SEWING NOT SHOPPING

I've never been a Black Friday Shopper....in fact, except for antique primitive furniture searches, I don't care to shop.  

However, 'Small Business Saturday' shopping is encouraged. Please consider visiting my online gallery shop using the links on this page.  *** NOTE UPDATED BOWL PHOTO OF CURRENT INVENTORY -  These fabric bowls are not shown in the gallery, but you can order one by contacting me. ($30 plus shipping)  Use them to contain fresh fruit, like apples, oranges. Or as a catch all for your car keys, coins, sun glasses...instead of throwing them on your hard surface counter tops. Christmas ornaments, pine cones or evergreen branches would look lovely displayed in a bowl as well. 

UPDATED

So, what am I doing today......working on my "Roseville" art quilt.

After trial and error, my process to create flowers has evolved.  After tracing the shape onto tissue paper, I sew tight straight stitches, following the lines and then tear the paper away.  This photo shows the next step on the two remaining layers (fabric and a stabilizer).  Using a narrow, close zig zap stitch, I sew over all the design lines.

The really time consuming part is pulling threads to wrong side and tying each and every one to secure the threads. Next the fabric will be trimmed very close to the stitching.

The entire design is auditioned on the already stabilized and stitched ice-dyed silk noil background fabric.  Each flower will be attached to the background by stitching a wider zig-zag stitch through all the layers.  The black stitching helps to define the shape and allows the flowers to 'pop'.

GOBBLE, GOBBLE

 Happy Thanksgiving from CA, where we are still astonished to find ourselves living.  We are saying our thanks for being able to live closer to our son/family....being close to the 'grands' is wonderful.

Our Turkey Day was yesterday.....today there will be lots of leftovers and lots of football....do I need to say it???

GO PACK GO!!!  💚🏈💛

FITTING IN SEWING TIME DURING THE HOLIDAYS

 For most of us, Thanksgiving week is all about family, friends, meal preparation, and the warm up to Christmas activities. Meaning, less studio time.

My goal this past weekend (besides watching our Packers trounce the 49ers) was to get a new art quilt started. The decision to feature roses had been made, next task was gathering the fabrics. For the background, a hunk of ice-dyed silk noil called me. Next, I did a deep dive into my hand-dyed greens & reds/pinks.

Quick work was made of fusing a stabilizer to the background fabric and stitching a grid. I'm using rose motifs from my book "The Whole Cloth Garment Stori" published by AQS which will jump start the design process.  

Now when I have an hour or two to spare during this busy time, additional motifs can be cut and arranged.....stay tuned to see the piece grow.

GRANDPARENTS DAY AT SCHOOL

 I try to keep my posts focused on art, but sometimes family happenings sneak in. THE reason for our move from NC to CA was to be closer to family. This week I had the opportunity to attend Grandparents Day at our grandsons' school. We have a 3rd grader and 7th grader at The San Francisco School. It was Wonderfull being there along with their other grandparents (The Hayashi's) who I adore.

Doug Goodkin, Music Professor Emeritus was also in attendance during the student entertainment portion of the morning visit. He's known for the Documentary "The Secret Song" which can be streamed free on pbs.com. He now travels the world helping education institutions establish music programs.

Okay some might be saying....YOU went to SF?? Yes, but I didn't drive myself.....truly I may never be ready for that!!! Uber was my answer and worth every dollar (THANKS to the patrons of my work) I was able to avoid high speed, tail gating, lane changing drivers, & confusing exits, intersection interstates, not to mention the high priced bridge tolls!!

WORK CONTINUES....

 The making of a T-shirt quilt at Heritage Placer Vineyards for a couple who recently lost their adult daughter continued this past week.

The pictures don't really indicate the overwhelming enthusiasm of the quilters who have banded together for this project, be assured it was there! As we approach Thanksgiving, it's a reminder to be thankful for the good things in life

WHAT COMES NEXT?

It's easy to have blinders on, literally not paying attention to ones' surroundings. During our 'morning forced march' today I was surprised to notice numerous rose bushes in bloom....in November!

Hummmm.....Years ago I designed a line of quilt stencils for Quilting Creations. Among the many designs there were 6 featuring roses. They are also available as printed templates in my book "The Wholecloth Garment Stori", published by AQS.

Does anyone want to guess what the subject of my next art quilt will be?? Stay tuned..... 

FIGHTING WITH A QUILT

 After all these years of creating one-of-a-kind art quilts....one would assume ups and downs are the norm.  My last Japanese inspired piece went so smoothly...it almost made itself.

This current one fought me every step of the way.  Too many 'do-overs'!!  Yet, that's what keeps me engaged, always striving to make the best piece I can......not only in regard to the design, but the construction as well.

INSPIRATION FABRIC

THIS IS PROBABLY THE 10TH DESIGN I TRIED......

