Little Love Birds

I am almost done with Ashley's ring bearer's pillow.

I finished up the last of the weaving and decided I felt like it really needed something more. Something somewhat subtle.

So, I took some of the advice from the comments on the previous post and decided to add some light thread painting.

I had a VERY hard time trying to trace the image onto the top since it is now three layers thick. Even with my handy dandy light table it was difficult, so I'm now on a mission to find a way to transfer a design directly onto the fabric. (Any quilters out there that have suggestions, PLEASE make them.)

I ended up using a blue marking pen that washes out with water and it made me so nervous marking on the top of my piece. This is the first time I have ever tried this and even though I did test it to make sure it washed out like it said it did it still didn't come out like I think it was supposed to. It absorbed heavily into the ribbon woven in and I had a heck of time getting it out.  I am pretty certain I will NOT do this EVER again.

I kept washing it with my little washcloth and going back to the ironing board to iron it and more blue would appear out of no where. I am certain there is a better way and I'm making it my mission to figure that out.

Once I finally got all the marking pen off, I then ironed it with some steam to make sure it lay flat. Honestly, this is an ongoing issue I have with the heavy thread work, but I'm finding it to be less and less of an issue and stabilizer really plays a big role in helping the thread work to stay flat.

Then, I layered it and got it quilted. I didn't want the quilting to detract from the weaving and all those ribbons, so I kept it very simple and inconspicuous.

Lastly, I trimmed it up. I bought a preform pillow that is 14" X 14", but looking at it all finished up, I am thinking it needs to be a little smaller than this, so I am going to make my own insert and have it be more like 10"X10".  This will also be better for Ashley since she will have to travel with it.  Smaller is better.

Either way, I should be finished in the next couple of days, then I'm back to working on the blue and red piece and the contemplation of a banjo strap!

An Iris by Any Other Name Is Love.

 I got a new tattoo on Valentine's Day done by my dear friend, Watson Atkinson.  He was traveling from Maine to Georgia on his Twine Street Rambler Tour.

It's beautiful.

It is in memory of my Grandma Rabun who unknowingly set me on my path for this lifetime and this post is very hard to write because I miss her so much.

When I was very young I would spend my summers with this awesome woman.  She is my hero.  She gave birth to 9 children.  Only 7 lived to adulthood and the lessons they learned from her are endless and the lessons I learned from her are many of the most important lessons I have ever learned.

On Saturdays, my whole family, grandchildren, great grands, friends of grands, aunts, uncles, everyone would gather at her house for the family dinner.  We only went once a month because we lived too far away, but it was my favorite weekend of the month.  The family was so exciting and there was nothing like a hug from my beloved grandmother Rabun.  

We would get up early on Saturday morning (REALLY early) and make the 2 1/2 hour drive.  I would sleep most of the way and then when we would reach a little lake off of I20 on the right hand side of the road my parents would wake me to change out of my pajamas to put on my clothes.  (You know, this is back when we didn't have to wear seat belts.)  

We would arrive at her house to fresh buttermilk biscuits and all the best breakfast yummies.  (Secretly, I think she loved this time and got excited for us to come and her have this small window with just us - well with me - or at least that is how I like to think of it. I am the youngest grand child and I lived the furtherest away from her.) She always kept a jar of sorghum syrup for me and would lather my biscuits in butter and syrup - it still makes my mouth water to think of them and there are no biscuits that will ever compare to hers.

We would enjoy our biscuits, I would hug her like crazy, then the cousins would begin to arrive.  Her smile would only get bigger throughout the day.  She spent the whole day cooking and she loved every moment of it and when the whole family would gather for the prayer to bless the food, I felt like I was home.  

There are really no words to express the immense love my Grandma Rabun had for everyone in her life.

In the summer, my parents would drive me up to stay with her for a few weeks.  It was ALWAYS the highlight of my summer - even over trips to the beach or anywhere else.  She would make me those yummy biscuits every morning and lunch would be left overs and often dinner would be too until they ran out, but I never minded.  While we ate she would tell me about her life as a little girl and I would tell her about mine.  I was always completely free to be me and I always felt like that was who she loved the most.  The me without any walls.  The true me.  

