Marcia.....mellow

New Bag from Jelly Roll Strips

2011-12-17T07:47:00.000-08:00

It's been a while! I only had a little bit of sewing left on this, so I grabbed a few minutes late last night and wrapped it up. I changed the straps on this one...I'm trying to perfect a pattern of my own....it will take a few more trys and changes.

I ordered some custom cut acrylic pieces for the bottom but they haven't arrived yet.

And I used bias at the top of the pockets to strengthen them. Felt good to sew again.

lost iPad Southwest

2011-11-14T09:50:00.000-08:00

On my last trip to Orlando I left my iPad in the airplane (Southwest) seatback. That was three weeks ago. On the chance that someone who found it is looking for the owner who lost it (google), I thought I'd post here and see if magic can happen :) My stupid mistake....whatever happens, happens.

Marcia

Halloween Quilt

2011-10-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

This is traveling with me tomorrow...a gift....daughter and SIL got married 5 years ago on Halloween at Disney World....we had a fabulous time. 5 Years....don't blink :)

Jacket with Buttons

2011-08-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to show the buttons I used on the jacket....easy for little hands!

Girly Girl

2011-08-27T13:59:00.001-07:00

This very girly quilt was made with the Girly Girl line of fabric. It will be donated to our silent auction at the beach. I'm so glad to have finished it in time.

I LOVE LITTLE JACKETS !

2011-08-14T07:50:00.001-07:00

It's time again for the Family picnic and auction at our beach, which raises money for improvements to the playground and pavillion. I'm going to be donating this little girl's jacket and a couple tote bags and journals w/ quilted covers. And possibly a quilt. We'll see how much I get done.

I put this together yesterday with some scrap squares I had....quilted the fabric and then cut out the jacket. It's a size 3/4 but looks larger. I need to try it on someone to get a better idea before I mark it.

I have a few buttons I'm auditioning....I'll show the finished jacket later. I just love making little jackets....so satisfying in a short period of time.

A Few Found Minutes

2011-06-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

As I waited for some clothes to dry yesterday I took some time to discharge a small pile of hand-dyes. It's such an easy process if all the tools are handy.

I used a cut sponge for the circles, an eraser for the rectangles, and a brush for the others.

Only four weeks or so till our new granddaughter, Kira, is born....

The Bag!

2011-04-25T15:07:00.001-07:00

I think this will make a great diaper bag....and it matches the little quilt.

There are a lot of pockets inside and space for everything, I think.

On to the next project.

Next on the Agenda!

2011-04-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

I have so much of this fabric cut that I have to make a few more things....a bag was a definite.

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T06:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter to everyone!

I spent yesterday making this little quilt for my granddaughter-to-be.....it is made from the extra pieces I had cut for a larger quilt a couple months ago. I love primary colors for kids, I think it stimulates their imagination and creativity.

The quilt is about 26x26.....perfect for a little one.

Also can be easy to change the baby on.....gets softer with every washing :)

And perfect to swaddle her with....3 months to go!

Discharge Paste Step 2

2011-04-22T12:39:00.001-07:00

After they dried I ironed them with a steam iron (good ventilation). Different colors discharge faster than others....after you do a few you will get the hang for how long to keep the iron on a spot and how much steam it needs (some don't need any)....and you can go back over an area to see if it will get lighter....I like to get a variety of shades, it makes a piece more interesting.

Then I wash in the machine with hot water and synthropol....if a lot of color comes out I wash again and then iron. The pieces could also be over-dyed now...depending on your preferences.

Discharge Paste Step 1

2011-04-22T09:11:00.001-07:00

I LOVE Discharge Paste! I buy this from Pro Chem or Dharma Trading. Of all the processes I have learned through Jane Dunnewold, (and there are many!) this is my all-time favorite. Perhaps because it is so easy...such instant gratification!

My hand-dyed fabrics are the perfect base for this. The fabrics I am using today were dyed in a pan with multiple colors at a time.

You want to do this with adequate ventilation...especially if you are susceptible(?) to odors. Read the label and guidelines on Pro Chem or Dharma before using. I've never had a problem.

I applied the paste (as is from the bottle) through a thermofax screen of a ginko leaf.

These were other screens I used. I also used a brush and did some lines on a couple pieces.

Then I cut a ragged circle from a sponge (with a hack saw :) and stamped right on the fabric. Then I dug out the center of the other side of the sponge and made an open circle....

which gave me this shape. I'll let them all dry and iron them this afternoon.

WOW...2 months go by....

2011-04-20T06:02:00.001-07:00

It's not that I haven't been crazy busy...I've been cleaning out closets....donating...selling...really preparing for the inevitable....selling this house a few years down the road. And I've only made a dent...that's ok...I'm starting early!

I discharged these fabrics yesterday (discharge paste with stamps and screens). This is one of my favorite techniques...so easy and such a dynamic result.

I think I'll do some more today.

Busy Weekend!

2011-02-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

I think this is as far as I will go with this...now to borders and binding choices.

I spent about 3 years with my sewing room set up in a way that just felt wrong....so this weekend I moved everything around...and now I have a much more comfortable setup. And what a mess I made doing that....so I must finish today.

The fabric will be re-organized too....and some will be donated...some sold....this is only a portion of what I have.

COLOR !!!!

2011-02-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

I need some serious color after this last couple months....so I grabbed a pile of my most colorful Kaffe and Brandon fabric and just started cutting.....squares and strips

Just having these piles laying on my table lifts my spirits and sets the creative juices flowing.

I decided after pieceing together a couple blocks that the squares were too big in comparison to the strips....so I trimmed the blocks....which has the added benefit of squaring them up beautifully....and left me with the scraps below....they're only about 1/2 inch...but I can't throw them out....yet.

I don't know what size it will be yet....I'll just keep sewing till I either get bored with it, or run out of pieces.

Revisiting an old project.

2011-01-30T11:04:00.001-08:00

Many years ago I saw this trivet pattern somewhere and made many of them for gifts. Some people used them for the purpose intended and others hung them up and refused to actually use them. I think that's so funny....some people that I gave baby quilts to never let the baby use them ... they hung them on the crib or bed, afraid that wear and tear wouldn't be good for them....silly people :)

These are made from 3 sizes of circles....some are folded, some are flat. And there is a batting inside that allows for very hot items to be placed on them with no danger to the table. I really enjoyed the process....there may be more in my future.

Tree Play

2011-01-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

I needed to find a project that I could pick up easily, make fast, and use up things I already have in my sewing room. I certainly have fabric, batting, thread, crystals, rhinestones, beads, styrofoam, sequins, dowels....and so on.....I have used and collected these things for 40+ years.

And since I love christmas trees I decided to make one...stuffed it....glued it to a "stump" and decorated it. And that led to another and another....each time changing something. Then I found some scraps of already quilted fabric and just had a ball and tried many techniques. Some are sewn and turned....some are just top-stitched (love these the most).

This black one was made from a scrap of pieced fabric that went into a piece that I did in a Carol Taylor workshop...couldn't throw the scraps away and now I'm glad I didn't. The blue tree is made from Elin Noble fabric.

This tree has a cute shisha mirror I got from Priscilla.....love it!

I'm having a blast with these....I can make one in 15 minutes....nearly instant gratification....perfect for my sometimes short attention span :)

REALLY???....3 to 6 inches??????

2011-01-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

We got closer to 16 inches!!! And it's wet, so the trees and bushes are taking a beating. These pics were taken before sunrise so they are a bit dark. I was so shocked that the predictions were so far off...and knew there was some serious shoveling in my future. Thank goodness my neighbor gave me a path out the front with his snowblower...he always helps us out.

