Category Archives: Machine Drawing

25 Million Stitches Project, Cardinals, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Finger Lakes Fiber Artists, Killdeer, Mom VI, Robins

Winter

Hello-
Snow continues to fall here in central New York. We just shovel and drive with care. This week there was a Finger Lakes Fiber Artist meeting. It was good to see folks even if there were not a lot of gals in attendance. Pat had three pieces – two big and one small to share. This is a close up of one.

This is Bev’s newest work. It is all pin basted for quilting now.

 

 

 

Noel is back to working with silks in an effective new approach.

 

 

 

Liz is doing lots of hand work and she asked for advice on how to quilt this great piece.

 

 

 

 

 

There was also a FAB meeting this week. It was good to see these gals again too. Sharon is busy finishing the last commission in the series of 7. These little flowers will be added to the base she has already produced.

I did get my two pieces for the 25 Million Stitches project mailed off this week too.

Project Report: Two Cardinals This work is 10″w X 16″ t. I am really enjoying doing the free motion drawing of birds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Killdeer This work is 19″w X 12″ t. I had to do some small modifications to is after I showed it to the gals at the FLFA meeting. The birds faded into the background too much until I added some dark to their backs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Robins This work is 24″w X 18″h. I did end up adding the third adult robin to make the composition work. Because I had done five other birds before it only took and hour and 15 min to do the new bird. Experience does help.

Exploring Blue  This work is going along slowly as it is all done by hand. I am enjoying working away attaching all the little units I have pinned down.

 

 

 

 

 

Childhood- Move to Carroll

At the end of second grade we moved from Columbus Junction to Carroll Iowa. About a six hour drive from the part of Iowa that my Grandparents lived. Dad got a new job as a high school principal in a larger school there. We moved into the Park View Apartments that summer . The apartment was a half level with the windows on ground level. It was dark. A girl a little older named Joanna lived in the apartment above ours. She taught me to play the card game “War” that summer and we spend many an afternoon at that activity. At the back of the lot behind the apartments there was a tall hedge and just in front of that was a huge sand box.
We spent a lot of time playing there as well. Across the street in front of the apartments was a big city park. There was a band shell there and on most Friday evenings there was a concert. Gene and I went with Mom and Dad to listen and play in the dark. The public swimming pool was across the park. Mom did not know how to swim so she signed up both of us for lessons. I remember putting my clothing in a numbered wire basket and pinning a safety pin with the same number on it to my suit to get my clothing back. The one had to walk through a very cold chlorine wash to get out to the pool area. One day we were late and so I ran across the park bare footed. I cut my foot on a piece of glass. I had to set out for that lesson . I did learn how to swim that summer and passed the test at the end of lessons as did Gene. Most days Dad went off to Adams street and worked with Grandpa Howard and some twins from the high school on the house. I remember seeing the place the day they removed the forms from the pored cement basement walls. They were tall I though. My next clear memory was visiting the house when they were framing the main floor. The furnace was also being put in at that time. I was fascinated by the furnace man because he could do tricks. He was a “ sward shallower” of sorts.   At least he could swallow those long slender strips of metal that were used between the joints of the heating ducks. He was not fooling me as I walked around him to view from all sides. We moved into the basement before school started. Mom and Grandpa worked on the upstairs that fall and winter to finish the house.

Keep Creating

Carol

Childhood Memories, Robins

Quiet Week

Hello,
This week has been a quiet one for me. The snow and cold head me indoors for several days and I have had lots of appointments too. I did take advantage of the snow and do snow dyeing .
This is a shot of the bucket it before it melted.

 

These are the three pieces I created. The yellow is for the next fire piece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress Report: Robins I finally decided that a Robin facing left was needed for this project and did the thread painting. I will attach all the parts and stretch it this week.

6X6 Rochester Show I got the call for this show and did the work. They are all packed up and ready to ship now.   They will all be for sale at $20.00 a piece for their fund raiser next month.

 

 

 

 

Exploring Blue This is my new hand work project. I am enjoying adding the stitching and building up the surface.

