Creative Gleanings

a parcel delivered....

2011-07-28T16:22:00.009-05:00

and inside a stack of brochures for CreativFestival Oct 21-23,2011. Quickly flipping through it to page 43, there I am!!!! I'll be teaching along with other members of York Heritage Quilt Guild.Found in the Garden

preparing for Nancy Crow

2010-06-13T07:55:00.007-05:00

I decided at the last minute to take the last spot in Nancy Crow's strips & stripes class at QBL this July. I am still using the information I learned at my last visit to her farm.

There is much preparation for one of Nancy's class. I reassessed my solid collection from previous and was happy to add to it by supporting my local quilt shop -The Ultimate Sewing Centre in Oshawa. I love this collection of bright warm fabrics. The orange and purple together are wonderful.

2010-05-19T07:03:00.011-05:00

The Greenbelt quilt is wonderful. It is currently on display at Queen's Park. It will also be show at the upcoming G20 & G8 meetings.

The video of the quilt construction can be seen here.

More photos here.

This is the entry in the book for my block. I hope you can read it

if not the entire book with all the blocks and their stories is available for download here (3.65KB)

It is wonderful to read the stories behind the quilt blocks.

It has been wonderful to play a small part in the great project.

bad bad blogger

2010-02-22T07:08:00.009-06:00

for having neglected my blog. taking without obligation too far. but I'm back.
still creating- actually had a few large projects last year so I will try to keep up & catch up at the same time.
During that time I have realized the value of story. like the song says 'everyone's got a story'. and that is becoming more important to my work.
this is a 12" square I made for the Greenbelt Quilt of Possibilites to be unveiled at the Greenbelt 5th anniversary Celebration at the Royal Ontario Museum Wed Mar 3.

It was from a small family B&W photo of my Dad with his truck on the Holland Marsh. The cab of the trunk is from the photo enlarged & printed on fabric. I coloured it with inks. This truck was red but I remember our next truck which was larger and was green. the green monster is what my Dad called it.

I'm really please how it turned out and am looking forward to seeing it in the finished quilt.

good to be back

Trendtex challenge for CQA

2009-05-17T08:14:00.012-05:00

Have you ever finished a piece so fast you don't get a chance to live with it. This was the case with this Trendtex challenge piece for CQA
The challenge is to use the 5 FQ of fabric and the theme 'Roots'. Mine is number 80 in this list of over 100 pieces. It is amazing to see what people will do with the same ingredients. Common themes included root vegetables, family heritage and those nasty roots on our heads. I'm off to do some dying - hair not fabric!

spring has finally

2009-05-14T07:10:00.011-05:00

arrived here. The birds are tweeting are u?
flashes of red as the cardinals fly by, that blur was a hummingbird at the apple blossoms and the robins are busy listening to the earth.
But when is a robin not a robin?
It could be this robin, a wonderful blog. There is such a sense of peace & joy of life in Robin's words.
or it could be these robins spotted in a park in Edinburgh, Scotland -

a much tinier bird than the North American robin with a lovely roundness that makes them a favourite motif at Christmas in the UK.

finally

2009-04-09T08:47:00.004-05:00

finished a quilt I started for Spot AKA Sputnik, babydoll & my yungin'- who turned 22 recently.
started oh about 10 years ago.
had some help - I sent it out to be quilted - I love it. Tracey from the Ultimate has a Gammill Long arm. I even got to drive it - that is quite the quilting machine!!
I love the quilting she did. It looks like doodling on the back. It is also lovely to sleep under (Shhh, don't tell Spot - but it is on our bed for now!)

Project Improv

2009-03-18T15:11:00.000-05:00

I've made 6 blocks each 12.5" square for Project Improv. They are on the way to Kansas to be included with other blocks. check 'em out here.

we have a show

2009-03-11T07:48:00.010-05:00

'We' are Fibre Arts Toronto - sounds special & we are FAT for short!
Four people with a common interest in all things textile. Our show is at the North York Central Library of the world's largest library system -Toronto Public Library - up the stairs to the meeting rooms.
you can see some pictures here

things I learned hanging our very first show.
Hanging stuff with fishing line is crazy - don't try it.
bring a level - everyones' idea of straight is different.
that blue sticky stuff teachers have works wonders.
things will take about three times longer than expected!
people will touch your work - doesn't matter how many 'DO NOT TOUCH' signs you put up!
people will think you are wonderfully creative and talented and brilliant!! and isn't that the point!!

messenger bag

2009-02-03T08:16:00.009-06:00

I made this cute bag from a felted sweater & navy wool felt. The pattern is from Betz's Warm & Fuzzies. The felt is fused to the sweater bits on the strap & flap. This gives the strap real body & should stand up to real use & abuse!
she also has a new book coming out any day now called Sew Green
I love all things green!!

mountains of snow

2009-01-31T15:03:00.006-06:00

that's what's outside our home. Mountains of snow. piles of it. what's the best thing to do?
Make something bright & cheery & floral.......
like this.
A tote with lots of outside pockets. Pattern from Quilting Arts - Stitch magazine.I made one before Christmas for our guild secret Santa exchange but didn't get a picture of it. This one is made with a heavy treated cotton one of my fibre art friends was passing on! Lucky me!

cyber Fyber

2009-01-19T16:20:00.004-06:00

see my fiber postcard on display at the Cyber Fyber . It is the middle one in the row to the left in this photo.

a cute little purse

2008-12-20T07:57:00.001-06:00

following Melanie Testa's instructions in the Dec/Jan 09 Quilting Arts Magazine I made this cute little purse- using a different version of this wallhanging.
There is a cute video of Melanie making her purse here.

and the mitts to match

2008-12-19T07:55:00.001-06:00

is this upcycling?

let it snow, let it snow,let it snow

2008-12-17T06:43:00.009-06:00

It is going to be a white Christmas here in Southern Ontario!
My DD will be toasty warm in her new hat we made together yesterday.
Second hand wool sweater fulled in the washing machine. I used the pattern from the book Warm Fuzzies by Betz White. a great pattern, clear concise instructions. We picked rick rack for the ties - perfect for Spot!!

