I imported fabrics and made a new design. I have to play with those new fabrics, don't ya know?
The fabrics are from www.connectingthreads.com They are from the "Jacobean Garden" collection.
This is a lovely quilt that would be excellent for a man or boy's bed. However, a woman could love it too.
The blocks are simple to construct. If you want a copy of the EQ5 file just ask. Free right now, but one day I may start selling patterns.
My Creative Life
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving to all my U.S. readers. And have a Happy Day to all those in other countries.
I am off for a lovely four days starting today. I suspect I will play with designing Quilts on the computer. Like this one I did last night.
I also need to import my fabric files. Oh, and download a few more. If I were at home, I would photo some of my stash and import that - very handy - the I could actually MAKE the quilt as pictured. Ha ha.
If you want this pattern in EQ-5, let me know. I will email the file to you.
Edited to add:
ARRGH-blogger cut off my picture-I hope I have it fixed now. I wanted to post the BIG picture of it.
I am off for a lovely four days starting today. I suspect I will play with designing Quilts on the computer. Like this one I did last night.
I also need to import my fabric files. Oh, and download a few more. If I were at home, I would photo some of my stash and import that - very handy - the I could actually MAKE the quilt as pictured. Ha ha.
If you want this pattern in EQ-5, let me know. I will email the file to you.
Edited to add:
ARRGH-blogger cut off my picture-I hope I have it fixed now. I wanted to post the BIG picture of it.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Bracelet Display
I have been busy still working on jewelry and other items for the upcoming sale. While at the hardware store, I saw 2 foot pieces of PVC pipe. Hmmmm...it is almost the same size as an arm. Near it were 90 degree elbows. I grabbed a pipe and two elbows, put them together and sat it on a counter. Wow! I could envision it covered in black fabric. It would make a great display for bracelets. Tonite I took the fabric and made the covering. (Okay, I confess I was glad there were no children or other delicate ears in the house -I may have said some not-so-nice words to that fabric and pipe.) However, I got it made and it doesn't look half bad.
I placed a number of bracelets on it and decided to have a photo shoot. Here ya go.
More pictures:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Nearest Book
There is something going around the internet, though I haven't seen it on a quilt blog yet. It's a "nearest book" game whose rules are:
* Grab the nearest book.
* Open it to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.
From "Practicing Resurrection" by Nora Gallagher
"I asked Dickie how long he'd be willing to stay, how late Kit might be cremated, if I got a signature."
I feel compelled to say that just prior to this her brother had passed away from cancer. The local doctor refused to sign a death certificate since he was not Kit's doctor.
This book was close by since I have been reading it on my lunch breaks.
* Grab the nearest book.
* Open it to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.
From "Practicing Resurrection" by Nora Gallagher
"I asked Dickie how long he'd be willing to stay, how late Kit might be cremated, if I got a signature."
I feel compelled to say that just prior to this her brother had passed away from cancer. The local doctor refused to sign a death certificate since he was not Kit's doctor.
This book was close by since I have been reading it on my lunch breaks.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Special Thanks
I have been VERY remiss. A while back I won some lovely Placemats and napkins from Marlene aka Stitchin By the Lake
What a lovely surprise when I got them in the mail. I neglected to say thanks right here on my own blog. I am saying it now. Thanks Marlene, I love them.
Fast Forward. Last night I got another package. This one was from Andrea aka Welsh Quilter. I got an adorable pincushion (it is BLUE!) and three fat quarters. I should mention, color coordinated and pattern coordinated too. Thank you so much Andrea. I have pins in the pincushion already.
I am so lucky to have such great blogs to read. I am even luckier to have won such great prizes, made with love and sent with joy. Sometime soon I will have to find an excuse to have my own giveaway.
What a lovely surprise when I got them in the mail. I neglected to say thanks right here on my own blog. I am saying it now. Thanks Marlene, I love them.
