What's in the Studio?

It's always a treat to enter Judy M's studio!  There is eye candy on every wall.  This one is a treasure--one she made many moons ago.

This pattern is not paper pieced, but had templates.  Black & white speaks volumes--the absent of color??

Simple but striking in it's own right.

And we all agree--quilting is therapy!

A salute to all patriots--and many she wave for all to see.

This log cabin hanging is just charming--something about blue and white combination.

and the embroidery adds the right finishing touch.

Work in Progress (WIP) by Annette--can't wait to see the whole top.
Yes, a walk into Judy's studio is pleasing and satisfying.

Bundles of Joy!!

Bundles of joy! Bundles of warmth and comfort! And loads of wonderful hands that make them!  This is one of the latest createst from the Expatchers.

Quilting lines of love!

This quilt will go to Birmingham victim of spring tornado.



The label says it all--peace, love and some comfort from us to you.

What a delightful quilt for a baby boy!

And our master quilter, Judy M, adds her special touch.

We had this top on the design board several weeks ago; now, it is finished and ready to wrap a little person with hugs and kisses.

Through the eye of the long arm quilting machine, you can see the panto that is being mastered for this quilt.

How delightful--

The latest creation on the design board!  and now for the faces of those who have made all these wonderful quilts that will be send to Binky Patrol.

Annette!

Karen, on her way home after a morning visit.

Brenda, just recently returned to the group after doing her grandma duties in Colorado.

And Judy M and Camilla in the midst of a serious conversation--where to hold the next birthday luncheon!  Several of our group were out on assignment--life duties with their families.  We are a strong knit group-- giving support, comfort and joy not only to the community but to each other. 

Bring Out The Colors!

The end of the year meeting for WOW (Way Out West) Weavers is show and tell for members projects woven throughout the year. During 2011-12, the study was color--no specific color, but color inspiration.

Margery was the first to present her fabulous color project--A Chuppah for her son's summer wedding.  Here she is presenting how she will place the cloth over the traditional poles for the wedding ceremony.

Margery dyed (Sabrcon dyes) all the tencil with colors chosen by her future daughter-in-law.

She took the pattern from Carol Strickler's book "A Weavers Book of 8 Shaft patterns"



These drafts were woven in the book by Betty Burian Kirk .  This length of cloth can be readily used by DIL as table runner or even evening shawl after the wedding.

D'Anne presented a sampler from Ruby Leslie workshop on color.

This 4 shaft huck variation (Lattice Weave) woven on 4 shaft Wolf pup with 8/2 tencel sett @ 16 epi

Linda had her satin weave runner to show--irregular 6 shaft satin, using Lunatic Fringe 10/2 cotton, sett @ 24 epi

This photo was her inspiration for the weaving.

Weft face--The Swedish Way, Volume 1, pg 16

Marian has shown so many lovely color weaving at past meetings but today she pulled out just a sample she is working with--a compound weave structure.

Then we come to Julie--who used snowflakes as her inspiration!  We think she captured the look of snow to give us an icy feel.  The pattern is overshot, Remembrance, sett @ 24 epi.  She used 20/2 bamboo for warp and several skeins of rayon embroidery floss as weft.

Relatively new weaver Lisa was modeling her woven shawl just hot off the loom--we are so proud of Lisa as she has come so far in her learning process.

Up close and personal of Lisa's shawl structure.

Lisa also had this colorful overshot sampler using cotton warp and merino warp.  She took the patterns from Deborah Chandler's "Learning to Weave" book.

Oops, back to overachiever Julie! as she pulled out 10 yds of lace woven ribbon!  Yes, ribbon (40/2 linen warp and sewing thread weft--sett @ 36 epi)  This is the third ribbon yardage Julie has woven to be used in decorative plates--these will be in the fall guild sale!!



Karen I (a fairly new weaver) showed off her huck woven towels and washcloths.  Two of these towels will be baby gifts while another huck lace will be given to her mother so she can do Swedish weaving on the structure--what great gifts. 
Perfect day--super weavings--great learning experience!  Study topic for 2012-13 is still under consideration.

Blue, Blue and more Blue

What's this?  Just a pile of strips cut from a shopping bag--that's what it is.  And what do you do with these strips??

Why you use them to wrap your warp or weft threads for an ikat project.  It takes some time and definitely it takes a little tug and pull to make sure there will be no leakage when the yarn goes into the dye pot.  It is dye day!!  And we are headed to Sky Loom Weavers on our regular Tuesday monthly meeting.

And we are trying out this 'new' (to us) indigo powder--instant, the label reads.  Time will tell if it really works instantly.

Our dye host, Penny, has the indigo dye vat at the right temperature and we are ready to immerse.

Rosemary's taupe color silk goes in first.

And then a few more bundles.  The plastic strips just want to float so Penny so gracious enough to hold it under--no blue hands for this gal--rubber gloves are a must!

Kate adds her dyed yarns to the line--

We could sing "Are We Blue..." but so far we are pleased with the results as seen now.

Rosemary's taupe colored silk has taken on an unique blue tint.

Connie wanted to dye cotton yardage and used this interesting way to clamp her fabric.  She didn't want board marks so wrapped plastic around her fabric before she placed the boards on top and bottom--clever!

As our yarns dry, we continue inside to have our show and tell portion of the morning.  Here on Penny's sideboard are her finished towels--ready and waiting for the next sale day.

We all oooh and ahhh over her natural cotton table runner--way to go Penny!

This table topper is woven by Scharine of Ryukyu Heritage Textiles.  She is continuing the legacy of her family traditions.

Oh, so smart--Rosemary has taken a jump on our yearly project goal and woven an ikat runner!  She used kool-aide for the red colors on this silk fiber--gee whiz Rosemary--you are such an overachiever!

A close-up of her work--not bad!



Spring time still bounds along the roadways!  What a pleasant drive!  And the back roads were all like this--a painting perfect view!