one block wonder

2008-11-18T07:17:00.007-06:00

first there was stack n whack, then the four corner posy, now one-block wonder seems to be the latest thing to do in quilting.
all of these are basically the same - taking advantage of how fabric is printed - stacking identical repeats of motifs in varying numbers 4-8. cutting them into pieces then arranging them.
I had fun with some ladies ohhing & aweing over their blocks in a class recently
mine is this yellow one

CreativFestival

2008-10-15T06:54:00.006-05:00

Imagine a whole convention centre full of paper & fabric & beads & ink & buttons &sewing machines & yarn & thread. oh my.
Add in free demos, classes, door prizes and you have the CreativFestival.
in the big smoke, TO or Torona. (actually TORONTO)
I'm headed there towmorrow to hang 29 gorgeous pices of art made by Canadian members of SAQA.
all 16" square, all based on the theme Synthesis, all different, all brilliant.
I will be teaching a class Sunday morning called Art Quilts 101. We could spend hours trying to define art but we're gonna have fun instead.
see ya there

Thr3fold

2008-10-07T07:12:00.000-05:00

Thr3fold is the name of a unique book published by the very talented team of Linda Kemshall, Laura Kemshall and Catherine Nicholls.
Each journal is full of wonderful projects and insight into how these artists work together and individually. There is also a CD with video clips, more projects and photos to use. I used Laura's machine embroidery to make this piece. Laura has been kind enough to include it in the Reader's Gallery of Thr3fold.

wreaths

2008-08-15T06:50:00.004-05:00

I had a great time helping these ladies in class to make a wallhanging wreath. Floral fabric cut into squares - that's what quilter's do don'tyaknow, cut up fabric to sew it back together!!
the squares are arranged on fusible grid - endlessly sometimes! - into a wreath. I love how they are each so unique just like the creators.

I predicted it first........

2008-08-06T18:04:00.003-05:00

I've been saying it for about a year........macrame is making a comeback.
If you were crafting in the 70's you did macrame.
Evidence here

brilliant flowers

2008-08-03T07:33:00.000-05:00

these bright flowers are in my front flower bed. They are a wonderful golden yellow. I got a used copy of David Hornung's workshop book on e-bay. He is teaching a workshop at Nancy Crow's in the spring. He spent some time making quilts and has written the intro in one of Nancy's books. dets are here. There are wonderful examples of the mysteries of color. I guess it really is a mystery of light and our eyes together. Like many books the real learning comes from doing the exercises. I'll be buying gouache. I'll need to learn how to pronounce it first!!
for Gail - the paisley fabric in the card trick quilt top is by Timeless Treasures pattern name Mirage. Actually all the fabrics in that quilt top except the solid black are from that line. HTH

playing around

2008-07-28T07:32:00.001-05:00

I made some 'fabric' like I did at Nancy Crow's from this funky fabric and some hand dyes.cut & sewn into this small loose checkerboard piece. I'm not sure how to quilt it. any suggestions?

card trick

2008-07-22T07:18:00.006-05:00

There are still so many traditional quilt patterns I want to try. I've always loved Card Trick. The pattern is from Northcott fabrics. I will be teaching this class in the fall. My part is finished - someone else will be doing the quilting. just as well, because I am feeling very frustrated at my quilting. I am working on machine quilting the Knotted Bouquet. After working so hard to have everything even & straight - it looks not so good now! I sure hope I will love it again when it is finished. I am just frustrated that my quilting skills don't match my piecing skills at this stage.

an award winning quilter

2008-07-11T10:59:00.005-05:00

I am, I am said Sam!!
yup I won a ribbon -I tied for first place in the Twisted Stitcher's Guild Food Challenge with my Menton lemons wallhanging. It was from a workshop with Velda Newman at QBL last year. Teachers & students alike are busy packing for this years wonderful line up of classes. have fun everyone!

Lemons from Menton because it is one of my favourite towns in France. You can sit at the waterfront & look out over Italy. They do with lemons what Pasedena does with roses!

new class sample

2008-06-27T15:03:00.006-05:00

2 shots of my latest quilt top. I'll be teaching this class in the fall. Its a pattern called Knotted Bouquet by Shawna Case of Quilter's Clutter in Alberta - I'm not doing the bouquet applique part on the outer border - why because I don't want to - yes that is the sound of a grown woman ( H. E. double hockey sticks - grown? nudging on half a century old ) stomping her feet like a 3 year old!! I just don't wanna!!!
I really enjoyed doing it. I love the secondary pattern created by the four blocks. To me that is the magic of quilt design - those secondary patterns.

quilting community

2008-06-17T06:47:00.004-05:00

This wonderful craft/art/skill of quilting has always generated so much more than comfort cloths. building community. From quilting bees with generations sitting side by side to the internet we connect over fabric and thread. blogs have made it easy for everyone to share their journey.
The hottest place right now is Quilting Gallery. Add YOUR blog & watch the numbers grow.

saying something

2008-06-11T06:35:00.010-05:00

with that vocabulary was interesting. more cutting & sewing. Robin next to me, is an experienced Nancy Crow workshop student. She cut her units directly from the fabric & made a beautiful piece. Kim worked quietly in a corner space and has her thoughts and work posted in her blog.
my strips were large so there was no 'unit' without additional sewing & construction.
4 was enough! After trying all the predictable stuff -Nancy helped me with this setting.
I like it. 2 full days of work plenty of blood sweat & tears went into this little piece.

creating vocabulary

2008-06-02T06:42:00.004-05:00

lots of the fabrics I took to Nancy Crow's workshop were used to create vocabulary. Fabric was cut freehand with curves and waves and sewn into sets. Here are mine
It was very interesting to see everyone's work. I understood what we were doing on an intellectual basis but actually doing it made me really get it. I understood it on a visceral level. I know even if we all started with the same fabrics they would still be very different at the end.

colours and shapes everywhere....

2008-05-28T06:28:00.007-05:00

Life has returned to normal. work, teaching classes, renovating the kitchen but my mind just wants to think about line and shape and colour. That's all I see.
like these paint chips I picked up at Rona.
who names colours anyway? Hymn to the sun??! en francais is much better!! -Melodie pour le soleil.