This is out my back sliders on the deck.

They just said were getting some more tomorrow.........

New Strip Quilt

2011-01-26T11:40:00.001-08:00

My latest quilt is back from the quilter....Designing Quilts....and Eileen did a great job once again. I made this from one Bali Pop and added my own sashing and border. It was fun and fast.

The quilt pattern she chose is beautiful...thanks Eileen. www.designingquilts.com

INSPIRATION...some great fabric!

2011-01-12T13:08:00.000-08:00

I made great use of my snow day....I finished my bag made from fabrics I have dyed, batiked, discharged, overdyed, screened, shiboried and foiled.

I really have to hone my machine quilting skills...it looks ok but I want better.

I like all the pockets on this pattern.....I have another in mind now....well...I still have this evening :)

SNOW DAY !!!!

2011-01-12T05:06:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing since 10 pm last night and is still snowing now at 8 am...so no work today...schools are all closed too! I will be working on my new bag....pics later.

Perhaps I should do some cleaning too...nah...it's a free day...sewing!

New Bag!

2011-01-07T20:12:00.000-08:00

I have been doing some de-cluttering in my sewing room and when I came across this fabric I decided I needed to make myself a bag. It will have fabrics all made by me. The front and back are laid out and just have to be sewn together....fused to the batting and quilted....and then the construction of the bag can begin. Stay tuned.....

Halloween Trip

2010-11-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

I spent a busy week in Florida helping to decorate for the Halloween party...and of course playing with Logan. The Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts and White Rabbit looked sensational!!! Everyone at the party looked great...so nice to see such clever and fun costumes.

The decorating theme was spiders....this from a girl who called from college to scream that there was a spider in her room...1400 miles away...like I could do something about it !!! :)

The outside was spooky and bright.

WAIT!!!....There's Waldo!!!! HAHA!!!!

We thought Logan would like to be Batman for Halloween day...but he demanded his rabbit costume. I made this about 15 years ago for another little boy. He's in college now.

Another fun year....back to some sewing!

What A Surprise !!!!

2010-10-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

I got a wonderful surprise yesterday when I was gifted a beautiful watercolor of our cottage by Nancy...a thank you for her visit this summer....painted by her good friend, and mine, Ruth. I have admired Ruth's work for a long time, so I'm delighted to now own this beautiful painting.

I DO love handmade gifts!!!!

Thank you so much Nancy and Ruth.

Some Snippets of Summer!

2010-09-21T04:41:00.000-07:00

Here are my two favorite size 5 models...they got new jackets for school....these were great fun to make!

I had a wonderful Summer at our cottage on Lake Erie....spent about 7 weeks there from June-Sept....now it's closed-up for another year. I will miss those sunsets.

This year Nancy came to visit for the last week and after closing up the cottage we headed for Niagara Falls...the photo above is from our room at the Seneca Niagara Casino....and the building on the left is the Hotel Niagara....girl's dormitory at Niagara University 42 years ago....nostalgia :) My room was right in the middle!!

At 6:30 am on Wednesday we went down to see the Falls....Nancy's first time...it's always impressive. Then we began our 9-hour trip home.

Little Jacket

2010-08-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

I had pieced a quilt...had it quilted...and never put a binding on it because I just didn't like it as a quilt....all I could see was a little girls jacket...so I cut it up and made this jacket. And I have enough to make a couple more things.

After I put on this binding I remembered purchasing some great buttons from my friend Priscilla....matched perfectly! She has amazing buttons from all over the world. http://www.priscillakibbee.blogspot.com/

Now I love it!

What a Summer!!!

2010-08-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

One of our trips this summer took us to Rochester to see Great Grandma Murphy and the family...Logan thought he'd try out his skills at the piano....virtuoso????

After this whirlwind summer (so far) I had to come home and sew something....so I put together this Kaffe Fassett strip quilt....that satisfies me for now :)

We had such a wonderful time with our grandson when they visited our home on Long Island....Grampa loved taking him for walks around the Village.

Luckily we had better weather this year for the week at the cottage. He played on the beach everyday, helped me find beach glass, played with his friends and cousins at the playground....all of which made for some long power naps! We miss him so much.

Finished Quilts

2010-07-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

Something made me just sit down at my machine yesterday and put the binding on my last two quilts....and now they are done! So I'm free to start pieceing some more quilts...but this time I'm going larger....bed size.

I really want to have quilts on the cottage beds next year....I thought I'd have them done this year....didn't happen.....so I'll start now!

I'm running out of the bias binding that Nancy and I had made from our dyed fabric....we need to find another place that will do it for us...it adds a very special touch to the quilts.

Another Vintage Fabric Bag

2010-07-08T04:48:00.000-07:00

This is another of the bags I had cut out and ready to sew...so while watching SYTYCD last night I sewed. The blue is bark cloth and the pink is a lighter-weight twill-type fabric.

I put a pocket in this one. I have one more bag cut....but I want to bind my two quilts first....we'll see what wins.

Batik Play Day

2010-07-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well....here is the result of my fabric from Batik play day. I LOVE the colors and the batik designs. And the process was fairly easy.

We melted soy wax in an electric skillet and preceeded to apply it to previously-dyed fabric using different techniques. Then I placed them all in a red dye bath and laid them out in the sun. WRONG!!!!!!

The wax remelted and left a slightly grease shadow aroung all the designs. I had to boil the fabric twice and was still left with not-so-perfect fabric. But it's usable (most of it) and lesson learned.

Jane Sassaman....quilted.

2010-07-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

I'm back on Long Island and had a nice package to open on my arrival. My Jane Sassaman fabric quilt was back from the quilter, and Eileen at Designing Quilts did a great job once again.

http://www.designingquilts.com/

This fabric was bought already cut into tumbler blocks from The Quilt Shop in Danbury, CT. I love having pre-cut projects that I can pick up without much thought and just start piecing together....with great results!
http://www.thequiltshoponline.com/index.html

The backing is a P&B dot.

Change of pace...

2010-06-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

As I'm preparing to go Upstate to open the cottage, I haven't found a lot of time to sew. I had this bag cut out so I quickly sewed it together. It's made from vintage barkcloth...just a good carryall.

And here are my newest Lilly Pulitzer fabrics....I found them on ebay. LOVE the colors and patterns.

Marcia

INSPIRATION...Malka Dubrawski

2010-06-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

The first time I saw Malka Dubrawski's blog....magical...inspirational !!!! http://stitchindye.blogspot.com/

I had to have some of her batiked, hand-dyed fabric....and she sells it on etsy, so I picked up a few 1/2 yard pieces and some packs of multiple prints in squares....one of my favorite things :) She is published in numerous magazines and I love everything she does.

Making this bag was so much fun that I checked out her site today and bought some more packs...I know a couple people that may be gifted one of these. I love to support fabric artists, and even though I dye my own fabric, her's is different and fabulous and very reasonably priced.

Eye candy !!!!!

INSPIRATION....Lilly Pulitzer

2010-06-07T04:24:00.000-07:00

When I first saw Lilly Pulitzer fabric it was in clothes that were for sale in Country Club Golf shops....my husband being in that business. I couldn't afford the clothes so when I went into a Lilly store in Southampton one day and saw rolls of the fabric on the walls I was so excited and had to buy some. The price of the fabric made it a small purchase. Then one day they offered a package of assorted squares...BINGO! Now I had many patterns of her beautiful fabric and I made patchwork pants for my then 4 and 2 year old daughters.

Someone else has taken over the fabric but the spirit of the original prints and colors is still there.

So this bag is inspired by Lilly Pulitzer...I have loved this fabric almost as long as I have been married...40 years!

I need to make some accessories for this....each a different print.....hmmm.

