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Archive for the ‘12X12 challenge’ Category

Working Left Handed

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

This photo shows the ingredients for my next Twelve X Twelve quilt, a color palette based on the Kilauea Volcano. I have my right arm in a sling most of the time to prevent further injury to my shoulder. I am finding it rather challenging to get things done. I drew my design on freezer paper and marked it up and cut it apart. I started cutting the different elements which will be fused and need an under-lap. I forgot to add the under-lap on pieces 3 and 4 so I quit and left it looking like this. I was too tired.

This is the Trinity Art’s display case where we promote upcoming or ongoing shows. Since I am the featured artist in our exhibit and sale next month, I had to come up with something. I created a mini-gallery of some of my small scrap, inspiration pieces.

I love how this worked out. I need to make some more of these little treasures!! I also hung my last Twelve X Twelve quilt on a little quilt block stand that I bought at a quilt show many years ago.

So, it was not a totally wasted day, but I am tired so Mr C is taking me out to dinner. The caveat is that I have to select the place.

Here is the silly dog of the house, posing for the new camera.

Hope you are having a great week-end.

My New Camera!!

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

I bought a Nikon D3000, an entry level SLR digital camera. I got a great deal on a factory reconditioned camera. It cost less than having a couple of quilts professionally photographed. I have spent a lot of time today getting familiar with it. It can be a point and shoot or you can do more advanced stuff.

I felt that I needed to step up the photography of my quilts for entering shows. I will probably use this mainly as a studio camera. But, who knows?

So, here is our first comparison. The silk version of the Prairie Circles quilt was on my design wall and I took photos with both cameras, using a tripod and the same lighting. I have not retouched either photo.

This is with the new camera:

And, old camera:

Ta da!!

Tomorrow, Steph is coming by to take photos of Terry and I for our Twelve X Twelve book. Maybe, she will use my new camera!! I spent a couple of hours getting my hair cut and the color touched up. It is amazing how much better I feel after I do that. I took this photo with my Apple iBook photo booth.

I am having problems getting just the right gray and beige for the lava quilt. I am off to mix up some dye and try again tonight.

Kilauea Colors

Monday, April 12th, 2010

The next Twelve X Twelve color theme, selected by Kristin, is based on the colors related to the Kilauea Volcano. Not surprising, since she lives in Hawaii. I love the colors — red, ash, black, orange, chartreuse and orange.

I started thinking about my piece today. It wants to be silk. I started pulling some silk fabrics. That yummy shibori up there in the first photo was in a batch of scraps that bought from Shibori Girl, Glennis Dolce.

Here is another batch of possible silks:

I decided I need a better black so tonight I dyed a couple of pieces of silk. Tomorrow, I hope to have something luscious to work with.

It was a very nice day in Portland. I think by the end of the week, we will have fabulous weather.

By the way, I have had very good results with my low carb eating plan. I have lost some weight every day and have not felt deprived, except that I am really missing whole grains. I have one more week of no starches and then I can add some into my eating plan. Right now, I need to get my blood sugar stabilized and get my body off too many carbs.

The Twelves in Print

Monday, March 1st, 2010

I think I have mentioned that the Twelve X Twelve quilts are going on tour down under. I just received a copy of Down Under Textiles magazine that has a lovely article about us and a photo of a quilt by each of us.

Kirsten, one of our down under members, sent me a copy (one for Terry, too). It is quite exciting to see us in print. Can’t imagine what it will be like when our book comes out.

Thank you so much to everyone for your lovely comments about my Winter Night quilt. It is very much appreciated.

Winter Night

Monday, March 1st, 2010

The Twelve X Twelve theme selected by Francoise was Blue/White and a Bit of Black. I just had to dip into my indigo scraps and do up one of my indigo moon landscapes. I used lots of scraps which I fused together with raw and frayed edges showing. Here are some detail shots.

I used a piece of silk with shadowy indigo coloration for the snow. I cut strips of silk indigo shibori for the shadows of the fence posts.

This piece looked very different at one point. I had quilted it and thought it was done. It wasn’t.

This photo was taken before I screwed up the fence with some terrible quilting. It was an ok piece before then, but after the quilting it was a dog. I went at it with sharp implements and pulled off the fence.

I then added the printed indigo fabrics which were given to me by Kristin and made the fence look more like a fence. I couldn’t remove the shadows so I ended up making a wonky split rail fence that works much better.

If you haven’t done so yet, go over to Twelve X Twelve to see the other great pieces.