Contemplating 65

2016 was a tumultuous year.

I know; I know -- I write that knowing how trite that sounds on this second-last day of the year.  There were many high and low points for the globe, on which I won't elaborate; that's already been done by pundits, analysts, and most folks on Facebook.

The year held many blessings for me personally, and for my family.

In April, I sold my first large piece at the Lacombe Art Show and Sale

Edging Toward Spring (C) 2015

In May I travelled to Stratford, Ontario to see my first successful entry

into a major SAQA exhibit, My Corner of the World: Canada

and My Corner of the World: International

It's Still About the Sky (C) 2016

In July my son Marty married his lovely Chereena

The Alberta Blanks, July 23, 2016

In October, I had several of my 'minis' and many of my larger works

accepted into the beautiful space at Bonavista Fine Art in Sylvan Lake -- and several have been sold.

That same month, my first solo three-part installation opened

at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.  Up for a month, with a companion book, to date Mark on the Body has raised $456 for Canadian-based research and education about the nature, cause, treatment, cure and prevention of Type 1 Diabetes.

In September, I crossed into my 65th year.

How will I mark 2017?

I've been pondering a different approach to my work, involving more abstraction, "improv" and sampling of "Modern" quilting...both as artwork and utilitarian pieces.  This will influence my minis and my 15 x 15 Group contributions.

I have a hand-stitch project underway, with the working title, "I Shall Wear Purple".

I want to do some serious practicing with my spinning wheel, my embellisher and my "new" treadle sewing machine.

I'm celebrating my 65th Birthday with two trips: first as part of a panel for SAQA Western Canada's first-ever Regional Retreat in Kelowna, B.C., in early May; and second, on a quilting tour to Scotland with friend and SAQA colleague, Mary Wilton, in September.  We are taking sketchbooks and supplies to record what entrances us...with plans for new work inspired by the trip.

Of course, there will always be knitting, making for others, a bit of making pour moi, and the ongoing blessing of relationships inside and outside this blog.

Linking this to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday, and wishing you all a

Happy New Year, Gentle Readers!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my jo,

for auld lang syne,

we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

- Robert Burns, poet

Today

Carrie Newcomer

With her words in my ears,

a prayer in my heart, 

and my daughter in the audience...

I will be calm

I will quietly present my work

I will speak out

for those impacted 

by 

Type 1 Diabetes

as I  remember this man

Howard M. Blank
November 29, 1952 - August 9, 2006

and the work of these men

Dr. Charles Best
and
Dr. Frederick Banting
Co-discoverers of Insulin

I will be thankful for this opportunity.

It won't be easy, I know,

but I'll believe that it's so, 

and

 I'll do this hard thing.

7 p.m., Lacombe Memorial Centre
5214 - 50 Avenue, Lacombe, Alberta

Mark on the Body:
Honouring Those
Who Live with Type 1 Diabetes

Re-engineering

'The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley."

-- Robert Burns, To a Mouse...

Ah yes.  

We put the Mark on the Body installation up on Wednesday a.m.

By Friday a.m., the main section -- "The Body" -- had fallen in a heap.

That was remedied right away by Maureen, my trusty contact at the City...thus...

But...it was too good to last.

This morning I awoke to an e-mail that told me she'd found the mobiles in a heap later that day.   Having had to lower them from the ceiling (where they were originally), she'd switched out the straight pins we'd used to secure them to the grids, with 'stick-on' Velcro (R).  Alas...the 'stick-on' didn't.  Stick, that is.

So...by 10 a.m. today I was on the road with my sewing machine (Miss Pfaff) and supplies.  Bless Christina, the Head Librarian at the Mary C. Moore Library -- located on the main floor of this venue.  She let me set up in the History Room, a room reserved for meetings and quiet study:

I tried to simply sew on the 'stick-on' stuff, but that gummed up the needle, so I trotted over to The Shop for some 'sew-on' Velcro (R), and a stitch ripper (I'd forgotten one)...just in case.

On the way back I picked up a sandwich and coffee at Kavaccino's as it was nearly lunch time.

By three-thirty p.m. or so, all of the 'stick-on' bits had been replaced by 'sew-on' bits, and the mobiles re-hung:

I know it looks the same.
It's supposed to!

