Saturday, November 28, 2009

Sketching Again



I have this fabric, and I love it. But I don't know what to do with it. I have several sketch pads throughout my house. Nothing I create seems to please me enough to take it onto fabric. So in a different technique, I decided to try the Paint program and create something. Here is one of my samples.

Now I know to you it looks like something a 2 year old would do. And you are right. But to me, I know that the middle is a certain type of embellishment, the outside a different kind. The so called flowers are organza, and the other lines are a special vintage fabric I have. You just have to use your imagination.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Done and Finally Done

I had finished a quilt, hung it and was contemplating entering it into a few shows. The more I looked at it, the more I thought it should have more quilting. But what if I totally botched it up? The binding was on, the 3D part was securely attached and even the sleeve was on.

But what if it didn't get into a show? Would I always wonder it it was due to lack of quilting. So I pulled it down, took the sleeve off and went to town.

And I am thrilled. I haven't posted the quilt because I want to wait to see if it gets into a show, and then I will post the full picture.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Quilted Coasters



Trying out some Christmas gift ideas. Quilted coasters. The flower actually has its petals rising up so it doesn't lay flat and your mug would sit in the middle.

The round coaster has a trim of ric rac on it. And the 'W' one is personalized to our household. In this case with the initial of our family name. I thought you could make a whole set of coasters up matching the fabric to a living room or dining room,, and either doing it in a geometric shapes or the initial of a name.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Petite People


Here are my Petite People. I just invented them and they are quite addicting. They go together quite fast and are fun to try out colour combinations. I still haven't decided what quilt project to tackle, yet want to be creative, so these little gems are fitting the bill.

I will use them as an embellishment somehow. I think I could spend days and days in my studio just making them trying out different colours, and for people I know, to reflect their personalities. They would be adorable sewn onto a kid's pants knee or the pocket of a pair of jeans. As a trim on a cute top, or on a purse.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Hunting Season




If you have never witnessed deer season on our island, you really should. Even if you are not a hunter. It is an experience. Most businesses close down for 1-5 days. Really! For example, if you are building a house, waiting to move in, and the only thing left is the plumbing and deer season hits, you will wait for the following week. People really don't care, they are used to it. And the suppers put on by churches are terrific. You could literally not cook the whole week and just drive around the island to each town.

Now as for the hunters, anyone wearing an orange hat is telling you they are a hunter. And they want you to ask them if they have seen one, shot one or heard one. And do ask, what other possible reason would they be wearing a blaze orange hat in public, if not for getting your attention.

And no, I did not get one yet. And no, I don't wear a blaze orange hat outside of the forest. And yes, I had a 15 minute conversation with a wolf on opening day of rifle season. It would not run away from me and scared all the deer away. And no, despite every male asking why I didn't shoot it, I didn't. One, I wasn't sure if it was legal. (I do have 2 friends who are MNR officers) Two, I thought it may scare the deer away, and three it meant as soon as I fire my gun, my brother assumes I got a deer and leaves his hunting spot to come and help me.

And yes, I could have fired today, should have fired today but did not fire today, but did see four deer. Two of them were close enough to say good morning to, one of them was in my cross hairs, but only his head, so wasn't sure I could have made that shot.

Yes, I am going out again.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Felting For the First Time



I couldn't resist trying. When I was in Toronto last month I picked up one of those little hand held felting tools. It just looked fun. I also purchased a bag of the wool remnants you are to use, and then I looked at it for a month.

Yesterday, I finally got around to trying it out.... and watch out. It is addicting. Now I don't go as fast as some do on those videos you see, and I am sure I haven't even touched on all the ways you can use it. But I did have fun. I made three brooches pictured above. They are backed onto felt and then free motion sewn, and embellished.

I have to do more research on what type of fabric I can use for the backing of it, and what else I can do with it, but for now, I am punching till my heart's content.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Remembrance Day



I just returned from the Remembrance Day ceremony in our little town. It was excellent as usual. My kids are attending one at school today as well. When I went to school, the whole day was off so Remembrance Day could be remembered. But I think it was realized that more children remember it by being at school than when they had the day off. Good thoughts.

Here is a quilted journal cover with beads and butterflies and yarns.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

One More Pillowcase


Okay, when I do something, then I do it till I have exhausted all possible ideas with it.

Yesterday I made pillowcases focusing on the print of the fabric. There were princesses, cnstruction vehicles, horses and flowers. And I did embellish one with ricrac.

Today, I tried a solid pink cotton and decided to put my niece's name at the end of it, using a fun yellow and white polka dot fabric. I knew she had a very colourful comforter on her bed, but it had pink flowers in it. This should add a lovely accent to the room. And will be a perfect stocking stuffer.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Pillowcases


It started out as 3... then somehow, it snowballed to 8. But really, they were fast and they are fun for kids.
Pillowcases. I have started getting ready for Christmas. I believe I have got most of my gifts for the advent calendar for my children. This is where the pillowcases came in. You can get some fun fabric for kids and can match up whatever their current interests are.

I have taken pictures of 6 of them here. You can probably pick out which ones are for the girls and which ones are for the boys.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Free Motion Quilting



This is one of my better attempts at free motion quilting. I really need to find a book that can show me different examples of free motion quilting. I am willing to try anything, but have a hard time inventing a pattern.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Blocked


I have been looking at this pile of fabric for 3 days now. I have an idea of what I want to do with it, but not clear enough on the sketch pad to even get started.

You will notice not one piece is cotton. There is knit, some organza, a bit of taffeta and that shiny stuff they use for skating costumes. I don't even know the name of it. But it is very inexpensive and is very shiny. And all this fabric matches the wild print on the left.

And that is where I am at, matching fabric with no ideas. I think they call this an artist block. I don't like it.