Back Again

Here are the drapes I made. Lesson Learned: When you have a long span and the lining is heavier than the drape fabric make the lining bow upward in the middle. I made the lining shorter but it hangs down below the drape in the middle. I am re-hemming this morning. This side of the room looks nice, but the other side is bare. Oh well, another project in the making. The Sewing class starts next Wednesday, and I'm anxious to get back to all of you. Bring your sewing machines and a zipper foot for making the samples. I will post the schedule when I finish typing it.

I just finished this silk painting and will be putting it in a Surface Art Show in February. It is silk painting with bits of hand dyed silk applique for accents. Then I backed it with batting and free motion quilted it. I then stretched it onto a 16" X 16" wooden frame (like we did with the painted and quilted canvas) It looks very interesting and definitely looks like wall art when presented in that way. I am through making felt hearts and moving onto other projects. I need to make something to wear into the cold when we go to Utah next week, but I also want to make something using the techniques we will be doing in sewing class (two birds with one stone theory). I have several ideas I just have to buckle down and sew.

I have been getting into the Christmas spirit making these felt ornaments. So far I have made about 1 dozen. I worked on them while I was at my daughters in Nevada. Each one is different but uses all the same elements. Now I am home again and working on drapes for my bedroom. I have never made drapes before and they are sooooo much fabric to rassel around with. They are starting to look good, but I am going to have my son re-enforce the curtain rods; because these things are really heavy. Wish me luck, I want to finish them while I have time off. Tomorrow night 4-7 is "Meet the Teachers" at Gingers Quilt Shoppe, Upland. I will be teaching "Free Motion Machine Doodling", "Monkeys or Macaws" and "Silk Painted Butterfly Wall Hanging". If you sign up on Dec 7 you get a discount on the class price. Hope to see you there.

Put together

Break Down is put together. This is the vest I made from the breakdown printing I did the last day of class. I backed the fabric with flannel (I'd gotten it to make nightgowns for my daughters 30 years ago)from the stash and quilted the flowers. On the band I did a technique I have been wanting to try for quite awhile. I did bobbin stitching Crazy Quilting. By choosing single stitch decorative stitches on the machine I stitched with perle rayon in the bobbin and followed along the stitch line from the wrong side to create the look of embroidery. I could have added beads and flourishes to make it look more hand done, but this was just for fun. I hope you are having fun also. I will post another thing I am doing in a few days. Bye for now.

Art Show At Hughes Center

They have hung out little art show at the Hughes Center. I went over today to clean out the and organize the closet and the show was up. They did a very nice job of hanging the paintings. The girls at the desk said they had gotten lots of good comments about the show. Be sure and take the time to go take a friend and show them what we did. I'm so proud of you all.

Taking time off

Yesterday was the last class for the year 2011. I am taking off December so I can go be with my children and grandchildren during the holiday season. I also hope to get some new things ready for the sewing class which will begin on January 4, 2012. WOW 2012 just around the corner. I took a few photos of "show and tell" yesterday, but they didn't turn out well. I guess my phone was having a breakdown along with the rest of the class. Some very nice printing happened and I am happy with what we got done. Sorry we ran out of Sodium Alginate, I never know how much stuff to make up it; varies from class to class. My printing turned out well, and I am steaming it this morning. When I get it made up I will post a photo.

Time to print

The photo has nothing to do with the information, but the fabric was also made in my class in Houston by a student. We will be printing our "Breakdown" screens on Wednesday. Remember to soak your cotton in soda ash BEFORE bringing it to class. It must be done at least the day before,and press it smooth. I am thinking about printing on a light colored pre-dyed base of silk. That is if I get it pre-dyed. 5 boxes of left over stuff have returned from Houston so I need to put things away. I hate that part.

Houston Report

These are some of the silk chiffons dyed in my "Twist and Shout" class in Houston at the Quilt Festival. Believe me they; were shouting with delight. The colors were so great. While I was there I taught 8 classes and everyone was a different subject. I shipped 7 boxes out, but only 3 home again so it was all good. Now I am almost back to normal. Claremont class will be one more class next Wednesday when we will print with our prepared screens. Then no more classes until we start sewing in January. Wednesday January 4, 2012 to be exact. Here is the link for registration. Winter Brochure: www.tinyurl.com/claremontwinter2012 Online Registration: www.tinyurl.com/claremontreg We had a great day today. If you did the class "Quilted Canvas" bring in your paintings we will be hanging our own show at the Hughes Center next Wednesday. That is exciting! I will post again next Sunday evening with any more information I may have forgotten. I am doing a trunk show for ASG in Riverside tomorrow so I have to pack it up now and get ready to go.

Welcome back

I know it is late, but just in case anyone reads this bring a pair of scissors to class tomorrow. We will make a small project while we wait for dye to dry. Today the watercolor teacher said, "Nice watercolor painting" about my daisies. I'm progressing. I came home for Houston dead tired, but excited to see you all again Wednesday,

I have been taking a watercolor painting class. It is very hard to do, but I am working on it. This week I painted the same scene 6 times (threw away 3 and kept 3) For class Tuesday the instructor will critique one painting. I don't know which one to choose. Give me your opinion. I want to be able to hold my own when I go on a watercolor painting tour to Italy in the Spring. Learning to paint a fresh, active watercolor is harder than I thought it would be. Hopefully I will improve each week. I am still trying to keep up with my fiber classes too. Hopefully everything will cross connect in the end.

Having a "Breakdown"

On November 9 we will start the class on Breakdown Printing. Bring one or more blank screens. Do you want to print on cotton or silk? If you are printing on cotton I will give you Soda Ash to prepare your fabric for the next week, you will also need plastic to wrap the damp fabric in to cure. If you print on silk you will need to steam set. Since we will have time to play while the thickened dye dries on the screen I am bringing the supplies for you to make a cuff bracelet that is very cool. You will need to bring scissors for fabric. I'll see you on the 9th.

