Kristin Shields Quiltmaker

Stitching a Raven

My Night Circus quilt is coming right along (previously blogged here).  I have never had such an easy time with a book quilt.  I will have this done over 6 months ahead of time!  I think it's because I decided not to obsess about it and add a million details. It's actually pretty simple, and except for the hand applique, is all done by machine.  I am posting these photos to show my hand applique technique.  The raven is done with black silk.  It's a fairly substantial silk, so it's pretty stable, but it is slippery.  I didn't use any kind of stabilizer here.  Most of the time with cotton I don't bother with thread basting unless the pieces are unusually large.  The raven is large and also has those annoying points and is slippery.  

I draw the design out onto freezer paper.  Then iron the freezer paper to the applique fabric right side up.  I draw around the pattern on the fabric with a Sewline pencil (my favorite for white and black lines).  I cut out the applique (adding a scant 1/4" for the seam allowance) and remove the freezer paper.  The applique is laid on the quilt top in place and pinned in a few places. I then thread baste about 1/2" in from the line that I drew.  I use a blind applique stitch with lightweight thread and clip corners as I go. I use a combination of hand and needle turning. and usually just do a bit at a time.  I like to turn a few inches or a small section and pin in place, then stitch.  

I spent the weekend working on the raven and was so happy when it was done.  I also remembered that I needed some tent flags, so I did those.  I got the quilt layers basted on Sunday night and started machine quilting yesterday.  

Yesterday I started with the big tent, then did the background around it.  I followed up with the smaller tents this morning and just did the raven.  One thing I hate is marking.  I don't mark when I hand quilt and I sure don't want to mark when I'm machine quilting.  I think there would be no way I could stick to the line and the thought of having to later remove the lines gives me the willies!  So, with the raven I did one section at a time, deciding how I wanted the long wing feathers to look, then deciding what to do with the top part of the wing, etc.

I am so pleased with how it came out!  Do I sound surprised?  I am, I really, really am.  For many years I struggled to machine quilt and thought that I'd never be pleased with my own effort, but I think I've improved a lot in the past few years.

In other news,tomorrow night, Wednesday, January 28, I will be doing the program at the Sisters quilt guild (aka East of the Cascades Quilters).  It takes place at the Stitchin' Post in the classroom at 6:30 pm.  I will be doing a Trunk Show (aka glorified show and tell) with some of the quilts from the last few years.  I'll also have my newest pieces, including this one!  Hope to see some locals there.

Studio buddies

November Stitches :: This Week

This has been a busy month (are there any that are not?).  Here's a sampling of what's going on this week.  I am taking a once a month wool club class with Tamra at the Stitchin' Post. It's based around Sue Spargo's Bird Dance pattern.  I already have plenty of wool and embellishments, so I started a new project!  Silly me.

I taught my own class: Whimsical Journal Covers on Wednesday. It was a small, but very fun class.  Above is my fox I stitched on as a demo.  Below is Jeannie's dog, my pattern inspired by Scrabble.  So cute!

Lindsey was excited to make a cover to fit a different sized journal. Isn't that pretty fabric!  I forgot to get a picture of the other student's journal, but she did a pieced strip version that was really pretty.My fox is done and when I get a chance I'll be finishing up all these other journal covers to put in the shop.

Above is the quilt that's been my nemesis lately.  I got really, really tired of putting together all those little squares.  I will love the final product, but not the process.  Below is the little project I nearly finished while avoiding the one above.  This one is created from demo pieces from my Portland guild Improv class.  I love it!  And, best of all I love the process too.  If I know one thing about myself, it's that I need variety!

Lastly, hand quilting has been my nightly project for several weeks.  I am making good progress on this one and will update when it's finished!  So, what are you stitching on this week?

A Little Leaf Story

This photo slideshow made with Smilebox

I have been a mom with a camera for a long time, but now I am trying something new.  I'm using Mark's Nikon D300 which we've had for over 4 years and haven't used much.  I was afraid of it (sort of, you know) for a long time.  It was too heavy and too complicated in my mind.  In the past couple of weeks, I've decided it's time to tame the monster.  I mostly started by picking it up and trying stuff.  Then a read a little bit of the Nikon D300 book we have, but that gets old fast.  The best resource I've found so far is the blog, Mom and Camera.  If you too would like to conquer a DSLR camera, or would like to get started, go on over and check out Gayle's posts.  I guess for me, part of the reason I like it so much is that she's using Nikon as well.  I'm sure there are lots of other blogs with similar content and if you happen to have a favorite, I'd love to hear about it in the comments.  And, yes, I know I have a long way to go to really have a handle on this camera, but at least I can make the attempt now.

I am now toting this camera around as much as I can.  I won't give up my iPhone camera which I love, or my Nikon P500, but there are many good reasons to know how to take really high quality photos yourself.  I don't think a hired photographer could have gotten Ryan to open up as much as I can myself.  How I wish I had had some of these camera skills when the kids were little.  I really am noticing, as I do Ryan's baby book, how poor the photo quality was a lot of the time.  Well, back to the baby book, and, good news, the studio is close to being under control!  I will post a photo for evidence soon!