Shortly thereafter I was back at The Shop to spend an hour or more knitting and winding down from the events of the day.  Miss Pfaff hadn't exactly been keen to sew the 'hooks' part of the Velcro (R), and had broken her thread every third or fourth one -- and there were 27 pair of these bits to attach! 

Blessedly, some rounds on the latest commissioned toque and a fresh coffee...and I was on my way -- but not without double-checking the venue.  Phew!  4:50 p.m. and all was still well.  I'll check again tomorrow after church...

Alas, doing all this meant I missed the SAQA Community Stitch Chat with Betty Busby and my planned long jog on the Alix Lake pathway.  The latter can be attempted on Monday if the good weather holds (and it's supposed to)...but the former? Those chats aren't recorded.  Ah well...I guess it's the mark of a working artist if one has to put one's installation ahead of one's recreation...  ;-)

And so to book and bed...but not before I link up with Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday -- and wish you all a great rest of the weekend!

If you're in the area this week...Just sayin'...

It's a Book!

The 'action' this week has been focused on Mark on the Body, where I posted -- as is my custom, on the 29th of the month -- about preparations for the installation, now just weeks away.

The book of the same name, to accompany the exhibit, is now available on Blurb.com; it's bright red cover is grinning at you from the side bar!  Click that link -- the picture of the book -- and you'll receive a preview of the first dozen or so pages.  I received word this a.m. from a Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) colleague in Texas that she's already ordered her copy!  What a way to start the Labour Day weekend -- I'm over the moon!

Meanwhile, the good folks at the City of Lacombe are working on posters etc. for publicity.  They've received my head shots (thanks again to my sweet daughter, Gina, whose photography skills are stupendous!)  and soon I'll have more information about the time of the Artist's Reception, scheduled almost a week into the show, on October 26.

Here's where I stand on the checklist:

• Quilt the background for Mark on the Body now that the hand-stitching is finished, and prepare it for hanging; Done! - Pinned for sleeve; pinned for stitching to finish edges. - Sept. 5.  Sampling done for 'syringe fringe' - Sept. 7.
• Assemble MOB II squares in a mobile;
• Finish knitting the ninth and last stump sock for MOB III;
• Put into final form the draft of my book for the MOB installation, and publish it;
• Approve and select final head shots for MOB publicity;
• Order post-cards for MOB. Draft done; proof sent to mentor for review;  Ordered! - Sept. 7
• Design and create the next piece for 15 x 15 Group, with the theme, "Botanicals".  Photos printed for tracing, inspiration;
• Finish a commission knit hat and start on another knitting commission (more hats);
• Work on three baby gifts (two knitted, one cross-stitch).  One baby (boy) born -- need to speed up knitting on blanket!
• Work extra days for The Shop, at two out-of-town Creative Stitches and Crafting Alive! shows -- one in Edmonton and one in Calgary.

I'm linking this to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday, where this week she's channelling Sonia Delauney, one of the artists I studied in one of my classes with Elizabeth Barton.

I'd say with the work on this book, I seem to have been channelling writers of memoir -- perhaps Joan Didion, who, like me, was widowed, and whose book, The Year of Magical Thinking, was an immense comfort...but in truth, I'm not in her league!

Who are you "channelling" this week?  Who's inspiring you to keep making your mark with art?

Something to ponder as we move into the weekend...Onward and upward!

Three Posts -- but Not Here

This weekend I created three blog posts -- but not here.

MOB I - thigh

First, I updated Mark on the Body for July 29.  The first section of this project -- MOB I -- is now in the home stretch, and you can read about that HERE.

Second, as part of my work as a Regional Co-Rep, I updated the SAQA Western Canada Blog to showcase one of our member's latest achievements.  You can read about Diane and the Alberta Society of Artists' touring exhibit HERE.

Heaven's Gate - detail

And third, I posted my contribution to the 15 x 15 Group's latest "Reveal"; this one's on the theme of "Architecture" and required the use of a stencil somewhere in the piece.  (You'll recall from my last post the challenge that presented for me!)

You can read about my piece and see and learn about all the wonderfully unique interpretations of this theme HERE.

