Art Quilt Homework

I've always been a procrastinator. I think of this as one of my greatest assets. It has taught me how to manage time and work very productively when under a deadline. A few months ago I and some members of our local quilt guild started working from a book called "Art Quilt Workbook" by Jane Davila & Elin Waterston. The book is used to create a series of 9" x 12" quilts while introducing new techniques and exercises to improve skills. I have 3 projects due on Tuesday evening. I have two projects well under way and I started the 3rd just before dinner on Sunday night. The first exercise was to create a pear following the steps and pattern in the book. We will each have our version of pears on display at our quilt show in October along with our other finished projects.

Each of the remaining quilts will have a related theme. I chose to work from memories and photos of our trip to South Dakota. The second project is to recreate a photo using fabrics. I chose a shot of a buffalo taken by my husband at Custer State Park.

Before and After

You will need to refer to my previous post for the "Before". And now for the "After"... Here are the results of my experiment. I didn't use typical tie dye methods. When tie dyeing you apply the mordant (soda ash solution) to the fabric before the dye is applied. The tie dye method keeps the dye from spreading and keeps the colors from blending as much as my method does.

I like to wet the fabric, add dye and then apply the soda ash mixture after the dye has had about 15 minutes to spread. It give the illusion of rays of sunlight. On this shirt I used extra strength dye solution because the dye I was using was old. I applied about 3 times the amount of dye needed to fully saturate the fabric. I mopped up the excess dye with cotton fabric. I came up with two yards of bonus fabric with various shades of cobalt, violets & purples. Yummy!!!

I Do Love Leftovers

One of the most creative times of the day for me is the early morning. Sometimes I just can't stop myself from diving in. At 5:30 this morning I broke out some leftover dyes that had been sitting out too long to be useful for fabric dyeing. I am volunteering at "The Red Door Gallery" tomorrow and wanted something new to wear. This gallery is a local artist's cooperative run by volunteers. I exhibit stained glass window hangings, lamps & my jewelry there.

When it comes to dyeing t-shirts for my personal use I like the old dye and some of the strange colors that come out of the leftovers. Note: Procion MX fabric dye should be used with in a few days of mixing. The dye will weaken after a period of time. You can extend the life of the mixed dye by refrigerating it for up to a month.

Today I used the leftover Turquoise, Cobalt, Hot Pink and Light Red dyes. Old reds tend to separate and "freckle" for an interesting effect. Here is what my shirt looks like after the dye and fixative have been applied. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see how it turned out. For me the hardest thing about dyeing fabric in not the process, it's waiting to see the finished product.

Everyday Pleasures #9

As I go about my everyday business, I cannot help but to stop, stand still and gaze in awe at my surroundings...
for often it seems, as if long ago, time also stopped and stood still.


A farmer and his team of mules, stopping for a rest as they plow the field.


Old red barn with a split rail fence.


Longhorn steer grazing by an old barn.

Treasured Item

I just found out one of my pieces of quilt block jewelry is featured in the Etsy Treasury. I'm so excited! Thanks to you yellowbusybeaver! By the way she has a wonderful shop full of baby things and all sorts of wonderful items for the home.

Fireflies and Fantasy

As a child I was always reading books. I loved mysteries but my favorites were fantasy. The idea of magic, faeiries and mythical creatures has shaped some of the wonder I have as an adult. Last night I went walking in the fields. The fireflies are so plentiful now that I see almost a thousand at a glance. I could spend hours watching them and listening to the crickets and the faint rustling of birch leaves. This for me is the magic I sought as a child. Nature puts on an amazing display for all to see. I see myself in the fairy tale. I live in that coveted land when the heroine lives happily ever after.

The firefly photo comes from Dote's Etsy store

Work in Progress

No chance yet to delve into the new fabrics... I am practicing restraint until I finish up some previously started projects! Here are some close up shots of one of the quilts which I am currently working on. Lots of machine quilting on this one! (By the way, my camera was behaving very wacky-doodle-lee, and so the color is off on all of these pictures. The quilt is actually a rich dark brown and lovely deep aqua).


Quilting on the machine.


Front side of quilt showing some sections quilted, and some not yet done. (Click on the photo to see close up detail).


Back side of quilt showing the detail of the machine quilting.

