Kristin Shields Quiltmaker

Patchwork Cat:: kantha

 

The patchwork cat keeps on going.  I'm adding tons of kantha type stitching to it now.  It's easy to do in the car!  The variegated thread was hand dyed by me.

A class with Janet Bolton

Yesterday's class with Janet Bolton was really fun.  Janet is so warm and full of stories.  We got to see many of her finished works that were for sale, though no photography of them was allowed.  Fortunately, there were some other pieces that were okay to photograph.  My favorite was this black and white cow that she couldn't get right.  Rather than obsess about it she finally cut it in half and even took out a circle of the muslin to use on something else.  Just another way to let go!

 

Her mistakes are pretty wonderful for the rest of us to see.  With this border collie she tried the bottom version and didn't like the way the legs were coming out.  Finally she made the above version (a print of the original) and liked it much better with the smaller format.

The above piece isn't actually a mistake, but she wanted to show that she had started with all neutrals (even the flowers).  Once she added the black bit at the bottom left she felt she could have the bolder flowers and then put the piece on the right there as another way to balance the black bit.

 

The two birds are an example of how the stitching makes the piece so much better.  I have learned a great lesson in that from Jude as well.

 

This is my piece in progress.

Janet gave us a look at how she stitches.  Here she was showing how the angle of the legs can change a piece.  Straight chicken legs and the piece is calm.  Below, splayed legs give the piece more action.

  

Oh, and this photo below.  I love it!  She doesn't worry about the backs.  She says no one will see them so why bother.  Her pieces are all framed except for a few that were put together into larger works.  Her framing method is so easy, but it was nice to see how she does it.  She actually sews the pieces to standard sized linen covered mat board.  Then she puts that in a standard size box frame.  She prefers no glass, but when she ships her work she includes the Plexiglass in case the customer prefers it that way.

 

Can you imagine how fabulous this was to see Janet Bolton showing my work to the class!  I actually made this piece a couple of years ago, but never displayed it because I wasn't sure how to frame it.  Now I can get that done, whew!  Also, Janet used the mat board quite a bit to audition pieces and for sewing.  

 

Nearly the end of class (too quick!) and we put out our pieces on either the light or dark mat boards for auditioning.   Janet picked up each one for critique (though always kindly, never anything actually critical).  Very few of us actually got to putting a figure on the background so we talked about our plans for the pieces.

 

Mine turned out best on the black so I took this shot tonight on my black sand board.  Not the best light, but you can see where I was going.  the cat is just pinned on.  One of the other things Janet does is cut applique pieces exactly to size so she can arrange the design, then re-cuts them with a seam allowance.  She suggested that I cut the legs and head out of separate pieces of fabric so they can be tweaked while sewing .  I actually just cut this out really quickly at the end so I'd have something more than the background, but I like her idea.  

 

It was a thoroughly enjoyable class, but I wish I'd been able to do the 2 day version as well.  I actually got into the 2 day class, but with the in laws here timing wasn't good.  I also missed the evening program last night.  I bet that was very good.  If you ever have the rare chance for a class with Janet, I highly recommend it!  These techniques seem to me to really complement the things I've been learning in Jude's classes.  Lots to think about!

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...

Patchwork Cat:: becoming more

Mt. Bachelor

Today's adventure was the chair lift up to the restaurant on Mt. Bachelor.  We've only done this off season trip once before.  It was a good day to go back for the grandparents to see the amazing beauty of the Cascades.

  

The Three Sisters and Broken Top.

Mark's parents are here from Massachusetts and this is only their second visit so there's lots to see.

It's definitely feeling like fall here!

The male gets his due

 

The Sunriver Nature Center had another release yesterday.  This time a male kestrel.  He came in with a shoulder injury.  This gorgeous bird made quite a racket while his jesses were removed.

 

 

This one didn't have as nice a get-away as the other one.  He flew into a nearby tree and dropped right down into the foliage.  The news was that he was doing fine though.  It was another spectacular day.  Today they were due to release a red tailed hawk, but we didn't make it out for that. 

Dahlia time

I love those dahlia faces!  These are store bought.  I tried to grow them once, but they were killed by an early frost.  If it weren't for the frost though, the deer would have surely gotten them.   I'm thrilled to see them in the shops though and I have a good excuse to buy them now that the house is on the market! 

A kestrel gets her freedom

 

Yesterday, a friend and I took our boys to the Sunriver Nature Center to see the release of a kestrel that had been injured and brought back to health.  This bird had fallen out of her nest at 1 month old, had several broken bones and damaged tail feathers.  The bones were mended, but the tail needed special care.  Tail feathers from a deceased bird were grafted into the shafts of her own damaged tail feathers.  They are as good as new.  It was great to see this bird take flight!

 

She took off so fast, my camera didn't have time to recover from the above frame to the next one.  She was long gone by that time.

 

After that we had a picnic and took a bike ride around Sunriver.  It was a gorgeous day.  We just happened upon the horse crossing at the stables so stopped to watch.  They were herding the horses across the street to pasture.

L is for...

 

Little blue lamb got some stitching the other day before I realized it really was Wednesday and I had to head out to the Farmer's Market.

This fine feline will be next.  I'm looking forward to doing his face.

Stitching time

 

Once again it's been hard to find the time to stitch.  My major obligations with other quilts are done, but other things have claimed my time.  It promises to be a busy fall what with a visit by Mark's parents, 3 different trips to visit colleges for overnight visits, and the possibility of moving.  No, we aren't leaving Bend, but we are thinking about a different part of town.  All that entails has kept me busy the last couple of weeks.  So here's where I am with the slow cloths I've started.  Above is Sunrise over Haleakala part of my "Places I have Loved" series.  Below is a block about Squam Lake, NH.  

 

I've also been just hand stitching pieces together to see what happens.  These will be incorporated into other blocks and cloths.  The second one down on the left is woven.  The others are pieced.

 

Lastly is the block I'm calling Jude, in honor of Jude at Spirit Cloth.  She has a heart of silk and a very calm and gentle way about her.  

In a couple of weeks Jude's next class will start. I'm beside myself with anticipation.  Oh, and I almost forgot, Janet Bolton is coming to Sisters to teach at the Stitchin' Post next week.  I'm signed up for her 1 day class.  So, that's what I've got going.  I will try to update as often as possible and show some more process.   Must remember that!