As we move into August, I find myself with much to do...and more of the same.  I have a hankering to start something new, and as the next 15 x 15 Group theme has already been announced, I might just make a start on that -- with Scarlett O'Hara -- tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I'm linking this up with Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday...and am going to enjoy some Sabbath time.  Have a good week!

And All is Revealed...

"Fifteen Quilts" -- aka 15 x 15 -- has posted its first "reveal" for the year!  The theme is "Mono-print"; it's intriguing to see how each of us used that technique to create something new.  For many of us it was an adventure outside the proverbial Comfort Zone...

Don't See Cardinals Much 'Round Here

You can see detail shots and the back-story on the 15 x 15 site, HERE -- and enjoy the contributions from my colleagues!

Over at Mark on the Body...you can see the update for January 29 HERE.  And thank you for your support!

Friday Finishes...in a Manner of Speaking...

It's been a good week.

On the 29th of each month (or as close as I can get) I update Mark on the Body, my project honouring those who live with and/or care for those living with Type 1 Diabetes.  The past few weeks have been taken up with Part II of this project, which is participatory.  I've asked interested stitchers to stitch on a small quilt sandwich (which I provide) and return it to me to be incorporated into a 'body' of work that expresses "Mark on the Body: Making My Mark".  I have been touched and honoured by those couple dozen who have participated so far -- some of whom have had no experience of T1D in their families or with friends. (If you are interested in participating, please e-mail me).  This week I received 3 finished contributions in time for posting...and today another arrived...

I also got two pieces quilted to send to EB in time for her month-end evaluation in the Master Class...on "Rhythm".  I knew she liked the rectangular approach, but the 'wavy lines' approach spoke to me too.  Both are quilted but...not faced or bound...so not quite finished (but that's okay).

First, the 'rectangular' approach.  I posted about this one earlier when I blocked it out.

Rhythm in Blues I - approx. 16" square (unbound)

Here was her feedback on this one:

This came out very well...I might have had one or two red notes for sforzando!!!  Sudden loud notes!!
and maybe made the black strips even skinnier...but I do like the way the blue notes glide through..different sized but fairly evenly paced...a very nice calm representation of syncopation.
And the quilting pattern definitely adds to it...that's a very good choice, perfectly supports and adds to the original idea.  Plus the squareness of it goes with the squareness of the notes.

Now the "wavy lines" approach.  I used hand-dyed muslin, and sections stamped with a self-made stamp using string on cardboard, and acrylic paint mixed with textile medium:

Rhythm in Blues II - approx. 45" w x 12.5" L (unbound)

And a detail shot:

And here was her feedback...

I like the idea of  the one above....I've enlarged the detail so that we can see the string print....I really think it would be worth pursuing further...the string makes a very delicate line...
I feel though it would be stronger if it were bolder, more varied and bigger. (NOTE: I responded with the measurements; she hadn't realized the size of this one.)

Imagine many more horizontal slices with just small background spaces and the string motif jazzing about all over  them.  Don't think you need the "hangers on"...they really don't make a telling point.  (NOTE: I like the "hangers on" as I intended them to add to the 'syncopation' of the piece.)
so I would say: great idea, but put it to one side - as a sample - and develop it much further when you have time.

 So...we shall see what transpires.  I am setting both aside for a while, because tomorrow there will be a new Master Class Theme...and Other Things are going on.

On the knitting front, I've almost finished a baby sweater (buttons to add; then a wash; then a photo!) for the latest grandchild of a cousin of mine "down east" in Quebec...

And I finished the July Socks from Stash:

Pattern: "Hummingbird" by Sandi Rosner
from Clara Parkes' The Knitter's Book of Socks
Yarn: Celestial Merino in "Fiesta" colour-way
from Lucy Neatby (discontinued)

Next month's challenge?  Knit in a colour/pattern that reflects your favourite holiday.  This is a toughie because I'm not a big "seasonal" decorator/celebrator.  Even my Christmas celebrations are low-key and worship and family focused.  But...I decided to go with Christmas and a red-and-white pattern called "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"  from "knittymelissa"...

Whoa!  Let's hope mine turn out as well, eh?

Now about those Other Things...