INSPIRATION.....Jane Sassaman

2010-06-05T08:20:00.001-07:00

Jane Sassaman designs some of the most colorful, exciting fabric...so she was my inspiration for this bag made entirely from her fabrics.

I've never had the pleasure of taking a class with her....but that may be in my future :)

Again I used the same pattern as the previous three bags I have shown here on the blog.

Lilly!!!

2010-06-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

I have always loved Lilly Pulitzer fabric....my kids had patchwork pants made with squares of the fabric I bought in 1979...I wonder where they are today (the pants!:)

So over the years I have accumulated yardage of many different prints and had the urge to make some little girl sundresses yesterday.

INSPIRATION....Kaffe Fassett

2010-05-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

I'm dreading the next two days of work, so I'm soothing myself by sewing up some great bags. Tomorrow taxes (property) are due so we will be swamped. And since they will be late on Wednesday, and I have to tell them they now owe 10+% penalty and interest AND have to go to the County to pay it (they have had their bills for 5+ months!), I never know quite what their response will be...tears....anger...outright hostility....acceptance....excuses...etc.....it makes for quite a stressful day. So I sew :)

The quilting is my least favorite thing to do so it is somewhat generic...but it works for the bag.

I love these two Kaffe Fassett fabrics (dot is Michael Miller)...the colors are even richer than on my screen. And the pattern is now a favorite. It is the same pattern of the previous two I showed.

INSPIRATION....Heather Bailey

2010-05-29T14:16:00.001-07:00

I had been sewing together some random pieces of Heather Bailey's new "Nicey Jane" fabric that I had bought at the Quilt Shop in Danbury last month. So when I had the urge to make a new bag last night I had some of the work already done....love when that happens!

I did alot of machine quilting on the outside and the lining...all of which has pellon fusible fleece ironed to the fabric to give nice loft. And it has lots of roomy pockets inside.

This bag is for the auction held at our beach on Labor Day weekend....we need more playground equipment!

Carol Taylor Class

2010-05-12T04:54:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I took a fabulous 5-day class from Carol Taylor up in the Hudson Valley (great place to take a class)...and the piece above is my finished wall-hanging.

We learned myriad techniques and made many samples to be incorporated into a piece. Some students did as many as 4 pieces.

We started with a focus fabric and built from there. Carol is a great teacher....intense and fun.

My focus fabric is the piece bottom left....it is one of the drop-cloth fabrics from my Jane Dunnewold class.

Kaffe Column Quilt!

2010-05-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

My latest Kaffe quilt just arrived from the quilter...Eileen at Designing Quilts...another great job Eileen.

This quilt caught my eye immediately in the Kaffe Museum Quilts book...had to make it.

Now I need to bind it and lay it over my couch....yum!

Speed round!

2010-05-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

Between the iffy weather and the fact that Terry was going to be working in the yard after golf, I had to quickly get a bunch of fabric done. The pile on the right is what was done yesterday.

I laid more of them out straight to speed up the drying...that worked well.

I also wanted to try and fold a bunch into a small square...I folded them first then laid them in the tray and pressed on them...turned them over and did the same...checked the inside that they were getting saturated...then set them on the table and hoped they dried. But the sun disappeared after a short while. They still came out great.

This is four of the folded pieces...nice! Now...what to do with all this new dyed fabric....hmmm.

Adding a little black dye to the mix!

2010-05-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

So, after dyeing with straight colors on Friday, I decided to tray-dye again but with some black dye added to the tray in different amounts as I saw fit (all a guess!) And this is the finished fabric.

I set up another table and laid these pleated-up pieces out straight so they would dry faster in the hot sun.

When I ran out of room I just used the containers again

The pile on the left is Friday's work with the straight colors....on the right with the black added. I may add even more black to the next ones...or dilute the colors for a lighter bunch. Let's see if the sun comes out today....for tomorrow is stormy.

More Dyeing

2010-05-01T14:07:00.001-07:00

These lovelies were dyed in a tray that I used to use for marbling, made by my brother who was a sheet metal worker. Thanks John!

I put some sun yellow dye in the tray...

And then some fire red...you can swish it around, tip the tray to mix or just leave it alone. Then I lay a piece of fabric (this is a fat-quarter tray) over the dye and move it, pat it, whatever I need to do to totally soak the piece.

Then I accordion it up and twist it so it will fit in my containers....

They sit out in the sun for a few hours and then I throw them all into a cold wash with synthrapol and then 3 or 4 hot washes...till the water runs clear. The result is the fabric in the first picture.

I put at least a few colors in each time, so there is nice color-play in the finished pieces. Mushing it up accordion-style makes for nice striations with the colors.

This is the finished (maybe) piece of stamped fabric that I showed in the last post.

I screened gold metallic over the larger designs...what a difference! I love it like this but I'm thinking it needs at least one more touch. Hmmm.

Dyeing and Stamping!

2010-04-29T16:09:00.001-07:00

Today I was determined to do some dyeing. It's still not warm enough to do my outside over-the-rack dyeing, so I chose to do a 12-step gradation with some different colors....mustard, black and boysenberry. I set up my buckets, which have the measurements and directions written on them, since I can never find my directions easily :)

Below are buckets #1, 2 & 3 with the mustard and black mixtures at different strengths of each.

These are boysenberry/black mixes.

After they were washed out.

I don't love the colors on their own...but I have plans for them....stay tuned.

Don't you love stacks of fabric!!!!

Then I switched to stamping. I had this nice piece of silk broadcloth that I had dyed last year. And I knew stamping it would make it even better.

So I chose this rubber stamp that I had carved in a Jane Dunnewold class and I did some sample paint colors to see which would be best...I went with the rust.

I have to turn the stamp each time to get this pattern...it's fairly easy to do....but I do have to pay attention!

I had made a thermofax screen from the same stamp design, but blown up to a larger size. So I decided to insert a few of these on the piece.

I love the fabric now!!!! I only finished half so far...will complete it tomorrow. Then I need to set the paint by ironing it on the reverse.

The picture below is just to show the difference the stamping makes in the fabric. Now I'm searching through all my fabric to see what else I can stamp!

Small Stuff

2010-04-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

I finished a couple journal covers last night while watching DWTS. I enjoyed free-motion quilting on the lighter one....I need lots more practice at it....but I like the results.

Sewing Again!!!

2010-04-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

I had a headache yesterday but I couldn't stop sewing....it made me feel better :) I wanted to try this pattern from Quilts Illustrated (Weekender Tote)....I made a couple changes, but all-in-all it's a great pattern.

First I "made" some patchwork fabric by sewing strips together, cutting them up and sewing back together again. Then I quilted the body of the bag...that was the fun part.

There are lots of pockets inside so it would also make a great diaper bag. This one will be in the auction to support our beach playground in September.

Quilted and Bound!

2010-01-17T08:31:00.001-08:00

My Kaffe quilt is back from Eileen at Designing Quilts...once again she did a great job. I'm having a real love-fest with Kaffe Fasset's fabrics...the colors and patterns are so stunning....I'll be working with them for a long time.

I love the quilting pattern I chose....

These are all the hot pads I made for the holiday (picture taken before they were quilted)....I plan to make many more of these too! And this year I will start even earlier....the holidays creep up so fast. I'm taking the last of my decorations down today....I just love looking at them, but January 18th is a little late even for me....blame it on a busy schedule and procrastination!

High on Kaffe!

