June’s TIF Color Shading Chart

Sharon posted the colors for June’s TIF Challenge and I made a color blend chart for everyone again.  Please feel free to copy it, and I hope it is of some help in selecting your colors.

More Free Standing Lace Motifs Made

It’s been a productive few days.  The paper pieced blocks for GVQC’s quilt are completed and a beaded tatted motif was finished.  It will be put on Gerry’s block and when I finish the seam treatments, I’ll take a photo and put it on the blog.  My hand knitted sweater is also coming along well. 

A mini free standing lace experiment was completed also.  I sewed the same motifs using different stabilizers - 2 layers of Solvy and 2 layers of Rinseaway were used to sew out a free lace design from Zundt. 

I had used 2 layers of the Rinseaway for another project, and should have read the instructions and used one layer for the lace motifs.  The Rinseaway motif was in water for close to 72 hours.  I picked at it with tweezers, changed the water at least 20 times a day and everytime I washed my hands, I washed the motif too. 

As you can see in the picture, the Rinsewaway paper didn’t want to dissolve.  It is a wonderfully soft piece of lace, but it’s hard to see the lace design.  I should probably try it again, using one layer, but I really don’t like the fuzzy edges. 

The motif that used 2 layers of Solvy really showcases the lace design.  It soaked in water overnight.  It isn’t nice and soft like the Rinseaway motif though. 

The conclusion?  Each stabilizer has good points and bad.  Each stabilizer is best suited for a specific project.  I will continue using the Solvy for free standing lace designs and I will also use the Rinseaway for embroidering on wearable items.  The drape and softness of the embroidery is wonderful, and I really didn’t give it a fair shot by using 2 layers instead of one.

Trials and Errors and Successes

The past 3 days have been mega fiber frustrating for me.  Friday night I tried shuttle tatting again - this time with a beginner book.  The center was made with no problem, but then I could not figure out how to add the chains for the next rows. 

Stubborn head that I am, I tried all sorts of variations till the wee hours of the morning, then picked it right back up again Saturday - with nothing to show for all that time.  I haven’t given up, but it was time to work on something else.

Crocheting is easy for me, and the library has some wonderful books on the subject.  Crochet edgings and flowers would be lovely on crazy quilt blocks, so out came my teeny tiny metal crochet hooks and sewing thread.  You can probably guess by now that all did not go well.  Sunday’s crochet efforts yielded absolutely nothing.

Monday - the start to a new week - and my favorite day of the week - yes, I’m nuts, nobody likes Mondays except for me - I tried the crocheted flower again.  Success - sort of.  I was able to make the motif, but I didn’t like it with the variegated thread. 

You know what?  I was thrilled.  I was able to crochet the motif with thread and the small crochet hook, and I learned that variegated thread wasn’t a good idea for this type of design.  Mistakes are valuable learning experiences as far as I’m concerned.

Lastly, my embroidery machine was kept busy sewing out some of the lovely Criswell free standing lace designs I purchased oodles of years ago.  5 cones of 60/2 weight 100% silk yarn/thread were purchased for use with an industrial Dubied knitting machine I owned years ago. The machine was sold to a woman in California, and the silk was languishing in a drawer.  No more:

I really liked how these motifs sewed out and being 100% silk, I’ll be able to dye them any color I like.  Happy Days again!!!  I got my fiber mojo back!!! It’s going to be a good week.

Happy April 1st

The last few days have been spent in trying to make a beaded button, knitting, and getting over being disappointed that the “brilliant” idea I had for finishing up the Rosalie Dace workshop piece was a resounding failure.

The beaded button progressed quickly - once I stopped looking at pictures of other people’s beaded buttons and concentrated on making my own.  The internet is a wonderful resource, but I have a tendency to look too much, and create too little.

Here’s a picture of what I made yesterday:

The colors might not show up well on your monitors, but it’s really got some gorgeous rainbow hued beads on it.  I love that they take on different colors as the light hits them. Some are round, some are mini bugle types, plus there are silver beads and a silver cord couched down.  There are also some rose colored sequins attached by yet more rainbow hued beads.

I followed the directions from the site I mentioned last month, and a book from the library - taking a bit from one and bit from the other.  All of them suggested you place the button on top of your fabric and  trace around it, trace another larger circle around that and then bead in the center circle.