 

 

 

Childhood Memories – Creative Mom

Mom was always looking for ways to express herself. She had a sewing closet near the bathroom in the Junction and then when they built the house in Carroll, she repeated that idea. She made most of her own clothing and lots for me as well. I remember a red and white buffalo check dress with a square opening that she made for me to wear the first day of Kindergarten. I loved that dress and wore it to shreds. She used her machine to make curtains and pillows as well as organizing bags as she called them. They were like folders with snap tops and she often put like things together in them. I remember a wonderful display she made for Christmas. It was a set of three angles and a basket with a Frozen Ann in it to represent the Christ child. The angles had pipe cleaner bodies that were dressed in a white silky material that she then added gold stars that one licks to stick on top. They had large wings that were created from two layers of foil backed card stock. There was a silver wing with a smaller pink foil wing   added on top. The halos were done in the same manner. The heads of the angles were little gold Christmas balls that Mom had carefully painted  that had closed eyed faces on with fluffy cotton hair. They stood at three different levels on foil covered milk boxes. I enjoyed setting up that display for many years. One year at Christmas she made wonderful cards where she water colored a beautiful woman holding a muff. By lifting one arm of the muff and then the other one could see the message.

I remember her working on an invitations one spring. They  too included a figure made with a solo pipe cleaner with a wintergreen life saver for its head. There was a small bit of a golden scrub pad for hair and a bit of nylon netting for its skirt. I lusted after those, but they all got mailed. I still think of them every time I smell wintergreen. Mom knitted as well. I remember one pair of red mittens that stained my hands pink when they got wet. I lost one of the mittens and there was no more red yarn so Mon knitted a green one. After that we played a lot of “Red Light- Green Light” that winter. Her hands were always busy and perhaps that is where I got my busy hand thing too.

Keep Creating

Carol

Autumn Leaves, Childhood Memories, Coral Sea, Curvie Cuts, Landscapes, Out the Window, Scrap Happy Quilts

Quilt Show

Hello,
Fall is really in the air as we continue to have cool nights and crisp days. I went off to see the Thompkin’s County Quilt Show on Saturday this week. It was fun and full of old friends.
Tracy had a wonderful solo show within the quilt show of some of her thread painted birds. She did the work from photos she took on her many adventures. They were wonderful. Kirsten finished her her project form the Rock class this summer. I think it came out great.

 

 

 

 

Donna had this fun little quilt as a part of the auction that was held. I got excited about the work and came home all revived.

 

Progress Report: Autumn Leaves-Past My Window

This work is 35″w X 29.5″ t. I got rolling and this piece went together quickly. I used leaves from my class with Betty Busby and made more in that same style.

Then I found a bag full of silk leaves someone had passed my way and they were added. The quilting is all free motion in a leaf pattern too.

 

 

 

 

Topographical This work is 39.5″w X 27″t. I enjoyed working on this project and learned a lot about how to couch yarns. I think there is potential for more exploration along these lines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scrap Happy

This quilt is queen sized and will go off to the Ronald Mc Donald House some time soon. The centers for the Roman Strip blocks came from fabric that Angela gave to me. It has a fun feel.

 

 

 

 

Nick’s Quilt

I pulled all these blues and even started cutting some for that base of Nick’s owl quilt. It is early.

Jumping Off Place I just keep doing hand work on this piece. I am trying to use yarns and threads that are atypical for me as part of this exploration.

 

 

 

Coral Sea

I just added fish and starfish to the surface this week and started to stitch stuff down. It is colorful and fun too.

 

 

 

Mountain study I stared this in the Rock class this summer. Pulled it out and did a little work. I am unsure as to  where to go with this point, so it may need some down time for me to think on this one.

 

 

 

Wool Rounds I just keep stitching away with this project. I finished up 5 rounds this week and continue to button whole stitch down the last sheet of cut wool  circles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Childhood Memories- Chickens
This will be the last piece dedicated to Ainsworth as we moved in the spring just after I turned 5.  I have one more” Storied Memory ”  to tell here. My brother Gene was born in Feb before I became four in April. It seems that I was in Grandmother Ester’s care while Mom was in the hospital for 5 days. She says she was anxious to see me and according to her I disappointed her by being more interested in chasing chickens in the chicken yard then seeing her and the new baby.

I do remember her giving me a Toni perm though. It stunk and burned my head a bit. I also  remember helping her clean chickens in the sink standing on a stool. I was plucking feathers and I soon tired of the task.     Many days Mom  would ask me what I wanted to eat  for lunch. My response for many times  was “ Spinach again today.” I still love it.