2009-11-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

As I've been sorting and cataloging my Kaffe Fassett fabrics I had a desire to make a quick quilt, so I used a tumbler kit (fabric was all pre-cut...including cropped corners for easy matching to piece) I had from the Quilt Shop in Danbury CT . Their merchandising is so much fun and very tempting (obviously!) http://www.thequiltshoponline.com/products.html

I just LOVE Kaffe's fabrics...I cut 2" strips from every one I have while I was cataloging. I will make many items from these in the future.

Work from Jane's Class

2009-11-06T20:16:00.001-08:00

Last month Nancy and I went to Pro Chem in Mass. for a class with Jane Dunnewold...and once again had a fabulous time and made alot of wonderful fabric.

The piece above is done on silk broadcloth. We were learning about resists using countless tools. I love this piece...and wonder if I will ever be able to cut into it.....may have to use it whole :)

These are three silk scarves....the resists were wax and blue school glue.

We worked on big tables and I put down a piece of cotton as a dropcloth and ended up surface designing a dozen pieces like this. They are some of my favorite work from the week.

Then I got an idea to layer a piece of silk organza over a piece of cotton as a dropcloth. As I went about doing my resists, the dyes would go through the organza and make a duplicate image on the cotton....it's quite cool and I'm very happy with the results.

Items for the auction

2009-10-14T20:00:00.001-07:00

These are the items I made and donated for the chinese auction at our beach this Summer. We are making improvements to the playground and shed area of the beach, so we had a fair on Labor Day and raised some funds to help. There were over 100 baskets or items that could be won...it was a big success.

These hotpads are made from a pattern in Quilting Arts magazine...so easy and I love using these colors.

The bag above is a Lazy Girl pattern....it was a big hit.

This "market" bag is a beautiful way to carry home the groceries....I'll stick to my Wegman's bags for that use!

This journal cover is strip-pieced with some of my favorite fabrics...love this green. I also donated a large tote bag....don't know why I don't have a picture...it was the most popular....I could have sold 10 of them.

Summer Recap

2009-10-13T06:25:00.000-07:00

This summer flew right by...but we had a blast. I got the new cottage in good shape and then the family came for our big party in late July. Just about everyone was there...we are about 48 strong at full count. The family cottage had about 3o+ sleeping over and we had 8 in ours. The rest didn't spend the night. The weather could have been better....but we had a great time...we always do.

Logan got his first taste of Lake Erie....but it wasn't great swim weather, so sitting on the shore was about all.

The cottage is wonderful....I had a new floor put in to replace the old rugs. I put some quilts up on the walls and it was home.

And, of course, a swing for the front porch.

When I had any time this summer I tried to sew some small items...made a couple quilts from scraps, and made a few items for an auction at the beach fundraiser. I'll post those later.

We also spent a few days in St John, USVI at the wedding of the son of dear friends. WOW! We had a fabulous time....included was snorkeling, the wedding on a gorgeous beach, incredible food, a catamaran ride to Jost Van Dyke (BVI) to swim and visit Foxy's restaurant and The Soggy Dollar Bar. Great time with great friends!

Where does the time go!

2009-08-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

It's not that I haven't been busy....just didn't think to post anything I guess. Since March I have been to Logan's 1st birthday party in Orlando (how fast did that go!), opened up our new cottage and did a major cleaning and re-furbish (new vinyl floors).

We will be going to a wedding in the Virgin Islands (St. John) and I decided I needed a beach (travel) bag. I've never seen tropical waters like this, so I made the bag in the colors I imagine it to be. It's actually more aqua in person. The wedding is very casual and on the beach...yea!

The fabric for the outside of the bag is scraps from Doshi (silk/linen) and it is sewn to canvas for body. The strip with the circles around the top is from Malka Dubrawski . http://stitchindye.blogspot.com/

Sewing Dresses!

2009-03-27T20:18:00.000-07:00

When I saw this DKNY pattern in the Vogue pattern catalog I had the immediate reaction of wanting to make it. It's not something I could wear, but I have a lot of young girls in my life so I know someone will love it and wear it. I love a dress with pockets, and the pleats in this are fascinating....so I was driven to sew it!

So off I went to Jo-Ann's to get the pattern, fully intent on using fabric I had at home. But Jo-Ann's now has some really cute fabric and I couldn't resist this print. I knew the pleats would mean an interesting pattern in the way the fabric design fell. When I got to the zipper I realized I had never sewn an invisible zipper on my Bernina 1230...ever! And the plastic foot does not go on the machine. So I researched and wouldn't you know it....I had to order a bernina foot for it. I'm ok with that but wasn't happy about waiting for it to be delivered. Oh well.....I'll finish it next week.

And I have a couple other fabrics that I want to use for the same dress....charmeuse for one!...I'll just vary the sizes. All the Vogue patterns that day were $3.99.....(this one is retail $27.50...ouch)...so I got a few others too.

My tiny dress form comes in handy sometimes....the dress is a size 6!

Logan!

2009-02-15T06:57:00.001-08:00

I'm visiting with Logan this week....what could be better?! He's 9 months old now.

2009-02-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

This shirt was an attempt at the Zen shirt by Sewing Workshop. But as I was progressing I decided I didn't like the collar so I left it off. It has a placket covering the buttonholes (which I haven't put in yet ). It's made with my hand-dyed linen/rayon fabric.

The green jacket is also made with the same linen/rayon hand dyed fabric. It is Sewing Workshop's Onde jacket....a great pattern. I need to put the buttons on this one too.

I'm off to Florida on Tuesday for a week of playtime with my grandson...and it's 80 degrees there (about 25 here)....A bonus!

I'm Addicted to These!

2009-01-27T19:14:00.001-08:00

The plumbers are switching my furnace (very old) from oil to gas today...so I busied myself with more handwork. I love doing all the different types of kits from Artgirlz....they are so funky, and fun! They even include the faces and hands...they have quite a fabulous business...check it out! The tiny tree is a pin. http://www.artgirlz.com/

I like the taller, regular shaped tree better...but this one made me laugh.

Nostalgia....

2009-01-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

When I was a little girl, I loved to sew beads and sequins onto felt ornaments for the Christmas tree. I still have a few of them today and they evoke memories every year when I decorate the tree.

So when I saw the ARTGIRLZ at Houston a couple years ago, I was so excited and filled with nostalgia to see the cute kits they had for a tree, pins, felted beads, etc.

So last night I pulled out (finally!) one of the kits and made this Christmas tree. I LOVED making this, and will do more of the kits I bought. I see a bunch of tree ornaments in my future too. Such comforting handwork.

http://www.artgirlz.com/

Marcia

"Reds" Shirt/Jacket

2009-01-17T17:46:00.000-08:00

I finally sewed some buttons (thanks Priscilla!) on this shirt/jacket I had made a couple months ago. The fabric is rayon/linen that I dyed over the rack with shades of red, amethyst, golden yellow and fuchsia.

This pattern (which I don't see anymore on the Sewing Workshop website) was a breeze to sew up...I had to add some length...I like things a bit longer.

Where did the month go?

2009-01-10T11:56:00.000-08:00

Since my last post, tax season went into full speed....so between being back to work full time, getting ready for Christmas and finishing renovation jobs, it's no wonder I haven't posted anything. The best part of the season was having our little Logan and his Daddy and Mommy here for the holidays. We had a wonderful visit with them....Grampa Terry was TOTALLY smitten with Logan, and wanted to teach him many things from his childhood....we nipped that in the bud real fast !!! :)

The bib says it all!

The day after they left for home, Terry and I went to Texas for his sales meeting. This is a view from our room....beautiful place. The weather on arrival day was 80 degrees....next day was in the 30's and icy. Oh well...it was nice in the beautiful mall they brought us to.

The last night we went to a mini-rodeo and dance hall. We had a blast...we square-danced and two-stepped (badly)....Terry had no problem asking the dancing girls for help in getting the steps right! He even semi-mastered the electric slide....I love that he tries everything.

