Today is a Normal Quilting Day

Today and yesterday are normal quilting days. Yesterday I finished a customer quilt that I had the opportunity to use a new ruler on. The brown stack n wack had a great border for using Ronda's new Curved Crescent Moon ruler for doing curved cross hatching. I decided to take it easy on myself and try it only on the corners to see if I liked how it handled. It was great and there was no real marking required, just some small chalk registration marks for



placement. Between the corners I worked in longarm feathering and used Linda's Vined Spine marking tool, which I really like for making those perfectly placed spines that I can freehand stitch leading off into the feathers right away. I think the customer will be very pleased with that border.





So today, I felt the need to work on one of my own quilts today. Today's fun quilting is a queen sized red and cream barn raising log cabin that will be eventually listed for sale on my etsy site. Quilting is stitch in the ditch for the red logs and feathering in the cream areas.

We are under a winter weather advisory today with a rain/snow storm that is supposed to be coming through sometime today through midday tomorrow. Isn't it supposed to be spring? My flowers were starting to come up!

I'm still crossing all my fingers and hoping to win something in the Alliance for American Quilts contest. I don't pray, but my fingers are almost blue with hoping.

Looks like my 3 show quilts that I sent to the Machine Quilters Expo are coming home with no ribbons. The competition is always stiff at this show. The competitive quilting shows are tough to ribbon in since there are so many really talented quilters out there. It's always a super honor just to get accepted. Now I'm hoping for a teachers ribbon possibly in the box.

Well...back to the red and cream quilt. They don't get finished on their own.

Happy quilting and stay snug and warm.

More Glass for my Art Quilts

Here's the newest group of glass pieces I made this week at The Glassy Lady glass studio. I'm already dreaming of fibered art to go with them. This time I made a whopping 14 pieces in 3 hours. There were 8 of us in this class. The great news is that The Glassy Lady, Stephanie Jochim is moving her studio into Hayward with a projected opening date of May 2nd. Yipee! It will be a store front and class room studio, and available for independant work too. I love trying new things.

Beads and Critiqueing

Last night I critiqued quilts for a local quilt show in Rice Lake WI. Before I needed to be at the auditorium I stopped at one of my favorite places for beads, Bargain Bills discount store. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but I've found it to be a super place for getting many of my beading and embellishments for my quilts. Last night I felt like I had hit the lottery. I found small round mirrors in the bridal supply area, beads in styles and colors that I needed to replenish for future classes I teach this fall, and new beads that intreged me. I also found plastic bags for the artist trading cards and postcards that I've been making and exchanging. Plus, there was some yarn for layering that I had to have, and some stamps for dying and bleaching etc. There was also stencils from one of my favorite stencil companies, that can be used for bleaching, shiva, painting, etc. Like I said...it was the mother load for me.

Today, we went ice fishing for the last time this season Chequamegon Bay in Washburn WI. There was still about 24 inches of ice, but it is turning punky fast. We took the snowmobile with us to pull the ice shack and gear. Now I'm looking forward to warm weather fishing in the boat. Sunshine on my face, and bug swatting.

Finished Pear Postcards

Finished Pear Postcards are in the mail and on their way to Australia, Oregon, and Missouri. I hope the ladies getting them like them.

Snow Dyeing with Rit

Yep. I did it again. Had to do another batch of dyeing with Rit and snow before it all of our snow melted for the season. Of course by doing that I guaranteed another snowstorm would hit. We are predicted to get maybe 10 to 15 inches for northern WI.

The colors and fractal variations are much deeper than the last time I did snow dyeing. I think the picture is not showing the depth of color very well because of all the bright lights I have in my studio. This batch is very nice and worthy of a project. Maybe a garment is called for. I'll have to stare at it for a while and think about this.

Making Pear Postcards for an Exchange

I spent a little time this evening working on postcards with a pear theme for an exchange with an online group.

I drew a pear design, transfered the drawing to safety cut (material to make stamps), carved the stamp, chose hand dyed rusted material, sectioned off 4 x 6 inch spaces to work with, then using a breyer to smoosh out my chosen paint onto the stamp, I stamped onto the fabric and a sample in my sketch book. Next, I'm going to use inktense pencils to add some more color and depth. Then there will be a little quilting to finish them off.

More pictures later.

Yay! Quilts going to the MQX Show.

Just got notice that 3 of my show quilts are accepted for the Machine Quilters Exposition Quilt Show in Rhode Island this April. Keep your fingers crossed for a little luck for them. I love my quilts and I hope the judges at the show love them too.

I also entered a small quilt in The Alliance for American Quilts contest. Voting for prizes will be by Alliance members only. So if you are a member, please vote for my little quilt, "My Friends of Spring".