New Japanese art quilt, so happy to be back to sewing.....still having to work on short stints but that just enhances the creative enjoyment!
“CROSSROADS TO JAPAN” - 45” x 36” - pieced & quilted Japanese & hand-dyed cottons. Hanging sleeve attached. Sized to fit over a sofa, dining buffet, entrance hall or stairwell. Free shipping for a limited time. DM if interested with questions or requests for more photos.
Great sports watching day...... F1 race from Singapore this morning, followed after lunch by the Packers vs Falcons......
GO PACK GO
FINGERS CROSSED JONES WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW OFF HIS INCREDIBLE SKILLS!!
There's nothing like some quilt sales to elevate an artist's mood! And trust me, there have been many days these last couple of months that was what the doctor ordered!! (If doctors could order such happiness that is!!)
Ever since my PT therapist gave the okay to use my rotary cutter (but to pace myself!) I've been plugging away on a Japanese art quilt. I've had a lot of sales success with this style, so creating another during the recovery phase of rotary cuff surgery is making me very happy!
Not sure whether I'll be able to machine quilt it yet.....as I certainly don't want to undo the rehab progress I've made.....stay tuned....
8+ weeks and happily my bulky 24-7 sling is in the past. Foolishly (though I'd been told otherwise many times) I had it in my head I'd be able to pretty much resume activities. NOT
......PT 2x a week and 3x daily are keeping my occupied instead. For sanity sake, I pulled out some blocks/selected fabric that I had earmarked for a post surgery project.
Darn it, rotary cutting is too hard on the shoulder for now....back to scissors.....oh we've been spoiled by our rotary cutters. Here's a look at my very slow progress on a small Japanese art quilt. PT is schedule through Oct. so my goals are more realistic now. Slow but smiling.....
Entering 7th post surgery week and obviously very frustrated by this long rehab process. PT is as painful as everyone warned....but necessary...
Here's my current least favorite exercise - ouch, ouch, ouch....
It's going to be awhile before I can sew again. Grrr! I'm trying to remind myself that everyone has assured me in the end, they were happy they had the surgery.....I AM NOT THERE YET!!
A nod to my home town, Sheboygan, WI. I will admit I've probably eaten a minimum of one brat a week nearly my entire life. My favorite Miesfeld's brat is Jalapeño Cheese!
Take a look: https://www.wisn.com/article/sheboygan-meat-market-25-types-of-bratwurst-miesfeld/44410628
Lately our weather has been feeling like those muggy, hot Wisconsin summers I'm so familiar with. Never-the-less I proceeded with my morning 'forced march' in the semi-fog today. The midst made me pay attention to my immediate surroundings as I hustled down the roads.
Sooty wasn't impressed with this small painted turtle that seemed out of place on a hill above one of the creeks that run through our community. Spiders were busy overnight and their work shone like jewels as the sun began to peak through the midst. I need to do a better job of being aware & appreciating the smaller things in life!
UNITED WE STAND- 44" X 29"
Designed and made by Mary Stori
With gratitude to all those who've made America a great country!Oh how I love creating art quilts!! I realize we are still in the midst of summer, but we also know how fast this season disappears......this is piece is ready now for your consideration...
AUTUMN - 13" x 13"
Usually I'm driven to complete a project, but I'm actually trying to slow down and simply enjoy playing with fabric while I can! Savoring the experience.......
There will be more, but for now...here's the start of adding some leaves growing along a wooden structure.
Feeling in limbo, not wanting to start a big project knowing it will be on hold during my upcoming shoulder recovery period....having something started and sitting there and not being able to work on it would drive me over the edge!
So....I decided to organize my fabric closet. I abandoned that task rather quickly when I came across a bag of fabric I designed years ago for Kona Bay. It consisted of brick, shingles, & wood prints. Next thing I know, I was working on a small piece that will be framed....feels so good to be creating!!
Finishing this piece before my upcoming shoulder surgery was unexpected. However, after days of making book covers, I was ready to dig into this project.
The size was purposeful.....making it just right to hang over a sofa, above a dining room buffet, an entrance or stairwell wall.
All too often the length of my larger wall art pieces are simply too long to work in these spaces. Interested for your home?? Contact me.
LINES & SQUARES - 50” x 42.5”
Commercial cotton prints, machine pieced and quilted.
After a few days rest for the now again very aching shoulder, I'll add more straight line quilting between the original stitching.
Or should I say....making cloth book covers before my shoulder surgery halts sewing for awhile! It seemed wise to bulk up my inventory while I had the chance.
Most of the French Provence fabrics (smaller books) were purchased by my cruise buddy/once student now good friend Jan VanderHill. She gifted these treasures
to me recently and I've had fun working with them. Also a nod to Doreen Speckmann, who created a line of similar prints for Cloth works many years ago.
Here's the outstanding show and tell:
High drama home and health issues haven't left much time for sewing....but I am focusing what little time I have to increase my inventory of covered books for my gallery. I'm going to MIA about for about 6 weeks starting mid. July....Rotary cuff surgery (unless I chicken out!!). Trying to prepare for the time I can't even brush my teeth, wipe my butt, cook, clean, sew, use my hand in any way......oh my......can I do this?!?
So delighted with the results of this commission with softer colors for a sweet little girl. The buyers are thrilled too......which is always so flattering and brings me much happiness.
It's always a surprise to me realizing how much time it takes to appliqué each layer of these motifs.....
Working on a growth chart commission for a little girl. The Mother provided theme suggestions and preferred color way......
Been knee deep on designs and fabric.....settled on Hollyhock stalk... flowers will be placed on alternate sides, each with letter of the little girls name. Tape measure on left will be added after all the appliqué is completed..... Stay tuned for more views....
I decided to create this piece sized to hang over a sofa, piece of furniture in a front entrance or dining room. It's on pause for a short time while I work on a commission I just accepted. If anyone has interest in this piece, I can discuss the completion and price with you now.
With full large plastic bin of black and whites staring at me......I dug in. Not sure where this is going yet......or heck, even if it's worth going anywhere..... Stay tuned won't you??
The last of my canvas is now gone......and I'll be moving onto new projects. Sometimes a break from creating just art quilts helps to renew and grow ideas.....
The cost of fabric, even humble canvas has gotten the attention of all sewers. It's understandable the public doesn't realize just how much goes into creating fiber art; money, time, skill etc. Heck, I don't know the cost of car parts as I gasp when the mechanic presents me with the bill.
So, a few more fabric bowls will be coming out of my studio in the next days/weeks. They aren't fast to make but the results are satisfying. Update - blue bowl - SOLD
Not much time to sew lately.......they say things come in threes. I can probably double that....back hatch on car won't stay open, hearing aid needed fixing, 4 window in our house have clouded.....2 are at least 20' high including one LARGE fixed one. NO one will accept the warranties. Played telephone 'pass the buck' now for over a week. Okay, I vented so won't go into the rest of my list!!
But....what I have accomplished was pretty satisfying. After making several of these 11" fabric bowls awhile back, I decided they weren't worth the time/effort to make for sale. However, I since I still had canvas remaining, here are two more.....
