Grasshopper in my Garden

I've kept this quite for a long time, and it's so nice to finally be able to share...


About 2 years ago I received an email from Kathreen Ricketson, whom many of you are familiar with from her popular blog Whip Up. She wanted to know if I would like to contribute to a book she was writing on mini quilts. After what seemed like forever, (takes a long time and a lot of work to put a book together) I am happy to say that it is finally in print!

Here's my little contribution... An embroidered mini quilt titled "Grasshopper in my Garden".






Now, those of you who visit Kathreen over at Whip Up, no doubt already know about the book, as all month long she has been featuring mini quilts on her blog in honor of her new book.


I was waiting until I received my copy of the book before sharing the news here on my blog... It came yesterday, and I am delighted to say that it's really lovely. Kathreen did a super job compiling lots of helpful information along with a wide range of projects from many talented artists, many of which I know you will be very familiar with.

I especially like that it has a spiral binding, so it lays nice and flat, and there's a pocket which holds all the patterns. Artistically, the layout is lovely, with beautiful photographs and super illustrations. This is a terrific book, and I hope you'll all be sure to check it out!

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Many thanks to everyone for your kind comments regarding my new Remnant work. I truly appreciate it.


Sometimes I am so afraid that no one will get what I am trying to do, and then when I receive so many thoughtful words of encouragement... it means so much.


The first 2 Remnant pieces sold very quickly, and I have just listed the 3rd in this series, shown here, here in my shop. I hope to post more later this week.


Have a great weekend Everyone!

Remnants

Pinned up on my studio wall, I have some photo images of really heavily patched and stitched antique boro.


The patches in those boro pieces are all raw edged, and seem to completely cover whatever had been the original base fabric.


I like that nothing went wasted, and everything was important enough to be patched.

... Years ago when I was a teenager, a woman commented on my heavily patched and mended jeans, (they made my mother cringe and I know she used much restraint not to steal them from me in the middle of the night and set them on fire). The woman told me that to patch something was to show love. I never forgot that. (And I appreciated that this kind stranger understood me.... I wasn't accustomed to that.)


Anyway... looking at the boro images, and then glancing over at the ever growing pile of small bits of fabric scraps and off-kilter shaped pieces of batting left over from previous projects and now just sitting on my shelf, got me to thinking it was time to use it all up.


So I'm starting a little series of "Remnants", which I will be posting in my shop as they are completed.



More to come soon. xo

Small Stitched Work no.1

I've begun work on some small stitched pieces... little spaces where I can just play, experiment and have fun.

This piece is just 7.5' x 7.5" and features small blocks of hand quilting and bits of assorted Japanese fabric prints that were hand appliqued onto a piece of blue cross weave cotton. Shot cotton was used for the binding.

I was at complete peace while stitching this. No preconceived expectations. No cluttered mind. Joy.

I think it looks lovely displayed on a table top


or hung on the wall.


Now available in my shop.
(Update: Sold)

Art of Display at Artisans Collective

Starting today, and every other Monday, you can find me posting over at the Artisans Collective blog, where I'll be doing posts on the 'Art of Display'. I'll be looking at ways to creatively display artistic creations, whether it be in your home environment or for a photo shoot.

Todays post is on hangers; wood, plastic and yes, wire. (Sorry Joan Crawford!)

Hope to see you there!

Table Runner #2

Here's another table runner made from one of the pieces of Japanese Yukata cloth that I purchased the other week at the quilt show.


The cloth is a joy work with. I love how well suited it takes to being stitched, patched and quilted.


This runner has such a beautiful, soft earthy pallet... even though it's new, it feels and looks old, like it has a story of it's own to tell.

Now available in my shop.
(Update - sold)

One by One

One by one, I am adding new items to my shop.

This stitched, patched and quilted Table Runner...


Made from the Japanese striped "Yukata" fabric that I showed in an earlier post, and bounded and patched with my beloved shot cottons.


I think it would be very well suited for either a modern home, or a rural country home...


More of these are in the works.

Also, just added to the shop are these two Hip Pockets...

I made one in a small size...


and one in a large size...


The large size not only carries more but is perfect for sticking your hand into when you don't know what else to do with it... I don't know about you, but when I am around a lot of people, my hands sometimes get shy and just like a good place to go and hide. (Esmeralda, my trusty model friend of nearly 30 years, does not have this problem.)

I decided that the pockets would be a great way to use up some of my vintage barkcloth stash.






(The pocket flap lays nice and flat... I just popped it open for the photo.)


Esmeralda, who always thinks on her toes, (well if she had them she would) had the great idea of also knotting the 'apron strings' and wearing the pocket like a shoulder bag. That Esmerelda really has a good head on her shoulders!


... Well, lets just say that she has a good head for someone who has no head.


(She's a bit sensitive about the whole body part thing, you know.)

More Hip Pockets are also in the works... till then have a great week!

Hip Pocket

Last weekend my one daughter was commenting on how happy she was with a sun dress that she recently purchased at Target. The main source of her happiness was that the dress had hidden side pockets. We started to have a discussion about how much we both adored pockets, and rattled off all the things we loved about them.


A few days later I found myself researching the history of pockets and found these fabulous images of 18th century pockets that were part of woman's undergarments. Seems that back in the old days pockets were not sewn on to clothing but worn separately, tied around the waist, and hidden out view.



I was so enchanted by the images I decided to try and make one.... however mine is meant to be seen.


It's small, measuring just a little over 7" long, but easily holds a cell phone.


I included a tiny little pocket to carry a good luck penny, based on this old nursery rhyme that i also found while researching:

'Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it;
Not a penny was there in it,
Only a ribbon round it.'


Another pocket was added on the backside, to carry some cash.

This one was just for fun, but now the bug has bit me and all other sewing projects are on hold, while I play around with this concept. My mind is reeling with design possibilities... Hope you like this, because I'm hooked! More to follow soon. ;0)

Pincushions, (again!) and Sew, Mama, Sew!

Three more pincushions, and this time I added a vintage button to each one...


The design and peeling red paint on this button really speaks to me.




A sweet vintage flower button in honor of springtime.




One of my favorite types... a vintage lucite button with sparkly bits of mother-of-pearl embedded inside.



They are now listed for sale, (along with the individual "Crossroad Flags" from the post below) in my Etsy shop.

And here's a big YAY! My Work Quilt #2 is featured today over at Sew, Mama, Sew! where they are featuring a "quilt-of-the-day" all month long!



Head on over and check it out... leave a comment at Sew, Mama, Sew! and you'll have a chance to win one of the great prizes that they are giving out this week. Good Luck!

P.S. Loved hearing how you all felt in the comment section of my last post. Hugs to each of you for sharing. xo

Hello

I'm here...


feeling happy and content, but uncharacteristically quiet.


How are you feeling?


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P.S. I'll be posting these "Crossroad Flags" in my Etsy Shop, sometime this week along with a few other new items. (Update: Flags now listed.)