Announcing Fall

That is what it felt like today- fall.  I was awakened at 4 am by thunder and lightning, and the rain did not stop until after lunch.  I managed to go for a walk between the first set of storms and the second that was rolling in just as we headed home.  It has been noticeably cooler, and the sky has been gray and overcast most of the day.

I did manage to get a shot of a butterfly on our walk, something I've never been fast enough to do before.  This butterfly seemed to pose on the flower before he finally flew off.  I love the shot I got- with my point and shoot, no less!

I am having a hard time concentrating on anything- I'm planning for my upcoming trip in my head.  Mostly, I'm wondering how I'm going to fit enough clothes for two very different climates in one suitcase.  I got this tank done today, it will definitely get used in Florida.  

I am so happy to have a tank top that fits me, since Land's End (where I used to buy loads of tanks) has decided to not carry them anymore.  I had to tweak the fit, but it looks good.  I am especially happy that my bra straps don't show, since I do not share the younger generation's nonchalance about exposed underwear.  It drives me crazy to have my straps show, I can still hear my mother's voice on that one.  Now that I have a pattern, I will be making lots of hand-dyed tank tops!

Counting Down

I'm counting down the days, in more than one way.  In less than three weeks I will be on a plane to spend one week each in Florida and Chicago with my two sons.  I am SOOO ready to hit the road!!

It's also clear that we are counting down the last days of summer, even though the calendar still says August.  On my walks on the river trail, the signs are definitely there.

I love the variety of wildlife I sometimes see on my walks.  On a recent one, we saw these roosters, having a good time grubbing in the irrigation canal,

this snake slithering off the trail,

and this buzzard up in the trees along the trail.

We took a chance today, deciding to walk even though the weather was a bit iffy.  On the way out on the trail, I was rewarded with this rainbow. . .

and on the way back, with these awesome clouds over the mountains.

I've also been in the studio. although sewing on clothes instead of quilting.  I got this cute A line skirt done- we should have enough warm weather left that I'll get to wear it a couple of times.

When I not thinking about what I will be packing for visits to two very different climates, I'm considering what to do for the next TT challenge- new beginnings.  Vicki gave us lots of starting points, and I have some research to do.  It would be nice to have it well  on the way to completion before I leave!

Springville Quilt Show, 2012

The annual quilt show at the Springville Museum of Art started yesterday, and Shannon and I made a quick trip to see it.  There was the usual array of traditional quilts, but I was very happy to see a number of not-so-traditional also.  And, there are a number of awards geared for non-traditional quilters.

I must admit I have gotten lazy since I got my iPhone- all this pictures were taken with it.  It is so nice to have my photos automatically download to my computer via the Cloud, without any effort or work on my part.

I loved this one, 'Loss' by Amy Despain Beatty.  It looks like it is mounted on canvas, but I'm not sure.  

I think the texture and dimension she achieved is just stunning.

I loved this one for the three-dimensional effect the artist got, just using value.  This is Labyrinth, by Josephine Keasler.

The Utah Surface Design Group (of which I am a member) was well represented.  Here is Lisa Brothman's 'Artful Charms,'

and Susan Madden's 'Last Leaves.'

Anne Munoz, who taught the first batik class I ever took, won an award for best Mixed Techniques with 'Vida Marina.'  I loved what she created with a self-described dye rag!

I've got more photos, but I'll save those for a later post.  Lest you think I've not been in my own studio, I got more sewing done.  I finished Shannon's dress- the fitting turned out to be much less of a hassle than I'd thought.  And I got two tops done for me- one using the cotton lycra knit that I dyed and then did paintstik rubbings all over, and another with red fabric straight from the store.

I love how the purple one came out.  I will use that pattern again, with one small alteration to the neckline.  It is the perfect pattern to showcase surface designed fabric!

The red one is made from a rayon knit, that is soft and comfortable, but has no body whatsoever, and is a pain to sew with.  I have tried multiple times to make tee's with the draped neckline, and been frustrated every time.  I think I am done with that experiment- if I can't find it in the store, I don't need it.

I am done sewing on clothes for awhile.  My idea for the next Tangled Textiles challenge has been percolating in the background while I've sewn on all these, and it is time to get to work on it.  What I can say is that I think I will be doing lots of fiddly piecing with it!

