Road Trip #101

Want to take a road trip?  A road trip through the best scenery of the country?  Texas, it is the best!  And spring time is absolutely the best time to take a road trip.  We had visited several of the painted churches in past months, but we could never make it to Praha, TX.

This time we made it and stopped in St. Mary's Church, Praha.   Although the church is under scaffolding, we found the front door and entered to find peace and some of the most beautiful handwork made by man.

The side altar

The painted ceilings and columns.

Another view of the main altar

And along the roadside, we found plenty of wildflowers!  It had been a wet spring and wildflowers were popping up everywhere in Central Texas.  What a lovely site!

We used our wildflower reference guide to identify at least 50 varieties of flowers along the wayside.

Colors galore!

This was an interesting wildflower that we had to see up close to find the name--it's in the milkweed family.

We visited Wildseed Farms to walk through meadows of flowers.

At this location, wildflowers are grown for their seeds.  You name the flower and you can see it growing here.  This is a field of poppies.

Indian paintbrush

And larkspur inviting to butterflies and human visitors

down the road from Wildseed Farms, at Hye you can tour Garrison Bros. Distrillery for a taste of true Texas bourbon

And the day is not complete without a slice of pie from Fredericksburg Pie Company.  If you are in the area on the weekend, enjoy a great evening show at Rockbox Theater--
Always up for something different--take a trip to Hill Country, Texas

What Paints Can Do For Your Wearables

Have you ever thought about using paint products on your cloth?  The April program for HAFA (Houston Area Fiber Artist) was such a topic.  Barbara Jackson, a knowledgeable rep for Golden Artist Paints, presented fiber samples to show just how you could use these paints for wearable clothing.

There are a variety of colors and types of paints from Golden that can be used in various ways to achieve the look you want.

Some of their paints are based on historical facts, e.g. these fluid paints.

This direct painting on fabric gives intense shading.  All paints must be heat set after drying.

The 'handle' of the fabric isn't exactly soft and pliable but not hard enough to crack.

These fluid paints can be used much like watercolors.

These are air brush paints--interesting applications come to mind.

These paints have luminous advantages.

And then there is molding paste that be used for screen painting.

The sky's the limit!  Dare to Paint on fabric with Golden Paints.  it was very intriguing program. 

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.