Stitching Hands Studio

Wish Upon a Card 2012

It's that time of year again!  The Stitchin' Post will be accepting fabric post cards for Wish Upon A Card right up until July 1.  If you wish to have a card be considered for framing, the deadline is April 15.  Maybe you have time to get one in the mail tomorrow?  I had such fun making my postcards.  I first decided to make the giraffe above with some wool felt.  I was inspired after seeing Salley Mavor's presentation. In order to make the card stiff, I used Fast-2-Fuse for the middle layer.  The backs on all of them are linen.  All the embroidery was done before I fused it to the Fast-2-Fuse.  After fusing to the linen backing, I zig-zagged around the edge.

Next I decided to get back to my beloved linen, but wanted to see if it was possible to do without adding the harem cloth backing the way I do the slow cloth.  That was a mistake, but a good lesson!  The owls were created by fusing the blue linen to a piece of harem cloth with some Steam-A-Seam.  That stuff is nasty for hand sewing, so I had a real pain doing the applique and embroidery on this one.  I finally decided to finish the tree with some machine stitching.  Then it was fused to the Fast-2-Fuse, fused to a linen backing and zig-zagged around the edge.

I went back to my favorite slow cloth techniques with this last one.  The blue linen backing was stitched with an invisible baste to some harem cloth.  Then I added all the applique, some raw edge, some needle turned.  I had lots of fun adding the embroidery stitches, then fused it to the Fast-2-Fuse and the linen backing.  Finally I zig-zagged around the edge.  

I like them a lot and hope they are well received for the fundraiser.  If you would like to give fabric postcards a try and have any questions at all, I'd be happy to answer them in the comments.

The backs are almost as pretty as the fronts.  I used hand dyed linen.  The blue is indigo dyed from a linen thrift store shirt that had that flower motif printed on it.

10,000!

Wow!  My quilt, "Shhhh..." was the 10,000th quilt registered for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative!  I just found out today when I got a call directly from Ami Simms.  What a treat!  When I picked up the phone I was really wondering why AAQI would be calling, even though I knew the 10,000 milestone was approaching.  The quilt is already in the mail to Ami and there are hopes it will be able to get some extra publicity for the charity.  

In fact, some of you will recognize this one as a piece that I made during the Patchwork Beasts class with Jude a couple of years ago.  I finished it last year and put it in my shop, but I hadn't sold.  When April 1 rolled around I realized I had nothing ready for AAQI this month, I decided to remove this one from the shop and registered it right away.  Well, now it's on a whole new adventure!  Ami is keen to see some local and national publicity, so I'll post here if any of that comes about.

A day in the life of SHS

Yesterday was a great day here in Stitching Hands Studio. First of all, I finished the stitching on the Long Necked Beast (aka llama).  I still need to back and quilt it, but it's coming along.  

Second of all, I got out the quilt blocks I won last year in the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show block contest and started work on getting them together.  It turned out I won 21 blocks, plus my own.  Twenty-two blocks isn't quite the right number so I decided to add 2 more blocks to make it a 6 x 4 arrangement.  They had sent me leftover fabric from the block packs so I had plenty to work with.  I also decided to choose the dark green for sashing.  It's actually a lovely two-toned green shot cotton. 

Isn't this a wonderful collection of blocks?  Mine is the third one down in the third column from the left.  The two I designed to make up the difference are the fourth and sixth down in the second column from the left.  I'm still stitching them.  The block arrangement might change before they get sewn together, but so far I'm happy with this.  This is after much rearrangement.  Once I get this all sewn together I'll go look for a good border fabric.  

That little stack of fabric tacked on the board at the right is the block pack for this year's block contest.  Wonder what will become of that?

Today I've been running errands, getting together the guild newsletter, packing, doing laundry, cleaning up. Tomorrow we are off on a little trip to the coast.  I'm sure we'll see rain, but I'm hoping the sun will make an appearance too.  I'll be happy for some time away to clear my head, ramble, take photos, and enjoy my family.  Have a great weekend!

A parade for my birthday!

I love parades, no doubt about it.  This year the Sisters Christmas parade was on my birthday, so off we went to this adorable little town for it's short and sweet parade. I wouldn't have it any other way.

This girl seems to be always plugged in these days!

There are lots and lots of animals in this one and nary a marching band.  I do love to see all the variety of beasts though.  Llamas, dogs,

Ryan and Scrabble,

miniature donkeys, 

beautiful horses,

greyhounds,

the occasional beautiful vintage truck.

newfies,

and the big man himself!  Santa came into town in style.

After the parade, this is my favorite place to step in for a coffee.  They really do it up for Christmas!

I had a marvelous time doing my part for Small Business Saturday.  I found some interesting rustic fabric at the Stitchin' Post that I can't wait to try and some beautiful vintage buttons at the antique shops.  Later, we had a delicious dinner, presents and gingerbread cake at my parents' house.  My mom also really knows how to decorate for the holidays, so those photos will show up here soon.  The owl portrait is a gift from my sister!

It was a very good day.   Thanks for all the nice birthday wishes.  Happy Sunday to you!

PS: Don't forget to comment on the previous post to enter the contest for one of my handmade ornaments.

PPS:  All the photos here were made with my iPhone!  I had no idea this little gem would be so much fun to take photos with.  I got a phone, computer and pocket camera all in one.  Thanks Mark!

