July’s TIFC Color Chart

Happy July 1st to everyone!!!  Another month, another TIFC topic and color choice.  As usual, I made up a color value chart to share with all of you.  Please feel free to copy and save it on your computer.

This month’s colors are not some of my favorites, but I did come up with a variation that has captured my interest.  Instead of blending the colors with black and white, I will be experimenting with blending them with colors I adore.  Eureka!!!  I can now play happily with this month’s colors.

That is a simple variation, but a very important one for me.  It is very comfortable to reach for and use my favorite colors for all my fiber projects.  It wouldn’t hurt to branch out and incorporate some new colors in my work, and it will be a wonderful learning experience on how to get from the warm based colors I favor, to the cool based colors I avoid.  

Hugs….

June’s TIFC Completed

This month, I started Sharon’s Encrusted Crazy Quilt class on Joggles and decided to use June’s TIFC colors for my block. 

I thoroughly enjoyed going through color variations at Color Wizard http://www.colorsontheweb.com/colorwizard.asp#wizard  and selected complimentary versions of some of the colors for my block:

The rich, dark, saturated shades are my favorites, and I thoroughly enjoyed selecting them for this block with a few lights added for some contrast. The upper left corner is a black cotton fabric with gold metallic speckles on it, and the long piece under it has some black netting with gold stitching attached to a variegated cream fabric. 

My collection of fancy fabrics is gradually increasing and I was able to use some shiny navy acetate, and a dressy lining fabric - the aqua center triangle - with a silk tie remnant next to it, and a diagonal multi colored silk piece towards the bottom.  It was hand dyed, discharged and overdyed by Jeanne Beck.  http://www.jeannebeck.com/

The gold piece is a tone on tone tapestry with a piece of dark brown lace angled over the edge. Unfortunately , the tapestry threadwork doesn’t  show up well in this photo.  All the rest of the fabric is quilting type cottons.

I’m really looking forward to starting Lesson 2 this weekend, and finding out what the TIFC will be for July.

Breast Cancer Block

Instead of preparing for a 3 day workshop that starts tomorrow, I continued working on a crazy quilt block for http://www.makingmemories.org/   Don’t ask me why, but I thought I could piece this block in a day.  Um, it’s a tucked fan design from one of Jennie Rayment’s books, and first I made a muslin prototype, then the one out of fancy bridal fabric.

Working with fancy bridal fabric is a lot different from sewing with muslin.  A case of the slip, slide and away sewing syndrome attacked quickly.  Sewing kudos to all you bridal dress makers. 

This block isn’t totally pieced, but I like how it’s shaping up.

 

The shadow underneath the lace motifs at the top of the fan is the netting that holds them all together.  That will be carefully trimmed and sewn in place. 

The pearl beads are sewn on one half of the fan - with 2 strands of silk thread.  I read in some of my beading books that it’s best to string and sew pearl beads with silk thread, so that’s why I used it instead of Nymo.

The heart at the base isn’t sewn on yet either, but I like the placement and will add lots of silk ribbon embroidery and beads to that motif and along the arch.

The top arc fabric section hasn’t been added yet as I wanted to complete all the tucks.  This way the folds at the top will be laying in the correct direction.  It will be a lot easier to add that top section if all the folds are tacked in place.  Then it will be time to zig-zag the edges and do a running stitch around the actual block size, so I know what my embroidery borders are.

I thought it would be fun to post about this block as a work in progress.  Instead of posting a photo of the completed project, it’ll be fun to share how it develops with everyone. 

Bella Lace Sweater Completed

My Bella Lace cardigan is finished.  It fits like a dream and I happily wore it for our family’s Father Day celebration. 

As you can see, I’m ample and have been for awhile now.  I’ve been wearing oversized clothes because frankly, it’s hard to find comfortable, well fitted clothing for the curvy, ample sized figure.   Boxy, oversize clothes are a style I’ve never liked, and I really don’t think they are all that flattering to the female form - no matter what size it is.

So, this sweater that was originally designed when I was thinner, and for a knitting machine publication, has been resized and rewritten for the hand knitter in mind.  If you are interested about knitting one for yourself, there is more information about the Bella Lace pattern on my business website - www.dimitysdrygoods.com

Life is a celebration.  The joy I felt wearing that sweater yesterday was obvious.  My younger sister commented on my “playful” upbeat mood.  I felt good and it showed.

June’s TIF Color Shading Chart

Sharon posted the colors for June’s TIF Challenge and I made a color blend chart for everyone again.  Please feel free to copy it, and I hope it is of some help in selecting your colors.

May TIF Challenge Completed

This month I focused on the theme of the challenge and used some of my hand dyed fabric that I over painted  with a metallic bronze.  The fabric layout is a result of a paper cutting design exercise led by Janet Root.  A font from Paint Shop Pro was used to print my response on fabric to Sharon’s question “How do you describe yourself as an artist? “

 

I simply say I am a fiber artist. Most people have a basic understanding of that concept, but quite frankly, I don’t think that fits. 

I am what I am.  Yes, I’m of the generation that grew up watching Popeye, and you know what?  He got it right.  I am what I am, and that’s all that I am.  And I’m darn happy living with that philosophy.

