Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Melt-Blend Technique

Talking about coloring your quilts--take a look at this technique!
Quite fascinating-- now, I wish I hadn't dumped all my broken crayons!
This looks like fun, so I'm giving a try--some day!


Video to help you with this technique--
color, enhance, embellish just with
crayons!



Monday, April 18, 2016

Sister's Choice Is Quilted!

I'm so happy to report that my Sister's Choice quilt top is layered and quilted by Judy M.  This was a free Bonnie Hunter pattern that I worked on last summer.  The top was finished many moons ago--I just didn't have the backing; then it was at Judy's house for a few weeks--that traveling long arm gal needs to stay home, huh!!??
But, here it is in all its glory!  It was such a fun scrap quilt to make.

Simple nine patch block with wings--

I like the quilting pattern too

All swirly--just need to trim the edges, sew on the binding (which is ready)
and stitch!
Another delight to add to my collection--this could be a charity quilt too if
you twist my arm a little..................

Sunday, April 17, 2016

I - AM - WARPED!

I Am Truly Warped!  It has been several months since I did anything with my loom.
It was moved from one room to another room and then it just sat there--
not really naked but piled high with all sorts of things--
it's like 'pile it here' syndrome!
Than--the studio was back in some sense of fashion,
and I looked in my yarn closet to find various 8/2 cotton fibers that
worked together--
warping we go! 


Through the 10 dent reed we go--2 per dent--20 epi

I was so careful that I got the red thread every 6th one.
Through the heddles--using Dornik threading for these towels

and we've tied on!  Oh My Gosh--I'm weaving!
I'm actually throwing a shuttle and I see on threading errors!
do you know how happy that makes me!??

Looking good!

and I like that little bit of red thrown through.
Do you have any idea how long it took me to warp this loom?--
Don't ask--I'm so rusty at this.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Quilts to Color

Get out those crayons and color your next quilt blocks!  At our quilters meeting the other day, Sandy and Karen were discussing their Periwinkle Lane blocks from Black Cat Creations.  They had each bought the patterns and Sandy was putting the finishing touches on her blocks with hand embroidery.
I really liked the looks of these blocks and thought how fun--coloring and
stitching combined to make an adorable quilt top.

Sandy said she asked her granddaughters to color for her;
of course, they said "yes!" and colored away!
That's one clever way to get the task finished.

I wondered if the patterns were still available
and searched Black Cat website to
find--there it was!  Along with some other patterns to color

I thought maybe, machine stitching would work on these details;
that will be on my list of things to try.

I loved the toadstools!





But, I believe this is my favorite block of all--
I'm going to gather up my crayons and color
away!

Friday, April 15, 2016

Pricing Any Textile or Original Work?

This discussion comes up every year--how to price our textiles that we sell?  There is always some pros and cons in the round table topic.  How do you place a fair price on your original work?  Do you get what you paid for your materials?  Your time?  Textile Artist has an article on how pricing of your textile could work.

They have some bullet points to consider:

  • Costs
  • Market
  • Perceived Value
  • Don't Focus Solely on your field to price
  • Be consistent with Pricing

  • Artsyshark also has some pointers that he finds helpful.
  • Be sure to read the comments at the end of the article and Good Luck with your pricing!
  • Thursday, April 14, 2016

    Pom-Poms Are Back---

    Did you see this article in Wall Street Journal?  Headline read "Cheered by the Fashion Squad.  Pom Poms come bouncing back!"  I didn't think they ever left--but, this article was quite interesting in the fact that celebrities are using pom poms to decorate their fashion pieces to make a bold statement.


    Who wouldn't want to be encased in pom poms from head to foot!?




    Wednesday, April 13, 2016

    Wednesday Yarn Along

    Today we are working on the Fingerless Gloves mystery,  Shadowplay.

    Each week a new clue is revealed and you knit like crazy to keep up with the group.
    Here is first clue--corrugated rib!  Oh my gosh, that is some knitting,
    but I think it will be an interesting mitt


    We are knitting flat and this is the left wrist.

    Clue 2--I'm at the thumb--oh, dear--I'm stumped.. It will take some quiet time
    to figure out how to continue the cable on the other side of the thumb---but,
    I'll get there!  I was afraid I would run out of the yellow so found this
    fuschia yarn that works.
    It just takes some quiet time and having my brain on the right frequency
    and I can conquer anything!
    Yes, I did it!  We are finished with clue 2.
    Should I begin on right wrist with ribbing?
    Hmmmm............





    It's Time--

     It’s time to think about greeting cards I’ll send out this year.  Most years, if I’m not feeling pressed, I’ll create my own cards.  One ye...