WOW!!

WOW! Way Out West Weavers are one batch of HOT weavers!  They are on fire with their weaving skills and abilities. This group combines beginners (less than one year) and experienced (more than 10 years).  We are all learning from each other.  At our April meeting, we had some great show and share--these gals never disappoint...........

These towels are woven by Lisa--fairly new weaver, who is mastering the art of good weaving techniques.  The black/white are off the same warp.  She was ambitious to weave some napkins that are shown in the backgroun.

Kyla is our art teacher and she loves strong colors.  The day was cool so she was wearing her handspun knit shawl (pattern from Stephen West)

Looking good on Kyla!

She had also woven this yardage to make a lunch bag--what a nice way to carry your lunch to work!

Karen O, a new weaver, had woven this wool throw--it's been washed and fulled--great work Karen!

And then there is our overachiever (as we call her) Karen I showing off her block weave project--a carry all bag.

She even wove the bands for the handles!

Recently Karen had taken a tapestry workshop with Joanne Hall and had this small tapestry show off

This tapestry and the one above was woven on the reverse side--we all signed!  what a way to weave!

Karen likes boundweave so wove this lovely table runner--reverse is white side.

And we continue on with her bath towel, another block weave project--

Another tapestry to show off from the hands of Karen I

 

How about a lovely woven towel for the kitchen, complete with handwoven tab for hanging--perfect!

Marian is investigating crackle weave and this was her table mat, woven Italian style

Close-up--she's not convinced she likes crackle weave yet.

And here is her lovely handtowel, tabby woven, with a delightful wooden hanger that her husband makes--great gifts. 
WOW group gathering is always a delight!  Who is going to bring out another exciting handwoven item for us to marvel over? 

Let's Celebrate!!

Yes, we are celebrating! Fifty years (50) years! The Golden Wedding Anniversary! The whole family took a trip to Las Vegas to mark our 50th with a renewal of wedding vows at Graceland Chapel with the one and only ELVIS!!

We arrived in the new addition to the airport--terminal 3. Arriving is always impressive.

Our base was Mirage Hotel and Casino

Our view from the room (through gold tinted windows) was part of the 'strip'.

There are many sites and sounds to Vegas besides gambling--Caesar's Palace hosts the most amazing statues and fountains--it's like walking on the streets in Italy.

My eyes take in the marvelous glass work by Dale Chihuly

The ceiling in the lobby of Bellagio Hotel and Casino is worth viewing a number of times!

Just fabulous colors and shapes!  Some say the fountains are worth seeing too, but in my book--it's this glass!

And how about a conservatory loaded with spring flowers!??  Awesome!!

Going to Vegas is like traveling the world around--New York, Italy, Paris, New Orleans--all along one strip!  We had a ball!  and the renewal vows were a hoot!  Elvis was fabulous!!

Binky Patrol Quilt Tops

What fun it has been to make these quilt tops for Binky Patrol !!!

The expatchers has several bags of prepared blocks--half-quarter blocks; four patches, 6" and 4" squares, nine patches, etc.  For this top, I took a panel and placed these blocks around the outside to frame the panel.

This is a nine patch block but it's called disappearing nine patch--easy to do but lots of neat blocks.

Intermingle nine patch with three patch and you get this look

Cleaning out the stash box, we found these embroidered panels so nothing else to do but put them together.

Another easy top from four patch block--cut 1.5" on each side of the middle and rearrange--great fun!

Here I used  all 6" precut blocks to frame--

Here was another stash project--I found these strips of fabrics in the bin and made this colorful top

One big star in the middle--all made from layer cakes! 

Colorful and easy!  These were a labor of love!  All are in the hands of the quilter and soon we'll be doing the hand stitching on the bindings!

Binky Patrol

March Fiber Artists Meeting

Houston Fiber Artists bring in some very interesting speakers with unique techniques for textiles. This month was no exception when we welcomed Joloe Art to be our guest speaker.

Loela works with her husband Johan to create these unusual wearables.  Is it Art in Science? Or is it the Science in Art?  They use chemical art to achieve unexpected reactions that spill over onto some of their fun silk garments.  Johan is a chemical engineer by profession.

