"And Then We Set It On Fire"

I'm SO excited...January is the beginning of my art quilt/surface design adventure! This is sort of like a New Year's Resolution...but one that I'm really anxious to do...not like my usual "I'm going to lose weight" resolution! I got in on an opportunity to work with eight quilt artists to try a new surface design technique each month for nine months. Each month the chosen technique, web/video/print resources, and each artist's endeavors (successes/failures and, hopefully, some finished products) in the chosen technique will be entered as posts to the blog. YOU are invited to join us in learning and experimenting with something new (or something you'd like to try again). There is a place on the blog (http://andthenwesetitonfire.blogspot.com/ or click on the "And Then We Set It On Fire" icon to the right) for you to become a "Follower" if you so choose. Let us know how you are doing by leaving comments and links to your posts about the technique. Even if you choose not to actually try the technique with us, check in on our progress anyway.

This month we are focusing on shibori. I have never done ANY dyeing, so I'm very excited to try it. I am anxiously awaiting the dyeing supplies I ordered from ProChem around Christmas. As soon as I get them, I'll be experimenting. For now, I'm collecting dishpans, buckets, rubber gloves, dust masks, plastic bags, measuring spoons, etc. While I'm waiting for the dye supplies, I may try some shibori with paint and/or shibori using discharge...we'll see how that pans out! Stay tuned...

Christmas Gifts and Cup Cakes

Now that Christmas is over and presents have been given, I can show you the table topper I made for my sister. I did use a pattern from Kim Diehl called "Old Fashioned Hospitality," which is in her book called "Simple Comforts." I made it for my sister to use as a table topper. Since the finished size of the original quilt was too large for my sister's table, I omitted the outside borders (which I loved, by the way) to cut the size of the quilt down to around 40" square. The original quilt is more like 60" X 60". My sister moved from New England to Tennessee; she loves the New England symbol of welcome...the pineapple.

The center of the quilt is pieced; I used fusible applique to add the pieces. The vines were a real pain to do. Placement was really difficult and making all that bias wasn't much fun. HOWEVER, my sister was pleased with the result and so was I.

These are some closeups of the machine quilting done on my Janome 6500. The quilt is VERY densely quilted (as are most of the quilts I machine quilt). I used some freehand feathers I learned in my class with Sharon Shamber. 

I did get a bit too close to the edge of the quilt with those feathers.

Instead of using a fused fabric for the small dark circles, I made yoyos. I like the texture the yoyos add to the piece.

Today, I finished another cupcake pincushion. The pattern is from Pieceful Designs (www.piecefuldesigns.com) called "With a Cherry on Top." These are so much fun to make. The one from my previous post was given as a Christmas gift to a quilting friend. This one is all mine!

Ain't It Sweet?

I actually have gotten a few things done in the past week or so. Here's proof...

I made a sweet little cupcake pin cushion from Pieceful Designs (www.piecefuldesigns.com) called "With a Cherry on Top." I used embroidery and beads to decorate it.

I also made eight little picture holders called "Wee Memories" from the "Quilting Arts Gifts Holiday 2010" issue. I followed directions in an article by Melanie Testa. Melanie suggests that we "tuck little photos of memorable moments inside." These little gems turn out to be about the size of a match book cover. Each will hold two small pictures. I think they'd be really nice to tuck away in a purse or pocket to pull out whenever I might need a pick-me-up.

No, Lisa Kudrow and Patricia Clarkson are not my close friends. I don't have MY "memorable moments" cropped to the proper size yet!

I've made some "Stack and Whack" Christmas cookies. One batch started as Christmas tree cookies; the other batch started as reindeer cookies.

I've also been busy looking through my new book by Jane Dunnewold. Did I mention I get to take a class from her in January?

It seems I also spend quite a bit of time observing the birds in my yard; I sure enjoy that. We've had some pretty nasty weather here in southern Indiana this past week. First, we had snow; then we had ice on top of that. I recently purchased a bird bath heater to keep the bird bath water from freezing. Since then my birds have a virtual bird spa in my back yard. I took this picture of a couple of birds enjoying the "spa" this afternoon. (Notice the water that has "slopped" over the edge from the little bird on the left. The one on the right was just venturing in.)

Other birds spent their afternoon eating at the "buffet" and...

slipping on the ice!

Exciting Information

I'm sorry it has been so long since I last posted a new blog entry. I am going to try to be better about it. I'm still dealing with some personal issues...among other things, I just lost a friend to brain cancer. However, I am going to be concentrating on the wonderful things in my life. (There are many.) 

