1 BAD DOG

WANTED.....1 good home for 1 bad dog......

Or perhaps this post should read......

 ....NOW YOU SEE IT......

....NOW YOU DON'T!!!!

After spending DAYS making these felted wool faux rocks.....of which the above bowl was totally filled (well over a quart for sure).  They are now gone......and all that is left is one lone rock which was inside one of the faux stones (the rest contained wool or cotton batting).

I KNOW labs love to eat....Sooty has proven that to be true with several mis-adventures....BUT THIS.......  I'm soooo peeved and what makes it worse is that yelling at her will do no good, neither will punishing her.  We were gone when she apparently helped herself to the bowl that was decoratively sitting on a bench in our greatroom.  Sure it was at her height.....but who'd have thought? NO....I refuse to take responsibility (well maybe a little).

After she recently ate 4+ cups of cooling Chex Mix off the kitchen counter, 'the husband' had a talk with her and he said she promised to behave.  NOT......

So, I'm fuming and she doesn't understand why I'm giving her the cold shoulder.....worse yet......none of this wool has yet passed through her system.  If we end up with huge vet bills.....she truly will be looking for a new home....or else I will be.  THE END.....

SO LITTLE TO SHOW FOR

Does this happen to you too?  You've got lots of ideas for the next project....so with great enthusiasm you dig in.  Hours later you still find yourself shuffling from one direction to the next, from one pile of fabric to the next?  

That's how I spent most of my day yesterday.  I not only had indecision about the direction of the project.....but WHICH idea I was going to follow up on!  This is surely a sign of too many ideas flying about in my head like a virtual pinball machine!

Yes, this is so little to show for the amount of time and brain power exerted.....but ya gotta start somewhere.  Now of course, I'm anxious to really get started.  However, this happens to be another very busy week in my personal life, so I'll need to dig deep and find some patience while I await more time in the studio. 

42-24

NOW....This is a way to begin a week.......Packers 42 - Texans 24.....

Whew.....we were getting worried........

I've been enjoying our beautiful fall weather so much this weekend, that my sewing has suffered......but you know what they say......'get out and smell the roses'......or should I say 'the woodsmoke in the air from all the area outdoor fire pits as the locals are cooking up sorghum!

THAT LITTLE VOICE

Though my newest passion is working with felted wool and of course beading.....occasionally I'll go to my stacks of cottons and make a lap quilt.

I blogged about this recently, but here's part 2.  This was made with hand-dyed cottons from a company no longer in business, but one that always pleased me with their selections.  Rarely did I concern myself with the issues of unstable dyes when I worked with their products.  However.....some did bleed.  AND...as I began this piece....that little voice kept saying....  "Hey, I'm a lap quilt.  I'm going to need to be washed".  But...I ignored it.

Just prior to making the quilt sandwich that little voice got louder and I decided to test the black fabric......yup....you guessed it.  It bled like crazy.  What a pain...having to treat a quilt top already pieced....but thankfully BEFORE it was made into a finished quilt.

The results were = a top with uneven seams.....no matter how I tried to block it during the drying process.  Well...it was made to be used, so it is what it is......  NOTE to self.......always take the time to pre-wash these types of fabrics!  I used to do that religiously.....but now that  95% of what I do are wall quilts which will never be washed because they are also beaded.....I got out of that habit.

Okay, lesson learned.....  Here's what I wanted to show you.  I'm a novice at machine quilting and can admit I don't much like it.  WHY??  Well.....I don't like the results of what I can do....and I don't like sitting at the machine since my back hurts and I can't see well enough (yes I have glasses in every strength!).  But there are those quilts that machine quilting, even if fairly uninspired....is the answer.

To tame the quilt....rolling and using bicycle clips etc. never work for me after 5 mins.  But, what I've found helps is to have a large surface behind & to the left of my machine to support the weight of the quilt. My ironing board fills that role on the left.

I prefer to thread baste, but again.....time management is important so for this task I used safety pins..... 

Because the blocks/seams are not evenly pieced and worse after the bath it took to remove all the excess dyes.....I marked the lines using a ruler and a chalk wheel, avoiding following any pieced seam line too closely.  

The vertical lines are about finished.....and I'll either add more unevenly spaced  lines vertically or horizontally.  

Moral of this post.....listen to your inner voice!!  

