Grandma Time again!

The kids and I had a fun time this week!  Well, grandma did.....I think they did too!!!  First off we headed to Urban Air Trampoline park in Oxford.  Talk about exercise!  No, I didn't partake!  I just took pictures!!

I have to admit the facility is very clean, lots of different venues for the kids (dodge ball, foam pit, slam dunk, etc.).  I can see if you brought a 'buddy' with you vs your brother or sister, you could keep occupied for several hours.  The kids did good and we were there for over an hour.  They battled each other and worked together at dodge ball.  There was a tiny little thing that was REALLY aggressive!  She kept wanting Amber and Nick to play!  Talk about wicked!  WOW!

Anyway, after kids worked up a sweat (and you will work up a sweat!) we headed to lunch.  Then to set up an area in front of the kids house for Amber to practise parallel parking!  She's working up to taking her drivers test and needs the practise.  Who better to give her advice than her grandma!  I mean, I used to drive a horse trailer and backed that puppy in lots of places!  HA

Amber did great!  We had tons of fun doing this and plan on next week heading to the elementary school to practice other parking.

Having issues updating Amber's video!  UGH!!!

This one works!!  YEA!!!!

After that little event, we headed inside to play some games....we started off with Uno Spin...which is always fun!   Then our next favorite game is Monopoly Card game.  If you like Monopoly but don't like how long that board game can go on and on....go and buy this card game!  It is FAST and FUN!  I've even bought this game for gifts.  They sell it at WalMart and online (of course!).

My winning hand!  The only one!!

I honestly lost track of who won which games!  I only know with all the games we played I only won once!!   Seems to me Amber won at Uno Spin .....I always lose at that game!
And Nick was laughing quite a bit which means he wasn't losing at Monopoly!  In the end, I was laughing so hard my mascara was running down my face!  Just another memory and fun time with the kids!

Ring! Riing!

Not, "ring, ring...hello"....but real rings...I've had to make some new beaded rings as the ones I made several years ago are starting to look a little faded.   The metallic bead coating does wear off after awhile.  And I do wear my beaded rings every time I go out.  Just a me thing!  So I made a few more this past week.

The one of the left (grey/white trim) is in the works.  I just started it last night.  The other two are finished.  These should hold me for awhile!

And I'm working on quilting the hex blocks on my 'modern quilt'.  I'm satisfied with how it's turning out.  So far...so good!!

Just an update on my 'wrists/hands'....went to my PCP on Friday....she's made an appointment with an orthopedic specialist for possible injections in the wrists.  I've started back on a stronger dose of Prednisone as well.  So let's see how this all works out!
Today is a painful day (again!) but I have noticed that if I take 2 Excedrin for Migraine that  the pain does  taper off !!  I read about the dosage and you can only take 2 pills in a 24 hour period.  HMMMMMMM  I took  just 1 this a.m. since I took 2 yesterday afternoon for the start of a migraine.....Just have to find the right combo for dealing with these issues as we get older, right!

Focus on Fusing - Lesson 1

I started on Melody's, Focus on Fusing, class on Saturday.  This was our first lesson!!  Cutting out shapes and fusing onto backgrounds.

Of course I had fun cutting out shapes....my hard part was trying to decide color combo's..this isn't my strong suit!  Not sure what my strong suit is but I know what it isn't!  HA

So here are my sample backgrounds/fused shapes.  Melody is having us keep these in a notebook.  I'm sure at some point, we can use them in an art quilt...but for the time being it's just a lesson and samples.

I'm thinking I may need to put more 'shapes' on my backgrounds but this is a good start for me!

Our lessons will be posted every Friday, so that should give us all enough time to create our samples.  Depending on my week, I just might make up some more!!!

Fusing? Who me??

Well, yep...I'm going to be a 'fuser'!  At least, I'm going to attempt to do some art quilt fusing!  Melody Johnson is offering to give her knowledge and experience as a master fuser to we bloggers!  Well, who wouldn't jump at the chance to gain some knowledge from this master!  So of course, I signed up!  I know...like I need another project at this time!!!

On Saturday I went through all my fabric stacks/containers to pull out as many different solids as I have (solids are Melody's suggestion).  This is the fabric  I gathered!

So next up Melody suggested we need light, medium, darks....well, as most of us quilters find, we don't have a lot of lights do we!  I've separated each color into lights, medium and darks the best I could!

Our lessons will start this coming Friday and she suggested 805 Wonder Under for fusing.  Of course all I had on hand was some Heat 'n Bond or Misty Fuse..so early Saturday, the 'girls' and I took off for Joann's!  It was only 64 degrees out, so with the sun roof open, I felt like I could leave the girls in the car while I purchased some webbing  Well, I had a 50% coupon so I bought a bolt!  I got 10 yards (@2.99 a yrd!) free!  Not a bad purchase!!!  I'll use it for sure so I'm happy and excited to get our first lesson!

