Quiltmania

  

Fibre fusion and Tyvek film

 
 

These two Postcards are the result of combining two techniques for an Abstract effect.
The base of both cards is 'silk paper' which I made last weekend;the shapes are Lumiere painted Tyvek film which has been heat treated.......I commenced with my heat gun,got frightened at how quickly the Tyvek shrunk at low heat,and finished by placing baking parchment over the film and passing a linen heat iron over the back of the previously cut out shapes.
Then using ribbon floss in the bobbin,and working on the wrong side of the card I stitched an abstract pattern.
The first card then had sari embroidery fibres teased out and held down by the Tyvek shape,which was stitched down at strategic points.
Because the second card had zig-zag shapes,which I felt would lose their effect with stitching,I laid tulle over all,and then stitched around the shapes to anchor it all.

Later in the day,because I had new stocks of both F2F and Timtex,I cut,pressed and started stitching my "My backyard" and "cats" themed cards...........20 in all.
Still quite a bit of work to be done there.

And as for CQ .... I finished what I was doing on two rectangular blocks for an ongoing RoundRobin,and the results can be seen over at my other Blog CQCrazy Blog 

kurliskottage: Elephant apples,anyone?

kurliskottage: Elephant apples,anyone?

Fabric & Fibre Postcards

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As a follow up on the previous postings on Fabric Postcards,I thought it may be worthwhile pointing out that if you're going to make these for swapping,it adds to the intrinsic value if the cards have actually gone through the mail system i.e... Adressed to the recipient ,stamped,and the stamp cancelled!
What I do,is take the card to the Post office and have them hand cancelthe stamp.
Then,before handing it back to the postal clerk,I slip the card into a cellophane(glassine?) envelope,seal it and hand it back for inclusion in the mail that it NOT
machine sorted.
I must admit I tend to use the clear envelope only when the embellishments may be damaged or snagged in normal postal handling.
It works for both local(Australian) and International mailings and it is still acceptable to go through at Postcard rates rather than the normal letter rates,
(and Customs can see what is in the envelope too!)

Rocky Mountain High

 
 

These are two of the Fabric Postcards I received today from The RockyMountainCrazy Quilters.
The theme was "my home":One card resembles a tanned cow hide..beautiful soft suede like feel.It has 36 eyelets punched around it and chenille thread laced through.Simple and effective!

The other is a machine embroidered fox(?) coyote(?) against a background of conifer forest,with the words Conifer,Colorado embroidered as its location.
Beautiful tonings in the animal's coat.!
My thanks to C Hruby and "unknown" 

A Fabric postcard swap

 
 
 
 

Today's mail disclosed a fat envelope with my share of a recent fabric Postcard swap between the RockyMountain Crazy Quilters and the SouthernCrossCrazies,and above are four of the six I received.
I wasa little disappointed that none had been stamped and cancelled,but when this swap was first mooted we were novices and not aware of how the fact of sending them through the mail added to their interest value.

Since sending my cards away last April,I've swapped with people in the USA;Canada;the Netherlands;U.K; N.Z and Australia and am about to start stitching on some 20 cards for two swaps: Cats,and My Backyard.
I'm finding my Printer is a very handy tool these days 

Lining a Swingle

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> http://www.flickr.com/photos/68203356@N00/96592328/in/set-1784992/
> These bags here.
Recently I was asked for a method for doing a bag and lining all in one
for Swing bags and dilly bags.
I thought I'd share my method

It's a pretty simple method really.........and works particularly well with those small Swing bags and dilly bags.

Before you sew up the bag,cut the linings the same size as the bag;
Right sides together,sew the top edges together and press seam allowance back towards body of bag.
Lay the two sets of joined pieces together and with right sides together,stitch around them,
(making sure that the top edge seam is stitched towards base of bag...I generally pin it down to make certain)

leaving a gap of an inch or two,preferably on one side of the lining;This is where you can turn the bag to have the right side OUT.then whip stitch the gap in the lining;position lining inside the bag and all is done except for adding the cord s for carrying.