Dad was going to school working on his Masters Degree at this time. He took a class in early childhood literature. I benefited by having lots of books read to me. Two that seems to have nestled in the back of in my young mind were Lois Linsky’s “Strawberry Girl” and “Cotton in My Sack.”   At Least the illustrations did because when I came across them later and asked Mom why they seemed so familiar she told me of Dad’s readings. Dad spent lots of special time with me because Gene demanded so much of Mom’s attention. I remember his taking me up to the high school one sunny day.     The librarian was culling the book connection. I was allowed to select one book to have as my own. I chose one book full of black and white photos of Japan. I spent hours looking and later drawing women in komons. I can still bring some of those images up in my mind as an adult.

I am off to a week quilting retreat in Chicago with my friend Sharron on Friday so there well be no posting next week.
Keep Creating
Carol

Childhood Memories, Coral Sea, Curvie Cuts, Felt Work, Hand work, Machine Drawing, Night Fire, Wool Rounds

Fall

Hello,

The world keeps tilting back toward the north and as we passed the Autumnal  Equinox this week , the light of our days is diminishing every 24 hours.  The trees are showing color now as well.
This week has been a quiet one with lots of studio time for me. I did go to Liz’s house on Friday and we dyed. She is getting ready to go to the Barn and work for two weeks so she did some pre -work with green.
I just made yardage and after washing it out, we both agree the dye is getting old and is very pale.

Progress Report: Night Fire This work is 39.5″w X 34″t. I am quite happy with this work. The high contrast in color adds to the drama of fire. Judy gave me a photo of fire burning at night and that was the inspiration. I used lots of silk paper, and organza in this work as well as the traditional cotton.

 

 

 

 

Topographical I continue to do the couching on this work. I would say it is about half done at this point.

 

 

 

 

 

Sea Horses

I got excited about felting again and worked hard on this piece. I plan to add roving to the felt sea horses too. The brain coral is yarn felted with roving.

 

Coral Sea. As one can see this work was influenced by the felting project. I have not done much work here as the Topographical piece has taken most of my handwork energy this week.

 

 

Autumn Leaves    I The season dose have an impact on my work.   So I did print another collection of leaves for this work. I am still building parts here.

 

 

New Work    I pulled a work that I started at QBL in the Rock class out and sewed down the parts this week .  I then found one of my favorite pictures from Dad’d farm of trees and started  some to add to the work.    The trees are on wash away and when I have built them enough I will then add them to the base.

Wool Rounds I finished this panel this week completing 16 of the circles. I pulled out one more pair of old blue jeans to do more rounds. I still do not know exactly were I am going with this piece, but I am enjoying the process.

 

 

 

 

Childhood Memories- Stories

Memory is a strange thing.   Some things are all linked together in day units and some things I remember like beads on a string.    In doing this project I have learned that geographic and physical location  is a strong element for me to tie my memories together.    I am calling this panel Stories because I know these things happened to me,  but I think they were told or explained more than true events that I recall.  For example, I have a faded scar in a grid pattern on my left arm.   I was told by Mother that when I was very young and we were living in the trailer in Ainsworth that I fell against a heater and that is the source of that scar.  I remember a gold sweater that Mom gave me for a doll to wear.  The source she said was from the time Dad was a girls basketball coach.     It seems she knitted the sweater and added the A for Ainsworth to the front.  When she took me to the ball game the cheerleaders insisted that I set with the ball in the center circle during half time cheers.  I was a mascot of sorts.      A third event that was recorded as a photo that Mom took at  the time that I had wondered out to the barn behind the house.  I crawled over the gate and got into the pig pen and was playing in the mud with the 200 pound hogs when Mom found me.   She was horrified, and amazed that  I  did not get hurt by the animals.   I  got a good spanking , and a hot bath to remove the excessive mud- but she had to take a photo non the less.    Every time we looked at the photo album she would retell the story.     Even though I have these memoirs they are not really mine in the same way most of the things I talk about are.   They remain a part of my past that this exercise is suppose to cover.

