Next Show Quilt Idea

About an hour ago, I had an idea for my next show quilt grow in my head. No better way to put it. Sorry!

I'm close to finishing the 3rd quilt in my "Party" series, and the idea for the next one grew out on an idea after watching the morning quilting shows on PBS. I envision pastel light batiks in a Dresden plate pattern with a light background layered that way I love to do, embellished with beads and crystals, of course. There may be some felt or other dimensional additions.

When I get these little epiphanies, I make a fast sketch and write down the layering and placement ideas very fast. That is the only blueprint I use for planning, but I do use it. The next step will be going to the stash and pulling likely fabrics to work with. If that doesn't satisfy me, a shopping I must go.

Going through some UFO's

I was finishing up the organization of new 3 drawer bins that I had purchased this week and I decided to open up a beading project that I started in 2008. I dropped it after I was accused of copying someone else's beading and teaching ideas, which was grossly untrue. I was never interested in teaching beading and was making my own beaded stuff and cuffs. I really enjoyed it at the time and felt really hurt by the accusation. I'm no longer friends with the accuser, but I am friendly. We now have an uncomfortable relationship.

As a result of the incident, I even fell back with my quilting for show, missing many opportunities to show the then current show quilt I had made that did go on to win several well placed national awards. Lesson learned that I need to be tougher, thicker skinned.

Today I brought out the beading UFO to look at it and admire what I had made so far. I'm excited again to finish it. The long strip is the base for the cuff and is the only thing that needs to be done. I'm not sure about the pendent as to if I'm going to string beads for a necklace or go with a corded choker. What do you think?

The beading UFO came to mind also because I stopped at the little bead store in Hayward WI where I live and I was impressed by her great selection. Hayward, WI has a population of 2000 and is 1 1/2 hours from any city of good size, so I'm feeling real lucky today with my treasures. This led to my organizing my sizable bead collection, and on and on.......

I'm actually procrastinating with the quilt on the frame that is half done. I better be a good girl and get to it.

Writing with Shiva Sticks

After a long day of painting the guest bedroom, I am finally finished with it. Now the carpet is drying after a good cleaning with the carpet cleaner.

I'm teaching a class on Wednesday that is about how to use Shiva Sticks. We will be stenciling, rubbing, writing, and coloring. The picture is shiva writing on batiks that are ironed to freezer paper for stability. The writings will be cut up and used for future projects. When you try this keep in mind you will not be able to write small. Most of my lettering is about 2 inches tall, and my sticks were a bit tacky or gummy because of the humidity. It was about 85 today and I do not have air conditioning. I think on a cooler day or more towards the winter months, my sticks would be more solid and easier to use for writing.

Inktense Experiment

Here is the finished piece from my experiment with the inktense watercolor pencils. Need I say, I am very pleased with the results? I tested the painted areas last night (late as in 3 am) an found them to be very stable and not prone to bleeding after being heat set.

I stitched and beaded until 3 am cause I was also watching a movie until the wee hours of the morning. Sometimes it is hard to stop when you start on a project. Of course I felt a little fuzzy this morning.


I used a fuchsia and soft green for the big stitch X's and a tear drop bead for the background. The football shaped bead is a pearlized fluorescent that is I love. It brightens up the piece. This is the first time I've used the big X stitch. I was inspired yesterday after watching some of my Quilting Arts cd's again. If you haven't seen Quilting Arts on PBS, you are really missing out on the best art

quilting out there. Interweave Publications is the best in the biz.

Please let me know what you think out my little experiment. I'm planning to try more with other white whole cloth quilting samples I've made. This will be a good exercise to try all of the different color materials I've purchased and not used, plus I can play with background fillers for surface design.

Inktense with a Trapunto Quilt

After a long day of painting a guest bedroom at my home, I went for a stress reliever. I pulled out my inktense colored pencils and colored an old teaching sample from a trapunto class I taught about 4 years ago.

After lightly coloring the quilted piece, I sprayed the entire piece with water.

I like how the ink migrated into the other colored areas, flaring out and mingling with the other colors.

When it is dry I will heat set it and consider mounting it on a canvas. It would be a great piece to embellish before mounting.

Has anyone out there in blog land

worked with inktense on their quilted pieces? I have a friend, Stephanie Forsyth, that told me about them. She has had good success using them.

Random Tidbits from the Milwaukee Quilt Show

I did not do any interviews beyond writing down tidbits for some of the teachers I talked to or listened to at the show. Here is what I have.

Quilt book author of the "Thirty Something" series, Gayle Bong has a new book coming out the fall of 2010. Gayle has written many popular quilt books and patterns. Her website is http://www.gaylebong.com/ .

These little snippets are from Dustin Farrell during his blacklight quilting show.

When he travels around demoing for Nolting, he doodles and comes up with his new freehand designs.
Dustin quilts with one hand, with the music very loud and fast paced.
He rarely uses the stitch regulator. This is because he uses the machine fast and the regulator can't keep up to him. He had the motor switched out to a faster one, but still prefers just speed.
He finds YLI Brights work best at higher speeds and shows the best for blacklights.
When he isn't quilting, he's hunting.

The website for Dusty and Stephanies quilt shop is http://www.cscountrystitchin.com/


That is all I've got for you. The teachers were a bit tight and didn't mingle a bunch. Mindy Wylie Casperson, and Linda Theilfoldt were awesome and super friendly.

I think Dustin Farrell is the new Jamie Whallen at the moment. He and his wife are about their mid 30's and he was like the rock star of the show. The ladies were gushing all around him. He works a lot putting in very long hours and has a great work ethic.

OMHO and I'm stickin to it.

Quilt Machine Tattoos

I bought tattoo stickers for my longarm machine. I have a Gammill that I call "the beast". I love these designs because they reflect the quilter that I think I am. These little sweeties were designed by Dustin Farrell and can be purchased at www.cscountrystitchin.com . They were very easy to put on.