Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Another 8 to 18 inches of snow and ice is headed this way, and I am trying hard to find something positive in this oh, so very long and hard winter. If I don't, I fear I may go all Jack Nicholson-ish like from The Shining, (... Here's JOHNNY!!)

So, when the roads are clear for a few days between the storms, and I am driving back and forth from here to there, I look for signs of beauty, and I admit, they seem to be everywhere...  

From the ice covered trees in that top photo, 

(where the ice was so thick rainbow colors shot forth from the sunlight's reflection) 

to the wonderful jolt of golden yellow against a blue sky 

thanks to a packed corn crib along the side of the road, below.

I have been taking these photos on my not so great phone camera, 

and posting them on my newly opened Instagram site. 

And while the photo quality isn't great, I like the imperfection, and immediacy  of it. 

A quick, visual diary to remember the pleasant in a not so pleasant winter...

I wonder how much longer this barn will stand, 

and find it's long endurance, touchingly endearing.

And this, above... a homestead tucked way down in a frozen valley. 

I pass it several times a week, yet never noticed it until the last ice storm hit. 

The weight of the ice bent the brush low, 

allowing me a peak at a real life snow-globe that is usually well hidden away. 

What a gift.

But I admit... I still want Spring!

Quilted Fabric Bead Tutorial Pattern

I am delighted to announce that I have finished the downloadable PDF tutorial pattern for making my quilted fabric beads, and now have it available in my shop, here.

I truly had no intention of even beginning this project for least another month. But after numerous requests, it became a constant must-do thought on my mind, so I bumped it up to the top of the list, and after only three days of work, got it done! Now I don't have to think about getting it done anymore! What a great feeling... beats procrastination any day!

The tutorial pattern is 8 pages long and is fully illustrated. I wrote it in a friendly step by step conversational tone, very similar to how I share things here. Helpful tips and suggestions are there to encourage and guide you so that you will have the know-how to make lots of variations. I also included some color photos for visual reference and to help inspire.

For more information or to purchase a copy, just click on the link below:

Quilted Fabric Beads Tutorial Pattern

Happy Stitching!

Series Within a Series

Here's a little peek at some new work...

These are part of a new series that I have recently begun,

tentatively titled "Rough Patches". 

I am approaching this series a little bit differently then I usually do. Generally, I work a group of pieces, one piece after the other, until I have said whatever it is I want to say, then I go start something completely different. 

    This time, I have decided to create a sub-series of works within a larger series. Each sub-series will 

                                    contain 9 individual works, (approximately 7.5" x7.5").           

       Once the 9 are completed I will post them. Then I will begin on the next sub-series of 9 works.

My goal is to complete 4 sub-series in this "Rough Patch" series for a total of 36 works.

I'll be back to share more as soon as I finish the first sub-series!

XXXX

In other news, I have been getting a lot of questions about my hand-stitched beads and requests for more, as all have sold. Unfortunately, due to on-going hand pain, I have taken a huge step away from hand-sewing, (it was suppose to be a complete and clean break, but I couldn't resist putting a few hand stitches into the works above).

In light of this, have decided to put together an illustrated pdf tutorial on the process, along with lots of suggestions for various variations. However, this will require a bit of time on my part, and it isn't top priority right now, but I do hope to get around to it before winter is over. ) If not, then hopefully spring!) Will definitely let you all know when it is done.

Rimmed in Red: Working in a Series Article

The days have been flying by, filled with non-creative have-to's and must-do's... not a whole lot of want-to's. We are over halfway through December already, and I was starting to wonder if I would have anything of interest to share with you this month.

 

But much to my delight, I can now share this...

A few months back, I was contacted by the Editor of Art Quilting Studio and asked if I would do an article on my "Rimmed in Red" pieces, which I did back in 2011, for the Winter 2014 issue.

I decided this would be a great opportunity to write about working in a series, something I greatly enjoy doing. Even if I only produce a small body of work in a series, it feels bigger because each piece is part of a larger vision. I also know that I can revisit any series at any time, picking up where I left off, reworking old ideas with new ideas.

In the article, I share a bit about the process behind this series, as well as a few helpful tips for beginning and creating your own series of works. If you have never worked in a series before, I hope you will check out the article and give it a try, it's truly a wonderful way to work. And be sure to check out the other articles... lot's of creative inspiration to be found! 

(Also, if interested I still have two unsold pieces left in this series which you can find here and here.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. If I don't get a chance to post again before the holidays, I hope you all have happy ones!

xo

The Obsession Continues

My quilted fabric bead obsession continues...

(Which is good, as they are now selling almost as fast as I can stitch them!) 

I've been experimenting with different fabrics, quilting stitches and sizes...

Below are some examples of beads made from batik fabric,

 ( Yay! a great way to use up that stash I bough years ago!)

Here, on the beads pictured above, the quilting is done in short rows going around the beads, creating a semi textured bead.

Pictured above and below, I chose to do an all-over random seed stitch on these large size beads,

which results in a more textured bead, sort of like an old quilt would have. 

(This would be fun to do with some vintage fabrics!)

And on the batik beads above, I decided to stitch the rows length wise, 

which gives the least amount of texture, but has a lovely, kantha like look.

I repeated that straight stitch on these pretty pink Japanese fabric beads.

(I think they are so cute!)

And I had to try making some beads out of dupioni silks!

Love those colors!

That's it for now... I have beads to stitch!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: A Downloadable PDF Tutorial Pattern for my Quilted Fabric Beads is now available in my Etsy shop, here.