so naturally I had to commemorate both events with bits of fabric.
Out on FaceBook I was accused of teasing, and now I can finally share it all here. Beginning to end.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Riding the Elephants
Last summer my niece, Tiffany, along with her boyfriend Jacob traveled to Thailand to ride the elephants.
This summer Tiffany and Jacob got married --
so naturally I had to commemorate both events with bits of fabric.
Out on FaceBook I was accused of teasing, and now I can finally share it all here. Beginning to end.
so naturally I had to commemorate both events with bits of fabric.
Out on FaceBook I was accused of teasing, and now I can finally share it all here. Beginning to end.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Catching-Up
This summer one could barely find me at home, and when there I was working closely with my gardener to make some major changes to the home scape. During one of my trips I taught several workshops at The Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild - Quilt University.
This was a wonderful group - and a grand way to spend some sunny summer days. One of the workshops was all about Cookin-Up New Fabrics. We had fun marinading fabric and coming up with fun ways to spice up some fabric using paint --
This was a wonderful group - and a grand way to spend some sunny summer days. One of the workshops was all about Cookin-Up New Fabrics. We had fun marinading fabric and coming up with fun ways to spice up some fabric using paint --
It's magic!
Saturday, August 22, 2015
24 Hours
So much stopped yesterday at this time, it hardly feels like it has been 24 hours ago. A full day since my Nikki (almost 17) had finished her breakfast and her brother's, hit the water bowl and had just settled in for her morning cleaning and nap when she was struck with a massive seizure and passed away.
Everything that was to take place yesterday did not, and it was replaced with acute grieving--
This morning my heart aches still, and thoughts of things I wanted to share this week on my blog are just not on top.
They will begin to bubble up soon, but til then I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of my girly - girl.
Everything that was to take place yesterday did not, and it was replaced with acute grieving--
This morning my heart aches still, and thoughts of things I wanted to share this week on my blog are just not on top.
They will begin to bubble up soon, but til then I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of my girly - girl.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Missing You!
I have had a full schedule this summer -- like most of you.
Running around, taking in some wonderful new sites,
teaching & presenting through this new part of the world (to me).
While all this has been happening I have composed a bunch of posts in my head --
only to be distracted by almost everything.
I can't say that things are slowing down any, but I am trying to make a better stab at posting.
Today I wanted to share a fun find on Pinterest last week. It was a book of Embroidery Stitches -- why? It was originally printed in 1912 and is now available on-line for free. I definitely downloaded it and have already used some of the stitches I found.
It also got me thinking -- I would love to think that in 100 years someone may find my books and just have to share them with their quilty friends... wonder what quilting will look like in 2115? what new forms of delivery will words and pictures use then?
OK back to 2015.
Here's the book and some of its pages.
enjoy and get your own copy soon.
Running around, taking in some wonderful new sites,
teaching & presenting through this new part of the world (to me).
While all this has been happening I have composed a bunch of posts in my head --
only to be distracted by almost everything.
I can't say that things are slowing down any, but I am trying to make a better stab at posting.
Today I wanted to share a fun find on Pinterest last week. It was a book of Embroidery Stitches -- why? It was originally printed in 1912 and is now available on-line for free. I definitely downloaded it and have already used some of the stitches I found.
It also got me thinking -- I would love to think that in 100 years someone may find my books and just have to share them with their quilty friends... wonder what quilting will look like in 2115? what new forms of delivery will words and pictures use then?
OK back to 2015.
Here's the book and some of its pages.
enjoy and get your own copy soon.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Nestlings --
Betcha you may have thought I dropped off the face of the earth.
I actuality I took myself off to California for some r&r, birthday parties and generally catching up with my west coast buds.
I had a great trip -- that started with sneaking in for an amazing surprise party for my daughter-in-law (Dawn), and staying long enough to celebrate my bestie's (Angelique) 60th. In between there was catching up with a bunch of friends from northern LA through the southern end of the OC. There were walks of my favorite beaches, and eating at some of my favorite eateries and being introduced to some new favorites.
All done while giving my self time to stitch on some nestlings.
Nestlings??? You may wonder.
While participating in the daily word challenge my sketch book became filled with nest like drawings -- so with only minutes to spare I put together some small quilt blanks based on these drawings and through in some stitching stuff to embellish along the way.
Below are 5 of this little stitch-portunities.
These have only made me think of more/different nest inspired designs...
but, they are taking a bit of backseat, for now that I'm home I'm really excited to getting some landscaping projects out of my head and into reality.
gardening or stitching or laying by the pool/lake/ocean....
What's on your list to get done this coming month.
