Dye Dog finished!

Dye Dog 2018

23" x 33.5"

You can read the story behind this piece here.  I have to thank Kay, Quilts + Color, for giving Beth and I an opportunity to stretch ourselves by working with her dye dog!  Most of you know Kay from her blog and you've seen some of my posts on Kay.  If not, head over to her blog (after you look at this post!  HA) 

This was quite a challenge for me and not wanting to let Kay down with my work just put more pressure on me!  I'm happy with how the piece turned out and hope Kay is as well!  Thanks again for the challenge, Kay!

This was Kay's original fabric.  I'm afraid the colors are not true....blame the photographer!  But you'll get the idea on what the pattern was for us to start with.

I used a thermofax screen I had made using my friend, Carol T's, fathers blueprint design!  I just happen to have had some maroon dye already mixed up. 

Next up was trying to figure out a design.   So out came the rotary cutter!   I made a slew of flying geese sections and starting to lay them out.

Looks like my geese flew away!  You really can't tell that's what they were/are!  HA

Final layout...now how to quilt it!  Hand stitching works for me!

I started with the blueprint designs first.  Then the piece just told me which way to go!  Yes, this was "slow stitching" (see my previous post!

I love to do circle hand stitching...can you tell!  The yellow sashing called for some type of thread work and a fly stitch seemed to fit well.  My fiber art group assisted in helping me decide on the colors to use. 

And some straight line stitching finished off the piece...along with free motion quilting in the border. 

A little short animation on how this piece came together!

Book Review - The Hand stitched Surface

   

Yep, it’s book review time!  I mentioned in a post a week ago on my winning Lynn Krawczyk’s book, The Hand Stitched Surface.  

My readers know my love of hand work and I’ve posted many of my art quilts filled with hand stitching.  So, I’m not a beginner or novice when it comes to hand work. 

With that said, this old dog can and will continue to learn new tricks!  And that I did with reading Lynn’s book.  First off, I don’t get deep with why I create my work, e.g. inspired by the moons or driven to create by the wind – you know those really deep write ups folks do.  I just have fun and relax with my hand stitching so I was so impressed with Lynn talking about “slow stitching”.  And that’s just what I get from my hand work or my “slow stitching” as Lynn would say! 

Lynn’s book is filled with detailed information on stitching essentials and techniques, which even an experienced stitcher can pick up a new tip or two.  She also has great colorful examples of stitches and completed works.  Again, many stitches we are familiar with but we forget don’t we!  HA 

I was really intrigued by Lynn’s chapter on ‘Creating Your Own Pattern for Stitching’. 

I usually trace some pattern onto my quilt or draw lines/shapes as I stitch.   Lynn has some great inspiration and a technique that I am certainly going to give it a go!  I’ve read these five pages twice! 

Of course, there is also the project section!  Lynn has 8 different fabric projects, which a few look interesting…but I was more impressed with the paper projects she has in the book.  Yep…good old “slow stitching” on paper!!  Now she had my full attention!  Of course, I don’t necessarily want to make all of the paper projects but I’m really, really interested in the Mended Paper Painting project!  You’ll have to buy the book to see this one!   This is a project I do want to play with…among others in the book.

Seriously, I really liked and enjoyed reading (did I mention I actually read most of the book!) this book by Lynn!  It is going to be a reference book for sure!  Thanks again to Ana and Lynn for giving me the opportunity to win this book!  Congrats, Lynn.  You have a winner with this one!

p.s. I did have permission to show pics of Lynn's book!  

Gouache and India Ink!

A few weeks ago, Linda Kemshall from Design MattersTV, had a video on using Gouache paints.  Well, because we all have those supplies that we purchased eons ago and haven't used them yet....I thought  I'd see what was in my art supply cabinet!  Yep...Gouache paints were there!   And I had black and blue inks! So I played following Linda's video.

First up, I drew some squares on watercolor paper...just playing...nothing in mind.

Next up I painted, using blue and green Gouache paints in the squares and around the edges of the paper.   I used a sponge to stamp paint in the circles and just a paint brush for the squares and edges.

I wanted to see if I could do this technique on fabric (of course!) so I took a small strip of a Inkjet fabric sheet...the type you to run through your printer to print on.   I also cut a small (2"x5") strip of muslin that I covered with white Gesso.   In the next pic you can see the strip is painted and on the right is the muslin painted with the gesso. 

