For those of you that remember the Pink Artist Project from last year, there is now a part 2!  A badge to the right will take you to all the goings on. After participating in the original doll project, how could I pass up a chance to help again? Look for my piece of art to donate in the near future.  All donated artworks will be part of a drawing held September 1, 2009. Donations for the drawing will start July 1, 2009. So get ready! All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen for the cure foundation. 

   More to follow…

   OK, I say this every time I post, but this time, I’m going to be more consistent. A new chapter in my life has started, so with it new goals, and enthusiasm.

  The last of my customer quilts is on the longarm, and then I am free to work on my own projects for as long as I choose. What a feeling of freedom that gives me – to be able to create for myself and not worry about deadlines.  Don’t get me wrong, I still have my day job. A girl’s gotta eat ya know. But my free time is truly free time now.  

  There’s a small group of women I sew with now that is so much fun, I look forward to every time we meet. Our group name is “Sew Insane” if that gives you any idea of what we’re like. But, how refreshing to have a group to create with, without competition rearing it’s ugly head. We have no rules, except to support each other and have fun. One of the projects we’re working on now is found at http://twiddletails.blogspot.com/2009/02/geese-in-forest-bom.html  Each of us is making this quilt using our own fabbric selections. I’ll keep you posted as the project moves along. It is based on a fabulous quilt from the Tokyo International Quilt Festival  http://www.flickr.com/photos/movinghands/362401016/in/set-72157594488104676/

Enjoy this beautiful eye candy. There’s more to come…

In the mean time, hop over to Quilt  ‘N’ Stitch. A new quilting network I’ve joined. My shop hasn’t been set up yet, but that too is coming.

  Fall is in the air! Even though it is still August, fall is not far away now. The mornings are getting crisp and cool, and the days are getting shorter. Fall renews my spirit and creative energies. I don’t much care for hot weather anymore. Give me a sunny day with pleasant cool breezes any time.

  So, having said that, holiday swaps are just beginning! I’ve posted a photo of my beginnings for a Halloween itty bitty book. This was a proud first for me. I’ve finally taken the time to play with my photo software and some digital scrapbooking downloads to get the effects I’m going for. My Halloween page is a combo of vintage family photo imposed on a piece of Halloween fabric, then adding a digital photo frame.  Isn’t technology a wonderful thing- at least when it works! Now all I need to do is print these little pages out and embellish away.

  Next up is a Christmas itty book, and a stocking swap. Oh, how I love Christmas! Having been born in the merry month of December, and only a week away from the big day, this is my month to enjoy. But, it will have to wait a little longer. September brings good things this year. I have made plans to attend SAW (Squam Art Workshops) and take a fabulous workshop from Nina Bagley, an artist whose work I have admired for some time. http://ornamental.typepad.com/   

Days are now spent dreaming of this class, and gathering way more supplies than I can possibly use in 3 days time!

  In preparation, I have also found a wonderful new place to spend my money! http://www.beaducation.com/classes/?p=home 

Since I’ve worked in a machine shop for almost 30yrs – a very scary thought that I have been around long enough to claim that! – working with jewelry just seems like a natural progression for me. So, along with metal working and bookmaking, I anticipate a wonderful outcome for this workshop! I could probably do this work all on my own, but how delicious to be working with a group of inspired women and be intoxicated with their energy! Instead of working on quilts right now, I’m playing endlessly with jewelry findings, beads, found objects, and figuring out how best to age and colorize my book pages, that are actually matte board.

  So, in my quest for a few supplies yesterday, I came across a book, new to me, that just screams for my attention. http://www.susanlenartkazmer.net/ 

Finding time to devour this book and work some of it’s magic is going to be another challenge.

  At times it seems I’m a little scattered and unfocused. But, truth be known, there is a method to my madness. I feel like I’m making up for lost time somehow, and need to learn these techniques, make them my own and run, no fly with them.

  So, stick around for the journey…

“No matter how outrageous or extravagant your dream may be, today’s the day to tell someone exactly what it is-because that’s the first step in making any dream come true.” -taken from my daily calendar, “Getting In Touch With Your Inner Bitch”

  “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller

 Please take a look at Love Squared, the beautiful doll that is the  ”idea come to life” by Monica Magness over at girl-gone-thread-wild,  along with 182 artists. There’s a pretty little pink badge to connect you.

 This doll is dedicated to everyone, everywhere touched by breast cancer. Love Squared will be raffled in October, so go make your donations now!! All monies will go to the Susan G. Komen fund. Woldn’t you just love to take her home?

  Well, I’ve been away too long this time, so need to make a few new announcements.

Take a look at the finished Pink Artist Project. http://girl-gone-thread-wild.blogspot.com/2008/04/pink-artist-doll-reveal.html  The Love Squared doll is amazing and quite an accomplishment for Monica, who organized the whole thing. Soon there will be more information, but in a nutshell, the doll will be in the Fall issue of Art Doll Quarterly out in October. AND, and this is big, she will be raffled off with all the proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen fund. I’ll let you know when tickets are available. I’m proud to be a part of this project.