She would take me fishing in the lake behind her house and she let me gather my first tadpoles.  We would shuck the corn she picked at night while watching Dallas (one of her favorite soap opera's, but certainly not over Days of Our Lives.).  Our days would be filled with me running in and out of her screen door and it slamming and her just happy to have me around while she busied herself with her projects and her cooking and her gardening.  She was always willing to stop what she was doing for anything I needed or just for a hug or to answer a question.  She was never cross with me and she never made me feel like I was annoying her.
  

Then, would come my favorite time of the day.  BEDTIME.  She lived in a very small house with no air conditioning and she was a FAT woman.  We would sleep in the same bed and she would still snuggle me close.  I can remember sticking to her skin and not caring because the way she loved was worth it.  The rains would come with the thunder and lightening and the tree frogs singing over the lake and she would tell me stories of raising my aunts and uncle, or stories from her childhood, or stories of my grandfather who I don't really remember.  This was my favorite because it made her so happy.  She really loved him in spite of his problems and the fact they had so many children to raise up.

She died when I was 17 of breast cancer.  It was terrible for her.  She suffered and it still makes me so sad.  Her funeral was by far the hardest I have ever been to.  I still cry over losing this beloved woman (I'm crying while I type this).  This woman who taught me how to love no matter what.  This woman who taught me love is the greatest gift we have to offer.

So, why the iris?  When I was young she gave me some iris bulbs.  They were one of her favorite flowers and I have many memories of pulling into her yard and it being covered in iris blooms.  I still have these same bulbs and I have her irises all over my yard.  Every spring when they bloom, I feel my grandma Rabun with me, watching over me.  So, now, I have the joy of carrying her with me every where I go as a constant reminder of her love and the love she taught me to give.  

Thank you Grandma Rabun for teaching me the greatest gift of all and I'm still learning from you more every day.  I love you and miss you.

A Very Happy Clara!

I finished the belt while I was out of town with my mom.  All I had left was adding the chains that hang down when I last showed you Clara's belt.

  

So, today, when India went to Wildcard Wednesday at the library we delivered Miss Clara her NEW belt all finished and ready for her to perform in!

I think she was happy with it (or she was really cold), but she hugged me and squealed a bit, so I think she was happy.

Here it all finished and close up!

I LOVE the chains! They really gave it the finished bellydance look!

Now, on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at Floorspace, Clara is performing at the Habibi Hafla and she says she is going to wear her new belt, so if she does... and she will let me... there will be some photos of her in costume with it on. (Keep your fingers crossed!) 

If you are local come check it out!  I promise it will be worth it!

almost there

I've been busy gluing sparklies onto Clara's belt today.  All that's left are the chains that hang down and I will be hopefully finishing it up tonight!!!

First I chose all the rhinestones and sequins I was going to use...

some slightly smaller ones...

Then I glue those on very slowly and stand back to see if it needs more...

And it does, so I try these out...

Thankfully, I didn't start gluing without stepping back because they just weren't quite right. 

 So, I pulled these beauties out of the box...

And they were just perfect!

Everything is drying and the glue is setting and I'll get those chains on after dinner!

 Then, Clara gets a new belt!

What are you working on this weekend?

Creative clutter

On the suggestion of a dear friend I am reading the book Bird by Bird (some instructions on writing and Life) by Anne Lamott.

This book is filled with all kinds of great quotes.  I'm writing new ones down daily in my journal, but this quote is one I just keep returning to.  This one that makes me feel like everything is just fine in my creative world.

"Clutter is wonderfully fertile ground - you can still discover new treasure under all those piles, clean things up, edit things out, fix things, get a grip.  Tidiness suggests that something is as good as it's going to get."

Somehow, this quote makes me feel like the inevitable mess around my sewing machine is perfectly ok.  Cleaning up is an indication I'm all done with a project and ready to start something new.  I like the creative clutter and the piles of fabric around me.  It's like I've created my own world of fiber and joy all in my little corner of the room.  

I consistently struggle with the idea my creative space is supposed to be clean.  When you look at the studios in the magazines, they are always so tidy.  Nothing looks broken or worn out. Everything has a nice home and all the surfaces are clean. All the thread is put away. And the fabric is all folded and color coordinated (This is something I do, but it never lasts).

I find myself wondering when looking at these spaces in the magazines why my space is never clean?  Why is it ALWAYS CLUTTERED?  Well, I think it is because I'm always working on something and if I clean up, then I have nothing to work on or it is time to work on something new.  I would certainly rather be creating than cleaning.

I love moving fabric around in my creative mess and finding a piece of fabric I haven't used yet; or the excitement I still get when I find the scissors I lost a couple of days ago under the many piles around my table.  There's nothing like having to make do with some scissors which aren't your favorite. Then it's almost like their brand new to find them all over again.  What a treat!  (Not that I particularly like losing my scissors, this is just the way I like to think about it - I do TRY to keep up with them - try being the key word there.)

I think when I'm behind my machine, under the piles of unfolded fabric that I keep dropping to the floor (Oh! The Horror and it's where my long haired dog sleeps), I'm going to clean up when I'm done, but I never do. Each pile I create around me has a purpose and there is order to my chaos somehow AND it works for me. When I leave for the day and then come back I can pick up right where I left off.  I know what each pile is for and why it is where it is.  It's all accessible to me - and it makes sense to me even though it's messy and cluttered to everyone else.

I want to see some photos of messy creative spaces.  Who really works in a clean space?  You might start out that way, but I don't know anyone who actually manages to keep their space clean while working on something.  

How about you?  Are you brave enough to show me your mess... I mean creative clutter?

I'm putting on my brave hat and showing you mine - and please take note this is actually not as bad as it usually is.

(And the closet where everything else lives is so terrible, I'm afraid to show you - at least for now.)

A little tease...

I decided last night while working on the new dancing belt I was far enough along to give a teaser photo - partly for you all, partly for my friend Clara just to drive her crazy with anticipation.  I still have to finish with the trim, and get some sparklies on there.  I'm going to add some mirrors and sequins.  This way when she's dancing under the lights her belt will glimmer and catch the lights.

The best part of making these belts are all the sequins and the trims I get to use and experiment with.

I love trims.  It brings me immense joy when I get to go looking for them and the more sparkly, the better.  

These are the trims I'm using on this belt.

 I have done plenty of bead work to last me a life time, so finding it on a spool where it is super easy to sew down is the best!  I picked this up at Hobby Lobby when it was 1/2 off!  Double bonus!  I bought a few spools of it in colors I love.  (I feel sure THIS one is going to pop up again somewhere along the way - no plans for it yet, though.)

This is some really long eyelash yarn I bought when I was trying to find all the right yarns for my Phoenix quilt (Up From).  I didn't end up using it on that project because it was too long. Instead, I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for just the right thing to come along to use it on.  

I LOVE eyelash yarn and I love it when making birds.  It is easy to couch down and it really makes them look like they have feathers.  I buy it whenever it is on sale in colors I don't already have because I know somewhere along the way I will end up using it.  

I might make trim like I did on this belt 

or I might couch it down like in these...

No matter what I do, I have fun in the process!

Stay tuned... I'm almost done with it!

New Belt...

I am always busy and working on something it seems.

I have had to put the piece I was working on to the side temporarily in order to knock out a couple of smaller projects I have promised folks I would do in either trade or gift.  Normally, this would throw my creativity into a total tail spin where I was unable to do anything, but instead I am getting it done and having a blast in the process.  I am trying to work fast so I can get back to the what I'm calling YabYum.

Right now, I'm working on a dance belt like these for for a bellydance teacher, friend, and one of our favorite librarians...

Except I'm making hers in greens and yellows.  I am most excited to see her dance in it.  (I am not quite ready for her to see it yet, so stay tuned for when I am!)

When I danced in the one I made for myself and the other girls in Shakti Project danced in theirs we were all on the stage together, so I want to get to see them in action without me.

Take notes...

I mentioned in yesterdays post the importance of writing things down and taking notes on what you do. This was one of the most important pieces of advice I have ever received in quilting.  It is something I go back to again and again.

I try to write everything down.

I keep a quilting journal near my sewing machine and when I accomplish something I really like, I TRY to write it down.  Sometimes, I am so into what I am sewing I think I will do it later and then I don't.  (I regret this most every time) Other times, I stop in the moment and jot down my note to myself.  It can be a real time saver - especially when products are involved or machine settings.  AND I write the name of the quilt I am working on down above the note so later I can skim the journal pages looking for notes on that quilt (another big time saver later)

If there is a specific product you are using and you run out, having the name of it somewhere so you can remember exactly what it was is helpful later - after you have thrown the packaging away. I don't know how many times I have run into this. Now, I have my notes I can turn to.  I've even been known to staple or tape the packaging inside my journal.

