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Showing posts from 2017

Stitch a Day

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I completely enjoyed participating in the stitch a day project this year.  I feel this project added to my productivity and skills.  I have many 6-inch blocks and need to incorporate them into one larger project.  Working in this size is quite good for me.  ] I am linking to https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca

Last journal page of 2017

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The prompt all month has been festive.  Again, this doesn't appear to be all that festive.  However, having a white Christmas is festive to me.  I know a lot of people don't like snow but I do like it at Christmas time.  I have no words on this journal page.  I just couldn't think of the right ones.  2017 was a good year.  I learned and grew as a person.  I had many lovely things happen and I am oh so grateful for it all.  I am truly blessed.

Sinchie Guild Challenge

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The colour for January is yellow.  I had to get a jump start on this as January is pretty busy for me.  It's an interesting sinchie but I am not sure if I love it.  I reserve the right to do a different one.  My mind is swirling with ideas.  I love that! I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Stitch a day

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 It is interesting to look at my stitch a day projects this year.  I can foresee some of them coming together to make a bigger project.  Others won't fit in but may work into some other project.  Meanwhile, I completely enjoyed doing this stitching.  This is a project I would be keen to do again.     I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Journal week 51

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It is fun for me to play with art journal pages.  I created layers and layers of snowflakes for this page.  What a beautiful holographic, metallic storm.  I am not sure that it truly fits the festive prompt.  So what.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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My bead journal for December is done.  I love this fru fru Christmas tree.  The proportions of the angel and the bead I used for the trunk are wrong but it adds to the charm.  At least it does for me.  I completely enjoyed creating this one.  I do not have a fru fru tree in my home.  Nor will I ever have as I love the handmade ornaments that my kids and friends have made.  Every year it is a special trip down memory lane pulling out those ornaments.  My tree is a mish mash of love, just the way I want it. I am linking to http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ http://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/

Summer of Love Challenge

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SNAD is pleased to announce that our online gallery of Stitch-at-Home Summer of Love Challenge pieces is now online!   View the wonderful, colorful variety of all 157 submissions, from 20 countries, on our website at  http://www.sfneedleworkandd esign.org/online-gallery/  I am happy to have my little stitched tree included in the above-mentioned gallery.  Do take a look as there is a lot of interesting work there!

I heart Macro

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Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings.  Victor Hugo I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.ca/ https://mersad-photography.blogspot.ca

My mixed media self portrait quilt

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This quilt is pretty unusual for me. When I signed up to do a mixed media self-portrait with the San Fransisco School of Needlework I wasn't sure what I would do.  Slowly, this piece has evolved.  I have stitched the 'hair' on to it.  I really like the 'hair'.  I like the idea of the mask covered with lace but it seems too light in colour.  I want it to blend into the background or at least not stand out so much. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Journal Prompt #50

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The prompt this week is festive again.  That is the prompt for the whole month actually.  I had so much fun creating this page.  I felt like a five year when I got out my glitter glue and decorated this tree.  Positively gleeful.  I used paper that I had crumpled and dyed, love the texture that creates.  I added round pearl stickers to make this a very fru fru tree.  Definitely, a theme going with fru fru trees.  At the bottom of the page, I simply wrote Oh Christmas tree how lovely are your branches.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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My stitch a day project for December is coming along.  I love the fabric background I created with oil pastels.  I have quite a collection of six-inch squares from the projects I have been doing this year.  I haven't quite decided how to use them.  Not all will go together so it can't be one big piece.  I am linking to http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ http://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/

I heart Macro

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The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg.  It's about what you're made of, not the circumstances.  unknown I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.ca https://mersad-photography.blogspot.ca

Sinchie Guild Challenge

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The challenge colour for our sinchies this month is purple.  I am having a blast creating these funky six-inch squares.  They are perfect for exploring and experimenting.  Two of my most favourite things to do! I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Journal Week #49

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The prompt this week was simply festive.  I wish I would have used better paper to create this page but I had a lot of fun playing and creating this.  The quote I used says 'At Christmas, the light of each of us helps light the night with another kind of luminosity: all so much silver and moonlight mixed in with strings of dancing Christmas lights.'  Timothy Dudley-Smith

Working Progress Wednesday

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This is my bead journal for December.  There isn't much left to do on it.  I have really enjoyed stitching this one.  It will likely end up being a part of a crazy quilt.  I have received a lot of oohs and ahs from the people that have seen this one.  I guess everyone loves a fru fru Christmas tree.  I am linking to http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ http://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/

