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Showing posts from September, 2013

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.

Two for one or more

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I found some doilies at the thrift store yesterday.  I decided to color one of them with my Dr. Martins watercolors that I bought a while back.  I don't think they are permanent but I don't plan to wash the doily so I won't worry about it.  I got the  doily nice and wet before I dropped the color onto it.  I wanted the colors to flow.  Since it was so wet I thought it would take forever to dry so I decided to blot it with some paper.  The light bulb went off, this makes a cool print!  Well, the first few didn't as the doily was so wet but the last five or six worked great.  I now have a stack of prints that I can use in a journal or whatever.  I might try over printing them with my gelli plate too.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I think this block is finished.  I removed a button that was too large and added a couple of small ones.  I added more stitching and beading.  The beads are swarovski crystals but they are not really shining in this photo.  I know there are some naked seams but I think it works better that way.  I am linking with  http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

zentangling again

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I have a new job.  I am a back stage receptionist at the Centre in the Square.  Basically they need a warm body that smiles nicely when someone comes into the office.  There is a bit more to it than that but not a lot.  I have many hours of sitting there with not a lot to do.  I am now bringing in my sketch book so that I can doodle my time away.  Iwould really like to bring my stitching but I feel like that would be pushing it.

Art show opening tonight

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My piece Metamorphosis, pictured above, is in the Stories show at the Unity Church.  The show opens tonight and will be on display until I don't know when.  I just checked their web site and can't find that information.  It is likely up for at least a month.

thrifty finds

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I am linking with  http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/  for Treasure Hunt Thursday.  I recently found these sweet, feminine handkerchiefs at one of my favorite thrift stores.  The stitching is so delicate how could I resist them.  I tell myself enough already!  But I can't stop. I probably have enough to make a whole queen sized quilt with them.

Work in progress Wednesday

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Here is my August block again.  I have added some ribbon stitching, feather stitch and some blue beads.  I plan to add more blue beads and more feather stitching.  The block might be finished after that but I will wait to see once that is done.  I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

further experiments

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Since I wasn't truly happy with some of the results the other day I thought I would try Gelli printing on them. I am definitely happier with them now.  The colors don't look all that vibrant nor can you see the iridescence in the paint.  Too bad, it is quite pretty.  The extra layer of paint adds depth and more interest.

I allowed myself to mess around yesterday

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I have to say that I LOVE messing around.  I had no predetermined purpose for any of things I colored.  I set out a stack of paper, fabric and doilies.  I got a wash basin and put a damp piece of fabric in the bottom.  I then sprayed some Tulip fabric spray paint on to the fabric.  After which I layered a piece of paper and did the same thing.  I continued layering and spraying until I had used up all the pieces with which I started.  Sometimes I sprayed water also so that the colors would run a bit more.  The pieces near the bottom ended a more muddied color because I used every color of spray I have.  I knew that would happen but decided to just go for it anyway.  I am not a big fan of muddied colors so I may have to add more color to those pieces to brighten them up a bit.  The pieces on the top of the stack are more clear bright colors and I am happier with those.

Treasure hunt Thursday

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This past Saturday I decided to go to a couple of yard sales.  I haven't been to a yard sale in years.  I used to go almost every Saturday when the boys were small.  It was fun to find them some toys and books.  Well, I read about a needlework sale and figured I needed to check it out.  I also read about a church sale and since the two were close together I decided I would go to both of them.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't co-operate and the needlework sale didn't yield much.  However, the church sale was inside and pretty darn good.  I found a roll of vintage velvet ribbon and a needlebook.  I love the victorian looking roses on the needle book.  This is the first needle book I have ever found and I love it.  There are still some needles in it. I think I have found a new thing to collect! I am linking with http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/

Work in progress Wednesday

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I made a  bit of progress on my block.  It still need a lot of work though.  I have to say that I am really disappointed with how it looks in the photo.  I know it isn't finished but ugh.  Nevertheless I will press on. I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

more of my journal

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Since Sharon is away and there is no Take a stitch Tuesday I though I would show you more of my journal.  I printed the verse on velum.  I think it makes a lovely overlay on top of the illustration of fruit.  I had a lot of fun putting this journal together and now I am having fun adding some embellishments to it.

Fruit of the spirit journal

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I started this journal quite a while ago.  I consider it finished but not really.  I recently took a mini workshop on line that inspired me to work on the journal again.  Here is one page from that journal.  Stay tuned for more pages.

Treasure Hunt Thursday

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I hit the mother load of vintage laces yesterday!  So exciting!  I went thrift store shopping with my beautiful daughter in law and we couldn't have picked a better day to do it.  The vintage laces had just been put out the previous day so I had a huge pile to go through.  I spent $10 and got a grocery bag full of treasure.  I am really looking forward to using them.  I will likely dye some too.  I post a few of my favorites but there are so many more.  I am linking with From My Front Porch at  http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/   Check out the beautiful things that are posted there

work in progress Wednesday

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Well, here is my September crazy quilt block.  Not a lot happening so far.  Sept. has just started and it has been super busy so I am not beating myself up about that.  It will be done by the end of the month and that is what counts.  I am happy with what I have done so far.  I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

Take a stitch Tuesday Raised chain

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This is version one of Sharon's raised chain stitch.  You can see the directions at  http://pintangle.com/ I have to say when I first looked at the directions my assumption was that this would be time consuming and not really worth it.  I was very wrong.  It is a pretty simple stitch and not overly time consuming.  Definitely well worth the effort.  I am really glad that I used a variegated thread as that makes in even more interesting.

Art journal play

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Not too bad.  It is not a realistic looking flower but it is quite clearly a flower.  No one could mistake that.  It feels good to playing with paper again.  When I work with one medium for too long I start to get stale.  For me it is good to switch it up every once in a while.