57 years of experience (as of May 29th) has taught me not to try and define who, or what I am.  Heck, I was born under the astrological Gemini sign.  I’m confused enough as it is.  LOL  Now you other people born under the twin sign know exactly what I’m talking about.  You get all excited and motivated about starting a project, only to have your other self say - oh look at what is being done over there.  Let’s make that too.  LOL

If I want to knit, tat a motif, make a Kumihimo braid, dye some fabric or yarn, make a beaded button, sew an item of clothing, embroider by hand or machine, crochet, make an art, crazy or traditional quilt, and on and on…. I can do it now, or try to learn how.   I can also cook a meal for my Dad, visit with my daughter, pet my cat, plant some flowers, read a book, and last but not least, be very grateful I married the right man for me.  Freedom is a blessing.

If I sell my art, that’s great.  I can afford to purchase more supplies, take a new workshop, buy some more books and magazines.  If I don’t sell it, I get the joy of creating it, and enjoy living with it, proudly displayed throughout my environment. 

So, yes, I would reluctantly say I’m a fiber artist, but I’m really a complex biological construct that is evolving and taking it day by day, having fun along the way.

May’s TIF Shaded Color Palette

After spending a wonderful morning at the Rochester Area Fiber Artists meeting I was delighted to see the color choice for May’s TIF challenge.  While I hardly ever use pastels, my married daughter and my father both love decorating with this color palette. 

Here is the shading chart from light to dark value of each color and as always, please feel free to copy it and use it as you work on this month’s challenge.

 

 

More Free Standing Lace Motifs Made

It’s been a productive few days.  The paper pieced blocks for GVQC’s quilt are completed and a beaded tatted motif was finished.  It will be put on Gerry’s block and when I finish the seam treatments, I’ll take a photo and put it on the blog.  My hand knitted sweater is also coming along well. 

A mini free standing lace experiment was completed also.  I sewed the same motifs using different stabilizers - 2 layers of Solvy and 2 layers of Rinseaway were used to sew out a free lace design from Zundt. 

I had used 2 layers of the Rinseaway for another project, and should have read the instructions and used one layer for the lace motifs.  The Rinseaway motif was in water for close to 72 hours.  I picked at it with tweezers, changed the water at least 20 times a day and everytime I washed my hands, I washed the motif too. 

As you can see in the picture, the Rinsewaway paper didn’t want to dissolve.  It is a wonderfully soft piece of lace, but it’s hard to see the lace design.  I should probably try it again, using one layer, but I really don’t like the fuzzy edges. 

The motif that used 2 layers of Solvy really showcases the lace design.  It soaked in water overnight.  It isn’t nice and soft like the Rinseaway motif though. 

The conclusion?  Each stabilizer has good points and bad.  Each stabilizer is best suited for a specific project.  I will continue using the Solvy for free standing lace designs and I will also use the Rinseaway for embroidering on wearable items.  The drape and softness of the embroidery is wonderful, and I really didn’t give it a fair shot by using 2 layers instead of one.

Trials and Errors and Successes

The past 3 days have been mega fiber frustrating for me.  Friday night I tried shuttle tatting again - this time with a beginner book.  The center was made with no problem, but then I could not figure out how to add the chains for the next rows. 

Stubborn head that I am, I tried all sorts of variations till the wee hours of the morning, then picked it right back up again Saturday - with nothing to show for all that time.  I haven’t given up, but it was time to work on something else.

Crocheting is easy for me, and the library has some wonderful books on the subject.  Crochet edgings and flowers would be lovely on crazy quilt blocks, so out came my teeny tiny metal crochet hooks and sewing thread.  You can probably guess by now that all did not go well.  Sunday’s crochet efforts yielded absolutely nothing.

Monday - the start to a new week - and my favorite day of the week - yes, I’m nuts, nobody likes Mondays except for me - I tried the crocheted flower again.  Success - sort of.  I was able to make the motif, but I didn’t like it with the variegated thread. 

You know what?  I was thrilled.  I was able to crochet the motif with thread and the small crochet hook, and I learned that variegated thread wasn’t a good idea for this type of design.  Mistakes are valuable learning experiences as far as I’m concerned.

Lastly, my embroidery machine was kept busy sewing out some of the lovely Criswell free standing lace designs I purchased oodles of years ago.  5 cones of 60/2 weight 100% silk yarn/thread were purchased for use with an industrial Dubied knitting machine I owned years ago. The machine was sold to a woman in California, and the silk was languishing in a drawer.  No more:

I really liked how these motifs sewed out and being 100% silk, I’ll be able to dye them any color I like.  Happy Days again!!!  I got my fiber mojo back!!! It’s going to be a good week.

Part III of my Quilting Journey

No more suspense.  My new quilting love is crazy quilting.  There are no rules, no points have to meet, you can use all sorts of fancy fabric, trims, buttons, embroidery and the embellishments - oh my, the embellishments.

Crazy quilting has it all - it can be understated with elegant seam embroidery, it can be glitzy with lots of beads and sequins, and my most favorite version of all, it can be encrusted. 

Encrusted crazy quilting is more of everything!!!  The base fabric shows - barely.  The embellishments are front and center.  My aim is to create an encrusted wall hanging for Valentine’s day of 2009. 

Then who knows what next will capture my interest.  Quilting has so many different aspects.  This is a textile art that can be explored for a lifetime.