Lest You Think I've Been Idle...

Here's some visual evidence of activity in the 3F studio:

I've been commissioned to make a pair of 'Non-felted Slippers' (the pattern, by Yuko Nakamura, is a freebie on Ravelry) -- out of alpaca (!) because the recipient can't wear wool next to her skin.  The only stuff I hand on hand (and yes, I'm using stash yarn) I bought ages ago from elann.com, once with a sweater in mind, so it's DK (double-knitting) weight.  This means I'm using 2 strands together to make these chunky-weight slippers.  Pictured is Slipper #1, almost finished, and I think it's turned out quite well.

While waiting for help from Ravelry on the pattern (short rows required were not explicitly stated in the pattern, so I am grateful to the clarification from two knitting buddies!), I worked on my Cable Rib Sock, and managed to finish the heel.   This Jawol yarn is fine -- there are 32 rows in that heel flap!

Drifting along on Orca Bay...I finally assembled 4 dozen pair of border blocks.  Here they are piled, awaiting pressing.  Today, they'll be fully assembled, and a border created!










And...in the C&G alcove of the studio, I finished Activities 12 and 13 of Module 5.  These assignments were all about contrast and scale when designing, using the example of a Star-in-a-Star block.

First, we worked some samples in our sketchbooks, using collage techniques.  Tracing the pattern for the block on the back of paper I'd created in an earlier module, and cutting out the pieces, enables the creation of a pair of blocks, thus.

Collaged Block 1

Collaged Block 2

Collaged Block 4

Collaged Block 3

Next we combined colouring with collage to create a third pair of blocks, to see the effects.

Collaged Block 5

Collaged Block 6

And finally, we were required to create a block in fabric, based on one of our collages.  My points, alas, aren't particularly sharp.  I used a very light-weight scrap from stash for the background; my green hand-dyed fabric wasn't much heavier. Both were hard to work with versus the black scrap, which was, of course, heaviest. I coped by adding Mary Ellen's Best Press and pressing fiercely!

My Son's Dream

BFA (Dramatic Arts) - 2008

Is to spend a year teaching English in Japan with the JET Programme.   He sent his application in December, and has just now received an appointment for an interview.  I don't know when it is, but if he's successful, he'll go into training in the spring and be away mid-summer, I believe.  The blessing is that he is receiving the full support of  his employer -- the Cheesecake Cafe in Lethbridge -- where he's worked for over four years now, paying his bills and acting/doing improv on the side.  Stay tuned for news!



PS. January 28-2012:  The interview is Feb. 23 in Calgary (a 3-hour drive from his home in Lethbridge.  It's 'make it or break it' then -- he'll either be chosen, or not....Roll on February -- and good weather for driving, please!

January Thursday

We had a snow squall last evening that left in its wake snow, with a granular layer of ice underneath.  I have to go out and shovel my walks...later.  Right now, I'm stitching, and sipping my half-caf, and liking this.

P.S. Yes, those are my initials.

P.P. S. If you enlarged a letter in this alphabet, and practiced hard, wouldn't it be lovely in free-motion quilting?

Stitches in the Snow

Tomorrow is Tuesday - Take a Stitch (on) Tuesday, to be precise.  Those of us following along will be introduced to our fourth stitch challenge.  This past week it's been all about Feather Stitch.  Just as I was beginning to work on my block, Jude posted this, which I think dovetails (pun intended!) so very nicely with this:

Birdie tracks, airy fronds of under-sea plants, equally airy wisps of feathers...so many possibilities!

Meanwhile, next to my sewing machine is a stack of winged half-square triangles, patiently awaiting assembly into border blocks for the OBMQ.  

When finished, there'll be 100 of these little blocks, ringed around the centre section, which measures 66" wide by 74.5" long already -- definitely one of my larger efforts!