BEADING TIP

At the beginning of the month, this small leaf project was begun....which is still under progress....   As work continued last night, I came to a 'teachable moment' that may be of interest to those of who who add beadwork to your pieces. (Guess that means I really do miss teaching workshops!!)  You can see the start of this quilt here and on posts dated Oct. 2 & 3rd. 

 As mentioned numerous times on this blog, when beading (except for bindings and some edging stitches) I always secure my work in a Q-Snap frame, generally supported by a stablizer of some kind.  In this case it's batting....but the backing is not layered yet. This frame measures 11" x 11".  

Notice the straight pins??  Three sides of the quilt are attached to the frame using the Q-Snap clips, however clips can not be placed over an already beaded area.  The left one in the photo above extends beyond the framework...slightly bothersome when beading but still doable.

Where the fabric doesn't quite reach the frame (lower edge), it's pinned it to a muslin sleeve which is attached to the tube framework.

Got is so far??

Now.....all those preparations above should keep the layers smooth and distortion free when beading.  There's one more trick I utilize that allows for trouble-free finishing of the edges.

Beading is stopped about 1" short of the edge of the fabric, backstitching through the last bead.  The thread end remains.....once the edge of the quilt is finished, whether with traditional binding or a facing, it's easy to rethread and complete each line or motif.  In those cases, I do not travel through all three layers, rather the top two only to avoid visible stitches on the backing.

BASTING TIPS

It's seems crazy that a few days away can put me so far behind......yet I've been scrambling to catch up.

However, today there was a little time to get into the studio and begin the basting process for this quilt.

 I've been teaching hand quilting for years and always pay particular attention to describing the method I use for sandwiching quilts.  It always surprises me that this part of the quilting process isn't better understood.

Here's how to prevent distortion or pleating on the back during quilting.  Although I'm not a fan of tearing fabric, in this case I do as it will give me the true straight of grain for the backing. (Measure it 3"-4" larger than the quilt top.)

After pressing well, I place it on my large cutting table which is covered with a gridded cutting mat, using the lines to keep the backing evenly distributed.

 If there is a seam, it is positioned along a marked line....again, to keep the backing straight and even.

 Where the backing is larger than the table, I use bookbinder clips to attach the backing to the edge of the table.

Edges that meet the end of the table can either be held with clips or taped with painters tape.  Be sure the backing is smooth but not pulled too taught.

The next step will be to add the batting. I like to unfold it and allow it to rest on the table to relax/remove the wrinkles. Once that's done, the quilt top is positioned over the batting.

Here's the important part......Always be sure the quilt top and the backing are placed on the straight of grain to each other before basting begins. I use WHITE thread when I hand baste. If the project sits for a long time in humidity, the dyes of some dark threads can migrate and stain the quilt top. 

Baste thoroughly.....do not skimp!  It's your last chance to maintain flat smooth layers. This will eliminate the problem of tucks, wrinkles, & distortion during the quilting process.  Remember if the grain of the backing and quilt top are not lined up properly, the quilting process may be adversely affected.

GARDEN ART

After months of blogging about the quilt I made as a memorial to my brother for Bookworm Gardens, it was time to make a trip to Wisconsin and with my family, turn it over to its new home.

The garden is organized around various book themes.  Each 'station' has physical books which can be read on the spot.  Most areas are set up for interactive play as well as a feast for the adult eye.  Fabulous, creative art is everywhere.

This playhouse was the inspiration for a similar one my brother made for his granddaughter Taylor (first row, far right).  It became the focal point of my quilt.

 Is this great or what?

 Parents/children can sit in the bus (or the area around it) and enjoy the a variety of books that relate to this subject.

 Look closely......notice the spools...complete with thread!!

 Some areas have stone pillars where books are stored.....

 Think how educational it is for children to explore books about the settling of the West.

 And the whimsy of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  All the seating throughout the gardens have been donated.....memorial or donor plaques provide recognition.

 Here's another example of the clever methods utilized to engage kids.

 ......with the props for them to act out their imaginations.

 Farmer Brown and his cow....how could they not feature a Holstein cow in Wisconsin??  Taylor, my great niece says this is one of her favorite places in the gardens.

 ....Open the gate, then open the door......and there are the books!