Two Sides to Every Fabric Pile

Along with my purchase of those gorgerous new solid fabrics that I showed in my last post I also treated myself to some lovely striped prints that were designed by Kaffe Fassett. Below is a picture of them all grouped together, after being washed, ironed and folded...


And this is the back side... those colorful frayed threads were just to pretty to cut off!


I will be using these fabrics for some new art quilts as soon as I finish up my current works in progress, (which I hope to show soon!)

The "Obsessions" Exhibition

This one is called "Bali Twist" and features embroidered details taken from the fabric design.

This is "Sabah Samba" - all Mayalsian fabrics

"Malaysia Merdeka" (Malaysia Freedom - this is a national holiday in Malaysia when everyone decorates their car, house, building with Malaysian flags to celebrate their independence)

A detail from "Bali Twist"
This one is called "Bali Bountiful" and it used Bali sarong fabrics. It reminds me of a joyful boat ride over the waves.

Here are some photos I took of my four king size quilts just before taking them into the Feather and Lawrey Gallery, Russell St, Toowoomba. There are part of the "Obsessions" exhibition, held in conjunction with Hetty van Boven and Sharon van Boven.

My theme was "East Meets West" and I had given myself the challenge of making four large quilts using Bali and Malaysian fabrics. I enjoyed every minute of making these and apart from a little pressure towards the loooming deadline, it all went well! The exhibition runs until July 12th.

Beautiful Solids

I really have a passion for beautifully colored solid fabrics. Most of my quilts feature the wonderful fabrics and colors found in the Robert Kaufman Kona collection.

Yesterday I treated myself to 16 different colors from Robert Kaufman's Chambray collection. These new fabrics have a gorgeous quality to them!


Their beauty is due to how they are woven. Instead of one color used for both the warp and the weft, two different colors are used.


See how the warp and weft in this fabric are different colors? When woven together the colors blend to create this beautiful "Moth'" color!


Can you see how the this also gives the fabric a luminous iridescent look? Gorgeous!

Everyday Pleasures #8

Goodness gracious it's Friday already!
Old structures is what I am focusing the lens on for this weeks "Everyday Pleasures".
Hope you enjoy!


Nearby barn with an interesting roof and hex signs.


Little red barn shack, down by the railroad tracks


One of our old blue bird houses that Hubby built with the girls when they were little.

Polka Dot Delights

I first fell in love with polka dots when I was a little girl, sitting on my fathers lap, as he read to me Robert Lopshire's children's book Put Me in the Zoo.


I remember how the polka dots on that bear/dog like animal just popped off the page at me! I was completely captivated by those polka dots and all the magical things the critter could do with them. He could make them larger or smaller, change their color and float them in the sky... pure joy!

Well, my love affair with the delightful polka dot continues to this day. There simply is no other pattern on earth that comes as close to making me as happy as the polka dot does. Below are some great polka dot finds from Etsy.


This very sweet bud vase from Lazy Dog Pottery


These funky stoneware mugs and...


this oh so cute spice bowl and spoon.
Both from chARiTy elise


This gorgeous place setting and...


This lovely scalloped edge large serving bowl.
Both from jd wolfe pottery.

Home at the Sugar Creek Ranch

Our Shady Grove was known as the Sugar Creek Ranch long before we moved here. Our property is surrounded by sugar maples and the creek starts from two springs behind our house.

I've been waiting for my new fabric shipment to arrive so I've had a few days to catch up on other things around the farm. I had planned to put up my hammock and read all day Sunday but looked around and saw all the landscaping work that needed to be done and decided I would relax better once the work was finished. We had a really tough winter. The rabbits and deer were really hard on our evergreen shrubs. We even lost a few to the hungry varmints. I did some hard pruning on the junipers, transplanted lots of hostas and planted Mugho pines (hope they survive next winter). It was almost dinner time when I finished. The work really paid off . The front yard looks great. Tonight after work I put up that hammock under the Catalpa tree and read for couple of hours before dinner. Oh joy! If you've never owened a hammock highly I recommend one. It's like taking a mini vacation without leaving home.

Crop Circles

Finally, some new work! Yay!


"Crop Circles" features machine appliqued circles on a machine quilted background. Each circle hosts a vintage button, and is surrounded by rows or hand embroidery.


