BRAGGING ON MY TALENTED FREIND

 Long time friendships are precious.  While working for TWA in Chicago my roommate (Sandy) and I met and married roommates (Steve & David).  Interestingly, we all were born and raised in Wisconsin.

Now 61 years later we continue our friendship.  Sadly, we lost Steve a few years ago, but never forgotten.  What's more surprising, none of us ever expected to leave the midwest, but we find ourselves in Roseville & Clovis. Life sure has surprises.

Sandy has developed talent as a watercolor artist and sent me this rendition of our Clyde, NC home.  Yes, long time friendships are precious!

PLAY TIME

 With the Easter holiday weekend now upon us and looking forward to family coming.....I still managed to get in a little play time yesterday.

I lent my book "Embellishing With Felted Wool" to a friend which got me digging into a couple of bins filled with felted wool.  Naturally, I was inspired all over again and this time in a new direction.

One piece had a discolored line.....no problem....out came my gelli plate and pretty soon I was printing various designs onto small pieces of felted wool.

Why?  Who know how my mind works??  But I am having fun creating small baskets/bowls with the reimagined felt pieces.

SUNNY SIDE UP!!

 It's rewarding to put the finishing touches on some of the small projects I've created for our community upcoming Artisan Faire.

SUNNY SIDE UP!!  - 12” x 12”

Commercial cottons, raw edge appliqué,

 mounted on canvas covered frame.

Finished backing, prepared for hanging or consider displaying this piece on a small table top easel.

STRUTTING

It's rewarding to finish a couple small projects that have been patiently waiting their turn!

 

STRUTTING - 12” x 12”

$45

Vintage indigo dyed & commercial cottons, 

raw edge appliqué, machine quilted, mounted on 

canvas covered frame. Prepared for hanging or display 

on a small tabletop easel.

HELLO SPRING!!

NO, I don't work this fast......often there's only time to squeeze in  an hour or two in the studio at a time.  So....sometimes projects evolve slowly, such as this one.

                                                                   HELLO SPRING!! - 12” x 16.5”

Indigo dyed cotton, batiks, mono printed fabric,

Raw edge appliqué, machine quilted.

PLAYING!!!

After completing two large landscape pieces back to back, a whimsy smaller art quilt idea has caught my attention.....

Come back soon to see the finished results.

NATURE'S HARMONY

 With some serious 'seat time" in the studio.....it's now finished and ready to find a forever home.    SOLD

NATURE'S HARMONY - 23" x 33"

SOLD

Authentic Japanese cotton, hand dyed & mono printed fabric, oil pastels, dense thread blending, fused appliqué, machine quilted, faced edges, hanging sleeve attached.

SLOW BUT STEADY

Work continues........I've now cut and auditioned the bamboo leaves pinned in place using my design wall. (what did we do before we had design walls....so very helpful!!)

Next begins the machine appliqué.....I use an open toe walking foot but not FMQ.  Yes, it take more time as the quilt needs to be turned every couple of stitches but I have much more control that way.  Being a perfectionist does not mean projects go quickly!

Stay tuned for what comes next, won't you???

SLACKING OFF ON MY POSTS

 It's been awhile.......been dealing with a severe allergic reaction to a spider bite but after losing 9 days of creativity.....I'm now back in my happy place, just stitching away.

My newest landscape piece has taken a new direction after lots of time to reflect on where it was going.  So here's how it's progressed.  Stay tuned, won't you??

 

RIDICULOUS INDECISION

 My once very large stash of Asian fabrics has shrunk!  Well, meaning the type of designs I favor working with are nearly gone.  Because I do love a challenge, I've been pondering what to create with the midsize prints that don't easily coordinate with each other.

Okay I have an idea....and idea however is not necessarily a plan!  Yet again, I cut, piece, enlarge working size and almost immediately take apart to reduce it.  Gosh, lately so much indecision has me in a tizzy.

No sense providing comments for these photos illustrating the growth, shrinkage, and then enlargement of the piece.....enough to say the width and length are hopefully now established.  Hours of thread stitching is complete and I'm ready for the next step.

Not sure when that will happened because I have another mysterious rash and swelling on my ankle and 1 foot.  The foot is so swollen it looks similar to a huge glove balloon.  It's so painful I've had to retreat to my recliner with ice packs.  Naturally this gal is not a happy camper!!  Am I allergic to California??  Do check back though!