Hope your week is a creative one!

Therapy Sewing

Rayna is right, it's the best prescription for the creative doldrums.  Or just the doldrums, in this social worker's opinion!

It started with a Christmas project with Shannon, but I now have a small stash of freeform strips started.  What fun to just grab fabric and start stitching.  Since I started with Christmas, I'm still doing a lot of green and red and gold.  But I have a stash of Easy Pieces blocks that are every shade of purple on my radar.

So the studio is in disarray, with piles of fabric sorted by value.  

 

My pile of strips is growing.  And think what I can do with those blocks!  Not all the Easy Pieces blocks are purple, I did have some with green so I took those out to play with now.

I am loving how my hand dyed and printed cloth is playing with my commercial fabric stash.  I have enough smaller pieces to keep doing this for quite awhile!!

My first two free form blocks, started with squares that I just kept dividing and adding to.  

 I have no idea how I will end up using these blocks and stirps.  I just know that it is relaxing and fun, and it is something I can do even after ten hours at work.  I am way to tired at night to even think about quilting, which is why 'Grace' is coming along so slowly.  A couple of strip sets or blocks?  No problem!

So thank you, Rayna, I feel like I've gotten two early Christmas presents!

Injured on the Job

Sewing, that is.  Yes, today I joined that select group of sewists who have sewn completely through their finger with the sewing machine!

Doesn't look that bad, does it?  And amazingly enough, I've had more painful injuries.  I wasn't even sure what I'd done until I saw that I was attached to my machine.  DJ had to pull out the part of the needle that was still embedded in my finger.  I suspect it will be very sore for awhile, and my funky nail will look even funkier after this- but hey, at least I didn't hit the bone.

And I still managed to get this tee done, using the blue dyed and printed knit I did a couple of weeks ago.

I now have no projects on the horizon, which is just as well since all next week will be an intense dye workshop  I hope I have enough brain cells and energy left with warm weather to get some fabric dyed using my exponentially expanded dye knowledge!

Happy Fourth!

We did most of our celebrating on Saturday, heading up to Scofield where friends have a home on the lake.  We visit, drink, eat (too much), and finish off the evening sitting in their yard watching the fireworks over the lake.  A really fun day!!

But I have also been spending lots of time in the studio.  I made more card holder for DIL Marly--

 

I dyed a piece of silk I bought on my recent trip to Reno.  I really had to think about what color to do, since the fabric wasn't white.  I finally decided on a pastel green.  I was really happy how it turned out.  There's patterning, but it is subtle.  It will make a gorgeous summer blouse.

 

I made a tee with some cotton knit I bought- a vibrant lime green.  I think I have found my new favorite top pattern!  Three pieces (front, back, and neckband), and two hours start to finish.  Love it!  The vee is deep, so if I want to wear it to work, I"ll just wear a cami under it.

I made some beaded jewelry- I've been wanting something in green.  I think this necklace and earrings go great with the top!

 

And I am reconsidering finishing the lavender top I started last weekend.  I think I can salvage it with some buttons to hold the gapping edges of the front.  What do you think?

I will make the pattern again, but with a lighter weight knit, and something on the edge of the V to stabilize it.  I've already got a hot pink cotton/lycra knit, and found some twill tape in my sewing stash.  Maybe next weekend?

I've also got the white cotton/lycra knit I bought in Reno for a song.  I'm thinking I'm going to parfait dye it in my favorite combination (gold, fuschia, purple) in pale tones, and make three of that first top with them.  So I think I've already got my next weekend's projects planned!

Still Here,. . . .

although I may be missing a few brain cells.  Let me explain.

I sewed over the weekend.  I helped Shannon make a simple skirt with the fabric we bought in Reno.  I had to fit her- and she's built very differently from me!- and change the skirt so it didn't have a zipper.  Done, and the skirt turned out fine.

I found some 100% cotton interlock knit for a top.  I finally bought a pattern I've been eyeballing for a very long time.  Simple, I should have been able to finish it in a couple of hours.  But no, I spent more time unsewing than sewing.  I used a double needle to turn the hems on the neck and armholes- but didn't catch the edges.  Then I sewed the shoulders together, right side to wrong side.  Unsew some more.  At that point, I gave it up for the night.

