Well, Saturday I spent all day working on the quilting of six new pieces that I had completed this past week (except for the two panels). Worked really hard all day, had to take breaks and get the laundry done (I preach to my machine quilting classes that this is good because it forces you to use your upper body differently...Besides I was out of underwear) so ended up with the things done and some laundry also completed. Wow! I even got them uploaded with a minimum of hassle this time.
So, last night I started working on embellishing a sweat shirt while we watched Troy and I admired the frequently naked male body. Got lots of yarns on it and now am ready to start beading. That kept my hands busy.
This morning work up wondering what I was going to do now. I have found that I work in these crazy creative spurts where I get a lot of work done (up to 15 pieces at ArtQuiltTahoe...But not the quilting...Just the design and fusing) and then I am absolutely worn out for a couple of days. I have learned to be nice to myself when this happens because that is just the way I work. When this first happened I got worried but now I know it's me....The real me...Wow....That's scary!
But, today after church I did fuse 12 pieces of commercial fabric, ten of which came from out guild challenge...Since I bought fat quarters I only have to use five of the fabrics so I also added two black and whites to tone the really bright prints down a little...Like I can't handle rich color
!ha-ha...So now I am ready to start doing that piece but then I've been called upon to babysit the cutest little boy there ever was again since the babysitter's son is sick.. Oh well, guess I have to work on my sweatshirt and do beading...
BIG PROBLEM!!!! I now only have one yard of wonder under in my house!!! That is very limiting. However, I do have about thirds yards of various silks already fused so I guess I can survive for a little while. However, getting ready for the San Francisco guild show this weekend is cramping my sewing time because I have to get embellishment yarns packaged as I will be vending there. Trying to decide if I am really going to put my silks up for sale...Probably...I can always do some more.
My photographer picked up about 16 quilts today to take to photograph. Hope to get them back Wed. So they can go to the lab for dupes and then off for some show entries. Got to get one show entry off tomorrow. I am doing pretty good with the art shows...In fact have to ship one to Washington for an International juried art show...haven't heard anything about my piece in New Jersey right now...do hope it sells...forget quilt shows to sell your work...off to galleries and art shows where people go to see and buy!!
So, I guess it really is okay to come down for a little while...got the show coming up and then next week we have to head back to Missoula, MT to pick up our motorhome after it's repairs. Then home briefly and then to Phoenix for a couple of weeks...I'll be glad to wander around Sedona taking pictures and plan to go back to Jerome and where ever else I want to while Doug is busy shooting!!
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Time to upload
Well, I'm working at getting pictures up and running...here are three pieces that I finished two weeks ago.
Really on a roll
I can't believe the work I am producing. This is way too much fun! It can't be calorie free because it is so great and has me on a perpetual high. Last week I went to Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg for a vestry work session with my church. Came back just blown away with all that had happened and the bonding and the trust that had developed, along with some great plans for where we want our church to go.
Anyway, I wanted to do some work but found myself in a very contemplative mood. So out came some very subtlee silk charmuse and I made two panel quilts...really just let the color show. One is already quilted and then today I put the backing on the other so I could do the quilting on that.
Yesterday I started fusing about 20 yards of cotton fabrics because I was so tired of ironing the stuff that I just decided I needed to use it myself. Well, before long I was busy fusing a couple of pieces and then this morning I got going and did a couple of more so now I have six pieces that are in need of quilting. Can't do it tomorrow because I get to babysit the most adorable grandbaby there ever was (mine, of course, need you ask?) but then Saturday, here I come.
Anyway, I wanted to do some work but found myself in a very contemplative mood. So out came some very subtlee silk charmuse and I made two panel quilts...really just let the color show. One is already quilted and then today I put the backing on the other so I could do the quilting on that.
Yesterday I started fusing about 20 yards of cotton fabrics because I was so tired of ironing the stuff that I just decided I needed to use it myself. Well, before long I was busy fusing a couple of pieces and then this morning I got going and did a couple of more so now I have six pieces that are in need of quilting. Can't do it tomorrow because I get to babysit the most adorable grandbaby there ever was (mine, of course, need you ask?) but then Saturday, here I come.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
too much to do
So, here I am, trying to figure out how to upload pictures and feeling somewhat overwhelmed...first I had to take a few digital photos of some of my new work and then I found out that my battery is dead in my camera so got to power that back up. So while I'm waiting to finish all that I can start with the blog part...
Last week I dyed about 200 yards of fabric...the good part of that is that I have a whole lot of new fabrics....silks, silk organza, raw silk, charmuse, and various cottons. The down side is that now it all needs to be ironed..started working on it and couldn't stand it so started making art...which means that I have to clear out a space to work on.
I made a 2 x 4 ironing board for my regular ironing board so I just cleared off the fabric to iron and started fusing, and fusing some more and then some more! So, out came three new pieces, two of which are just using my new fabric and one is just because. I'm having a blast using cheese cloth again...haven't used it since "Behind the Veil" but now I am using it very differently. Fun to experiment and pull the stuff apart. Layers and layers are developing and I'm coming up with more and more ideas.
Right now my studio is a really overwhelming mess...way out of control! Too many half yards of silk that are fused but haven't figured out how to store them...too many laundry baskets filled with dyed fabric to iron, too many piles of neatly ironed fat quarters for the show, too many balls of yard to cut up to sell at the show, too much, too much!!! Want in the worst way to just do my work but have to clean up...oh, woe is me...where's my assistant? Maybe she will come today!!!
well, back to fiddlin' with the camera.
later.....
Last week I dyed about 200 yards of fabric...the good part of that is that I have a whole lot of new fabrics....silks, silk organza, raw silk, charmuse, and various cottons. The down side is that now it all needs to be ironed..started working on it and couldn't stand it so started making art...which means that I have to clear out a space to work on.
I made a 2 x 4 ironing board for my regular ironing board so I just cleared off the fabric to iron and started fusing, and fusing some more and then some more! So, out came three new pieces, two of which are just using my new fabric and one is just because. I'm having a blast using cheese cloth again...haven't used it since "Behind the Veil" but now I am using it very differently. Fun to experiment and pull the stuff apart. Layers and layers are developing and I'm coming up with more and more ideas.
Right now my studio is a really overwhelming mess...way out of control! Too many half yards of silk that are fused but haven't figured out how to store them...too many laundry baskets filled with dyed fabric to iron, too many piles of neatly ironed fat quarters for the show, too many balls of yard to cut up to sell at the show, too much, too much!!! Want in the worst way to just do my work but have to clean up...oh, woe is me...where's my assistant? Maybe she will come today!!!
well, back to fiddlin' with the camera.
later.....
Friday, February 11, 2005
Creativity
Creativity
Last night I showed off three new pieces that I had just finished. Today was the day to do a lot of the work of making labels (after I decided what to call them) and to get my "When Memories Fade" quilt off to the Small Wonders show.
Got the word that my Balancing Act 2 was accepted into an art show in Washington.
Opening tonight in New Jersey...would love to see that show. Oh well, just have to wait and see what happens.
Went through piles of show entry forms, found the ones I was too late for and chucked them, and reread all the ones I am keeping. Trying to keep on top of the entry dates...most are art shows with a few big quilt shows coming up.
My studio is such a mess that I can hardly stand it!!! Recently dyed fabric is everywhere! In front of the dryer, under my ironing board, next to my sewing chair, silks fused to wonder under piled high on the drafting table so that I can't use the table.
The only space around is a little space around the sewing machine for when I can't stand it anymore and escape to sewing. New pieces are coming out left and right. My mind just won't stop. However, today was too much detail and cleanup work for me...where's my assistant today?
Last night I showed off three new pieces that I had just finished. Today was the day to do a lot of the work of making labels (after I decided what to call them) and to get my "When Memories Fade" quilt off to the Small Wonders show.
Got the word that my Balancing Act 2 was accepted into an art show in Washington.
Opening tonight in New Jersey...would love to see that show. Oh well, just have to wait and see what happens.
Went through piles of show entry forms, found the ones I was too late for and chucked them, and reread all the ones I am keeping. Trying to keep on top of the entry dates...most are art shows with a few big quilt shows coming up.
My studio is such a mess that I can hardly stand it!!! Recently dyed fabric is everywhere! In front of the dryer, under my ironing board, next to my sewing chair, silks fused to wonder under piled high on the drafting table so that I can't use the table.
The only space around is a little space around the sewing machine for when I can't stand it anymore and escape to sewing. New pieces are coming out left and right. My mind just won't stop. However, today was too much detail and cleanup work for me...where's my assistant today?
Thursday, February 10, 2005
I've joined the bandwagon!
Well, after reading that my good friend, Gerrie, has cancer again and has started a blog as a way of sharing and journaling, and reading other people's that I enjoy, I have decided that it is my time. If anyone is interested in what I have to say, that's fine...if not, that's fine too.
Lent has started...time for reflection and contemplation. I like Gerrie's church that had a Fat Tuesday instead of our Shrove Tuesday and decorated with Mardi Gras things.
I've been working away on art quilts...reading all the while about the post card exchange group's post cards going out. I still have to do that but I'm too involved working on these new pieces. Many thanks to Melody for sharing her pillow case finishing technique...a really great way to get things done quickly and they look good too.
So, now I have to figure out how to upload pictures and personalize this thing so that I am really on the blog road!
Liz
Lent has started...time for reflection and contemplation. I like Gerrie's church that had a Fat Tuesday instead of our Shrove Tuesday and decorated with Mardi Gras things.
I've been working away on art quilts...reading all the while about the post card exchange group's post cards going out. I still have to do that but I'm too involved working on these new pieces. Many thanks to Melody for sharing her pillow case finishing technique...a really great way to get things done quickly and they look good too.
So, now I have to figure out how to upload pictures and personalize this thing so that I am really on the blog road!
Liz
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