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Showing posts from 2013

Some thrifty finds

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I found these gorgeous placemats and runner at the thrift store recently.  How could I possibly resist when they were so cheap.  I can see them fitting into a fabric book ever so nicely!

Thrifty finds

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A mohair wool scarf and and wool blend sweater that has been preshrunk are two of my recent finds.  I can't wait to cut into them and do some needle felting. I don't think you can see the shiny thread that is in the sweater but it is there.  The two colors work well together.   I think I will wash them in hot water to see if they will shrink/felt up any more.

more gifties

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My dear sister also shared two pieces of fabric with me.  The dress forms are so cool!  I am not quite sure just what I will do them yet.  She irons on fusible web and then cuts them out and puts them in her journals.  Fun idea!

gifties

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It is so cool having a wonderful sister.  I had the great pleasure of seeing her for a couple of days this past week.  We have very similar interests and enjoy sharing our loot/supplies with each other.  Check out the multitude of gorgeous paper napkins she shared with me.  Paper napkins have so many fun uses beyond the obvious.   They work in either paper or fabric art.  I am looking forward to using these beauties!

Take a stitch Tuesday Reversed Buttonhole Bar

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Thanks to Sharon B at  http://pintangle.com/  for the instructions for this stitch.  I dove right in and added it to one of my quilts that has the blocks stitched together.  I am still working on covering those seams where the blocks came together.  I really enjoyed doing this stitch.  The buttonhole is a go to stitch for me.  I use it a lot and now I know how to do a nice adaption ot it.  I may add the rerverse bar part to the buttonhole I have done else where.  I like that it adds another layer.

Let it snow

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We have got a nice amount of snow this week.  Not too much, just enough that we will likely have a white Christmas.  I put a different background on this snowflake that I created.  It is kind of fun.

work in progress Wednesday

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There are more seams that I could embellish but I think at this point I am calling this block finished.  I am excited to start sewing all the blocks together.  It would be more fun than wrapping presents.  Maybe I can make time to do both this afternoon! I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Another snowflake

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It looks like there are hearts on this snowflake.  So cute!  There is no Take a stitch Tuesday this week so I am posting another one of my snowflakes.

Snow flurries

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I have so much fun creating snowflakes.  I sat down last week and made a whole bunch.  It gives me something quick and easy to post about during this busy season.

It is snowing

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Great big fluffy flakes are falling down.  So pretty!  I enjoy creating colorful flakes with Kaleidoscope Kreator.  It is such a fun program and easy to use.  I have no affiliation with it, just a happy user.

Snowflake

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I really enjoy playing with the Kaleidoscope Kreator program.  Making snowflakes with it is so much.  The possibilities are limitless.  I need ink in my printer before I can print this one out.  Once I do I will embellish it with beads and stitching.  Yummy!

Work in Progress Wednesday

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This is my crazy quilt block for December.  There is still a lot to do.  I hope I can find the time.  December is so busy.  Granted it is busy with fun things which is good.  Stitching quietly is good for my soul and a most welcome break from the holiday busyness. I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ and http://pintangle.com/

Take a stitch Tuesday Plaited Feather Stitch

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Here is my attempt at the Plaited Feather Stitch.  I rather like it.  I think using contrasting threads works really well for this stitch.  It works so well for a crazy quilt seam treatment.  I definitely use it again. Thanks to Sharon B at  http://pintangle.com/  for her wonderful instructions.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I started this landscape quilt quite a while ago.  It is painted, needle felted and stitched.  It is nearly finished.  I am not really happy with the tree on the right.  Actually, the tree is okay, I think it is the yellow in the background that I am not happy with.  The background near the top needs more needle felting and then I think it will be done. I am linking with  http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a stitch Tuesday Crossed feather stitch

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Thanks to Sharon at  http://pintangle.com/  for the instructions for this stitch.  She also has the instructions for straight feather stitch and plaited feather stitch.  Since I am very comfortable with the straight feather stitch I jumped right into the crossed feather stitch.  I really enjoyed learning it and like the way it looks with the contrasting threads.  I will save the plaited feather stitch for next week.

Funky new stencils

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I enjoy a good stencil.  They are so versatile and useful.  Clearly I have already been playing with the one the right.  I was playing with it in my journal.  It feels like it has been a while since I have got the chance to play in my journals.  I  use my journals for messing around and experimenting, no surprise there.  I don't feel like every page has to be a work of art.  It took me a while to get to that point but I am glad that I have.

playing in my journal

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Last week I found some really cool glitter markers!  Yes, I am just a little girl at heart and glitter makes me very happy.  Of course I had to dive right in and try them.  Here is my simple journal page with lots of doodling and glitz.  Fun!

