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Showing posts from 2018

Beading

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I love my little beaded tree.  It was lovely to find the time in this busy season to finish the beading.  I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Beading progess

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I am amazed that I have found time to do any beading at all let alone make some good progress.  I am enjoying my quiet time beading.  It definitely is helping with the stress of creating an installation.  I love that I get to do an art installation but I am also ready to be finished with it.  Still, lots to do though.  Taking on something new and big and having it due right after Christmas is probably not the best timing.  There was no way I was going to miss out on this opportunity though.  It has stretched my creativity and I am excited to do more big things! I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Collages

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I saved these little collages for this time as I feel they look kind of Christmasy. 

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I absolutely love the way this piece is going.  It is slow stitching with no preconceived ideas.  There is no date that it has to be finished.  I just keep adding stitches and using up bits and pieces of threads.  This is just fun for me. I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/ http://www.esthersquiltblog.com/

I heart Macro

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I have this photo printed on canvas, 16x20 inches.  Today I am preparing to send it off to the Legislative Assembly at Queen's Park.  Having this photo accepted to hang there for 2019 is a big honour.  I am thrilled! I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com https://mersad-photography.blogspot.com

Trying to not stress

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This is such a busy time of year.  I try to keep the holidays simple.  This year especially so.  I am doing my first big installation and it needs to be done by early January 2019.  The mail strike was cause for concern as a lot of supplies are being shipped.  I believe most of them are in the country now so it shouldn't be long before they are all here.  I am not a procrastinator and like to get things done right away so waiting for the supplies is kind of hard.  On top of that, the glue I have used on a couple of things is not working properly.  Having to redo them is not great.  Yesterday I was asked for my artist statements.  Did I say I am doing two different installations?  I do not love to write artist statements.  That is what has pushed me over the edge. I did manage to get one artist statement done.  I then rewarded myself with splashing some paint around in my journal.  It felt good to just play and I am totally fine with this page being kind of ugly and stressed looki

Playing card collages

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These little collages are kind of pretty.  The paper napkin I used was full of roses.  How could that background be anything but pretty!  I really must figure out what to do with all these little collages.  Numerous little books?  One big book?  Put them in an altered book?  I am still pondering.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I have a good start on my bead journal for December.  I did a similar Christmas tree last December and I love it.  Not typical Christmas colours but this tree is going to be ever so pretty.  I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ http://www.esthersquiltblog.com http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

Working on an Installation

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I am over the moon excited.  I have been booked to do not one but two installations.  My work will be seen at TheMuseum in 2019 for their show Colour.  Pictured above is my yellow splat.  There are over two hundred mini rubber duckies on the splat.  So fun!  I am making a coloured splat for each colour of the rainbow plus white and black.  They will be installed on the floor below paint cans that have different materials coming out of them to represent each colour. I am so grateful for Laurel at TheMuseum.  I am grateful that she believes me.  I am grateful for this opportunity to think big! I have to give full credit to my son Jeremy.  He was the one that suggested the rubber duckies.  Does that mean I can blame him for driving the dog nuts too?  Poor Trinity has heard them squeak and now desperately wants one.

Guild Challenge

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Our guild is meeting early this month.  Next week!  I really haven't had enough time to let any ideas percolate for our 'sinchie' challenge.  The theme this month is houses.  This is what I have thrown together but I am not loving it.  Hopefully I can come up with a better idea in time for the meeting.  If not, it is not the end of the world. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I think the embellishing is finished on this stocking.  This stocking is for my granddaughter.  I have included a piece of fabric from my Mom and Dad's clothing.  That makes it special to me but probably not to my granddaughter.  She has never met them.  I think it is more important that I include fabric from my husband and myself.  I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner!  I am considering doing that for the back of the stocking which I had intended to do just plain, one fabric.  I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ http://www.esthersquiltblog.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

I heart Macro

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It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.  E. E. Cumings I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com https://mersad-photography.blogspot.com

November Bead Journal

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This bead journal I have done in preparation for teaching a beading class next year.  I have worked diligently to have a lot of interesting bead embroidery stitches on this piece. I am calling it finished for now but feel like there is something not quite right about it.  I am unsure what it is so I will set it aside and wait for the answer to come to me. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Collages

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Do you enjoy the words as much as I do?  I have so much fun finding positive messages to work into these little collages.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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Make do mend  is the challenge San Fransisco School of Needlework is hosting.  I love participating in their challenges.  I have embellished these well-worn jeans for the challenge.  I can't wait to wear them!  I think they are pretty funky and fun. I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com / http://www.esthersquiltblog.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

New Zealand piece

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I added some beading to this piece.  I used a funky french knot to attach the beads.  If I would have used a lighter colour thread it would be more obvious. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Quick Collages

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As usual, I used one ply of a decorative napkin to start these collages.  The color combination is striking.  Playing with the words was so fun!