Yea, I know...I don't really need something else to do but heck...you can't just sit and eat bon bons and watch the boob tube all day long!  Well, you can but who wants to!  Not me!

Gigi's Gottcha Day!

One year ago we 'adopted' this little girl! 

Look at that face!  How could we not adopt her!!

Gigi is a lover and have given us so many smiles!

She is picky about certain men and children....but she does surprise us at times...she made up quickly to our neighbors son, Bryce!  But wanted to go after Bryce's dad...after he patted Bryce on his shoulder!  I think she was just protecting him!!

She has given us some challenges but she is worth every little extra effort it has taken to make her part of our family!

So Happy Gottcha Day, Gigi!!!  We love you and are so happy you belong to us!!!

Natural Dyeing

Here are the results of my 'testing' some dying with wood.

First up is  the Bolivian Rose wood....

And the mordant results....the A=alum; A=Soda ash and the blank is just that!  No pre soaking...
They are actually a little more 'beige' than in the picture and I really don't see any difference using a mordant!  Hmmmmmm

Next is the Orange Wood...at least that's all it says on the container!

And results...these are really a pretty shade of yellow...very bright and again...not much difference!

This next piece is from Brazil Wood and it's so very delicate and very pretty!  It's a pale, almost pink shade.  I've used this wood before and created a table top for the couple who gave me the wood.  It's dyed on cotton sateen so has a nice sheen to it as well!

And "waste not, want not" grandma always said...so I mixed the orange and Rose wood together and poured into my container which is holding my eco flower/leaf print.

Of course, since I've had this piece sitting outside for some 'solar' heat we've had rain and cooler weather!  Go figure!  It's been in the high 80's to 90's for the past two weeks...but as soon as I decided to work with leaves/flowers wouldn't you know the weather would change!  I'm having a hard time not opening up the package!  But I'll be patient and wait for another day!  Maybe!!!!

Some playtime!

On Thursday, I decided to go collect some leaves and/or flowers and do some eco printing!  I'm not sure how this will turn out but this is the collection I placed on my fabric...yes, the fabric is wet after soaking in alum/water.

And here the package is all wrapped up! Just like Christmas, right!  I'm not planning on opening this up until Sunday...not sure how long I should allow to 'sit' but I decided the longer the better, right?  I know folks put these in a steamer but since I don't have a steamer I'm hoping the hot, humid Michigan weather will help cook it!  This piece is in a container filled with boiling water and will be 'resting' in the sun for the next few days.  I'm not adding any dye to the water. I can always overdye the piece.  Fingers crossed!

It's wrapped tight but not as tight as I would with shiboi.  Yes, I am winging this!  I  purchased some books on Eco printing that I've quickly looked at pages and pictures but just haven't taken the time to sit and read.  Something I wanted to do today outside but it's so dang hot and humid I resorted to staying inside and playing.  I feel guilty just sitting in the house reading but not when I sit outside!  Go figure!

I mentioned that I had some wood pieces given to me by a weaver and her hubby.  So the other day I put some wood pieces, can't remember names of them right now, in some boiling water and let sit.  After I rolled up my foliage piece, I mixed up some alum/water as well as soda ash/water....I'm dong my own test!   I have 3 pieces each in the jars with the wood dye.  I'm curious to see which piece picks up the most color from the dye.

I just may let these sit until the weekend as well.  I'll be gone most of Friday and I do have bindings to sew on my solar print pieces so that will keep me busy!

And I've had some good suggestions from my readers on the quilting of my modern quilt/hex piece, which I really appreciate!  I'm going to make another tracing using different size hex's and just quilt those in white thread as well as a few echo lines around the hex strips...I can see this in my head...now I just need to put it on paper!  Guess we'll see!!

2nd Book Review -The Art of Fashion Tangling

If you want to check out some of the pages, you can go to the link on Amazon… this will give you an idea of what you’ll see…but there’s more to the book than just these few pages! 

Quite a few of us have done “tangling” or “zentangles” on cards or even a pair of tennis shoes!  Well, some of us have!  

This book is quite interesting in it's providing the reader or ‘tangler’ a different approach - tangling on different garments and accessories!   Each artist section has a unique garment for you to ‘tangle’…there are bathing suits, hats even paper dolls! 

I like the format of the book, which gives you a ‘get started’ section.  So if you’ve never ‘tangled’, you can see how easy it is to do so!  And you can practise right in the book!  That’s one feature I like, having so many different patterns in one place and my practise tangles in one place!  Right now I have several books/papers with different tangles on them.  I’d much prefer to grab this book if I wanted to decorate a card or even tangle on an apron or a T-shirt!  Now there’s an idea! 

