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Archive for the ‘Quilting Friends’ Category

It’s Been Five Years

Friday, February 6th, 2009

Five years ago I started blogging. This is what I said:

This is my first blog so please be kind. I enjoy reading the blogs of family, friends and perfect strangers so I thought I would jump into the fray. As my Blog title says, I am crazy for fiber. I make fiber art and I’ve been knitting forever. I hope to share my works in progress – both blunders and successes. Once I figure this out, I’ll add some photos. I like blogs with photos and few words.

I have done a pretty good job of sticking with my plan! I must admit that as the blogosphere grows, there are days when I think I will quit and find something else, but I am still here.

To celebrate, I want to give away a couple of gifts to my faithful readers. So, if you leave a comment on this post, I will add your name to a drawing to receive one of my Valentine collages:

modvalentinecollage

kyotohearts

I will wait until Monday to do the drawing.

Today was crit day. I took my camera and actually remembered to take some photos. June is spending more and more time painting. She brought this abstract with colors that just made me happy.

junepainting

We wondered how it would look with a different orientation. I liked this one.

junepaintinghoriz

Mary brought a piece that she made after a trip to Paris. This is a map of Paris with buttons designating the places she visited. That is the Seine running through the piece. The fabrics were purchased in Paris.

maryparislove

Here are June and Mary getting a closeup look at Terry’s latest piece:

closeuplookatterrysquilt

Oh, do I love that green.

Terry’s home is so lovely and reflective of her art and design skills. I love poking around and looking at the art and objets d’art. Here are a couple of compositions I found on her coffee table. Those are coasters from Equidor.

terrycoffeetablecomposition

terrytblecomposition2

Good Times with My Peeps

Friday, November 21st, 2008

If the early part of the week found me lonely, the last two days have been a great antidote. Yesterday, was miserably chilly and rainy. The STASH group met at Reva’s where it was toasty and the chatter was endless. Here is my sofa buddy, Stella Luna or possibly her sister, China Rose, playing the part of a stuffed antimicaster.


Reva treated us to all sorts of home cooked goodies. We had home baked cookies when we arrived. For lunch we had two soups, great cheese and bread and apple cake with ice cream.

Last night we celebrated Miles’ seventh birthday at one of those sushi restaurants where the sushi travles around on a conveyor belt and you grab plates as they go by. M & M loved it. It was fun because they enjoyed it so much. Then we went back to Steph’s for the opening of presents and a Ben and Jerry ice cream cake.

Today was crit group at my house. Two of our group didn’t make it, but the other four of us had a good time. I showed by sunrise piece and received some great feedback. We went out for Thai food.

I took a nice long walk since the sun decided to make an appearance today. Then I had to do some SDA website stuff. I finally got into the studio at 4 pm. I did a my usual cleanup and putting away of stuff to start a new piece tomorrow. I am going to make an abstract piece based on the colors of the dead sea which contains many minerals, particularly salt. Much of the fabric that I dyed is for this piece. I am playing around with some cheesecloth for the salty deposits.

Feeling Grumpy

Monday, November 17th, 2008

This is my worst allergy time. I think it is from the mold that develops from the combination of falling leaves and falling rain. Today they were scooping them into piles and picking them up in big trucks to haul them out of our neighborhood. I think I should have stayed indoors because I am sure the mold was permeating the air. Anyway, I have a bad sinus headache.

Here is my other headache. I finished the quilting on the hillside houses. I was not thrilled with the color of thread I used for the sky. I wanted to use all heavy weight cotton and none of my shiny synthetics. Well, it looks like I will have to pull it all out anyway. Don’t you love unquilting? Here it is finished (I thought).

Now look at the back. This is a piece of Marimekko fabric I bought at Crate and Barrel:

See all those snarls at the top? Here is a close-up:

I didn’t notice this until I was all done. The problem is that wherever the snarls are, the quilting comes unstitched. I don’t know why this happened just in this section. You can see the line where I cut the back to make the pillow case turn. The sleeve will cover that. So I think I will head out tomorrow to find a better thread since I have to requilt it.

I think I am feeling out of sorts because I have been spending too much time by myself. I always get this way  just before it is time for STASH! I have this self-imposed work schedule to get enough pieces done for my solo show. I have been reading blogs of all my friends who are travelling, going to art gallery receptions, attending quilt shows, taking and teaching workshops, and I am feeling left behind. I know, I know — usually I am having great experiences. Thursday is STASH and Friday is Crit group at my house. That should feed my need for some social time.

I just have to post this link for all my knitting friends. You probably have seen it, but I think it is quite hysterical — knitting graffitti.

A Little of This, A Little of That

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

It has been one of those days. I managed to get a lot done, but it was a fractured day. I started out by washing out my dyed fabric. I have some mixed results with some of the browns. I used a new dye called mink which has a very reddish tone. I like it, but not exactly what I was looking for. I will try the hot cocoa or chocolate next time. I also did not do the greatest job mixing my dyes so I may have to do some over-dyeing. The Pimatex fabric is really great. I love the quality of the fabric, and it takes the dye very well. Thanks, Lisa, for turning me on to this fabric.

I am in love with the ecru on the left. It is the one perfect piece that I needed.

This is Robin’s Egg Blue. It is not as strong a turquoise and I love it, love it.

I got myself cleaned up and went to geezer day at New Season’s Market and stopped by Trader Joe’s for some necessities. When I arrived home, I found some great mail. I bought 3 items from the SDA auction and they arrived today.

This is a piece by Rayna, I love the colors in this. I love how she uses text as a design element.

I love the enchanting work done by Natalya Aikens. So, I was thrilled to win this little piece. Her pieces are best appreciated in person so that you can see the wonderful stitching and handmade beads. This is layers of tulle cut in different shapes producing this lovely image. It is titled: Сумерки/Sumerki/Dusk. You can see a better photo of it on her blog.

My third purchase is this amazing book on felting. I hope to do some of the projects after I finish my current project.

I frittered away some time, ironing fabric and photographing my goodies and finally I got around to quilting the Sunrise piece. I have to head out tomorrow to get some thread for the water. I don’t have anything that works.

An Artist

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

I got some validation, yesterday, that I am an artist. Terry and I drove to Eugene to take part in the twice yearly Oregon Art Quilter’s critique. We are a group of 15 – 17. It was a gorgeous day. We saw some beautiful fall scenery. I took a couple of photos from the car. (Fortunately, Terry was driving.)

We met at an upscale grocery, Market of Choice, in their community room. I was entranced at how a grocery looks from above: (Be sure to click to see larger!)

I digress! Our guest critiquer is an artist, photographer and graphic designer. We found him to be very articulate and interesting. The whole group seemed pleased with his comments and style. I was extremely happy!! Woo hoo!! I took Red Sky and Urban Sunlight.

He said that he would not change a thing about either piece. First of all, he loves abstract. He talked about the chaos that I create with my complex cloth pieces that are controlled in my construction process. He felt that the fabrics and compositions give the viewer lots to examine and think about. I was pretty happy. And if you think he said that to everyone — he didn’t!! He did say that after all the feminine color he had seen, he was going to have to go home and ride his Harley!!

OK, back down to earth. I haven’t gotten any work done in the studio. I need to get busy again tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone for your concern. I have been doing some reading and research and I am feeling a little better about the situation. Some day, I will explain, but not yet.