First, you may have noticed the "fire" logo to the right. That is a link to another blog to which I belong. I'm joining eight artists on an "artistic voyage" in the new year. We'd like you to come along on this journey with us. Each month (starting in January) we will be working on a different technique. We will be working on shibori during the month of January. The supply list is on the site now, and the instructions (or where to get the instructions) will be posted in January. The nine of us will be blogging about our experiences with the technique along with pictures of our work. I'm SO excited to be a part of this endeavor. I'm planning on learning about a lot of new tools to put in my surface design arsenal, and you can too. Hop on over to the blog by clicking on the logo and become a "Follower." Be ready to begin with us in January. I'm hoping to hear about your experiences too.

Another tidbit is that LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists) is having a juried exhibit at the Jewish Community Center of Louisville. Here is the information. (I'm also placing the information in my "Upcoming Quilting/Fiber Arts Events" to the right, so it will be easy for you to find.) You might also be interested in checking out the new LAFTA website at http://www.laftalouisville.org/.

Dates of LAFTA Show

January 16, 2011 Opening of show

January 30, 2011 Opening reception, 2-4 pm

February 22, 2011 Closing date of the show

Jewish Community Center

3600 Dutchmans Lane

Louisville, KY 40205

(502) 459-0660

Patio Gallery Hours

Sunday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday: 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday: CLOSED

This will be a great exhibit; don't miss it!
 
Also, for those of you who are interested...The Quilt Show (www.thequiltshow.com) is making a special offer. This is what they have to say...

"To kick off the holiday season, TQS is unlocking your Basic Membership through December 31, 2010. That's right, you can be a Free Star Member for December. You'll have access to all the December shows and every class in the Classrooms, as well as the Daily Blog, Forums, Newsletters, and don't forget Weekend Fun contests. Log in today and start enjoying your FREE Star Membership."

This is a really good deal. You have access to free projects and lots of other fun stuff. Check it out.

Be sure to let me know if you decide to follow the "and Then We Set It On Fire" blog. It should be lots of fun (and even more fun if you do it with me).

Let's Be Thankful

It always gets my creative juices flowing when I look at interesting pictures. I use them as inspiration (or a starting point) for some of my pieces. Thanksgiving brought to mind all the things I have for which to be thankful. One is the beauty I see every day. Here are some pictures I took for "inspiration." Maybe some of them will inspire you too. At the end, I also have some pictures of my tables all decked out with some of my quilts for Thanksgiving and a picture of Libby. (Libby was too cute not to include!)

 Dome at French Lick.

Stone wall at St. Meinrad 

 Steps at St. Meinrad.

 Moss on a tree.

 My porch table all decked out with a fall quilt. This pattern is from Country Threads. (It is an old pattern. I don't know if it is still available.) That is my "Fall Tree" in the background--actually, it is three small trees. I have little wooden bird houses and pumpkin ornaments on it right now.

Homespun table runner on my dining room table.

I guess Libby wanted to be as close to me as she could be while I was writing this post. (This box is on my computer desk right next to me.) She sure is a special kitty; she has seemed to know that I needed some tender loving care these last few months.

Why I'm Not Getting Anything Done...and Some Miscellaneous Things

Okay, okay, I haven't gotten much done for a while now. It has been hard to get back into "creating" since my Grandma and Mom passed (11 months apart). I'm having a bit of trouble working through the grief. (I guess I just think it is taking me too long to feel better.) It IS getting better, though, as time goes on.

I would like to repost a picture of my Mom and the quilt I made her when she had to go into the nursing home. It is her birthday today (November 18). Happy Birthday Mom! I miss you.

This is the current reason I'm not getting anything done. I'm babysitting for my grandson, Cade. I had him all day today, and I will have him all day tomorrow. We always have such a good time. He sure wasn't ready for his mom to take him home when she came to pick him up tonight. That always makes "Mimi" feel good--Mommy...not so much! 

In addition, I didn't get much done last week while my husband and I were in Miami. (I did work a little bit on the beading for a piece I'm doing.) This picture is a view from our balcony. It wasn't raining, the weather was nice, and no rain was expected that day...yet, here was a beautiful rainbow. It had been even more vibrant, but it had faded a bit by the time I got my camera and got the picture taken. I'm thinking this rainbow means brighter days ahead. That's my story...and I'm stickin' to it!