This is a black and white exercise using shapes. We used it to make a larger multi-coloured version. I'm going to replace the bottom right 2 corners- I don't like the shapes. they are more like lines than shapes at this point. It is big enough to use as a picnic blanket or to makes tents. not a masterpiece but someday someone (maybe my grandbabies) will cherish it all the same.

the universe answers

2008-05-23T06:44:00.004-05:00

so the satellite radio thing. I understood what the Boss was saying -500 channels and nothin' on! There is a XM satellite station for every genre and sub-genre of music- the names of the stations tell all - Chrome, waterfall, audio vision, Willie's place, beyond Jazz not to mention the sports and traffic stations!!
I got a repetative injury from hitting the scan button for hours on end. what did I settle on? comedy and Oprah.
Is it possible to OD on Oprah & friends - absolutely!!
I learned Gayle talks alot - alot about her kids, Peter Walsh's voice is very annoying and Dr. Oz could get a job on the comedy station when he wants to give up surgery- he was very funny discussing ED.
I did listen to Michael Losier discuss the Law of Attraction. My family has practiced this for years - we just didn't know it had a fancy name! It has become a ritual on the way to a thrift store or garage sale to state what you want to find. red shoes, Lego pieces, garden tools. and lo & behold it is there waiting for you!!
I'm still waiting to find one of Nancy Crow's book at a Value Village!!
so I think it is possible to get what you want before the idea solidifies in your mind & thoughts.
Many art quilters dye their own fabrics. I've done this once and it was a lot of fun but realize it would be a big commitment of supplies and time to do it on a big scale.
At the YHQG annual sewing room sale I met Joyce Seagram and purchased bags, many bags of her hand dyed fabric scraps. I was asked several times at Nancy's if I know Joyce. DO NOW!
so I get to play with a large selection of hand dyed fabric without dying everything in site. I can't dye my hair without getting dye everywhere!! so thanks universe for sending me what I wanted before I knew I wanted it.

a sad sad day

2008-05-21T06:38:00.005-05:00

my fabrics have SAD! the assignment was to create fabric with two fabrics you loved - a light and dark. this was my second selection. Nancy came by and asked if I was conservative? possibly, I don't think so. am I?
my fabrics did look sad but after some consideration I blame the 3 feet of snow on the ground last winter. that's when I collected my fabrics. any colour looked good at the time. so my fabrics suffer from Seasonal Affect Disorder. anybody on this side of the 49th parallel can relate.

this sad attempt at a dramatic piece didn't even survive the wall.

Nancy Crow

2008-05-20T06:28:00.003-05:00

Black & white fabric made to use in our first composition

I feel like I'm hanging by a thread just like my name tag on the wall!

so you want all the dets eh? for starters people in the US notice when you say eh?!
where to start?? man so much to think about & process & adopt.
Well for starters Nancy is nice. She has high expectations of her students. She starts right up front by stating that having to treat us like pre-schoolers by constantly reminding us to turn off irons, sewing machines & lights will make her cranky. She would much rather be teaching & what teacher wouldn't. I admire her frank and forthright manner. I also aspire to being a little cranky in my profession. remember she considers this a college level class. so yes we worked really hard but we learned a ton of stuff in the process.

the trip

2008-05-12T06:23:00.002-05:00

I'm not a very good long distance traveller - are we there yet?!
and I'm usually the navigator - I love maps
so It was a long but uneventful day getting here to Columbus Ohio for Nancy Crow's workshop - pinch me, pinch me. (insert BNL's tune here)
I booked a subcompact rental car - last year for QBL I was upgraded to a Sebring convertible this year I got an Impala. I love being upgraded.
left Hamilton my DD in hand at 8 o'clock. crossed into US at 9 at Fort Erie.

way too much math like stuff on this trip. how long does it take to go 183 miles? how many ml to the gallon? oh ya its an American gallon? whose dollar is worth more today? Is gas still more expensive in Canada?
I pay for my gas FIRST? what's up with that - how many litres I mean gallons I mean US gallons at $3.69US does a Impala take when it is almost empty and has 183 miles to go at approximately 118 km/hr??? I decided to start with 40 bucks worth so this exercise proved to me that yes gas is still cheaper in the US cuz I got $1.05 back . US $ now quick what size of coffee can that buy me at Timmy's - don't forget GST & PST.

AUGH!!!!!!!! too much like work. no really I mean MY work. Johnny weighs 63.5 kg and needs azithromycin 50mg/kg on day 1..... etc etc AUGH!!!!!

don't get me started on satellite radio!!!!

the plaids

2008-05-08T08:18:00.000-05:00

I'm not a big fan of plaids. I did see some lovely male specimens of our species in kilts at a wedding in Scotland in February. so I can appreciate a good tartan!!

but buying plaids. nope. lots remind me of farmers' shirts which is fine if you are bringing in hay or feeding cattle (been there, done that, got crap on my t-shirt!)
so I did find a few that I can live with. Again it will be interesting to see what we do with them.

the batiks

2008-05-06T08:23:00.004-05:00

As well as the all the solids we need some batiks. I've never met a batik I didn't like so most of these I had.

Psst wanna see my stash..............

2008-05-06T08:14:00.003-05:00

yup the goods all washed, ironed & folded ready for the big trip. Its like having the biggest box of crayons. dump em out & sort em out. how to sort? by colour? by value? by interesting combos?

an new adventure

2008-05-05T06:27:00.003-05:00

the hotel is booked, the rental car reserved, the rotary blade changed, the sewing machine tuned-up. the stash is washed, ironed & folded. well almost.
Yup I'm almost ready for my trip to Nancy Crow's 1 week improvisational workshop. A seven hour drive for a week of almost endless cutting, sewing, learning and playing with colour. We do get to sleep - that's what the hotel is for! and we get fed & watered regularly so we can keep going into the wee hours of the night. (10:30pm actually)
I'm keeping an open mind - not just for class but for the whole experience. I have had conversations with other people who have taken Nancy's classes. I've heard totally opposite views of the experiences. So that's what you will get here- my view of my experience. That's the best we can expect from anyone.
My expectations - what are my expectations - I know I will and plan on working hard - this I'm looking forward to - I'm often finished an exercise in other classes while others are getting the instructions sorted out - I like working independently within a given framework.
I expect to learn a lot - about myself, about working seriously, about learning to put into words the reasons for my choices. To explain my art.
stay tuned...........

