Saturday, November 28, 2015

Free Motion Practice

As a relaxing activity after two days of Thanksgiving hubbub,  I decided to take a pieced block and do some free motion quilting play.  So I layered the square with backing and batting to make a mug rug.  I left the backing larger to use as binding (but I didn't make it wide enough.)
I did some good and some not so good free motion quilting.
Then I pulled the backing around and attempted to make a nice binding with it.....Oh well!  I think it could look a lot better. But I did get that FMQ practice done and made into a usable piece.

I have also been weaving on a warp I got in an exchange.
Pink is so not a color I love - but this piece is helping me love to work with pink.  When I got the warp, I thought it was mostly red and yellow.  But there was a lot of pink in it also.  So I decided to embrace the colors of the warp and try to stay with the warp colors for weaving. I have added a little and used a few deeper versions of the warp colors.  The truth is this: I love how this looks.
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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Tulips Chose the Colors

Back at the end of August,  I attended a weaving event in North Georgia.  One of the fun things we did was prepare a warp to bring.  The person was to use a picture or painting as the inspiration for choosing the colors. These warps were swapped - although not a direct swap.  Each person went up (by random drawing) and got to grab one from the pile.  I chose what I thought was a mostly red and yellow one.  (I continued to think that until I started putting it on the loom!)  Here is the picture that the person who made my warp chose as her inspiration photo.

As you can see, there is pink, yellow and orange in this photo.   Hmmm......
So yesterday, I decided to put this warp on my loom to weave it into fabric.  The note with it said "doubled warp threads." That means you use two threads in each slot. Of course, I don't always play by the rules.  So I have some with only one thread, some with two, some with three and even one slot with four threads through it.
Here is how it looks on my loom.
Mmm, this looks so happy and warm.  I am excited  to get started weaving this beauty and see what happens. I don't normally use a lot of pink in my weaving.  I do have a few cones of pink yarn though.   So I will be using pink in this.  I am thinking I need to add some greens for the leaves.  Of course I am itching to add some purples and blues also.  I am sure this fabric will be very bright and happy.
And the Craftsy Black Friday sale on supplies and classes just might be live already!
Craftsy
Disclosure: I am a Craftsy affiliate and this is an affiliate link. If you click it and purchase I may earn a dividend - but your cost will still be the same.
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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Literacy - It Matters

Here is an infographic on literacy.  One of my grandparents was illiterate - although she was a smart woman.  Consider what you can do to help with this problem.

Global Literacy Infographic
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Sunday, November 22, 2015

A Glorious Day

Today I got to see one of my woven works being worn.  I politely asked permission to take a photo.  She agreed that I could take pictures and post them here.  I think this piece looks perfect on her.



She LOVES it. 

A couple of people have commented asking about items that weren't sold.  Everything I have left is still for sale.  If you are interested in one of the pieces please contact me. 
Craftspacecontinuum. - you are a no-reply blogger. 
 My email is if you wish to contact me. 


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Sale Day and Booth Photos

Saturday was the day of my sale and it was a lovely day.  Lots of people came by my booth and looked. Some of them even bought my handmade items.
Here is a picture of my handwoven items hanging in my booth.

                                           
And here is a photo of the entire booth. 
I had a very good day, although I still have a number of these items.  There is one more more garment that wouldn't fit in the display but was added later when one of them sold.  I just realized that I never got a photo of it. I will try to do that in the next few days. 

There was a surprise visitor to my booth also. And what better person to have visit at a holiday sale?
I hope he knows that I have been a good little boy this year. 


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Thursday, November 19, 2015

Handwoven Garments -Sewing With My Woven Fabric

As you may know, I have been weaving fabric for over a year now.  You may have seen a few of the items I have made for myself.  It is fun to create clothing or other items with cloth that you have woven.  Many people find it a bit scary to cut into the cloth. However, once you learn the proper method and have done it a time or two, it isn't  scary at all.

My 'sale day' is this Saturday and I will have these garments on display for the sale. I purchased five "half shell hanging torso" mannequins to display the pieces.   As the fabric is different front and back there are front and back views of each piece.
Draping Vest - Front

Draping Vest - Back

Orange top- side A (reversible) 

Orange top- side B (reversible) 

Bright Beauty side A
Reversible

Bright Beauty side B 
Reversible
 
Twisted Vest Front
Twisted Vest Back

V-neck Aqua - Front
V-neck Aqua - Back
It is interesting that three of these pieces work well for male or female.  The styling allows the body form to work for either gender.  I have worn three of these pieces - but as someone said "Anything is for sale if the price is right!" There are two that I will keep for myself  unless they are purchased. I would be happy to sell them all and weave more fabric to make more clothing.

