RAMBLINGS

Getaways are so refreshing......can't wait to do a repeat of my recent trip.

 I visited a long time friend at her winter escape home in one of the newer Sun City developments outside of Phoenix.  This is the view off her patio toward the golf course.  The weather was so pleasant, if I lived there I'd have to set up my sewing machine outside and spend the days catching the rays and the views.


We kept ourselves quiet busy and were lucky the timing offered us a chance to see "Art Quilts: Year XVI - Something To Say."  This exhibit is at the Chandler Center for the Arts until Jan. 28, 2012.  Unfortunately, and understandably, photography is not allowed....but I can assure you it was wonderful.  I expected it to be quiet small but we browsed for well over an hour.  It was great to see a steady, and I mean steady stream of viewers.  The quilts were displayed professionally, well lighted, and offered a large variety of styles.

 We  also attended a small quilt show in Wickenburg....a charming historic town.  

 It was a pleasure to see so many traditional quilts on display in one place.....

 This is one of the very few art type quilts and certainly one of the very few to feature embellishing. 

 The maker utilized buttons, machine embroidery, and paints for this original design quilt.

I thought this was very clever.....each quilt had one or more clothes pins attached for viewers to safely turn the quilt and view the backside.  Since it was a small venue that was a bit crowded.....this made so much sense.

MIA

 I've been MIA now for nearly a week....I'm happy to be back!

My unusually mysterious absence (mysterious only because I'm normally such a blabber mouth that typically I post about everything)....was in part caused by my lack of internet access.  Yes, I can blog from my iphone but the little screen and my ignorance about how to attach photos from there...well...it was too much to learn at the moment.

I do have some photos to share over the next couple of days, but not like I should.....I was just too darn distracted.

Anyway.....the focus of today's blog is to send out a great big thank you to the thoughtful person who sent this fabric postcard. Notice I said 'person' and didn't name a name.....that's because it was unsigned and I can't even figure out where she lives because the post mark is unreadable.  So....please come forward so I can acknowledge you!! (At least I assume it was made by one of you that read my ramblings.)

I got home late last night and seeing it put such a smile on my face. It's only the 2nd fabric post card I've ever received and believe me it will never be outdated. I have to admit....we are all licking our wounds over Sunday's game.  But...they've truly given us so many thrills these last two seasons......it's really okay.....we love the Pack as does everyone in Packer nation!

Notice the postage stamp....very nice touch!

.....and I believe The PACK will thrill us again next year!!!


UPDATE....IT WAS KAY SORENSEN  Thank you Kay!!!

So Sad

The Pack will be back!!!!

UP, UP & AWAY

While 'the husband' holds down the home fort.....I'll be off to sunny skies and warmer weather, followed by a stop in a much colder weather spot.

I'm one of the (probably) million happy campers who found an ipad under the Xmas tree. So for this trip, I will be soloing with it and hoping I can figure out how to blog from this new device.  Of course no products come with owner's manuals anymore......but I've downloaded all 132 pages and hope to wade through it to educate myself as I pass the time in several little metal capsules.

So...just in case I'm silent for a few days....you'll know technology has yet again, passed me by......

FiBER JUNKIES - NEW YEAR/NEW FACES - PART 3

Our two new members had recently visited Guatemala and both brought yummy textiles to show.....

 The cloth is hand woven and features hand embroidery.

 Detail (can you image the hours it took??)

 This detail of a Huipil ( a type of smock all the natives wear) is made using the bullion stitch....complete with shading....marvelous!

 Here's our Kate showing off how these textiles are worn.  The skirt is a length of fabric that is wrapped around the body and secured with a woven belt.

 Here's a purse or tote bag made by recycling a Huipil....notice how the neck becomes the opening for the bag.

 We learned that some of their cloth is woven on a 'belt' loom.......one end is attached to the belt and another to objects such as trees.  They sit for hours and hours on their knees weaving.