I actuality I took myself off to California for some r&r, birthday parties and generally catching up with my west coast buds.
I had a great trip -- that started with sneaking in for an amazing surprise party for my daughter-in-law (Dawn), and staying long enough to celebrate my bestie's (Angelique) 60th. In between there was catching up with a bunch of friends from northern LA through the southern end of the OC. There were walks of my favorite beaches, and eating at some of my favorite eateries and being introduced to some new favorites.
All done while giving my self time to stitch on some nestlings.
Nestlings??? You may wonder.
While participating in the daily word challenge my sketch book became filled with nest like drawings -- so with only minutes to spare I put together some small quilt blanks based on these drawings and through in some stitching stuff to embellish along the way.
Below are 5 of this little stitch-portunities.
but, they are taking a bit of backseat, for now that I'm home I'm really excited to getting some landscaping projects out of my head and into reality.
gardening or stitching or laying by the pool/lake/ocean....
What's on your list to get done this coming month.
Monday, June 1, 2015
The Hunt Turns to Embellishments
Last Friday I flew into Orange County --
I wanted to sneak in and be there waiting for my daughter-in-law at a surprise party being held for her on Sat....
it went off without a hitch,
of course with the help of a small number of friends.
Before I left home I worked on a series of small quilt works --
all silk, and all ready for some wild embellishing stitch-portunities.
Since visiting the OC last year there seems to be a new bunch of stores that have moved in. Think Japanese dollar store, then check out the on-line Daiso stores. Everything in these stores is a $1.50 and fun, so it seemed a great place to find things that may work out as embellishments.
So, along with things pulled from my stash I'm going to try and incorporate some of these finds...
What do you think?
Could you come up with ways to use some of these items?
I'm looking forward to jumping in soon.
I wanted to sneak in and be there waiting for my daughter-in-law at a surprise party being held for her on Sat....
it went off without a hitch,
of course with the help of a small number of friends.
Before I left home I worked on a series of small quilt works --
all silk, and all ready for some wild embellishing stitch-portunities.
Since visiting the OC last year there seems to be a new bunch of stores that have moved in. Think Japanese dollar store, then check out the on-line Daiso stores. Everything in these stores is a $1.50 and fun, so it seemed a great place to find things that may work out as embellishments.
So, along with things pulled from my stash I'm going to try and incorporate some of these finds...
Could you come up with ways to use some of these items?
I'm looking forward to jumping in soon.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
The Hunt Began
This Memorial Day finds me feeling much better, but still trying to kick the butt off this bronchitis...The 2nd round of antibiotics along with allergy medicine is finally letting me breathe.
While trying to be good and rest up I turned to my sketchbook and had fun working through some ideas that had been popping up several times while I was doing the daily word challenge.
To celebrate feeling better I decided to start pulling fabrics --- and I found my mind turning to this one particular blue silk.
The hunt was on - with the pulling out a blue bin of silk...
Sort of overwhelming.
It has been a while since I went for silk -- so much of my quilt making for my books is cotton.
First, I was a bit surprised by the sheer amount of silk that burst forth when I flipped off the lid. Then I was happily engaged with all the colors and textures of all the fabric --- mind you, I never really found the piece I was looking for, but I was having fun.
The opening of the blue bin, lead to the opening of the green -- then it was on to the purple and lastly the red/orange bin.
With the opening and digging through all the fabric poured memories. Fabric from this place or that place. Fabric that had been used in this quilt or that.
Does this happen to you, too?
The hunt for once piece of fabric let me reconnect not only to the fabric itself, but the history that brought it all to me.
It also was quite apparent to me that 1. I did not need anymore silk -- so during my upcoming trip to SoCalifornia I can stay clear of the Garment District, and 2. It is time for some silky projects!
All in all, a good day.
While trying to be good and rest up I turned to my sketchbook and had fun working through some ideas that had been popping up several times while I was doing the daily word challenge.
To celebrate feeling better I decided to start pulling fabrics --- and I found my mind turning to this one particular blue silk.
The hunt was on - with the pulling out a blue bin of silk...
Sort of overwhelming.
It has been a while since I went for silk -- so much of my quilt making for my books is cotton.
The opening of the blue bin, lead to the opening of the green -- then it was on to the purple and lastly the red/orange bin.
Does this happen to you, too?
The hunt for once piece of fabric let me reconnect not only to the fabric itself, but the history that brought it all to me.
It also was quite apparent to me that 1. I did not need anymore silk -- so during my upcoming trip to SoCalifornia I can stay clear of the Garment District, and 2. It is time for some silky projects!
All in all, a good day.
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