Great Mail Day

I received the prize for my rooster piece I did for the Fabric-olic group. How exciting to get such a great parcel. The owner of our group is very generous. She send me all these wonderful yarns & beads and goodies. I was very suprised to also see 2 copies of ARTitude zine because I have always wanted them.
Thanks Sammy

another challenge piece

I made another piece from the 12 swap challenge from the Fabric-olics group. Fancy, shiny sequined fabrics are not something I usually use so it was fun playing with these types of fabric. There was a nice little collection of organzas & chiffons from the packages which were perfect to try a new technique. I bought this book last summer when I was on holiday with Lisa. Lots of techniques to fuel the imagination.
Irregular shapes of sheers & metallics are sewn onto a background - i used felt here but any fabric would do - straight stitch first to tack everything down then cover with fancy stitches. I alternated sewing on the blue then the pink background to minimize thread changes. These are the new fabrics created before cutting into diamonds.
I wanted to create an argyle pattern with the diamonds but they didn't fit within the fancy lines I stitched on the background.

These diamonds can be rearranged endlessly. I know I played for what seemed like hours and finally settled on this pattern which I like better than the original plan.

challenge piece

This is a small piece I made for yahoo group called Fabric-olics. We were sent a piece of fabric/paper, 3 buttons & some yarn & had to use all in any project.
I started by separating the material into 3 layers then folding & stitching it with no great plans. It eventually became the roof & door of a chicken coop. When we on holidays in France there was a gorgeous rooster roaming the grounds. He had the most gorgeous colours- oranges & blue. He became my inspiration. I used a small free embroidery design from needlepassion embroidery. The wire for the fence is the threads from the window on a bag of potatoes. The yarn is couched on the building & under the buttons. It was fun to work on this piece.

My bad

We have a winner.
The song I have always had in mind while working on this piece was Blackbird singing on the edge of night take this GOLDEN wing & learn to fly. By Sarah Mclaughlin
Apparently this is a song written by Paul McCartney of Beatles fame. I feel like such a young 'un!! I don't even know if I've ever heard the Beatles version!!
So ...drum roll.......the winner is Nadine- the very talented & funny secretary & grand poo-bah of twisted stitchers quilting guild. 6 fat quarters of fabric are headed her way.
Thanks to all for playing along.

Sing me a song

This is fun.....
So far the guesses for the name of the song for my quilt have included:
bye, bye blackbird
24 blackbirds backed in a pie
ribbon in the sky
blackbird singing by the Beatles
If I was a blackbird
Mocking Bird Song

The blackbird part is right.
I had to give her a haircut. You can see why I don't cut my own or anyone else's!!

"Do with me what you will"

Cloth paper scissors magazine had a reader challenge in the Winter 2005 issue. Entitled "do with me what you will" a drawing by the very colourful Violette. I started working on it and missed the January deadline. Around the same time the Twisted Stitchers Guild announced a challenge to be based on a song title. Ok, I could shift gears & use the same piece. The Summer 2006 issue of cps has wonderful examples of how artists took the drawing & flew with it. There are eight more interpretations on the quilting arts website done by students. I think they will appreciate the great art teachers they have as they grown & create. It is a great lesson to learn to articulate about ones own creativity.
I was unable to make the meeting for the song challenge. This piece IS going to be in a challenge even if I make it up myself!! so here it is.......
Guess the song title depicted by my quilt...... I will send the winner 6 fat quarters of fabric. If there is no winner by next week I will give ya a hint!!
And yes it is not finished, needs to be sandwiched & quilted. Hey this is MY contest!! My rules !!
The leaves of the tree are made by using the gleanings from a scarf I made earlier- see Mar 21/06 entry.