Once the Gesso dried I stenciled the red/dab of white Gouache paint on top of the dried Gesso.  I forgot to take a picture but I'm sure you get the idea.  The hard part is waiting for your paints to dry! 

Next, using a paint brush, I covered the entire painted (& dried) watercolor paper with Dr. Ph. Martin black India ink.  I did the same with the small inkjet fabric and Gesso muslin strip.  You can vaguely see the paint pattern through the black ink.  Again, I didn't take a picture of the strips of fabric painted black. 

Patience again waiting for each of the samples to dry!  Once dry, you rinse off the ink with running water!  Yep, even the watercolor paper.  I did rub gently on the fabric pieces and you can see where the Gouache paints acted like a resist to the ink. And here are my results.

Watercolor Paper all rinsed

Fabric Strip

Yes, I kept the strip on the paper backing during the entire process.

Stenciled muslin strip

I am really happy with how the stenciled fabric piece turned out!  Heck, the paper is cool too but I work in fabric and only use my paper journals/books/papers for drawing my ideas or documenting a process.  

This was a fun technique and just like the string art I think this would be a technique to use on fabric!   Now...what to do for my next project using this technique!  Hmmmmmmm  I just hope it's not another fish!

Nemo is going fishing!

Woohoo!  Nemo is finished!!! 

 I'm happy with how the string art inspired me to create this piece!  The background is a deconstructed screen print I did last winter.  Not sure what I'll do with it!  But what else is new!  For those new to my blog, you can see where I started creating 'Nemo' and the progress when I was trying to decide what fish to use!

I added yarn edging and faced the quilt, which measures 12 1/2" x 18".   Also, sequins and beads were added for each eye of the fish.  If you look at my previous post for Nemo, you'll see where I changed the thread painted fish and made a new blue fish and a second orange fish to cover him up!  I wasn't happy with the thread fish!  This looks so much better.   I think one of my blog readers left a comment and said to "flush" that fish!  HA  Good suggestion!

Isn't he cute!!  I used a black seed bead for his eye with a dark blue sequin.  

Not sure which fish is Nemo!  But I think they're happy in their new home!!

I really enjoyed playing with the string art but the hard part was deciding which fish to use...blue, orange, one or both, etc.  Thanks to all my blog readers who gave suggestions to help me decide which fish or how many to use!

New Table Runner

Yes, I have other projects to work on but in between those I made a table runner!  We bought a new high top dining table last fall and most of my table toppers are too small.  I posted this topper I made a month ago, which looked ok...
Angela Walters, Quilting is My Therapy, had a quilt along this past winter where she provided a block pattern for folks to put together in a full size quilt.  I actually thought of the table runner idea and made 3 of the blocks but never got past that step.



So a week or so ago, with no computer to research or kill time on, I pieced the blocks and added the border.  I think my bud, Susan, will recognize the border fabric!   Susan was with me when I bought 1/2 yard in black and another 1/2 yard in blue at our favorite quilt shop in Trenton, Florida.  I used both fabrics to make wine cozy's for friends. 

The size turned out perfect for the dining table and looks good in the dining room.  We are still looking at replacing the hanging light, which is currently green!  Not sure why we ever picked that color but it will be changed sometime!

The table is slate and wood so gray worked perfectly.

I quilted diagonally in the border, which I think looked best with the blocks.  You can't see the quilting except for the blocks anyway.   I liked the geometric look. 

Angela has lots of quilting tutorials on her site and I think she has another quilt along going on!  Be sure to check it out.  See, I have been doing some work while on my hiatus!

Did you miss me???

No, I didn't drop off the face of the earth!  I'm still here!!!  Had major computer issues and had to purchase a new one!  UGH!  Fortunately, I keep most of my files on OneDrive and by using Google and Microsoft my computer is almost all caught up!  Whew! So, I'll be back to my normal life's story or art work!  HA

I do have one bit of good news!  I won Lynn Kraczyk's (Smudged Design Studio) newest book, Hand Stitched Surface!  

Lynn had a hand stitching tip + trick blog hop last week. Some really good tips from five different artists as well as Lynn!  And the plus side she also had a give a way and I won!   

I commented on a tip/post by Ana Sumner on securing your thread on the needle!  You know how the 'end' always slips out and you end up threading your needle more than you sew!  Well, check out Ana's post here!  What a great tip and it works!  And while you are on Ana's post, check out some of her other posts and her gallery of work!  She also has some great video's for silk ribbon work!  

