PTA RETREAT - PART 3

My project utilized a minuscule amount of my black and white fabric stash. I cut 576 patches for 64 blocks to make a 60" x 60" wall quilt.  As is my practice, the patches were cut at home and even with that jump start, I didn't go home with a completed top.  However, I did get all the blocks pieced!

 We sew in a large space with many windows overlooking Lake Logan.....Judy and I always share a little corner and push two tables together for easier chatting!

 Here's the stacks of my completed blocks.

 Now at home the blocks have been arranged on my design wall and will be pieced together as time permits. And with the now recommended social distancing, I should be finished in no time!

 My initial idea was to enhance the top with squares and circles in a selection of bright colors.  But after auditioning a few, I'm having second thoughts.

I may limit the number of colors and stick with just reds, yellows, and greens.  At this point I'm not thrilled with this either....perhaps the motifs should be larger, or positioned in a more defined pattern rather than an all over random appearance as planned.  Hummmmm.....

As is usual, the quilt will tell me what to do (probably after I spend lots of time auditioning ideas....finally an arrangement will catch my eye and guide me).  Suggestions welcome.......or hang back and see what happens.

PTA RETREAT - PART 2

As you might imagine......documenting everyone's projects slips my mind as the days go by....but here are a few. Most participants get FAR more done than I do.  I'm a terribly slow and methodical sewer that insists on pressing seams as I go.....but I will share my project in the next post.

Leigh Anne used some wonderful Japanese Indigo fabrics for this woven quilt.  She was doing a lot of fussy cutting which will make it even more special and interesting.

She also brought these prepared Dresden Plate blocks, along with several fabrics and experimented with this unique and very successful layout.  Poor Leigh Anne.....she had input from all 9 of us.

 Cathy used our community "i-spy" box full of conversation prints to make TWO adorable baby quilts for a family member who had twins.

 Judy out did herself this year.....she made this small wall piece using indigo dyed fabrics and companion strips.  Her plan is to enhance it with hand embroidery....I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of the jump start embroidery she did, it's just lovely.

 Barbara worked on several projects.....we all loved this sweet polka dot piece.  She has plans to complete it at home and trust me....it will no longer be a two color quilt when she's finished!

 I shared some black and white pre-cut triangles of varying sizes with Judy about a year ago. As she was struggling to decide what to work on at retreat I mentioned I was working with more of that black and white fabric.  She got her stack out and used her accuquilt to cut new uniform shapes.  This is the very eye appealing piece she came up with.

We walk back and forth from our retreat house to where the sewing room is located on the property......I spied this sign of spring on the way back to our house for lunch one day.  Honestly, I'm waddling now.....and the zipper on my pants may not be fulled closed....way tooooo much yummy food and adult beverage calories were consumed.

12 ANNUAL PTA RETREAT

Comments about our 12 annual PTA retreat will be posted in several parts.....probably because I'm so darn pooped just sitting and staring at the computer screen is making me sleepy.  We say this every year.....it was the best time ever!!

 I'm starting with a hilarious view.  Here's Georgia Bonesteel, our stellar piecer was working on a Quilt of Valor. There is so much activity, noise, & commotion it's a wonder any of us get anything accomplished.....and accomplished correctly.  She positioned a completed block on her design wall only to have us all falling apart with laughter....can you see what she did?  

 Half of us suggested she leave it.....the other half urged her to fix it......she did the later.

 Marene makes complicated quilts....at least in my view they are complicated.  Because she's been spending so much time away from home and her machine, she's been working on English paper pieced blocks.

 I wanted to share her terrific idea of keeping all those pieces organized.  She places them between sheets of Glad Press and Seal plastic wrap.  Brilliant!!

 This allows her to position the prepared pieces where they need to go and they stay that way as they are transported.

I've purposely kept the view of our last night dark and difficult to see......but you might be able to tell we are almost statues we are so tired.  There were 10 of us....I took the photo and the missing person was obviously out of the room fetching more adult beverages. 

We rent a large house on the property of Lake Logan Retreat Center in Canton, NC and already have our date set for #13 Retreat next year!

