Stitching Hands Studio

11.11.11

I love a parade!  Now that we live within the parade loop I think I'll be going to every single one!  Today the Bend All High School Marching Band was in top form.  I couldn't help myself, I marched right along with them.

Changes are afoot

My very astute sister has noticed that changes are afoot here.  I've been working on the blog all day and think I am getting where I want it to be.  I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do in the future and tweaking the focus of the blog is part of it.  I've added my name to the banner- a huge step for me!  It still feels a little funny to have it in big bold letters like that.  I've also re-written my about page, added photos to my gallery, put my Pinterest link in the header, changed the location of my shop back to Etsy (contingent upon the supposed name change option coming next week) and generally tweaked the look of things.  I've also added a link for following my blog at the bottom of the sidebar and linked all my posts to my Facebook page.  Actually getting items listed in the shop will take a while longer, but I do have some quilts to sell and hope to get them listed in time for holiday shoppers.  Stay tuned for that.  I hope to get back to good, old-fashioned stitching real soon.  

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!

AAQI for September

It looks like I'll be going back and forward in time as these posts go along.  There's a lot going on here right now!  This piece came together very quickly when I decided to make a mini quilt for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative for September.  My monthly streak was kept alive when I bought a quilt in August, but now my studio is coming along and I can get back to sewing amid the seemingly never ending boxes that need to be unpacked.

The background was cut from a bit of machine pieced fabric leftover, the sun was started as a sample in the Sun Moon Stars class with Jude.  I did some Kantha stitching and embroidery to spice it up and finished it with a facing.  I got this idea from a sample that Tonye had at the retreat last weekend.  It's easy and looks really good.

The space on the right is ready for the AAQI number that I should get soon.  Then it will be in the mail and on its way!  I still have three other AAQI quilts that haven't sold, but they are now being held for Houston.  If you have a chance to see them please let me know!

Sun Moon Stars continues

Sun Moon Stars is nearly finished, but the work continues.  I've been having fun designing folded star, sun, sunflower patterns.  The middle one is four layers and I could see that expanding to several more!  I think several of these will show up in the Second Chances quilt.

Jude talked about dimensional faces the other day.   I'm not sure where this is going, but I like it.  It's a silk velvet stitched with cotton floss.  Maybe the couched points will continue around until this is a sun face.  The couched yarn is pure silk that I hand spun.  I got a sample once at a fiber festival and found it very difficult for me to spin, so this little tiny bit is very special.  I've doubled it and am couching it down with cotton floss.   I don't really have a plan for these little samples, but they are fun to do and will show up somewhere, some day.  I'm just continuing, like Jude does.  The next class is her Magic Diaries.  I look forward to more whispering!