Work in progress Wednesday

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This is my November block completed.  I am glad to get it done a bit early this month, that way I can get a head start on December.  There are so many other things to do in December it is easy to loose track of time. I am linking with http://pintangle.com and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a stitch Tuesday

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I tried my hand at adding a bead to the Twisted Satin stitch.  I have to say that I like it a lot. It makes feel that the bead is very snug and secure.  I hate when beads pop off so this is a good way to make sure that doesn't happen.  Thanks to Sharon B at http://pintangle.com/2013/11/12/take-a-stitch-tuesday-89-and-90-twisted-satin-stitch-and-twisted-satin-stitch-with-bead/#comments for the instructions.

Infinity scarves

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I am blessed to have wonderful nieces in my life.  They enjoy spending time with me and call me the cool aunt.  I LOVE that!  We got together this past weekend to create these fun Infinity scarves.  They were quick and easy.  We followed the instructions from my friend Kate Carder Thompson at http://haliblurtin.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/infinity-scarves-from-t-shirts/

Gelli plate printed journal

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Last week I had the joy of taking an art workshop with some friends.  I didn't learn anything new but certainly had fun.  We each created a journal from one large piece of watercolor paper.  The pages have fold outs and the cover wraps around.  Now I need to do something with this journal.   I was thinking the pages that fold out could be cut into more interesting shapes.  I was also thinking about stitching into the paper.  We will see, I don't have a lot of energy for such things just yet.  I need a couple of more days of recovery from this stupid cold.

Work in progress Wednesday

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These blocks I have been working on for years.  It feels good to have the whole thing sewn together.  I have never completed a large crazy quilt so I am going through a learning proces.  I don't like that the seams joining the blocks are not covered so I will have to do some more stitching and embellishing.  That is okay as that is my favorite part of the process. I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a stitch Tuesday Twisted Satin stitch

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It felt really good to sit and stitch today.  I have had a miserable cold so very little energy for anything other than watching some chick flicks on Netflix. Since I am feeling somewhat better today I enjoyed learning this new stitch.  After adding it to my November crazy quilt block (top pic) I went on to add it to another project.  This stitch is simple to do and you can find the instructions at  http://pintangle.com/

Work in Progress Wednesday

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Yay me!  I have made a lot of progess on my November block so far!  It sure feels good.  Maybe I can get it done early and get started on the December block early as well.  Getting December done and out of the way would feel really good since December gets so busy. I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Fun Day

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Yesterday was the Inklinks art conference in Guelph.  I was able to take a brush lettering class in the morning.  I didn't do much lettering, big surprise.  The top two images are some of the brush work that I played around with doing.  It was great fun. In the afternoon I taught a class to a great group of women.  The bottom image is what one of my talented students created.

Post my October block a day late

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Here it is.  My finished block for October.  I added some flowers that I created with the fly stitch.  I quite like them.  On to the November block now.  I can hardly grasp that the year is almost done!  I have joined the crazy quilt journal project for 2014.  I had been thinking I wouldn't join this time around.  But then I had a brain storm and I am excited to start more crazy quilting for next year.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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This is it.  My art bra is finished.  I have enjoyed stitching this so much.  I added the peacock feathers to the straps as well as some more beading and the dragonfly pin on right.  I can't wait to start another one! I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a stitch Tuesday Buttonhole stitch with Picot

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Thanks to Sharon B at  http://pintangle.com/  for the instructions for this stitch. I started off trying the first version but quickly gave up.  It wsn't working all that well.  Sometimes I have a hard time wrapping my brain around instructions.  The second version, the one that Sharon learned as a child, was easier for me to get.  Here is my attempt at it.  It looks kind of cool.  Maybe I should add another row of it to this block.

Inktense and Gelli plate

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I spent a delightful hour messing around with my Derwent Inktense blocks and my Gelli plate.  I produced a lovely lot of pretty prints.  I can so easily get lost in the process that I end up with a big stack of colorful papers and fabrics.  So fun!