So....I couldn't wait to get some sewing done...this is a smaller change-purse.

You can see the size compared to the others I have done. Today I will clean my sewing room to get ready for some serious garment and bag sewing.

Cute Little Bag #2

2008-12-14T20:44:00.001-08:00

Tonight was the three hour Survivor finale....so I went to the sewing room to watch and started a new little bag. I love the way the zipper curves over the top of the bag....but I'm sure I'd like it if it went straight across too...and it would mean even less work....maybe the next one.

Although I really do like the look of these....hmmm. The two pieces of fabric were from a wall hanging I had done but never finished. I like it better in the bags.....I have one more piece so stay tuned.

Cute Little Bag

2008-12-12T20:19:00.001-08:00

I was so tired tonight I figured I'd be in bed by 10 pm. But when Greta Van Sustern came on I was glued to the TV with the story she was covering. So I went upstairs to watch it (I can hear the TV better up there) and picked up this little bag I had cut out. It was a pattern featured in this months Quilting Arts magazine. I had ordered some of the rhinestone zippers needed to make it...so I just started sewing.

It's a really cute little bag...and made up in about a half-hour. I see more of these in my future. I really do have sort of a bag fetish! They make great gifts so I have a good excuse :)

Vegas

2008-12-07T04:35:00.001-08:00

I made my first trip to Las Vegas on Thanksgiving for 4 days. Some of my family members met me there and we had a blast. They are well-versed in "Vegas", so I had great tour guides. They gave me a celebration of my 60th birthday (was in Sept), because I never see them on that day. Love the glasses (HA)....thanks Teresa...I'll get you back!

This was the view from my room at the Mandalay Bay...the strip and the airport. Loved the hotel and the casino. By the time I was done I had probably seen and played a couple slots in 10-12 other casinos.

Friday night we went to "old downtown"...Fremont Street...loved the old feeling...and slots that take quarters! We rode trams and cabs and monorails, and walked ALOT....ate buffet and ESPN....and shopped great stores.

Saturday we went to Ceasar's Palace to see Bette Midler...FABULOUS!!!!...still Divine!

Thanks everyone...I had a great time!!!!!

Marcia

Logan...6 months.

2008-12-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

I'm in Orlando for one last visit this year....Logan is now 6 months old...and what a personality!!!

They will spend Christmas in Lancaster, PA and come to Long Island the day after and stay till New Years....we can't wait.

What a wonderful 6 months it has been.

I'm getting there....

2008-11-24T06:45:00.000-08:00

Well...My bathroom reno is done...just need the final touches of towel rack, tissue holder, mirror or medicine chest, window covering (?) and rugs. Then I need to paint the door...not a priority at this point. I just love having a bathroom that doesn't make me cringe everytime someone went to use it.

And when I got the call on Thursday that the mattresses were coming on Saturday I decided I had to paint the guest room on Friday. This is a small room, but with alot of clutter finally removed (everyone should have a dumpster for a week!) it makes a really cute guest room now. I still have to paint the mouldings...also not a priority at the moment. And I ordered a radiator cover so that area should look really nice in a few weeks.

I'm taking my time putting things on the wall.

I LOVE MY NEW WINDOWS! The old ones were so bad...and impossible to reach to clean...so the shades were always pulled at least half way. At the moment there are no shades and I find myself looking out them for minutes at a time...like seeing the beautiful scenery for a first time. I'm on a hill, so the view is unique. Port Jefferson is in sort of a "bowl" and the trees in the distance form the western edge of that bowl.

Looking in the other direction (same window) is toward the North. Just over the right edge of the roof across the street is a "tiny" peek at Port Jeff Harbor...and in the distance, Connecticut.

Today I must get the bulk of my decorations up...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Marcia

Liberty Shirt 2

2008-11-17T06:53:00.001-08:00

I love this pattern, but I needed to make it a bit longer. So I added 2" to front and back and kept the sleeves the same. Then I decided to leave off the collar. The pattern is from Sewing Workshop...Liberty Shirt...same as the previous posting.

This is made, once again, with the linen/rayon from Dharma...hand-dyed with mx dyes.

Now the length works so much better for me....it can be shirt or jacket, since I am always warmer than everyone else...I can put a tank underneath and take off the jacket if need be. But this fabric is all natural, so I rarely get warm in it.

Liberty Shirt

2008-11-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

I love The Sewing Workshop patterns...so when I saw this new one I had to try it. I love how these patterns go together, and the designs are just a bit different, so the finished garment can go either way. This one is great...except that I will make it an inch or two longer next time.

I used my favorite fabric...the linen/rayon (from Dharma trading)... that I had dyed over the pole last summer. It sews and washes like a dream.

I asked Terry to take my picture this morning...that's always an experience :) You can also wear this as a jacket. If you click on the picture you may be able to see the really cute buttons that I bought from Priscilla Kibbee. She sells all kinds of buttons that she collects on her travels around the world. And finding the right buttons is the hardest part of the sewing process sometimes.

This is a picture of the pattern from The Sewing Workshop....all sizes in one envelope.

Marcia

So much to do.....

2008-11-10T04:44:00.001-08:00

I needed a break from all the renovation craziness...so last night I made this tote bag...it matches two other items I've made recently...a baby quilt and a make-up bag. The fabric was from a kit to make a large quilt, and after I pieced much of it together I decided to make smaller things...didn't need a large quilt. I have two more kits of different fabrics...one of them may make the large quilt...we'll see.

I've been filling holes in walls...today I'll sand them and start painting. This is the upstairs bedroom, which will now have a double bed and be a REAL guest room. When we had the dumpster here for the window replacements we purged alot of stuff....whew! It's such a freeing experience.

Last week I painted the newly renovated half-bath upstairs....finally the pink plastic tile is a thing of the past.

We decided on neutrals since we expect to sell in the forseeable future.

I also began to get some Christmas decorations out....it takes a while for me to get all my dec done...so I'm going for it! The weather is great right now...today I'll do lights outside...maybe. My new front storm door is coming today.

I bought one new Byers Caroler this year...the ornament seller...and look at his special ornament (click to see closer)...I actually added that :)

Marcia

Halloween Party 2008

2008-10-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

The theme this year was the Great Pumpkin and the peanuts gang.

Here's little Logan as Woodstock...he was so good, and was very comfortable in the costume. Hmmmm! :)

Mom was Snoopy, in her handmade costume and head...it was awesome.

Raggedy Ann...aka Donna was there too.

Dad made a great Linus....hair and all!

This group was straight from the Venture Brothers...a TV cartoon.

Julie chose to be a pack of PEANUT m&m's...very creative!

Quynh tried Chinese cuisine for the night.

And from Sarasota came Jon and Dana as Anthony and Cleopatra.

And from Japan...Toyoko and Yoko, who happened to be leaving on a Disney Cruise the next morning, came to the party for a couple hours, wearing shirts designed by Keri for NYC Disney store a couple years ago.

We had a great time...the house was decorated to the hilt...and the company is always the best!

Busy...Busy....Busy...

2008-10-18T14:27:00.001-07:00

Well....where has the time gone ? I went to Buffalo to close on our new cottage....then came home and got to work on making a costume for Logan....there wasn't a pattern available so I had to improvise....I think it's close enough :) Keri's Halloween party has a Peanuts theme....she will be Snoopy, Mike will be Linus and Logan will be Woodstock !

We also had new windows put in upstairs...FINALLY!!!! They were so bad...I am thrilled that I can actually wash them inside and out now....after 23 years in this house.

