. They are quick to make-a plus.

Class Tester

Here's another box for the Creative Box Making class Sueb of www.twocreativestudios.com is offering in February. This is a very clever one in which the roof opens to store things. I filled it with art supplies and sent it to my granddaughter for her birthday in early January. I think she'll like it.

Take It Further

Here are my fabrics for the color scheme of the December Take It Further Challenge created by Sharonb at http://pintangle.com You get to it from the side bar.

Class Tester

I'm testing the new box class for Sueb www.twocreativestudios.com that starts in February. It will be another winner. This is the box for Lesson 1. I thought it would be hard to do the windows in the sides of the box, but it wasn't. Be sure to check out the site and sign up for the class.

Necklace

I finally decided on a cord for the piece of shell I had beaded. A simple one seemed to show off the piece best. I tried fringe on it and didn't like it. Now to wear it.

THE WINNER

Because of the response, I decided to give all three scarves away, so if the following 3 people will send me their address, I will get a scarf off to you.

abeadlady Arline you were my first draw, so let me know which color you want.
Meg in Albuquerqe If you send me 2 color choices, you will get whichever Arline doesn't pick.
Pam T You will get the third scarf.

This was fun for me, so I'll have to think up something else. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Gifts

This is the last post before the drawing on Friday for the scarf. Be sure to leave a comment. I've entered everyone who has commented so far and tried to reply to them. I appreciate hearing from people and am sorry that I couldn't reach some.

This was an unfinished piece from a http://www.quiltuniversity.com/ class with Ruth Blanchet. I finished it up for my grandson for Christmas. I've had good classes from there.
I knitted my Daughter-in-law a sweater she wanted and am giving my granddaughter the quilt from another class, so I thought I shouldn't leave my son out. This is the hanging he gets of his family.

Bead Journal Project

Here is a photo of my Bead Journal Quilt for November. It is on a batik with sequins sewn down by using the Back Stitch for beading. The first row is stitched through the fabric.The second row is stitched to the first, and the third through the second.

Remember to comment if you want to be in the drawing for a hand painted silk scarf for my blog anniversary next Friday. The choices are shown in the Nov. 21st post.

Gifts

Look what came in the mail. It's the Fall theme quiltie from Meg for Unlimited Textiles. It's perfect and the extras will work well for the tag class.
I can hardly believe that it will be l year next Friday that I have been blogging. Here I put it off forever before starting too. So, next Friday I will draw a winner from the people who comment in the next week and send them a hand painted silk scarf.

Gifts

Look at the wonderful Quiltie I received from Linda D. of Unlimited Textiles. It shines.

She included these goodies-ribbon, painted fabric, and a felted piece. They will work with the Tag class I'm taking. Thank you Linda.

Quiltie, Postcard

The theme this month for Unlimited Textiles was Latin American flavor. This was done on the Embellisher with a knit piece cut up-the dark piece-and other fibers. It is machined with metallic threads and bordered with hand stitching in metallic. I used running stitch on two sides and chain stitch on the other two. Here is November's postcard for the Calendar Girls exchange. http://calendargirls2008.blogspot.com The vase and leaves are Ultrasuede, the stems hand stitched, and I had these cool flower beads to use to make the flowers.

Take It Further, Class

I'm taking a Tag class from Judy Skeel at http://www.joggles.com/ and realized that these 2 tags also worked for the Take It Further Challenge presented by Sharonb http://sharonb.wordpress.com/ All year I've worked with the color scheme.

Here are some more tags.

And some more.And the final group. They are addictive and perfect for using up those bits that are too good to throw away and not big enough to do much with. This last set has the papers from fortune cookies. I've saved them for years and ask everyone I'm with for theirs. So far, I haven't gone around to other tables!

Gifts

This rose was felted by using one of the applique molds produced by Clover for hand needle felting 3D shapes. I'll put it on a hoodie for my granddaughter. It was good TV work as long as you watch what you are doing and not the TV!
She'll also get this crazy quilt purse. Her birthday is in early January, so I try to make sure she has something for that too. I always have a bag of supplies for crazy quilt ready to take when I have to rush off to take care of someone.

Here is the Postcard that came Saturday from Joanna http://calendargirls2008.blogspot.com/ It just shimmers in person. Last week was Embellisher Club taught by my friend Catherine. We did cards and had a wonderful time. The top one is my favorite.
This one has all the purples and red violets that I like. I'll be doing more cards I know.

Gift, Art

Look what came in the mail! Sueb http://www.twocreativestudios.com/ sent it to me. She found it in Houston and knows it will be perfect for workshops. I've never seen an iron like that. She also knows I've been down with the sick husband and the dogs' 2 surgeries. Thank you my friend.
Here's the card that came with it. Isn't it great?

In September I received an email from a lady in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada asking me to take part in a 4 panel art hanging for the Year of Fiber 2009. Secret Gardens is the theme and each piece is to be 1"x1", 1x2, 2x2, 2x3, or 3x3. We are to do 1 to 4 pieces. Here are the three pieces I sent this week. They are wool felt with beading using one of my favorite motifs-leaves.

Class Projects, Tagged

I've been tagged by Carol L http://carollenthall.blogspot.com/ to tell 7 things about myself.

1. Tagging helps me find new artists as I visit the others who are tagged.

2. I love my computer but find it to be one of the most frustrating things when it doesn't do what I expect-operator error only part of the time.

3. I'm very patient when I teach but have no patience for people who won't at least try things.

4. I love all animals especially dogs.

5. I reviewed fiber books for about 15 years and have a great library. It was one of my favorite jobs.

6. I love to take classes. That can't be much of a surprise to my readers.

7. I raced sports cars when I met my husband. 3 of us wives/sweethearts raced in our own class.

I'm taking a class from Judy Skeel at http://www.joggles.com/ on using UTEE Ultrathick Embossing Powder. The black piece was done on a molding mat. The top right is on glass, and the other two on beach glass.
Here the Utee has been used to frame photos encased in glass and a CD piece. It also can be molded. It's been an interesting class, and Judy is a good teacher.

Class Projects

Since I have to be home with the dog, it was the perfect opportunity to take an online class. The following samples are from Textured Surfaces-a class from http://www.fibreinform/ given by Lynda Monk and Carol McFee. It's a good one with tons of information.

The idea is to build up surfaces with things and layers of paint to add depth. It's amazing how they change.

I found that there are lots of textured pastes out there and used one called flakes for the greenish piece. Inks also work well.
After strip piecing this, I didn't like it and threw it in a black dye pot-too dark. This seemed the time to experiment with it, so molding paste, then ink, then gilding cream, and maybe it's OK now.