Studio Kit

As you may know, I'm going to be participating in my first show and sale this coming Saturday. Unfortunately, I've had a set-back in this six week long battle against a cold I've been engaged in, and have had to spend the weekend in bed. (Could this have come at a worse time, I ask you?)

I've been tucked up under my quilts reading when not napping, but that hasn't furthered my cause.

Consequently, I'm going to be working like a crazy person this week at night and won't have time to blog. I'll miss you, but I'll see you next Monday.

And that book? I highly recommend it!

See you next week!

Arlee Barr, Bridgette Guerzon Mills, "Dancing Crow", Kirsten Chursinoof,
1. untitled2, 2. growing_mending, 3. veils of mist, 4. Silhouettes, Black and White

It went from a balmy 15 degrees yesterday, to a blisteringly cold minus something or other in a 24 hour period, which highlighted for me the need for a winter coat. Why am I telling you this? Because instead of quilting in my sewing room, I've been sewing in my sewing room - i.e.; making myself a new winter coat.

Of course, it's not like I don't have a winter coat - in fact I have several; it's just that they're all in storage at the moment, and I don't have access to storage until our car is available, and that won't be for another couple of weeks. (Long story, I'll share another time)

So, I'm showing you this, I think, quite cute little quilted tissue cover I made to add to my bird theme cubicle decorations.

Also, a couple of weeks ago, I won some really lovely loot, and it arrived in the mail last Friday.

Hand made cards, a "leaf gatherer" pouch and assorted deliciousness from Heike Gerbig, a textile artist who blogs at Gerdiary (and has recently been published in Cloth Paper Scissors and 1000 Artisan Textiles.) In addition to being a maker, she also produces beautiful hand dyed cloth. I already know exactly how I'm going to use this fabric - it's perfect for a piece I've had in mind.

Speaking of how I'm using it:

It's the perfect size to drape around my neck while I'm working in order to hold all the little things I use frequently - instead of putting them on my sewing table where they (singly or collectively) manage to fall to the floor several times per session.

Lucky me!

Thank you Heike!

So, as you may remember, I'm going to be part of a group show and sale taking place in two weeks. I've been very busy getting ready for that, and realized today that I have a paltry five tote bags and six lunch bags to offer. I hope I'm going to be selling more than THAT.

So, earlier this evening, I whipped up a couple:

You may remember "Oscar" - this is a blue/green version. And the back:

That's a pocket on the back there - and the inside follows:

I LOVE that quilting! I may have to do a whole quilt like that some day. And then I made a chenille and velvet tote:

The inside is a solid golden mustard colour and it's quilted very simply - just the vertical runs up. The sides are the velvet and are quilted in diamonds:

I think I should have at least 20 tote bags and 20 lunch bags, even if I don't sell them all in addition to my quilts.

Stay tuned, as I become superwoman, if only temporarily, what with making quilts, tote bags, lunch bags, praticing for choir, spending time with my family, and, oh yes - working full time!

:)

I love this photo by Luisa Puccini, in Cambodia in 2005, is one that I come back to again, and again.

The colour pallette, the subject matter, it all lends itself beautifully to a textile art piece. Some day....

So, I had this idea: make a luxurious, elegant monochromatic quilt in a luscious range of silks - an homage to a 12 patch, with a tiny linen seam to break up the silks. Given that those silk fabrics cost close to $500, I thought I should do a trial run with something much less expensive: