HERE COMES 2018!!

As we welcome 2018, we also say goodbye to 2017.....before it passes into memory, I want to thank all of you for spending the year with me as I babble on. The focus of my blog is fiber.....you won't find political or other social statements here....there's more than enough whinning about that already.

So...here's wishing you a happy, healthy and creative 2018. 

CROSSROADS TO THE EAST - new work

Our quiet Christmas gave me plenty of time to finish this Japanese fabric inspired wall quilt.  Time is as good a Christmas gift as any fiber artist would like!

CROSSROADS TO THE EAST  49.5" x 49.5"

AVAILABLE HERE

Cotton fabric, machine pieced and quilted.

MERRY MERRY

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS

&

BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY & HEALTHY 2018

Homes For The Holidays

32" x 32"

TOP COMPLETED

Here's a quick follow up on the Asian theme quilt shown in my last post. The top is finished......naturally being as mathematically challenged as I am I made it difficult for myself by selecting a finished 3/4" width for the red sashings. So as the quilt sections grew, so did the difficulty of cutting accurate sizes sometimes dealing in 1/8" fractions.  If I ever do another, I'll plan that better, even though I really think the red sashing is the perfect size.

Next of course comes the basting and quilting, then binding, labeling and making the hanging sleeve......  Our Christmas is rather laid back this year so I should have ample time to put in a couple of hours each day.  

I'll attempt to post a better quality photo when it's finished!


Visit these links to see if other artists have had time to create anything this week except Christmas gifts?  Nina-Marie Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop whoop Friday, Crazy Mom Quilts.
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ASIAN INSPIRED

Thanks to a dear friend, I've amassed a fairly large stash of Asian inspired fabrics.  Interestingly, this design style is not one I'd ever purchase or desire to work with.  However, creating wall art using it has been a great personal and satisfying challenge! 

 Internet searches of Asian deco has guided me more than once to a direction that translates to fiber quite well.

For this piece I began by coordinating the often oversize images.  Adding red sashing further helps to isolate each patch.

Before I proceed with the sashing, additional design elements are auditioned for size and color as I attempt to achieve a similar look of the black wood wall art.

This should keep me busy for awhile....check back soon won't you to see the completed piece.

FIBER JUNKIES CHRISTMAS PARTY

Back to back Christmas celebrations made for a fun filled week.....Even though there are only 6 of us....we are just as loud as all 13 PTA members together!

My photo documentation of the day was pitiful....way too many distractions, however here's a few to share.

 We each bring 1 wrapped gift....gifts are selected by drawing numbers.  Judy opened this treasure made by Denny.......great, isn't it?!?

 The package Val brought was filled with stunning small books made from papers she printed.  Everyone was vying for this gift.

 Awesome!

 There are almost no words....so great!!

 This is the gift I received brought by Gen which will keep giving for a long time to come!

I couldn't resist this duo....Gen and Kate with their red sweaters and nearly identical Christmas tree pins!

 Gen was our gracious hostess......who couldn't get into the holiday spirit after seeing her inviting table?

 And the napkins!!! Only Gen would take the time to create these very special napkins!

We do a semi-coordinated pot luck.....Denny somehow started a tradition a number of years ago by bringing this Yule log desert treat.  Yes, it was as delicious as it looks.

We also use this 'meeting' to set goals for next year....and not surprising, there are numerous techniques already on the list to play with starting in January.  I will be reporting back on the activities of the Fiber Junkies as the year progresses.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

December 16th was National Wreaths Across America day.  Please consider taking a moment to visit their website to learn more about this valuable program. 

A neighbor attended the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery a year or two ago and came away deeply touched.  They joined others in our community to see that every veteran's grave was honored with a wreath.  Lonnie and Irene have worked hard to make this day at Green Cemetery such a success and other good pals Dennis and Lynn contributed so much as well.  We were proud to be a part of it.

Several piles of wreaths awaited us volunteers.

A very short introduction by the organizers was followed with a demonstration of how to place the wreaths.

They made a point to suggest we say the name of the veteran as we placed each one.  I'm only showing a few as an example of the large range of time periods of those resting here.

A view like this will surely provide pride and chills!

What an inspiring day.....we should all be so grateful to our military heros.

PTA CHRISTMAS PARTY

Our annual PTA (Professional Textile Artists) gathering was held at Barbara's beautifully decorated home.  2 of our 15 members were unable to attend, however I can assure you....the 13 of us made up for it in noise and general hilarity.

 BUT...what is this?  From left to right, Connie, Dort, Kate, Barbara, Marene.....
This very serious moment is not typical of this group!

 We have a white elephant exchange every year....numbers are drawn, gifts opened, and swapped back and forth as the the exchange proceeds....making it even more fun. 

 But first we had an abbreviated show and tell.  Marene is an accomplished garment maker and here she models her beautiful jacket.

 Georgia brought her quilt top depicting NY scenes to commemorate a trip she took with a family member.

 Kate has been taking a batik workshop and displayed a stunning piece.  

 Detail

 Barbara has been working on a real masterpiece....we had her hold it up in front of a window to show just how many tiny seams she's stitched to develop her design.

 Then of course the silliness began....I don't know why members of this group have the need to put Christmas wrapping items on their heads....but every year we are treated to new and goofier looks.

 Barbara brought us to a new belly busting laughing fit as she donned the lamp shade from her gift, a lamp made from an antique wooden spool.

The gift I got was filled with cat toys....Linda went to a lot of trouble pulling items together.....since I don't do cats....all those items were distributed to the cat owners in our group.  However, this gem was also in the box.  I can't wait to send it to CA for our grandsons....perhaps it might be the perfect way to potty train the 2 year old!

