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Archive for the ‘handstitching’ Category

Monday Mixture

Monday, January 31st, 2011

This is a snippet of the background fabric for the water piece. Isn’t it luscious? I am almost finished stitching the organza pockets.

We had a nice week-end. On Saturday, we did some decluttering and cleaning of the house which made us both feel better. On Saturday night, I invited Mr C to go to the movies. I wanted to see The King’s Speech in the theater. We had some yummy Mexican food and made a night of it. That is such a fantastic movie. I was surprised at how much I was sitting on the edge of my seat for a movie that was not really and action thriller. It was beautifully cast and acted.

Yesterday, we picked up M & M after church and brought them home with us. Steph was having her hair cut and colored and Jack needed to work. She is going out of town next week for a super exciting job. So we are all gearing up to handle every thing while she is gone.

While the kids played games on the computer and watched Word Girl on TV, I sat and stitched on the orange woven piece. It is taking me longer than I anticipated so I hope I get to another one of my purchases that I need to use before too long!!

I am doing some handstitching to make some well defined marks.

Here is an overview of how it is looking. I am really having fun with this.

I have a huge pile of quilts in my living room. They are entries from High Fiber Diet members for our Back to Nature quilt show which will be hung at Trinity in March and April. We are doing the jurying next week.

I saw daffodils in bloom today. It may hit 60° later this week. Life is pretty good here in Portlandia.

This is a Quilt is Done

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

I didn’t have heat in the basement studio until late today so it was a good day to sit and do the handstitching on this little sunrise quilt. It is done and on the way to California to be part of the SAQA trunk show. Silk and organza is hard to photograph. I am not sure this looks true to the actual colors.

Here is a detail shot:

I did an undulating running stitch. It looks quite lovely in person.

Yesterday, it was cold in my studio and when I looked at the thermostat it was blank. I put in two new batteries and it showed the time and the temperature, but the furnace did not go on. We thought the furnace needed repair, but it turns out it was the thermostat. $25 later, it nice and cozy in my studio, again.

I entered 3 pieces in the SAQA Volusia fiber show and all 3 were declined. I am determined to not take this personally. I really want to make art that makes me happy and fulfills my vision and not worry about acceptance into particular shows.

I have done some more perusal of the Drawn to Stitch book. One big problem with it, for me, is the list of supplies that are foreign to me. I think it would be a good idea for authors of books like this to list the comparable products in the US. I am going to try to do a couple of more exercises, if I can find comparable products in my studio. I am not going to buy anything new!!

Here I Am!

Monday, October 11th, 2010

I stitched all week-end and finally realized that I was totally crazy to think I could finish this by today! I have so enjoyed the sitting and stitching. I will take this to California with me this week and continue stitching and hope to enter it in another show later this year.

I ran out of the perfect Valdani embroidery thread and couldn’t find a local store that carries it so I ended up with another brand that has a slightly different colorway, but I think it is blending nicely.

Lisa drove back here last night and since her flight wasn’t until tonight, I got to spend the day with her. She is in a show at Flora, here in Portland, so we went down to check it out since she missed the opening on Friday night.

Here are some pretty photos I took at the store which has lots of natural elements.

Lisa’s friend, Trish, met us there and then took us to a nice little Vegan restaurant in the Pearl. I had a delicious bowl of chili and a Marionberry lemonade.

After some shopping and roaming around town, we picked up Stephanie and went to M & M’s school to surprise them. They love their Aunt Lisa.

The kids showed us their crazy bands (colorful rubberband shapes) while we had an after school snack of edamame.

Here are Lisa and Mia checking out photos on her camera.

All of a sudden we realized that Lisa needed to get her bags and get to the airport. Fortunately, the airport was pretty quiet and she made her flight because we were a bit behind schedule.

I need to get moving and finish packing up. We are leaving for California in the morning. I am going to be at PIQF on Thursday so let me know if you are going to be there. Our High Fiber Diet show, Bird’s Eye View, will be there.

Sittin’ and Stitchin’

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

I decided to seed stitch the planets in my alternate universe. I am wondering if I can get this done before we leave next week. So, I am watching mindless TV and stitching and stitching.

I used one of my discharge samples for my fiber sketch today. It is a bit silly, glittery and fun. I call it Star Struck. I used some organza and glitter. I managed to spill half the container of glitter on the floor.

I got to spend an hour with both of my brilliant daughters this morning. Lisa flew in to town and borrowed one of our cars to drive to Grant’s Pass, where she is teaching a drawing and painting class for Ace Camps. Steph came over, and it was so nice to have a sharing time of what we are all up to. Lisa, of course, wins the medal for doing the most.

I added a lovely piece to my fiber art collection today. I purchased this piece by Natalya Aikens from the SAQA auction. Can’t wait to see this in person.