Classes, Quilts, and Kangaroos

This fall a few friends and I have taken a couple of classes from a local fiber artist. She teaches in her studio at her home. It is really fun to learn new techniques with a small group of friends in a comfortable setting.

First class was Brayer painting. My sample looks different from the others because I'm holding up a different style... I have some samples that look like theirs, and vice versa.

Next class was silk screening. Here are the samples I came home with. It's always a learning process, and some turn out great while others are mistakes from which we learn. From left to right, these are shapes I cut out of freezer paper and then screen printed, shredded paper set down on fabric and then screened (the black one below is a second run, but it was too weak and on black.. it barely shows), a couple different pre-made screens, fabric color crayons that morph and run in different ways when set with a "fixer", and the last one in bottom row is color discharge which again, I think I didn't quite use enough as it doesn't show up well.

I spent all day today working on a quilt which incorporates a couple of my class samples. I am having so much FUN making this quilt! I can't wait to show it to you, but it's for a guild challenge, so I'm going to wait until after I show it to my guild in December.

Here's a charity quilt I finished this week (machine quilted by Nancy). This is not one of the pile for which I solicited guesses on my finishing date, so don't get too excited, those of you who "voted."

Here's a baby quilt I made for a friend. Luckily, I worked on it ahead of time; the sweet little baby girl decided to arrive four weeks early. She was born on November 3, and I finished her quilt today, November 5. Her name is Ruby. Here is her adorable self:

and here is her quilt:

I managed to sneak in a few giraffes. Did you notice?

Are you wondering why I mentioned kangaroos in my post title? Well, I remembered I had this sweet little picture which I found shortly after we returned from our trip to Australia last May. This is at a kangaroo rescue that helps raise abandoned roo babies. Isn't this one the sweetest you ever saw, getting its love from a teddy bear? This is not a photo I took, by the way, nor did I visit the rescue location. I simply found this picture upon my return, when nostalgically looking up more facts and fun about Australia. I think this rescue operation tries to return the roos to the wild. Let's hope this one grows up to be a happy and free adult.

Now, back to my Happy Place (sewing room). Have a great weekend, everyone!

Fun Stuff I Did This Weekend

When most people talk about "fun stuff they did this weekend," they usually mean things like going for a walk, having a party, going to a movie, etc. Right? Well, when I do fun stuff it usually means sewing or creating in some way. I guess you know that about me by now.

I did a bunch of sewing of Half Square Triangles. I got pretty excited/distracted with these crazy things. I was working on a plan to get other people involved... but as I worked on these four blocks, which contain 16 HSTs per block, I realized it was not realistic to expect other people to do that many triangles. (Knowing, as I do, that some quilters dislike triangles, I had to change my plans..although personally I don't see how one can make many quilts without doing triangles!) Anyway, I got these four blocks made, and now I shall contemplate what to do with them. This is the way I roll: make something and THEN plan.

the pattern is Depression Block; I found it at quilterscache

I am also working on assembling a quilt that is just squares. I got the squares free. It's kind of boring to assemble, so I interrupted myself to fly off into Triangle Land. The squares-top is about half done, so no picture yet.

Last, I did some ice-dyeing. I did a session recently in which I was very disappointed with my colors, so I was eager to have another go at it. This time my colors are much prettier. I think it may be time to add a few dyes to my collection as I feel I have so few color options.

These are baby onesies and kid-size tops. The bigger top is an adult size Small. Not sure what I'll do with these yet, but one or two of them may show up in the silent auction we are going to do at work.

I'm reading a good book, too, but didn't find enough time to devote to my book today. Wish I could add a few hours to my days!

A Finish on a Big Quilt!

I finished the gorgeous quilt!! I'm really happy with it. I took a million pictures. I'll try to post a few less than a million here for you to enjoy.

beautifully quilted by Diane S.!

backing fabric that I dyed myself

If I Can't Sew, I'll Dye!

I've been on a creative streak lately. After I finished the Top That Has a Deadline (it is now in the hands of the machine quilter), I was happy that my sewing time was my own to play as I wanted. I managed to make a few tops. Most of these will be quilted by others... at least I hope so. I also did more ice dyeing, and hubby was a big help with the rinsing and wringing-out process.

pot holders for a friend

borders on a pre-printed panel

leftover pieces from a much bigger piece that I dyed myself - this will be backing for the panel quilt, above

orphan blocks joined together to make "Delicious Leftovers"

pattern is "The Road Trip Quilt" from cluckclucksew(dot)com tutorial - quick, simple, and cute -- and a confession: it really isn't sewn together yet; this is the rows up on the design wall, waiting to be assembled

I did more dyeing and had fewer big white spots this time around.

These are so pretty, I'm not sure I want to use them as quilt backs, which was my original plan.

I can't believe it's already August, and some schools are already back in session. Uffda! Once again, I thank my lucky stars that I am retired. (Gives me more time to sew and dye.)