Sold and Bought

2008-04-24T11:24:00.000-05:00

what a thrill to sell a piece of work I made. this was on display at the Ultimate Sewing Centre and someone liked it enough to want to buy it. many messages later it is sold.
I changed the binding to match the border and it looks much more sophisticated now.
Money comes and goes all the time but firsts should be recognized. whether it is from babysitting or your first job or as in this case your first sale - that money can and should be used to commemorate the event.
I used some of my sale moula to buy this laptop tote. made by Canadian designer Jonathan Chang under the JoJo label. see it reviewed here
who knows one day I may even post to this very blog from a coffee shop. Is Timmy's WiFi? no eh? I'll have to learn to order coffee at that other place. My java of choice is DD. and that is not my cup size!! (XL if you insist)

flowers will be blooming

2008-04-03T18:16:00.003-05:00

in the garden soon. now that the snow is finally gone & the rain is washing things clean. In the mean time, another step on my convergence that started here, and is now waiting on flowers. I changed the bottom right green to an orange.

you might recognize the foliage from here. some plants are hard to get rid of!

fierce tote

2008-04-01T09:40:00.014-05:00

Hello there my chicklets -Paris can keep her Hermes, Nicole her Gucci, I will be carrying this awesome bag I just finished creating down the guild catwalk!! I love the argyle and the lovely robins egg blue lining. Its FIERCE

It has pockets for my strawberry and Moleskine

Carrie can keep her red-soled Christian Louboutins My bag has this Fierce purple seam binding!!
Note to self - Do not read Mark Lipinski and watch 2 hours of Project Runway in the same day!!

More Moo cards

2008-03-28T12:57:00.005-05:00

I love Moo cards. Everyone wants to know about them when I hand them out.
My first set is here. this is my second order. All but 2 of the cards are from various projects I've made. Two are from favourite photos taken in the south of France.

Young and Hip

2008-03-28T06:51:00.006-05:00

Another guild piece ready to leave my home. I loved the large scale floral - graphic black & white sketched flowers with orange, yellow and pink. The best pattern for a quick quilt is one with half plain blocks, similar to the marquee quilts- get those cut & you can tell yourself you're half way done!! the pieced blocks were done in stack & whack style with solid yellow, black & white. The fossil fern fabric in the unusual colour combination was perfect. Addition of some funky black & white prints helps keep it fresh. I messed up on the borders - I thought they were going all the way around like more traditional borders but didn't make them long enough to mitre. I quite like how it turned out. I think it will be a great quilt for a girl or young woman. I'm taking it back to the guild to find a back & a quilter to finish it. Any volunteers??

cat prints

2008-03-27T07:20:00.004-05:00

another guild project finished. A panel or as we used to call them 'cheater tops' with simple but effective borders in gold & blue.

It seems to be the tiniest thing I get the biggest kick out of - like this one. I love the tiny motif on the the blue fabric. It looks like cat foot prints. sort of like when the cat walks through mud then up & down the glass windshield on your car!! this kitty looks sweet enough to do just that!

for sale

2008-03-25T07:29:00.000-05:00

This is another sample from a class I taught last fall. It is called Mystic Blooms from a pattern by Sew Be It. I love the pink and orange combination. the centre of the flowers are made from threads and bits of batik similar to thread bowls.

I am asking $300 Can.

is it really spring?

2008-03-23T07:32:00.002-05:00

anybody else tired of winter? even though it is officially spring there are no signs of it yet. the morning doves are all fluffed up against the cold.

Christmas teddies

2008-03-23T07:31:00.003-05:00

no, not those slinky things men buy their wives. these cute cuddly teddies. The fabric is from salesmans samples donated to our guild by the Ultimate Sewing Centre.
The rectangle pieces were cut to minimize waste and a very simple graphic layout. I love the backing because the sweaters look laid out for the teddy bears to take their pick to get dressed up & go out to play in the snow.

a well travelled quilt

2008-03-14T06:54:00.003-05:00

I made this wallhanging from the Trendtex challenge kit for CQA. The quilt is on its way now to BC then to the conference in Newfoundland in June. I used only the 5 fabrics provided. The bright yellow is sewn in as narrow free cut little strips. I hope some one likes it enough to buy it.

sacred company

2008-03-11T06:41:00.007-05:00

I spend a wonderful weekend in Kingston at a workshop with Judith Martin. Kingston Fibreworks organize events and have worldclass speakers at the facilites at St Lawrence College.
We started with a presentation by Judith. A preamble show & tell of some of her pieces. A wonderful slide show as Judith read poetry.
Saturday and Sunday were a combination of stitching & sharing. I especially enjoyed hearing everyones short presentation about themselves based on the timelines we prepared about ourselves. We all DO have stories. Interesting stories. value your story, write your story, share your story. For me I know I will be including my story in my work.
It was a memorable weekend in other ways too. Snow,lots of snow, wind, stuck cars, abandoned cars.
these are some of the dyed fabrics in the kits Judith prepared for us. You can see where I've started stitching on a piece of dyed dish towel.

repeat after me..

2008-03-07T13:43:00.000-06:00

it is only fabric, it is only fabric.
Yes you can use that beautiful fabric you love so much. Use it before your tastes change & you wonder at what the big deal was!!
same for dyed fabrics. Yes I made it myself & yes it is the only piece like it in the world but it isn't being appreciated folded away in a basket.
I dyed this during my one & only go at dying last year at St. Lawrence College. When it warms up a bit I'm going to dye a whole lot. Like everything else it takes practice to get it right.
Myrna is really enjoying herself much to her surprise.
This bag was made according to directions from the first issue of Quilt WOW (workshop on the web) by Edwina MacKinnon who happens to be my tutor for the C&G Sketchbook course I'm taking through DesignMatters. There is a gorgeous example of the same style bag in the Thr3fold Journal Reader's Gallery. and another example on the cover of this book.

I won, I won...

