BEADING TIP

I'm a stickler for good quality construction.....for me it's not all about fast, rather...it's about great design that has been executed to the best of my ability. If precautions aren't taken, beading can cause fabrics to distort. Therefore, I ALWAYS secure my work in a Q-snap frame.

The only exception is when I'm beading the bindings/edges of my quilts.

Q-snap frames are simply PVC tubes which come in a variety of sizes. This one is 11" x 11", my choice for smaller projects. The work is attached using clips that snap over the frame. Though you could use a round embroidery hoop.....I don't because it pulls the fabric diagonally which can stretch the bias. I've found it's best to keep the fabric ON GRAIN by using a square or rectangular frame when beading.

However, as the beading design develops, requiring repositioning of the fabric, I avoid using the clips in places where they could damage the beads. Instead, if the piece is large enough as it is in this sample, I wrap the excess snugly around the frame, and secure the layers together using straight pins or by thread basting. This keeps the fabric on grain, and well stabilized to assure good thread and fabric tension.

My 'artist' inspired piece is now in the beading phase.... The piece is attached to an 11"x17" Q-snap frame...note I used 1 clip at the top, where it didn't interfere with the beads.

So...okay....you may still not be able to guess who the artist is that inspired my design....but I think you will recognize this motif?

I also want to mention that I'm beading through 2 layers only.....the quilt top which has been stabilized with batting. This approach will hide and protect the threads once the backing is added later.

MAY PTA SHOW AND TELL #2

Each PTA meeting is eagerly looked forward to.....of course for the companionship but the inspiration we all gain from each other as well.

Lynne purchased this vintage quilt from a vendor in Paducah. It was from the Nestle quilt collection....my photo is bad......but still worth seeing..... Notice how each of the nine-patch blocks has a red center?

The fibers were in remarkably good condition. This style and vintage is my personal favorite and the kind of quilts I decorate my own home with. Many are hung over the railings of my loft studio and on the many ladders I have scattered around the house. Of course I also have my own embellished quilts on display too, but not as prominently because we lack wall space.

Lynne has continued experimenting with the rusting technique Kate demonstrated for all of us at our retreat. Instead of using water to react with steel wool, she's been playing with lemon juice and vinegar to speed up the rusting process.

Cathy wowed us with this piece featuring many surface design techniques which came out of a workshop she took with local fiber artist Bernie Rowell.

Dort's artistic abilities are apparent here with her newest quilt. It's pieced using squares....and due to her careful color placement, you can enjoy several large stork like motifs.

Back to Cathy's show and tell.......she's is a very busy Mom of two who keeps us all young hearing her adventures. The family recently visited Washington DC......I loved how she's documented and now archived this trip by having a hard cover book made from her photographs.

She claims it was easy.......using Shutterfly.com. Great idea!!

MAY PTA SHOW AND TELL

Our monthly meeting was inspiring as usual......here's what some of the members have been busy doing.....

Gen spent time dying and painting used dryer sheets.......amazing! Who'd have thunk it?

These are even better in my opinion..... I think I'm correct by saying that with one exception (the orange one)......these very textured pieces were derived simply by tossing dye catchers in the wash with colored clothing. Sorry my photo didn't capture them better......the surface gave the appearance of leather.

Gen also painted a variety of fabrics such as silk, rayon, cotton. She suggests to stop using paper towels as clean up 'rags'....instead use cotton fabric......the results can be stunning!

Gen really has been busy......This little piece was inspired by a Carol Taylor DVD. Actually, Gen has already mastered her sewing machine so well......that her design was of course a winner in our opinion!

Detail

.....more PTA creativity tomorrow.....

APPRECIATING SPRING

Spring is here......the wild flowers are all blooming...... Hummmm....I'm learning a new camera so of the half dozen photos I took....this is the only one that is even mildly okay to share.....not sure what on earth I'm doing wrong.....

However, what I am doing right is stopping to smell the roses. (Well actually, I did stop to enjoy the fragrance of flowers blooming on the many berry bushes that grow wild here.)

And that reminded me of a card I received.....which said: " STOP DOING - Just for right now!!" Yup, it's good to be reminded....

ARTIST CHALLENGE QUILT PROGRESS

It's been awhile since I've been able to work on any projects......thank you friends for so many of your continuing supportive emails. 'The husband's' recovery progress is very, very slow but we are confident that in time, he'll be fine.

I'll be hanging around the house a lot more now.....so perhaps this piece will get some attention again. As a reminder....it's my 2011 PTA challenge project that was inspired by a famous artist. You can read our rules etc. here and here.

All the applique has been completed and the major design component has now been transferred to the white on white fabric. I don't think I've used pencil to transfer a design in about 20 years.....but because this motif will be beaded......I needed to have a thin line to follow, given it can't be washed out and my usual marking tool.....soap slivers just wont' show up on this fabric.

The marked top has been hand thread basted to batting in preparation for the next step.

....which is to bead the outline of my design......

Are you getting any ideas at all who the artist is that inspired my piece??

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.....