Sunday, March 15, 2015

You Be THE JUDGE!

 
"Yield" Life Lessons According to Regina
 
Before we become judges, let's talk a little about what is a Blue Ribbon.  Why do we give Blue Ribbons as first place?
 
Here is the definition from Wikipedia:  The blue ribbon is a symbol of high quality. The association comes from The Blue Ribald, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners and, prior to that from Cordon Bleu, which referred to the blue ribbon worn by a particular order of knights. The spelling blue riband is still encountered in most English-speaking countries, but in the United States, the term was altered to blue ribbon, and ribbons of this color came to be awarded for first place in certain athletic or other competitive endeavours (such as county and state fairs). It also may be applied to distinguished members of a group or commission who have convened to address a situation or problem; the usual usage is "blue ribbon commission" or "blue-ribbon panel".
 
Now, that we know about Blue Ribbons, what makes these quilts ribbon winners?  How would you score them--1 thru 10 in creativity, design, stitching, finishing, backing, etc.?
 














And now a look at the ribbons creativity.



 

This is the Best of Show and also Judges' Choice Award winner at the latest West Houston Guild Show

Lovely applique



This was a good exhibit!  and a show of winners all around!

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Pi Day!


It is Pi Day! 

What is interesting about this day, especially 03.14.15?   Because 2015 holds the most accurate Pi Day in the ENTIRE 21st CENTURY.

3.141592653 = March 14, 2015. 9:26:53 AM

How Cool is that?
This will happen again in 2115! 

Pi Day is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 (or 3/14 in the month/day date format), since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits of π in decimal form. In 2009, the United States House of Representatives supported the designation of Pi Day.[2]
Pi (π) is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi is a constant number, meaning that for all circles of any size, Pi will be the same.
The diameter of a circle is the distance from edge to edge, measuring straight through the center. The circumference of a circle is the distance around.


How will you celebrate?  Eating Pie, of course! 

Friday, March 13, 2015

Vacation Time Mystery QAL

"The best is yet to come" Life Lessons According to Regina

WOW!  Another Friday the 13th! 
Of Course!  I'm going on this vacation QAL
So Far the patterns have been interesting and fun to assemble




This is February block


January--and I'm not too excited about the background fabric

March and I'm loving this background--

Another March pattern--this will be quilt for Grandson who loves his horses, truck and all things cowboy! 

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Sashing with Karen

"Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere" Life Lessons According to Regina 


 Karen has these blocks to assemble..........

Really good color combination, but she has a dilemma==What sashing should she use? 

I suggest laying out the blocks with some sashing choices and take a photo--it's amazing what the camera eye sees that ours don't.  Okay, we laid out the blocks and put down the cross bars.  What do you think was her choice?

And now, what do you we should use for the outside borders? 
This one?

This one?


How about this?

Another choice

Then, this one.  What did she choose?  We won't know until she brings the quilt top back next month; then we'll see.  What would you choose if this was your quilt?
Now, here is Karen's choice:
She decided to use just red for the intersections and now will work on the border 


She will use the curling ribbon for her outside border with a light inter border

A small sample of the ribbon effect--she is going to use the solid red for the half block--will be interesting quilt top. Soon we'll see the finished project!
 

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Other Stitching Techniques

"If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back"  Life Lessons According to Regina


When we gather as Weavers, we don't always talk JUST about weaving.............
Because, all fiber techniques have interlacement of yarn in some way or other.
Susan is working on these Noro Yarn blocks

She is using this pattern

Susan has this lamp shade to repair and here is her thoughts--knitted lace panels for each section or one large lace piece that will fit around the shade--absolutely genius!


She had knitted this scarf and it wasn't totally symmetrical so she was trying to figure out why--even though she had weighed her yarns.  My thought--colored yarns weigh more due to the dyes--do you agree?  


And now, we look at Penny's cowl she is knitting in linen stitch--how neat is this color combination!  A solid gold with variegated--soon we'll see the finished project.
Oh yes, we don't always have some weaving to discuss but our hands and minds are busy with other interlacement tecniques.




Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Weave, Wove, Woven

"Envy and jealousy is a waste of time. You already have all you need" Life Lessons According to Regina

Oh Yeah!  We are weaving!
I love the day we have our weavers study group gathering--especially when there is some show and tell--I think it's the touchy feely part of the whole meeting

Tracy had a pile of towels!  Yes, a whole 11 yards worth of warp!
 


All piled up neatly with delicious and colorful weavings

The touch was pure organic cotton



Wouldn't you love one of these towels in your kitchen?

I would only bring them out on special occasions!



D'Anne was wearing this great scarf--we even un-dress those who come with wearables--

Don't you love this silk warp and weft?


All hand dyed.
Barbara had bamboo scarves 


Canvas weave structure

Karen enjoys shapes and designs in her work so she wove this double binding rug, set at 6 epi

It is definitely revisable


Karen is also working on a tapestry journal/diary.  Each month she will work a different technique--here is January and February


and the back could be used as a rya carpet.  Will be anxious to see what she comes up for March's lesson.  Yes, We are weaving and our woven textiles are making people happy!

Let’s Give Thanks!

 Here we are—day before our Thanksgiving in United States. Although it’s a national holiday, we like to give thanks Every day!  Even the sma...