EVER-green # 2

It was worth all the experimenting......ta da.....EVER-green # 2 is finished. This piece will be my 2011 donation to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative Sale held at Quilt Festival in Houston in the fall. (Unless someone snaps it up first, email me if you are interested....I still have time to make another design for Houston.)

EVER-green # 2

9" x 12"

Hand-dyed/felted wool, bead embellished, hand embroidered
SOLD

EDGING DECISION

'The husband's' recovery is slow but steady......'the perfect child' was able to get here for 2 days which was such good medicine!

That allowed me a bit of time with needle in hand......so I began to tackle the edging finishing on EVER-green #2. The very thick felted wool I used as the top layer was backed with a much thinner 80/20 National Nonwoven's Woolfelt piece.

The seam between the two layers was unsightly so I set about trying to develop a beaded edge pattern that would enhance the top edge AND mask the side seam area.

The plan was to bead units of bugle and seed beads to fall over the seam and have loops of beads travel from front to back which would help hold this all in place and provide a handsome frame for the evergreen sprig.

YUCK!!!

So I started over....trying numerous other ideas....none worked. My current thinking is to stitch bugle/seed units around the entire quilt....over the seam joint area......then bead another design along the top edge...independent of what's on the side.

I enjoy this process and wasn't a bit discouraged that my first idea didn't work......when that happens it usually leads me to new discoveries!

ALZHEIMER'S ART QUILT INITIATIVE

More than $519,000 has been raised for Alzheimer's research since January 2006.....learn about the newest traveling exhibit here and here.

SOMEONE HAS BEEN CREATIVE

While I continue to play nurse maid with the addition of gardener, errand runner, garbage hauler and all the other tasks 'the husband' normally handles......naturally, there's been no time for creativity. He is slowly, slowly, slowly getting better......pain is the major issue.....but I see coming soon to this household......BOREDOM....when he feels better but still can't do!!

I thought I'd keep you company for a few moments today and share some photos my brother sent me..... His darling granddaughter Taylor, announced one day, that she wanted a play house......and described it in such startling detail...you know she'd been thinking about it for a long time.

Of course.....what would any grandpa do....build her one.......I just love it......what a very special treat for a very special little girl.....

MAY DAY....A NEW BEGINNING

What a difference a week makes......thank you all so much for the well wishes regarding 'the husband's' motorcycle accident. This was a life threatening event due to a collapsed lung resulting in an emergency procedure of inserting a chest tube when he arrived at the Trauma ER in respitorary arrest......which scared me silly.

He's got numerous fractures, but recovery will be full, if long and painful. I'm not a fan of blogs that dictate how others should lead their lives.....but I must say my two cents about this subject. If you have a loved one that rides.....nag, brow bead, bitch, complain, demand.....get the picture?? That they wear every piece of protective gear possible. Yup, there's a hefty price tag that goes with it, but it saved 'the husband's' life....no doubt about it. Full face helmet that is SIZED correctly, jacket/pants fitted with armour, gloves, boots......

There were 3 other motorcycle accidents in the Trauma ER when we were there.....all admitted to the Trauma Care unit of the hospital.....one guy's face looked like a bear had clawed him.......wonder what kind of surgeries he will be facing?? (he only wore a 1/2 helmet & I don't know his mental status)....

Okay.....enuff......I'll be playing Nurse Mary for awhile.......as his activities are very limited......my body aches today cause I spent 2 1/2 hrs. weeding our MANY garden beds. Normally, that's not on my duty roster. I should be spending time in my studio.....but of course I will rally and do what needs to be done!

Yet, it's a glorious day here in the mountains.......the Dogwood are blooming, and the Rhododendron are just coming out......a time of new growth. And.....someone I know will be growing new bones!!! Enjoy our scenery.....

UPDATE

My blogging will probably be limited for awhile.......as many of you might also.....I have a husband who LOVES to ride motorcycles. I've always been against it......and won't ride with him. He's a smart rider, experienced, super cautious and wears every protective piece of gear possible....which probably saved his life.

'The husband' had a serious motorcycle accident on Sat. and was taken by helicopter ambulance to Asheville's major hospital's trauma center where he remains today. The good news is he should be okay in time.