We also decided to have the upstairs 1/2 bath gutted and re-done....nothing fancy....just had to get rid of the pink plastic tiles and rusted sink and ever-broken toilet.

I'm off to Orlando tomorrow to see the kids and help prepare for the party. I'll have pics of all those crazy Disney artists and their great costumes when I get back.

Marcia

Dyed Ready-To-Wear

2008-09-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

When Summer is over I like to look for some white linen or cotton tops that are severely reduced in price....I buy them one or two sizes larger (the process will usually shrink them a bit), and I dye them in favorite colors. Since they cost me less than $15 together I'm not afraid to take a chance on them. And they both came out great.

Well, I'm off to Buffalo tomorrow to close on our new cottage at the beach....very exciting new chapter in our lives. We're having some nasty weather on the East Coast, but I have to go....so I'm hoping for at least a decent travel day. I haven't been at the beach in late September, so it will be a new experience in that respect too.

Marcia

NYC

2008-09-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

Nancy and I took the train in to the City on Saturday for the Atelier Show....it was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Midtown. We saw Doshi and her beautiful new collection of wearables...some new fabrics and designs.

From there we walked down past Bryant Park where they were dismantling the tents from Fashion Week (pic)...the Project Runway Show had been in there just the day before. Our next stop was M&J Trimming on 6th Ave and then Mood Fabrics on 37th. The weather was perfect and the City was crowded! We had a great time....then back on the LIRR.

This bag is from a pattern by The Sewing Workshop...it is the Daily News Bag. I used perforated ultrasuede, a commercial batik cotton lining and upholstery weight ultrasuede for the handle and binding.

Accessories

2008-09-12T08:11:00.001-07:00

I love carrying bags like this...but the fact that they are open leaves the possibility that things can fall out easier, or someone could reach in and grab something. So I made some accessories that would address each item I would carry.

This pouch is attached to a chain that is permanently attached to the inside bottom of the bag...it will hold things like chap stick, aspirin, mints, pen, etc.

This pouch has a clip that can be removed from the bag to take separately...it will hold money, cards and license, and that sort of thing.

Then of course I need a place for a couple pairs of glasses so I attached a pocket.

This clip will hold my keys so they can't fall out, and so I can always find them quickly. The last thing I need is somewhere to clip my phone so I can get to it quickly and so it also can't fall out. I need to place it wisely so the weight of the phone doesn't distort the shape of the bag...gotta think of these things!

New Bag

2008-09-10T06:02:00.001-07:00

A couple years I bought a box of scraps from Doshi...aren't they the most beautiful scraps! Nancy and I are going to NYC on Saturday to the Atelier show and I had the idea to make a bag to carry in that would be in keeping with the spirit of the show...just an excuse to play with some of the scraps. I had made the front panel piece a year ago so I built around that...click to see it better.
http://www.atelierdesigners.com/go/_showinfo2.cfm

The fabric is all silk/linen and is lined in the same...it sews beautifully. I cut the lining piece and ironed on lightweight interfacing for some body...then built the outside on that with sew and turn....then quilted it to hold in place, and bound the edges.

Logan

2008-09-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

I'm having a wonderful week in Orlando....Logan is developing such a cute personality...can't stop kissing thise cheeks! We're planning his costume for Halloween (of course)....and I'll be back for the party next month :)

I'm going back home tomorrow.....no hurricane here this week, but Hanna did go up and dump a load of rain in New York yesterday...you never know!

Marcia

WOW...that was fast!

2008-08-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

With Melody's gracious help I have sent all 5 quilts to new homes and admirers. Enjoy them!

Now I have the second bunch.

#1 MIGRATION # 5...by Caryl Bryer Fallert. 2000 22" x 18 This piece is awesome and I will miss it....but I know there is someone (probably many someones) out there who would love to have it and has the space to display it beautifully. SOLD

#2 COPING #VIII 1997 by Erika Carter 23" x 24" A beautiful art quilt.

#3 LADY by Dawn Rappold 25.5 x 26.5" 1985 Beautifully hand-appliqued and hand-quilted

#4 POTPOURRI by Gabrielle Swain 1996 Gorgeous! hand-appliqued and hand-quilted. SOLD

Detail of Potpourri

#5 CONEFLOWERS by Ellen Anne Eddy 1998 13" x 16.25". Wonderful threadwork on this.

#6 LUNA by Ellen Anne Eddy 1998 13' x 14" More wonderful threadwork.

#7 CHAIR MAIL by Laura Wasilowski 1997 10.5" x 12.75" Laura is a master at what she does...this is a really cute and fun piece.

Click on the pics to get a better look. And email me if interested. marciamurf@aol.com

Marcia

Downsizing...............

2008-08-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

Over many years I have accumulated some wonderful quilted pieces from my favorite artists. I have decided to now let a bunch of them go to new homes to be enjoyed by other admirers. I will keep some and the rest will go on ebay in the next couple weeks. I am posting pictures today of the first bunch, all from Melody Johnson (with her blessing), here on the blog. If something strikes your fancy, email me and we will talk about it. They will be a fraction of the original cost...and they are all in great condition. Click on pictures for a better look.

#1 ABACUS 9.75" x 12.75" fused & beaded...can be slipped over a plexi frame to stand, or can hang on wall... SOLD

#2 JUNE BLOOMS 11" x 14" fused and embroidered SOLD

#3 WINDOW 21" x 9" fused and quilted SOLD

#4 SAMPLER 12.25" x 8.5" pieced and quilted with a sampler of stitches and decorative threads SOLD

#5 NINEPATCH PIAZZA 25" x 27" This is a beauty...I remember Melody telling a story about seeing a pattern on the ground at QBL one year and interpreting it in this quilt in 1997. Fused. SOLD

Marcia

marciamurf@aol.com

More Fabric Dyeing

2008-08-19T10:33:00.001-07:00

I've only managed to get a few pieces of fabric dyed...this silk/linen was done over the rack. I'm working on making a shirt from the last piece I did....not the easiest fabric to sew on...but not bad. That's what's been keeping me busy the last few nights while cheering on our athletes.

Time to wash windows...ugh...I am not the happy homemaker....housework stinks.

Itchin' to Sew

2008-08-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

I cut out a bunch of bags yesterday and made this one last night while watching the Olympics again. This is fabric designed by Amy Butler and sold commercially. This is the heavier-weight home-dec fabric....it's so nice to work with and makes a substantial bag.

More Summer 2008

2008-08-11T06:57:00.001-07:00

Well....this summer included, unfortunately, a couple falls for members of my family. My Mom fell off the stairs on the deck at the cottage and bruised her head...she is recovering nicely...what a scare that was...and 5 days in the hospital. A couple weeks later I get a call from my daughter...she fell with Logan and the dog gate hit his face....airlifted....catscan... stitches ....questions....he's doing great...we were all a mess. I have since learned that everyone I talk to has a story.......

The last couple days of my trip were spent with my friend Marcia at her beautiful studio and home, and a class of seven others where they were making wonderful jackets. This is one of the teacher's (Priscilla Kibbee) samples that I loved.

While watching the Olympics last night I had the urge to make a bag from a favorite old pattern....couldn't find the pattern so I called Nancy who found hers and measured it for me so I could make a pattern on graph paper. This is made from old bark cloth and a new lining.

I also had a chance to dye a couple pieces of silk/linen gauze. I used procion MX dyes and I'm quite happy with the pieces.

This is just eye candy...camp shirts made by Doshi...she dyes the fabric and it's spectacular.

Marcia

I'm Back!!!!

2008-08-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Well...where did the last three months go? I've been to Orlando three times to see my little grandson, Logan....can't get enough of him!

And I've been to my beloved cottage on Lake Erie...this is the view from our beach every night....not always so spectacular, but part of the experience.