In addition to the two new-month-challenges (EB and Socks from Stash)...I have two friends visiting this weekend, and another the following weekend...through Aug. 12.  Sha and Mary are friends from Anna Hergert's classes in Calgary a decade or more ago...and almost every summer since I moved out here, we've had a long weekend being messy artists in my back yard.  Paint, dye, paper and fabric arts...whatever...we will play this weekend and leave with more inspiration and ideas than we know what to do with!

So...today I mowed the lawns (front and back), made a dozen rhubarb muffins (fresh rhubarb); prepped pastry for Bumbleberry Pie (rhubarb, Saskatoons and apples); made a couscous salad and set lamb cubes to marinate for kebabs for dinner tonight; did 2 loads of laundry (including washing fabric for indigo dye vats this weekend); prepared two guest beds...

And now posted this!

It's time to go to the Outdoor Studio with a cold beverage and some stitching (there's a binding going on the hand-quilted throw...)...and time to link to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday"...my guests are due within the hour...

Have a good one, eh?

Prep, Prep, Prep -- and Knitting, Too

In life and art, there is always preparation...

To whit:  in July 2014 I painted my kitchen cabinet doors.  In July 2015, I'm painting the walls on which those cabinets are mounted.

In between the cabinets and the windows, those walls were covered with wall paper -- typical of mobile homes built in the '70's.  In the case of my kitchen, there are two layers of wall paper.  The plan was to wash with TSP, sand lightly, and prime the heck out of 'em before applying the paint -- likely two coats, too.

Prep #1 - wash, sand, wash
-- and try not to peel wall paper off

My Handy Neighbour, John, and Dave, the fellow who installed my new kitchen counters last fall, both recommended that I not try to peel the wall paper off.  Just wash, sand, prime and paint.

Well, I didn't try.  I didn't have to.  The effect of the TSP wash, the sanding, and the wash-the-dust-off-after-sanding was such that the newest wall paper (likely a good 20 years old) began to lift off by itself, often in swaths.

What to do?  Peel it off, of course, and sand again to be sure what was left was smooth.

My "other" mouse

Did I mention last year how much I loved my mouse?  The sander, that is?  I do.  It's a great gizmo and perfect for both small hands and small spaces!

Prep #2 - painters' tape!

Once the washing-sanding-washing was finished, I taped up what I could with my role of wide painters' tape.  Next up?  Priming...but that's for another day.

Time to get in to the sewdio.

Prep #3 - Materials for MOB II

Some of you who follow my other blog, Mark on the Body, know that I've developed a second part to my initial project -- one in which people can participate.  I've posted about it twice on that blog, and on Facebook and in the SAQA Yahoo Group.  To date I have a baker's dozen volunteers...and I'm hoping the numbers will increase.  Meanwhile, I'm going ahead with this group.  Today I prepped the materials for the project.  All that's left is to assemble the parts into tiny quilt sandwiches, cut lengths of thread, cut out the labels, and package the lot so I can get them in the mail to the volunteers.

I'm very thankful for the people who've agreed to help thus far.  If you're interested, you can find out more information on the MOB blog HERE (first post) and HERE (second post).

On the knitting front, June was a case of "so near, and yet so far" with respect to the Socks From Stash Challenge over on Ravelry.  I made it only to the heel flap of the second sock -- and only half-way through that -- by the end of the day yesterday (June 30).  Still plan on finishing though, as these socks are a gift for a friend.  She's a physics and calculus prof at the junior college level, so I'm hoping that this pattern -- "Angular Velocity" by Rich Ensor from the Spring-Summer 2015 edition of Knitty -- will tickle her fancy.  Here's what the right sock looks like:

Yarn: Arequipa Solids Collection
(discontinued) in colour #228

As today is July 1, it was time to cast on for the July challenge -- using a purchased stash pattern.  I've chosen "Hummingbird" by Sandi Rosner from Clara Parkes' The Knitter's Book of Socks, and stashed yarn I bought eons ago at a Lucy Neatby workshop in Calgary:

Cast-on photo - July 1, 2015
Yarn: Celestial Merino! (discontinued)
from Lucy Neatby - in "Fiesta" colour way

It's so pretty that I worked up the ribbing and first 24 rows while enjoying the early evening in the Outdoor Studio.

And so...to bed!  Before I go, I'm linking this with WIP Wednesday over at The Needle and Thread Network.

All for now!

