It has been a while... I did a course called Principles of Design. I learned a lot a produced a lot of pieces.  Then I got into making Christmas presents - made eight pairs of pillowcases and have knitted a few hats. This one was a lot of fun - a Woolywormhead design.

Intentional Piecing

Just finished the course Intentional Piecing. Here are my pieces. I learned so much... all my rulers are gone!  I have finally found my voice. I have done another remake of the final image and will add that picture later today.  I start my next class tomorrow - Design Principles.  This way of learning totally suits me... I like the fast pace, continual feedback, and learning.  I am accomplishing so much more in my studio as I am more focused and even getting other projects completed and making new artist friends around the world.

Here is my remake of the piece.

Winter is Coming

Lots of snow on Hudson Bay Mtn this morning...

and just finished two cozy night gowns - so winter can come..

Intentional Piecing

Intentional Piecing:   Yes, they are wonky - the focus is to  cut pieces without a ruler and try not to have corners match. It is hard to not square up the outside - but I think that will be my own voice - love the uneven shapes. Similar to provisional piecing, except no ruler.  Same piece, two orientations. I need a 60mm rotary cutter, which I bought in Burns Lake. I used a similar process when I made the blue and yellow wonky curves.

Fall Fair

The 96th Bulkley Valley Fall Fair is over! Was a busy few days - my knee is tired tonight. I won eight first places, two seconds and two thirds. Here are a few pictures:

Back

Front

Purse from suit jacket

It cooled off and has been cloudy with a few rain showers.  I dug out some old men's suit jackets - used three tweed jackets to make a couch throw. The backing was pieced together flannel. I left the pockets on some of the pieces...  Should be very warm and durable.

Also, completed the binding on a table cloth I started several years ago, I did not like the quilting and left it. I ripped it out and made some modifications. Certainly, not a favourite piece, but it is complete.

Have dyed fabrics for my next project - sunflower and rubeckia.

Heat

It has been so hot that it is hard to motivate the creative side.  Had a wonderful visit with Tyler and Rebecca. Tyler just returned from South Africa the day they left Vancouver to drive north. So admire his ability to deal with jet lag -- something I do not do well.  He brought me a very thoughtful gift - a beaded hippo - I am so fascinated with the technique...

I have taken a lot of flower pictures and have a few I would like to work on... so need to do some fabric dying... this heat would create some beautiful pieces.

quilts

I still have not taken pictures of my completed quilts... here are pictures before the bindings... the bindings are done.. just no pictures.
Quilts

Salt Spring

Just returned from six days away - had the most wonderful time with Wendy on the trip - she is the best travel partner - we attended a workshop on Salt Spring with Elaine Quehl. Here are pictures, Workshop Link

We were up at 4.30 am yesterday and caught the ferry at 6.15 and arrived home in Smithers at 12:20am... a long day - but like the horse getting to the barn - when we got to PG at 8:15 it was off for home!

Was so much fun to spend time with my old friend, Cass.




We went to the Market on Saturday morning and Cass cooked us a wonderful dinner with appies of fresh bread and cheese from the market,  fresh caught ling cod, ruffled grouse, salad with strawberries, squash and garlic scafes... with a beautiful island wine... lots of laughs and conversation.

I also scored a Bernina on the trip.
After a day of recuperation it is back to reality of gardening and organizing at the lake.

Just finished a bag using i-r-foam. Will make the handles narrower next time. But I do like the look.

And the next one ... used batting, so does not have the same form, but love the tucks. Think I will try a heavier padding.

The garden is growing.. everything is up... the blackflies are the worst ever...
I have not done much sewing as the outdoors have kept me busy. Finished this table topper for a friend's birthday.

Now working on finishing my ladies and making a couple of bags from material I bought at Hamel's when I was there in April... Bob is getting organized to leave for Eutsuk Lake - not sure if I will have a lot of time to sew, or I will be busy doing everything on my own...

My fabrics are all dyed for the workshop and so looking forward to the inspiration of the workshop... and keeping me busy for the summer creating.

Summer is here... after a week of hot weather - 24C yesterday, it is time to plant.

I am looking forward to a workshop with Elaine Quehl at Salt Spring Island the end of June.  Elaine Quehl.

Now need to get the fabrics dyed to do a coleus.

Summer is coming

I will be doing my annual move to the lake ... then fabric dying will start... have to get some pieces together for an upcoming workshop in June.
And gardening will commence so very little sewing and lots of outside time...
Here is my latest Summer is Coming

Scarves

I have been sewing non-quilting this last week. Made myself a summer night gown from cotton I had been given, could not see it as a quilt. Then made some infinity scarves from Kaffe Fassett rayon.

And now pinning my girls to the background and going to quilt them on through the batting and backing, then add hair and other accessories... going to make the sample into a bag.

I needed some new tea towels, so sewed up nine new ones yesterday.

Next Woman

I tried stuffing a bit - she will have white hair... think this is me!

Now the three together.. and thinking about how I will attach them to the water.

Ladies in the Lake

I have finally got my ladies ready to cut. One has been done.  There will be three of them going into the water.  I am doing a sample first, then a large one once I have it all figured out.  I will add hair to each one and make each one a unique middle ager.

Latest Red and Beige

I have been busy working on other projects the last few days. Just finished the borders on this one. It needs a good press.. will finish the borders on the other one and press both..

Border Day

This one I have to press and put on the borders today. Red and beige are my current focus.

Crazy for Red

My post office delivered my gems... Crazy for Red - will spend my evening with the sketch pad coming up with a design. Have been thinking of wonky blocks bordered by plain colours randomly placed.

Winter Visitors

Visitors...
In the winter,, I live in a small town in Northern BC, Smithers,   We have regular visitors - the deer come very early in the morning. Yesterday, we were held captive while a cow moose and her calf stood at the bottom of the stairs.. we had to wait until they went in the back yard to prune the trees and eat the crabapples knocked by the birds and squirrels to the ground. That is a path that is cleared with the snow blower to make it easier for the dogs to get around the yard.

These are quilts I made in late 2014.  Quilted it with butterflies.

The back of the quilt, using the leftovers.

I did a design class last year with Elizabeth Barton. Here is the sample I made and am in the process of making the larger version.

I made 14 market bags to use as gifts. I dyed all the handles to match. Here is one that I gave to my sister-in-law.

Very interesting when I put in one place the work I did in two months. Here is a scarf that I made using Kaffe Fassett - using three fat quarters. I made three more that I did not take pics of.

Another jelly roll race I made for my niece.

This was a lot of fun...

I dyed all this fabric, then designed the quilt. It has been quilted, still need to add bindings.

This one I did in a spiral, tighter at the center.

This was the first one in the series of three similar quilts.  I did this in a spiral as well.

This is the back. Square blocks down the 1/3 point.