And as I walked on the beach almost every morning for my exercize....I bent to pick up as much beach glass as possible...to be saved for a future project. :)

A number of years ago, Terry and I decided to put our name on the list for a cottage at the beach. Well....we were given the opportunity to look at one this year and loved it...so....

This will be our future cottage....we plan to spend alot of time there in years to come...especially once we hit retirement....this will be our 6 month summer home.

More about my trips to come in next post.

Marcia

2008-07-03T05:12:00.000-07:00

This was Prom weekend in Port Jeff....the parent's pick a theme and decorate the outside of the building, the gym, and the bathrooms....it's the 50th year this has been done. I've done it twice...I know how hard it is!
The theme was A Night at the Royal Museum (Port Jeff Royals!)....these two girls were great....posing like statues, then all of a sudden moving in dance and back to a pose. This was during the public showing, four hours before the prom.

This is ALL painted cardboard ....it's the outside of the gym entrance. The whole lobby inside and the gym walls are covered in painted cardboard. It really is quite a feat!

The senior class was small this year...only 85....(usually about 100). But I'm sure they had a great time. I love Port Jeff.

I'm hoping to get to some fabric this weekend and next week before I go away again...phew!

Marcia

One more day......

2008-06-18T06:24:00.001-07:00

Well...I have to go home tomorrow and leave this little guy for a few weeks...till I'm back again! This has been an amazing experience for me....since I didn't do the childbirth thing I was never really exposed to a newborn for any length of time. IT'S HARD!!!! The lack of sleep for the Mom and Dad is of course offset by this precious little boy coming into their lives...but it's hard on them. Now add three dogs into the mix! They are doing a great job....I'm glad I could be here to help...and spoil, and cuddle and smother with kisses :)

Three hours before my flight leaves, his Grandma and Grandpa Sullivan arrive for another week of spoiling!

Marcia

Logan James

2008-06-04T18:48:00.001-07:00

Here's our little guy....an angel, of course. I'm having such a good time!

The theme of his bedroom is Franklin the Turtle....Keri loves turtles and loves the Franklin books. She painted this one on Logan's wall.

I love this picture....aren't all sleeping babies just so precious?

This little guy....what a miracle....our lives will never be the same....aren't we lucky.

Marcia

Logan James Sullivan

2008-05-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

Our first grandchild, a boy, was born today at 5:38 am.....7 lbs 9 oz....19 1/2". Isn't he the sweetest!!!!! I'm thrilled to have been in the delivery room...what an amazing experience...I'm so glad I felt the need to go to Florida early....her due date was June 10th.

God Bless Logan James Sullivan.

Marcia

Bag Revisited

2008-05-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

I decided this bag needed some kind of closure for security...so I added a flap and a great button...also one on the reverse so I can use the turq side too. That's all I accomplished as I watched the finale of Survivor....for three hours.

Marcia

Warm Weather Finally!!!

2008-05-06T06:20:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was beautiful and warm enough to dye some canvas...so these are for my next four bags.

I laid out the canvas on a table and squirted the dye on...makes for less waste and I wanted fairly even color on these. Most pieces only got one color...this was a play piece...I might make small make-up bags of this to coordinate with the other bags.

Then the pieces go to the plastic on the deck to dry in the sun.

I also dyed some webbing to coordinate...must do much more of that today.

These are the two multi-color pieces I did for accessories.

Marcia

New Quilt

2008-05-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

The quilt is back from the quilter...http://www.designingquilts.com/ and once again Eileen did a fabulous job.

The fabric is all from Judy Robertson at http://www.justimagination.com/. I had collected many pastels over many years and decided it was time to use them.

Marcia

Turq & Lime Bag & The Shower

2008-04-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to find the ideal bag (for me and others) and I keep trying different sizes, weights of fabric, color combos etc....I'm real pleased with this one. It's reversible...both fabrics are a heavy-weight cotton canvas that I dyed. I made the bottom larger also.

The brown webbing works well with both colors...and the whole thing can be thrown into the washer and dryer.

Here's my daughter at her shower (Baby Monster Bash actually....she was married on Halloween after all! It was more of a party for Mike and Keri, and men and women were invited) ...this turtle themed quilt was made by the mom of our good friend Gail...along with little hats and booties....so cute.

We asked everyone to bring (or send) a favorite book for Logan's library...Keri loves books (she hopes to write and illustrate some of her own someday soon!) and it was fun to see what people's favorites were.

Keri plans to draw and paint some things on the wall...Franklin the Turtle is her theme. The quilt I made for Logan hangs on the crib.

Marcia

Eye Candy!

2008-04-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

As promised...a few of Doshi's beautiful pieces of wearable art...crazy good!!!

Later today or tomorrow I'll have the pictures ready from the shower...it was great.

Marcia

Fabulous Class...Doshi !

2008-04-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Pro Chem in Massachusetts (http://www.prochemical.com/workshops.htm ) hosts some of the best classes I've taken...and this past weekend was a real highlight! Doshi ( http://www.doshifiberart.com/index.htm ) came from So. California to teach 14 of us the magic of shibori with acid dyes on silk and silk blends. I am so in awe of the beautiful fabric that we all created...below are some of the results. I can't remember who did what on all of them....so just enjoy the eye candy. The first picture is the last couple pieces I did...the richness of the colors is amazing.

Next piece done by Doshi.

Doshi and Nancy hamming it up!

Scarf done by Brigid who came from Durham, No. Carolina.

This piece was done by the only gentleman in the group, Barry, who with his wife Linda came from Iowa.

Detail of Barry's piece.

Doshi demonstrating using a syringe with dye.

Linda using the tool to help tie those tiny knots in the fabric that produce such beautiful designs...kumo knots, I believe they are called. Barry's piece had many.

I hope to post some more pictures later today....mostly Doshi's beautiful clothing samples. But if I don't get to it I'll do it next week. I'm off to Orlando tomorrow to prepare for Keri's baby shower Sunday....it's getting so close!

Marcia

Sleeve Bag ???

2008-04-08T05:30:00.001-07:00

Well...I quilted a piece of the floral patchwork with the intention of starting a little girl's jacket. I cut out a sleeve, encased the edges in binding to finish it nicely and then decided it was too bulky for a little jacket...but it was too nice to just discard. Sleeve-shaped place mat? NO! I played with it...folding.... manipulating....hmmmm.....would make a cute make-up bag or something similar.

So I sewed up the side seams...took the excess fullness at the top of the underarm of the sleeve and folded and tacked it...put on a large button and made a wrap tie from some of the bias binding...voila!

I now see a larger bag out of this fabric......

Marcia

New Baby Quilt

2008-04-07T10:39:00.001-07:00

As I sit upstairs in my sewing room watching TV (dancing, loser, idol, model, survivor etc), I am trying to grab a prepared project and work on it. Since I often cut out clothing patterns, or strip up fabric for quilts, I usually have something that can be done just at the machine....so I can watch and listen and work at the same time....works for me!
Last week I started to put together what was supposed to be a queen-sized quilt. When I had this much done (center light-colored piece) I decided I needed some baby girl quilts more than I needed a queen quilt (I can get 5 baby-size from the same pieces)...so this is the result of that decision. I added the borders and machine-quilted straight lines...that much quilting I will do.

I love these fabrics...I may make a couple little girls jackets from some of this too....stay tuned.

I'm off to Pro Chemical in Mass. on Thursday for a 3-day class on shibori dyeing with acid dyes on silk....teacher is Doshi... http://www.doshifiberart.com/index.htm ...she's fabulous...I have some of her wearable art as I admire her work tremendously. Of course, I'll take pictures.