2008-03-06T07:00:00.008-06:00

a wonderful gift from Franca in Paris. Yup Paris, FRANCE, not Paris Ontario. I love Marie Claire Idees magazine. It comes out four times a year. I've bought it only once in France and can usualy find it at Chapters. This is my collection.

teaching

2008-02-24T09:46:00.009-06:00

I'm teaching several classes over the next few months. I'm teaching at
Ultimate Sewing Centre in Oshawa. It is a great store super friendly & helpful staff, great prices & awesome selction of fabrics especially the greens.
Photos of the classes I'm teaching are listed here. scroll down to find Point Nine, Kabuki, quilting with Circles and the sewing bag.

ATC

2008-02-22T07:54:00.004-06:00

I got mt ATC from Susan Lenz of CyberFyber in the mail recently. I love the textures & colours. reminds me of the quilt I just finished. Lenna has hers here. These are the ones I'm sending for the trade.

graphic quilt

2008-02-20T06:34:00.006-06:00

I just finished this quilt. It started by doodling on graph paper. I love the high contrast with the black & white fabric. It would make a great quilt for a beginner to make as it is really just a fence rail pattern. I love the combination of black & brown. This is more a golden brown. The complex pattern in the border fabric adds another element of interest.
The binding (I think IMHO!)works as a final frame matching the inner thin border. simple but effective. Machine quilting is still a big challenge for me. I feel like I'm starting over every time I attempt it. practice. practice.

.....its painted

2008-02-19T08:04:00.004-06:00

I didn't want to paint just for the sake of painting on a quilted surface. I wanted to use the same shape - mostly squares - that I had used in layering the sheers.
I used a stiff cardboard template, straight seta color fabric paints & a foam brush. I tried to just tickle the tops of the raised parts and was pleased with the results. A couple of the blocks are a little heavier on the paint than I would like.
I have no idea what to do now!! Is it finished? does it need something else?

hand stitching

2008-02-15T07:02:00.012-06:00

ever notice how lovely hand stitched pieces are small. like this beautiful elephant on the cover of Stitch magazine. It is 21 x 17.5cm. I now know why. I belong to a very small but great group of fibre artists - at our first meeting before Christmas last year we decided to work on a project from Quilting Arts Magazine Gifts issue. a bag from Linda & Laura Kemshall.
layers of sheers under tulle then lots of hand stitching. I worked on it diligently watching all the Christmas specials. you know the ones - the ones you know word for word - Grinch, Rudolph, Charlie Brown. Yup classics.
True to my theory that everything is smaller in the UK - cars, roads, fridges. I thought go big or go home. I started out with a fat quarter. so my stiched piece is a huge 42 x 48 cm. that's about 17 x 19"!!
all stitched and more than a few pricked fingertips!!
I love the texture, the bumpy surface where the stitching gathers up the batting.
the big question - what's next!!
Laura & Linda are know for painting on their quilted surfaces.
Yikes. but as Myrna said- the earth won't fall of its axis or birds fall out of the sky so why not!!

Cyber Fyber

2008-02-14T05:28:00.008-06:00

The internet has been a great resource in building communities that wouldn't exist any other way. Meeting people from around the world with common interests. Susan Lenz had a wonderful exhibit of small art in the form of ATC's and postcards called recently called Cyber Fyber. These AtC's & postcard started out similar to these -same velvet,plaid scarf,foil, sheers -different wool and sheer on top. The sheer is more reflective and called for a cheerier finish. I love the fuzzy multi-coloured yarn.

souvenirs from Prague

2008-02-11T08:40:00.000-06:00

I'm not a big fan of buying souvenirs when we travel. We take lots of photos and try to keep notes on each days events. But hand painted silk in a gallery window will draw me in regardless of where I am.
I bought this beautiful one-of-a-kind hand painted silk designer skirt at a gallery in Prague
this photo shows the detail of the fabric & the back of the skirt. It is by a designer Ivana Follova.
This sweater is designed by Martina Nevarilova and looks great with the skirt. I am so excited to have a truly unique outfit to remind me of a great visit to Prague.

falling leaves

2008-01-31T07:07:00.000-06:00

I made & taught this wall hanging last fall - I call it a door style - great for that long skinny piece of wall at the top of the stairs.
It is from a pattern by Bee Creative Studio called Drifters. But I started calling it Falling Leaves. I like how the yellow leaves form a soft S shape for your eye to follow
the background is paper piece and provides wonderful variety. the leaves are freezer paper applique.

Horoscope

2008-01-29T06:27:00.000-06:00

do you read the horoscopes? do you believe in them? I do and I admit they are very general so you can read into them what you want. this one from last week spoke to my heart.
There needs now to be a plan, a strategy, a real mood of certainty about what can be achieved. It is coming if you don't have it already. And it will alter everything in your life. Your daily world advances from black and white into full colour.

needlefelting

2008-01-22T12:54:00.000-06:00

I like needlefelted work but prefer if all those little holes are not visible. Beryl Taylor always writes clear, concise instructions for projects that have such visual interest & depth. Her latest is in the Jan/Feb 08 issue of cloth, paper, scissors.
I had started working on my felt piece for Carmi's swap with a plaid mohair scarf. I bought the scarf at the Toronto Clothing Show but found it too itchy to wear. It was felted onto wool felt and felted to a piece of cotton velvet. circle of wooly yarn punched in & painted fusible ironed on.this is what it looked like at that point.
many more layers- copper & blue foil, punched sheer from an old skirt, a sprinkle of bo-nash & a layer of orange chiffon. then machine stitched, sliced & diced & the edges finished with yarn.
when I was cutting it up I realized it looks like rust or patinaed copper. Is patina a verb or a noun? both?
as a bonus the back looks great too.
this is the front scanned

and the back

extreme gleaning

2008-01-22T07:02:00.000-06:00

I admire the work of Mary Fogg. I was fortunate enough to see one IRL at the quiltart 20 show at the Burlington Arts Centre.
While tidying up my work surface in the studio I decided either use em lose em. That lovely fuzzy first strip cut off a piece of washed fabric. Sew horizontally on a background with a pice of batting about journal size.
They became a lovely way to document the fabrics used in a piece and remind me of the exercise we did in Katie PM class

