Monday, December 27, 2010

A Great Surprise!

Remember my "The 60s - A Decade of Change"?  Well, it and "Reality"  were accepted into an exhibit to be held at Arts Visalia in March for Woman's History Month.  The exhibit is called "WomanFully".  I was not expecting to get accepted and was surprised when I received the email.  In fact, I almost deleted it.  I'm sure glad I opened it! What is even funnier is that "Reality" was donated to the Common Threads Little Quilt Sale and no one wanted it and it was returned.  How humiliating!  But now I know why.  It was meant for this show.


I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  We will be celebrating thru New Year's since Serena and Lexi arrive tomorrow.  It looks like the airport is now open in Norfolk so we are praying that all goes well.  Serena has never seen so much snow in Virgina Beach.  It just doesn't snow that much there. 


 I have been busy making things for Christmas, which I can't show you since we haven't celebrated our Christmas yet, but I can show you the baskets I have made.  They are made out of fabric wrapped cotton clothes line. They really are addicting.

I haven't done much quilting. Finished all my class samples and waiting to see when the classes will be. I will keep you posted. Thimble Towne's new website should be up soon. Check back.






Sunday, December 5, 2010

Getting ready for classes

I worked on this quilt for 12 hours straight yesterday to finish the top so I could take it to Jeremy to quilt on Monday.  I am so excited about it.  This will be for my One Block Wonder class I am teaching sometime in the next few months.  I don't know what the schedule is yet but I will let you all know.  I go in to Thimble Town tomorrow to go over the class descriptions, class supply lists, two more projects that need to be made for classes and some skirts for store samples.  I am excited about all these new projects but as I sit here amongst the many boxes filled with Christmas decorations that need to be put up, I wonder where all the time will come from to finish everything.

The Common Threads Christmas party is now behind me and I have to say it was a great success.  I had a fantastic time and I think so did may others.  The Orange Blossom Christmas party is in less than two weeks and I just hope it goes as well.  I don't have many gift items for the silent auction yet but I have some people to call.

This Saturday is our Material Girls Christmas Party at Barbara Brown's house.  We always have a great time.  We were to how our friendship blocks put together and quilted.  Mine is together but not quilted.  I thought I had a picture but can't find it.  I'll take one this week and put it on the blog.


Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Busy, Busy, Busy

Time seems to go by so fast these days.  I can't even keep up with what day it is anymore.  I just recently tripled my work load by agreeing to teach at Thimble Town next quarter which means class samples are due and this is the busiest time of year.  The new owner, Jeremy, is a sweetheart but he can talk you into almost anything.  Actually, I'm loving it!  He has so many great ideas and I look forward to working with him.

Here is my latest art quilt.  This is entitled "Moonlight Sonata".  I made it while in Tahoe.  We had a great time.  It snowed!  So much fun for this Central Valley California girl!


The building to the left is where we were staying.  My sister took the picture from their building.
I have been very busy working on class samples, class descriptions, supply lists and just getting my head around the fact that I will be teaching again.  I will be teaching 5 different classes.  One of the classes is the Amy Butler Sweet Harmony handbag & tote.  Her patterns are not the easiest to follow.  I wish I had taken a class.  But I love the results.  I hope to show you more progress on other class quilts and I hope to keep up on the blog now that I am home for awhile.  Well, I'm off to do laundry and work on my Material Girls quilt blocks that I have not looked at since June and the quilt needs to be done next week.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Getting Ready for Christmas!

Can you believe Christmas is just around the corner and all the plans I had to have things done are going down the drain.  Where does the time go?  I have been working on some Christmas presents and donations for the guilds I am involved with.
 
The Christmas Tree is for a guild Christmas party raffle.  I made two but have to sew on the bells on the other one.  I think I am going to keep one for myself.  This will be great on a door.  It is 36 inches long.  It was fun to make but it took me almost two hours to sew on all the bells.

The snowman started out for myself but as I was making it I keep thinking how my sister would just love it.  We are leaving for Tahoe to spend a few days with her so I will give it to her then.

