My Plans

This is what I'll be working on for the next few days:

Okay, well maybe I need to do some straightening up first. I went to the dollar store yesterday and got some buckets, quart containers and measuring cups, and you know what that means--dyeing! I got a few gradient kits from ProChem and I haven't done that before, so it should be fun.

I also went through my stash and patterns and decided to make a blouse.

I will be painting some canvases and art boards to mount my mini-mees in time for the Artist's Walk on Friday, the 3rd.

And last but not least, more mini-mees in the works!

What is not represented in this photo is the beginning of an art quilt. I have been working on class samples, mini-mees and things to sell, so it's been quite a while since I've done an art quilt just for pleasure. After going through all my photos, I found this one, taken on the beach in Cozumel--what great memories!

For some reason, I thought it was a minah bird. Duh, no. So I did some research and think it's some kind of gackle. This one and a few of his friends hang out on the beach, waiting for their handouts. What a life!

Come back soon!

The Marigold Festival

I spent Saturday at a craft fair--beautiful weather, lots to see, wonderful people, and even my sales weren't bad! It was the Marigold Festival in Winterville GA. The event was charming. I mean, really, charming, that's the best word I can think to describe it. There was a 5k race, an event with dogs (I couldn't really see from where I was), vendors, and, best of all, a parade. Yes, a parade with all the local dignitaries, Little Miss Marigold, Miss Marigold, fire engines, carriages, golf carts, horses, police--everything that you can remember from your small town parades when you were growing up! It brought back so many memories--it was just a great day all around!

My next event will be the first Friday Artists's Walk at the square in Marietta GA on June 3, 5 pm - 8:30. If you are around, please stop by to say hello!

Fiber Frenzy--so much fun!

Yesterday was the Fiber Frenzy meeting. I am SO LUCKY to be associated with this group of very talented women. Every meeting is wonderful! Yesterday Francyne gave a presentation on thread--I learned so much--the program was excellent and very well prepared. Much better, I think, than I would have done. And much more information than I would have known. That's the purpose, though, right?

And now for the best part--pictures! The challenge for this month was Using Scraps Effectively. You might notice that there's not a photo of my work here. I started two pieces and finished none. Oh well, maybe next time.

This is Anita's scrappy, stringy quilt (it looks much better than it sounds!). Yummy, yummy colors:

And here's Cleo's scrappy, stringy quilt--and so different from Anita's and just as lovely. It's such a happy piece:

And Frances makes the prettiest flower wall hangings. This one is a gift for a friend of hers, that lucky girl!

Francyne made some great flowers--this one, too, is so happy, and makes me smile to look at it:

Nancy introduced us to "Put a Bird on It" (Youtube--such a hoot!). I just love this little piece--so fun!

Shirley did a beautiful butterfly. Her work is always wonderful:

Sue went totally beyond the expected and did the cutest hand puppet! Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

And finally, Nancy brought her quilt from the last challenge, "Go Green" This is so clever, wonderful and the color is amazing:



Can you guess what it is? Hint: most of us have replaced this with cds. Very, very fun recycling!

That's it for now. Thanks for visiting!

More Minis

I'm still needlefelting and embroidering, though not much else is going on. Hope you enjoy!

City Park:

My Secret Garden:

Taking a Walk:

That's it for now.

If you're in or near Greenville SC this weekend, go by the Upper SC State Fair Grounds to the Maker's Fair and stop by and say hello!



Quilting Arts Alliance Meeting

Last Tuesday was our Quilting Arts Alliance meeting, made up of wonderful women who share ideas and work and techniques, etc. I always love those meetings.

This week Nancy had the program and talked about two of the workshops she's been to recently. She gave us lots of great ideas that she had learned in two different machine stitching workshops that focused on thread sketching and thread painting. Very interesting projects and techniques. I hate that I didn't get any pictures of the work she showed us, it was outstanding!

I did get a few pictures, though. The following is a quilt done by Marybeth--it was wonderful! This is a type of trapunto using felt behind the flowers for the colors and the raised effects. I wish I'd gotten a close up for you!

Anita showed us one of her string quilts. I just love the mountains

And beautiful Diane modeled one of her felted hats:

And check out this hat that Diane created!



Frances had done the most wonderful, whimsical quilt of a close-up of a camel's face. You can check it out on her blog.

Hand Embroidery

That's enough about that, now let's talk about me! I'm still addicted to the hand embroidery I've been doing. For quite a while I have wanted to work on creating layers on and of fabrics. I haven't really put much together yet, but I love making "art cloth" with layers of paint and dye and stitching and printing and stamping and embellishing.

But, in the embroidery process, I've found another way to make layers. After needle felting various fibers, colors and textures on felt, I've been embroidering them and I'm so happy with the way they've turned out. They're all small--the largest is 6 x 8" and they still have to be finished with some edging stitches, but here's what I've done so far:

This one is called "Seasons"

"It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood:"

And I'm almost finished with "Easter Egg Hunt:"

Thanks for stopping by!