FIBER JUNKIES - MARCH MEETING

The highlight of our March meeting was the celebration of Gen's 91st birthday.  I've said this countless times before on this blog.....we all want to be Gen when we grow up.....besides being the sweetest, most kind and generous person that one could ever know...she can do anything with a needle....talent galore!!

 Here's an eye popping 12" square that she collaged and embellished with both hand and machine work.  Isn't it a great color combination?

She also used paper to create this design style .

 The technique we explored this meeting was painting over previously quilted pieces.  Since I didn't have any samples at hand....I dug out a couple of small completed hand quilted minis that I used as samples for my workshops.

 After probably 8 different colors of both traditional indoor house paint and craft acrylics, this was the result.  I know....it's pretty ugly.....but I'm not finished yet....not sure where it will go....but I haven't given up.

Here's why.....this is a 12" piece (sorry photo cut off at top) of another quilted piece I treated the same way the first time we played with this technique two years ago.  AND.....it sold....so ya never know!  As is typical....it's obviously more attractive in person!

 Judy played with this piece made from sections of previous quilted fabrics.

 Susan was just beginning this one.....she didn't use a brayer or a squeegee to apply the paint, instead she sponged it to the fabric.  I like that affect a lot.

 I'm pretty sure these were Kate's......we envy how productive she always is.

Here's another one that Susan made.....a winner we all agreed.

We may use our next meeting as an opportunity to stencil over these pieces to create another layer for more depth and texture....I'll report back after our April meeting.

REFRESHING GALLERY

Winter is generally a slow sales time at Woolworth Gallery.  Happily one of my bigger pieces on display sold and this new quilt ("Japanese Tiles" - 51/5" x 45") was added in the space on the left.

Here's a partial view of my lower level display.

And...some fun new mini book covers.  The design was inspired by a small zip clutch featuring a Moose, gifted to me by a friend...thank you Lynn.  The hand-dyed houndstooth wool fabrics were the perfect combo for this little bear cub.

FREE TUTORIALS OF MY BEADING TECHNIQUES

C & T, the publisher of many of my books and DVD is now offering free tutorials for several of my beading techniques.  It's a great way to learn interesting methods that go beyond the basics.

The book is now out of print however it is offered as an ebook by C & T for $6.99

This is called Branched Fringe.....it's from my book "All-In-One Beading Buddy by Mary Stori.

ASHEVILLE PRINTMAKERS ART AT NC ARBORETUM

The NC Arboretum in Asheville was also featuring an exhibit by the Asheville Printmakers.  Unfortunately, due to the number of large windows in the Education Center, my photos show lots of light reflection.  Don't let that diminish the impact of these pieces.

I was struck when writing this post, that most of my favorite pieces were created using techniques many of us fiber mixed media artists also use.  Perhaps what can be printed on paper can also be printed on fabric with equal success.

 Love the cut out for the lead weight.....very clever!!

ART AT THE ARBORETUM

Asheville, NC and the surrounding areas are known for its art.....truly you can't go very far in any direction without experiencing work by inspiring artists.  From now till May 10th, Environmental Impact ll is on display at the NC Arboretum.  It features more than 50 artworks, including paintings, photography, sculptures, and fiber.

Here are just a few at the Baker Exhibit Center that caught my eye.

This last one really intrigued me.  There was a binder viewers could look through that provided explanations and locations of the forest fires.  The transferred colors and textures on the sheer fabrics were astonishingly good.

NOTEBOOK COVERS

I've been finding snippets of time to make more notebook covers......

I've uncovered some previously indigo-dyed vintage lace to feature on this pale white batik cover.

SWIMMING NOODLES ARE FOR MORE THAN ROLLING QUILTS

Here's our rather drugged looking Sooty after surgery.  She's barely able to stand up!  Her back legs kept splitting apart and down she'd go.  She had a small growth removed from her leg, a common issue with black labs.

The vet recommended purchasing one of the stiff plastic cones that you often see dogs wearing after surgery to prevent them from licking the wound.  Ages ago I saw a list of all kinds of uses for swimming noodles and amazingly I remembered this idea.  It took me only minutes to cut and string noodle sections for this homemade 'necklace'.

It worked great and I can only assume it was far more comfortable than the alternative.  She's such an agreeable sweet dog that she wasn't even bothered when we put it on her.  Within less than 24 hrs. she was up and acting normal.