I'm posting these pictures so if YOU know anyone riding without a full face helmet......well......the pictures speak for themselves. Even with all his gear and going only about 25 mph......his injuries are serious......but w/o the gear......the conversation would be much, much different.

As I was driving home in the rain from the hospital last night....where I have pretty much camped out........ I noticed this rainbow.......I hope that's a good omen that he'll continue forward progress on his improvement, even though we know it will be a long recovery.

I'll keep you posted as I can.

FIBER JUNKIES APRIL MEETING CONTINUED

Our group experimented by cutting lots of different materials with the Sizzix machines.....

Leather worked great!

Here's some thin foam that Judy will use for stamping.

Show and Tell, as usual was inspiring. Patsy has been cranking out work for Market where she will be unveiling her own die cast designs that will be suitable for various cutting machines. Of course her talent designing feathers will be the focus.

This quilt is a beauty.......note the various placement possibilities of this large feather....imagine cutting it out by hand.......

and more.....

....and more.......the designs will be available on Patsy's website soon....check it out.

I just had to snap some photos of part of Patsy's massive collection of threads....what else would one expect of such a master of machine quilting!!

I've certainly learned from Patsy that there's the right thread for every project....matching threads to your fabrics and specific task is so important.....

APRIL FIBER JUNKIE MEETING

Yesterday we gathered for our April Fiber Junkie play date......we are a group of 6 who meet to share and experiment various fiber related techniques and of course enjoy friendship. Our agenda yesterday was die cutting, using machines such as those made by Sizzix.

Patsy Thompson hosted this meeting and provided many of the die cutting machines we used.

Sharp metal shapes are mounted on blocks of wood and covered with foam.

Pasty gave us a great suggestion......she traces the design with a permanent pen for faster identification once they are out of their packaging.

Fabric (backed with a paperbacked fusible if desired) can be stacked and cut in layers for instant gratification.

Fabric is stacked onto the cutting block and placed between two plastic 'carriers' which easily run through the machine by hand cranking. Pressure rollers allow the cutting to take place.

Look at the detail that can be achieved!!

Plastic embossing sheets can also be used to add texture to various items. Here you are seeing a LARGE die cutting machine and a embossing 'folder'. Items such as this small piece of brown grocery bag can be textured when run through the machine.

.....and thin metal.....we were all leaping for joy as various products were tried.

more to come......

My visit to the Orange/Durham Quilters Guild was a whirlwind.......yesterday, 25 enthusiastic students spent the day with me learning a multitude of beading techniques. I was so impressed with their skill level......no grumblers in this group....and I really worked them hard! My lecture "Viewed With A Smile" was in the evening.......and today I made my way back home.

After a few days away, I am anxious to get back to my projects.....

This is another piece I'm making to donate to AAQI. I'm working on some of my heavily felted hand dyed wool and making sure it will be the required 9" x 12" size. The basting lines denotes the shape. The main design lines were transferred by machine stitching the drawing I did on light-weight non-fusible stabilizer which had been basted to the wrong side. I use the stitching lines as a guide for my beading..........

......which is now complete. The background could use a little more texture so that's my next step....not sure exactly what I'll do......but after a little experimenting I'll settle on something and update you as it proceeds.

GIRLS DAY OUT

PTA fiber group (Piecers Talkers and Appliquers) had our monthly meeting on Thursday, and as is typical, it revolved around food, chatting, and fiber.

We met in Waynesville, NC. An old town with a lovely historic district.....featuring quaint industrial type settings for restaurants.....

With yummy food.....

.....being an 'embellisher'......the raffia wrapped napkin (even if it was paper) got my attention.

This area is home to mountain music....these metal sculptures greet shoppers along Main Street.

Of course, one of our members who will remain nameless (Connie Brown) couldn't resist posing for us.

There are many shops and galleries to browse.......Primitive antiques are my favorite.......

And who could pass up these quilts w/o wanting to take one home??

I'm off tomorrow to visit with the members of Orange/Durham Quilt Guild in Chapel Hill, NC where I'll be presenting a workshop (though I think it's full) and an evening lecture, where guests are welcome..... Be sure to say hello if you are attending....