Stitching Hands Studio

Studio: April 2012

I decided yesterday it was high time to clean up the studio (just in case anyone comes knocking).  I also had an idea to create a space by the window where I could do hand work.  It means that the iron and board is put away and I'm sure that won't last forever, but I like this layout a lot.

I think I'm going to like this space, at least until the sun gets too intense.  I do have a shade in the window though, so we'll see.

I was also pleased last week to get the second design wall finally up!  Now, I hope I can really get to work.

Lots of stuff going on here.  The coyote piece is the next quilt for my book club, based on Love to Water My Soul by Jane Kirkpatrick.  

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!

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!

Thinking

Thinking and making plans regarding Tea is No Minor Beverage.  This photo is a little messy, not my usual composed photos.  I feel a little like this right now.  It's just been too busy lately and I need time to sew, but I seem to get only a few minutes during the day to execute my ideas.  I hope there will be more to show soon.

My Saturday

My big projects for today are this design wall and pinboard.  I used the tutorial here.  It's pretty easy to make, except that the staple gun is so hard on my hands.  I covered the design wall with Quilter's Dream batting and the pinboard with batting and then a cotton canvas I picked up the other day.  They'll get put on the wall when hubby gets home from his golf trip.  I also realized I have space behind my studio door for another design wall.  It may not get used as much, but there's not much else that I would put there, so I thought I might as well have a design wall there.

And here's my little water view. 

Indeed

Tea is no minor beverage continues.  In the book, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, tea is what brings people together and is important to the development of the characters.  Indeed, in her comment on my post at SEW, stickyfingers pointed out the institution that tea is in the UK (one of my favorite things about the UK!).  There are many who think that there's nothing that a cup of tea can't fix.  

I am nearly ready to add a backing to this and I think it will just be a backing behind the harem cloth foundation.  This thing will be light as a feather.

My studio is really coming along.  I got much of the furniture sorted out last week, put away some things still in boxes, and organized the closet.  Now I need to finish the design walls, put up a pinboard and hang some artwork on the walls.  In the meantime, my view from the studio:

Baskets full of fun

I got distracted the other day and it's all her fault!  Sujata's been posting these fabulous scrappy baskets and I just couldn't help myself when I realized I had all these scrappy blocks already put together.  All it took was cutting them to a basket shape, making a handle and putting them on a background.  Very fast and very fun.  I think it took only a couple of hours to make the first 4 blocks and that included tea time and fabric choosing time.  

I have way more of these scrap "blanks" as I call them.  Jude likes to make these in color themes and calls them color blankets.  It's a very effective way to handle your scraps and then they are all ready for the day when you just decide you can't spend another minute not making scrappy baskets!

I plan to make these into another charity quilt.  It's a great way to experiment without feeling you have to make something perfect.  Someone will love it!

The handles are done a la Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran.  I used a 1/2"bias tape maker to make the handles and top stitched down both sides.  I'm pretty sure I have a 3/4" or 1" bias tape maker somewhere and if I could find it, I would try that too.  So fun and so cute.  Now, what was I doing before I got distracted???

Stitching to go

One thing I love about slow cloth is the opportunity to take it on the go.  I've narrowed down my supplies to just what fits into this small tin (except for the piece to be worked on).  The folded block and the tin fit just right in my purse, so I have been carrying this one around for several weeks and working on it for even just 5 minutes at a time.  It's way more compact than knitting (even socks) and keeps my fingers and mind very happy.

 

Inside you'll find a hank of embroidery floss.  The floss is such a brilliant idea that came straight from Jude.  At first it felt too thick, even with one strand, but now I just love it's colors, brilliance and flexibility.  I can choose 1 or 2 strands depending on the situation.  I keep it all cut to the length I like (about 18"- perhaps longer than recommended, but it works for me).  I just pick out lots of colors that seem useful- brights and neutrals both.  I find that there's always a color that will work even if it's not the one I would have picked if I had the full spectrum.  Sometimes my limited choice leads to choosing a color I wouldn't normally have that turns out to be perfect.

   

I absolutely adore the needles in the yellow tube (Jeana Kimball's Foxglove Cottage, embroidery/redwork size 8).  Jude likes the DMC embroidery needles so I have some of them too.  I have my little Gingher embroidery scissors which just fit in the tin and a little pin holder.  

It's a good thing too, we are on the go A LOT right now!  This weekend we'll be camping for Ryan's 16th birthday, then Chloe and I head to her next college visit.  This time, Reed College, in Portland.  Fun times, I can tell you and it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend.  For a trip of several days I will certainly have my little stitching kit, but also a bigger container with fabric and my large scissors.  You can't stop at just one when it comes to Jude's ideas.  Stay tuned for more cloth weaving!

Patchwork Cat:: even more

 

I'm loving the way this is coming out.  One thing I've had a hard time with though is choosing a floss that contrasts with the fabric I want to put it on.  The heart doesn't show up as well as I would have liked, but perhaps it's a secret heart.

 

I will fill in around the irises as soon as I get a chance.

 

Just for posterity, here's the sewing room cleaned up for house showings.  I've not done anything in there in the two weeks since this was cleaned up.  I'm sort of afraid to go in and start something because I'll mess it up.  Next week, though, things will settle down and I should have some free time for sewing so I'll have to do something.  Tomorrow is Janet Bolton's class. This week has been so crazy I haven' t had a chance to get my supplies together.  Luckily, I think it's pretty easy.  More later...