  Work (my day job) has gotten the better of me for a while now, so no new photos of the sashiko quilt, but it is going to be a stunner. I have managed to participate in a few swaps. The Robin’s Egg Blue Itty Bitty Book swap is now complete, and the book is deliciously fun to look at. Just hit the badge and you can get some glimpses of the wonderful work everyone did over at flickr. Mary Ann is such a sweet and wonderful hostess, and has now started a new swap, “Vintage Prom Dress”. So be on the lookout for postings as that swap gets underway.

 If that’s not enough, Bridget from the Itty Bitty group is hostessing yet another swap using the sweetest little house template. I’ll keep you posted on that one too.

  My contribution to Jo Anne’s “In the Pink” book project just went in the mail today. I’m embarassed to admit it but I’m 1 week late on the mailing. Something I do my very best to avoid, but like I said earlier my day job has been wild lately. So, here is part of my contribution. I love this little girl! Who hasn’t loved playing dress up and with a parasol too! That’s just too much fun.

  So, that’s it for now. I’ll try not to stay away so long next time. And now it’s off to quilting I go. There are some crazy barn chicks waiting for me!

    Just when it seems spring has arrived, nature gives us a surprise. It’s the end of March now, and there was fresh snow yesterday. The sun is out and shining in all it’s glory today, so it is beautiful, but enough already!

  Well, here is my update on the sashiko quilt experiment. The quilting has gone well, I just need to finish stitching the borders and put on the binding. This fabric is the best to work with. The design is woven into the fabric rather than printed on. The grain was so wonderfully straight that keeping the design aligned was a dream. This is quilted with the new organic bamboo batting. Another favorite to use. After quilting, it stays nice and soft and drapes very nicely. I’ll definitely use this again. I’ve already started the applique, but won’t post pictures of that until complete, I don’t want to give away the surprise. But so far, the ladies in my Thursday evening quilt group love this quilt. It’s very simple, but elegant.

   The floral backing shows the stitching a bit better, it’s hard to get the full affect in a small shot, but click on the thumbnail for a larger view. The border went to plan “B”. The original was way too busy for the fabric, so I went to stright line stitching to keep things simple.

  I will post more as it goes. Now, I’m off to finish the borders on a   customer quilt. This is for a wedding gift, and the deadline is drawing near. I’m placing scalloped stitching lines for the binding, so the customer won’t have to do the figuring.

   Before I forget, I’m also working on a line of gift enclosure cards. right now they’re in the design phase, but a fun little diversion from work.

  One other afterthought: if you haen’t taken a look at the Pink Artist project, run over an take a look. The doll is soming together quite nicely, and is almost finished.

  Now, it’s really off to work!

  Here it is, just as I promised! I finished the quilt top and quilting just in time to get it to Quilted Threads for the big Saturday Strip Club Reaveal. It was a breath of spring walking in to the classroom and seeing the quilt hanging on the wall. We’ve had such an extended winter this year, and Saturday morning was no exception, more ice, snow, and rain, gray and gloomy again.

Here are a few close-ups:

  The circle design in the sashing, and the daisy design in the center block  are new designs from One Song Needle Arts. Everything else is Stitch-in-the-Ditch(SID). The thread is Madeira’s Polyneon 40, which I absolutely love to use.

  Today, Im getting ready to start a new project. This one is with a  Daiwabo plaid top, and a beautiful floral backing.

 It will be a first time trying to get a sashiko look on a wholecloth quilt, and using the new bamboo batting. I’ll post my progress on this one. After quilting, I’ll be adding some simple applique embellishments.

  Before I go, the thought for today came from my “Getting in touch with you inner Bitch Calendar:

     “No matter how outrageous or extravagant your dream may be, today’s the day to tell someone exactly what it is-because that’s the first step to making any dream come true.”

     WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS?

 ”Sitting Pretty” Challenge

  I’ve been off work this week and been able to play and visit all these fun challenge blogs. This is my first entry for the Skinny Saturday Challenge. http://sarahsskinnysaturdaychallenge.wordpress.com/

  I finally made my little 2 inch block for the Pink Artist project. Visit Monica’s blog to find out more about it. http://girl-gone-thread-wild.blogspot.com/ . My Aunt Brynne died earlier this year after a 15 year fight with cancer. She had more strength and courage than anyone I’ve ever met, so my block is dedicated to her.

   Not to change the subject so abruptly, but we’ve had MORE SNOW this week surprise, surprise! So, I got the camera out and took a few shots to show my friends in warm, sunny CA. The birhouse is in the front yard under a tree, and shot near the end of the storm. The others are of my little fur babies playing in the snow.

Bosley:  I don’t know how I got him so still, he’s usually pretty feisty. Bos is the smallest of the three, and always the instigator of all things going on.

Queenie:  A true sweetheart, and the most gentle of souls, but camera shy.

Barnie:  the Wonder Dog flying through the air on a mission! Barnie is a rescue dog, and pretty quirkie, even for a shih tzu. But, he loves being outside in the snow.

   WORK, WORK, WORK      This is a preview of the newest fabric selection for Quilted Threads strip club. I’m busy putting the sample together for the big reveal on Saturday 3/8/08. This is all I can show you until then, but, this one is a beauty. Look for a photo  of the completed quilt next week.

Here’s my version of action painting, only in fabric. This is from a class I took last fall, and it’s still a work in progess. Not a technique I’ll use often, but fun to play with. This was a technique class, so no pattern or guidelines to follow, and to my eyes, it is way too busy.(click on the thumbnail to get a larger view)