Aftermath

Miss Ivy Pump has left the building -- and she took her Peeps with her!  I traded her in yesterday for a bottle of antibiotic tablets which will last me a week and then I am expecting this we Erysipelas Episode to be finis! Done!  Out of my life -- hopefully never to return!

I am now catching up and easing my way back into Real Life.  In a great spurt of energy this a.m. I did my dishes, put in 2 loads of laundry and shovelled my front and back walks and my driveway, as about 2 inches of the white stuff fell overnight.  After lunch, I had a 2-hour nap!

I also managed to put in a full day at The Shop yesterday.  It was quiet, and fairly undemanding, so I finished my second sock for the Socks-from-Stash February Challenge -- thus completing my first ever challenge as part of that Ravelry group, and adding to my sock wardrobe in the process:

Yarn: ONline 4-fache Neon Color
#01721

March's challenge is to use the oldest sock yarn in one's stash.  This stuff is so old, I'm pretty sure I didn't buy it myself, but acquired it from donated yarns that no one else wanted:

The Patons and the Nomotta (centre) are so old that there's no yardage (metrage?) on the label, but each of those balls is 25 - 30 gm, while the beige Schaffhouser Wolle is 240 metres.  I'm hoping to eke out a pair of stranded colour-work socks from this trio, based on the pattern "Santa Fe" from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road: Sock Patterns for the Traveling Knitter (Interweave Press, 2001).  The beige will be the main colour; the green, colour "A"; and the grey, colour "B".  We shall see...

I am also slowly working the lace shawl, though it's taken me a bit to get back into the rhythm of the pattern.  As I can't cast on the new "old" socks till March 1, till then I'll work steadily to catch up on the shawl.

As for quilting...well...only MOB has had any attention at all, and it's blessedly on schedule.  I sent off "At the Feeder" to EB this morning, not having the energy yet to tackle a second version.  I await her feedback.  March 1 we begin a new study, but those other pieces will get worked on eventually.

I can only hope my energy levels continue to improve, and I'm 100% again before too long.  I have 1/2 a kitchen to paint this spring, and places to go, people to see... (grin)

Even though this is not a very quilty post, I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday over at The Needle and Thread Network.  Shall we see what other Canadian stitchers have been up to, eh?

Snow Days

Yesterday was my usual day to work at The Shop.  Today I was supposed to fill in there for the other part-time gal.

Both days, I stayed home instead...because of the snow, blowing snow, drifting snow...and today the temps dropped into the mid-minus thirties Celsius.  Brrrrr!

With an hour "off" here and there to shovel the walks and driveway, I spent the past couple of days on these projects:

Baking for the Second Annual Open House & Tea
at the Mirror & District Museum, Sunday, Novembeer 30

Turning 'strings' into blocks for a quilt top

Prepping more strips and strings for quilt tops
Left & centre: for a string quilt; right: for the Postage Stamp Quilt

Working on Wild Sock #2 -- I'm on the heel flap now -- and adding inches to the "Martyn" infinity scarf.

And what's several feet of fresh powder snow without a bit of snow dyeing?

I quickly soaked a batch of miscellaneous pieces -- one large piece of silk and several bits and bobs of cotton muslin -- in soda ash.  Then I laid the pieces out in a criss-cross fashion on a rack in the bottom of a plastic tub:

I covered the lot to the brim with fresh snow, and sprinkled it with MX dye powder:

Half covered with turquoise; half, with Sky Blue;
then centre third sprinkled with Golden Yellow.
All dyes from Dharma.

The resulting pieces have been washed and are drying.  Photos to follow in another post...

The highlight of today, though, was the release of Clue #1 in Bonnie K. Hunter's 2014 Mystery Quilt, "Grand Illusion".  I'm aiming for half the size (so...44" square vs. 88" square) and am starting cautiously.

For example, the first clue calls for 280 half-square triangles (HSTs); I'm planning on 140 and have, to date, assembled 60. Of the 280, 200 are to be used to make 100 small blocks along with squares in two other colours.  I'm planning on 50 small blocks, which will take 100 HSTs...but will begin with 25 small blocks and 50 HSTs to see how far my fabric will take me.  Capisce?  ;-)

Here's the start of my HST construction.  I'm using fairly deep colour values for the 'geranium' and 'turquoise' -- all from stash.  I'm determined not to buy any fabric for this project!

