Monday, February 19, 2007

An abundance of goodness!

So much fabric! So many colors! So many patterns!







We finally dug ourselves out of the snow and made a foray into the world... Almost a week after the storm, and everything is still a bit out of whack; those huge snowdrifts on the sides of the road make traffic just that much crazier. But we made it to the fabric store without incident and I loaded up on colorful fabrics. Now I can stitch away to my heart's delight! I just need some good ideas for patterns!

Labels: , ,

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Bear's Paw



The Bear's Paw. First of eight squares that will become the final project for my degree. My study major is art, culture, and community, so for my degree project I am trying to combine everything and wrap it all up in one creative venture.

I have become fascinated with quilts and other traditional "women's crafts," and their role in community development at the most fundamental levels. So I am experimenting with traditional quilt patterns, and marrying them with photography of tools that are used in crafting and building. The plan is to create eight 12-inch pieced squares, and the opposite sides of each will have a photograph, developed onto fabric with liquid emulsion and surrounded by a pieced border. Then the two sides will be quilted together - I would like to hand-quilt but I'm afraid I might be too slow. We shall see. The pieces will then be displayed separately, or bound together as a book. I am thinking a crazy quilt cover would be fun. My main problem now is that I just need to buckle down and work. And of course I need to go fabric shopping! (any excuse will do...)



As you can see, I desparately need to enlarge my collection. There's just nothing here! ok, so there is something, but it is so frustrating to always work with the same fabric. I have decided I really need some new patterns, and especially some more with yellow.



Now I just have to help my sweetheart dig his car out of the mountain so we can get to the fabric store!

By-the-by, if there is anyone out there reading this, and you happen to have any ideas for fun 12-inch quilt squares, or any other ideas for or about this project of mine, I would love to know!

Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

And then there were four...

Sad days in the fish tank. Two of the little babies have disappeared.

One, I discovered on coming home yesterday, got caught in a vent of the tube to the filter. Another just disappeared. As much as I didn't really want more fish, having them die was hardly the solution to the dilemma. I am being extra watchful now, although the care and nurturing of itty-bitty fishy babies are not things in which I have any experience.

On a happier note, I was able to take a whole evening away from much more important work to make these little address books:



The blank books were discovered while searching through a pile of decorative paper on my shelf. The covers are not fancy, and did not exactly call for advanced skills in papercraft, but they allowed me to relax and finish The Scarlet Pimpernel, and to ready myself for another week of insane last-semester craziness. THey did their duty and I am thankful. What's more, I have a nice little stack of miniature contact booklets!

This next piece is not related to anything in any way, except that I had not yet taken a photo of it. I am including it only because it holds a special place in my heart.



My second-ever crocheted rag rug!

So very comfy on the feet and quite satisfying to create. More are most definitely in my future, as signified by the thrifted sheets lying in wait around the house, ready to be ripped and wound. This rug was inspired by one made by my grandmother, which I somehow managed to sneak into my boxes when I moved away from home. The original is now at the end of my bed, and I think fondly of "Nini" whenever I feel its cottony-goodness under my toes.

Labels: , , ,