Sunday, August 22, 2010

Habitat for Humanity House Quilt

I just finished a small (12 inches by 16 inches) quilt to contribute to a project for Habitat for Humanity.
I had fun making this little quilt, which has colors that will coordinate with a specific families' home.
The background, as well as the palm fronds, are constructed from my dyed post-consumer facial washcloths.
the palm trunks are layered with fabric ravelings

quilt back label



Saturday, August 21, 2010

Preparation for the Artist Faire at CREATE in Chicago

In addition to creating a number of small mixed-media pieces, I have been dyeing and printing both fabric and t-shirt knit (both standard and tissue weight) scarves.  Here are a few images:
I'm wearing a tissue-knit scarf that is 25 inches wide by 125 inches long!
It is soft, lightweight, and oh-so-yummy

this is another scarf made from standard weight t-shirt knit.
It has been screen printed with a dragonfly image.

For as much dyeing as I did, this doesn't look like a big yield!
Each piece of gorgeous cloth is one-half yard.
This cloth started out as white Kaufman "Radiance", which is half silk, half cotton.
It has a lovely hand, and really looks like silk charmeuse.
For quilt makers, the true beauty of this cloth is that it handles like cotton:  none of that skittery slipperiness that accompanies sewing with silk (or is that just me?).

Here are rolled bundles of bamboo batting (in the foreground) and more lovely scarves.

If you can see the background of these shots of the remains of my studio, my apologies.  I have SUCH a mess in here right now!  Staging all the supplies needed for teaching at CREATE, selling at the artist faire, taking a workshop at the retreat, and then traveling on to Cleveland to tape several episodes of Quilting Arts Television has been daunting, to say the least.  I have torn this place apart.  When I return, I vow to take time and re-organize this work space.  Really.  I mean it this time.  No, seriously.

Jamie and I still have a few slots available in each of our workshops.  Please drop everything and come to Chicago!  Cloth Paper Scissors CREATE retreat


Friday, August 20, 2010

Dyeing

Dye pots sit on my patio. 
This Texas heat should be good for batching cloth (if nothing else).



Monday, August 16, 2010

Please visit the Quilts, Inc., website to see an interview about Beneath The Surface

Bonnie McCaffery and Rhianna White interviewed Jamie Fingal and I about the special exhibition, "Beneath The Surface".  Please stop by and take a look!
http://www.quilts.com/lbqf10/enVivo/index.html

A humorous/cool photo from Kansas

Thanks to my friend, Billie, I can share this great photo from Cawker City, Kansas, home of the alleged largest ball of twine in the world.  Hey, you gotta be known for something.....
How cute is that?

The best recycling I've seen......

These images were sent to me by a friend.  They come from the Museum of Communications, in Frankfort, Germany:
OMG I'm in love!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Birthday dinner & toys


Four of five Jenisons

My family & close friends surprised me by taking me to The Lodge at Castle Hills  http://www.thelodgerestaurant.com/ for my birthday dinner.  We hadn't eaten here in a long time and, as a treat for my birthday, we decided to choose the 8-course tasting menu.  Each guest is offered 2-3 "bites" of exquisitely prepared food.  I took photos, but they are sadly overexposed.  Suffice it to say that everything was wonderful:  2 out of 3 daughters, husband, and close friends made for a perfect evening.  And, I got toys!


Stackable robots?  
What could be cooler than that?
I got some awesome chalk shaped like Greek columns, and a book of 
"Glamour Dogs".  Hilarious!


This beautiful lily pond is on the patio 
behind the main house.
This property was once part of one of the large, South Texas ranches


Gorgeous mexican tile create this sidewalk mosaic.
I love it!