As you can see in the picture, way too much fabric shows along the edges.  Thank heavens I have a good seam allowance around the beading.  I’ll be able to remove the metal button form, add more beading, and then finishing the button. 

Making buttons is a bit like eating peanuts - you can’t stop with just one.  Now to make something to showcase this button - maybe a new purse.

The sweater knitting is progressing slowly but surely.  All is calm on the knitting front.

It’s too bad the workshop piece is stalled - yet again.  My “brilliant” idea was universally disliked.  It’s one thing if my husband dislikes it.  He’s my fiber art barometer.  If he dislikes something, either the piece gets sold, or an article gets published.  It’s a totally different thing when my fellow fiber artists look at it, and oh so politely suggest other ideas.   I asked for their thoughts, and they shared them - without hurting my feelings.  So it’s back to the design wall for that piece. 

Spring, This is Spring???

We interrupt this fiber adventure to show what Spring - yes Spring - is like in Upstate New York.

Yes, that’s snow - a lot of snow.  Yes, it’s Spring - but I live in Upstate New York.  That first picture is one of an English Walnut tree planted beside our driveway.   It is a beautifully regal tree with nice even branching.  It is home to lots of birds in the summer, and has a bed of crocus and perennials sheltered at the tree base.  You’d never know, as they haven’t dared start their journey to the surface.

This picture is of 3 of the evergreens edging our driveway. 

They were planted to keep the snow from drifting in and filling our 550′ driveway, and they do a wonderful job.  You can see a bit of the English Walnut tree on the left of the picture.  Now you can tell just how tall these evergreens have grown.

I do remain ever hopeful though. 

This last picture is of some daffodils, bravely pushing their way to the sun.  They are planted along the foundation of our house in the backyard.  The backyard has a southern exposure and the first signs of Spring make their debut along the house. 

I’d deeply appreciate it, if anybody from the south is reading this blog, to please put some fans on, and point them towards the north.  We could do with some nice southerly breezes up here. 

Sewing and New Meeting

Last night I worked on the hamster cell project started in Rosalie Dace’s 2005 workshop.  It felt so good to start sewing the background.  Hopefully it will be finished before the end of the month and I’ll post a picture. 

It’s nothing like what Rosalie makes, which is good.  Have you ever taken a workshop, and everyone walks out with pieces that look the same?  That’s great for a pattern class, but not so great for a fiber art class.

Rosalie inspires, creates a safe atmosphere for expressing the individual style of each participant, but also manages to guide and teach at the same time.  I have no idea how she manages to do that, but if you ever get an opportunity to take a class by her, please do so.  You will not be disappointed.  You can some of her fiber art at: http://www.fibreworksart.com/Dace.html

This afternoon is the first meeting of a small fiber art group I’m starting on my side of the city.  Most meetings are on the other side of town, start early in the morning - I am not a morning person - have room fees, and while I dearly loved all the people, it was too much for me.

Our local library lets us book a room - for free - and some people will work on their own projects and some will be making Big Bodacious Beaded Buttons - free instructions at: http://tiny.cc/i7CMq

One of the ladies is a terrific tatter, and guess who will be getting a lesson?  I’m bound and determined to make that floral motif properly. 

We’ll also have time for Show and Tell, and critique each other’s work - if critique is desired.  Personally, I find this a very importatnt part of a fiber art group.  Constructive critiques help tremendously.  Sometimes I’m too closely involved with a piece to see how it really appears.  Another set - or 2 or 3 - of eyes is so helpful.

I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful day today. 

Second Shuttle Tatting Attempt

That tatting motif I tried to make last week has resurfaced in a second edition and I decided to crochet a variation of it to see how the two compared. 

The tatted motif - on the left - was made with YLI’s Jean thread and the same beads.  It came out much better than my first attempt, and it took a little under an hour to complete.

The crocheted motif - on the right - is more delicate looking to me and it took about 10 minutes to make.  Both designs are about the size of a dime.  Which one do I like better?

Originally, I thought why ever bother tatting?  It’s much quicker to crochet a motif and it came out really pretty.  Then a dear friend - Lona - pointed out that yes, they were similar, but they were different.  There would be opportunities to use both motifs depending on the project.

Am I ever lucky to have her as a friend or what?  She was spot on with that advice, and I couldn’t see it because I was focusing on the amount of time it took to make each motif.