And in my City and Guild workbook, next to "Empty Space", is a wee four-patch constructed with my own  hand-dyed and stamped fabric and quilted by machine.  Here it poses on my design wall -- 7" square.  we were asked to extend the quilting lines across the plain parts of the block, which I did -- at first in an orderly fashion and then -- to their logical conclusion.  ;-)

Saturday Stitching

Today's been windy, snowy and grey, so I stayed inside and stitched.  Apparently a Chinook is moving in, but it doesn't feel like it here -- yet!

First I tackled my Feather Stitch for Take A Stitch (on) Tuesday, Week 3.  This is just the start; since this photo, I've added some more to the white section in the lower right corner.  Because the tie pattern is so bold, I've decided to hold off on more than that now -- it's time to audition some beads and buttons!

Empty Space is a Place - Detail

Next I put on an episode of The Quilt Show that I hadn't seen, and finished my City and Guilds sample -- hand-quilting the almost-10" square piece that I'd stamped in a previous assignment.  This is a close-up shot (right).

I call the piece "Empty Space is a Place", based on the fact that this piece was stamped with triangles that were the 'negative' of the original design -- and because I've had on my mind the Call for Entry to the Focus on Fibre Art Association's biennial show: Spaces and Places.  


No, I'm not entering a sample into a show! ;-)  But I did, in the end, spend part of this afternoon preparing an entry.  I decided to submit "Nobody Here But Us", a piece I finished last spring based on a photo of a stand of trees near my home, taken in the winter.  I got busy and re-photographed it -- both a full and a detail view -- saved the photos to a CD, filled out the entry form and a cheque for the fee, etc.  It will go in the mail Monday or Tuesday (Early Bird deadline is Feb. 3).  The last time I entered this show (2010), my piece, "Picked for the Ripening", won third place in the Small Wall Quilt category!  That quilt was sold at the SAQA auction last fall, and now lives with a dear friend and SAQA colleague in her New York home.

Ah, then...we shall see what we shall see...

Friday Finishing

I finished three things this week:

• a pair of socks for myself that have been on the needles since 2009 (blush);
• the Veil of Rosebuds socks for my daughter's friend; and this afternoon...

Tat-ta-ta-da!  The centre of the Orca Bay Mystery Quilt top!

Here it is on my kitchen floor.  I had to move the table and chairs in order to spread it out!  It measures 66" wide by 74.5" long -- taken through the middle of each side, as you're supposed to do.  Now for the borders...

Thanks, Mary Pal!

A bit of Friday Fun...and some innovative ideas:

 On Facebook today, my friend and SAQA colleague, Mary Pal, shared this terrific   link: 25 clever ideas to make life easier. I was aware of some of them...but there are many of which I was unaware, and they're terrific!

 In the kitchen, in the linen storage cupboard, in the garden...I might just print out the entire article and keep it for reference!

 This is the best one, though -- finally instructions on how to fold those !!@@*** fitted sheets!  :-)

(Photo credit: stumbleupon.com.)

May I Recommend...

The Painted Quilt, by Linda Kemshall and her daughter, Laura.  In addition to the book, Linda and Laura have created a wonderful DVD/CD set, which they are currently selling for just under 10 GBP.  I couldn't resist the special price, and ordered it a few weeks ago.  Then...I let it sit by my computer...till last evening.  I have no idea why I was procrastinating -- and I'm delighted I finally roused myself out of my frozen January state, and watched the DVD.

Linda and Laura explain in detail three of their favourite techniques for painting on quilted fabric, show the viewer exactly how each is done, and then show him/her three projects -- from start to finish -- using one or all of the techniques.

The CD contains tips, worksheets and printable patterns for the projects.  Yummy!

While I watched, I worked on hand quilting my own 'painted' piece from my City & Guilds Module 5, Activity 10 (remember, Linda is not only my inspiration -- she's my tutor!)  This is the first of two pieces I stamped with a handmade stamp and acrylic paint, mixed with a drop or two of textile medium; after it dried and before stitching, I set the design with a dry hot iron.  Now my task is to quilt it up and see what sort of effect I get.  Stay tuned for the finished results in a later post.