Stitching Weekend

I'll be adding items to my shop over the next few days.  It's been a productive weekend.  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Continuing

I've been working on many things this week and feel in a bit of  whirlwind with so many things I want to do.  The chores and have-to's keep getting in the way.  I'm finishing up a couple of these samples from Jude's classes (Patchwork Beasts and Cloth to Cloth). I had originally intended to put several of these pieces together into one big piece, but have changed my mind and will make small wall hangings that I plan to offer for sale in my shop.  I'll post here when I do that.

Meanwhile, my new design wall is getting a workout with this quilt for Chloe!  This was meant to be her graduation/going to college quilt.  It's  bit late, but will come just in time for the cold weather.  I decided to make two design walls and the other one isn't up yet.  This one is behind the door and so will be somewhat hidden, but it's a great use for a wall that really wasn't good for hanging artwork.  My pinboard is up too, but photos of that will have to be another day.  Must get going!

AAQI for November

Little Blue Lamb was just finished for my Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative piece for November.  I keep rolling along with the Quilt-A-Month club.  This piece was started in Jude Hill's Patchwork Beasts class in September 2010.  A little more stitching, some batting, a backing and a facing and it's done.  I like using my old class samples for this sort of thing.

I realized a few days ago that I don't have a photo of my October AAQI quilt.  I thought I had taken one, but can't find it anywhere.  The photo isn't up at AAQI yet, but you can keep track of it here if you like.  Tulip Fields started with the class sample below, from a workshop that Jean Wells did for our guild last month.  She gave us most of the fabrics you see below to use for experimentation and said that they weren't a very good palette.  That was enough of a challenge for me to make it work.  I added some extra bits and even more when I did some applique and stitching.  This one should be up in the next week or so.

Right now, the AAQI people are at the International Quilt Festival in Houston doing an amazing job at selling some 1500 mini quilts for AAQI!  I have 4 quilts there as far as I can tell and 2 have sold so far.  Nine Daisies and Through the Window I have sold!  Zoom and High Desert Sun are still available at last count.  Over $20,000 has been made at the festival so far!

Contemporary Folk Art Retreat

The Contemporary Folk Art Retreat with Sue Spargo and Tonye Phillips took place at the historic Camp Sherman Community Hall, about 15 minutes from Sisters.  It was so beautifully decorated and a really lovely space to do a bit of stitching.

Actually, we had three days of stitching and it was really just heaven!  Below is the class sample, a pretty bad photo.  I didn't realize my camera was on a funny setting and never did get a better one.  At least you can see the idea.  It was a blend of Tonye's whimsical houses and Sue's wool and embroidery.  Of course, most people took off in their own direction after getting a little inspiration from this and all the other pieces on the walls.

The piece above is by my friend Jan Tetzlaff.  She has a wonderful eye for color and loves to incorporate words and/or letters into any quilt she does.  

Above is from Janet Wilson, a fellow Jude follower (makes us sound a little creepy- Judite??).  Anyway, I think the blues were hand dyed indigo that Janet made.  Her mushroom houses will be just darling!

This piece is by Marian Shimoda, another retreat friend.  Marion will be teaching Whimsical Wired Angels at the Stitchin' Post in December!  I will be there with bells on.  Marion is so very creative and makes all sorts of intricate small dolls and other beautiful pieces.

And this is mine.  I've already added a bunch more applique.  I think my favorite is the Seuss tree!  I have several of my hand dyed fabrics in the piece, both cotton and wool.  The border has indigo dyed fabrics.  I'll post an update some day soon!

Sue Spargo style

I'm taking a trip in the Way Back Machine, come along for the ride!  First off, way back in early July, at Quilter's Affair, I took two classes with Sue Spargo.  One was this class called Travel Journal, based on Sue's quilt, Tree of Life, that she made to celebrate her 50th birthday.  Her's included 50 birds, plus lots of other animals, like dogs, fish, butterflies, etc.  Mine will include the important dogs in my life, many birds and our goldfish who still live at our old house.  Oh, I just remembered I'll have to include my childhood kitties too.  I have not had time to work on this since then, so it looks much the same, though now has a little Scrabble on it.  

I also took Sue's Leaf Play class, but realize now that I never got any photos from that.  It was basically an embroidery tutorial to learn ways to embellish.  As you may know, Sue is known for having heavy embellishment on her quilts.  That was a lot of fun.  Sue's style is in my mind right now because tomorrow I start a 3 day retreat with Sue and Tonye Belinda Phillips!  I can' t wait, it should be tons of fun.  Now, I've got to get my supplies ready.  I'll be back next week with more photos from Way Back When.

Cover to Cover Quilters at QuiltWorks

The Cover to Cover Book Club is a group of quilters based in Portland, OR creating quilts inspired by books.  My kind of group!  My pictures here don't do the quilts justice, so please do click on the link to see better photos and more quilts.  

The first group of quilts are based on the book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  Pat Busby made this first one again.   I love her style!

This quilt is made by Victoria Jones and includes many unique embellishments.

The envelope quilt by Dianne Kane has hand written notes on the outside- very clever!

Pat Busby created the idyllic village scene above.

Joanne MacNaughton created the quilt, above on left, on right is the quilt by Beth Wells.

Above, Linda Reinert on the left and Carolanne Olson on the right.

The last two quilts are inspired by The People of the Book.  The artistry is simply amazing!

Above by Beth Wells, below by Judy Eselius.

That's not all from my evening at QuiltWorks.  More next time!