Loom Music

Well, it's about time!!  I finally decided to do something with that 8H Macomber loom that is sitting all alone and looking lonely.  You know these decisions take some time to fully develop.

The idea had been 'perking' in my brain for awhile--why not take all those single handspun silk yarns that have been stockpiling up in the closet and make a useful item?  Yes, pretty to look at but would really be nice if I could wear them for everyone to admire.

Okay, gather them up (and by far this is not all of those silk singles), ply them together--and who cares what goes with what?  It all comes out perfectly fine in the end (we hope!)  Most of these silk singles have been spindle spun too.

Here we have the singles on the bobbins--now, you know it took some time to do that plying, don't you??

wind them on the warping board, two together, for a length of four yards.

I know it looks like a big bundle of tangled yarns--but, fear not...........

Thread through the reed--chosing 10 dent reed with two per dent..........

Through the reed now--still looking like a 'mess'............

Pull through the heddles

Ahhhh, all threaded and not a tangled mess at all--see, there is a method to my warping!

A few header weft threads to make sure all is correct--only one small problem where an extra thread was twisted in the reed--solution easy peazy!  Now, I'm thinking maybe this should be threaded to 24 epi--hmmmmmmm................................

Warped and ready to throw that shuttle-- need to decide what weft to use from the many singles still on hand to be plied..................stay tuned.

HSTS Blues!!

I've got the Blues--real true Blues! The HSTs Blues!   And you are thinking--what the heck is HSTS??  Half square triangles--yes, that is what I've got----

Just when you think all is going according to plan and you have counted the right number of blocks--BAM!  you find out that you have miscounted and you are short 4 blocks!  Well, you might think that four blocks isn't too bad, but when you are working with 80 blocks and you end up with only 76--that can only mean you will need more HSTS for those blocks; each block requires 7 HSTS and when you have been sewing HSTS for so long-----you just want it to end!!

Four blocks to the right that need HSTS period! and 20+ blocks to the left that still need HSTS along the bottom

First we need to print off the right size HSTS from Quilting and Whatnot website

The page is printed 8.5" x 11" but I cut them into thirds to have some interest in the HSTS--easy to sew on small stitch.  Then cut apart, tear off paper and you have the correct size HSTS you need for the project

Okay, this just isn't enough and you want a good variety too!

completed 50+ blocks--just 30 more to go!  And yes, we have the borders already for the final top to be assembled--only if we could finish up with those HSTS Blues! 
 

Fantasy: An exhibition of the Front Range Contemporary Quilters

In the Community Gallery of Foothills Art Center in Golden, Colorado you can view "Fantasy"!
Ann Johnston juried this fanciful quilters exhibit, featuring Front Range Contemporary Quilters.

Here I'm showing you the up close view of these wonderful art pieces--


"Deep Pool" by Charlotte Ziebarth

Susan Apte "Inner Strength"

Laurie Hill Gibb "Eternally Bound"

Margaret Abramshe "Synchronized in the sea of love"

Susan Brooks "Magnifying Glass"

Do Palma "There's a Crack in Everything"

Karen Stalgen "Fractured"

Dorothy Raymond "Persistence of Tangerine Dreams"

"Ziggy"  sorry didn't get the artist's name

"Fantasy Forest"  Karen Stalgren

Margaret Abramshe "Rumi's Two Step"

Ann Johnston "Gold"

Vicki Carlson "Points in Time"

Patti Hawkins "Mirage"

Ginger Quinn Munoz "Cirque:  Hanging by a Thread"

Jean Herman "East"

Jean Herman "Northeast"

Ruth Briggs Wilson "Security Blanket No. 6"

Christi Beckman "Warped Weft NYC"

"Red Canyon Spring" by Patty Hawkins

Now, you have seen some of the pieces up close, visit the exhibit to take in the full effect of the pieces--these artists have created masterful art pieces--well worth a trip to the Foothills Art Center!

Threads of Change: Colorado Textiles Now

Foothills Art Center in Golden, Colorado is hosting "Threads of Change"  featuring a selection of Colorado artists and their textile creations.  This is a diverse showing of fiber arts and the exhibit runs July 13-September 1, 2013.  With your small admission fee, you see some outstanding expressions and concepts of fiber art.

Check out these artists that are featured: 
Theresa Anderson

Regina Benson

Anne Bossert

Lynn Cornelius

Jo Fitsell

Kevin Kissell

Tom Lundberg

Mary McCauley

Amy Clarke Moore

Jill Powers

Sara Rockinger

Carol Shinn

Rebecca Vaughn

Sara Goldenberg White

This And That!

Okay, a few things to mention here..................We've been busy at the sewing machine again.

Remember this one from a previous blog post and

another quilt top that was in the wings...........

Paper pieced BOM from Carol Doak It was one pattern each month than the wrap-up in May

Another BOM from The Painted Quilt blog, a little red work as well as some piecing

One more row to add and then this top will be ready for the quilter

Finished top!  Another border could be added, but alas, we have run out of the solid yellow and it's so hard to match

And this is from previous blog post--with borders; so glad I didn't do the piano keys!

Of course, there are a couple other charity quilt blocks in the wings--like this one using scraps from the stash................

This pattern comes from Film in the Fridge blog--Hooked Hexagons--little complicated to sew, but fun none the less--it is using up scraps!!  There are recipes for 12" & 10" blocks.

And from Fatcat Patterns we get another one of the owls in the series

Hoot!  Hoot!  yes, another stash buster each month!

More brightly colored fish from Fatcat--Sindy has mastered EQ for sure!

And new to her list of BOMs will be dogs--two times the fun with free pattern on first and fifteenth of the month--download yours now! 

"Woven Together: Firestorm"

The last two years have brutal years for wildfires!  By early August 2012, over 42,000 wildfires had been recorded in the US database and 6,000,000 acres had been turned to char.  Many of these fires consumed a record number of homes, claimed lives and displaced people from their homes. 

How does anyone cope with these disasters?  For artists, there is an outlet in their work and a chance to use their medium to design and create pieces that express this emotional turmoil they feel.  Business Arts Center in Manitou Springs, Colorado offered artists from around the country and world an opportunity to show their emotion through a juried exhibit which runs through August 2, 2013.
Curators for this exhibit were Holly Parker Dearborn and Patrick Bohnen. 

Recently, we had a chance to view this exhibit and here I share some photos. 

Juror for this exhibit was Jeanne Steiner, Arts and Crafts Program Director at Colorado College.  This was one of her pieces entitled "Smoke"

 

 

Maryse Levenson is the featured artist.  Maryse is a weaver, dyer and Kumihimo braid artist.

 

Close-up of "Out of the Fire" by Maryse

One of the wearables "Falling Ashes" by Anne Evans

 

 

"Hot Spot" by Cathy Coatney

 

"Signs of the Times" by Patricia Dunston

 

"Night of Anguish" by Carolyn Wostenberg

 

"Fire in the Forest, Fire in the City" by Jan Seltman

 

 

"Peaks" (front) "Elements" by Janet Birch

 

"Spark Blaze Afterglow" by Urban Jupena

 

 

"After the Dark Comes the Light" by Sharon Crary

 

"Fire Echo" by Sharon Crary

 

I've included these photos to show the wide range of textiles in this exhibit.  There are large and small tapestries, weavings, baskets, wearables

 

This show expresses bare emotions for the artists as well as the attendees.  Take the time to visit this exhibit and let it surround you with rare feelings but at the same time it gives you comfort.