If this isn't clear enough directions,let me know and I'll try and make time to add diagrams.

Pandora's Urn

 This is the second of the Pandora's theme that I mailed out.
Once again I used Xpandaprint to build a version of an urn whose lid fell off;
I did attempt to use a stamp and Lumiere paints for a dragonfly background over which I added dragonflies in the "rays of hope"(Angelina fibre) 

Belle's Pandora explained

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In case you couldn't easily read the scanned pages in the previous posting,here is Belle's story of Pandora!

"I read in a few different places that Pandora was a Goddess,who held gifts for mankind- positive and negative,light and dark--all the dualities in fact.
As has been the way through history the masculine has often been fearful and jealous of the feminine,and the voice and gifts of the feminine have been silenced....the Goddess has been devalued and disempowered.

I like to think that instead of a boxwhich Pandora opened,she was actually the receptacle,and was punished for "showing" her gifts...opening them to the world.

So,my postcard represents the Goddess with all her gifts flowing from her......all the coloured fabrics.
Some of these are looped around others and often the heart,the centre,is hard to see.
The gifts of the Goddess are like this--you have to look closely andcarefully to find what's hidden within.

The interconnected fabrics also represent the fact that often happiness,or a new beginning,or something good is hidden within a tragedy,an ending,or an uncomfortable situation- and vice versa.

The cord stitched around Pandora is the containment of her gifts;it's lighter in places,showing that the feminine can't be contained.

The couched threads are the gifts we have to look for..not all are large,solid chunks(like the fabric pieces) which are easily seen.
Sometimes the "couched threads" are easily overlooked.
I hope you are blessed by the Goddess,and enjoy her stay,and her postcard.

"

signed ,Belle

Pandora contained

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As regular readers will know,I've been involved in a fabric Posctard swap with the theme: Pandora's Box.
I've showed one that I mailed out,and today it was my turn to receive an absolutely brilliant rendition from my online friend, Belle.
She referred to her work of art as "Pandora contained" and included by a separate mailing, her interpretation of her work.
I've included her original notes and if they are not clear enough I'll add later.

I have felt truly honoured and humbled to receive such a beautiful work:
I already have a needle felted frangipani (Postcard)from her skilled fingers,
but when I think of the research,the interpretation;the cutting and stitching that went into Pandora's creation I had to SHARE with you,my readers, this treasure.
Thankyou,Belle.

Pandora's Box

 
Now that I know the Postcard has arrived to its new owner........

Pandora's Box was the theme,and I chose to make a box using Xpandaprint which was then overpainted with Lumiere paint in a sunset gold;
Angelina fibres and a dragonfly are used to represent Hope which was last to escape from the box.
I had such fun with this that I made another couple for myself! 

Autumn Crazy

 
I think I mentioned that I'd been in "catch-up mode"?
This is one of my recently finished pieces for my Art journal quilt group:
"Autumn Crazy"
I just felt that CQ and Autumn colours go well together,and this was the result..........except for the skeletonised leaves,there is NO embellishment!
Definitely a first for me.
It's funny how when people ask my favourite colours,the shades of Autumn never get a mention,but my favourite pieces are all based on Autumn,and some form of CQ.
Of course I should admit also that Mounts Bay Road in Perth in Autumn,and "Autumn leaves" and "Smoke gets in your eyes" have always been my favourite memories too. 

Ready to start experimenting

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My CQRR06 round two is on its way to Becky;
My fabric & Fibre postcards have been sent on to their new homes;
The art journal quilt needs only some hand stitching around the bindings to complete it(tomorrow at Mountain Quilters)
The CQed heart for Lio in Switzerland requires a couple more bullions for kangaroo paw blossoms,so I feel I can go play!
Recent posts have delivered a wood burning tool,Tyvek film and Tyvektex as well as some pottles of Neopaque:
There's the 'skeletons' of two more art journal quilts waiting to be dressed..............so,I'm outa here.

