CAR CLUB OUTING

Western North Carolina is known for its scenic drives.  The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most widely known and popular roadway.  Many locals (like us) prefer to avoid it in the summer months due to the heavy tourist traffic.  But that doesn't mean we don't enjoy other roads.

We are members of an active car club that goes to a lot of work scouting and setting up fun drives, mostly on the back roads surrounding Asheville.  And there are tons....it's not uncommon to see a whole string of cars turning around when the lead car misses a turn on these often unmarked isolated roadways.  But, that's part of the fun.

 Members in 23 cars met up at 9:30 AM in Weaverville and we were off in two groups by 10:00.  Each one had a lead car and a 'sweeper' who were in radio contact with each other to keep their 'ducklings' together.  We headed in a very round about way to Marshall, NC....where we arrived about 12:30 PM.

 Group one arrived about 20 mins. before ours did.....as I said.....even with maps....these back roads can be tricky to navigate.  But they are wonderfully challenging for drivers of sports cars who love lots of curves.

We gathered for lunch at the Sweet Monkey Cafe and Bakery....the food was outstanding!!  Shrimp and Grits is almost a standard on local menus....but the flavors are not always as well chosen, nor the serving amount so generous as this restaurant.

Yes, this is a Rueben....and ONLY 1/2 of what is served.....  If you are in the area.....do stop in...they are located at 133 S. Main St. in Marshall.

JULY MEETING - MOUNTAIN ART QUILTERS

About a year ago I joined the Mountain Art Quilters group that meets in Asheville.  It started several years ago as a local SAQA pod.  It has grown beyond its original 4 members and concept to around 30 and SAQA membership is no longer required.

This is a very lively talented group of artists, so sharing and inspiring.  Forgive me, I'm still learning names but will provide them as I can.  Next time I'll write them down!  Show and Tell is below and it's awesome....enjoy.....

 Lynn and another pal are making this quilt for a special friend of theirs, based on a metal sculpture she fell in love with.

Here's an adorable collage piece made by Julie

On this piece, the main design was made by coloring a non-woven material with inks...as were the black lines which were then machine stitched.

 Lisa said she was just playing with small pieces.....and is now hand stitching it....her 'playtime' was well spent in my humble opinion.

 This piece was created to show off thread and fiber snippets....the machine quilting motif pulls the whole piece together.  In person the piece is a beautiful rusty brown.....why it looks purple here is a mystery.

 Detail of threads/etc. stitched onto a water soluble to create this textured center.

 We all loved how this was mounted onto a flat black painted wood board which framed this small piece and allowed for easier hanging.

 Lisa also painted this adorable piece.

 Such a great use of scraps and especially the black and white fabric....note to self....a great way to use the piles of black and white I have!!

Our group is mounting an exhibit that will be hung at the Asheville Quilt Guild's annual show this fall...our rules are very loose.....the main one being the focus on the color green.  Kathy is just finishing up her stunning abstract piece....I love everything about it.

RHYTHM OF THE ORIENT

Although I continue to spend a significant amount of time relocating my friends' fabric to new homes.....I managed to carve out enough time to create another Asian inspired quilt.

Fortunately, this style has had a good rate of sales (so far no two quilts have been the same design).  It's a relief to have one ready to hang in case luck strikes again and the current piece hanging a Woolwork Walk Gallery in downtown Asheville goes home with someone!

That's not to say you can't claim it here.....that'd be even better, as I love knowing where my quilts live!  

 RHYTHM OF THE ORIENT  - 60" x 60"

Available here

Cotton fabrics, machine pieced and quilted.

Visit these blogs to be inspired by other fiber artists:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday.

PTA - JULY MEETING

Today the members of PTA (Professional Textile Artists - our small invitational fiber group) met at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Connie Brown organized a nice day for us....which began with healthy morning goodies and ice tea.

 She arranged for us to use the auditorium for our show and tell and general chit chat.  Barbara (right) just completed this beauty.  She has a knack for combining patchwork backgrounds in just the right balance that allow her main motifs to shine...whether that's patchwork or applique....she has such an eye for that design method.

 She was one of the many 'shoppers' who came to my house to dig into the huge stash of fabrics I was relocating for my longtime friend.  I LOVE this piece......inspired by the lime green fabrics she took home that day.

 Dort Lee is the illustrator in our group....I'm pea green over her drawing skills.  This is a little piece, much of the design has been created using ink (the girl on the bed).  If you look closely you can see the photo she used as inspiration.

 She visited France earlier this summer (note the snapshot in the center bottom).....and let yourself say wow as you see how she's recreating the scene in fabric and inks.  These are little pieces no bigger than 12"!!

 The last two are further scenes from her France trip......very cool right??

 Then we moved on upstairs to the Southern Highland Craft Guild gallery and shop area.  The current exhibit is Wabi Sabi.  In case you can't read the blurb....the idea was to showcase the art of imperfection and simplicity.  Several of our PTA members had work in the show.....