Keep Creating

Carol

All American, Collections, Daily Practice, Deep Jellies, Enduring, FOX, Indian Pipe, JIG, Label Cards, Scrap Happy Quilts, Thaw in Xavier Wood, Word Forms

Bounty of Show Work

 Hello,

It is fall and the season of quilt shows.    I always submit lots of entries and this year  I really did well.   I have two works in the Associated Artists  at the Manlius Public  Library.   That show opened on the 8th of Sept and will go until the 29th.   The reception is  Sat. Oct 8 from 2:00  to 4:00 at the Library in Manlius NY.    My works Black Capped Chickadee  and Birch Trees  are a part of that exhibit.

   I am also a part of the Interwoven Journeys in Fiber Arts  show at the Broad Street Gallery in Hamilton, NY.   This show opens on Sat Sept . 15, with the reception from 5 to 7.     Indian Pipe is one of the 14 pieces that I submitted to this show.

 

Xaviorwood Ice34″ X40″

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the four works that will be in the Quilts Unlimited show in Old Forge at the View  from Oct 5 to Nov 5.   The first weekend on Sat  is the opening  with a lunchen and awards.   The other three works show are    Quartered Glyph, Asters and  Calling Crows.

 

Generational Whispers 43X38

 

 

 

Generational Whispers was the work that is in the  judged “It’s All Relative” show  by Experience Fiber Arts  in the Whiler Building,  1 E. Main St in Rochester NY.   The opening is Oct 6,  2:00 to 5:00.   This show runs until Oct 26.

I was also accepted in the international  Schweinfurth Quilts= Art= Quilts show  Judged Show.   My Label quilt was the entry for that show.  It opens Oct 27 and runs until Jan 6, 2019 .   205 Genesee St.   I also will be a part of the Members show at the Schweinfurth during the same time.  My piece Deep Jellys will be a part of that show.       I am flying high with all this work coming and going and it is requiring a bit of juggling on my part too.

Deep Jellies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have also spent a little time with my friend Tanya this week.  She is exploring dyeing silk with procion dye.    I really like her use of color on this experimental piece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress Report:   JIG   This quilt is 40″ w X 39″ t.   I enjoyed working on this piece.   It really was  finished last week, but I wanted to fray the edges of the letters so it was in the washer last  Thur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I dyed the orange and red fabric behind these letters.  One of my personal challenges for this year was to use my hand dyed in all my works this year and this is it for this piece

 

FOX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have cut all the words for this piece and pinned them in place.  I am now in the process of stitching the words down before I satin stitch around the out sides.   The light green and the rust words use my   own hand dyed work.

 

   Forest Fire  The base for this piece is a yard of Judy Roberts fabric.   I have added Angelina  to represent the light in the burning sky.   The fur trees are fuzed down and I will build on top to create the feeling of fire burning them.

Scrap Happy    I continue to add together strips and bits of fabric from the Ethel box to create squares for the new Scrap Happy quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Process    The red orange in the background is some of my hand dyed  on the  fabric.  I am now adding the hand stitching to this work as well.

 Collection IV  I am working on the hand stitching on this project now.  I call it Friends because I am using lots of items that my friends have given me.  The flower applique is from Tanya.

 

 

 

 Label Cards : Life  is Art    For all of us the creation of our individual self is an ongoing process.   doing it artfully is the big challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enduring    Some images  are just universal and  speak to all of us.     They last the test of time.

 

 

   All American     The  Grand Canyon and a native American chief- both are items that are a part of our culture and no other country.

Keep Creating

Carol

 

 

 

 

 

Carrol Iowa, Diva Meetings, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Frozen, Glyph IV with Beads, Label Cards, Spring Forest, The Lovers

Moving Forward

Hello, The wet heavy snow this week really effected the landscape.  We got about 17 inches and it really ground things to a halt.  But by Monday the world was almost normal at least for March.   IMG_0504  I got a bit of cheer with these tulips from my friend Joyce.    The first Tuesday of the month came this week so I had meetings.  The QuEG’s meant at Sue Ellen’s.  She had a lot to share as she is working on a commission.     This shot is of the sun  set  she is working on.  All the rows are cut- but not connected yet and there is a sea to add on the bottom.     I look forward to seeing how this turns out.   IMG_0511Liz is pulling up her UFO’s and working on this long lost piece.

The Diva’s also had a lot to share.IMG_0512  Liesa is doing great things with the marbleized fabric she has created.

Sharon is busy creating now that she has  finished Graduate school .    I really like the colors she has put together here.