Marcia

New Quilt

2008-04-06T11:42:00.001-07:00

With a little push from a friend (thanks Eileen :), I managed to get another quilt top put together...this one is made from Judy Robertson's gorgeous fabrics. I started collecting her hand dyes many years ago when I went to a class at Quilting By The Lake in Morrisville, NY... she was a vendor there. I had never seen anything like them and bought a bunch....now it's time to use them. I can make the simplest quilts and this fabric supplies the magic.

I've just sent it off to Desiging Quilts to be quilted...I'll show you the results when I get it back.

Marcia

Fabric Play Day

2008-03-31T08:42:00.000-07:00

Three of us met at Val's yesterday to begin exploring Kerr Grabowski's Deconstructed Screen Printing techniques. We've all taken a wonderful class from Jane Dunnewold on screen printing at Pro Chem....so we have a bit of knowledge....but we always want more! Gotta keep our brains learning new things.... The piece above is one of mine (best one I did) done with ripped paper and acetate stencil....I have alot more to learn!

For one thing...the painted screens need alot of time to dry totally...the screen for the piece above (also mine) was used too fast...the dye released too quickly...lesson learned.

This piece I did with ripped paper...didn't like it immediately...but after washing I like it alot.

This piece is Val's....very successful. The colors were rich all the way. It should be great once washed and ironed.

These are two of my painted screens...next time I will paint them the night before. We also had an issue with the release paste...mine was on the shelf a couple years or more...didn't thicken up to optimum thickness....lesson learned.

This is another of Val's pieces...we didn't love the darker circles...but she will address them with another process...perhaps foil.

This was a very successful piece of Nancy's. The colors are much richer in person...she was very happy with this one.

We had a fun day, a great lunch (Val served a delicious white wine with yummy ratatouille made by Nancy and fresh fruit for dessert) and we'll meet again to continue the learning.

Marcia

New Bag

2008-03-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

I made another bag with the 11 oz. canvas that I think is too heavy for the jackets I make....but it's perfect for these totes. I dyed the canvas with Amethyst and screened the pocket piece with black, since I only had black webbing for the straps.
I have purchased some plain natural webbing and I'm going to dye that and see if I can get the intensity of color I want to match some other bag fabric colors that I already have dyed.

Each time I make the bag I find something different I want to do (because it's not right or it can be better), either in the sequence of sewing, or size of pieces, or thread color (matching or contrasting), way to finish seams...and on and on. I'm told that's a Virgo trait :)

Next up is a beautiful turquoise bag with brown webbing. Gotta get the taxes done first...been procrastinating....another Virgo trait?

Marcia

Early Spring Cleaning

2008-03-05T05:42:00.000-08:00

In the past couple weeks, this is the only fabric work I've gotten to...and that was only because I was watching a 2-hour show on 60's music on PBS. This is a small piece I started in Melody Johnson's class at Hudson Valley last year. The fabric is silk broadcloth...it just needed to be quilted. Now it's ready to be either bound and hung, or made into a pillow or bag or incorporated into clothing.

I have to say that the quilting is my least favorite thing to do, and this is about the biggest piece I want to tackle myself. My real joy comes from the fabric and sewing parts of the process...that's why I send my larger pieces out now to be quilted.

I have been cleaning out closets and getting rid of my larger clothes...feels great. And that led to deep cleaning of the closets and basement etc....22 years in one place and we've accumulated alot of stuff. It's time to purge a bit. So that's mostly what I've been doing the last couple weeks... oh, and planning for a baby shower, buying a new car, planning a trip to Florida, ordering a new fence for the yard (installed tomorrow), watching American Idol, Biggest Loser, and my absolute favorite Project Runway! Tonight is the final...and re-runs are on all day today!

Marcia

SNOW DAY!!

2008-02-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

Because it looks like this today...I got to stay home from work...yea!!!! It's actually the most snow we've had this season...no complaints. Poor Terry had to go up to Columbia University in Harlem to ref a game tonight. He just left at noon for a 7PM game (normally a 1 1/2 hour trip).....fingers crossed!.

THis is what's on my design wall at the moment...I'm trying to use up some pieces of my dyed fabrics before I dye anymore in the Spring. The row on top is pieces from last year's Melody Johnson workshop...still need to be finished.

When in Florida last week Keri (she's doing great) and I went to Ikea...I loved this polka-dot rug and carried it back on the plane. We have an Ikea here but it is a trip to go there...and I didn't know if they would have this....it sits in my sewing room.

Speaking of Melody...this small quilt/wall hanging was made from one 3 yard piece of her luscious fabric...stripped...pieced...stripped again...pieced again...all the while trying to get the design that I did end up with...her fabric makes my heart sing...and she's pretty cool herself, too :)

Aren't these rich primary colors just fabulous!!!!

Nothing but another piece of Melody's fabric would have been good enough for the back...I've had some of her fabric in my stash since way back when she and Laura we're first in Paducah...not in the main arena but downtown at an alternate site. I've been hooked ever since.

I sent the top to Eileen Keane at Designing Quilts http://www.designingquilts.com/ and she did a wonderful job....I highly recommend her. This piece was quilted with variegated thread and I love the result.

Marcia

Play Day

2008-02-02T16:33:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday a group of six of us met at Val's house for a play day...to share ideas, show and tell, and just talk about fabric, techniques, shows, books, quilting, and great classes we had taken...or want to take.

Nancy Bailey showed her beautiful sheers (silk organza and netting) that she discharged and/or dyed.
I played with a black sateen fabric and discharged it with bleach pen through a thermofax screen, and with discharge paste...same fabric...different results. I love the color this bleaches to.

Below are two small quilts by Diane Kopec...she does "Journal Quilts".....I love the size and all the feelings behind these very personal pieces.

Lisa Chipitene was working with linen canvas...she was expressing herself with red, white and black paint.

Nancy had dyed and made this jacket last year and wasn't satisfied with the way it turned out...so Pat Rodgers took it home and worked her fabric and stitching magic and this was the result....beautiful!

Below is a piece by Pat...showing her savvy with threads, paint, needle felting etc.....she has many talents...we just sit and stare in awe.

Finally...this is a grouping of Val's work. Val does fabulous surface design...and she displays it proudly in her studio...love this ladder idea.

She paneled and fixed up her basement wet studio, and the six of us were totally comfortable working there. Stamps are easily accessible....

Dyes and paints can all be seen...a place for everything...she has at least six of these racks around the room.

I'm off to Orlando tomorrow to see Keri and Mike....that belly is growing and I don't want to miss it all...I think we'll start preparing the nursery, buy some furniture and set up a registry...can't wait!

Marcia

Heide's Fabric

2008-01-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

Heide Stoll-Weber dyes and sells some of the most beautiful fabric I have seen...it is cotton sateen, and so yummy. I bought some pieces from her and when I went to Jan Myers -Newbury's class at the Crow Barn, I decided to take some with me and shibori over-dye it. I love the results and promised some people I would put it on the blog.

The background colors were done by Heide...the darker lines are a result of the shibori dyeing.

These red pieces will all be put into my class piece...hopefully this year. I did promise myself I'd finish what I've started...it's about 5th in line however. Stay tuned....

Marcia

Resolutions!

2008-01-23T18:17:00.000-08:00

Since I didn't have to make my normal get in better shape, lose weight resolution, I decided to resolve to use up a lot of the fabrics and supplies I already have in my stash. I have a whole bolt or two of a heavier weight canvas...too heavy to use for my jackets. So I will be making bags out of some of it. This one made up quickly and I'm very pleased with it. So now I have to get some yardage dyed and a pattern made, since I made this up as I went.

Marcia