Pics will follow,after I've played!

Postmark'd Art

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Today the first of twenty scheduled (swap) Postcards landed in the letterbox.
This one came from Arkansas USA, and was one of the "Cat themed cards"
Thankfully Australian Customs and Ozpost didn't cause any damage!

Clutch bag

 
It seemed like a good idea at the time:
a bag to match my planned ensemble.The dress and jacket have since been scattered to the four winds in various pieces of CQ,so maybe "it's Time" to deconstruct the purse and use the beaded and SRE flap in something else.

mmmmmmmmm! 

Banksia

  

Colonial knots

 
A macro of one of the Wattle sprays on the circular piece 

Macro shot

 
.....of Flannel flowers 

Needleturn : a work in progress(?)

Needleturn WiP, originally uploaded by curli.

The other online discussion which featured Needleturn applique,prompted me to dig in my "hope chest"(I hope that one day I'll finish the project) and unearth this one:
It was planned that I'd use it as a medallion with possibly panels of a trellis effect framing it.
As yet I have tried my hand at constructing the trellises required

UFOs or WiPs?

 

A couple of current online discussions prompted me to delve into my unfinished projects.
One discussion was commenting on the difference between Colonial Knots and French Knots and I think the majority felt Colonial were a tad difficult.
I must confess that I love Colonial knots for the amount of texture and dimension I can achieve by changing the number of strands of thread.
Case in point: the Wattle blossoms in this four foot diameter piece I periodically pull out when I just want to stitch and dream of other things! 

Frog stitching

 

Today I plan on a stint of Frog-stitching!
I completed this segment for a RR last night and I'm not happy with the result,so I'm going to sit on the patio in the sun and rippit,rippit,rippit!
Then back to the drawing board for another idea.........probably BDE or SRE in an effort to camoflage any minor damage.
(I did warn you that you get 'warts and all' with my blogging didnt I!) 

Dividing my time

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At the moment I'm attempting several diverse projects:

One is a blue worked Mother Goose theme----the blocks were planned to be 12 inches finished,but I've decided that leaves too large an area of'white' in each block.
I then thought to recut the blocks on point.....didn't work because of the differing sizing of each character;
So now,I'm thinking of cutting the blocks down to a 9 inch (finished) square and frame each block with one inch of a dark blue then a two inch sash......I'll still have a twelve inch finished block,but a minimum 'white" expanse.

The next project,is a twelve person Round Robin......my second round arrived yesterday.More about this can be seen over on my other Blog CQCrazywhere the team members can display their current rounds.

I'm also working on three Fabric & fibre Postcard Swaps.........as one is a Challenge(in more ways than one VBG) Pandora/Pandora's Box I'm not saying anything!
The other two are "my Backyard" and "Cats".......must start DOINGinstead of just planning.

Finally(I think) my Art Journal quilts......are two months behind schedule.
Think I'll blame that on waiting for mail from New Zealand.........plenty of ideas,just don't know how to implement them.

Oh yes!!
I owe someone some diagrams of some left handed stitching.
I haven't forgotten,just haven't stitched the various stages yet.Apologies for that,but I think it may have to wait until the weekend.

Stitching for Lefties

 
Stem Stitch


Not the best of pics to illustrate what I'm attempting to explain;I'll try to set up clearer ones tomorrow when I'm less rushed.
This is 'meant to illustrate how I tackle stem stitch as a left hander.
(I'll admit that it is not what stitchery judges like,but it works well for me)

I stitch from RIGHT to LEFT along a line representing the stem line,and most times I stitch with the thread ABOVE the needle.
I initially come up through the fabric above the stem line and then across the line,down through the fabric,coming up again about half the length of the previous stitch 

Welcome.........

