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Archive for the ‘Fusing’ Category

No Slacking Allowed

Thursday, February 28th, 2013

blackerblack

I thought that eventually all the commitments that I have taken on would pile up, and I would start to panic. After a bit of self talk, I got my act together  today and was able to bring order out of the impending chaos. I feel good about that.

I have been getting to the studio a bit each day, which helps to balance all the left brain stuff. I over-dyed one of the silk pieces that was not quite black and another undyed piece. I soaked them in vinegar and then into the silk black dye and into the microwave.

microwave dyeing

 

I got a much better black. You can see it in the first photo next to one of the pieces from the other day. The silk didn’t dye as evenly this time as you can see here.

irregularblack

 

But, I think it will work for what I want – at least the blacker sections. I also Mistyfuse the rainbow silk.

mistyfusedsilk

moremistyfusedsilk

 

I also drew some sketches of the piece I plan to make with these fabrics. I won’t be able to show it for a bit as it is for an invitational show and we have been asked to keep the pieces under wraps for now.

I have continued to stitch the 3 x 3s together – having fun pairing beads with each section.

Here are my sketches from the last  two days.

drawing1-28-13

drawing2-27-13

This is the comfy old chair in my office – I have had it for so long.

Mr C brought these to me today. It was a gray rainy day and they were a delight.

springflowers

Tomorrow, I am doing the food for the opening reception of the Trinity Arts exhibit. The artist is from Argentina so I am doing some regional food — steak with Chimichurri sauce, Empanadas and a few other goodies.

 

 

 

A Mixed Day

Monday, September 10th, 2012

I had a busy day. Worked in the studio. Had a lunch meeting with the co-chairs of the Trinity Artists Among Us 2013 event. We had a very productive meeting. It feels good to get started earlier this year. As I was driving home, I started feeling sick. I had an ear ache, swollen glands and headache.

I tried to ignore it, but I think I have one of those dang viruses that gets you now and then. I did manage to get the Dancing Kelp fused together and on the design wall where I could do some finessing.

I still have to add a lot of bubbles to areas that need some life. Here is a detail.

I sewed a sleeve on the Line Dancing quilt which I will submit on Wednesday for Rhythm and Hues. Tomorrow, I only need to do paper work and get my supplies together for the Elizabeth Barton class.

Now, to bed and hope to sleep off the bug.

Hot Time in PDX

Saturday, August 4th, 2012

It is over 100° in Portland for the first time since July 2009. I decided it was a good day to dye. I need some red and red oranges and orange for a project I have in mind.

I mixed the dyes in my dye kitchen but did all the other work out on my studio patio.

Here are some of my fabrics batching in baggies in the sun.

I also did some “tray dyeing”. Actually, I just laid the fabric on plastic on my table, squirted dye and then added another layer of plastic and fabric and some more dye.

I did some cool colors, too.

This is chartreuse, turquoise and cobalt blue. I grabbed a long sleeved white tea shirt and squirted it with these dyes, too.

 

I got this quilt fused together. I really like it. I have it sandwiched and it is waiting to tell me how to quilt it.

Here is today’s 3 x 3, turquoise fabric with metallic paint and zigzag quilted.

August Arrives

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012

It is too soon, August!! Summer is getting away from me. A new month and a new color for my 3 x 3’s. This month, I have chosen the cool color of blue-green. I did some foiling for the first one. And, here is today’s.

I spent much of yesterday and this morning cleaning up my studio, putting away magenta fabrics, pulling blue-green and procrastinating. I find it so daunting to cut into beautiful fabric – so afraid I will waste some or make a mistake. After lunch, I just did it. I have created some simple fused blocks in different sizes. This is a technique I learned in a workshop with Melody Johnson. I have not used it in a long time, but felt it would work well for the Rhythm and Hues piece.

Once I got started, I couldn’t stop slashing and fusing. I think I have enough blocks to put into a composition tomorrow.

I have been asked by the editor of Art Quilting Studio, published by Somerset, that they would like me to write two articles for them. One will be on my abstract quilts that I construct from my art cloth. The other will be about making my Aspen Quilts. I will also have some pieces featured in an article on patchwork quilts. Mine are fused, but fit that theme, I guess. I have to ship 10 quilts to them for photography. I had to arrange to retrieve two of them from the High Fiber Diet elements show. Fortunately, they were not due to be hung until September.

This is very exciting and very unexpected. I am not sure what is happening, but it feels pretty good. We have a lot of traveling planned this month so I have to get organized and work smart.

That is it for tonight. I want to watch the adorable Gabby Douglas win the gold medal in gymnastics. I think she looks like a young Oprah!!

Multi-Tasking Kind of Day

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Here is yesterday’s 3 x 3 — a reverse applique circle and seed stitching. I was running out of time today, so I grabbed a piece of silk indigo shibori and did the zigzag free motion quilting.

Here is the fused background with winter at the top.

I think I need to work on the blending between spring and summer. My other dilemma was that the photos printed on organza were not showing up very well. I went to Mill Ends, to look for something to put behind them that would still have some transparency. I found some cotton organdy. Light bulb went on. I reprinted the photos on the cotton organdy and am much happier.

Above you see the differencce. The bottom print is on the cotton. The others on organza.

Here are the photos all printed on the cotton organdy. I still need to add misty fuse and trim them.

I also made a few more thermofax screens for the background.

Trees:

And leaves:

 

 

 

 

For dinner tonight, I made a delicious white bean and turkey chili. It was so good. The last two times we have gone out to dinner, I have been so disappointed with my main course. I am a much better cook that some restaurant chefs, I have decided.

In a few minutes, we are going to our local, vintage movie theater to see The Artist.

I hope you are enjoying your week-end, too.