how I've felt

2008-01-13T06:48:00.000-06:00

some times things are just MFEO (made for each other) I sometimes feel old cuz I've missed out on the whole IM, ICQ, now facebook thing. by choice that is. I don't even own a cell phone for pete's sake. but I digress.....
some things just fall into place, I've been wanting to play more with the Xpression. Having worked very hard on samples of classes I will be teaching at Ultimate Sewing Centre I rewarded myself with this little book. while tidying up in the studio these yummy supplies fit the bill. A cover-up top of unknown content - basically two panels stitched together with gathering ties at the shoulders and a huge skein of gorgeous wool yarn bought at a yarn shop on Queen St in Toronto. Here they are laid out on a piece of water soluble stabalizer with wisps of light pink roving following Her Majesty's directions!
flip & repeat on other side & pin to hold in place.
needle punch to hold everything together. then stitch. I used two kinds of water soluble stuff, one didn't even punch into the fibers so I got it all back (except for 1 tablespoon- remember the Crisco ad!)
Into the tub to wash away the remaining Solvy & scrunch to wet felt.
It it turned out gorgeous. still soft but not slinky. It shrank in length quite a bit so I am going to put a slit near one end to pull the other through so it will sit close to my neck.

I've been tagged

2007-12-26T08:45:00.000-06:00

by LennaHere are the simple rules to being tagged:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs

so here goes in no particular order ..........

1. I am a pharmacist. have been for a little while now. lets see, oh ya it will be 25 years in 2008!!! holy &*^%$ where does time go??

2. I have 2 gorgeous delightful darling daughters. my greatest creations ever!! just thinking of them makes my heart swell with love. They are on their own now so when I see them I want to gobble them up just like when they were babies.

3. I'm engaged. for over 3 years now. 2008 WILL be the year.

4.I never work on just one project at a time. I always have many on the go at once. I am trying very hard to finish most though.

5. I can't leave a surface uncovered. It just happens.I can clean the coffee table and in what seems like mere seconds- magazines, notes,books, fabric, newspaper, the odd coffee mug, folded laundry appear. Its like magic, not good magic. good magic would be if things disappeared with equal ease.

6. I want to write a book one day.

7. I am usually very happy & extremely grateful for my life.

hey that wasn't so bad. not much weird stuff. sorry

do I know 7 people I can tag? here goes - Melissa, Nadine,Myrna apparently I don't.

snow day

2007-12-17T06:50:00.000-06:00

Here in Southern Ontario we had a good winter storm over the weekend with lots of snow. at least a couple of feet. the best part is getting to stay indoors all day guilt free (well yes this is something I do at least once a week - most Sundays and occasionally from Friday am through to Monday am.)
A good change to finish a few projects for Christmas gifts. There is very little chance the recipient will see this as she has a strong dislike for computers and wouldn't own one except she is in college. Yup we are talking about my youngest daughter. I won't have to ban her from the blog like some people!!
anywho this is a little wallhanging for my tree-loving daughter.

A piece of hand-dyed fabric from my course in Kingston last summer. The centre stitching is machine embroidered from a design made on 4D Sketch by Laura Kemshall from her journal Thr3fold.
It may look familiar as it is very similar to the pillow Laura made for Quilting Arts magazine.
I don't have very much hand-dyed fabric so I used a commercial fabric for the binding. I like the way it looks like looking up through a tree full of leaves. there is a tiny bit of bronzy gold in the binding that ties into the painted leaves.

sometimes a quiz says it all.....

2007-12-07T06:59:00.001-06:00

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know.
You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems.
Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green.
Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

The Muppet Personality Test

The only TV show I made a point of watching while in University--- The Muppets. The only stuffed toy I still own - Kermit. My only kitschy garden ornament - Kermit.
what else is there to say? oh ya KERMIT RULES!!!
Hey Mel I didn't cheat either.

Pay it Forward

2007-11-30T07:28:00.001-06:00

I received my lovely Pay It Forward prezzie from Lenna. a beautiful piece to hang in my studio.
picture of dets

and inside the pocket were these lovely photos printed on fabric

my Pay It Forward treats will be made from this - a dyed & painted fabric from last summer sliced & diced into these itty bitty pieces. stay tuned to see what they will be or better yet jump in to Pay It Forward and you will get a surprise in the mail from moi!

my work from Katie's class

2007-11-28T06:52:00.000-06:00

These are my pieces from Katie's class.

This is one of my favourites - developing depth using the rainbow colours in order of value. This was from a favourite photo of Monceau Park in Paris. remember these are just quick cut & fuse exercises that could be developed if desired.

Color & composition with Katie PM

2007-11-27T06:57:00.000-06:00

I spent 3 days in a workshop with Katie Pasquini Masopust and had a blast. We worked from her book Color & Composition for the Creative Quilter. Katie prepares a kit of all the colours fused ready to work through the exercises from the book. After each exercise we would tape them to a large wall for group discussion. Her is Katie with our monochromatic & achromatic pieces.

I won..........

2007-11-22T07:08:00.000-06:00

this beautiful piece by Penny Milton at the Oshawa Fibre Arts Show recently. Bidding on the silent auction, benefitting Osteoporosis Society of Canada, had a prize for bidders and I WON!!

Pay it Forward

2007-11-04T14:02:00.000-06:00

Artists are such a generous group of people. I'm thrilled to be participating in a great challenge called Pay It Forward. I met Lenna last summer at her husbands family compound on St. Lawrence River near Kingston. Lenna has some pictures of us here, sitting in what I know as Muskoka chairs or as Lenna & Steve called them Adirondack chairs!!
The first 3 people to leave a comment here for me will receive a gift handmade by me. Hmmm? what to make, what to make?? shall I embeliish, quilt or paint?!
Your part is to Pay it forward. simple!
To participate:

1. Comment on this post, expressing your wish to participate in ‘Pay it Forward’. I will contact the first three responders for your mailing address so I can send you your giftie. Make sure I have your email! If I can't contact you, I won't be able to include you : (

2. The first 3 to comment here who I can contact, will receive a little handmade gift from ME!

3. The first three who comment here will post this message on their own blog, and offer three more small gifts, handmade by them. You will be making one gift for each of the first three people who comment on your post, who in turn will go ahead and announce this idea on their blog and then make gifts for the first three people that sign up with them!

Christmas stars

2007-11-04T06:41:00.000-06:00

a fun easy piece as a wallhanging or lap quilts. A variety of Christmas reds & greens & a few stars good............

but this is better.