Fast Forward. Last night I got another package. This one was from Andrea aka Welsh Quilter. I got an adorable pincushion (it is BLUE!) and three fat quarters. I should mention, color coordinated and pattern coordinated too. Thank you so much Andrea. I have pins in the pincushion already.
I am so lucky to have such great blogs to read. I am even luckier to have won such great prizes, made with love and sent with joy. Sometime soon I will have to find an excuse to have my own giveaway.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
One of my other hobbies
Some of you may know that I am getting ready for a "show and sale" in early December. I have been making loads of purses, blank books with quilted covers and fabric birds. But I have to confess that I am working on yet another of my hobbies. But first let me tell you how this one began.....
A couple of years ago, I got some polymer clay to make a stamp to use in my artwork. I got distracted and never got that stamp made which was okay because I learned how to carve rubber stamps. (a story of another day!) The polymer clay laid there unused. One day I got the package, opened it and began playing with it.
"Hey, this is fun to work with." I thought to myself. Then I remember that I got it to make stamps. A little light went off and I said, "I could stamp right into the clay" And I did. I made myself a clay pendant that has impressions from some of the rubber stamps I carved. "Oh My! now I am making jewelry" I made some more for Christmas presents and before I knew it , I was making clay beads to sell. I love the ways I can combine colors of clay and create rich interesting patterns. (I know, you quilters are thinking that it echoes piecing fabric to make quilt squares. You are so right!)
The great part about the beads is that they are all originals and I never make an identical piece. Heck, I couldn't if I wanted to.
Right now I have two new sets of beads glazed and drying. I have another set cooling prior to being glazed. And in the next couple of nights I will get to make them into some more lovely artsy bracelets.
A couple of years ago, I got some polymer clay to make a stamp to use in my artwork. I got distracted and never got that stamp made which was okay because I learned how to carve rubber stamps. (a story of another day!) The polymer clay laid there unused. One day I got the package, opened it and began playing with it.
"Hey, this is fun to work with." I thought to myself. Then I remember that I got it to make stamps. A little light went off and I said, "I could stamp right into the clay" And I did. I made myself a clay pendant that has impressions from some of the rubber stamps I carved. "Oh My! now I am making jewelry" I made some more for Christmas presents and before I knew it , I was making clay beads to sell. I love the ways I can combine colors of clay and create rich interesting patterns. (I know, you quilters are thinking that it echoes piecing fabric to make quilt squares. You are so right!)
The great part about the beads is that they are all originals and I never make an identical piece. Heck, I couldn't if I wanted to.
Right now I have two new sets of beads glazed and drying. I have another set cooling prior to being glazed. And in the next couple of nights I will get to make them into some more lovely artsy bracelets.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Lesson Learned
I am on an extended weekend. I get Tuesday off for Veterans Day and I elected to take Monday off making it a 4 day weekend. I came to my Dave's house for the duration. Well, I had moved my older (cheaper) machine to his house so I wouldn't have to bring my new machine with me. Ha. Here is the lesson:
Once you have a nice machine to work on, the older machine seems very inadequate AND you can't work as fast. I sewed 6 birds and a couple of scrappy blocks yesterday. I spent so much time cutting thread (the new machine has a one button thread cutter) and turning the wheel to raise the needle (new machine has a button for that too) That I felt it took way too long. NEXT Time I will just pack up my new baby and bring him with me.
What? I call my machine HIM and you wonder why? Simple it is a BROTHER. Thus it must be a male. LOL. How do you desinate your machine? Male of Female? Did you give it a name? I haven't really named my little Brother just yet. Maybe his name is Brother, after all, I am southern. LOL.
Have a great Sunday.
Once you have a nice machine to work on, the older machine seems very inadequate AND you can't work as fast. I sewed 6 birds and a couple of scrappy blocks yesterday. I spent so much time cutting thread (the new machine has a one button thread cutter) and turning the wheel to raise the needle (new machine has a button for that too) That I felt it took way too long. NEXT Time I will just pack up my new baby and bring him with me.
