This post is for those interested in the “Artistic Exploration” session in November. Photos show some examples of improvisational curved piecing. I will share how to do all of the examples but we will concentrate on two on November 7 at Arch Methodist Church from …
On the design wall (no the other things that are in the process are not finished) right now is a group of blocks that remind of a spilled paintbox or the ones I had as a child where the colors all started running together in …
Who would guess that what was popular in needlework 90 years ago would be interesting today. Perhaps the slow stitch movement will revive the hand needlework of our ancestors as we slow our movements to contemplate the work of our (and their) hands.
I wanted to get my husband out of the house this weekend as he is getting so bored with limited activity after double knee surgery. We headed for an auction that was selling automobile and petroleum memorabilia. I was able to find some things that interested me, namely some old magazines that had been saved for their automobile ads. They also had lots of old needlework patterns and some interesting old recipes. Among my treasures was an ad from a 1925 Frederick Herrschner catalog, “New Designs in Novelty Sash Curtains for Spring”. Reinforced that quote “old is new again”. I had never heard of sash curtains with hand embroidery from a bygone era but was planning to take some of my hand dyed vintage linens to Texas for hanging at my windows in the sewing room. I have the linen napkins packed but will now rethink the vintage dresser scarves and , who knows, maybe they were intended for the window instead of the dresser anyway.
Pieces of the Past Piece of the past dyed, Radiating swirls and stars, Doilies of old, new. A cyanotype challenge. I used doilies to sun print on the chemically treated fabric and then used some of my damaged hand dyed doilies for accent. A …
I love visiting the Hickory Stick Quilt Shop in Hannibal where we live. The employees and owner are so friendly, know their merchandise and encourage creative thinking in quiltmaking as well as applaud the traditional. Today I spent a couple of hours there with the …
A couple of years ago one of the vendors at Hannibal’s Folk LIfe Festival had a marvelous display of mums in every color combination one could imagine. I took several photos thinking I would one day replicate them in some way, shape or form. Today I finished the quilting after using hand embroidery to blanket stitch the blossoms in place. Now to get to the blocking and binding before this year’s festival is history. The blossoms are improvisationally pieced with “leaves” scattered among the petals. It was a fun way for me to divert from a very traditional Dresden Plate that is in the works with the colors of fall.
NOthing like doing yoga in the morning on a deck at Kinderhook Retreat overlooking the lush farmland of Illinois. Relaxing and energizing, ready for a day of sewing with friends. People said shen I came down stairs I appeared to be a woman on …
Three years have passed since retirement. I have been enjoying doing what I want pretty much when I want but I am missing one aspect of my professional career. Having been an educator for over 35 years I am itching to get back into the teaching mode. I am available to plan and create the program or workshop that a guild or group desires in an evening, for a day, or at a retreat. I am especially interested in the creative quilting aspects and the intergenerational sharing of our quilting heritage. Below are a few of the programs/workshops that I have prepared and would welcome your invitation to share.
Inspirations, Reflections, and Creations, 1 hour
A trunk show of traditional and non-traditional quilts that will inspire and motivate quilters as they reflect on their personal stories and quilts.
A short make and take can be included to make a quick folded flower as shown in several of the quilts, add 20 minutes.
“Intuition and Improvisation Before Patterns and Precision”, 3 or 6 hour class
In this class you will learn techniques to put together an improvisational quilt project unique to you. Trust yourself to take beloved fabrics and combine with “wonder why on earth I bought that!” fabrics in ways you never dreamed would result in a fabulous piece. Share and swap fabrics with other class members (convince your classmates that your “ugly” is their “beautiful”).
3 hour—demonstration and individual practice to make some blocks.
6 hour—demonstration and individual practice to make blocks and determine some potential arrangements for a finished product.
“Floral Fabric Bouquets Featuring Vintage Linens”, 3 hour workshop
Using vintage linens as the background for framed fabric floral bouquets. Bring your family linens whether handkerchief or pillowcase, dish towel or table linen to repurpose and preserve family memories. If you don’t have any or choose to let them languish in their drawer feel free to take advantage of my Posie Lane hand dyed linens available at Hickory Stick Quilt Shop in Hannibal, Missouri or from me. I will bring others for your selection to class but you may want to have your selection made ahead of time so you can concentrate on the design.
“A Leaf Collection”
Five 2 hour workshops that will result in five small finished projects or designs ready to combine into one.
This is a series of artistic workshops that will focus on creative techniques that can be applied to future creative quilting projects. The subject matter for class will be leaves but the techniques can be applied to any creative project you might choose for the future.
Saturday I had the pleasure of taking daughter and friend to the starting point of RAGBRAI 2015, Sioux City, Iowa. The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa draws thousands of bike riders from across the nation. I saw license plates from California to …