Thanks for the tip, Ana!  And for picking me as a winner!  Made my week that's for sure!!!  Now to get back to that new computer and tell it what it needs to do!  HA

Whta to do with it all!!

Last week I decided to clean out my quilt case where I have quilt made over the years.  Keep in mind there are LOTS more that I've made for family and friends that aren't here!  I have a photo book of those!  HA Anyway, what do we do with all of these quilts!  What should we do with all of these quilts!  What do you or have you done with your quilts or don't you have this problem!

Sure, they make a good floor blanket for the dogs!

So, I decided  whether a quilt would make a good hum bug bag, snap bag or cut up for fiber card or other use!  So this is one pile!  Some will make nice bags and and fiber cards.

Next, I gathered all my quilts I made using Tyvek.  I am considering submitting another article to QA magazine on using Tyvek in quilts.   Now I need to decide where to stash these!

I only have a few in progress....

But I have all of these hanging on the walls throughout the house!  And I didn't even take a picture of the table toppers or quilts on the backs of chairs or couches!  Yikes!

Oh, I forgot about these!  They hold my fiber cards, 8"x10" quilts I made for the Bead Journal Project as well as our CCC art group.  We would produce a new piece each month.   I keep all of them in folders.

I didn't take a picture of my quilt case before I removed and created the different 'piles' for the quilts.  Now I just need to find a spot to put the 'quilts to cut up' and 'tyvek' quilts!  And then where to put all these quilts on the walls!  HA

I rolled several quilts together so it looks like there are only a few quilts in here.  HA  Don't I wish!  Also, see the NatGeo lady I did several years ago...she's on the bottom right...I thought it look eerie so.............I moved her to the back!  HA

The quilt case doesn't look so scary now!  HA

So let me ask you, my readers....what should we do with all of our quilts!  I've given several to our local library, where they all still hang to this day.  But really.....maybe I need to stop making quilts.  I did bring this up at our last art group meeting.  Why am I still making art quilts?  It does keep me from sitting on the couch eating bon bons and watching soap operas (there is nothing wrong with that if you do....I'm just not a TV person during the day).  But really, I can't give any more away....and some just won't cut up well for making something out of them.   I also want to remove some from the walls...you never see them hanging on those make over shows!

Well, I better stop writing this post and get busy working on a quilt!!  HA

Look what I won!!!

Yep!  I won a copy of Simply Moderne magazine!

Margarita Korioth had a give away on her blog for the magazine, Simply Moderne and I commented and won this issue!  How cool is that!  To be honest, I have never seen this magazine so I was really excited to win it.  Margarita has an article with instructions  (six whole pages!) for Sun-Less printing in this issue, in the project section.

And this is the finished quilt Margarita made from her technique and  which she shows in the article.  I  loved the blue/fern pattern!!! 

I've followed Margarita Korioth's blog for quite sometime now...and not because she has the perfect first name!  Figured I'd say something about that before my blog readers do! HA

Anyway, Margarita is a mixed media quilter!  You have to check out her blog for the art work/quilts she creates using newspaper, magazine pages, etc.!  They are so cool!

Recently I ordered a digital copy of the April/May 2018 Quilting Arts magazine just to read her article on using papers in a quilt.  I've ordered and received the mixed media craft paper she references in that article but won't start on the technique until I finish Nemo!!

This is a  picture of the quilt in the QA magazine article that Margarita created.     Look at those birds and her amazing quilting.  Her quilts are always so happy or cheerful!!!!   Margarita shows her work in progress as  well as completed works on her blog.  I really enjoy see her quilts in progress!!!

Here are some other pages from my 'win' magazine to peak your interest!  It really is a nice, well laid out magazine.  This was an article on Quiltcon in Pasadena.  Lots of quilt photo's for inspiration! 

Check out this quilt by Stephanie Skardal, Clemmons, North Carolina.  I love this!!!

This was another quilt that that is so unique by Julie Haddrick, Adelaide, South Australia....love this

And lots of projects in this issue as well!  That was really a surprise to me. 

This was a quilt I thought looked like it would be fun to  make!

This was really an interesting project!

I've read and reread my magazine several times and I'm taking it with me on Monday to our fiber art meeting to show the ladies.  I did find the Simply Moderne  magazine on Amazon - go figure!  Lots of back issues to order.  Guess I better put the magazine down and get back to my fish!!! 

Make sure you stop over and see Margarita's work/blog and sign up to receive her posts via email!  You'll be amazed at her workmanship and inspired by her finished work!  You don't want to miss out seeing any  of her current work!