Oh the Cuteness!

Scrabble and I had a marvelous morning walk today.  The weather has been spectacular these last few days.  I managed to get a lot of household chores done over the weekend, including rearranging furniture and planting 200 bulbs.  Today I began to tackly my studio.  I've still got lots to do, but it feels so good to get organized doesn't it?  

Happy Halloween!

I hope you are having a fun and spooky day!  We are ready for the trick-or-treaters.

I'll be wearing my witch hat and my lacey black cloak tonight.

Besides getting ready for the evening, I also spent a bit of time taking photos of myself for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show website and promotional materials.  Gulp!  I have to get a bio ready too.  I liked this one of me and Scrabble.  Though I am not sure if he'll make it into the official stuff, I do think I'll put this photo on my About Me page.  Happy Halloween!

Dye Series Part 4- Color Gradations

Here's a little more about color gradations.  The basic method was mentioned in Part 2.  First of all, I like to use larger pieces of fabric for this.  Usually 1/2 yds or full yds.  The fabric should be presoaked in the soda ash.  Then arrange your fabric in a large container such as a dishpan or basin.  You can try lots of ways to arrange, including pleating.  I just sort of sqooshed it around until it seemed good.

When you choose colors to use, you can do the obvious color wheel combinations (red-blue, blue-yellow, yellow-red) or choose something more subtle like the blue-purple.

I like this brown-blue version.

Scrabble likes the combos too.  Lots of inspiration here!  By the way, the ironing is done!  Yay!  Time to get on with some other activities now.  More dye posts to come!

Camp Sherman Holiday

For Labor Day weekend we took out the new Airstream to try her out.  We headed to the beautiful Central Oregon destination of Camp Sherman, on the Metolius River.  This is a beautiful, wild and scenic river with a very small community of mostly small National Forest cabins and campgrounds.  It was idyllic!

You can get a lot of different stuff at the Camp Sherman General Store.  Lots of gourmet food items and fly fishing paraphernalia.  

The trailer was a dream to use!  I just love the classic look, modern indoor style and that hatchback which makes for great airflow.  

We have been to Camp Sherman before, but had never toured the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery so that was first on our list.

We also had to make a trip to see the Head of the Metolius.  The river bubbles out of the ground here, but the view is truly stunning!  That's Mt. Jefferson in the background.

We also took several river walks from the campground.

We had a very dirty dog for the whole trip, but Scrabble got one bath the day he decided to take a cool dip in the river.  

The weather was perfect and we did a lot of relaxing.  What a lovely end to summer vacation!

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!

Walking in late October

It's been glorious this week despite some really cold nights.  I've been walking around the neighborhood and can't seem to leave the house without a camera.  Today, Ryan and I went with some friends on a Bend Haunts walking tour of downtown.  Come along with me!  Above, our house decked out for Halloween (pun intended).  Actually, it's pretty light on Halloween, but I thought it would be nice to show where we started.

Around the corner is this lovely house, just dripping with fall leaves.

Shortly you come to the Newport Bridge, our gateway to downtown.

The tour started at the old Reid School, the first school in Bend.  This historical building is now home to the Deschutes County Historical Society and museum.

Our tour guide told us many stories about local sites that have had murders, suicides and ghost tales.  It would have been spookier at the later (night-time) tours, but then I wouldn't have these great photos, so just pretend it's dark and spooky.

McMenamin's Old St. Francis School has been remodeled and now sports a pub, hotel, theater and fabulous soaking pool.  On a side note, I was watching old episodes of Oregon Art Beat online yesterday and found this great story about the artwork at the McMenamin's locations.

There are stories about ghosts and hauntings here.  A couple staying at The Nunnery house (above) found the morning after they arrived, a photo of themselves sleeping, on their cell phone- creepy!   They didn't stay another night.  I wouldn't have either!

I just love the style here!

The old Bend Firehall has held restaurants for many years, but there are ghost tales here too.

Across the street is Hospital Hill (now hotel hill).  

Yesterday's walk took me past some leaf piles

and the footbridge

to Baked, an afternoon bakery that had a lovely pumpkin display to keep Scrabble company while I was picking out my delicious fresh baked bread.

Hope you have a wonderful Halloween weekend!  I'll be back with more spooky stuff soon.

Tea continues and a bit of early Autumn

Tea is No Minor Beverage continues, with lots of added stitching.  

I didn't notice until I took these photos, that my stitching has echoes of the pattern in the saucer.  It's funny how the mind works.

Meanwhile, early autumn in Bend has been glorious this week! It's been just lovely during the day and I can hardly wait to get out for a walk. Yesterday Ryan and I took Scrabble for a walk to the library and stopped for a few photos along the way.