Fish of another color

I was delighted to teach a "fish" course in Florida on the 21st of September and these lovely ladies are just beginning to show off.
We borrowed each others fabric and integrated some scrap-booking supplies and silk flowers in these creations.  It is so different than making a serious pieced quilt that it is actually difficult at first - but we let our hair down and just had fun. Quilters hate to waste a scrap of fabric but these little beauties were small enough that we didn't mind experimenting with different fins and eyes.
  

 

For me - I love to teach because I learn so much from my students - they always stretch me beyond my expectations. Great fun.





This is Opal my little cat. She was surveying the fish from her favorite spot.




The last fish is the one I started at the class. So I want to thank the ladies that trusted enough to come and play with me. Thank you so very much.
After I left you I found "The Canyons" zip line and found that there is still that little adventurous girl in me (hiding behind this gray hair and wrinkles.)

Babies

Two new babies in the world. They always call for a serious celebration. These quilts were made for sisters who both has new babies to welcome into the family.  All my nieces had quilts and now I get to make them for the next generation. I must say the girls were so pleased, as was I to be a part of their lives.

Two additions

Two new quilts to share.  The fish is on silk and raw edge applique. The pattern is from a picture of a stained-glass window aboard a cruise ship. My friend Nancy took the picture and sent it to me to play with. This is a fun and freeing technique. I spent a lot of time stitching stitching the background "sea-weed". It was fun to dust off the decorative stitches that are available on my sewing machine.
The second quilt will be for a raffle at St.John's Lutheran Church in Phoenixville, Pa  We are celebrating 50 years in "St.John's Circle" although the congregation dates before this location. Happy people live in this circle of fellowship and love.

Celebration! Ordination!

What a lovely day all had at the Ordination of Stacey-Kyle. The sun was shinning, the birds were singing and for that brief moment all was right in the world. The Holy Spirit beamed through all of the faces of the congregation. A warm and welcoming congregation they are and thrilled at finding such a wonderful new Pastor.  She looks lovely in her stole and I, as usual, was all teary eyed at the ceremony.  My God bless her on her journey. Thank you to St John's for welcoming all of Stacey-Kyle's supporters.

Red Fish

Here is the latest fish.  I don't think he is quite finished though. He may just swim by again. I used tulle over the whole piece adding threads on his tail. There is black netting on the bottom of the sea. Notice he is swimming with the turtle dudes.

Fabric Painting

 I am only starting to experiment with fabric painting. Here is an attempt made on a wonderfully warm Spring day that allowed me to drag all my "stuff" outside and just play. I try to be prayerful as I go about my play. It is therapy for me after being in an office all day working on "books".  This fabric was first rusted the sprayed with paint then alcohol inks were dripped and dotted.  I am working on the fact that there is too much white space and the the center holds all of the interest. My goal is to create backgrounds for my fish. I have more muslin in a bucket with nails getting rusted so keep tuned to see what happens to all of that. In the meantime, keep stitching.

Fabric Resist

One of my favorite pasttimes is using various resists on black fabric.  Here is a new one using circles and May Apple leaves, sticks and stones as a resist. I use about a yard of fabric at a time, lay the fabric on my driveway place the items on the fabric and then spay bleach evenly (or not) over the whole thing. The results are different everytime and fun to use whenever you need a black. If you try this be sure to wash the fabric immediately to remove the bleach.

Fun

Last night I was playing in my sewing room working on a red fish, trying to decide on the proper background quilting for her - this fish happens to be a "she".  I abandoned my fish project and made this.  It measures 8 1/2" x 12" .  It is made of burlap, copper wire mesh, copper sheet metal, buttons, fabric and laughter.  I had purchased little brads from the stationery department somewhere and used those to hold the items in place. The thread is DMC gold and copper and a red metallic. I can not explain where it came from but here it is and what great fun it was to create.

 Here is a closeup.

Just Swimming

 I just put my finishing touches on another fish and he is displayed over my fireplace. I love this guy. If you look closely you can see I incorporated metal - thin pieces of copper which catch the light and then some tentacles of copper wire. I had to hand stitch these curly copper wires in place with invisible thread but it was worth the time to do so. Cute?

In progress - to completion

Here are a series of photos for making a Liturgical stole.   from my design wall - step 1 Sew fabric strips of various widths to a foundaton. 

Step 2 is to cut the strips 6" wide They look better already!

This is a red with "bling" along the bottom.

Here is the finished purple that was on the wall.

This is the purple back - I used solid fabric on one side and  purple with a gold touch fabric on the other side of the back. You can also see the same fabric on the front.

Here is a picture of the blue stole back. The fabric is a pre-crinkled blend with sparkles.

Here is the front of the blue stole. I like to decrease the fabric around the collar area. I believe it is more comfortable to wear and slips under collars with ease. All the fabric helps give the stole weight so they stay in place and hang nicely. When I am making the stoles I am very aware they will be used in worship services. It is such an honor to be using my sewing for this purpose. It gives me purpose.

The second dress!

 I completed the second dress for my granddaughter's second birthday.  It didn't make the party but will be well received. I used the same pattern by "k.p.kids" but added jumbo  rick rack at the hem, waist and pocket edge (every girl needs a pocket). I attached it with a zig-zag stitch and caught the hem and bodice lining in the stitch so I had no hand work to do.  The piping at the neck adds a finished look.

The FISH

Okay Nan here he is!

I became interested in making fish a few years ago after seeing the work of Susan Carlson. (http://www.susancarlson.com/) I purchased her book FREE STTLE QUILTS and I fell in love with the process. My friend Nancy has challenged me to use the blue and black fabric in a fish.

My weekend

 My granddaughter will be 2 next weekend so I made this cute little dress using the "Little Sprouts" Wardrobe by k.p. kid's & co. (copyright Kari Pearson 1994).  The pattern is easy to follow - gives a professional result and has sizes 6 mths to 4T.  I have a collection of old buttons so it is fun to find different ones to use. I placed the pocket on the bodice and used a 3-D flower. I have more fabric selected for the next one but plan to put the pockets on the dress front. If the dresses are a hit I will make her more because she has twin sisters who will be wearing them next summer.

At The Show

 Here is a picture of my quilt that was accepted in The Quilt Fest of New Jersey VIII.  It was inspired by the work of Mary Hettmansperger and included copper - burned, twisted and dipped. It also includes my daughter-in-law's old earrings. The quilt was handled with care and returned promptly.

Work in Progress

I have begun working on a "set" of stoles for a young pastor just called to a church. All the particulars are still not revealed but I want to have them ready for her - just in case. My daily work takes me to an accounting office but my real love - sewing anything fabric begins when I get home.