Loela's collection of heirloom bulbs consists of 46 detail drawings of the 23 different "heirloom bulbs" depicted in the book:  "Heirloom Bulbs for Today".  Each -lady- as Loela calls them, has now found a special spot on fine, fabulous, irresistable and sensual silks.   Each of JoLoe Art garment starts with an original painting and /or drawing.  The art is then transferred onto the highest quality of various raw silks through 6 steps.   Lovely garments with unique names.

Then it was time for fiber artists members to present their creations.  This one is from Donna--"That darn thing looks like a fish"!  little quilting here and there

Nasreen showed her class from Craftsy (free from attending QuiltCon in Austin)  She did a slash technique

And she hates to throw away scraps so she created this wall hanging from the slashed fabrics from the circles in above hanging--clever!

She is also a very talented silk painter with this piece

Dorothy had this lovely quilt

Here is the quilt fully presented open to ohhh and ahh over.

Dorothy is also doing some crochet around rocks.  This one sits on brochure from SDA conference to be held in San Antonio, TX this summer (early June)

She has been having fun with these crochet rocks!

Kyla, a recent member, shows off her felted hanging.  Quite interesting piece on a recycled picture frame

Here is close-up photo

She also had this felted piece that had crochet inserts.

Ivy had a text message on fabric to present--this is the backing.

In this piece she showed positive and negative letters--she has an upper hand on her grandkids that's for sure!

Ivy has been experimenting with tyvek--cutting holes and painting with alcohol inks

Apply a little heat and you get this!  Just love these HAFA members!  come join us and enjoy some inspiration! 

Expatchers Gathering

It is a 'catch up' gathering! Time to catch up on little gossip while our hands are busy with stitching.

Judy M had this delightful jar quilt to present.  This is one for her church's charity group.

Along with her talents, sponsorships can be added to the quilt to assist with funds.

The backing is just as colorful as the bug jars.

Camilla was doing a quilt of prayers.

After the construction of the quilt top, there is a time for others to help with the tying of the quilts.  As each knot is tied, a prayer is said for the recipient.  This is much like prayer shawls in knitting.

We always like to see Annette's hexes as she lays each group out.  She is following a quilt pattern that she saw at Quilt Festival--trying to come close to the layout, anyway.  Such great sherbet colors--these were from a fat quarter collection she received from the group on her birthday.

New Challenges--

Yes, there are some new challenges out there--well, new mysteries to solve too! So here we go!

If you are not a member of Ravelry --you should be!  Three million (3,000,000) members can't be wrong!  And it's all free!  This pattern is up for March KAL from designer Lisa Mutch and it's a free pattern to boot!  Lovely simple shawl, but elegant!

Not Free, but only $1--yes, only One buck!  This is a mystery KAL (knit along) from designer Rachel Henry.  I so enjoyed the first pattern she had as a mystery--'Crushed' and now, this one is Capriole.  Knits and yarn at the ready for this mystery to begin end of March.

Are you a fan of "Game of Thrones"?  Then you might enjoy this mystery KAL beginning late March.  I'm not much a fan of this show, but willing to take a look at the pattern with Jimmy Beans Wool CO

This mystery shawl has already begun, but it's never to late to sign on and begin.  So far, the knitting has been quite relaxing.  The designer is Cindy Garland--and the pattern was $3, but well worth the $$$.  It's a two color knit

This is an interesting knit , the goal is to produce a symmetrical triangle shawl, knitted using 2 to 4 colours (this seems to be the trend).  Alexandra Wiedmayer’s knitwear designs and this pattern is $5

This mystery sock knit is classified 'unusual construction' and boy, is it!  But, why not learn a new way to make a sock so I'm on board for this!  Designs from General Hogbuffer  Check it out--another free download on Ravelry

And oh, my!  when I signed up for this Westknits ebook in February, I thought we would get three or four patterns, but no, we got soooooooo many patterns--this will keep me knitting Stephen's patterns for a long time! 
Never a boring minute and never time to keep your hands idle! 
Happy stitching!!