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Archive for March, 2009

Checking Off

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

I have a to do list in my head. I really should put it on paper, but my personality doesn’t function that way. I checked off a couple of things on my mental list.

I finished the revision of Indigo Construction for the Line Dancing show. I made some small rod pockets and hung it on a piece of green bamboo. It looks great.

indigoconstructionrevised

Here is a detail with the new stitching. These are both clickable.

indigorevdetail

I also decided it would be good to look at the supply list for my Depth of Field Shibori class. Gulp! I need “at least” 20 yards of pfd (prepared for dyeing) fabric. I went to the Dharma website and ordered 15 yards of Kona cotton. I also ordered 5 yards of organic cotton muslin, 59 inches wide. It is pricey, but I wanted to try it out. Here is what the website says:

This fabric is the one you all have been asking for. 100% pure Certified Organic cotton muslin. The cotton itself was grown on a G.O.T.S. (Global Organic Textile Standards) certified farm and certified organic by a G.O.T.S. certification firm. It was whitened with Hydrogen Peroxide, which is the only method of whitening approved by G.O.T.S. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about that natural yellowish color causing color shifts in your dye job. It is also a very nice organic fabric to tie dye or batik for that reason. 5 oz./square yard and about 59″ wide. This is a tightly woven muslin fabric, with a nice smooth hand and surface. A great flat woven organic fabric for all your needs. Organics are about double the cost and price of non-organics, that’s just the way it is. This one was actually one of the best deals we could find. So it’s time to “put your money where your mouth is” as they say.
Fabric Details
• 100% Certified Organic cotton muslin
• 5 oz per square yard, 59″ wide
• Thread count is 40 threads per inch x 40 threads per inch
• You can dye this with our Fiber Reactive Dyes
• Suggested usage; Clothing, quilting, drapes, wall hangings, home decor etc. Muslin is very versatile!
• We found that this shrinks 3% in Length and 3% in Width 
• Available in cut yardage ( bulk discounts levels at 10+ yds. and 25+ yds.)
• Machine wash in any temperature water

I have to tear the fabric into 2 yard lengths and scour it before the class.

It was a gorgeous day here in our neighborhood. I went out for a couple of walks and enjoyed the sun on my face.

I thought I would share this nice little note that I received from one of our priests at the cathedral.

I’m sitting in Kempton Hall for a lecture on labyrinths, surrounded by the lovely soft evening lights of Kempton (none of the lights that shine upon the artwork, however), and I suddenly noticed that the new exhibit has been hung.  I want yours back!  Your fabric art of Jerusalem delighted me over and over as I’ve been in Kempton these last two months.

Thanks so much for your show.  I’ve not yet been to Jerusalem, and I feel as though I’ve gained a sense of the wonderful natural light in the Holy City.  And your colors — glorious!

So thanks for your creativity.  You are SOME ARTIST!

Blessings,

Catherine

Made my day and gave me encouragement to get back to work! Tomorrow, I am meeting Terry down at the Contemporary Craft Museum for lunch and an art date. I need to get out of the house and be inspired.



Back in the Groove

Monday, March 16th, 2009

Today, instead of cleaning up my messy studio, I picked up my Indigo Construction quilt and some Perle cotton and a needle and went to work. I suddenly realized that I was happier than I have been in at least two weeks. The comfort of holding a quilt and making marks with needle and thread — it has become such a part of who I am. I felt relaxed and happy.

I am turning the quilt from a vertical orientation to horizontal for our Line Dancing show. I buried the dangling threads and am now doing some wonky stitching with Perle cotton.

indigohandstitching

I didn’t have any blue and white perle cotton so I used a Fabrico ink pen and white thread to get an indigo look.

indigoperlecotton

I am going to make a hanger with lime green bamboo. I need to get it done and photographed for the show CD.

I was notified today that the group of SAQA at 20 quilts that I am in is heading to Florida. It’s first appearance will be at the Atlantic Center for the Arts hosted by the Focus on Fiber 09 Retreat at the Commons beginning March 25th in New Smyrna Beach Fl. On April 3rd it will be shown at The Florida Goldsmith Gallery on the First Friday in Tallahassee, Fl.

I took part in a Day of the Dead challenge on Quilt Art a few years ago. A museum in Scranton, PA has asked some of us to show our quilts this coming fall. Here is the piece that I did. It was honoring the women in my family who were an inspiration to me and my creativity: my mom, grandmother and two aunts.

gec_dod2

You know, my quilts are better traveled than I am!!

I just noticed that I am writing my 906th post. Sometime in the next few months, I will have my 1000th. I think I will have to have a celebration and some give-aways.

This and That

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

It has been a good week-end. The house is clean. The Beef Bourguignon was delish. We had a wonderful dinner with friends last night. So what if it has been rainy. Spring sunshine can’t be that elusive.

I was going to take some photos of my cooking, but got too involved. I did get this photo of the beautiful flowers I had on the table. Ranunculus – one of my favorite – and another exotic spidery flower.

orangeflowers

I managed to get all of the new web stuff done for the SDA Conference. In addition to the great workshops, there are great lectures and demonstrations that are part of the conference.

On Thursday, a big box arrived while I was at STASH. I really want to open it and put it to use, but I have set a goal of catching up on all my SDA work first. This is what is in the box.

246157ll

I was perusing the Costco flyer the other day and this caught my eye. I am putting it in my little dye studio/kitchenette. Right now, I have a small folding table, covered with newspaper. This is going to be so much better and more storage for my dye equipment.

So, tomorrow, I plan to get back to the place where I am happiest. I will start with cleaning up the kitchenette for the new table.

Hi!

Friday, March 13th, 2009

maxine

Just when I think I am getting my head above water, I get another website update or more registration stuff to take care of. We are getting close to the cut off date  – March 31 – so the conference coordinators want daily updates of workshop enrollment.

Today, I took a bit of a break and did some house stuff. We are having our Sojourners group at our home for dinner tomorrow night. Mr C washed the windows, which is always more scary for me than him. He gets up on a ladder with a squeegee on a pole to wash our floor to ceiling windows in the living and dining rooms. Since the daylight part of the basement is below, it is like washing windows on a second floor.

I did my marketing for the main course, which I am cooking. I am making beef bourguignon which I have not made in ages. I am using Ina Garten’s recipe. Tomorrow, we have to finish cleaning the house and I will do my magic with some lowly chuck and turn it into a thing of beauty.

By the way, it was a beautiful day, almost 60 and sunny. Tomorrow, the rain and snow in the hills will return. Such is life in Portland.

Lisa called from Boston where she met with an agent and her staff. She will now be reped by this firm. The woman is a real mentor to her clients. She has given Lisa some homework to do before she gets her portfolio on line. Very exciting!!

Some Quilty Stuff

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Want to know what I have been doing for the last couple of days? Click here. You can see all of the fabulous fiber gallery shows that will be going on in the Kansas City area during the Surface Design conference. From that page you can click for each show and see more images. Really cool stuff!!

Today was the 40th birthday party for my guild, which until today was called the Columbia Stitchery Guild and is now the Columbia Fiberarts Guild. We are trying to move into the future. There are not that many embroiderers left in the guild.

Here is the beautiful cake that was served following a delicious lunch.

cake

Many of the past presidents were our guests. They brought samples of the work that they do. Here are some pics of my faves.

buttonquilt

This quilt has tons of buttons.

ginkotree

This was a beautiful ginkgo leaf quilt.

img_5513

img_5536img_5508

There, I promised you quilty stuff. I really enjoyed hearing these women talk about their tenures as president of the guild.

Tomorrow, STASH is meeting. We are going to try to become more productive this year — do some workshops and such.