I will be building my booth tomorrow and I am hoping that I have room to display them all - along with my other items.  I will try to post a photo of the booth when it is completed.
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Saturday, November 14, 2015

Sam and His Puppy

It is interesting how things happen to start a creative journey.  One of my friends mentioned that she using an Accuquilt Go design for creating something out of a completely different medium.   A day or so passed and the thought was evidently simmering in my brain. It was in the subconscious - and I was not actively thinking about it.   In fact, I was working on a weaving project.  But it was there, lurking, brewing up an idea.  I don't remember exactly what I was planning, but WHAM!  There it was and I raced over to my collection of cutting dies.  I pulled out four different dies - then I sat an looked at them.  I had the *dog, *cat, *Overall Sam* and a *bird.  
Each, alone, was a bit small for my idea. ***********WAIT! If I put Sam and the dog together??????  Okay it is worth cutting some fabric to see.

I picked out pieces of pre-fused fabric and cut the pieces.  I took them to the ironing station (aka the ironing board in the "spare" room.  (spare? Ha!)  I put down some release paper and fuse tacked the pieces together lightly. Hmm.....I pulled the pants part away and trimmed it down. I took the suspender bit and made a belt from it.  (Never forget you have creative control and options!) He is now just "Sam" as he is no longer in overalls.  I prepared a background with "grass" and "sky" fabrics and fused it all together on a piece of quilt batting.

I used a colored pencil to add the puppy's eye and nose, but I will probably thread paint those areas when I sew and quilt it.

It is not a great work of art, but it will be cute for some little boy to have in his room.  It needs to be embellished and quilted - But isn't it cute?

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Thursday, November 12, 2015

Silk Scarf Dyeing

Detail of orange scarf
A few months back while dyeing some wool, I put a silk scarf under the wool to catch the excess dye.  It was totally an experiment. But as silk and wool are both protein fibers, it dyed beautifully.   Recently I ordered more colors of dye and some more scarves to dye.



So I had a couple of dyeing sessions with just the scarves this time.  I tried several shibori techniques.
 Then today I saw the sun and thought GREAT! I can take photos outside.

The sun brought a friend, Mr Wind, who was exuberantly happy.  Mr Wind liked my scarves so much that he tried to make off with a couple of them.  Whoooosh!!!!

Once or twice the wind settled. Of course, this was usually when I was not ready to take a picture.  But I got these:

This was an attempt to get a detail shot of the variations in the orange scarf, but it
also shows off the pattern on the blue scarf behind it. 
Realizing that the angle of the sun this time of year wasn't great for this spot. I finally gave up the outdoor photo shoot and came inside.  I took these -less than spectacular shots in using a large piece of art paper as a background.



If you are in the area and want to see the true beauty of these scarves, please come to the sale. 

On November 21st, I will have a booth at the my church's bazaar.  This is not your typical church bazaar with simple crafts made by the ladies of the church.  Rather, they rent booth space for artists to display and sell their work.   I have sold quilts, paintings and other things I have created at this sale for several years now.
This year I will have silk scarves, hand woven items, art quilts, notecards and possibly a few other items.  It is always fun - and I always love to see what other people are selling.
These two art quilts (that you have probably already seen) will be there. They are mounted and ready to hang.  The mounting method I use allows them to hang just like any other piece of wall art.



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Thursday, November 05, 2015

Fusing Playtime

After working on a lot of projects that I can't show just yet,  I decided to play with some leftover pieces and see what could happen.

I have scraps and piece of fabric with fusible web on the back. So I took the woven half circle and some matching scraps and envisioned a jester's cap.  I found a piece of mottled orange/peach and used it to make a face shape.  Then I added eyes and eyebrows.
Poor guy needs a nose and mouth now....but I am not sure how I want to portray the nose just yet.  I think I need to sleep on it and then play some more.  I also have to decide what type of mouth he should have.  Should I add hair? So many questions run through my mind.  Yes, he needs to sit and mature for a bit.

In other news, one of my theatre friends put out a call for actors.  A local restaurant had a film company coming to make a commercial. I thought, "it is something I have never done and I will get to hang out with some of my friends and get free food." Okay!  I am in.
One of the ladies I know from the theatre took a picture of me sitting in the restaurant.  I like the photo a lot so I am sharing it with you.
Hey!  It looks just like the jester I am making doesn't it?  Ha ha.  Actually, I think I look a bit happier. 

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