I came back to it the next day, and managed to sew the rest without mishap.  But the fabric is too heavy for the pattern, and I don't like the way the deep V neck gaps.  So this top will get tossed on a pile of never to be finished clothing items.  I may play with ways to stabilize the neck, but that will be it.

Then I decided to finish the blouse I'd started the week before.  I got the buttonholes done- no huge issues, other than my sort-of automatic buttonhole foot for my Bernina wasn't cooperating.  No biggie, I can do it manually!  I finished those, then started sewing the buttons on.  Three on, two ripped off- the shank was pointing the wrong way.  Sewed them back on, then tried to button the blouse.  The middle one is off, and will need to be done AGAIN.  At that point, I quit.  And I haven't been down to the studio since!

Maybe it will go better watching the Wimbledon matches.  I can only hope.

I'm Still Alive (although getting moldy. . . )

I think the lousy weather we've all been experiencing has affected me.  I haven't felt like blogging, haven't felt like drawing- I've just been feeling blah.  And we've had so much rain this spring (???) I'm beginning to feel moldy too.  So, no blogging- who wants to read depressed, whiny rants??

Nothing has changed on that front over the long weekend.  Lousy weather, that is supposed to improve once we go back to work. I have been hibernating in the studio.  I have a smallish- challenge piece that I need to get moving on, but somehow I can't get myself to start working on it until I get this sampler quilt pieced.  I do have a design in my head, really I do!  And I've picked out the background fabric and done some drawing.  Maybe I'll get to fabric choices later today, who knows.

I sewed most of Thursday and Friday morning, then most of yesterday afternoon.  When I got to the final quadrant, I realized I'd made a mistake somewhere in the drafting of the full-size pattern.  I still haven't figured out what I did wrong, but with some tweaking and judicious cuts with the rotary cutter, I think I'm back on track.  I had to re-draft the final section that needs to be sewed onto the quilt, but I think it will work fine.  And glory be, I had enough gridded freezer paper left to use for this section.  So much easier than graph paper with glue dots!

I think I drafted that pattern at night while I was watching coverage of the royal wedding.  Mmm, note to self-you don't do your best work at night, you are usually brain dead.  Do your drafting and work that requires thinking IN THE MORNING!!  Early, with a cup of coffee in hand!!

Here's the quilt, with only the last section of flying geese missing--

 

It has been interesting working on a quilt that I actually started six years ago.  In the interim, I quit working in a block format, and mostly started using my own hand-dyed fabric.  I've also become a lot more confident about my ability to quilt my own pieces.  I think if I'd finished this six years ago, I would have panicked and handed it off to a long-armer to do.  I've been thinking about how I will quilt this while I've been piecing, and I'm really looking forward to it.

If I were to do anything different, I would use the same fabric in the background of the blocks.  I think it is too distracting with those different prints.  One of my goals with the quilting will be to tone down those differences, and make them blend better.

So my goal for the rest of the long weekend is to get that last flying geese section pieced, and sewn onto the quilt.  I should be able to do that this afternoon. Tomorrow, I definitely won't be in the studio in the morning.  My favorite thrift store is having a half off sale all day, and I plan on being there when they open the doors at 7 am.  You never know what treasures could be there!!

Sewing for me, Part 2

I got another top done today- a lightweight jacket out of the cotton-linen I dyed and discharged.  I think I'll enjoy wearing this one!

It still needs to be ironed- I gave it a wash and rinse in Milsoft, since it was feeling pretty stiff.  That helped quite a bit.  All I have left to do is sew on three buttons!

I've also been working on a small piece from the fabric I rusted a couple of weeks ago.  I did some quilting, which was a bear- no matter what needle I used, it went THUNK.  I managed to get the bit quilted on the top, although I shredded some thread in the process.  I don't think I will use Kona muslin to rust again- it is just too finely woven to needle easily, and then you add the rust and it's a nightmare.  Fortunately, this one will be mounted on foam core and matted- so my back will not be inspected by the quilt police!

I'm going to do a bit more quilting after the hand work is done.  I'm still trying to decide if I want to quilt the light colored background.

I'm leaving Thursday for Grand Junction again for a couple of days.  No teaching this time, just a couple of play days at the Fabric Arts Studio with other AQuA members.  I'm hoping to dye some color samples to test out working from weight instead of volume with the dyes, and do some deconstructed screen printing.  And, I'd like to do some soy wax batik.  That should keep me busy for a couple of days!