Off to the guild meeting.  I am teaching a class for the guild on Saturday.  We will be making cubes like the ones in the One Block Wonder quilts.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Foiled Pears

I was able to upload the photo that I mentioned in the previous post.  I really do need to get better at taking photos!  At least take them straight.

The results of the flour paste resist!

Here is the final result from the fabrics from the previous post.  I like it but had hoped it would be bigger.  I don't plan my quilts.  They just happen so the squares are 2 1/2" finished.  I have some plans to make this a series.  I think I am motivated again.  If I could just stay home.  Off this weekend to Shaver Lake for a retreat and then the next week we are going to Tahoe with my fantastic sister and brother-in-law for a week.  There is a great store there that has a good size quilting section and the greatest selection of paints and buttons, other decorator fabrics, silks, a art quilters dream.  I'm saving my money from the class I am teaching next week just to spend here!  I love shopping here with my sister.  There is also a bead store there that we go to.  My sister makes the most fantastic jewelery.  I can hardly wait.  I wait all year for this!

I had another photo to share but I can't seem to get the program to work.  Maybe later.  I am demonstrating foiling on fabric this evening at the guild and I have a quilt I made as an example.  It is amazing how whenever I am going to prepare for something like this I always find the ways not to do something!  It's like when I make a quilt from a pattern or book, I always find the mistakes.  Go figure!

I know I have not blogged much but to tell you the truth I just haven't been home.  This has been a year of traveling.  This year I went to Road 2 Ca (Ontario), Wonder Valley (twice), Virginia, Pacific Grove, Cambria, Pismo, Sacramento, Hollywood, Utah, Las Vegas, Best of the Valley took four days, Ripon, next Shaver lake and Tahoe.  I'm not complaining but it has been a busy year.  And we mustn't forget a new grandchild, Daniel, was born this year.  What a year!  Do you think next year will be less busy.  I doubt it.  I already have two classes I am teaching for guilds and a trunk show at another guild lined up next year.  I am just thankful that I am able to do all this.

Off to get my stuff ready for tonight.  I hope you are still out there even though I haven't been very good at posting.

Monday, October 18, 2010

The saga of the flour resist project!


This is the beginning of the story.  Our art group project for this month is to make a flour and water paste, apply it to fabric, let it dry, crunch it up and paint it.  Then clean it all off and make an art quilt using the theme "graffiti".
Three of use got together to start the process.  We stabilized our fabric to form core board and off we went.  We took our projects home to dry and I put mine in the backyard.  Little did I know it was going to rain.  It never rains here!  Of course it was under the patio that is not a solid cover and water, dirt and sap from the unsealed (new) cover got all over my projects (I had 3 started.)  Oh well, let them dry again and just think of it as developing art.
So some days later time to paint over the flour resist.  Then after it dries, wash it all off. These are my results.

The third one was done with potato flakes that Sara's dog kept licking while it was drying.

It really is not as yellow as it looks (photography).  I decided to use this one for my project since I was going to cover it with paint.  And in my usual style I went overboard with the paint.

Now this project has to be done by Wednesday and today is Monday and it has to dry.  I only came up with an idea yesterday.  I finished painting it and left it outside and guess what.  It started to rain yet again!  This project is just domed.  It has to dry so I can cut it up and sew it back together.

I hope to have the final results soon.


Monday, September 27, 2010

I'm Back!!!

Remember the pile of leaves?  This is the result.  I think I got carried away with the embellishing.
This quilt was done for the Orange Blossom Quilt guild challenge.  We were given five 5" squares and a word plus a design concept.  My word was "spotted".  There are some spotted frogs but I just wanted to incorporate frogs because my grandson loves frogs.  That was my starting point.  It is entitled "I spotted frogs in the forest".  18" x 30"

This piece was done for our art group.  We were to do this fabric faced windows.  I choose to do circles and then use plastic from a bag which I had gotten curtains in, and made them into bubbles with fish from the jewelery making section of Joanne's.  We were given the word "tranquil" and I quilted the meanings of the word in the background.  It was originally square but it didn't work for me so I trimmed it to a circle, trimming a lot of the quilted words out.  You really can't see them anyways.

