Second Update for December

It's been a busy week around here. I've been cleaning and organizing in a couple of areas. I've also spent some time preparing a few gifts. 

The Lord's Prayer, a quilted wallhanging for my Secret Sister. 

Learning how to make fabric twine. I chose to zigzag stitch this little trivet piece together. Normally the fabric twine is used when crocheting or knitting, but  I'm always trying something a bit different. 

I received my first Blog Book. It has 205 pages and includes my first 114 posts. A very neat way to have a 'diary' of a blog. If you haven't made one for your blog, you really should look into it. You can choose which posts will be in your book. That helps if you're trying to keep expenses down. They are running sales now till the end of the year. If you need the site, email me, and I'll get the info to you. 

Mug rugs and hotpads just waiting for bindings to be sewn on. 

These are as far as I've gotten on my Improv Triangle quilt. There are four sizes, three within 1" of each other. Then 8 are quite a bit larger. I had this thought that I would just keep adding sides until they were all very close and then I'd trim them to one consistent measurement. My problem came when I realized that I didn't  have the amount of black that I wanted for a background. Now I must decide to go totally out of the box and just let what happens happen. Or choose a substitute, or many, for the black. I wanted the triangles to look as though they were floating. This will be put in a container and left to rest for a bit. I can put it on my list for the quilt guild's UFO Busting Challenge for 2016. 

More insertion lace pieces got to climb into the dye pot this week. Along with,

17 pieces all dyed serendipitously. That just means, I didn't follow the plan I started with. I know many dyers really try hard to get something specific. I usually have a written plan, labels attached, and everything thought out. However, this week I woke up one morning and it was as though someone else had taken over my body. I got to go along for the ride, and I totally enjoyed the entire process. I even shortened my batching time and was pleased with the results. I now have 17 pieces that are just shy of 48" by 40". I tear my cloth at 40" intervals so the shrinkage won't ever put me under a full yard when I'm done with all the hot water washing. 

A possibility for 2016, put these up for sale in an Etsy shop. Hardest part, parting with any of them. I just love the textures and interplay between the colors when I "free style"!  Now there's a new word for us cloth dyers. We can say we were 'free styling'. Works for me. 

And I did say I was cleaning and organizing. 

Packaged batting and a container of cut offs. 

Just a few of the thread choices. 

Larger pieces to be used for backings. And some emptied shelves! 

George and I went to lunch at Middleton Place this week. The weather has been beautiful and we are determined to enjoy it. This is a nice place to have lunch, take a carriage ride, tour the house and grounds, and stroll the property. And YES, I did get startled by an alligator, again! 

This wasn't the one, but probably a relative!

If you are in my neighborhood, drop by. I'd love to visit with you. My door is always open. 

May God bless each of you with happy memories and loved ones to remember them with. 

Merry Christmas,

Luann

Progress Report

This is the center medallion for the Mystery Quiltalong.

And my Batik BOM top is ready for quilting. 

Put up these nifty lights on the screen porch. 

Painted several shelves for the powder room.

 I've been quilting up some yardage that I plan to make into mug rugs for gift giving.  

And I got these cut for an improv triangle quilt. 

There are several other projects in the works that I'll post pictures of in the upcoming weeks. 

My main focus for December is to enjoy, and share, what Jesus has done for each and ever person on earth. My hope for everyone is that they will accept His free gift of eternal life with Him. 

May God bless your life with people who care enough to not be politically correct,

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Art Supplies Shopping Day

Three hours, three shops, and a little less gas in the car. 

 

And what did I get?

Screen printing ink, black and copper. One yard of screen mesh, a roll of duct tape, a floral stencil, and four 11 x 14, two 8 x 10, three 5 x 7, and four 3&1/2 x 5 mats that I will use in my screen printing experiments. A jumbo roll of burlap ribbon to stencil on. Eight new shades of Lumiere paints. One UHU stic of glue. Some blending solution for my alcohol inks. Several hanks and balls of white cotton threads for dyeing. Four new colors of procion dyes. Three rub 'n buff colors. A value pack of chipwood brushes. Glazing liquid in gloss and satin. Celluclay and e-z form plaster cloth wrap. The Exciter Packs of Lumiere (with neopaques) and Textile Traditions, both are Jacquard products. An Inkodye print fabric with light kit. It's orange but it was a very reduced price and I will experiment with this color before I use my Sepia and Blue. The last three items don't relate easily to any of the previous ones. But, here goes, a silicone oven glove in the shape of a muffin. This is large enough to fit my chubby fingers. Binder's needles, because I want to try doing Coptic stitch and I have my art work that I want to make into book format. And that final little piece that is straddling the roll of screening,,, it's a purse frame. It has holes for sewing the purse structure into it. I have wanted to make one for a long time, now I have the frame, and I can put it on my "I get to do these" list. 

It's a bit early for opening gifts, but sometimes being nice to yourself is very nurturing. 

And a picture of where my collage piece is today,,, color has been changed again. Those Lumieres are going to get a crack at this piece. 

The color isn't even close, but you get the idea I'm sure. It is painted with portrait deep pink, which is actually a beautiful chocolate with pink undertones. We'll see if I can bring this to where my mind's eye thinks it can go.  I'll keep you posted. 

So, until next time, I'm off to create something,

Have a Merry Christmas, after all it's the ultimate present! 

Luann