I heart Macro

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'Logic will get you from A to B.  Imagination will take you everywhere.' Einstein I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.ca/ https://mersad-photography.blogspot.ca

Stitch a day for November

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Okay, this tree is done and enjoyed stitching it.  I am also looking forward to starting my December stitch a day project.  I often completely fill my tree shape whether it be with beads or stitches however I did not want to do that this time.  I wanted to be able to see the background fabric as I really like the transfer foil I added to it. I am linking with http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Journal Week #48

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The prompt this week was circles.  Funny, I did circles last week.  Oh well, I love circles so not a problem.  This week I used a paste paper technique to create the background and then added the circles, lines and quote with a permanent marker.  The quote says 'Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."  Einstein

Work in Progress Wednesday

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My bead journal for November is completed.  I absolutely love it.  Honestly, there was no way to go wrong with this one.  The Paula Nadelstern fabric base is so gorgeous.  I definitely need to make this into a bigger piece. I am linking to http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ http://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/

A photo walk

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Admittedly this is not a terribly interesting image but I am sharing it anyway.  It was a lovely afternoon for a walk with a dear friend.  One of those afternoons I will tuck away in my memory for years to come.  I am blessed to have this beautiful friend in my life.  We have shared many photo opportunities together and they are all the sweeter for having shared them her. I am linking to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.ca https://mersad-photography.blogspot.ca

Additions to my odd quilt

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I am working on a self portrait quilt, it is a bit odd/unique.  You can see it  here .  It has taken me a while to figure out the 'hair'.  My middle son, Jeremy was home last weekend and we were talking about this piece.  I feel like I should give him some design credit as our discussion really helped me!  He is so smart!  I have attached charms, broken jewelry, a key etc. to chains and will stitch these to the piece.  This 'hair' will go up and out from the mask.  Kind of wild and funky. I am linking to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Journal Prompt #47

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The prompt this week was opposites.  I created this journal page with circles cut from colourful monoprints.  The middle circles I copied in black and white and applied them.  The quote I chose says 'Most people think of success and failure as opposites, but they both are products of the same process.' Roger von Oech.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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This is my stitch a day project for November.  I think most people are doing that challenge as one piece.  I would lose interest in the project if it was just one piece.  I am working on six-inch squares in each month.  That way these square might work with my 'sinchies' that I am doing for our guild challenge.  They may not work but at least I have the option of putting them all together since they are the same size.  The base of this piece is a fabric and I added some transfer foil to it.   If you click on the photo you might be able to see the sheen of the foil better. I am linking to https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ http://www.quiltfabrication.com/

Artist in Residence

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I have been selected as the Artist in Residence for the Ayr Library 2018.  How sweet it is to have this goal come to fruition. I hope it leads to more opportunities to be an artist in residence!  This residency will centre around creating an altered book with participation from the community.   Region of Waterloo Library Announces 2018 Artist-in-Residence Introducing me Brochure The opening reception is Feb. 10, 2018, and I hope to see lots of family and friends there!

Working small

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It has been three weeks since we started our kitchen renovation.  There doesn't seem to be an end in sight.  When working larger I use my dining room table but right now it is covered in kitchen things.  I am forced to work smaller right now.  That's okay, I can get a bit ahead of the sinchie guild challenge.  December is the colour purple and these are the components that I have created for it.  I am not exactly sure how it will all come together. I am linking with http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Work in Progress Wednesday

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The guild challenge for November is blue.  I had fun with this one!  Years ago I saved some blue plastic bags that our newspaper came in.  I decided it was time to use them.  I layered a bunch together and ironed them so that they fused/melted together and then cut a six-inch square.  I adhered some blue fabric scraps to a base and cut out the butterfly shape.  I added a bit of glitter to the edge of the wings because you got to have a bit of sparkle!  I hand stitched the middle of the butterfly to the base.  I bent the wings so that they sit up from the base.  Love how dimensional it looks! I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ http://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/

I heart Macro

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'Then, one day, when you least expect it, the great adventure finds you.'  Ewan McGregor I am linking with http://image-in-ing.blogspot.ca https://mersad-photography.blogspot.ca

Playing with Colour

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Oil pastel on fabric landscape.  Clearly not high realism!  High realism will never be my thing but I do love a good landscape.  I can't wait to do some hand stitching on this.  My goal is to get this finished in time to enter it in a local miniature quilt show. I am linking with http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Art Journal Prompt #45