Teaching

It has been a while since I have taught a workshop.  I have had a number of students ask if I will be teaching this fall.  I am teaching at the Royal City Calligraphy guild Inklinks conference on November 2, 2013.  If you would like a copy of the brochure email me and I will send you one.  It should be a fun day. Life has been pretty full and so making time to teach in my home studio has been difficult.  I really am hoping to make time to do it again in the near future.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I have made more progress on my art bra.  It is mainly covered in flowers but I wanted it to have other elements of nature as well.  I added a wire birds nest with little pearl 'eggs'.  There is also a butterfly and a lady bug in there.   I will be adding a dragon fly as well as some feathers.  It is very close to finished. I need a title for it.  Any ideas? I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a stitch Tuesday Turkman stitch

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Here is my attempt at the Turkman stitch from the directions of Sharon B at http://pintangle.com/ My first try doesn't look great but I still like the stitch.  It will show up again in my crazy quilting.

It isn't looking like much yet

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Here is a simple paper cutting I did this morning.  I was listening to a good interview on line and needed to keep my hands busy.  I had seen an absolutely marvelous example of paper cutting here http://www.oh-i-see.com/blog/2013/10/14/artistic-expression-thats-a-cut-above/ and I was inspired.  Mine is no where near what this woman has done.  That is okay she has way more years of practice at it and art is not a competitve sport.  In my head I keep thinking there has to be a way of combining my love of paper and fabric.  I know there are others doing that but I need to find my own way.

work in progress Wednesday

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This is my October crazy quilt block.  Even though I haven't posted about it this month I have been working on it.  I still have more flowers to add to it. I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.be/ and http://pintangle.com/

Take a stitch Tuesday Raised Cup

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It has been a while since I have participated in Take a stitch Tuesday at  http://pintangle.com/ I was thinking I would really like this stitch as it is so dimensional.  I am not too sure if I do like it though. Maybe with practice I could do better.  Well, of course, with practice I would improve.  Practicing isn't my favorite thing to do.  I want to do it well right off the bat, not terribly realistic of me though.

fun finds

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I have been getting to do a lot of shopping lately.  Fun!  I do like a good shopping trip.  I found these gorgeous, metallic fabric spray paints this past weekend.  So yummy!  I can't wait to use them.  I am not quite sure when that will be as I have a busy week ahead of me.

Vintages laces

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I get so excited when I find vintage lace at the thrift.  Check the beauties that I found last month.  So gorgeous.  Now they just need to find a home in a project or two  or ten!

Work in progress Wednesday

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I am very pleased with the progress I have made on my art bra.  It is really coming along.  This is a really special project for me.  My mother is a breast cancer suvivor.  Yay Mom!  I am having so much fun with this creation.  Possibly I can get two made for the auction next year! I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Shopping on Queen Street in Toronto

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Queen Street in Toronto is such a great place to shop.  I got to go there the other day.  The weather didn't co-operate and I didn't get to do it with my sister but it was still fun.  Mokuba ribbon is always a good place to stop.  The ribbons I picked up will go really well with the art bra I am creating.  The photo isn't quite right for the color though.  I also stopped at a bead store and bought some gorgeous glass pearls.

Treasure Hunt Thursday

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It is so much fun for me to scour the thrift stores to treasure.  You just never know what you can find.  I cetainly don't need more stuff but... I found this gorgeous hankie, place mat and tea cup at thrift stores.  Don't you just want to come over for a tea party?  I think I better invite some girl friends over for a little tea and gab fest! I am linking with http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/

Work in progress |Wendesday

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My art bra is really coming along.  I am quite please with it so far.  There is still a fair amount to do.  You can see some of the seam binding and lace that I colored.  This whole project really has me excited so now I am thinking I will create two bras if not more! I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ and http://pintangle.com/

New projects are always so fun

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I love starting new projects.  I am also getting pretty good at finishing projects, it wasn't always that way.  I have wanted to do an art bra project for a few years.  I finally got around to bringing it up at the guild meeting of the Grand Guild of Fibre Artists  http://grandguild.ca/    I am delighted to say that everyone was very excited about it.  We will be creating our art bras over the next year and mounting an exhibit of them at The Button Factory in Waterloo October 2014. I spent the weekend dyeing rayon seam binding, lace and ribbon to use on my art bra.  I used my Inktense blocks as they are so quick and easy.  I am excited to get stitching with them!

photography fun

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It felt good to get out my Nikon and macro lens again.  It has been a while since I played with them.  I think these are fairly successful images and definitely want to explore this a bit more.