ANOTHER USE FOR GELLI PRINTED FABRIC

 A fair amount of small gelli printed fabric has accumulated and have had a couple of fun days playing with them.

Normally pieces are cut apart and used for landscape scenes.  What I love about working with these unique designs is their resistance to edge fraying.

Fusing two layers together provided the base for some small jewelry carriers for travel or as a means to separate rings/necklaces in your jewelry drawer. Perhaps you can come up with other ideas for these little cuties. They measure 2.5" x 2.5".

My initial thought was to add decorative stitching, however no matter what fusible I used (and I tried every brand I had) all caused gummy build up on my needle (no matter which type of needle used). Remember the fabric is painted with acrylic which is basically plastic, so that impacts the stitching too.   Satin stitching the edges was impossible.  Instead a straight stitched was sewn to provide additional strength with long time use.

GO PACK GO!!!!!!!!!!!

 I'm as excited as they are.....our son and grandson are at Lambeau!!!!! First stop upon arrival Saturday night - cheese curds. They have great seats for today's game we'll be watching the TV crowd shots without blinking as much as we will be watching the game. GO PACK GO!!!

AS PROMISED

As promised, here's a look at the nearly finished Japanese panel that I tweaked by adding tuck flanges. 

As you can see, the binding is just machine stitched in place.... hand sewing to the back side will come later.  I'm saving some of my hand work projects to work on when I'll have a down day on a short trip near the end of November.......

I trust you will get a good overview of how the piece will look finished.  Untitled so far it measures 26" x 24".

 

I CAN'T SEEM TO STOP

 Well, here I go again....ideas keep rattling around in my brain and before I know it...they've burst out.

                                   FRIENSHIPS GLOW - 12.5" X 12.5"

Commercial and gelli printed cottons, raw edge fused appliqué, hand embroidered, and machine quilted.

COUNTDOWN

The countdown is on.....Heritage Placer Vineyards Fall Artisan Faire is two weeks from today.

I'll be under the overhang outside the West side of the Forum. My award winning original designed, one-of-a-kind, ready to hang, no two alike ever Wall Art Quilts will be on display for purchase. 

View both holiday and nature inspired work and browse a selection of smaller fiber art items as well.  You can preview available pieces here:  https://marystorishop.blogspot.com/.    See one you like?  Contact me to arrange a pre-Artisan Faire sale.

WORKING WITH PANELS

 I almost never work with preprinted panels but I happen to have one in my stash among the beautiful fabric I inherited from a friend and you know the saying, "it called to me'.

I'm going to revisit a technique developed by Caryl Fallert back in the day.....this will be a VERY scaled back tuck design.  Stay tuned....

KINDNESS

 How the thoughtfulness and kindness of a new friend made my day!!  (I was surprised to learn she had been student of mine on one of my quilting cruises a number of years ago).  Small world!!

Thank you Teddy for thinking of me and my polka dot passion during your recent trip to Houston's Quilt Festival. 🥰

 

WRAPPING XMAS GIFTS IN OCTOBER!

 There are Christmas ads and merchandise on display already and it's not even Halloween!  Oh PLEASE.....let's just enjoy the upcoming events first.

However, throughout the year I've gathered numerous Xmas gifts which are now rattling around in my sewing room.  So, with a pause in my art quilt projects, I pulled out some Christmas fabrics and set about making fabric gift bags.  I've been gift giving enclosed in fabric bags for years and find it a fun and practical way to present a gift.

Paper tags I've made are another personal touch. Fabric bags are especially helpful for those who mail gifts.  They are lighter and generally easy to pack.  Okay now back to creating wall art!!

MARY'S GOLDEN RULE - USE ONLY FABRIC FROM MY STASH!

 When one's chosen print style fabric has run out, but you need to enlarge an in-process piece.........what do you do? I audition options after shopping in my stash.

I haven't purchased fabric in years...yes, really. This had led me to developing my designs far more creatively. However, if work begins looking like I shopped in a dumpster and threw it against my design wall.....I will break my golden rule and fess up! LOL

ONCE A PACKER FAN, ALWAYS A PACKER FAN

 Our niece is at Lambeau today for the Packer's home game.....wearing her Gilbert Brown jersey......what are the chances?  She's doing what most attendees are doing.... wandering the bars which are on every corner and in-between in Green Bay!  AND who is there????....YUP -  'THE GRAVEDIGGER'

Proud of her for approaching him and rewarded with a nice chat and autograph on her precious vintage jersey (which by the way, we gave to her many moons ago).

She's the darling Packer fan seen on the left taken at a game in 2008.

Sooty is sporting her jersey too.....GO PACK GO!!!!