I also write down ALL my ideas for quilts.  I'm not a very good sketch artist, so I simply write them down in words.  I figure if I can remember at least that, then I'm going to remember the overall idea.

If I come across a product or thread in my internet perusing, or my magazine reading I want to use, I write it down or tear the page from the magazine and put it in my journal.  This way, later, when I'm looking for ideas or techniques I can flip through my journal and be filled up with new things to try out.

Also, being into mythologies and archetypes if I come across a story I really like, I write down specific names so I can come back to those later and do more research and decide whether it is a topic and story I want to explore in fabric.

I love a good quote and quotes often help me name my quilts when finished.  No matter what I am reading if I come across a quote I really like, I write it down.  Sometimes, the simplest quote can be the greatest inspiration.

My advice?
Write it ALL down.

If you are thinking of starting a project, write down what you are thinking you want to do.  What colors do you want to use? What pattern are you going to use?  Where is the link or which book or magazine is it in?  Make a copy of the pattern and staple it in until you are ready for it.  You can even make notes on how you think you may want to quilt it and with what type of thread you want to use.  Think of how much more effective your shopping will be when you get there.  Hopefully, you will get home with everything you need.

I promise you won't regret it and the biggest bonus?  When you are feeling not so inspired, you have a place to go of your own ideas to reinspire you or at least get you thinking...

What do you to keep your creative thoughts organized?

some notes on stitching

This is the stitching on the quilt hanging out under my machine these days. 

This is how I did it:

You will remember from this post how I starched the muslin under the weaving really heavily first.  Now, the muslin is all covered, but it is now acting like a stabilizer for the thread work I'm going to do without me having to put a stabilizer under it. (I will definitely be doing this more and more in my quilts.)



I dropped the feed dogs on my machine. I put the free motion foot (this quilters best friend) on and took almost all the tension off my needle.

When I learned free motion quilting I was told to take all the tension off my needle. I have found MY thread work does not look as good when I use no tension and my threads don't catch quite right in the middle- which is where we want them to catch. So, I keep a little on there and it works for me.  I suggest messing around with your machine if you aren't already comfortable with how you set it up for free motion. (For piecing and general sewing I set my tension between 4 and 5. For thread work I usually set it just above the 1 and for full on quilting I set my machine just under the 1) Spend some time practicing first and finding what works best for your machine for which thread combinations and TAKE NOTES so you remember later.

 I also always start with my machine set to the needle down position.  Not all machines are lucky enough to have this feature, but I highly recommend it if your machine does. There is nothing worse to me than to take a quick pause to readjust your hands and the whole thing slides out from under the needle because it wasn't down.  Always put your needle down when you stop.

Then, I load my machine up with thread.



I am not all that persnickety about thread.  I like a heavier weight thread in my needle and a lighter weight thread in my bobbin.  AND I like for my threads to match in color as best as I can- I won't go buy thread if I can't find a match.  I make do with whatever I have. I'm also not particular about which brands are best. I have a large variety of thread and brands.  EVERYTHING GOES - even that old polyester if it is what I need.

I am lucky enough to be able to buy isacord from my father's company super cheap, and I LOVE it in my bobbin.  (I know there are quilters and embroidery lovers who are going to freak to know I love it in my bobbin, but it is so smooth and thin that it always works really well for me.  AND I am of the mindset you keep with what works for you.)


For the top of this one, I bought King Tut thread at DragonFly quilt shop in variegated red and variegated blue.




Then, I set to work.  I almost always start in the middle of whatever I am sewing and sew towards the edges. This helps to alleviate any bubbles in the fabric if there are any.

As for how I did the stitching.  I started by stitching a few squares with the thread of different sizes touching and then just kept drawing squares and rectangles making sure to close up any gaps I may create. I don't worry about driving over threads I have already sewn in order to get somewhere and I often have to backtrack.

Practice, practice, practice and as you can see in this picture my squares and rectangles aren't all even or neat and that my lines often don't hit each other, but I try, and I practice and I get better each time I do it and you will too.

Have fun!