I am still here

I know that I have been missing. Sorry. Saturday morning after Thanksgiving, I woke up with a bit of a sore throat.  It has developed into an ugly cold.   I have been remarkably unproductive.
So until I can get back in the swing of things, here is a piece of art for you to have something to see.

A couple of photos from Mexico

and maybe a quilt or two.

 I made it in two layouts, with the second in different colors.

So for now, more hot tea and rest...but I will return!

(and Joyce, my apologies for the delay, but I don't want to send you this cold with your prize!)

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.

1501 - the Winner

In the post for my 1500th blog post (which due to technical reasons is listed as # 1501) -there was a prize to be given.
I finally remembered to draw a winner.

The winner is #2 - Joyce Carter.   Joyce, please send me an email  geneblack At gmail DoT com so I can get your address to send your prize.

Don't forget that Craftsy's BlackFriday/Cyber Monday sale goes on until 11:59 pm Mountain time on Monday 11/28/16.
Class Offer: $17.99 USD or less on all Craftsy classes 

So find a class that inspires you and jump right in.
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.

A Finished Project and Mexico

A very happy day to you!
This morning I used some fabric that was woven by a friend and made a bag for my new Native American style flute.

There is a hand dyed fabric strap to put around my neck to carry it in case I want to take it when I am walking outside.  The bag is lined with quilting fabric so that the flute doesn't push through the woven fabric.

Now, let me tell you where I have been!  From mid October until November 23rd, I was in Mexico. That is right - it was a little over a month.  Dave, the friend I went with, and I did a blog that is now open to the public. You can read it at http://ourmexicolife.blogspot.com/   We had a great time.
While there I replenished my zipper supply.

Zippers by the yard , extra pulls and shorter zippers too. 

Buttons and a thimble

The extra zipper pulls and a seam ripper- because you can always use another seam ripper. 

I think I did well!

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.

Happy Thanksgiving - and Black Friday Early

First let me wish all my readers in the USA a very Happy Thanksgiving. 😀

Now let me tell you some great news!  Craftsy is having an EARLY Black Friday sale.  In fact it has starts Thursday - Thanksgiving Day- at 12:01a.m.  Mountain Time.

  ALL Classes are $17.99 or less! 

That is an amazing value - remember you can watch the classes as many times as you like.  You can also ask questions of the instructor and your classmates. I love the ability to type a note so I can find a part that I may need to watch again.  But you can also use the chapters to find sections also.
Treat yourself to a class. After all, you are worth it! 😇

Here is a question for you:
Do you know the name of this quilt pattern?

The owner says it dates to the  1920's.  It is all hand-pieced and hand quilted.  It looks very modern, but I can't find a pattern or reference to it anywhere.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.

1501

Today is number 1501 post. Actually that makes it 1500 even as there is one that is a draft from long ago that I will not delete because it was used as a "guest blogger" post elsewhere and I want to preserve that bit of history. You can see that post here.
But my dashboard shows this:

So how about a little giveaway? I will say that the prize will be a surprise.  It will most likely be some type of art I have made such as a print (or notecards) of my art pieces. It may be a something I draw/paint just for you. Or if you are a quilter, I could be a piece that I have made and embellished that you can use in a quilt project - or if you are inclined, frame and hang. Perhaps like the piece shown at the top of this post or the one below this statement.

So, if you want a chance, leave a comment and I will choose a random winner.  Let me know if you would prefer a print/printed notecards or a fabric piece. (Disclaimer - no promises, you get what you get! :) )
Your comment gets you one chance to win.  If you comment twice, the second one will be ignored in my count. All comments must be made here on the blog - no email or facebook entries will be counted. That just makes it easier on me.
This will end on Wednesday night at, November 23, 2016 at 10 pm CST and the drawing will be sometime after or during the USA Thanksgiving weekend. If you are a no-reply blogger and I can't contact you, I will choose another winner.
Good luck!

Did you know that you can gift a Craftsy class to a friend or to anyone for that matter?