 

 

 

 

Cheri showed off her DNA quilt.  She stared it in the Surfaces class we were in at the Schweinfurth last fall.   She is mixing  papers in her surfaces now too.

 

 

 

 

Regina is being as productive as ever.    This is just one of four wool birds quilts that she has created this month.  She also shared her felted scarf that is very  jewel like.  IMG_0529  I always get so much inspiration and support from all  these gals.

Yesterday the FAB group meant.  Patti showed off her loaded loom. And explained how it works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress Report: Forest IMG_0558I have been beading away on my Spring Forest piece.   The colors of the beads make me feel like a season other than spring so I am going to change the name to just Forest.   It may not work so well for the Awakening show.  But I will see.

New Work The base layer is cut and pinned for this work.

.IMG_0540Most of the leaves are my own  hand dyed with a few ( the dark green ones) cut from commercial  fabrics.    I like the red brown of the vanes in the leaves  so I tried to follow that idea.  I loaded the eye of the sewing machine with a light green thread and a red thread to get this effect.  It takes about 15 to do the vanes in each leaf so it will take a while to finish this step.

Glyph IV   I keep doing the beading on this piece too.  I am more than half way down the left side of the O now.

 

 

 

 

 

Frozen   This project is  inching forward.  I think most of the rocks that are protruding through the ice are done now and I only need to concentrate of the last few ice flow patterns.  This project requires lots of looking  and thinking on my part.

IMG_0545Memory Map: Carroll    I stared a new Memory Map project.  It is the same size as the other three completed ones.   IMG_0546I spent my life from the  third grade to seventh grade in Carroll Iowa and have great memories that I will try to incorporate into this work.   This is the base layer.

Daily Practice   The hand work on this piece goes forward.   I continue to use the strait stitch as much as possible on this piece.

 

 

 

Collage X- Flower Dance   The work goes forward.

The Lovers   This is the next card.   I love to use old photographs when I can in my collage work.  They are not family ones but little jewels that I have picked up along the way.

Keep Creating

Carol

3 Witches, Collage, Glyph IV with Beads, Hand work, Indian Pipe, Indian Pipe, Label Cards, Medusa, Radial Joy, Spring Forest, Winter Apples

Spring Approaches?

 

Hello,

March in its typical approach can not seem to decide if it is ready for spring or if winter should still dominate.  I saw these Snow Drops on my walk yesterday and I did hear a Robin’s song this morning.  But there is also snow in the air and in the forecast  for this evening and tomorrow.     Mother Nature is a bit fickle.

Progress Report:  Indian Pipe   This work is 16” t X 20” w.     The background is felted and it is  based on a photo of a rock cut along a  road in Washington state.  IMG_0480  I selected the Indian Pipes as my subject from one of my mother’s slides.   The steams are made from organza that is wrapped around a pipe cleaner and the heads are satin ribbon.IMG_0481

Winter Apples This work is 27.5” t X 29.5” l.   It is based on a photo I took of a crabapple tree at Thanksgiving when we visited the Turning Stone Cession for our family dinner.    IMG_0494The crystalline snow is made up of silk with a lacy ribbon on top.   IMG_0495

Radiating Joy  I am to the quilting step with my work on this piece.  I did reflective quilting in the rainbow letters and I am doing strait line quilting in the dark areas.

 IMG_0459Frozen   I continue to move very slowly on this piece.   I am just about ready to cut the wholes in the ice where the rocks stick through.

Glyph IV I am happy with the progress on this piece as the top  of the O is now complete and I am working down the right side.

 

Spring Forest    I am done with the quilting on this pieces as well  and have moved onto the beading of the trees.  I had help selecting the beads that I am using.IMG_0469

   IMG_0465Afghan    This work is now done.  I like the colors and it is worm.

Daily PracticeIMG_0474The daily hand work is moving along.  All of the parts are at least tacked down with stitches now.    I look forward to playing with decorative   stitches on the rest of the surface.

New Work IMG_0477 I pulled greens out of the stash to begin a new piece based on an image of asters.   IMG_0489

Star Gazers   This is collage #9 and is called Star Gazers.

Card- Medusa IMG_0490  I always saw Medusa as a very tragic figure.   All that constant noise and motion around her head all the time.  Must have been tiring.

3 Witches  These three women from a clothing add made me think of  the 3 witches from Macbeth.  They seem to conjuring  trouble to me.