"Crop Circles" measures 12 1/2" x 10" and like most of my other small embroidered mini art quilts, it is backed with a piece of fabric covered, heavy weight interfacing. Why do I do this? Well, there are several reasons... because mini art quilts are so small, they don't have the weight of larger art quilts, and often don't hang flat. Visually, this bothers me. Backing the quilt as I do fixes this problem. It gives the quilt stability, as a frame would, but also enables the quilt to retain it's soft quilt and tactile qualities. Backing the quilt also hides all of my embroidery stitching and allows me to attach a secure cord hanger to the back for easy hanging.


"Crop Circles" is currently available here in my Etsy shop!

Moonlight, Meadows and Fireflies

I spent most of Saturday outside working in the yard. We have a walking trail on that runs through the lower meadow on our property. It is still waterlogged in some spots from the recent rain. The rain was so heavy that it floated a large log down the hill and left it in the middle of the trail. It has been two weeks since I was able to mow this path. It's a bittersweet job. The wildflowers are abundant on this trail and multiply every year. I hate to cut them but there are still plenty in the meadow to enjoy. Sorry the photo of the flowers is a little blurry. It was very breezy yesterday.

Last night I took a moonlight hike with my husband. The fireflies are just starting to show up at dusk. In a week we should be able to see hundreds at a time. It is such a magical feeling to be in a field of sparkling fireflies.

Girly Things

I finally broke down and purchased some of the youth dress blanks (white cotton dresses) from the dye company's catalog. These have been catching my eye for a couple of years. I raised a son so I never had a chance to buy any of those cute little outfits made for young girls.

I used a hot pink dye on one group and an orchid purple on the others. I'm really happy with the way they turned out. The two tier dresses are really cute but I just love the halter dress with the elastic smocked back.

Everyday Pleasures #7

A sincere Thank You! to everyone who wished me well! After taking it easy the last few days, (and sleeping a lot!) I am feeling almost like my old self. I am able to eat without pain now, (so goodbye to the five pounds I lost!) And I even did some sewing yesterday, (feels like ages!) Hopefully I will have some new work to post soon!

For this week's "Everyday Pleasure" post I focus on the sky. I have been having a love affair with the sky ever since I was a little girl contemplating Heaven. When I was three, my Grandfather died and I spent the next several years looking up at the clouds wondering which one he lived on. I still do, but now there are more of my loved ones there with him. The sky continually amazes me, connects me, humbles me. The following pictures were taken from my back yard. Hope you enjoy.

Greetings from Wall South Dakota

What would a trip to South Dakota be with out a stop at Wall Drug? We've always wondered what there was to see there and they had more than we imagined. Lots of places to shop under one roof and kitschy fun, just the way I like it. Matt & Whitney tame the wild Jackalope, a wall of Jackalopes and more Jackalopes?

Good News, Bad News

The good news is my flower quilt was one of the featured items in yesterday's "Best of the Week" Etsy Finds Yippee!!


You can view each day's Etsy Finds on the Storque, or you can subscribe, (which I do) and receive them via email each day!

The bad news is I am still having residual effects from the reaction to the awful antibiotics that I had been prescribed last week. I was starting to think it was my imagination, and kept trying to psych myself out of feeling like crap, but the abdominal cramping, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite and extreme fatigue keep on hitting me. After doing some more research on my own, I find that I fit the classic symptoms of lingering "secondary" side effects one can get from taking this particular medicine. I just have to wait it out for now, until it leaves my system. (Did you know that a just a dose of over the counter pain medicine stays in your system for 10 days!? ) This has been a huge wake up call to me. From now on I promise to be a stronger advocate for myself, and diligently question, (and educate myself) on the need for any prescribed medicine, and dosage of said medicine. I have always liked my doctor, and actually still do, but any blind faith I had, has been replaced with healthy questioning.

6 Step Color Gradations

I have never been able to choose a favorite color. I love bright colors. I remember being very depressed in the late seventies and early eighties when pastel clothing replaced the bright colors from the past two decades. In my mind I think of that time as the death of color. Current fabric trends really excite me.

I added 6 step color gradations to my Etsy store today. Each group of 6 fabrics is made from a comination of two colors and in different amounts to create these fabrics. Golden yellow and hot pink make fabulous color combinations. Tuquoise and hot pink make beautiful purples.