Archive for August, 2014

Come Into My Parlor…

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

spider quilt

This quilt was a result of a challenge from my Fiber Dimensions Art Group. It had to be 16″ x 40″ and the theme was “A is for…” so after much puzzling, pondering and perusing the dictionary, I choose Arachnid.

I had a general idea of how I wanted this quilt to be. The spider web is shadow trapunto, white felt covered with a white batiste and a camouflage print tulle. I kid you not – camouflage! Found it in the bridal section at JoAnn’s – there’s something for everyone there.

But the event that clenched the design was when I walked into a bead shop. Not just any bead shop but one that specializes in paper beads and the tools to make them  – Paper Bead Girl in Havre de Grace, Maryland. She had the perfect beads there for spider legs!

spider detail with quilting 2 spider detail with quilting

These spidey legs are sooo cooool! They are even 3-dimensional – copper wire is threaded through them to help them keep their shape! Now the spider itself was pretty labor intensive – used up a whole canister of #8 black hexi beads – there are 4 left not counting what I keep finding on the floor.

Then there is the border – a strand of light green seed beads goes all the way around the quilt and a fringe of glass leaves (also from the Paper Bead Girl) finishes off the bottom.

spider border treatment detail

Needless to say, I spent lots of hours sitting on the couch watching Netflix movies and beading and beading and beading some more. Next beading marathon, though, I will try to avoid tear-jerker movies – very hard to stitch seed beads on through tears!

Spring Training Camp – Ripley, West Virginia

Monday, August 25th, 2014

I am forwarding announcement – consider joining us in picturesque West Virginia. I’ll be there with the Diamond Star!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA   OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA  katie's diamond star  Sunshine and sky 002 blog pics 022 blog pics 028 - Copy blog pics 030 - Copy

This is very exciting news!  The Spring Training Camp 2015 website is open!

Hi, all –

Last year was the inaugural Spring Training Camp at Cedar Lakes and we had a wonderful time!  So we just had to do it again!

Spring Training Camp is a weekend event in March where you can take one class that spans 2½ days.  The teachers and projects are fabulous – there are fifteen to choose from so you are sure to find something that you just have to take!

Here is a link to all the information:  Spring Training Camp 2015

I hope that you and your quilting friends can join us!  Email me if you have any questions!  And spread the word – everyone is welcome!



Oh, I almost forgot!  There is a “signing bonus”!  If you are new to Quilt Camp events or would like to sponsor a new Camper, look for the Gift Certificate link on the registration page!

Look What I Found…

Monday, August 18th, 2014

As I am always trying to find more space around here, I spent a day “cleaning up” again… Moving boxes and emptying shelves and rearranging furniture all in a effort to fit in my studio.

I found lots of interesting stuff in the process… This was one of my early attempts at cross-stitch. It was one of the premarked K-mart kits I bought when I was pregnant with my first child. This is a far as I’ve gotten or will ever get. There were 9 blocks total – now all stained with age. They hit the trash.

baby ufo

White Stars on a blue background! Extras left over from one of my very first block exchanges. I used several in a quilt that has long since been given away. These somehow didn’t make it into anything – but I’m keeping them any way. They will come in handy with my Anatomy of an Exchange lecture.

blue stars

An attempt at a minature ala George Siciliano.  – never gonna happen…. way over my head. The fabric went back into my stash and the 1 and a half blocks I started hit the trash.

george minature

 

A summer spread that I believe was my fathers – stained and ratty. I think my great-grandmother made it. Its missing parts and has lots of broken stitches. I think at one time I planned to fix it. And no, it did not hit the trash but I’m feeling pretty realistic about what is actually achievable for me lately – so it went into the linen closet… should be comfortably lost in there for years….

summer quilt

Projects I was gonna finish one day – found a few blocks that will make good potholders – don’t really know what to do with the rest – still contemplating their future since none of the projects have potential to be masterpieces.  But I have to admit that at this time, I can’t remember where I put them.

unfinshed stuff

2″ square collection! I was going to make a watercolor quilt. I saved these because you never know… I may actually use them one day.

watercolor squares

Worthless binding – all cut single fold. Not even wide enough strips to fall into my “save” pile – trash. And they were sitting on top of some pre-fused applique that is so old its never going to stick to any thing. I saved the hoops.

worthless binding

So after all this glorious purging and cleaning and rearranging, I found a place for everything and then heading out to my guild meeting. Guess what – someone brought in a boat load of free stuff. I resisted as long as I could but, yes, I am sad to say, I brought stuff home.

more junk

I just don’t understand why nobody wanted the tulle and silk ribbons – really, that’s valuable stuff!