Keep being creative

Carol

Amber Empress, Collage, Frozen, Glyph IV with Beads, Hand work, Series, Winter Apples, ZAP

Operation

 

IMG_0411Hello,

I had my operation for carpel tunnel on my left hand yesterday.   It went well and because I had the right wrist done 14 years ago I felt no fear.  The world of medical has  improved sense that first one  and it all seems to be smoother.   I can already do a few things that I know took a week to do last time.    Simple things like touch index finger to thumb.     The Doctor anticipated a smaller opening this time too- but because it is all wrapped up under the soft bandage I can not see that yet.   One Hopes for the best.

Progress Report :  Glyph IV
I did a lot of beading on this project this week and I am at the intersection of the O and L at this point.   I am pleased with how it is going.

.Frozen   I have started to applique the cording down to represent theIMG_0398frozen edges of the ice on this work.   Because I want the organza to only be connected to the base were the stones stick up through the ice, it is still free floating on top.

ZAP   I layered this work and started by stitching down all the text.   I have even begun the reflective quilting around the forms.   I am unsure about what way is up, so every time I hang it between work sessions, I try a different orientation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Joy I used the pattern that I showed in last weeks blog to create the shapes for this radial design.  It is based on the word JOY.  It is easiest to decipher when you look at the fourth of the pattern on the left.

Winter Apples This new work is based on a photo that I took last winter of snow on a crab apple tree.  IMG_0402

This is the shot.  I made a paper window and focused in on a smaller section.

IMG_0401This small section is what I decided to build the new work on.   I have selected a printed fabric that goes along with the theme and I have free motion quilted down the limbs I cut in wool.   I have made about twenty Satan apples  to hand applique down on top.   I used the double fabric method  to create the apples .   After I turn all the apples  I will applique them  and add steams.  I am still thinking about how to create the snow.     IMG_0403

Daily Practice  I have started with the second of my hand work daily pieces.    The fabric shapes are all cut-aways from other projects and all of them except the orange ones are fused to the background.

Collage 6

I am continuing to do the collage work.   Perhaps I need to start to think about adding titles to these pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amber Empress  This is my newest card for Susan’s challenge.

Happy Chinese New year.    It is the year of the Dog.

Keep Creating

Carol

Buggy, Confussed, FAD (Fiber Art Dames), Felt Work, Glyph IV with Beads, Glyph Series, Label Blocks, Pealing Oranges, Pond Water, Quartered Glyph, Raw Edge Applique, Tossed Salad

Fall Events

 

Hello,

This week was full of events.   Last weekend  I went off to the Tompkins Quilt guild show.  Cheri won a ribbon  there.  So too did my friend  Pat.  But this  red work is not the one she won a ribbon on.

IMG_9458 Regina and I enjoyed viewing the show and talking about what we saw.  My shots of Regina’s quilts are not good enough to share.

I went off to the Schweinfurt with Marty and we  vied the  Geologic Landscapes show on Wed..     This wall piece is of the watershed  of the lake.   The white lines are of the creeks and streams that feed into the lake and the white area near the top is the lake.   The outline  of the shape is of the highest elevations around the lake area.    I loved this concept as I have always liked topographical maps.

IMG_9489Then this morning was the FAB meeting.   Both Judy and Nancy are working on different variations of Disappearing Four Patch.   Judy’s is the one in dark blues and whites.   Nancy’s is the one with the greens in it.   It is great how unique they both are.

Patty  has finished her  extruded cotton  thread  knitted shawl.IMG_9492   I think it is great!

 

Progress Report: Buggy   This work is  40” w X 49.5” l.   The bugs are oil stitch on fabric  using my own designed and cut  stencils.   The gray and light green panels are made from stamps I cut in Pat Pauly’s  class at QBL two summers ago.    I dyed the dark green and the fabric with the turquoise and white in it too.   Liz had challenged me to use some of the stuff we have been creating and this one fills the bill.   IMG_9472The reflective quilting looks like bug trails one of my friends said.      These big black insects are based on cockroaches.   IMG_9473  The blue green insects are also beetles.

Quartered Glyph   This work is 44” w X  48” l.   I used a smaller version of the Owl Glyph pattern that I created to do this work.   IMG_9486  The quilting is strait line  starting from the center and working out  using variegated thread.   IMG_9488  The shapes of the glyph are raw edged  appliqued.