Of course, those who follow Jill Buckley, from the Quilt Rat, know of her wonderful tangles, in addition to her fantastic quilting!  Jill’s section (Chapter 4) is full of tips and steps for creating some great tangles!!  I love her Tangled Hat on page 90!  And her tip on “using broken instead of solid lines” is SO clever!  Her section on shoes and handbags are full of different patterns, as are each of her sections.  I think some of these patterns could be done on fabric with a needle and thread!!  And that's exactly what Jill did....she had some of her doodle designs "picked up" by Janome and digitized for their embroidery machine!  So if you don't have that embroidery machine, you can create your own design(s) using Jill's patterns and tips from the book!

I definitely think this book is worth the cost ($17-20).  You’ll be inspired to learn how to tangle or to learn some new tangles!!  And who knows…you might just end up creating some new fashion items to wear or make for friends!!  Christmas is right around the corner you know!

Quilting Designs

I finished quilting each of the non hex blocks and I'm happy with that part of this quilt.  Kinda hard to see the quilting, but if you really care, just click on it to enlarge.

Now comes the issue of quilting around the hex's.  I had a thought one night in bed but I'm thinking that particular thought may not work out afterall!  This was the thought....I traced out the hex's on tracing paper and started to 'draw' in my quilting lines.   This would work but it's going to be difficult to get an even pattern going around each of the 3 hex's....I just started to fill in with a pencil and I know I'll get lost for sure as I quilt it on the machine!

So today I started to play around with two more quilting ideas!  This is another one.....too much me thinks!

And the last one.......again, too  much...

I still can't decide, so I'm going to hold off working on this piece until after our fiber meeting this coming Monday!  I know the ladies will provide some good input on how to quilt around the hex's.....or if you have an idea, PLEASE leave me a comment!  All suggestions will be welcome!!

Book Review Time!

To start with, this is a beautiful book on the outside!  I’m not sure what material the cover is made of but you will find yourself touching it all the time!   It feels like suede..so make sure your hands are clean!! 

The photos in the book are really beautiful…one after another of different techniques by different artists…I’m not sure how many but each chapter displaying their work is awesome. 

The book starts off with your normal supply list or as the author states ‘Hunting and Gathering’, etc. I love that, “Hunting and Gathering”!  Ms Fox uses so many different finds in creating her beautiful fabrics and papers.  Yep, this isn’t just for fabric folks! I didn’t realize there would be printing on papers.  The section on Kitchen Color is really interesting.  Of course, most of us know about the onion skin to dye eggs with but did you know you can use this liquid to paint on paper!  Who knew!  She even shows how to create your own walnut ink!

There are chapters on rust marking, “foraged fibers” (which was quite interesting!), natural colors or Eco printing as well as a section on screen printing.   But…this isn’t an ‘instruction’ book on projects.  There aren’t projects for you to complete.    The book is chalk full of tips and suggestions and yes, some instructions, but they are short and sweet.  It’s mainly showing you samples from artists that have used a particular technique and those artists provide tips/etc.

The leaves on the front and back were real leaves that Alice stitched!  Looks really cool!

And that’s what is inspiring, just seeing some of the beautiful work these artists achieved.

So, is it worth the cost (I paid $22)?  For me, YES, as I said, there aren’t full blown projects for you to make something from a particular technique, but there are tons of tips and numbered items for you to follow to create something on your own.   

And I’m totally inspired to start looking for ‘found’ objects to start a collection!  I have wood chips that were given to me by a weaver in Florida.  This husband and wife team (they both passed away) would dye their own yarns.  I was fortunate that the hubby gave me containers full of different different types of wood.  A few years ago I dyed a piece of fabric, which turned out a beautiful shade of pale purple/pink. from some of the chips.    Not sure what wood I used, but I made the couple a  small topper from that fabric.  Think I just might have to get back into using the wood chips until I have read and reread Alice Fox’s book!

My next review is going to be on The Art of Fashion Tangling!  I know a lot of you will recognize Jill Buckley’s name from the blog The Quilt Rat!   Jill is one of the contributing artists in this book!  I haven’t read each page yet…just did some browsing…so that’s my next review!   

Happy Birthday Kalee!

Happy 5th BD to our girl! 

 Kalee is the best girl...hard to believe we've had her since she was 8 weeks old!!  

 Yep, this was the picture that made Bob and I decide we were taking this little girl into our home!  So glad we did!!!

Yes, she can be a Diva!

But she is such a good girl and a great 'sister' to Gigi! 

Kalee makes the residents at Assisted Living homes feel happy!!

She can even get into trouble at times....

But we love her!!!  So today the girls will celebrate along with us!  Happy BD, Kalee!!