And if you need fabric I suggest Connecting Threads. I love their solids and Quilter's Candy.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.

A Bit of Weaving

The fall colors warp has been weaving very nicely.  I took the loom outside for the photo shoot to take advantage of the natural light.

I am loving the colors. While it is totally not my usual, I think it will be lovely.
So if I am quiet for the next week or so, don't be surprised.  I have lots to do and Thanksgiving (USA) is next week.  So - busy busy!
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.

Another Start

There is nothing quite like starting a new project.  I decided to start a simple one, although with all that I have going on right now, it may be sitting for some time before I finish it.

Apparently, I had autumn in mind.  I chose these six cones of yarn (cotton and rayon) to start with.

Oh, wait!  I am going to wind 5 threads at a time for the warp - so I put one of them back - Now there are five.

Don't those colors just announce "Autumn is here?

One day I will actually remember to take a picture of the warp on the warping board to show you. Today was not that day.  I was so involved with "doing" that pictures were not thought of at that point.
But once there warp was threaded up on the loom, I did remember to take photos.
Here are the warp threads from the front coming through the reed.  I placed a sheet of paper under the thread so you can see them.

Hmmm....that doesn't show up so well so let me show you how it looks at the back of the loom wound onto the warp beam.

Isn't that yummy?

Right now Craftsy has a number of classes on sale.  I looked at projects for this Fast & Flexible Log Cabin class and I am tempted. It is only $14.99 right now.

The Art of Cloth Dyeing (which I am taking right now) is only $24.99.  I am one of those people who not only wants to know how - but also "why" it works. Jane Dunnewold explains it nicely. She tells how AND why.  I am excited to get started dyeing cloth

Look at classes on Craftsy and see if you find one that stirs your creative soul.  If you click through my link and buy, you get the sale price at the time you click - PLUS, I get a stipend that helps me too. It is a win-win proposition.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.

Bias Binding - Yes You Can

Today I decided to have a throwback Tuesday republish this post on cutting bias binding. The post is slightly modified here.  The original was first published in February of 2011.

  A number of people cut straight strips for binding.  I did that too, until I learned this technique from Pat Wys of Silver Thimble Talk.  I think I told you earlier that Pat showed me this method using a napkin in a restaurant in Atlanta.  

Why is bias binding better?  Number one is strength and durability. The bias is more durable. There is a good reason why the bias binding lasts longer. With a straight of grain binding there is one thread that basically runs along the edge for the length of that strip.  When/if that thread breaks, the fabric is weakened and can split more easily. With a bias binding, you have multiple threads that run only short distances; thus there is always less stress on any one thread.


You put a lot of work into making a quilt. So bind it with bias so that it lasts and lasts!  Your future family members (or those of the recipient of the quilt) will be so glad you did.  



My video on cutting bias binding has had over 162,000 views to date. It is my most popular and most commented on video. 
This video is also accessible on the Tutorial Videos tab on my blog.



Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.

Painting - Ragged Land

This is another painting that I have mounted for display.

It is mounted on a small canvas and wrapped around the edges to be able to be hung without a frame.  This is also a watercolor painting that has been sealed with acrylic medium so that it can be displayed without glass.

There is an unannounced sale at Craftsy.  I was surprised to find some classes on sale. For example Zippered Bags with a Twist- The one zip Way by Joan Hawley is $24.99 instead of the full price of $39.99.
So if  you have a class you are interested in - or just want to look click the photo widget link below and find a class that suits you.

P.S.  There is a giveaway at Maureen Cracknell Handmade for a $25 gift cert to "The Knotted Thread"
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.

Yarn Update

This is a quick post to share photos of the silk core spun yarn that I demonstrated in my video. I have wound the yarn into a center pull ball.

I love the color and the texture.  I know that this will be lovely when I weave it into some fabric.
And if you haven't noticed,  at the top of the blog there are some tabs for other pages. That is one way to get to my videos.

So, check them out.  You may find something you have missed.
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in posts may be affiliate links for which I am compensated if you click through and purchase.