Threadplay Flower

 

I am getting samples ready for the quilt shop, & the class that I am scheduled to teach in Delta Junction in March. I decided I wanted to fancy up the flower I usually teach in my Advanced Threadplay class, so I made this one today.

I used wire to give a little more structure, but less thread & a bit of metallic fabric to make it lacey.

Time Flies By

 

Where did this past week go to? Monday we shopped & mailed Christmas packages. Went to  see “New Moon”. I was a bit disappointed. I can’t understand why they have to put things in a movie that didn’t happen in the book. Like the book wasn’t long enough to stick to the plot? I felt the same way with the last Harry Potter movie. Why do they need to add things that didn’t happen?

Tuesday…I really can’t remember what we did. I got over-staffed at work for the 3rd week in a row. No paycheck last Friday. I think I worked on Ilene’s commission quilt that day. I’m still working on it. Doing a bit of silk ribbon work on it.

Wednesday we went out to dinner. That night I started feeling ill. Sharp stomach pains woke me up several times during the night.

Thursday, even though I felt ill, I dragged myself to Quilt Guild for the Holiday party. I would have stayed home, but had gifts for the Calendar Girls table that I HAD to deliver. It was a nice party, but I felt to sick to eat anything. I did manage to take pictures for the blog site.

Friday I prepped for classes that I taught over the weekend.

Saturday was Minimal Marking Free Motion Machine Quilting. It was a really good class. My students were all remarkable.

  Dianne has taken several of my classes lately. Her quilting was already beautiful.

Sunday we wrapped up the ABC’s of Embellishment series by using some of the things we learned in about class to make ATC’s (Artist Trading Cards).

Joanne’s, Dianne’s, & mine are shown here. Karen & Natalie didn’t participate on this exercise.

Dianne used leaves that she had embossed on to her fabric, & a little bit of my painted batting (the orange strips). Joanne used some Angelina fibers, some of her fabric that was embellished with the Shiva Paint stick rubbings, & a little bit of my painted fused, Glad plastic wrap, with bits of Angelina sheets inside it.

Mine used some of my Shiva stick Oil paint embellished fabric, a little of my Glad Wrap painted & fused, & a square of “Whisper”.

All of us covered the top with a layer of Tulle, to keep all the little bits secure.

 I finally got my friend Kate’s quilt off of Lily, & hung for photo’s. It’s such a lovely bit of sunshine hanging in my studio.

 

On my way home yesterday, I stopped to get a picture of the mountains, with a pink glow. The sun is so low on the horizon for us right now, that both sunrise & sunset have been spectacular lately.

When I got in my yard, this was the view of the inlet through the trees.

 

 

Later, as it got darker, the color got so intense. The trees looked like they were on fire. The last one was taken through the glass of the living room window. I didn’t want to go get my tripod, for fear the color would be gone.

 

Getting Ready For Christmas & Quilting

  My own personal Santa has been busy wrapping gifts to be sent out for the kids. This little tree is an antique that my grandmother gave me, I always put it in my bedroom every year.

                               

I finished the big quilt on Lily yesterday (but haven’t trimmed it or hung it up to take pictures yet). I was overstaffed at the hospital again today (I haven’t worked there for 3 weeks. I’m beginning to feel like the don’t want me any more!)

The small quit above is a commission piece for my friend Ilene. She is going to give it to her friend Eileen, for a birthday gift. Click on it to get a closer view. This is another crazy quilt done entirely on my machine. I used my Bernina this time, to make sure it can be as easily done on a home machine. I intend to start teaching a class in my method. The picture & script were printed on fabric with my computer.

Getting Ready For Christmas

I’ve been working on 2 different customer quilts this weekend. Both are going to be Christmas gifts. This little one belongs to Wendy. She is new to quilting. She likes the McKenna Ryan patterns, & wanted to give this to her daughter.

I’ve been working on it between working on Kate’s big quilt. When my knees start to ache from standing, I sat down & worked on the small quilt. It’s complete, now I just have to finish Kate’s.

I’ve also been trying to decorate the house too. I put the little ceramic tree in the kitchen while I was talking on the phone to my youngest son.

 

We had quite a bit of snow over the last couple of days. Warren went out to snow-blow the driveway today, but the old snow-blower died. He says he will try to find a new one tomorrow.

Kate’s quilt has been pure pleasure to work on during the gray winter days. It is so sunny & warm. The Minkie on the back is behaving just fine. I am also loving the green batting. It’s very nice.

Broc has wanted a little attention too. He gets so goofy at times. Yesterday Warren went shopping, & picked up Broc’s free gift from the Pet Zoo. When Warren came in & sat down the bags, Broc had gotten his & tried to take off with it. He knew it was his present!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve

I feel like my blog has been low on art & fiber content, so today I’m posting several pieces by friends. Above are some fused glass tiles that my dear friend Mindy made for me. Aren’t they wonderful?

Below are all silk pieces batiked my my friend Kate. Kate had never tried batik before, & she loved it.

 

The ties are for her lawyer husband Brook.

The B below is for Boston. Brook, & daughter Hanna’s favorite ball team.

These last few pictures are of Kate’s quilt, on my machine. Kate pieced it for Hanna, & I’m quilting it for her. It seems only yesterday I was making a baby quilt for Hanna, & now she is in High school. She is 6 foot tall, & beautiful.

The back of the quilt is Minkie-dot fabric. Very plush & soft. I was a little worried about how it might stretch on the frame, but so far, so good. I have decided to break up the design a little. Not do all continuous lines, side to side. That way, I figure I’ll have less chance of getting peats in the back. The area I have showing below, was just my initial test stitching. The orange above is how I am actually quilting the border. Just click on the pictures for a closer look.

Last, I just had to show you what my electronic clock said the outdoor temperature was just before we left the house this afternoon. Talk about Global Warming! I to think we’re having a snow storm!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving day! Cheers!