We had a great vacation and I hope to have a few pictures once I settle back in.  I hope you missed me because I missed all of you.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

A Pile Of Leaves and Postcards


Here are the leaves that I am working on for the next challenge I have to  finish.  I am still in the planning stage but am happy with these three dimensional leaves.

I took a post card class from Judy Stevens at the Orange Blossom guild last Saturday and here are my postcards.  I really learned a lot and am excited to make some more.

Here are my pre-printed butterflies with a fabric frame background.

Here is my attempt at an ocean scene.  Notice the little crab charm.


This was just pre-printed fabric that I quilted.  Maybe it needs embellishments.  Any suggestions?
Here are the skulls I cut out of the material that Serena left from making purses when she was here in July.  I love the stick on spider.

We are going away for a few days to Las Vegas and Utah for our 30th anniversary, which was Monday.  I am really looking forward to the time away but not sure if I can be away from my sewing machine for that long.  Ten days is a long time.  I went to Michael's and stocked up yarn so at least I can knit and crochet in the car and in the hotel room at night.  Can't be idle!

Here are the gorgeous flowers my husband sent me for our anniversary.  They are starting to wilt but notice the beautiful vase.  Red, my favorite color.  That will always bring back memories!  Thank you, sweetheart, for the thoughtfulness and looking forward to our anniversary dinner at Bobby Flay's in Las Vegas!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

It's Done!

Here is my paint chip challenge.  It is done and I am so glad.  I really like it and am surprised because of the colors.  That was the challenge!  When I went shopping with my daughter last week, I kept seeing these colors in clothing.  I guess they are beautiful after all.

Spent the last five hours on this computer getting the paper work and picture CD ready for a "call to entry".  Sometimes I wonder if it is worth all the work, especially if you don't get in.  Well, I now have a artist resume and artist statement and have orgainized the pictures on my computer.  I really must take the time to take better pictures.

I have been working and finished by Loose Threads project but that is a surprise for another time.  I have to begin and finish by challenge for Orange Blossom.  I wish I had more to show you.

Remember to comment on the previous blog to enter to win a postcard.  Linda - who are you? (see comment on previous blog).

Saturday, August 21, 2010



The beading on the challenge quilt is done.  I have the binding, sleeve and label left and then I will show you all but I needed a break.  So I began working on the postcards for the guild.  We are not doing ATC's (artist trading cards) anymore but we are making postcards.  We are not trading these, just showing them which makes me sad.  I loved having a little bit of art from each person.

These are mine.  The theme for the month was black and white and I choose to take an existing project that was a disaster and never finished, and cut it up into 4 x 6 inch cards.  I put some hardware on top and now they are ready to go.  If you would like to have one of these cards, comment (making sure your email is in your profile) and you will be put in the drawing for one of 8 postcards.  I hope you find them interesting.

Next will be my assignment for Loose Threads.  Hope to get that started this week.  Keep on quilting and let your inner artist loose!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Will It Ever End?

Still beading this challenge quilt.  I have 7 more shells to go and I figure it takes about 1.5 hours per shell!!!  What ever was I thinking.  I have not had much time to get in the studio because of work with the charity quilt committee, watching Becky for three days and nights, shopping with Martina and two 2 year olds and a 4 year old (which consisted of going to the mall, with a big double stroller, two kids who didn't want to be in the stroller, thinking I lost my best earrings, finding it in my shirt, trying to feed little kids on expressive mall food, taking them to the bathroom, taking one again to the bathroom, one screaming bloody murder while his finger was being smashed in the stroller and just trying to get them back through the mall, across the parking lot and into the car all in 100 degree heat.)  Had a great time and found some fun jewelry and boots of fall. (Won't do that for awhile!)

Hope to get to something else next week.  I have enjoyed spending a little time looking at what everyone else has been up to.  There are some amazing talent out there.  Love to see some of your work, those of you who read this and have a blog, leave me a comment so I can look at what you are up to.

Back to beading, but I need to find a thimble first.  My finger is raw and full of holes!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Birthday cards and life's discoveries!