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The prompt this week is assemblage.  Not a prompt that is perfectly suited for a journal in my opinion.   I kept the components lightweight in an effort to make it work for my journal.  It was fun to play with colours that are not typical for me.   The background paper I created many years ago in a workshop.  I am making an attempt to use up some of my overflowing decorated papers.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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This is the start of my bead journal for November.  This is Paula Nadelstern fabric I bought at the spring shop hop.  I had planned to not buy any fabric on that shop hop.  I already have more fabric than I can use in my lifetime.  But when I saw this fabric I had to have it.  I decided if I am going to buy new fabric then I am going to use it and not put it away in my stash.  I think the beading is enhancing this beautiful design. I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ http://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://www.supermomnocape.com https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/

I heart Macro

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More rust and peeling paint. Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.  Rumi I am linking with http://image-in-ing.blogspot.ca https://mersad-photography.blogspot.ca

October Bead Journal

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Oh, how I love creating my bead journals.  The entire process starting with picking out the beads makes me happy.  I managed to capture the sheen of the silk but the colour is off.  It looks rather grey in this photo but in fact, it is green. I have a lovely mixture of glass, plastic, shell, metal and sequins in this piece. I am linking with http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Journal Week #44

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The prompt this week was fall.  I had fun creating the background.  When doing a dyeing session with threads, fabrics etc. I usually use up the last bits of dye on paper.  This paper I crumpled up and poured the dyes onto it.  The texture and the rips in the paper pleases me.  I added the trees with oil pastel and the quote says 'None is richer than he who simply has peace of mind.' M. Wambebe

Work in Progress Wednesday

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Check out the  Canadian Sesquicentennial Quilt created at the Art Gallery of Burlington .  Blocks were created by needleworkers across our beautiful country and sent to Burlington.  I created the red maple leaf that is almost in the centre of the quilt.  You can see a close up of my beading/stitching on the block here   What an honour to have my work included in this quilt.  Originally my block was six inches square.  I guess they needed more blocks at 12 inches square and decided to make mine a bigger.  I haven't yet seen this quilt other than in photos.  I hope I get to! I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ http://www.quiltfabrication.com/ https://www.supermomnocape.com https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/ https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/

I heart Macro

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Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do.  Where there's love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.  Ella Fitzgerald I am linking with http://image-in-ing.blogspot.ca/ https://mersad-photography.blogspot.ca

Slow Stitching

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I am calling this stitching done for now.  In a certain way I enjoyed stitching this but mostly I lost interest in it.  I think I need my stitching to be something not just random.  I definitely prefer to fill in a shape or create a mandala.  I am looking forward to starting a different project for November. I am linking with https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/search/label/Slow%20Sunday%20Stitching%202017

Fabric Journal

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I am still working on trying to make my bead journals more important.  I have added this one to some fabric that I gelli printed.  It is going to be added to a concertina fabric book.  Something more needs to added to this page.  Possibly words, I am not sure at this point. I am linking with http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.ca/

Journal Week #43

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This week the prompt was to use inchies so I used some to spell our light and peace.  I used a Lyra  Graphit water-soluable crayon to colour the background.  Man does that pigment move a lot.  It is all on my hands right now just from picking up the page.  Not a fan.  I am not particularly loving this page but not every journal page has to be a winner.

Work in Progress Wednesday

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This is probably one of the oddest quilts I have ever created.  I created the background with old hymnal pages.  I painted them, adhered transfer foil, added more paint, adhered to fabric and then quilted it.  Then it sat.  I knew it needed a focal point but I wasn't sure what it should be.  Last month I learned of the San Fransisco School of Needlework self-portrait challenge.  I jumped in not really knowing what I would do.  It is a mixed media challenge and that really appealed to me.  Last week I found a paper mask in my stash.  I checked it for size against the background and it seems to work.  I left the mask sitting on the background not sure of how I would attach it.  I landed upon using some vintage lace to attach the mask.  Next, I will be adding hair.  I can't wait to go through my stash to find the right bits and bobs for that! I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ http://www.quiltfabrication.com/

I heart Macro

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I am often asked about my abstract macro images.  People want to know what it is.  It is normal for us to want to understand what we are looking at.  Our brain wants to label it.  I am hesitant to explain.  I am more interested to hear what people think it is.  I am also asked about my technique, how did I create it.  Again, I am hesitant to explain.  It is a process I developed on my own and don't particularly want to share it.  In the great world of photography, there may be other artists creating in this way but not to my limited knowledge and I would like to keep it that way. I am linking with http://image-in-ing.blogspot.ca https://mersad-photography.blogspot.ca