AUGUST PTA FIBER GROUP - PART 2

Linda was our host this month and passed out gifts like it was Christmas......

 She's been creating these wonderful organic pots made with Portland cement and two other materials that escape my memory.  She learned how on the Internet and says it's easy.  Her explanation flowed from one step to the next, I was grateful to be given a few pots instead of tackling the process myself.

 Of course the wine is already open as we are all smiles after selecting some pots to take home.  (L to R - Lynne, Judy, Georgia, Dort, Kate)

 Here are more.....

 ....and more....she had them everywhere....just so unique!!!

 Next a question came up about hot pots.....Linda has been known to do a months' worth of cooking in few days using a slow cooker.  Now she has a new passion.  It's amazing how many different foods can be prepared in this super fast method of cooking.  It's such a change from the way we often cook.....utilizing the complete opposite approach with a Sous Vide.

Linda's love of Boston Terriers and dedication to the Boston Terrier Rescue group is evident in her powder room....

Next month PTA will gather again with more fiber, friendship, & food.....

AUGUST PTA FIBER GROUP MEETING

Our PTA (Professional Textile Artist) group met at Linda's house this month.  Show and tell was plentiful; an example of the wide range of talents and interests of our members.

 Kate just returned from a extended workshop by Carol Sutherland at Pro-chem where she learned many new techniques for dyeing silk scarves.  We were all in awe.

 Recently our group did a side trip to a new shop in Fletcher, NC that features the timeless Folkwear garment patterns, popular in the 1970's & 80's.  Marene purchased the one sleeve shawl pattern and is wearing her success!  (Note Linda in the background with an ever present Boston Terrier....she currently now owns 4).

                                                 
Marene also dazzled us with this HUGE top made as a working sample while helping Georgia Bonesteel teach one of her workshops.

 NO....Marene wasn't finished yet....she and Judy challenged each other to create a small quilt utilizing techniques inspired by a Susan Cleveland lecture.  Tiny piping of course was featured in both.

 A family member of Dort's sent her this kimono that was very worn around the shoulder area....(see view of one of the print scenes below).  At first Dort thought she'd been given the piece to cut up and use in a quilt.....but NOoooo it was sent so she could repair it.  Typical of Dort's quilt making whimsy style....she added a mermaid along the top back....complete with tiny nipples beneath the tassels!!

 One of Lynne's newest pieces was awarded a ribbon at the Smokey Mountain Quilt Guild show, Knoxville, TX.  

 The quilt's inspiration was a challenge at her Modern Quilt guild where one blindly drew 3 crayons from a paper bag.  See crayon squares on her form.

 Georgia Bonesteel is modeling her split cowgirl skirt made from a Folkware pattern.  I'm very familiar with this hard to understand and construct pattern as I've made it for 2 of my show pieces, a real chore.  With the top flap buttoned at each side it appears as a skirt.

But, button the flap to one side & you'll see it's wide pants as well.

Come back and check out the next post.....I have more PTA fun to share...

NOT ALL ACTIVITIES ARE FIBER RELATED

Yesterday was a beautiful summer day as a group of us headed out to enjoy the mountain backroads in Western North Carolina. The scenery takes your breath away and as is typical, the abundance of curvey roads was satisfy to this gang of Porsche drivers.

Thank you Lee for the great planning and setting the pace with your lead and David for taking car of the sweep duties.  Bliss......

BETTER IDEA NEARLY COMPLETE

Despite being short of time in the studio lately, I'm realizing that sewing a few blocks here and there DOES add up.  So, here's the human's 'man cave' quilt as opposed to the 'dog's  newly created one.

Sooty's quilt was made to protect our leather couch cushions, which she's now claimed as her own.  My quilt is to protect me from freezing to death!  When we watch TV in our lower level I'm always so cold.....ceiling fan is always on and french doors open....my ideal temp. is about 78 so having a quilt on hand is a necessity.

Since my goal is to utilize fabrics I already own, this one had me a bit worried for fear of running out of this color way.  I shouldn't have worried, there's actually a nice amount left over....maybe pillows are in my future. 

Now, onto figuring out how to quilt it....the least favorite part of quilting for me.  Then followed by hand sewing the binding in place, one quilting task I most look forward to.  Ah....the good and the bad.