And here's the first 60 of my HSTs in stacks of 20.  Don't they look pretty?  Order out of chaos!

At 2 1/2" square, they'll finish at 2" in the quilt

I found a stash of "Thangles" triangle paper that is speeding up the construction process; here's my bag of discarded foundation paper from the "Thangles" and from the string blocks, waiting to be recycled:

Don't you recycle your foundation paper?  ;-)

All in all it's been a rewarding couple of days.  On tap for this weekend: start on Christmas cards, sing at church, "pour out" at the Museum's Open House & Tea...

And MOB's First Anniversary is tomorrow.  There will be a special post on the MOB blog for the occasion.  Stay tuned!

Linking this up now with Nina Marie's Off-the-Wall Friday...and will follow that with a cuppa and a good book.  G'night all!

OPI

OPI = Other People's Instructions...and that's where I go to get a break from weeks/months of creating original designs.  I don't know if other artists do this, but I came to art belatedly, with a very powerful Left Brain, which means that my brain needs a rest in between projects.  Following the Lacombe Show there has been the predictable Post-show Slump -- deeper and darker this year because of the lack of sales.  Yard work, sunshine, extra sleep (yes, Jo!), knitting and quilting using OPI are helping to bring me out of it.

Today I

• slept in;
• did the dishes (I have no dishwasher);
• crawled under the house to check the pipes and found the likely source of freezing this past winter;
• finished raking all yards;
• hauled the bench outside for my Outdoor Studio; 
• washed the kitchen floor;
• printed a couple of inspirational photos for the next 15 x 15 challenge -- 'Nature' -- and maybe for the 2014 SAQA Benefit Auction;
• updated the Mark on the Body blog;
• knit some on an infinity scarf;
• finished a cozy mystery; and
• made two traditional blocks using OPI...

The entire project is called "Four by Four" and it was kitted out with a Christmas fabric theme.  I collected the patterns and fabric some years ago at a favourite LQS in Calgary (now closed).  It's one of three that I discovered in a drawer over a year ago and am making up in case I need a small top for something.  In the photo, the April block is on the top ("Bear's Tracks") and the May block, on the bottom ("Ducks & Duckling"):

The April block was a toughie because the background fabric is a lighter weight than the rest and with all those pieces there was some 'bowing' out of the edges.  The May block went together much more smoothly.  Oh -- in case you're wondering -- I did May's block today to get it finished because...well...I have a lot to do in May, won't be home much in the next ten days...it's just like that.  Life.

That's all the news that's fit to print (at the moment) from my little corner of the universe...Have a great week!

On and Off My Wall

Okay..so I've borrowed from the title of a column I've been trying to kick-start over at the SAQA Western Canada blog...

But it's an accurate description of what's been going on 'round here the past few days.  I've been working steadily, and have some things on and some things off my (design) wall to show for it.  :-)

First off, I'm really pleased at how my painted version of "A Walk in the Woods" turned out:

Winter Woods (C) 2014 - 11.5" W x 15.5" L

Winter Woods -Detail (C) 2014

Then there's MOB...which has been kept up for the third month in a row.  It's time to rotate more of the 'marks'...Intentionality is the key.

And...the piece on roses (specifically, the Glasgow Rose) is at last being translated into fabric.  I've begun by piecing the background in a subtle 9-patch grid, in keeping with Charles Rennie Mackintosh's fondness for squares and trellises.  For this, I've used a combination of my own hand-dyed fabric and some commercial fabric, all cotton:

Each block is 9 1/2" square, which means the background should finish at 27" square -- before shrinkage for quilting.  The next step?  Make a 'mock  block' to sample the cut-away applique I want to use for the roses. 'Tis far, far better to take the time to sample, rather than ruin an entire background with a misplaced idea.  This sentiment, coming from someone who, when she knits, almost never makes a 'swatch', gives you an idea of how dear this project is to my heart!

This evening I'm going to relax with my knitting and some jazz on CBC 2...but for now I'll direct you to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Friday", the perfect antidote to a Wind Chill Warning!  :-)

WIPs and More

First, a big "thank you!" to new followers of my blog (you know who you are).  Sometimes I'm notified, and sometimes you just pop up, like crocuses in the spring.  I appreciate each and every one of you, old and new.  :-)  My next blog-aversary is coming up soon; I think I'll have a wee give-away of some lovely, gently-used publications of the magazine persuasion, so stay tuned!