 Here's Barbara Swinea's......yes, just the right expression of the theme!

 Georgia Bonesteel chose to highlight the imperfection of the crack in the Liberty Bell......

 Judy Simmons piece is sooooo Judy......it's best explained in her own words on her blog....do take a look, really....go look!!

Connie Brown gave us a tutorial/history lesson about Appalachian Scottish quilts.....of which her large piece followed those construction traditions.

To learn more about the Southern Highland Craft Guild and their various galleries/shops, click here.

BACK IN THE GROOVE

Oh it feels so good to be creating again.....I'm moving right along on my latest Japanese/Asian inspired large wall art quilt.....

 Two sides finished, two to go as I hand stitch the binding in place.

I usually force myself to prepare the hanging sleeve before starting to sew on the binding....so I can move smoothly from binding to sleeve because by then I'm anxious to complete the project!

READY, SET, SEW

Much to my surprise, the large Japanese fabric inspired wall art quilts I've been creating over the last couple of years continue to sell well. I try to have a spare one ready to hang should the one on display sell.  So, right now I'm scrambling to make that 'spare' one.  What a good problem to have, right?

 I'd previously cut a bunch of rectangles from some smaller cut pieces that were leftovers from some earlier fussy cutting.  That helped to jump start these blocks.  The blocks are now made and in their final arrangement. 

I was so charged up to see progress that I sewed the first 4 rows together.  Then then for an unknown reason, I skipped row 5 and was in the process of working on 6 & 7..... when a mistake in the position of 1 block became apparent. If you REALLY have nothing else to do...you can look for it....cause it's still there (for now).  

Hopefully by the time you read this....the top will be finished and on the way to being basted.  Though I'm considering adding another row both vertically and horizontally....if I had enough of the black sashing print, I'd add narrow borders.   Okay, enough chatter today......ready, set, sew.....

Visit these fine blogs to check out what others artists have been working on this week:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop, Whoop Friday.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

The booms and flashes in sky this evening remind us how we Americans still love and wish to celebrate this country! 

UNITED WE STAND   44" X 28"

This piece was created for one of my books to showcase my beaded netting technique for quilt bindings.  The quilt is available at www.marystorishop.blogspot.com

Embellished edge detail

NEW LOOK

Summer finds the streets and shops in downtown Asheville teeming with visitors.  Happily one is going home with one of my pieces from Woolworth Walk Gallery.  That means a new look for the railing at the front entrance (center quilt), along with a new patchwork piece Katen Weston just hung.

It's a good time to be an artist in the Asheville area!

ASIAN INFLUENCES - 61" X 61"

STRING ART - FIBER JUNKIES JUNE MEETING

Thanks to my several posts my blogger pal Robbie  shared on her blog, the Fiber Junkies jumped on the bandwagon of 'string art'.  None of us began with high exceptions but we all agreed at the end of the day that it was fun, yet with somewhat limited results.  

 The premise is simple......coat string, twine, cording in some form of dye, ink, or in my case acrylic paint.  Place on your print surface.....here I used a piece of National Nonwoven's Woolfelt. 

 Fold the fabric over the string, place in a heavy book and pull the string free.  DO not stand on a book and try to pull the string out!!  (The blue mop up cloth was a precaution to avoid getting paint on Judy's floor).  It turns out that was unnecessary....guess I weigh too much to allow the string to come free!

Putting pressure on the top of the book while pulling the string worked best.

 This approach yields mirror images.

I continued adding more designs with gray and then a metallic paint.

 This was my 2nd attempt....more is not always best...a real mess in my opinion.

 I added dots with the tip of a paint brush to provide a little more interest for this my 3rd one.

Here's my best attempt.  Gen was having great success with her designs by working on paper and carefully looping the string in circular shapes.....while arranging it in as much of a vertical placement as possible.  When I followed her method on my wool felt, the prints were more defined...less messy.

Denny worked with disperse dyes on paper, then ironed it onto "Peach skin" fabric.

 This is one of Gen's.....she used felt marker applicators to add the dye to her string.

Our results varied not only by the placement of the string but the diameter and type of cord/string etc. used as well.

I love how Judy overlapped these two colors that were printed onto fabric.  Will the Fiber Junkies do this again...probably not....but it was a really fun day.

Check out what other fiber lovers have been working on this week:  Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday, and Sarah's Whoop, Whoop Friday.

CAR CLUB OUTING

Western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountain area is known for its stunning scenic roadways, including the famous Blue Ridge Parkway.  Thrill seekers gravitate to "The Tail of the Dragon" at Deal's Gap with 318 curves in 11 miles.  It's dubbed America's #1 motorcycle and sports car road. 

"The Rattler", Hwy 209 outside of Hot Springs, NC. has become increasingly popular.  We've driven it many times...all 33+ miles of it.  We joined our Appalachian PCA (Porsche Club of America) for their breakfast 'run' this weekend.....good food and lots of car talk.