My holiday Visual Journal

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On our trip to the USA last year (New York, Washington, Nashville & South Dakota) I kept a visual journal.

I started with a smallish (5×7) watercolor tablet.  Before we left, I did some preliminary painting on the pages.  I took with me a glue stick, a scissors, some watercolor pencils and a few pens.  Along the way, I collected ephemera – bits and pieces of paper and things from our travels.

As I had time along the way, I’d play with my visual journal.  I’d paste the bits and pieces onto pages to record our travels.  Some days I wrote things – most days I just let the ephemera talk.

On the quilt retreat, I had time to use some rubber stamps and make some cut outs with a fancy dancy scrapbooking machine (thanks K5!).

I really enjoyed the process and am looking forward to doing more of it.  Since my sewing machine needs to go to the ‘spa’ for a week or so, I think I’ll have time to get back to work on my visual journal project.

Here are a couple of the books that I have on the subject:

tempted……

I’ve very tempted to participate in this FREE New York Beauty Quilt along from Sewsweetness…..the only thing is I will get a late start because I don’t have a sewing machine for at least another 2 weeks.  It runs from March 5 to May 7.

I’m thinking to do it either in my Japanese Taupe fabrics or the 2 bags of (nearly antique) country colors from the mid to late 90′s.

I remember saying I’d never do another one though.  And I’d FOR SURE never do paper piecing again.  However…..I love the first one I did!  I wonder if there is a way to make a wonky New York Beauty?  Something less traditional?  Off to see my friend Google!

Then again – this might just be an attempt by my critic to block me from doing something from my own base of creativity…..I think my critic likes to divert my attention.  It’s a whole lot easier to do what someone has done before than to reach within and do some authentic creation.

Sewing samples for the local quilt shop

About a year ago, a lovely little quilt shop, My Patch, opened up near me (no web site yet but soon).  I stopped in and checked it out, bought a few things, chatted the owner up and as an after thought, as I was heading out the door, I turned and said to her, “Say, if you ever need any samples sewn – any behind the scenes work done – let me know.”  Then I (sorta) jokingly said “I have more time than money.”  Walked away and didn’t think much more about it.

It didn’t take long (maybe a week?) before she gave me a call and I started doing some sewing for her.  It’s been a win-win situation for both of us and because of her and her fabric purchasing style – I have branched out on the styles of fabrics that I sew with.  Think CONTEMPORARY TO THE MAX here.  :)

Val dropped off a couple bags of projects/samples/custom orders for me a couple weeks back.  This time, she had me sewing pinafores and bloomers from a pattern company called Little Bird Patterns.  Great little patterns.  So simple and they would be perfect for the beginner or simply those of us that like results fast.  I think the bloomers took less than 30 minutes, start to finish and the pinafores were a snap.

I LOVE sewing little girl things – but I must admit, after 18 bloomers, 6 reversible  and 12 Lizzy  - I’m maxed out.  However, I pushed past my weariness and made two sets from my fabric stash – for the great-niece that is expected in a few more months.  Comparing the shop pieces and my pieces…..well, you can certainly see the difference in our fabric styles.  I love the contemporary look of the shop pieces as well as the old-fashioned, more soft & gentle feel of the ones from my stash.

Shop Samples/Custom orders:

Baby Girl Gerlach pinnies & bloomers:

We interrupt this blog for…..

THE SUPER 15 RUGBY SEASON!

Go Tah’s!!

It’s going to be a sad adjustment year without MY PHIL  I wish for him all the best with his new career.

With My Phil retired, I’m in the hunt for a new fixation…..young James O’Connor is a candidate.  Now, isn’t he just a cutie?  I think he’s all of 21 years old.  He has his own ‘love me’ web site…..isn’t he special?  Hey James…..don’t let that Pommy party boy lead you astray in Melbourne this year, ok?

Then there is not-so-young-anymore Berrick Barnes.  I hope he and his new wife are happy – I’m still waiting to see the wedding photos…..Berrick?  Hello?  I’m WAAAAAAAAIIIIIITTTTTTING!

And finally – there’s hubba hubba Adam Ashley-Cooper.  Now that he’s with the Tah’s, he’ll be even more fun to watch.

Most weekends, there are 2 games on Friday, 2 or 3 on Saturday and another 2 on Sunday – this is for the Super 15 (Australia, New Zealand and South Africa).  Then there is Rugby Club on Thursday nights to catch up on what you may have missed or any gossip or simply just to hear 4-5 men rabbit on about what happened (why are there no women on this show?).  If you’re desperate, there is a podcast you can listen to weekly (which includes the European Rugby scene also) and for those 4AM moments when you can’t sleep….there is Rugby Heaven and the Green & Gold Rugby Forum.

Ahhhh…….all is well in the world……..or will be at 5:30 kick-off today!

FMQ w/Leah Day week 7

Gosh, is it week 7 already?  I am quite proud of myself that I’m still practicing!  (It’s not like me to commit to something and then actually follow through on it.)

This week, Leah taught us how to sew our quilt sandwiches together.  Since I have another use for my quilt sandwiches (thanks to an idea from Frantastic Stitch Witchery Fran Moore , I didn’t have a specific assignment other than practice, practice, practice.

I decided to tackle a quilt top that I had made with scraps last year.  The problem with this particular quilt is that I made it using foundation piecing and even without batting and backing – the sucker is heavy.   I used an old sheet for the foundation fabric.  (Note to self…..don’t do that again……a sheet is too heavy.)

Because of this, I choose to practice my large stipple.  I’m so glad I didn’t decide to do leaves or feathers.  In spite of its relatively small size – it was very cumbersome.  I think it’s probably harder to do a large stipple than a small stipple on a home machine  - because you have to move your hands so often.  I managed though.

I choose red thread – so I could examine my work easier.  I’m relatively pleased with my stitch length.  Oh sure, there are variations – but they aren’t that noticeable.  I found that it helped to ‘listen’ to my machine to find the best rhythm between my hands and my machine speed.  Rev the motor and my stitches were too small….slow it down and the stitches ended up too big.  Guess it’s the Ying/Yang of FMQ?  OMMMMMMMMMMMMM

And, to use up the thread in a bobbin, I did some more funky feathers to practice the SewCalGal challenge for February.  I’m still laughing……

Unfortunately, Ms. J (Janome) is starting to complain that I’ve been working her too hard and not giving her time off so she’s off for a spa treatment.  Apparently many of her friends are in for spa treatments so it looks like it will be several weeks without her (they say three).  Guess that gives me several weeks to do prep work and hand work.

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Cancer cap tally

42

3 month blogiversary

Thanks to all who have come by my blog in the last 3 months.  According to the handy-dandy tracker that Mr. W installed, I have had 1846 visits in the last 3 months.  And they’ve been from all over the world!  How amazing is that?

Thanks so much!

Finished projects this week

Binding finished on 2 small quilts, 2 placemats and 1 table mat.

Addition to Quilts in our Home page

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We had a break in the rain so I took a few quilts outside for photos.  Brief descriptions are on the ‘Quilts in our Home’ page.

FMQ w/ Leah Day Week 6

This week, Leah covered stippling in sashing and borders.  This link also includes a summary link of all the weeks so far.  Good info – that’s for sure.

I didn’t have a quilt top with sashing prepared to quilt this week and I was short on time so I just did some general practice work on some fabric sandwiches.

Oh, and I did my first ever in my life feather (following the Sewcalgal FMQ tutorial).  My feather is certainly a mangled feather….more on that on my Sewcalgal post.

I was actually looking forward to my FMQ time this week – go figure.  I’m working to get another quilt top layered so that I have something to practice on for the next couple weeks.