Indian Summer...

January is quickly coming to an end, and we are finally getting some winter weather in SE Pennsylvania with temperatures in the teens and the prospect of a bit of snow tomorrow. 

Days like this make me long for a fireplace.

Yesterday, as I was trying to finish up this Kaffe zig-zag quilt, I discovered that I had misaligned one of the borders. I spent most of last evening with my trusted friend, the seam ripper, correcting the problem.

Today the quilt top was completed, and I will attempt a better picture when the weather warms up a bit.

I have named it "Indian Summer."

This block for the Autumn Color Project 2012 is now finished and on its way to the

Republic of Moldova.

I am making progress on my CQJP 2013 project. I now have two of these mirror blocks and have started stitching the block that will sit in-between them. 

I went out bead shopping the other day, successfully gathering some new beads and ornaments that might make their way onto this wall hanging.

Tomorrow, I will let you know who will receive the jelly roll set of batiks. 

Until then, stay warm!

WIP - Wednesday

Well, I am making slow and steady progress on this first Autumn Project block that I received. I feel as if I am almost there.
A few more stitches and I'll be done this one.

I am so excited to now have my list of five people

who will be recipients of a surprise gift from me in 2013.

1. Masha   
http://alovchany.blogspot.com/2013/01/creative-pay-it-forward.html

2.  Tina  
http://feedthedogs.net/spilling-energy-2013-creative-pay-it-forward/

3.  Leslie  
http://lesliesitchintobestitchin.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-creative-pay-it-forward.html

4. Kerrie  
http://prettyladybaby.com/2013/01/05/2013-creative-pay-it-forward/

5.  Iris  
http://agildedyarn.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/2013-creative-pay-it-forward/

I'm going to be spending some time on each blog, getting to know all of you better, and trying to make my gifts to you  as personal as I can. Now, to get to work!

I have also received my first two completed blocks back from the Autumn Project. Such fun! These blocks started here in my home and have been around the world making their way back to me.
This block was embellished by Masha...
Thank you, Masha. It is so beautiful!

And this block was embellished by Natasha.
Thank you, Natasha. Your work is lovely!

Stay tuned! A giveaway is coming up in the next blog post...

Hurricane Sandy

For me, Hurricane Sandy has come and gone, but, for so many, the effects will linger for a long time. The coast was hit hard, and the stats are pretty bad. I lost no power, and the only reminder of all the water is the large puddle in my backyard. This actually makes my River Birch very happy.

All day yesterday, I sat at my sewing machine working, listening to the increasing winds and rain, wondering when the power would go off. We were all prepared with candles and flashlights. The lights flickered on and off several times. We were convinced it was inevitable. We were very fortunate.

For the Autumn Color Project 2012, Tatyana from England had dyed so much fabric....enough to construct several blocks. So Masha, the lovely woman who put this project together, asked me to make some more blocks with the fabric, lace, and motifs that I had left.

So, yesterday, I put together three more blocks and STILL have fabric, lace, and motifs left over!

This week, all the blocks will be off to other parts of the world to be embellished.

My thoughts go out to all those affected by the hurricane...

The rebuilding begins...

Penrose Tiling and more Autumn 2012

This afternoon, I will be facilitating the exploration of math and science in art with a group of 12-14 year old children at Open Connections in Newtown Square. 

I have enjoyed, from time to time, creating works using Penrose tiling. The canvas I will be using today as an example is called "Estella", named after a character in Kristy Kiernan's book, Catching Genius.

After a short introduction to Sir Roger Penrose, British mathematical physicist, recreational mathematician, and philosopher, I will help the children create their own 12" x 12" canvas.

Using my fractals, I created a set of Penrose's darts and kites for each child and packaged them with a dart and kite template.

Below is a canvas I began to show them the process of the tiling and the application of the paper darts and kites to the canvas.

My daughter happens to be in this class, so I hope that I don't embarrass her totally :)

Yay! I received another kit from Masha in Russia for the Autumn Color 2012 Project. This picture does not do justice to the absolutely beautiful work she did dying her fabric.

