And on it goes.....

While working on my Gee type quilt, I was side tracked into playing with a small format of similar colored fabrics and  I needed the right shade of fabric for some borders for this project. So, off I go to the basement to dye some fabric in a length I could use and while I had the dye out, I decided to dye floss.  I know, what do the two things have to do with each other???  I just wanted to play in the dye pots instead of sewing

 I had a great time combining the colors and have even managed to get some #5 floss dyed. The only bad part is everything else has come to a screeching halt while I wrap and dye yet more floss! You never know when you will need 30 skeins of dyed thread to use on your quilt.  Have to be prepared.  I even made a list of colors I still need to try! Ok, maybe not need, but I sure want to try making  them .

 Sometimes you just have to go with what makes you happy. Dying threads is very addicting and I hope not to stop anytime soon!

Inspiration

I have finally found my fabric and sewing machine after the hectic holidays and have been inspired by a photo of Gee's Bend  type quilts in a catalog. I was in the mood to play around and started this piece. I started to use only solid colored fabric and just had to use some batiks to get the right 'feel' I wanted. One thing lead to another and I decided to lengthen the piece and have only gotten to about 14 inches wide by 56 inches long. More is planned  but I'm not sure I want it all to be in strips.

While I had the scraps lying on the table I started to combine some little pieces and see where it took me. Here are some of the squares I have made so far. I used my own hand dyed fabrics and promised to use only them....well,  that didn't last to long. I did sneak in one batik and am trying really hard to stick to my own fabrics.  I think a nine patch type setting might work. And I need to add something to the green and yellow one, looks a little lonely there.  And maybe ......

A Little One on the Way!

Our family is excitedly awaiting the arrival of my son and daughter -in -law's first child! They have the room painted and furniture purchased and chose their theme of 'Monkeys'. Mark's friend Steve has been asked to paint a mural on one of the walls, depicting a monkey on a vine with leaves and room for the baby's name and birth date.
In order to fit the theme, I just had to make this Monkey Wrench quilt!!! I did think of using pastels, but those who know me just chuckled.....it's just so not me. I love the bright colors of batiks and just had to include the stripe. I think it makes it more playful and makes the whole quilt come alive.
I quilted monkey sayings in the border and plan on putting a monkey label on the back. It is machine quilted and bound. I hope to see it dragged around and well loved by the baby. Soon my little one.

Houston

For four days every year, many quilters make the trip to Houston to view this incredible show. The best of the best enter their quilts and the vendors are outstanding.

This is a view of the vendor section of the Houston International Quilt Festival taken from the second floor porthole. It represents about one-sixth of the size of the vendor area. We felt like we had walked miles visiting all the vendors. The flag is the center of the hall and Make-It University is located here along with the Quilting Arts store. QA sponsored the mini workshops on the floor of the show and using the lottery system, you might be picked for one of the classes.
I was one of 25 lucky people to take a Collaged Mini-Purse with mixed media artist Judy Gula. We had fun gluing down paper and fabric to a canvas type cloth, adding paint and emphera and sewing up the sides. A bonus class for me.

Open Studios also takes place at the MIU, where you are able to sit and chat with your favorite teacher, catch up on her techniques or just re-connect to an old friend.The picture above is the "Red" carpet running down the length of the show. It's a busy place for visitors, some stopping at the Information Booth or waiting for friends. One way leads to the quilts and the other way goes to the Food Court. It also helps orient you when you become overwhelmed by all you are trying to take in.

Fall is in the air!

It is finally getting cooler in New England and this quilt reminds me off fall's crisp, cool days and showers of colorful leaves floating all around. It was made for a challenge for the fiber art group I belong to, Sisters In Cloth. We had to use the color red somewhere in our design and limit the size of the quilt. I usually have a hard time with red since it isn't my go to color, but I'm learning to love it.
The leaves were a technique from Frieda Anderson in American Quilter Magazine, but the coloration is mine. I like how the blues and oranges and greens reflect the colors of falling leaves.

Hello and welcome to my blog. I love looking at other fiber and quilting blogs and finally decided to make one of my own. I love fabric, color ( the brighter and more saturated the better), and sewing, by hand or machine, dying fabric and trying new techniques.