Finished with it

2007-10-31T06:49:00.000-05:00

This is a quilt top I started years, many years ago as a gift. It is or I should say WAS my guilt piece. It is no longer appropriate for its original intent. I have finished with it - I finished the top to the easiest size and all the extra blocks, strips, every scrap of fabric from the project is now gone. I donated it to our guild for someone to quilt & then it will be donated.

shopping in US

2007-10-25T14:51:00.000-05:00

There's a lot of noise in the media about people trying to buy cars in the US now that our buck is worth a few more pennies than the greenback. I don't want to buy a car I just want more fabric! what quilter doesn't!! I dodn't realize how much cheaper fabric is in the US until last summer when I went to QBL. Johnnie in my class recommended zandsfabrics . The I had a look there was a 10% discount on everything so I figured - as good a time as any.
Its fun shopping in the comfort of your own home. I knew some of the lines I wanted so there were no surprises there. some fabrics were on sale. My only limit was 18 yards for $23 shipping. My parcel arrived yesterday. No taxes,no duty, no additional brokerage fees. so ya wanna know eh?!

WITH shipping

under $6.45 per yard!!! not bad eh? A neat little box - every piece of fabric folded and stacked perfectly, wrapped with a strip of fabric.The packing slip has a little colour picture of each fabric in order to make checking it off so easy.
these last 2 on the left go with this collection of fabrics

more finished

2007-10-23T07:26:00.000-05:00

I started this in 1999 after a week camping in Algonquin park with DDs. I read Larry McMurtry's Comanche Moon. so I'm calling it Comanche in Algoquin. cheap striped stuff from F-land & upholstery fabric with butterflies. I still love diamonds and may do something on a smaller scale like this one in Mark Lipinski's magazine.

Bee Day

2007-10-21T06:44:00.000-05:00

we had a great day at the guild workshop. We cut & stitched & sandwiched many quilts for our charity groups. Bea showed us how she takes orphan blocks assorted strips & joins them together to make charming quilt tops.
these are 2 simple tops I made. The first one makes a great zigzag with the orientation of the 2 part block.
the other is a contemporary zigzag from Denise Schmidt's book

is there any easier way to...

2007-10-17T06:57:00.000-05:00

ease your guilt about blogging than a silly quiz?

You Are From Jupiter

You are exuberantly curious - and you love to explore newness.

Enthusiastic and optimistic, you get a kick out of stimulating intellectual discussions.

Foreign cultures and languages fascinate you. You love the outdoors, animals, and freedom.

Chances are you tend to exaggerate, so try to keep a lid on that.

If you do, you'll continue to be known for your confidence, generosity, and sense of justice.

What Planet Are You From?

what I've been doing

2007-10-04T07:03:00.000-05:00

I had a wonder trip to France with my SO & his parents. I have a ton of pictures to share but instead of loading them. I've been watching this
thanks Mel!!

I've been tagged

2007-09-25T07:40:00.000-05:00

makes me think of playing tag in the yard at school!
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) –kuchushe sunfire!

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) sticky toffee puddin' Mcvitie

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) -MHan ps what is a fly girl?

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) - green lion

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)-Ann Newmarket

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) -Hannma

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put “The”)The yellow coffee

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)- Mike Joseph (?)

9. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy) brown sugar ripple

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) help don't know

burn baby burn

2007-08-22T12:49:00.000-05:00

another fun weekend in Kingston at St. Lawrence College playing with fabric & stitch.
used my painted fabric & covered it will rows of sheers. then zapped it with the heat gun. them sliced & diced and woven with the hand dyed. Its so funny at every stage other classmates where like, oh my your gonna do WHAT?! its only fabric people. repeat after me 'its only fabric'. It had a long way to go. I have to sew down the rows may with more sheers to zap then cut open the darker parts & roll them back to reveal the fabric underneath.
dets on this one to follow

my melon

2007-08-14T06:58:00.001-05:00

This is one of the samples I did in Velda Newman's class or it might be Velda's sample. I can't remember!! they start with a plain piece of white or yellow fabric over cotton batting then plain cheesecloth stretched & pulled this & that way to get rid of the grid. the lots of free motion circles to make the texture. the next step will be to paint

fabric stash at QBL

2007-08-13T06:59:00.000-05:00

sew much fabric sew little time!! my we have come a long way. from using old clothes & feedsacks for quilts. Now if we are in a class and we need something - rather want something - we can just pop down to the merchants mall & buy it!!
There is something to be said for limits. Having all the fabric in the world at your fingertips doesn't necessarily make for a better quilt. I brought a large amount of fabric to Carol's and still had lots less than some others. I ended up using many of them but edited them back to a more manageable palette.

but I digress.........I did manage to do some shopping at the merchants' mall. I like to get things that I can't always find elsewhere. I got lovely felted handbags from Nepal for $14. and matching felted balls. I couldn't make them for that price. I bought 5 books by Doubletrouble Press - Jan Beaney & Jean Littlejohn's stuff. They will be in Ontario in the fall but everything is booked!!
I'm not a big fan of co-ordinated things. furniture, clothes, bedding, fabric. but I may have to change my opinion if the fabric designers keep this up!
a gorgeous collection of fabrics called Beatnik. I love the colours and they go so well with the piece of dyed cotton sateen I bought from Carol Soderlund.
I'm thinking of a very modern quilt pattern - something like this.
what do you think?

my piece from Carol's class

2007-08-13T06:39:00.001-05:00

This is my piece from Carol's class. I worked in the hall of the new air-conditioned automotive lab- huge windows and the coolest seats - old car seats including the seatbelts. Gave me & Carol a great spot to evaluate the work. I made many many components. did a quick sketch after the first day. On day 2 made made more components with additional colours and fabrics. when things don't go well why do we throw in more of what doesn't work? I did serious editing - out came lots of components and colours. I needed a structure to build on - something to respond to - If Myrna could hear me now!! so this is where I restarted.

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-08-07T10:39:00.001-05:00

These are photos taken on the last of 3 days with Carol Taylor. We had a wonderful group of artists making elements & working with them to make a quilt.

