Pin projects cut out, waiting to be stitched!!
It’s continued to be a rather busy week, with all kinds of random things calling for attention. Finally on Wednesday morning, I managed to lay and cut out the ‘fixins’ for a few more pins. If you notice in the photo that I am definitely trying to mix it up with materials; you’ll see some vinyl, as well as cotton batiks, and I especially used a lot of felted woven wool. For some reason, there have been those who are skeptical that wool can be used effectively in any projects. I also know that a lot of shops will carry woven wools on the bolt (or in smaller pieces), but have not yet chosen to carry wool felt, so accessibilty is a factor. I think that ‘felt’ conjures up images of the .25 sheet of acrylic felt we used to get at the Ben Franklin craft area – great for all those crafty kid projects. You know, the ones with untold sequins, pipe cleaners, glue, little pompons, etc. BUT that felt was horrible for any projects of more sophistication. Thankfully the resurgence of wool and understanding it’s qualities, gives us a chance to show felted wool at it’s best. More…
Mmmmm, can’t decide if this was how I felt before Thanksgiving…or after!
Meant to get a blog post out before Thanksgiving and had taken this picture of our Halloween pumpkin which my DH had kindly moved to the wooded part of our back yard (I think he was trying to see just what our little Aussie pup would think of it!) It was rather entertaining to see the face slowly collapsing, resulting in some interesting expressions! It seems no matter how hard I try to prepare and think ahead, the days before a holiday are always a bit crazy and exhausting as I try to ‘get things ready’!
I envy those of you who have figured out just how to ‘let it all go.’ The fact remains, however, that for 25 years we have celebrated Thanksgiving with my DH’s family in a wonderful secluded ‘cabin’ up north – it is a large, active, and quite often boisterous crew (20-30 people as well as assorted dogs) that gathers there… and I wouldn’t miss it for all the world. (My family was very small and Thanksgiving was almost always just the 5 of us!) More…
Houston International Quilt Market 2012
It’s done! It’s done! The slide show is done! Yes, with the help of my very patient web savvy son, I can finally share my trip to the International Quilt Market in Houston 2 weeks ago. As a first timer, I not only had a great time networking, etc. but also taking photos. There were ‘aisles and miles’ of inspirational colors and textures. So, for those of you who have never attended such a large show or market, I hope you can get a sense of the Market from behind your screen! Enjoy ‘the trip!’ As a designer, I found that ideas just kind of generated themselves as I walked up and down the walkways and taking in all the displays. Now I just have to decide just which ideas I should pursue in the coming months. The hardest thing for me is that I have not had time to quilt at all in the last 9-10 months, while I have been designing, drafting, photographing, and writing patterns as well as making the samples!! I miss the quiet meditation that I have when I sit and stitch. I’m beginning to think I will need to designate myself a ‘vacation’ – a time frame in which I will just focus on my own personal projects. Mind you, I am not complaining – after having chronic lymes for who knows how many years, I finally connected with ‘lymes literate doctor’ a year ago; with one year of treatment behind me, I am cautiously esctatic – feeling much better with more energy and improved stamina and less fatigue. I still have a way to go, but am hoping the trend continues. Who knows what I could get done if I had more energy!?!?!? More…
What fun to see my samples on display in the National Non Woven’s booth!
It’s taken a few days for me just to ‘get my bearings’ as I thoroughly enjoyed the International Quilt Market in Houston. As a first timer, I really didn’t know what to expect…and as a designer, it is a bit different to attend, since most vendors are geared toward shops. I had two main goals in attending: to be able to take in just what is ‘out there’- materials, tools and notions, patterns, techniques, etc. so that my patterns will be current, unique, and inspirational………and to be able to network with others regarding any of the aspects of pattern design, production, sales, etc. I believe I accomplished both of those goals. So many vendors were generous with their advice and encouragement – I wish I could thank them all! I do know that I have been overwhelmed with ideas as my mind is racing with potential projects and patterns. (I think I need to clone me!!) I do think that visual and sensory overload is common to creative people as we tend to look at materials and can think of umpteen new ways to use them!! More…