Work in Progress Wednesday

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This is my six-inch square block for the guild challenge.  Our guild is focusing on concepts this year.  That leaves it pretty wide open.  This month the topic is vision.  I looked up the Latin for 'go big' and wrote that on the piece.  I am encouraging myself to look at my future in bigger ways. I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ http://www.esthersquiltblog.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

Take a Stitch Tuesday

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Coral Stitch  is the stitch Sharon B shows us this week.  I was excited to give it a try with bugle beads.  I think it worked quite well.

I heart Macro

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Here is another of my kaleidoscope images.  I really enjoy creating these photographs.  I am beyond excited that I have been booked to create a video installation of my kaleidoscope photos.  The installation will be at  TheMuseum  in January 2019. I am linking to https://mersad-photography.blogspot.com http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com

Little collages

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I created 8 of these little collages but seem to have misplaced one of them.  I am sure it will turn up eventually.  Some of them I stitched to fabric.  I wasn't loving it.  Now, strangely I don't mind the fabric.  The machine stitching adds interesting texture.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I haven't done a lot of crazy quilting this year.  I took the year off from participating in the Crazy Quilt Journal Project.  Sometimes I just need a break from it.  However, I did just sign up to participate for 2019.  I am looking forward to it.   In the meantime, I have been working on this CQ stocking for my granddaughter.  I am having fun with it.  There is still a lot of stitching to do but I have made good progress since I only started it about a week ago. I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://estheraliu.blogspot.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

Beading progress

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There is still a lot of beading to do on this.  It feels good to have made any progress at all with the busy week that I have had.  I love the dimensional stitches and want to add more of them. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Quick Collages

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These little collages are pretty quick to create.  One ply of a pretty napkin and then a few little bits and pieces.  Then the extra fun bit, finding the words.  I love found poetry!  I rather enjoy that these little collages can be done so quickly.  My stitching projects take more time so it is good to have a diversion that is quick and easy.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I have made a bit of progress on my New Zealand piece.  Thanks to a lovely friend.  My friend shared some paua shell pieces with me.  They were just what I needed to create a fern shape on the first mountain.  I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://estheraliu.blogspot.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

Take a Stitch Tuesday

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It has been a while since I have been able to participate in Take a Stitch Tuesday with  Sharon B .  She shows us how to do the Buttonhole Wheel Cup this week.  I thought it might work well with beads.  The beads look a bit messy but I think it works for me on this under the sea piece. 

I heart Macro

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Just a bit of fall colour. I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com https://mersad-photography.blogspot.com

Bead Journal

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This is the start of my bead journal for November.  Can you see an underwater scene happening?  I am developing this one for a class I have been asked to teach.  I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

More Collages

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More of my little collages.  The sheer layer of tissue really adds interest for me.  Also, finding the word snippets is just fun!

Work in Progress Wednesday

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At our guild meeting last week we shared our 'sinchie' challenges.  The theme was nature.  These six-inch square challenges can be fairly quick to create which is a good thing.  I had started one with a leaf as the focal point and wasn't thrilled with the way it was going.  So I created the one in the top photo which is a more abstract interpretation of the theme.  Our meeting was held at The Idea Exchange in Cambridge.  What a fabulous place!  They have a 3D printer, laser cutter, and a few other machines that you can book time to use.  We were shown how the 3D printer works and given a printed button to use.  Also, we were shown how the laser cutter works and given the snowflake ornament.  The guild member that organized the trip has challenged us to use these two things in a fibre piece.  That should be fun! I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://estheraliu.blogspot.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

Comfort Quilt

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My friend Judy is magic.   She put this quilt top together in no time.   I am amazed.  I think we (well mostly Judy) managed to pull our two very different styles together nicely.   This quilt is going to our dear friend Kathi who has recently started chemo treatments.  I believe she will feel the love with which this was created. I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com

A little self promotion

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Some of my mandala series is posted at  Create Whimsy   There are some very talented artists featured there.  Check it out.

Bead Journal

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There is a lot of sparkle on this piece.  There is not a lot of beading considering I started working on this in September.  I spent more time this past month on preparing an artist in residence proposal.  I am pretty excited about my idea and really hope I get selected to do it.  I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Altered Playing Card Collages

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Here are eight more of my little collages.  These are a bit more special to me.  I used butterfly die cuts that I bought when I was in France.  That was seven years ago!