These are the latest birthday cards I made this weekend.  I have been helping with the guild's charity quilt program the past few days and haven't had time for my own projects.  This was my way to spend a little time in the studio.

When picking up the fabrics for the charity quilts, I was introduced to a fabulous mixed media artist and her work.  I was blown away by her talent!  I felt like a dry sponge just soaking up all the beautiful art and dying to get my hands on anything just to create.  I can see myself going in a different direction with my art quilts.  I have been concerned for too long about what the quilting world thinks about my quilts and not what I really want to do.  So the next few weeks I am going to spend sometime exploring this new avenue for my work.  I'll be sure to let you know what I discover.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Reflective

"Reflective"
27" x 18 1/2"

Reflective was the word of the month for our Loose Threads project and fabric weaving was the technique.  Here is my quilt with little Becky reflecting on life.  I used a glue transfer method because I wanted the effect of the picture being "reflective" also.  Never tried it before but will use it again on smaller pictures.  Couched some Razzle Dazzle thread and also used some crystals to add some more reflectiveness (is that a word?) to the piece.  I'm still trying to decided if I like it.

I haven't been blogging due to the amount of time I have been spending on my challenge quilt.  I spent hours Tuesday fighting my machine.  It hates sewing through thickness with metallic thread.  Yesterday it went in for it's first yearly cleaning (I can't believe it has been a year since I got this machine and I'm still fighting with it.)  and today it was quilting beautifully.  I was just doing the background and borders but it wasn't as stressful as Tuesday. Yes!!!
Talk about stressful.  Tonight is the guild board meeting.  Dreading it!  Someone is bound to get their feelings hurt.  I'd rather work with men.  My husband gave me a compliment the other day after he had a stressful meeting with some women.  He said not to be offended but that I think like a man.  I was flattered, but I think it is that I think logically.  There are both men and women who think logically but it is those who don't that drive you crazy!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

This is the beginning of my paint chip challenge for Kings River guild.  I learned a new technique from my friend Debbie for the applique.  This is just the beginning.  Off to the machine to stitch it all down.
My friend Carol won these blocks at our guild and decided they were not her.  Now what do I do with them.  I NEED IDEAS!!!!!
This months block for Common Threads which is tonight.  We were given the black and white fabric and were asked to add a red.  I didn't want to use too much pattern in the red.  Your eye needs somewhere to rest.  It will be interesting to see this quilt down.
These are two sections for two different birthday ribbon quilts for my Loose Thread group.  We meet Monday night and I have just started working on my piece but have to wait 24 hours for the beginning to dry.  I hope this works out or I am back at square one.

This is my day.  What have you been doing today?



Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Check out this Blog!

This may not be a quilting blog but there is some great stuff if you are into making your home a more comfortable place.  I love all the ideas.  These are things I can do!  Check it out!




Hope to be working in the studio tomorrow.  I'll keep you posted.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Birthday Card!

Happy 27th Birthday, Stephen! 
This is my son-in-laws belated birthday card.  He has requested ( a number of times) a binary quilt.  He is a computer information specialist so to start the process I made him this birthday card with "27" in binary computer language.  I hope he likes it.  Next will be a quilt in binary.  I'm still trying to figure out what I want it to "say".  I think I now have a design.  Keep tuned in!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Coasters 101

This all started with this pile of 50 coasters that I are made for my daughter's MOP's group.  We will be making 400, 4 for each of the 100 ladies expected this year.  I thought you might like a lesson on making coasters and you can give me a lesson in how to keep my mouth shut!
1st, select 5 - 5" squares, fold and press 4 in half
2nd, lay the flat 5" square RIGHT side up, then lay a folded square on top with the fold TOWARDS the center of the square.

3rd, going clockwise add another folded square on top with the fold always going toward the center.

4th, add the next folded square on top.
5th, weave last piece under first
6th, pin.
7th, sew 1/4 inch all the way around
8th, clip corners.
9th, turn right side out through center.
10th, poke out points
11th, press, you can top stitch all around the edge but I choose to skip that step, due to the amount I have to make and it really is not necessary.
Now enjoy.  These are a lot easier than posting this tutorial!!!!