From this, I needed to construct a block that will be sent to Natalia in Russia.

After choosing some of my own fabrics, this is what I came up with. Can't wait to see how Natalia embellishes this !

Well, off to Open Connections. Have a great day!!!

Autumn Color 2012 - Phase 2

The Autumn Color 2012 Project is well under way. Each participant dyed their own fabric, lace, 

and motif and sent their kits out. I received my first kit from Tatyana in England. I was 

under the impression that we were to send two pieces of fabric, two pieces of lace, 

and one motif.....and this is what I received.

Enough materials to make at least four blocks!

With each kit I receive, I am to construct a 7" crazy quilt block and send it to another person on the list. The following form accompanies each package so that, in the end, each of us will know who did the dying, who constructed the block, and who did the embellishing.

Here is the block I constructed from Tatyana's materials that will now be sent to 

Liudmila in the Republic of Moldova.

Such fun!!!

Oh! Crazy love....

Maybe it's silly, but when I look at this quilt top, I hear Van Morrison singing Crazy Love. 

How could I not give it that name?

So, here is the Crazy Love quilt.

Feels fitting...I love color, I love Kaffe fabrics, I love my crazy life, and it all makes me smile.

Well, some good things you have to wait for. This quilt top began in the fall of 2011 and is now done.

I named it "Holding the World."

And......I finished stitching my 3rd crazy quilt block! My dear friend, Masha, and I swapped blocks and stitched for each other. She sent me the block, thread, and beads....and the rest was up to me. I had so much fun with this. The colors brought constant cheer to me.

Enjoy, Masha :) It will be in the mail on Monday wrapped in love and

best wishes.

Here is the lovely block that Masha stitched for me.

A deeply felt thank you....

Did I hear Kaffe??

Seriously, whenever I hear the name Kaffe, I smile. 

Why? 

Because his fabric designs simply make me happy. The graphics are bold, and the colors are saturated. Just love them!!!

I'm working with 16 different fabrics from Kaffe Fassett's fall 2012 collection.

Lucky me :)

Here's my October block for the Block Swap Adventure...

and...

I finally finished my second crazy quilt block. Because I'm such a newbie at this, a block feels like it takes me forever. I think when I have learned a lot more stitches and the design elements flow more freely, I won't be so slow. However, I have the rest of my life to work on it.

Thankful for every moment I can spend with fabric and thread...

Our online selves...

In general, bloggers keep their private lives off their blogs. We all put our best foot forward and choose not to talk about the problems that are an inevitable part of life. I have noticed that this has been a recent subject of two blogs that I follow....both bloggers decided to be adventurous and get personal. The responses were numerous, thoughtful, and genuine.

Quilting, sewing, creating....these are the things that keep my life in balance. These are the activities that help me manage the rocky terrain of life. So, this is what I talk about. However, here's my moment of disclosure. Lately, life has felt like a game of dodgeball, and when I was least expecting it, I got blind-sided with a ball and got up stunned. It happens...and it hurts like hell. I haven't even had the energy to take the cover off my machine.

Recently, I have become greatly inspired by the work of a lovely woman, Masha Novoselova. She is a remarkable fiber artist. Through her, I have become interested in the revival of the Crazy Quilt. I haven't done embroidery work in many, many years. Last night, after making a small crazy quilt block, I got out my needles and floss and began.

Masha had given me some general direction and ideas for stitches and placement, but I realized that as you work, the fabric begins to speak to you. I found myself asking, "What do you want and where?" In the process, I learned the blanket stitch, the cretan stitch, and the threaded back stitch.

I have only begun. I have a lot more to do. If I add beads, I will need to go get a tiny needle. Not everything that I stitched stayed on. You just have to love your seam ripper and embroidery scissors for removing everything that goes awry. I am hoping that I end up with something that I like. Regardless, it was fun to begin something new that progresses at a slow pace. I need slow right now!

Last week, I got the border on my morning glories. I think maybe the French knots was the beginning of something new...