Now...what have I been up to?  I have several projects going at once, with classes, samples, kits and such...

Today marks two months of work on "Mark on the Body".  You can read the update (with photos) HERE.

Today is also the start of Week 3 of Pamela Allen's class, "About Contrast" -- and we've switched from contrast involving colour to contrast involving shape and size.  Stay tuned for a post about that later this week.

On the weekend, I felt like piecing, so I put together some more units in the medallion-style sample top I'm making from that kit I won as a door prize a few years back. (scroll down)  I've sewn together three rows of blocks, and have assembled blocks for the fourth row, thus:

Guess what?  It's another study in CONTRAST!  There's both colour contrast and value contrast in this piece; which colours you use where are determined by your selections, as each colour is numbered (one through eight) and paired according to the layout in the instructions.  Each block is 6" finished, and each row is eight blocks across, or 48" finished.  The medallion will have another four rows -- and then several borders to flesh it out into a 70" square piece.  It's going to be quite something, eh?

Yesterday was all about hand work.  First, I finished embroidering the letters of "Attention", the first panel in "Deteriorating Civility" (scroll down).  Then I began the seed stitch to accent the lettering.  I've had to be very careful with this, as the rusted and distressed fabric is, indeed, deteriorating!

"Attention" embroidered

"Attention" affixed to the background

The "Attention" panel is sandwiched to the worn and painted quilt background with a thin layer of batting, and some more distressing with the needle-felting machine (embellisher), and then with a narrow band of machine stitching on each side.  The number 12 Finca perle cotton is being used for the seed stitch around the lettering, which adds dimension (a bit of a trapunto effect) and texture.

Next I worked on my knitting -- finishing the gusset of the first of my daughter's birthday socks.  Then I worked some more on B's "Little Sheep Virtues" pin cushion.  I need to get a move on both of these projects as my DD's birthday has passed, and B's is on Saturday!!

Today, I wanted to get going on one of two pieces inspired by photos taken by cyber-friends.  I've obtained their permission to reproduce them in fabric.  The first is "Beach at Noyac", based on a photo by Jane, a knitter I "met" on Ravelry or Facebook or Knitter's Review or...maybe all three!

Here's her beautiful photo:

"Beach at Noyac" - photo credit: Jane Cochran

Before making a full-sized piece (8" square, which I want to mount on stretched canvas), I decided to try it out in 'miniature' -- for a variety of reasons.  I was sure I'd found the perfect fabrics, but wondered how to replicate the pebbles, the foam of the waves, and the shiny surface of the rock.

Here's the results thus far:

It's not attached to the mat -- that's just there for cosmetic purposes for now.  I'm thinking about painting a few of the quilted pebbles to brighten up the beach as in the original photo.  I used damp cheesecloth for the foam -- dampened because right out of the package it was too stiff to create the right look.  And yes, while damp, I stitched it lightly to the background using clear "invisible" thread, my latest purchase from Superior: Mono-Poly Reduced Sheen.  With dark brown Bottom Line in the bobbin, it worked like a charm!  (No; they don't pay me to say that.  I just really love this brand of thread!)

And there's one more detail I'm not sure you can see in the photo: the water's shine on the rock, which I created with a very light use of two colours of hot-fix Angelina fibre -- "Enchanted Forest Flash" and "Blaze Crystallina".  It gives just the right glint, without being over the top.  The key was to use it ver-r-r-r-ry sparingly!  A little Angelina goes a lo-o-ong way!

Once I've finished with the painting, I'll post an up-dated photo and then go on to the "actual" piece, which I'm hoping to enter into the "Gallery" at the Annual Lacombe Art Show and Sale in April.  The deadline for entries is February 28, so I have to get a move on, as I want to finish a piece from the second inspirational photo at which I hinted above:

"Velma's Evergreens"
photo credit: Velma Bolyard

I envision some hand work in this one, perhaps beads, and more cheesecloth....Stay tuned!

With all these WIPs, I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network.  Let's see what other Canadian stitchers are up to, eh?