Snow Dye 2014

We got about 5 inches of snow today with the winter storm, so I got a chance to do some snow dyeing.  I had some new colors from Dharma Trading that I wanted to try out. 

Here is an overhead view of the 2 pans I set up.  On the right, a mesh screen is tacked to a frame and sits on top of a large kitty litter pan to catch the drips.  2 yards of soda ash soaked fabric are scrunched under the mound of snow (like the pan on the left).  The left pan has a mesh sleeve (made from a grocery store produce bag) slipped over a smaller kitty litter pan.  The clothes pins hold the ends tight so it doesn't sag.  Both pans have a fat quarter of fabric in the bottom to catch the drips of dye as the snow melts.

 Here the dye is poured over the snow.  Above colors are parakeet and kingfisher blue.  Colors below are dragon fruit and black cherry.

I also put a yard in low immersion dye of black cherry, and an infinity scarf is being ice dyed in the larger container.

The ice dye has 3 colors - baby blue, elephant grey, and watermelon. 

Progress...continued.

I am finished with 3/4 of the quilting on this project.  Thank goodness!  One or 2 more sessions should do it.  Quilting the second direction is more challenging, since this dimension is longer and results in more overhang to the left and right of the machine.  I will be happy to be finished with the quilting.

Progress!

After about 4 hours of quilting today, I am a quarter of the way finished quilting this project.  Yeah!  I thought it would take much longer.  I'm very happy to say that I figured out a way to maneuver a large quilt through my sit down HandiQuilter, and a way to keep the excess rolled up.  This is the first time I've done a quilt this large on the HQ (double size).

I purchased the black clamps above to use with Shibori dyeing, and the Clover jumbo clips without a particular purpose in mind.  My first thought was to use the Clover clips to keep the quilt rolled, but they were only big enough to hold the ends in place.  So then I went to the clamps from the hardware store - you never know what tools you'll need for quilting!  They were perfect to keep the rolled up fabric in place.

Then, knowing I needed more table space to support the excess quilt, I decided to move my domestic machine off its desk and clear the end of the cutting table next to the HQ.  Perfect!  That more than doubled the work space and made it much easier to move the quilt - very little wrestling required!

The stool also provides added support, and can move to either side, depending where the bulk of the fabric is.  So happy I figured this out!  I was thinking I needed a different configuration of my space to make the HQ more usable, but this is a much easier solution.

Above is the back side of what I did today.  Hard to see unless you click on the picture to enlarge it.  The wavy lines will go in both directions to create a plaid effect.

Getting Ready to Quilt

I have a commission quilt to finish, which I've shown parts of last fall.  It is layered with backing and batting and pin basted, and ready for quilting.  I've been pondering how to quilt it and have come up with a plan so its time to start. 

This is a double bed size quilt, and its been a while since I've quilted anything this big.  Or used my HandiQuilter.  So I did some practice to get warmed up and try out my plan for stitching.

  The wavy blue lines are my practice, kind of a plaid effect.  I'll get started on it tomorrow.

More Goodies & Happy New Year!

A package I ordered from Dharma Trading arrived yesterday - more goodies to play with in the New Year!

A couple of scarf blanks and 5 yards of fabric for dyeing, along with 9 (!!) new colors of dye.  Guess I'll have to figure out when to fit that into the schedule.

That's the story of my life right now - trying to figure out some sort of schedule in order to accomplish the things on my to-do list - something I'll be working on in the New Year.  Having retired this past Sept. 1, I've not yet settled on a routine that feels productive.  I have been going to exercise in the morning, but I feel like it really delays the start of my day as far as being productive in the studio.  So I've decided I will flip things around and spend mornings in the studio, and go to exercise in the afternoon.  I feel like I will be able to accomplish more that way.  At least until something else interferes, like dentist appointments, etc.  Another wrinkle is that my mother, who is 92 and has been in good health, has had some recent health issues that will have me traveling to PA more frequently to help out the siblings who live near by, so they aren't saddled with all the care.  She is recovering but it is a slow process.

So, no big resolutions this year.  Just an effort to establish a routine that helps me reach my goals.  (That list would be way too long to share.)  Hopefully focusing on the routine will help the other things fall into place.  I wish you all a healthy, happy, prosperous and creative 2014!

Holiday Goodies

It was a good holiday, time spent with family and friends.  We are still eating the leftovers!

I received a few books from my wish list, and also some items I selected for myself from my favorite quilt shop, Quilting Adventures, in Richmond, VA.  For 10 days before Christmas, they offered a series of "Stuff My Stocking" specials - different items available at special prices each day.  You chose only the items you wanted.  At the end of the 10 days your selections were available to be picked up or shipped.

The books in the picture were gifts. The Shibori book was recommended by the instructor of the dyeing class I took last fall.  I can't resist a good book, especially one of technique, and the Joen Wolfram book is just that.  Being of PA Dutch descent,the book of designs seemed like it could be inspirational.  My stocking treats included a pair of Gingher scissors, binding clips in 2 sizes, a bundle of fat quarters, and a magnetic pin cushion.  I'm ready to put them all to good use!

Holiday Screen Printing

I can't believe its been nearly a month since my last post.  That was not my intent!  However, I was side-tracked by a family emergency and spent 12 days in Pennsylvania.  My 92 year-old mother had a gall bladder attack and infection that kept her in ICU for 5 days followed by 4 days in a regular room and now is in rehab.  It was a tough time but she is getting better every day.  Since I've been home, I've been trying to catch up on Christmas preparations, so the blog has fallen by the wayside. 

When I left town, Elizabeth and I were preparing for a holiday Open House at Artistic Artifacts.  We planned a demo/make & take of holiday postcards and gift tags.  I found some copyright free vintage holiday images that I made into screens and we purchased card stock postcards & tags.  We used Speedball printing ink in red, green, gold, silver & white.  Unfortunately I had to leave town before the event, but Elizabeth carried on without me.  Here are some pictures of printed cards and tags.