What an education and of course it peaked everyone's interest......maybe a BIG field trip is in order?!?

FIBER JUNKIES - NEW YEAR/NEW FACES - PART 2

Our show and tell this month was pretty massive......here are a few more peaks....

 Judy Simmons continues to awe us with her innovative photo transfer/computer & screen printed designs.  If you are lucky enough to be attending the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in February.....be sure to sign up for her lecture on Thurs. afternoon....and of course her workshops through out the event.

 She often utilizes her Grandmother's hand written recipes and subtle additions of faces into her quilts.

 She brought these 3 pieces that she was undecided about her path.....the goal was to turn them into a triptych.  One of the great advantages of having such a talented group is the good suggestions that are offered.  Judy now has more ideas to explore!

We have another new member this year.....Dee Dee Triplet....a well known doll maker, and accomplished at just about every other technique!  She brought volumes of binders of her published work and this darling doll for us to drool over!

FIBER JUNKIES - NEW YEAR/NEW FACES

Meet Kate Weston....one of our two new members of the Fiber Junkies.....

 Kate's been experimenting......and I'm sure you'll agree with me....very successfully marbling fabrics.  Take a look at these beauties....my fingers were itchin'.....what fun it would be to bead one!

 Here (above and below) are two pieces she's sandwiched and quilted......

 Kate's skills are far reaching......the piece above and below are more examples of her design and great construction abilities.....  We are so happy she agreed to join our group.

Besides the major show and tell we enjoyed today.....we set goals for 2012.....a long list of techniques to explore......Yippie....

WESTON'S MARSH

Once I gave up the idea of adding lilly pads I moved cruised along with new ways of adding texture....

These multi-color matte beads blended in nicely....

........... Hand-dyed scrim was inserted into the holes.

 .....French knots provided more interest, as did additional stitching with silk, rayon, and other hand-dyed embroidery floss.

Weston's Marsh  9" x 7"

Presented in a 8" x 10" frame

As I mentioned previously, my inspiration came from a marsh adjoining a friend's home on the outer banks in S.C.  So....I've named the quilt in honor of them.  This photo is clickable to view a larger image.

THE MARSH

.......Winter has hit.....brrrr, we had a mini snow storm yesterday with really chilly temps....reminded me too much of why we left Wisconsin.  It's only 17 degrees this morning.....thus I'm refusing to go on our 'forced march'  (a 75 min. walk 'the husband' insists I accompany him on daily.) Ya, I know it's good for me too....but I dislike the whole thing and in these temps....NO WAY!!

 Instead, I'm concentrating on my newest project.  As you can see....there's progress.....more holes & more decorative threads have been hand stitched.  

 Naturally, beading is being added as well....click on photo for enlarged view.

My original plan was to add lily pads and I 'thought' I had photos of my reject ideas.....some done in hand-dyed scrim and some made from stabilized hand-dyed silk. Never mind...they didn't work anyway......so the plan now is to pretty much cover the surface with embellishing....not so you can't see the interesting nuno-felted areas......but just enough to add texture.  I've started with ripple echos around the top two holes.  Off to play some more....

REPURPOSING

Several weeks ago I pulled 3 piles of materials together as inspiration for new projects.  One has been completed.

And...I've been plugging away at the second one.  

 I cut a hunk off a nuno felted scarf (that I wasn't terribly satisfied with) which was made at one of our Fiber Junkie's play days.  It reminds me of the marsh my friend Kate can view from her SC home.

The appearance of the uneven felted edges pleased me so I'm retaining that feature.....however, I decided to cut a few holes in the materials.

 ...next I used some perle-cotton to finish the edge (hand-dyed by my pal Nancy Bruce who can and does dye anything).  I've added some woven some rayon threads....but not sure they will make the cut.

Another 'hole' with edges finished.....not sure where this is all going but it was very relaxing work as we watched the ups and downs of the Rose Bowl last night.....a sad ending (two years in a row) for the Wisconsin Badgers.