Glyph IV IMG_9467I just keep beading away on this project.     I like the effect, but progress is slow.

Tossed Salad  This quilt is made from all the cut away parts of Quartered Glyph.     I am machine stitching down the parts in the raw applique style here.   I have  added the back and batting too so this time I am quilting at the same time as I put the parts on.  I do not know if I will have to add additional machine lines until I am done with this step.

Pealing Oranges    This quilt is still growing.  I made a smaller Owl Glyph pattern and used a beautiful piece of orange fabric from Regina to place that pattern on.    It is being mixed with some of the other cut away fabrics from various other Glyph projects.  This is an early step in the process.

 

IMG_9469Wool Work   I have started doing free motion machine drawing on this felted work.  I am also tacking down bits of fabric and yarn with the machine stitches.

Card Confused   I build this card from multiple copies of the same image trying to mix and confuse the eve.  All the cutting and pasting made it warp a bit  but I think the confusion is there.  I sure feel that way about the world at large at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

Pond Water IMG_9479   I am now  hand quilting on this project.  The horizontal quilt lines are  meant to give the impression of water patterns as well as hold it all together.

Label Quilt    This work is 95” X 95”.    I am now done with this weekly project.  It has been an enjoyable and calming evening daily work.  It took  me a week to finish each of the 144 squares.   I am now trying to decide  what the next daily practice project will be.

Keep Creating.

Carol

Dream, Ethel's Nine Patch, Fly Fast, Green Dargaons, Label Blocks, Little Jellyfish, Machine Drawing, Wind Blown Tree

Summer

 

Mapel treeHello,

It is the first full day of summer and now the days begin to get shorter.   It is also the beginning of what as kids we called “Maple Whistle Time”.  As a kid for about a week we would use the maple seeds as a devise to make a whistle sound and drive my mom crazy.  There is also a mulberry tree that is dropping its fruit  that I pass under when I walk.  That too brings up great childhood memories of  climbing the  mulberry tree in the front yard and eating those berries. They were so juicy. We even tried to make mulberry one time .  Summer was always one day of adventure after another. IMG_8401

Progress Report: Green Dragons Green Dragons 31"wX 37.5  This piece is 31” w X 37.5” t.  It is quilted with stitch in the ditch work and then machine drawing of five dragons was added on top. IMG_8425I stated out by outlining the dragon that was printed on the fabric panel in the work.  I did  little research on Google  and then  some drawings      I then  did the others in a mimic of fist dragon.IMG_8426I have not done a  dragon quilt for many years, but there was a time when I did one as a yearly thing.   It is fun to revisit themes .

Wind Blown 16" X 29"Wind Blown  This quilt is 16’ w X 29” t.  I built up the background and then painted that ground.  I knew I wanted a tree on the surface so I did some drawing.IMG_8394

After  this step I had to decide how I wanted to build the trunk of the tree.  I used tear away paper and drew the image again.  Then I laid treeout yarn for that trunk and the limbs and free motion sewed them all together.   After pulling away all the paper I free motion stitched the tree down.   Next decision was  how  to make the leaves.  I placed a  piece of wash away on top of the tree and  then sprinkled shredded bits of green fabric on top of the wash away.IMG_8395 Last, I placed a bit of green organza on top   to create a sandwich and  free motion stitched the  everything together.  After washing out the wash away  I flipped the organza to the back and free motion stitched it to the tree area. IMG_8415

 

IMG_8417.jpg

 

Little JellyfishLittle Jellyfish  I am still doing the hand work on this piece.  Stitching down all the tentacles is slow.

Ethel Scrap Work IMG_8431 I sewing sold blocks to the 5” pattern ones at this point.

Fly FastFlag- Fly Fast  For this banner I set the machine on zig –zag and drew the letters in free motion.  I like the strange effect.

 

 

 

Flag-Dream IMG_8420This is the last banner that I made in Florida this spring. The letters are done with a chain stitch.

 

new WorkNew Work  I am building this in the build a unit technique that I use.   The challenge Liz made was to use some of the hand dyed materials we had created.

 

Label Block # 130Label Block # 130 I can see the end of this process now.

Keep Creating

Carol

PS    I will be away again next week .  I am off to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright house Falling Water.