I'm hoping readers can open and see/hear this gem....Georgia Bonesteel, yes THE Georgia Bonesteel's white elephant was a ceramic rooster pitcher.  She was sure it must be musical or do something other than simply dispense a liquid.  My iphone was handy and I caught her testing here theory.....along with sound affects.  Yes...this group can turn any moment into priceless memories!

The food was plentiful and excellent, there just might have been some adult beverages....we are all fans of bubbly.  We all look forward to another year of sharing our love of fiber and treasured companionship.

PICK UP STICKS - new work

Sure it takes me longer than most to complete wall art featuring a patchwork design.  I'm okay with that as long as I am pleased with the finished piece!

And I am.  Winter has just begun and I'm already seeking bright, uplifting colors!

PICK UP STICKS -  32" X 32"

AVAILABLE HERE

Hand-dyed cotton, machine pieced and quilted. 

Includes a hanging sleeve.

Thank you for stopping!  Let's see how quickly other artists have worked this week visit:   Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop, whoop Friday, and Crazy Mom Quilts.

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HAND DYED FABRICS CALLING

Well...I'm still pondering over a piece of ice dyed silk noil that has been calling me.....but not loudly enough for me to know what the heck I'm going to do with it.

So as I was digging in my stash I came across a bunch of hand-dyed fabrics that I've been meaning to 'do something with'.  I can see you all nodding your heads....you know exactly what I mean, don't you?

As I've mentioned way too many times....patchwork is my least favorite part of the construction process of quiltmaking.  And the older I get, the more indecisive and inaccurate I've become.  So I've adapted a method that works for me......you fast patchwork quilters will cringe at the amount of time I waste....but believe me if I didn't plot this out (even as simple as this design is) I'd end up wasting far more time with constant ripping and resewing!

So as you can see....I sewed a few test blocks....just to confirm the direction I want this piece to go....then selected and cut the rest of the components, even going so far as to audition the placement of each block.

And...yup, I admit I don't chain piece.....instead I do one block at a time.....yes there is a lot of jumping back and forth from the cutting table, sewing machine, iron, etc...but heck it works for me.

I'll be like a jumping jack for awhile and hope to post the finished piece soon.  Okay who will admit they also work like this???

PANTONE - 2018 COLOR

              YUCK!!  This is the Pantone 2018 Color of the Year......

The purple color family is my least favorite....that spills over to anything pink as well. I made the wall piece shown below quite some time ago....and always select other pieces over this one to display for sale....  Meaning I definitely need to remove it from my inventory! Any takers??  Make an offer!!  Do you have a color you dislike so much you avoid working with?

                        WOODLAND FERNS  27" X 14"
Artist ice dyed & discharged dyed cottons, machine quilted, hand embroidered.

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW???

My last post reported about a 3"-6" snowfall, after a prediction of 1/2".  Well....it kept snowing....and oh my it's beautiful...a real winter wonderland.

 After refusing to join 'the husband' on our (now) twice daily 'forced march' yesterday, today I got all bundled up and with walking stick in hand, we headed out.  It was slow going in the deep snow....being careful not to take a fall.  You can just see one of the paths we walk on the right side of this picture.  A little sad to disturb the unspoiled snow and we trooped along.

This is the view from our back deck......oh ya....far more than 6" of snow fell.....but what a good reason to hunker down and finish quilting a new patchwork piece I've been playing with.  

Check back for photos soon.

FIRST SNOW*!*!

The little 'kiss' of winter predicted with a max of 1/2" snow....has now turned into a 3"-6" snow event.  Boo hiss....if I wanted snow, I'd have stayed in Wisconsin!

With that said...it sure is pretty....

View from the front porch overlooking our vintage log cabin shed.

FALLEN LEAVES - new work

There's a certain sense of satisfaction one achieves when a lowly, single linen vintage napkin is transformed into a piece of wall art.  It was a pleasant journey!

FALLEN LEAVES - 15.5" x 15.5"

AVAILABLE HERE

Artist ice-dyed vintage linen napkin, leaf printing on silk, 

machine stitched, hand embroidered.  Fitted with hanging device.

Thank you for visiting this blog....check out what other artists have been working on this week:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday, Crazy Mom Quilts.

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EENY MEENY MINY MOE

Besides the fun and learning experience of creating one's own fabric, for me there's that challenge to develop wall art from the diverse materials. 

 That may take some 'marinating'.....as several combinations stare back at me from the design wall. Eventually one speaks louder than the other and the designing begins.

 The images on this 6" x 8" piece of silk derive from processing a couple of leaves, secured between thin sheets of wood, simmered in vinegar water for 2 hours.

 The base of the wall art is a vintage linen napkin. A gift from my good friend Kate which I transformed by ice-dyeing.  Because the material was naturally fairly flimsy, it was machine stitched to a light weight non-fusible stabilizer.

The eco-printed silk was secured to the linen and some hand embroidery has begun to help highlight a couple of the leaf prints.

Please check back and see where this goes......

PRINTED BY NATURE

After shuffling around a limited number of eco-printed fabric pieces, this piece finally came together.  Each botanical printed silk noil and cotton section is surrounded by strips of rust dyed silk noil.

To prevent distracting from the subtle prints, the metallic machine quilting was kept very simple.

PRINTED BY NATURE  31" X 27"

AVAILABLE HERE

Eco-printed leaves/ferns/pine needles processed in iron water on silk noil and cotton.  Machine quilted.

Thank you for stopping by.....check out what other artists have been working on this week:

Linking to:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday, and Crazy Mom Quilts.