Stitching Hands Studio

SOQS:: Block Contest 2012

I finished my contest block last week and got it turned in a month early!  There's still time if you'd like to join the contest.  Just check out the info here.  When I got my fabric pack, it took a while to come up with a design, but the orange print really begged to be bird tails in my mind.  All the other parts fell in to place easily and I had fun adding some embroidery embellishment.  This is my 6th year participating and it's always fun to see what others come up with.  

My current work includes my guild challenge quilt, based on children's literature and my book club quilt, based on Jane Kirkpatrick's Love To Water My Soul.  I had a terrible time choosing a children's book to do, but I finally chose my book and came up with a design concept last week.  I spent all last Saturday preparing a background and cutting fabric for applique.  Now I'm stitching down those pieces.  Unfortunately, this one needs to be a secret until July 16.  I'm also doing Jude Hill's latest class, Contemporary Boro 2.  It's all about remaking clothing or creating something new. I'm working on a vest and hope to have something to show soon.

With a busy summer coming up I am not sure how much I'll be able to post, but hope to check in every week or so.  I hope you are all enjoying the coming change of season!

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!

AAQI for February: Fine Feathered Friend

Another crazy embellished bird will be winging her way to AAQI soon!  I had a lot of fun with this one, which started with that print fabric that seemed perfect for applique.  I found the bit of hand dyed blue wool and there she was.

I did lots of beading, some braiding and found the perfect vintage button for her eye.

She has ribbon legs too.

I did the faced edges again,  definitely my favorite for these small pieces.  I also did my embroidered initials.  Now I'm just waiting for a registration number.  This has been a great week for my AAQI pieces.  Be Yourself and Tulip Fields sold at auction.  I was shocked to see that Be Yourself brought in $155.00 for AAQI!  Also, Little Blue Lamb sold recently too.  I'm a happy camper and getting close to my $1000 Promise Goal!

AAQI for January: A New Vision

I finished my 14th quilt for AAQI last night.  It is a departure for me to do something so abstract, but again, that's the beauty of the AAQI quilts.  I can try something in a small format and see how I like it.  I did enjoy stitching the eyes, but I don't think this is really me. I hope someone likes it though!  Luckily, with a nice variety of quilts at AAQI there should be something for everyone. Latest news on the AAQI front is that I have donated 13 quilts and 11 have sold for a total of $551.29.  Little Blue Lamb is still for sale.  It's not up on my private page yet, but I hope it will be soon.  Tulip Fields is awaiting assignment.  Be Yourself doesn't even have a photo up yet, so it will be awhile on that one. Please check out all the wonderful little quilts available there and send your family and friends too. What a wonderful way to contribute and to get a nice little artwork too.

A new vision, a new cloth for AAQI

A new cloth for AAQI, for January.  Inspiration from Jude Hill and the Magic Diaries.

PS-  Little Blue Lamb is now for sale here.

A Handmade Christmas:: 2

My second handmade gift was this adorable owl from Chloe.  I can see that she had a fun time digging around in my scrap bin!  He's so cute, just my sort of gift.  One more coming up next!

Happy Winter Solstice!

My Solstice cloth is done. I love this one.  I just decided to wing (if you'll pardon the pun) the owl and I like it.  The trees were inspired by Jude's solstice trees last year.  The owl by Janet Bolton.  I had so much fun with this, expect more of these.  Click to see details.

I also like the back.  Iquilted it free hand, just changing direction on a whim.  I did Jude's technique of quilting behind something like the trees, but only going through the back layer. It looks more uniform that way, but doesn't interfere with the shapes on the front.  Signed it in stitch.  This is my new preference.  I am still working on that signature post.  Sometime soon, I promise!

This is our amazing winter view from the kitchen corner of the house.  It's sort of a mysterious view, but with the  leaves gone we can see the river and Mt. Bachelor.  This little lighted tree feels like a special gift just for us.  

I wish you a safe and joyous holiday, whatever you celebrate.  I think I might take a blog break.  Don't expect a whole lot of posting til after the new year, but I may pop in once or twice to share photos.  

Owl in Flight

My latest folk art textile piece.  This one is for me!  I love this owl too much to sell or give it away.  This is a small piece inspired by the work of Janet Bolton.  I"m nearly finished with it so you'll get more than a peek very soon.  I hope your holiday preparations are coming along nicely.  Chloe is home and we finally got a tree today.  Pics tomorrow!