The Finish Line

We are almost finished (or at least started) on the projects with stamps, stencils, silk screens, etc. It has been fun and I am looking forward to class on Wednesday. We will have "Show and Tell" at 1:00 pm instead at the beginning so we can see what you have been doing in class as well as outside of class. I got my jacket almost finished. I will be looking for buttons or some type of closure this weekend.

Good News

We can once again use the back gate.  Jason did not know there was a padlock on the outer gate.  It will be removed or they will give me a key.  They want us to use that gate and not the side door, well yeah!

We will be hanging our paintings the second week of November and they will be up thru January.  I will give you a few more directions on getting them ready to hang next week.

I hope everyone had a good time today and went home with plans to work on next week.

Bring your Xerox copies for making Thermofax silk screens and Duct Tape to stabilize them.

I will bring the saw to make frames for those who didn't get one today,  If you want more and different sizes get stretcher bars from either the art department or the needlework
sections of Joanne's or Michael's.  bring Duct Tape finish them.  I left the organza in closet and I think there is enough for everyone to have a 12" X 12" screen.  For the extra screen it is polyester organza from Joanne's.

What a class!

These are a few of the results of the quilted paintings class.
So Fun, and you can see the results.  GO GIRLS!

Next weel we start a new class on stamping, stenciling, and other methods of printing.
I will bring the Thermofax for a few screens to be made.
What to bring?
Ideas of what you want to make,  vest, small quilt, purse, etc
What theme you want to use
any screens, stamps, stencils you think you may want to use

We will make some types of stamps, stencils, screens etc.  First week we will make a plan
then you have two weeks to implement the plan.

See you.

Get Framed

We will be building frames for our  our quilted paintings on Wednesday.  Have your painting quilted,
and zig-zagged to an unprimed canvas 3" to 4" wider than the painting.  I will bring the saw, boards, nails, 1 hammer and 1 staple gun.  If you have a staple gun and a hammer bring them.
Also bring the eye screws and wire for the back and you will go home with a finished product.

This has been fun, fun, fun.

We have a winner

One of my students from the Free Motion Doodling class at Ginger's Quilt Shop won not only
a blue ribbon, but also BEST of SHOW.   WOW!

Painting

Today  was the second day of painting.  We worked in a more abstract style.  FUN!

Next week we will start the quilting.
Things to bring:  painting you want to quilt
batting
any fabric for the backing (it won't show)
Cotton thread  (YLI  variegated,  Superior  King Tut,  Sulky Blendables)  Find a variegated that goes with your painting in darker shades.  These are just suggestions.
Jeans or Sharp needle size 90 or 100

I will bring spray basting glue
Sewing machine with free motion foot

The paints will still be there so you can start (or finish) another painting and sew while things are drying if you wish.

On the last class we will put the quilted painting on the stretcher bars.  I will bring my saw and the wood to make the frames.  You will need a piece of plain canvas at least 3" bigger than the painting.

Classes

These are samples of the classes that just ended.

A silk painting class at Upland Sewing was very fun and the ladies seemed to enjoy the painting and
silk applique expérience.  Now they will just need to quilt the painting.  They promised to send a photo
when they finished the wall quilt.

The trees are from the "Art Quilt Adventure" which was held at Ginger's Quilt Shop.  The student results were wonderful.  I was so excited about how well their projects turned out.

Next week Claremont begins.

Claremont Class

Claremont Class is starting on September 7 and i am getting all our supplies and handouts ready. We will be painting on canvas, quilting it and then putting it on stretcher bars. It is really fun. Be looking for a photo or picture you might want to do or I will have some choices for a guided painting if you want to go step by step with me. I'm getting excited to be back to a somewhat normal schedule.

I need a vacation from my vacation!

Hang in with me

It has been crazy this summer. Hang in there with me and I will be back to normal after the American Sewing Guild Conference and a quick trip to Utah to be with family for a bit.

Birthday Party Sharing Time

I'm back...

...from baby sitting that is. Sara and Kit went to Park City, Utah for 4 days. Sara to a blogging conference, and Kit to fish. I was with the 4 kids in San Clemente. A friend of mine tells me I am an unusual grandma to baby sit for long periods at a time.
I get to know the kids that way. This time rather than have them all pile in bed with me I put them in their parents bed and I slept in the girls room ALONE! It worked out great they were happy and so was I.

Now that I am home again I'm ready to get going on projects that have been delayed.
1. finish the flower wall quilt
2. get things packed to go to Long Beach
3. Make another "Art Quilt" of a trip to Northern Calif.
4. Do a couple of paintings to quilt so I will be ready in September
5. get things packed for American Sewing Guild classes in August
6. Work on a few new ideas
7. Enjoy the summer!

It's Summer Time

Photo class has been such fun this year. This is one of my grandsons enjoying the waves. It will be called "Surfs Up" I just finished it last night and haven't re photographed it so here it is a work in progress.
Several of the ladies were working on wonderful quilts. They have promised to send photos of finished work so I can share them with the rest of you.

We will be off for the rest of the summer, but don't forget I am teaching at Ginger's and Upland Sewing so come and take a class if you are missing me. We will start again at The Hughes Center in September. I will keep you informed about that later.

Gotta go to my "studio" and work on this wall quilt. Done from a photo, same technique as the oranges, but much bigger.

Have a Great 4th of July.

A new technique

In photo class we used the posterize filter on a photo of some oranges and a vase of flowers. It broke it down into a limited number of colors which made it easier to translate in fabric. The photos are of a small wall quilt done in applique with hand dyed silks using the photo as a pattern and guide. It is a very neat way of working. It looks like a painting from a distance.