Field Trips in Fiber - Adventures in quilting, hand dyed fabric and fiber art.

Gradients

 

Lovely dark purples in this set.

 

I like these browns. I think that the 3rd fabric from the right would make a really nice tan in a lighter shade.

 

More nice purples.

 

Surprise! Pine green is made from yellow and black.

Weekly List

Last week I finished

• MQR Postcards – due Feb 23

Here's the current list and progress from last week:

• On Willie
  • Load and quilt Mom's quilt – I swear, I'm doing it this weekend. Especially after the ridicule I received at the show!
  • Quit fabric for pillows for someone at work
• In the dye studio
  • Finish my gradient sets – 4 more done last weekend
  • Make lip balm for James
  • Make soap
• In the sewing room
  • Assemble the log cabin top – 2 more rows done, 18 to go
• Handwork
  • The cat! – progress made

Aesop's Fable Postcard

My latest postcard is for a swap on MQResource and the theme is Aesop's Fable. I made this last weekend but didn't want to post it until the cards arrived at their destinations. I chose The Ant and the Dove

AN ANT went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and
being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of
drowning.  A Dove sitting on a tree overhanging the water plucked
a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.  The Ant
climbed onto it and floated in safety to the bank.  Shortly
afterwards a birdcatcher came and stood under the tree, and laid
his lime-twigs for the Dove, which sat in the branches.  The Ant,
perceiving his design, stung him in the foot.  In pain the
birdcatcher threw down the twigs, and the noise made the Dove
take wing.


One good turn deserves another

I spent a lot of time thinking about this one. In fact, more time thinking than doing! I went through all sorts of images of doves and ants but the flash of inspiration happened one day at work. I decided to focus on the moral of the story "one good turn deserves another" and thought about how that would manifest in today's work world and that's when it hit me - email!

I've had numerous instances of people passing on some information to help me and I try to do the same for others. So I photographed my Blackberry keyboard, looked up text messaging shorthand and developed a modern conversation between Dove and Ant. Here's what it says:

Dove - thanks for your help in the meeting. You saved me from hot water! You rock! As a friend, I want you to know about the new guy. For what its worth, I overheard a conversation. He's gunning for your job. I think it's career suicide for him. You be careful. See you later - Ant

It's not the best execution and there's not one stitch on it, but overall I am pleased. It was very appropriate given the amount of time I spend with my Blackberry these days.

I'll share the other cards I receive from the swap once they are all here.

 

 

What a great day!

Kim, Anne and I were on the road to Hampton by 9:00 on a beautiful sunny mild day. We met up with Mom and her friend, Rita at the show. Everything about the day was great. As you walk into the convention hall the first thing you see is Summerset's Bluebird of Happiness with it's Best of Show ribbon! (You can see photos of the garment as it's exhibited on Summerset's blog). I almost missed the artist statement! I was totally surprised and honored. Thank you, Summerset!

If you are ponderinggoing whether to attend the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival this year, do go. I think this is the best Mid-Atlantic show that I've been to. The quilts are very high quality and the vendors have the best variety of fabrics and items ever. Last year it seemed like every vendor was carrying either Kaffe or Amy Butler and nothing else. This year there's something for everyone. We all did our part for the economy and so was everyone else. There were lots of attendees and a lot of buying going in at the show. I bought a new rotary cutter and thimble pads and a "few" fabrics. The rolled fabrics are vegetable dyed cottons from India. The others are a heavier cotton with Japanese prints. Anne and I fell in love with them and bought the entire set - these are my half. I was looking for a new pin cushion but didn't find one that I like.

We also met up with Mary and her Mom and sister. For some reason that conversation turned into which daughter takes the longest to quilt the Mom's quilts. Although she couldn't be there to defend herself, the contest came down to me and Deb (Mary's sister). I believe that it ended in a draw as we are both holding well aged quilt tops for our Moms.

Anne, Kim and I ended our day at Outback and we ate like lumberjacks. We were starved from all of the walking and buying!

It was a great day and it got even better at home because this gift from Karol-Ann was in the mail today! She sent me a tea kit and this cute fisherman stopper for Chris. Karol-Ann, he loved it! Thank you!

While I am on a roll with great surprises, I forgot to share this last one with you last week. When Ruth came to visit last weekend she gave me this beautiful embellished silk bowl that she made. I have no idea how she got it here on the plane from Montana but you can bet that it has a special place on my dining room table!

Last, but not least, a shout out to my brother Tim. We talked about you at lunch and we missed your commentary as we walked through the exhibit. Maybe you can join us again next year!

Field Tripping the Web – Issue 47

A lot of you know about the Quilts of valor program and the work of Alycia Carmin to provide a quilt for every injured soldier at Ft. Carson, CO. Her involvement in the program started with a group of 5^th graders. Check this post for a link to an article about the children's involvement in the program.

Eye Candy – Projects people have recently completed

• Robin's Shenandoah Autumn quilt
• Carol's kaleidoscope quilt top
• Barbara's floral string quilt top
• Kristin's Raspberry Lemonade baby quilt
• Amy's Short and sassy handbag
• Julia's Blackberry Twilight quilt
• Jacquie's Bloom 2
• Wendy's April Flowers quilt
• Andrea's baby quilt
• Kim's St. Patrick's Day quilt
• Passionate Quilter's February wall hanging
• Kate's pineapple quilt
• Karen finished several projects
• Kim's Easter Bonnet quilt
• Jay's GFG wall hanging
• Debra's Groovy Babe Quilt
• Nellie's Imagine Monet
• Julia's romantic roses bag
• Calidore's sampler quilt

Longarm –specific Eye Candy

• Randi's quilting on a Spiderman quilt

Fiber and Other Art

• Jane's finely knitted Crown Prince alpaca shawl
• Sheba's Tree Sprite doll
• Kristen's Fairytale Forest, with close-ups here
• The Lone Beader's Sussex spaniel
• Karen's beaded coiled basket
• More of Carol's jewelry
• Linda's Coptic Stitch book
• Amy's adorable knitted baby shoes
• Sue's wonky box and writer's box

Surfaces

• Gayle's snow dyed fabrics
• Michele's parfait dyes

Garment Sewing

• Sharon's Simplicity 3684 blouse

Tutorials and On-line Projects

• Guzziesue's tutorial for a simple embellisher box
• Bonnie's tutorial for a gardener's apron
• Sonya's tutorial for quilting letter shapes
• Gloria's tutorial for making a hanging sleeve for your quilt

Other Interesting Stuff

• Lisa is having a blog drawing March 1