NIXED THE GINKGO LEAVES AND STARTED BACKGROUND STITCHING

TIMELESS JAPAN - 18" X 17.5"

$225 - free shipping - us only

Japanese cottons, fused raw edge appliqué with metallic thread, quilted with bronze metallic thread, bounded edges and hanging sleeved attached.

DETAIL

YES, FALL COMES TO CA

After waiting to see how fall presents itself here in Roseville, CA......this was the scene that greeted us on the "early morning forced march" today.  

The weather is taking some getting used to......3+ months of daily 100+ temperatures this summer.....and then it jumped right into chilly weather.  This was also unexpected.....it was 48 degrees when we walked this morning.  I no longer have to worry about snow/ice...hurrah.

JACK OF DIAMONDS

 For years I enjoyed the process of developing 'cruise/tour projects' for students who traveled with me on these great adventures.  Besides coming up with a theme based design reflecting our destinations, the challenge was to develop new techniques to share and sensible supply lists (or kits available for students.)  The process was time consuming but big fun and satisfying which propelled my growth as a textile art designer.

Happily more commission requests have come my way this year than previously.  Smaller size pieces can be more difficult given there is less room to put forth the theme the client wishes.

'Jack of Diamonds' is a 13" x 13" framed piece.  Commissioned by the wife of an author who often refers to the Jack of Diamonds in his writings.  It will be a surprise for Christmas. After seeing the finished work, she exclaimed "she'd never been so excited to give a gift", leaving me incredibly flattered.

JACK OF DIAMONDS -  13" X 13" by Mary Stori

Cotton fabrics, digital transfer of the recipients face, appliquéd fused motifs, quilted background.  Wrapped on canvas frame and secured in wood frame without glass. 

IN FLIGHT - NEW WORK

 Just completed.....in time for gift giving.......

IN FLIGHT©  -  13” x 13”

SOLD

Authentic Japanese cottons, fused motifs with metallic thread appliquéd edges, machine quilted with variegated metallic threads. Wrapped on canvas frame & secured in a black wood frame without glass.

GETTING FAMILIAR

 We just passed the 7th month mark of exchanging our familiar rural NC surroundings to urban sprawl in CA.  Steps toward becoming comfortable here have been slow, yet have now moved toward a more positive attitude.

For me part of that process is finding like-minded quilters.  My suggestion to our Craft Committee to offer a time slot for sewers to gather yielded 17 happy faces.

The numbers have dwindled a bit which is understandable since there are quite few in the 55+ community that still hold full-time jobs.  However, we have undertaken a group project which has brought clarity and a mission for what this group could strive for.

We are creating a t-shirt quilt for a couple who recently lost their adult daughter who had lived on a respirator all her life.  Our shared skills are making progress as we move forward with the king size quilt.  I'm delighted to be a part of it and the opportunity to meet our fellow neighbors.

TA DA.....

The commission I've been working on is complete.....such a satisfying feeling.  And it gets better....I just got another request for a special project featuring the Jack of Diamonds.....my head is spinning with ideas.

This quilt will be winging it's way to the new owner and I can thank my lucky stars for being able to continue to create!

QUILT OF MANY COLORS II. -  49" X 50" 

 

HOLIDAY GOODIES

 As the holiday gift giving season is almost upon us......here are some ideas for someone you love or, heck for yourself too!

My inventory includes 4 larger focal art quilts.  In the 45" x 40" range, sizes differ, priced no higher than $400 plus shipping.  More details regarding Art Quilts upon inquiry.

**  11 BOWLS LEFT AS OF 11/9/24.  There are also quite a number of fabric bowls, here's just a sample.  So many of us have hard surface counter tops....it's nice to have a catch all for coins, keys etc.  Or use to display Christmas ornaments, or fruit.

Composition books covered with speciality fabrics, some are hand-dyed some were purchased in other countries.  8"x10" - $30  - 3.5" x 4.5" - $15.00

Shipping extra on all but can combine multiple pieces to reduce that cost.

SOLD

Large book

Large book

Ice dyed silk noil - large book

ART QUILTS FOUND NEW HOMES

 It's so satisfying when my work finds forever homes!  Selling opportunities here in galleries has not yet materialized.  In part, because sales in this area are not tourist driven like I experienced in Asheville. 

Happily my online gallery shop has brought in more traffic.  Thank you all for supporting me!!

So I'm saying farewell to these 3 pieces......hurrah!!

STRENGTH

I try to keep in touch with my NC buddies as much as possible as they continue to recover from hurricane Helene. Many still have no drinking water......and now may not till mid. Dec. if all goes well. Can you imagine the inconvenience?? They are not complaining as they are well aware of how much worse many in that area are still suffering. Fortitude!!

[The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will build mobile filtration systems all along the dam, City Water Resources spokesperson Clay Chandler confirmed to BPR.

The mobile filters are designed to reduce the sediment in the water enough to allow it to be pushed out for distribution.

The mid-December timeline set by the USACE is a "best-case scenario.]