First Shuttle Tatting Attempt

Yesterday was spent trying to make a tatted motif.  All I can say is I need a lot more practice trying to shuttle tat.  Even with watching the wonderful videos on Sharon’s - from Ontario, Canada - tatted lace site http://www.gagechek.com/slb/  it took me awhile to get the hang of it.  For some reason needle tatting came easily to me, but shuttle tatting is a totally different approach for me, and the results were not pretty.

Part of the reason was the thread.  Metallic slubby thread is not a good choice for a first attempt.  And as long as I was making the entire process more difficult, I threw in using beads for the first time too.  Not to be out-done, the pattern selected was written for experienced tatters - no detailed instructions. This was destined for failure.

No, it doesn’t look picture perfect, and that’s why I put this photo on my blog.  Not everything comes out the way I want the first time around, and that’s okay.  It takes time and practice to develop new skills and shuttle tatting is a new skill set for me to develop.

Another reason for uploading the photo is to share how I’m going to use this little motif. I’m going to hide the start and end - where the motif spreads out - with some embroidery.  When it’s used in a project, nobody will know that it is a wee bit cockeyed. Well, nobody will know if you all don’t tell on me.  Shhhhhh, this is between us textile artists. 

This motif was supposed to be used for the second fabric postcard in the TIFC, but it is not right for that card.  Who knows where it will be used?  For now, it will take a place in the drawer holding all my little bits of lace, sewing machine free standing lace motifs, and other small textile treasures, waiting for it’s turn to shine.  

First Bead Making Venture

Last night I attempted to make my first peyote stitch bead.  While it’s not perfect, I enjoyed making it and love the warm, bright colored beads chosen.

This first bead was left open on each end - it’s a tube - so that I can thread yarn, other stringed beads, shells, or whatever comes to mind through the center. It’s a versatile shape and am very much looking forward to making it in different sizes and colors. 

My local JoAnns, Etc just so happens to have all their Darice glass beads on sale for 40% off this week.  Was this kismet or what?  I purchased one of each color this afternoon on my way home from attending GVQC,Inc’s monthly meeting.  http://www.gvqc.org/index.html

Our speaker today was Anne Lullie http://annelullie.com/index.html and what wonderfully colorful quilts she makes.  I was intrigued by her most recent mosaic work.  It was spectacular.  They managed to brighten up our dreary Upstate New York weather so much that the sun came out as we left the meeting.  Mere coincidence?  I choose to think not.

She had patterns and some of her wonderful hand dyed fabric for sale, but I resisted because I had already spent a bundle on some of the wonderful textiles Priscilla Kibbee brought home from her recent travels in Vietnam and Guatemala.  Buttons, beads, silks, hand embroideries - it was a fiber lover’s feast at the meeting today.

Image Printed

Today the printed image that will be used in my View from the Front Door Series was made.  It was the first time I used Bubble Jet Set, and armed with the tips from Caryl Bryer Fallert’s web site http://www.bryerpatch.com/  -  a new-to-me fiber technique has been discovered.  

Caryl’s tip to edit the image, then print small versions was a very good idea.  I took a photo of the 4 tweaked images so you can see there were slight variations but noticeable ones.  Each had a different dpi and various photo finishes were used.  It was clear to me that image #2 was the winner. 

It truly helps to have a sense of humor when you are working on a Series.  Why?  Well, I spent a few days being stymied with how I was going to exhibit these pieces.  After sketching the evening I finished the first piece, I came up with nothing.  A few frustrating days followed.  I couldn’t think of a solution and I couldn’t start the second piece unless I was sure all 3 pieces would work together.

Another night of sketching resulted in the “ah-ha” moment of resolution.  Eureka, I could get to work again.  Now here’s where the sense of humor was needed.  All that sketching was thrown out the door this morning, when I realized the printed image had to be turned sideways.  

Was it having a sense of humor that saved the day?  The wonderful cup of coffee I was drinking?  Being post menopausal and not having to deal with hot flashes any more?  I don’t know.  Probably a combination of all of the above.  All I know is that turning it sideways resulted with an even better looking setting solution. 

We can plan, we can sketch, we can measure to our heart’s content, but “oops” moments will arise.  How we deal with them is up to us.  It may lead us to trying a new technique.  It could require a call to a friend for advice or for some quality venting.  It might even mean starting all over again.  However, resolving the “oops” moments can be oh so satisfying.