Two Days, Three Tops!

A six pm cup of coffee helped me power through past my bedtime last night.  I put the last stitches in the Radiance blouse around 10:30.  I'm pleased with how it came out, although I think I will go ahead and make the fabric belt that's shown on the pattern.

A good weekend's worth of sewing, I'd say!

Sewing for ME!!

When I was a teenager, I sewed almost all of my clothes.  Now it's something I do once in a very great while.  I have to alter the pattern, I no longer have a body that fits what those designers are doing.  And since I don't want to spend a lot of time on clothing, I pick simple patterns which require minimal alterations.

I have been at it since Thursday night.  Remember this piece I dyed last fall??

It's that yummy Radiance, the silk cotton blend.  I knew I wanted a top out of it, and it took me til now to find a pattern that would both do the fabric justice, and meet my criteria of simple and uncomplicated.

So Thursday night and Friday I made a top out of cotton crinkle gauze I got on sale to test out one pattern.  OK, I'll wear it- but I wasn't sure if I wanted to use this pattern for the Radiance.  (And, it reminded me of why I hate sewing on crinkle gauze!!) I found another pattern I like even better but with similar lines and features, so I made that out of a commercial batik I bought over a year ago.  Bingo!  I like the way it fits, and it will definitely look great out of the Radiance.

The Radiance is now cut out, ready to be sewn.  This fabric is beyond luscious- the silk side has a sparkle and sheen to it that I just love.  The colors glimmer, glow, and shift with the light.  I can't wait to wear it.

I've also got a length of cotton / linen in the dyepot, batching in the sun.  It will make a lovely summer jacket, with all the greens and blues of the season- and a bit of yellow for good measure.  Hopefully I'll get that washed out tonight!

Llama Fest

Yesterday was the annual Llama Fest at the Krishna temple, so we took a drive up there. We had Jaden with us, we thought he might enjoy seeing the llamas up closes.

I never cease to be amazed at the detail that went into this building.



The entire temple is done in this style, and it is just breathtaking. I may not share their spriritual beliefs, but I can appreciate the artistry that went into this.

We had great seats for the llama race! I'm trying out the different settings on my camera, and tried the action setting for these. Here's all the llamas and their handlers getting their directions before the race-



And off they go, heading to my right--



run out to the pasture, around a tree, and head back to the starting point, which is now the finish line!



Some llamas were more into this than others, clearly!!

They have added a pavilion in back of the temple, with a stage and seating. When we got there, Los Hermanos de los Andes were performing. They had quite a routine going with their sticks.



I love this view of the koi pond, with the mountains in the distance.



There were plenty of fish in the pond, swimming among the lily pads. Some of the fish were HUGE!

There were a couple of vendors, so Jaden got this little drum, I think similar to instruments they use in the Andes. It had McQueen from Cars painted on both sides of it- which meant Jaden loved it, and I just mutter under my breath about disgusting American commercialization.



It was a fun way to spend a Saturday evening.

Hey, I've even gotten some fabric stuff done! I've needed something to hold business cards so I sat down and made a couple last night with Timtex and some of my hand dyes. I liked these so much, I'm going to make a couple more than are longer and have several pockets in them. No more hunting for purses or wallets with multiple slots that actually hold your cards!



I also got the studio cleaned up from my last bit of dyeing- now I can get going on a couple other baby-related sewing projects. And, try out my new screens!

Hope your weekend was a good one!

Well, I got somethings done!!

I went into this weekend with good intentions- but had a hard time focusing. I finally decided today that working on something was better than wasting time on the computer, so I cut out a shirt from some fabric I've had laying around awhile. The body and collar are done, all I have left is the sleeves, hem, and buttonholes. It actually fits fairly decently.

And I did get the circles stenciled on Blue Tsunami. I used the clear fabric medium with Pearl-Ex pigments, and like the effect- sparkly but somewhat transparent, exactly what I wanted.



I checked to see if I have enough batting for Blue and Autumn Mountains- enough for one, but not both. So that meant a trip to JoAnn's for batting yesterday.