Quilting by the Lake Part 1

2007-07-31T10:30:00.000-05:00

I'm at quilt camp!! specifically Quilting by the Lake in Morrisville NY at Morrisville State College.
I found out a few things. there are two ways around Lake Ontario to get here & I took the LOOOOOONG way. will be going home the other way!!
secondly & very important there is NO LAKE. the event started out by a lake but have grown & changed venues so there is no lake here. Don't go looking for it cuz it ain't there!!

playing with colour

2007-07-17T06:48:00.000-05:00

there are so many great colour toys on the internet. They are great to play with to find a new palette. Take a quiz here to find a palette - don't forget to turn on the speakers. The first time I did it I got Urban Stone. Not me I thought until I remembered my latest & greatest fabric (rust & gold marble-bottom one) by Paula Nadelstern from Bernatex. I'm building my fabric stash for Carol Taylor's class at QBL around this fabric.
Joen Wolfrom has a new book Visual Coloring that is based on just that theory. The photos are breathtaking & the quilts are gorgeous. I find that most of the fabrics are close to solid. I like to use a larger variety of printed fabrics.
You can take any photo of your own upload it here & you will get a colour palette to work with. great fun.

ATC swap

2007-07-15T06:58:00.000-05:00

I am participating In Lenna's ATC swap. She is the best swap hostess ever and I get to deliver my ATC's in person. We will both be in the same area at the same time - she is on holiday in Canada & I will be taking a summer course at a local college. These are my ATC's for her swap. check out some of the ones I might get on her swap blog.

Christmas in July

2007-07-15T06:54:00.000-05:00

many quilt shops at this time of year hold 'Christmas in July' events. I taught a fun group of friends this Christmas placemat at a local shop.

MIA

2007-07-11T07:01:00.001-05:00

where does time go? I've been busy weeding, planting, watering,working, lying in the sun. Summer is here!! and summer school will be starting soon. I've got 11 days of classes.
I finished this quilt to send it to Quilting by the Lake. I started it here. The blocks looked too busy together so I added the sashing and fairly simple borders. I like the narrow red border. It seems to keep everything contained.

allium in the garden

2007-06-13T09:03:00.000-05:00

the inspiration - wonderful allium in the garden. I wanted to capture them in fabric. was hoping for a loose sketchy rendition. wasn't to be!

Work in progess - a mottled green background, lovely matte woven hand-dyed Italian linen with lovely blobs of mauve that told me where the flowers should go. and the stem is there too. what I didn't see until I cut the linen away was the 'S' in the darker green around the central flower. serendipity or unconscious design decision?!
I added a tiny bit more thread painting to highlight the darker & lighter sides of the flowers.

This is a scan of the final quilted piece. I can see better in the picture a bit of airiness in the center of the flower.

finished piece on the garden table!

back to the garden. the weeds are growing, the grass needs cutting. the poppies are in bloom now.........hmmmmmm!!

playing with stamps

2007-06-08T06:58:00.000-05:00

the latest issue of cloth, paper scissors has a great article on embossing velvet with paint. I've tried this before with cotton velvets and it didn't work. I bought a second hand shirt because the colour was mottly muddy green & golds. It embossed really well with acrylic stamps.

punched organza

2007-06-04T07:10:00.000-05:00

I love this star. layers of organza punched over cotton. the organza starts to look like angelina and colours mix almost like watercolour. They don't show on the photo but there are tiny flecks of foil on the felt. the spiral was done with the fancy yarn in the bobbin

work fast

2007-06-04T07:05:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to work faster. taking less time to mull over decisions. also reduces the chances of abandoning a project in favour of the next great thing!! This was from a book called Quilted Projects from scraps and stash
spend a good portion of the time I had looking for that darn box with the watercolour squares. Can't remember if it was taken away in the great purge! Into the scrap heap, cut 2" squares. wanted to use foil adhesive for the swirls but it takes too long to dry. used 3D fabric paint.

another one finished

2007-05-25T11:22:00.000-05:00

in cleaning up my studio specifically UFO's using the mantra- finish with it or finish it - this one was a keeper. The block had the tree and leaves done, from eons ago, I don't even remember where I was living when I started this!! added a cute little bird, wavy border, binding & it is FINISHED!!

1" square pieces of art

2007-05-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

I got a fun little parcel in the mail today. 35 little pieces of art. so cute. They are fun to arrange. I'll think I will attach them to a piece of paper or fabric. My pieces are here.

more punching

2007-05-20T15:13:00.001-05:00

I love sheer organzas. I've quite a collection now in orange, burgundy, reds. bought 2 large panels of red sheers & one of large satin stripes in orange & burgundy alternating with sheer. all 3 for $2! I tore some into about 2 & 1/2 " strips & punched them onto stretchy denim. I think it needs some free motion stitching now

beach tide

2007-05-18T06:55:00.000-05:00

I finished another project using Linda Schmidt's wonderful guidance. This was in Quilting Arts Magazine winter 2006. The shore is puff paint, real shells & sea glass, painted. the waves are different colours of organza & dyed cheesecloth punched with the Embellisher front & back. may add a few teeny beads at the edge of the wave.

fast & finished

2007-05-12T09:07:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to work freer, faster & funkier. No measuring, no matching just fun. Start with a favourite fabric - Kaffe Fassett - cut out a hole, back with water soluble stablizer & stitch back & form, change threads. as long as all the threads intersect they will still be there when the stablizer is washed away.
PS how do you spell stablizer? stabalizer?

gathering swirls

2007-05-09T20:12:00.000-05:00

a small page (6x6")
the gathering swirls represent our habits, beliefs both negative and positive that make us who we are.
wonderful little bits of foil under tulle & machine stitched

fabulous mail

2007-05-09T07:24:00.000-05:00

I got my fabric charms in the mail yesterday. Beautiful little pieces of fabric art on a bracelet. Ruth did a beautiful job making the bracelets and packaging them.
The bracelet is on a lovely piece of felt wtih embellishments on the front and that was sewn inside a little envelop of waxed paper.

storm at sea wallhanging

2007-05-06T10:20:00.000-05:00

This is a wallhanging I made at a workshop years ago with a quilter from Hamilton I think. Its been that long. Traditional pattern but unusual method putting it together. again memory is sketchy on the details. The leaf fabric was bought in Florida and reminds me of cabbage leaves. Free motion quilting - lots of it.