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to the new blogger on the block: Helen aka Geminista has finally succumbed to the insistent singing of the blogging sirens.
Helen is among other interests, a Crazy Quilter(the nicest kind....the one that indulges her passion for needlework via CQ)
please go visit her East Lynne Cottage blog and enjoy!

Another angle.....

 
...of the quilt show car! 

S.E.X.

 

Some of the goodies that came home with me today........the opportunity to increase my thread stash with Rajmahal Art silk threads at 50c a skein was too good to miss out on.
My husband thought the rotary cutting board was the bees knees,so who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth? 

Mountain Quilters

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Mountain Quilters


When you're going to a quilt show,and you're not quite sure "where",a quilted car is a good sign!
Ken and I drove up to Peachester (in the Sunshine Coast hinterland) today for the second day of the Mountain Quilters biennial show.
Even Ken could not miss this sort of signage!
Although equipped with my trusty digital I have no pics to share,because some are being prepared for commercial patterns and some are yet to be exhibited at juried shows shortly.
It was one show where there were many and varied styles....some the result of work-shops and experimentation;some of the BOM genre and others, adaptions of commercial patterns.

One quilt that particularly took my eye had been five years in the making: commencing with fabric paint palmprints of two children done annually, surrounding two fabric painted masterpieces done by each of the kids and then set in fabrics dyed by their mother.
The two blocks the kids did were of a knight battling a dragon,and a girl riding a horse in a paddock.
The backing of the quilt was also pieced with fabrics dyed by Bernadine and the whole stipple quilted.
Bernadine told me she had planned the entire quilt layout with her EQ5.Hopefully come August I can share a pic with you.

Then there was the Q/S Applique/machine embroidered quilt in shades of burgandy by LynH..........This was a floral masterpiece embroidery and rich velvets in the roses.

If the Zodiac is your "thing" you would have positively drooled over the 'small' quilt (also made by Bernadine) each Zodiac sign was a block 8 to 10 inch square(I'd guesstimate) and each was free machine embroidered.
This lady's work is incredible and I'm totally in awe of her diverse talents.
You ought to visit Bernadine's Blog Fabric Dye and Threads

On a more prosaic note,I really must take my DH to quilt shows MORE OFTEN!!
I came home with a new rotating cutting board,a good supply of Rajmahal art silk threads,bead containers x3 and some pottery buttons.
(Shirley's buttons are to die for!)
Today I limited myself to 2 windmills, 1 wheelbarrow and another pair of thongs(flip-flops to our US cousins....not underwear!)


There was also a section of dolls.........glorious dragons, fabulous frilled lizards ladies with personality.
A fund raising section was stocked with cushions and bags of different styles,crafty little pin cushions,little weights looking like pincushions,but designed to stop the pages of your book flipping over;
Turned timber needle cases and doovers for lace making.

Time to go fondle my new threads...........

# posted by Maureen @ Sunday, May 21, 2006 0 comments links to this post

Quilting

 I spent the morning with a group of quilting friends and after the social chit-chat,it was down to work for Robyn!
The Gamill is actually owned by Lyn,but as she has had hand surgery recently she is unable to hand on to the controls ,so R gave some of us a demo and permitted me to take pics.

Me? I do a little quilting with my trusty Janome and a little by hand;To watch R in action was intriguing to say the least. 

Jan & me

 
Just to prove we did actually meet! 

CQ Crazy: Meeting an online friend

CQ Crazy: Meeting an online friend

Mother's day

 Or as my dear man has said for years
..every day is Mother's Day!

Not much stitching accomplished......about three silk ribbon leaves on a CQ Round Robin block has been the sum total,but our daughter and her husband spent the day with us;they did the catering,and the cleanup after,and courtesy of Colleen I'll introduce myself with this pic!
(It will be interesting to see how many readers are scared away!)


and I hope that those of you that celebrated Mother's Day this weekend had an enjoyable family day.

Tschuss!