And, I have a back for Blue batching. I didn't have anything big enough for the back, so I'm dyeing a piece just for that. Just as well, every other fabric in the quilt I dyed and printed, so why do something different for the back? Autumn Mountains, I'm thinking just the opposite. It's all commercial fabrics, except the leaves which will be hand-dyes. But I think I will just hunt for a wide commercial backing fabric for that one.

Just two days at work this week- it would be nice to get started on quilting one of these pieces. Getting started is always the hardest part for me, I'm so paranoid that I'll screw it up. Once I get started, I'm usually ok. I just hope I'm not feeling so disorganized or unfocused.

Oh, and the Green Chili was awesome, definitely a recipe I'll do again. Here's a link to the recipe on the Food TV website, if you are interested.

Here's hoping your week and Thanksgiving are full of family, food, and plenty to be thankful for.

Strip Sets

Our weather took a definite turn for the cold this weekend, so I decided it would be a good time to actually put some of my hand dyes and hand printed fabric to use. Apparently I'm still fixated on water (same subject as my 'released' journal quilt), and I've had a design floating around in my brain for awhile. With the laundry done, and the house clean, I was in my studio by 7:30 am, coffee in hand. I love early mornings, and do my best thinking then.

I thought I would use Vicki Pignatelli's construction method- but after one try, I could not get a stitch I liked. So, I ended up using Sharon Shaumber's Piecelique method, and it worked great. I got the pieced look I wanted, the curves were easy, and I got almost two complete strip sets done. Here they are--



The one on the right is not quite done, I'll add a few more strips. I plan to make one more, then pin them on the design wall and start playing with sashing. Curved? Wonky? I don't know yet, but I'm sure it will tell me eventually.

I also tried discharging one of the darker turquoise pieces I dyed last weekend. Here it is, after I activated the discharge paste with my steam iron-



I've never gotten purple like that before, but I liked it even if I didn't get the value contrast I was hoping for. I tried discharging more with Soft Scrub, but it had absolutely no effect. Then I washed it, and used it in the strip sets. That beautiful purple? It vanished, and is now a barely visible taupey color. If you click on the strip set picture, you can see it towards the bottom.

I'm determined to get serious about making quilt art this winter. The Utah Surface Design group, of which I am the current president, has two opportunities to show next year. April, we will be in a gallery in Salt Lake that emphasizes sales. We can do wearables, so I'll try to do a bunch of scarves. And next fall, we'll have a show at the same Provo gallery we were in a year ago. I want to have good pieces in both shows!

Winding down. . .

The weekend is about over, I'm just playing on the computer waiting for dinner to finish cooking. The ironing of the work clothes is done, my hair colored for another six weeks, even the dog is freshly bathed!!

I do have some sewing content, just not quilt related. I had TWO coupons for JoAnn's that had to be used this weekend, so I got some cottons to make a couple of shirts. One of them is almost done, just need to do the hems, buttonholes, and buttons. Shannon snapped my picture trying it on- all with a look on her face that said "I can't believe you are going to wear that in public!!"



I love red, I love batiks- so why not a red batik shirt? It will go great with a red necklace and earrings my daughter-in-law Marly made.

Our friend Patty, the wildlife rehabber, invited us to a barbeque at her house last night. DJ couldn't go, so Shannon and I went, with Sadie in tow. She love playing with Patty's dog Jackson, and feels right at home with all the animals.

Ben was there with his new golden eagle. This one is young, and only a month out of the wild. He handled all the people around him very well. I never cease to be amazed at how magnificent eagles are when you have the opportunity to see them up close.



Ben also brought out the ring tail cat, as they are commonly known- don't ask me the official name. These are actually native to Utah, unlike racoons.



But the best of all was the fawn, brought in from a small town to the south after she was found on the side of the road, a dead doe not too far away. She is less than a month old, and smaller than Sadie, our border collie.



She was a little skittish of all the attention she got, but took to the bottle with relish. I'd never heard a deer make any kind of noise, but she was making little squeaking noises while she nursed on the bottle. I'm not sure what will happen to her, but it doesn't seem likely she'll be able to be released.

And it's not just the animals at Patty's that are interesting, I also learn a ton just by listening. Never a dull moment there, and good food to boot.

After a long, cool spring, summer has finally hit here with a vengeance. We had 90 degree days most of last week, and the same for the coming week. What I would love, a long stretch of 80 degree days. Not too likely now.