'Refreshing' work continues in our home.....as is always the case...it takes twice as long and twice the set budget before it's complete but I've been snapping photos to unveil before and after photos.....keep your eyes peeled soon.

WHY WE AREN'T MOVING

Here's your laugh for the day.......I've mentioned the deliberations we've gone through deciding whether or not we should move....mainly to downsize with the goal of finding a home more suitable to our aging process.

Though this is extreme, in some cases it's not too far off the mark of what we saw when home shopping.  The condition/decor/and cleanliness of most of the homes we viewed was a complete shock to us.....thus our decision to stay put and make our home as maintenance free, with a nod to handicap accessible as we can.

Check these photos out.....yes you will laugh.

No post is complete without at least one photo at hand.....here's a peek our deck/s, railings, staircase in the process of being replaced with Trex.

BETTER IDEA

Sometimes we find ourselves wanting to use specific fabrics so much so that we ignore the little voice in our head that says 'no'.  Fortunately, the time commitment for my bad idea was short (see my last post).

I've switched gears and and am proceeding with a zig-zag set string quilt instead.  I'll have my fingers crossed though, hoping there's enough coordinating brown fabric in my stash.  I've dug deep, some of these prints were purchased when I began quilting back in the mid. 1980's.

Our home refresh is in full swing which is diverting my attention, allowing completion of only 12 of the 42 blocks I require.  Stay tuned..... 

BAD IDEA

Since Sooty got a new quilt, I decided I needed one in the man cave as well.  Neither 'the husband' or I like a/c, so in the summer we often head to our lower level for evening TV watching.  However with the overhead fan going and French doors open....I realize my comfort zone is 10 degrees higher than his.  So I really do need a snuggle quilt.  

Trying to work in a brown/black color scheme and using some wonderful authentic Indonesian batiks, I began my quest.  I've actually brightened this photo so you could see the prints....in real life they don't stand out enough due to the black sashing, nor coordinate enough with each other.  

So, those fabrics got refolded and put away.....a new batch of browns were pulled from my stash with a new piecing plan.  Not all 2:00 AM visions work in the daytime.....happily I only made these 2 blocks before I knew that the fabric choices were a bad idea.

Stay tuned won't you?

SOOTY LIKES HER QUILT!

After weighing all the pros and cons - to move or not to move.....we are staying put.  This has generated some home refresh projects and painting is on the 'to-do' list.  With 27' ceilings in our great room, open to my loft studio, I'm purposely choosing not to start designing another wall quilt till after the painters are finished.  Sooty's no brainer lap quilt became my 'busy' work......made to protect the 'man cave's' leather cushions that she insists belongs to her.

 From this....

She's helping me to attach the binding by machine, I normally do this by hand.

 To this....

To this.....

SOOTY GETTING HER OWN QUILT

What is it with dogs?  Why when they have a perfectly comfy dog bed do they insist on sneaking up to recline on couches or human beds???  Our Sooty is no exception....turn your back and she leaps, curls up small to be invisible (as small as a 60# lab can get) and ignores eye contact when told to get down.

I give up......my new project is my version of putting plastic covers on our leather furniture....ye gads.....Plastic ?? NEVER.....   Anyway, Sooty's preferred couch is in the man cave.  It will soon have a quilt to cover the leather cushions. 

I've cut 3.5" wide brown strips in varying lengths and 1" wide x 3.5" black strips surround each.  Quilters who are chain piecers will be horrified by my lame approach to piecing.  Each row is arranged next to the previous one, making sure none of the black sashing strips align next to each other......then it's moved to the sewing machine, double checking as I go to be sure the placement is still accurate. The cut rectangles are at hand on the design wall to grab and place as each row is auditioned  

Nah, it's not a masterpiece of design, but it will coordinate with the decor and I suspect Sooty will love it!  I'll share a photo when it's finished.

LANDSCAPE PIECE FINISHED

What they say is true....persistence pays off......despite the construction issues I had getting this dye-painted Liberty of London Lawn fabric to behave....it's now completed and ready for a new home.

APPROACHING DUSK - 25" x 18"

AVAILABLE HERE

Artist hand dye-painted landscape on Liberty of London cotton, densely thread painted, machine appliqued & quilted. Prepared for hanging.