Work in Progress

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My last post was about a crazy quilt block that was finding a new home and purpose.  Well, that is just not going to happen.  The poor little orphan block is going to have to wait for that.  My friend sent me a photo of the blocks that she had created and there was no way that CQ block was going to work with hers.  So, I hit my stash of fabrics.  I have dyed, printed, and have done all kinds of surface treatments to these fabrics and I think they will work better for this project of love.  My friend Judy and I worked on putting them all together into a cohesive quilt today.  It is far from finished but we have made a very good start.  I know Kathi is going to feel our love and support when she uses it.  I will post a photo once we have it all done. I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://estheraliu.blogspot.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

A small piece finds purpose

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A dear friend has been diagnosed with cancer.  How do we show her love and support?  Another friend came up with the brilliant idea to create a quilted shawl for her.  She can wear it while getting her treatments.  Hopefully, she will feel wrapped in love while wearing it.  Coming together to create this shawl has challenges.  I have this CQ block ready to go and plan to create some surface designed type blocks.  We will have to figure out how to fit them in with the more traditional blocks that are being created.  It will be interesting. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Altered Playing Card Collages

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These quick little collages are a lot of fun to make.  They work well to get the creative juice flowing even if you don't have much time to do so.  I was doing them every morning for a while and so have a nice collection of them now.  Not sure what I am going to do with them though!

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I think the stitching is done on this piece.  In this photo, it looks like there are more places to add stitch but that is because the machine stitching isn't showing up particularly well.  This piece will now go sit in a pile.  Once I have done the fun part I tend to feel it is finished when in reality it is not.  I could not put it into a show in this state.  It needs a backing and some sort of edge finish.  That is not the fun part for me.  No worries though.  It will get finished completely eventually.  I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/ https://estheraliu.blogspot.com/

Small progress

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Well, this is supposed to be my bead journal for September but it has been slow going.  I hope to finish it by the end of October.  However, there is a lot going on right now.  I am working on two installations for 2019 and an artist in residence proposal.  So many arty fun things in my life!  I refuse to stress about this bead project.  It will get done when it gets done. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Quick collages

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These little collages are just so much fun to create.  They are quick and really get the creative juice flowing.  I give the playing card a quick sanding and then apply one layer of paper napkin.   Then adhere some collage elements and the found poetry words.  Not sure what exactly I will do with them.  I guess they could be included into an altered book.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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As I have mentioned our 'sinchie' guild challenge revolves around themes this year.  Nature is the theme for October.  This is my start on that project.  I was inspired by a Craftsy class I watched the other day.  Craftsy is free this week if you are interested.  The class was about machine embroidery.  I have a lovely sewing machine but it does not do machine embroidery.  Nevertheless, I thought I might learn a little something from the class.  I did!  She showed how to machine stitch onto mylar.  I thought well if you can machine stitch on mylar then you can hand stitch into it.  I love exploring different things to stitch into so I cut out a leaf shape and have started stitching. There is still more stitching needed but it is an interesting material to use. I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://estheraliu.blogspot.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

Slow Stitching

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I hand dyed this piece of silk.  I love it.  I have added decorative machine stitching to it and now I am adding hand stitch.  This is a take on Carol Ann Waugh's Stupendous Stitching.  I don't normally like to copy someone else but her technique lends itself to self-expression.  There is still a lot of room for hand stitching so this project may take a while. I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

Another Challenge

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San Francisco School of Needlework and Design  is hosting another challenge.  No surprise that I signed up again.  The Make Do Mend challenge is right up my alley.  I have been wanting to do something with these jeans for a while.  I absolutely love the way they are coming along.  I can't wait to wear them.  I had wanted to have them finished so I could wear them at a trunk show I just did.  They are so me!  Do you think that is acceptable attire for a trunk show?  I am kind of doubting it.  Maybe better suited for a workshop. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Work in Progress Wednesday

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I did this crazy quilt block in the summer for the  Burlesque Challenge  with San Fransisco School of Needlework and Design.  They now have the all the challenge results posted.  So much interesting work!  Not all of it is to my taste but I think that was to be expected with the topic of this challenge. I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://estheraliu.blogspot.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/ https://www.supermomnocape.com/gratitude-embroidery-pattern/

I heart Macro

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Joy is the best makeup.  Anne Lamott I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com https://mersad-photography.blogspot.com

Crazy Quilt Calendar 2019

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Pamela Kellogg has very kindly included my work her Kitty & Me Designs 2019 Crazy Quilt Calendar.  I am thrilled to included with such talented artists.  You can purchase the calendar at http://www.magcloud.com/user/kitty-and-me  or  https://www.etsy.com/shop/kittyandme I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Work in Progress Wednesday

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Lots of texture going on here.  This is my interpretation of the forest floor.  I have adhered burlap, lace, yarn, paper leaves, and a needle felted leaf.  Oh yes, and paint.  This piece has become quite stiff with all the glue and paint.  I am not sure if I will be able to add any stitching to it.  The plan is for it to become a cover for an altered book I am creating.  I have some leaf shaped beads that I would love to add and will have to give it try.  Hopefully, it isn't too miserable to stitch. I am linking to https://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://estheraliu.blogspot.com/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

32 Years

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Even though my husband was out of the country on our 32nd anniversary he still made sure that I got roses.  He's a keeper. I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com https://mersad-photography.blogspot.com

Slow Stitching

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It feels good to have found a few minutes to add some stitches to this piece.  Choosing the right thread and the right stitch is relaxing.  Not rushing to finish this is also relaxing.  No pressure. I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/