What? I call my machine HIM and you wonder why? Simple it is a BROTHER. Thus it must be a male. LOL. How do you desinate your machine? Male of Female? Did you give it a name? I haven't really named my little Brother just yet. Maybe his name is Brother, after all, I am southern. LOL.
Have a great Sunday.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Quilt Design
I have been playing with designing my own block and quilt. Here is what I came up with. I will have to really decide on fabric, for this I was going for contrast.
I did find out that different layouts of the blocks can really make it a different quilt.
I am going to Vote
I am up early to go Vote. I want to keep my voice heard. Whoever you support - go vote - our country depends on it.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Tangled Thoughts
Okay, I couldn't resist, I had to blog this painting that I mentioned in the last entry. I intended this to have lots of yellow and be very cheerful and fun. Hmmmm, the muse, or the painting had other ideas. This has been on my easel for weeks in various stages. There are lots of layers of paint but I think I finally brought it to a conclusion.
It certainly has an energy that is draws the viewer in. There are textures you may not be able to see here. Let me know what you think of it. (I reserve the right to delete comments -grin)
It certainly has an energy that is draws the viewer in. There are textures you may not be able to see here. Let me know what you think of it. (I reserve the right to delete comments -grin)
Purses and birds
What have I been doing? Well let me tell you what I have been doing in my "spare time"
I am making quilted/pieced purses and fabric birds and I even did a painting. (that picture MAY come later)
I loved this set of dotted strips I got in a jelly roll. Every fabric has dots in it. I chose six (i think) of the strips and made a patchwork. Then I quilted it and made this cute purse. I think it is so bright and springtime feeling that it makes this cool fall weather feel warmer.
Hey and with spring we get birds. So I posed three of my fabric babies with it. The one on the right is at an odd angle, he was being stubborn.
Now I will tell you a secret. I am making some red and blue birds too. After I cut them out, I had some odd sized pieces of red and blue fabric left. I was feeling adventurous so I started sewing them together. I then had a red/blue patched piece. Hmmmmm...OH I KNOW - yep you guessed, another purse.
And of course I posed a couple more birds with it. I am hoping my table will be full of fun sewn items come December 6th. I am also hoping to sell a lot of this stuff, or else I will have to start an account on Etsy or eBay to sell it all. Ha ha.
I am making quilted/pieced purses and fabric birds and I even did a painting. (that picture MAY come later)
I loved this set of dotted strips I got in a jelly roll. Every fabric has dots in it. I chose six (i think) of the strips and made a patchwork. Then I quilted it and made this cute purse. I think it is so bright and springtime feeling that it makes this cool fall weather feel warmer.
Hey and with spring we get birds. So I posed three of my fabric babies with it. The one on the right is at an odd angle, he was being stubborn.
Now I will tell you a secret. I am making some red and blue birds too. After I cut them out, I had some odd sized pieces of red and blue fabric left. I was feeling adventurous so I started sewing them together. I then had a red/blue patched piece. Hmmmmm...OH I KNOW - yep you guessed, another purse.
And of course I posed a couple more birds with it. I am hoping my table will be full of fun sewn items come December 6th. I am also hoping to sell a lot of this stuff, or else I will have to start an account on Etsy or eBay to sell it all. Ha ha.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Fun with Curved piecing
After watching Ricky Tims "Caveman Quilting" I am playing with cutting curves and piecing. It makes some interesting stuff. I used fabric that was gifted to me so I don't feel like I am wasting anything. HA. I think it is going to be very useful.
I took two squares that I didn't really love, stacked them and cut a curved line. Then I mixed them up and pieced them back together. MUCH nicer! The burgundy/ cream square was a backwards swastika - UGH. That was a mistake. I didn't realize it until I had sewn it all together. So chopping it saved the fabric AND made a nice piece.
I took two squares that I didn't really love, stacked them and cut a curved line. Then I mixed them up and pieced them back together. MUCH nicer! The burgundy/ cream square was a backwards swastika - UGH. That was a mistake. I didn't realize it until I had sewn it all together. So chopping it saved the fabric AND made a nice piece.
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