Jack in the Beanstalk metal sculpture.......charming!  One could spend hours exploring this mind expanding place.  There are similar children's literacy gardens throughout the  country....perhaps you can locate one near you to enjoy.

LEAF QUILT - continues.....

As you can see below.....the leaves are now all hand appliqued and stems/center vein have been added.

Thanks to my good pal Jackie of Colorado Springs.......I was reminded there is a less messy way to apply starch to fabric than the way I described yesterday.  A small amount of spray starch can be placed in a small shallow dish, plate, or bowl. Then with the aid of a Q-tip...dipped into the solution, transfer the starch to the edge of the fabric motif....wetting it sufficiently to form around the template.  Press to hold the crease/fold.

Call me impulsive!!!!  Yes, yes.....Jackie's method is the preferred approach and I'm grateful we chatted about this less some of you aren't familiar with it. I admit to being too lazy to leave my studio, go downstairs, & get the proper supplies.  Instead, I used the spray starch cap and my fingers.....and not even a proper table covering. Yup, I probably wasted more time in the long run with the clean up that was required!

 As I now view the piece.....I'm liking it a lot......and perhaps it doesn't need further embellishing.....

 However, you know I can't stop myself......  To prevent distortion, a thin batting has been thread basted to the top and it's secured in a 11" x 11" Q-snap frame.  

Let the beading begin!!

Click on photo for a closer view.

I'll be beading the leaves to my heart's content....but won't be able to chat with you for several days.  Look for my posts early next week......unless I can figure out a way to post from my ipad in my remote location.....I need a 16 year old to teach me this stuff!!

But....of course I can't leave you without saying.....GO PACKERS!!!!!

TAMING THOSE COTTONS!

One of the biggest reasons I love working with felted wool is its ease of applique since the edges do not unravel!  Don't you think our cottons (with the exception of batiks) have become more loosely woven....where fraying now is so much more troublesome?  Is this why I have been avoiding cottons lately??  

 I still prefer the look of traditional applique so after attempting needle turn applique of one of my leaves onto the deconstructed screen printed background, I gave up on that method.  

Each paper template was retraced onto card stock and cut out.  Using a bit of spray starch on my finger....the fabric's outside edge was dampened and secured to the card stock.....and pressed with a dry iron to hold the crease.

 If you've never done this before.....it's a good idea to protect your work surface (actually with something a tad thicker than the tracing paper I used!)

You'll have to work the damp fabric against the card stock....in this photo, I've just begun.  The first photo shows this same wrong side, nicely smoothed out, just before moving the motif to the pressing surface.

Here it is pressed and ready to be peeled off the card stock and hand basted to the background.  I purposely did not draw and cut these leaves with perfection....nature isn't perfect.

Each leaf will receive this same preparation to provide a smooth edge to applique.  The center edges have been left raw....as they will be covered with a thin strip of either fabric or perhaps Ultra-Suede to represent the center vein/stem.

I'll be busy stitching and will report back....

REVISITING COTTONS

I've been petting my pile of deconstructed screen printed fabrics since the Fiber Junkies's last dye day. 

Of course now I can't recall what I used to get all those squiggly lines, but I can see by a previous photo I took, that the screen was printed 4 times.  Actually, it really doesn't much matter what I used because with this method, it's nearly impossible to duplicate one's efforts...the surprises are half the fun!

 So....with these reds calling me, I cut them apart and stitched a background together.  Originally, the darker strip was to be placed vertically, but in the end,  it became the bottom.

Earlier this year, my good (and very generous) friend Helen sent me a large box of black and white prints.  I mean a BIG box....the prints read from mostly white all the way to mostly black and everything in between.  Here are some I selected for this wall quilt.

The theme of the piece will be leaves.....now that fall is nearly upon us, you may be asking why I wasn't thinking sparkling autumn colors??  Dah....I just didn't....but that'd be a good idea.

I often have trouble working with deconstructed screen printed fabric because they have so much energy.  Multiple prints and busy patchwork is successfully accomplished by others, but I'm not comfortable in that zone.  So instead, I'm going for a bolder graphic appearance that stands out from the background...yet that background provides texture and interest for the entire piece.

Auditioning shapes/sizes with paper can be a helpful method of avoiding wasting fabric.  Fussy cutting the leaves gives them more definition.  

Stay with me.....two more leaves to go, then hand applique is ahead before the next design step is taken.