Years In The Making!

Perfectly!! Aged!! My friend says all fiber and textiles must be aged!  Actually, a good excuse if you haven’t finished a project for awhile.  

That’s what you can say about this piece—well aged.  In fact, years in the making.  Once, I took up this project again, it was a challenging goal to complete. Yes!  It must be finished!

The final touch—I had plenty of half square triangles ready, why not use to add another row?  Perfect!!

Looking good!!  That’s it!  I pronounce this quilt top ready for the long arm!! Ta-da!  After years waiting in the wings, this was tackled! 

And—another one, after being “aged” ended up with the complete treatment!!  

Wave the magic wand—accomplished!! Hearts galore!!

And talk about well aged!! This goes back to 2003!  I know to me it doesn’t sound that old—our granddaughter was 12–now she’s 31!  I had good intentions to make this quilt for her as she did all the coloring.  She loved to color and it a great job too.  The pieces were heat set by hot iron.  Now, I’m ready to piece it together. 

She helped me decide what part went with each body—the body parts were all separate and could be combined for any character.  It was fun to decide what head got what!

Well aged indeed. 

 

Whew!!

 For years I’ve been a member of paperback swap.  You post a book, you get a credit.  When someone wants your book, you pay the postage and mail the book.  I posted many many books, credits rolled up and up!  I didn’t order books for the longest time since I was using apps like Libby, Scribd, Kindle, Audible—it was time to look into my PBS account.  Referencing my Facebook reading groups for recommendations, I began to search PBS for authors that I’ve not read in order to use my last 11 credits.  Of course, I can post more books to receive more credits—I do have tons of books to offer!  For now, I want a clean slate.  

Here is my PBS pile to be added to my TBR list—oh, so many initials!! 

I’ve not read anything written by Charles Finch, Mark Pryor, Mark Schweitzer, P J Parrish or Laurie R King— this should be interesting summer!  I'm hoping that I can find an author that will lead me to a series of books with the same character.

Mysteries to fill my days as I sew quilt mysteries.

Let’s Sew!

 So let’s sew!! Some opportunities popped up for the summer!  Sew, on these hot humid days, pull out each clue, gather fabrics (of course, I’m using from the scrap bin) get the clues and sew!!   

Mystery books are my summer read (will post a list at a later date) as well as my mystery sewing projects! 

Halloween is sponsored by Fat Quarter Shoppe

This Sew along began June 6==there is plenty of time to catch up 

Finish this and have an interesting piece of Halloween art!

Twilight begins June 15 sponsored by Primitive Gathering 

Don't know why I'm drawn to this quilt along--such small pieces!

I've not even finished one for 2022!

Evergreen QAL begins July 4--what a way to begin Christmas in July!  Each Tuesday a new

clue will be revealed--sew for Christmas in July!!

Another fun mystery short project for the summer table!

Fort Worth Fabric Studio mystery begins June 26 and run for 4 weeks.  I’m just finishing the patriotic table runner 

Scrumble This!

 Scrumble!  What exactly is a scrumble??  Prudence Mapstone designs 'freeform" scrumbles--using knitting and crocheting techniques; mostly small pieces that create a larger scene.  We 'met' Prudence through a couple of UK gals who attended our annual January Spin-in several years ago.  They had enjoyed a workshop with Prudence and her Scrumbles earlier that year.  We were fascinated by this form of using small amounts of "leftover" yarns!  

I worked a few scrumbls to fill the tip of my houseshoes.  The scrumbles are stitched onto mesh form.  

Here are a few of my odd scrumbles that I intended for  purse; even had the purse form but alas, this is as far as I could make it.  Sad!  These scrumbles just languishes in a small bag--who knows maybe someday (!)  these will become an art piece

I do have a couple of Prudence's books--just in case I want to take up Scrumbles again

She has several other books available!  Visit her website, on Instagram, and other social media sites

What prompted me to think of those long forgotten Scrumbles?  The fiber exhibit at Kerr Arts and Cultural Center  Yes!  Some of the pieces reminded me of how useful Scrumbles can be, although the pieces might not have used the idea of scrumbles.

"Firewheel Meadow" Suzann Thompson

Embellished with crocheted flowers, Leaves and Buttons

An outstanding example of Scrumbles

"Afternoon" Suzann Thompson

Knitted quilt, once again embellished with crochet flowers and leaves, buttons, seeds, netting. embroidery and vintage crochet

"Winterling"  Suzann Thompson

More scrumbling involved--although, the artist probably did think about that technique when she created her pieces.

Rasberry Chocolate Roses

Suzann Thompson

Fiber Exhibit

 During the Kerr County Arts & Crafts Gourd exhibits, textile pieces were scattered throughout.  The combination of the two brought a new feeling to the gallery.  There was also another show in the front gallery entry way that offered visitors an opportunity to see the group called “Monday Artists”—paintings of various techniques. 

My eyes went immediately to the textiles!  A few of the artists are known to me from my association in variety of weaving guilds throughout the US.  

"Mama Jean" Vanessa A Garcia

deconstructed cotton night gowns

"After the Fire" Susie Monday

Close up

"Donna Has Always Immersed Herself in Wool"

Mary Macaulay

Needle felted figured bathed in fleece

"Woven Mobius" Patricia Day

6 shaft draft weave, 100% Silk. dyed yarn by Robin Pascal

"Origami Woven Dress" Patricia Day

6 shaft weave rayon and bamboo yarn

8 Shaft Crockle Draft 

Bamboo and Cotton/Rayon

Patricia Day

"Eye of the Beholder" by Karen Issenhower

"Joseph's Coat"  Karen Isenhower

"Winter Window"  Karen Isenhower

Christmas Snowflakes  Karen Isenhower

three panels of Winter snowflakes

Karen Isenhower

Light As Air

Karen Isenhower

Field of Poppies

Carolyn Hart Roup

This is a fine exhibit of handwoven and mixed media pieces and well worth the visit.  This museum does not charge a fee to attend. 

This!! Exhibit!!

 Recently, we attended an art exhibit at Kerr Arts and Craft Council.  It is one of my favorite exhibits on their yearly calendar—The Gourd Show.  This year it was combined with fiber!!  So excited to view lovely works from members.  The gourds are always unusual and interesting—

The above are just a few of the examples of craftsman’s handiwork. 

After we visit this exhibit, I always think—I’ll plant some gourd seeds in the fall— never happens! I’ll just admire these lovely creations at the yearly exhibit. 

 

Time is a’comin’!

 Just around the corner—one more month and it begins!  Tour de Fleece!!  TDF begins July 1 and runs through 23.  During June, I begin to prep my supplies and think of fiber to spin.  Do I need to wash, card, buy anything?  Nope—not me!  I have plenty of prepared fiber on hand for this gathering!  What must you consider during TDF?  Just what You want to achieve!  This is a personal challenge and goal!! Not a competition!  Spin when you can, what you want,  and decide how much time to apply to your goals and challenges! 

My first priority is to ply all this handspun brown cotton—then it will be ready for August for either the loom or knitting needles!

My handspun bin is overflowing with last year’s production. I love the variety of colors—some are dyed with indigo; most are natural colors cottons I’ve collected over the years. 

And here are some of the items I have knitted.  I do have weft on the shuttle ready to throw across the cotton warp; which has been sitting idle for weeks.

These will be lovely kitchen towels—when the warp is complete!  
The knitted cloth patterns are designed by Kitchen Sink Shop.  Garlene is on instagram—you can sign up for her free newsletter to receive free patterns. 

Sharing what you’ve produced during TDF is great satisfaction!