Friday, August 31, 2012

The Embroidery Frame and the Orange Swim Noodle

 
What do an Embroidery Frame and an orange Swim Noodle have to do with each other?
 
 
 
Early this morning, I changed this embroidery to a different frame. I like this sort of frame all right, but the bolts and wing nuts that hold the frame together, drive me crazy. They bang against the table every time I move the frame and they will scratch the surface of whatever it rests on including my leg! So I went off to my Water Aerobics class this morning thinking about what I could use to cover those metal bolts. I first concidered small tennis balls ( these don't work--wouldn't stay on). My second choice was a swim "Noodle". These came to mind as there is a rack of them next to the aeorobics pool. "Noodles" are so handy (they are good tools for felting as well). We use these "noodles" in the river all summer long, so we always have a supply in the garage. This was an old one that had seen better days, but it does have a hole in the middle which is what I needed to stick the bolt into. I cut it into slices with a serrated bread knife. It won't last forever, but noodles are easily replaced.

New Ball

 
Tessie has a
 NEW BALL.
She would like someone to come over and
PLAY

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Saraz Smock


Look! Here is another top made out of an old cotton shirt. I have been wearing this Thrift store shirt around the house for over a year. The buttons would not stay buttoned anymore because the buttonholes were shreading. Early this morning, I made it into this smock to wear over a T-shirt or something. I think I like it. I get to wear it another year!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

What Is Old Is New Again

My old shirt is getting a re-do.
I especially like the curved hem and the sweat-shirt sleeve extensions.
Still have more to do......

Monday, August 27, 2012

Chain, Chain, Chain

 
I am working on a new embroidery. Well, I have been working on it for a while.
 It is maybe a week old.
 It is 12x12 and is a combination of machine and hand embroidery.
For the "filling" stitch, I am using Chain stitch--lots and lots of chain stitch. It is worked in Pearl cotton and in a certain light is quite shiny.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

A Quilt Top

 
I spent the last couple of days making this!
Now I have to quilt it.........

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Completed

I have finished a few things, so I thought I would show them.
 Do you like them? Which one is your favorite?

You Are Here
9 x 24
pieced, appliqued,embroidered, hand quilted 



Untitled(detail)
12 x 12
hand dyed,woven,embroidered hand stitched 


Erosion
16 x 10
hand dyed, appliqued, embroidered, cut
Diary Of A Woman Who
Takes Herself Seriously
8" x 28"
mono printed, embroidered, manipulated, appliqued

Monday, August 20, 2012

Are You the Queen?

Are you the Queen of anything?


Are you the Queen of Embroidery?
Are you the Surface Design Queen?
Are you the Queen of Dyeing
Are you the Queen of Knitting
Are you the Quilting Queen
Are you the Queen of Sketch Books?
Are you the Journal Queen?
Are you the Queen of Mean?

I don't think I am the Queen of anything!
Well, my family thinks I am the Queen of Cheesecakes!
It bothers me a little bit.
Why am I not the Queen of something?

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Have You Seen This?

 
Little Pig, Little Pig, Let Me Come In
8 x 10

Have you seen this? I don't think so.
It is a mixed media collage of stitched pieces.
The pig is pressed out of paper clay with an old red plastic cookie cutter.
The tree has some "Angelina" leaves and then there is the verdigris Key!
It makes me smile.

Friday, August 17, 2012

And For My Next Trick

 
So I felt like playing around with dyes....
I got out a fat quarter of a horrible florescent pink (why did I have that?)
and over dyed with blue followed by discharging through a couple of stencils,
then stamping with Lumiere paint and hand painting with fabric paint

What did I get?
Nothing Really.

It is not quite MUD
and I do like the depth and the landscape quality
I wonder if I should add another layer or
CUT IT INTO TINY PIECES...... 

Thursday, August 16, 2012

A Slice of Blue

 
Here is the scarf I have been working on as per instructions from one of the Alabama Studio books.
I used one of my own stencils and I had no idea it would take me so long to stitch it!
So, 2 T-shirts, multiple skeins of blue embroidery thread, sore fingers and 3 evenings worth of stitching equal one finished scarf.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Beading Hats

 
I am sort of all over the place here. But then, what else is new. I have been working on my Ledger for Karen Ruane's class for weeks and I still have one lesson I want to complete for the book. I "painted" the cover of the sketchbook/ledger. I think I blogged about that. I fixed my mistake, but it needs something more so I will show you that later. Meanwhile, I went back to working on these Alabama Studio inspired hats. Last weekend, we went to my nephew's wedding in Louisiana. It was a long drive there and back and these hats were a good project for the car since I wasn't driving. I did the applique part, not the beading! Back in the studio, while I am beading, I keep thinking of other things to try, so I jump up and start another project. I found some fabric spray paint while browsing the craft section of a local store and it is the perfect thing for stenciling fabric. So I have been messing with that. Yesterday, I sprayed a design on a recycled T-shirt that will make a scarf. I couldn't wait to see how that was going to look, so as soon as it was dry, I started sewing on that. I haven't decided what I will work on today. It is too hot to be outside and I have already watered the plants.  I think I will get another cup of coffee and get busy on all of the above..........

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Embroidery Over Watercolor Over Emulsion On Fabric


5.5 x 5.5 
Posted by Picasa

Front or Back?

 

A Good Laugh

Are you ready for this? I worked hard yesterday, painting and collaging the cover of my Ledger. I opened out both covers to work on it and left it to dry overnight. This morning when I came to admire it and fold it back together, guess what? I had put the interesting stuff on the back cover instead of the front! The "Saraz" is upside down on the bottom of the back cover. How dumb can you get? I suppose I will just add some more interest to the back (actually the front) and paint out the label. Or should I leave it to remind me to be more careful? Are you confused?