Is It Inlay or Tapestry?

We recently had a great meeting program led by Gerry, who has been weaving these small tapestries (she calls them).  She was giving us pointers on how to do our own.  She says she is using inlay techniques for her woven pieces but there are some tapestry involved--so, is it inlay or tapestry?

Gerry uses this book, written by Doramay Keasley, for her weaving information.  Doramey calls her technique "inlay"--as there is a ground background.

Gerry has a wealth of knowledge stored in her notebooks--samples of her work.

Here is her drawing of different weave techniques

Here are her woven samples--great way to structure your weaving knowledge

Here is her cartoon

and the weaving--inlay definitely, as there is a background weft

close-up

I love Gerry's work as she uses many of the Texas landscapes and historic sites as her subjects.

I have one of her Texas inlays

you can see the critters that she has woven into the feature

Now, this is a tapestry!

Interlocked and all--so, if you are interested in these techniques, no one better than Gerry to give you the low down.

Textured Laguna Wrap--No Not Food!

Certainly not food to eat--but food for thought!  I saw this FREE pattern (until April 14) and thought "what a great wrap for summer time events"  so off I went to my yarn closet to find the perfect stash yarn--I'm thinking maybe some handspun cotton will do the trick nicely!

Want the pattern?

check out Expression Fiber Arts

MORE ABOUT THIS WRAP: 
•Gorgeous, bohemian-inspired texture! It resembles a winding river.

•Intermediate level. Easily-memorizable rows will have you knitting away happily.You’ll need to know how to knit, purl, k2tog, p2tog.

•Size is easily adjustable. Cast on fewer stitches for a scarf or more stitches for a blanket.

•No worries about running out of yarn. Just stop when you run out!

•Solid or tonal yarns are gorgeous but feel free to use variegated on this pattern too.

You’ll receive a digital file only (instantly downloadable as a PDF) and won’t be shipped anything. Please allow a few minutes for the download link to be emailed to you. If the email doesn’t arrive within a few minutes, just log into your account on our site and you’ll see your Completed Orders. From there, you’ll find the download link.

Caryl Bryer Fallert Tutorial

This tutorial from Caryl Bryer Fallert is worth watching, even if you don't want to make

quilts as fanciful or colorful as hers.

There is much useful information for anyone interested in quilting.

Plus, there is the added bonus of seeing her studio!

Check out Fossil Fantasy #1 tutorial

Ice, Ice, Baby...............!

Okay, here we go!  Take some Ice, Baby!  Some goofy items for resist, rubber bands, a big bucket and you're ready to dye some interesting fabric.

I found some of hubby's practice golf balls

and some cotton men's handkerchiefs (perfect for table napkins) 

and I'm off to the races!

Tied them all up, covered them with ice

sprinkled some fiber reactive dyes over the ice

more dyes and let this sit for 3 days--that was the hardest thing to do!

and it came time to empty the bucket, rinse the fabric, untie the golf balls

to see what results I had.

I think I sprinkled too much yellow--it took over the blues

but, there were some interesting colors distributed

The silk on the right took up much of the blue dyes

Here is a you tube video that shows a time relapse of someone's ice dyeing

Want some helpful hints?  check out Dharma Trading

My next adventure will be fabric on a rack.

Have fun--it's time to play!!

Debby Does Baskets!

Debby Kratovil Quilts blog has the perfect scrap basket pattern for you!

I like the fact she is like me, digging into scrap trash piles to find just the

right piece or color!  This would make a great wall hanging or

maybe a table runner.

How Being More Creative Improves Your Mental and Physical Health

Health Cure Corner is spot on in my book!  Yes, being more creative or just a little creative will improve your health, both mentally and physically.  I'm so glad I found this website and this information.  Here are highlights and bullet points:

• Go to art exhibits and museums
• Write in your journal--if you don't have one, start one
• Read literature that challenges you
• Read more poetry
• Get Crafty
• Keep on stitching
• Use your hands
• Go out into the world and discover new adventures

Read the complete article and improve your life, which in turn improves your world!

Yarn Along...............

My yarn along has to do with dyeing--with Easter egg dyes.  Over the years, after Easter, I purchase several of the dye packets (at a reduced price, no less!) to have on hand for dyeing simple pieces without much trouble.

I had some lovely handspun two ply wool just waiting to be skeined off.

What a nice little skein you are!

What color should I use?  hmmm, choices choices

I chose green as our January spin-in 2017 theme is "Green in 17"

drop in the tablets--all two of them--into water, add the required amount of vinegar, let it

fizz away until dissolved.

Stuff in the wetted skein, place in microwave--remember that egg dye is safe for eggs, so safe for

the microwave--hit 30 seconds, rest, again 30 seconds, rest--I do that about 4 times.

Take the skein out of the dye, rinse and let dry.

A nice pastel green--think I could have used one more tablet or left the skein in the dye

just a little longer--but I'm anxious to see the results.

What a fun Yarn along!