every-single-day

Long Beach, Baby!

Arrow didn't want me to go to Long Beach, so he solved the problem by tucking himself into my luggage. Pretty lil guy.

But went I did! Quilt Festival is new to me, it is like one big Partay, with the added benefit of gorgeous quilts, enthusiastic friends and the ability of being able to find most any notion or cloth available.
Above, I demonstrate machine quilting on the Bernina 440, which I am in love with. I am a Bernina Woman through and through. This machine has the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator) and although I think of myself as a pretty good free motion quilter the BSR proves itself to be for beginners and veterans alike. I love it so much, I luff it!

Here is Jane schmoozin' with the best of them. I love her art and the manner in which she works, sort of rinse, wash, repeat-ish. She will create an idea, transfering sketches to canvas, say, and then stitch those small squares separate of one another to gather together when she deems herself finished.

Here is one such piece. I saw her working on this piece in... January? It didn't look like this at all. This is a detail shot though. But no dark green at that point. Now the piece is fully realized and hung in the edges special exhibition. Her piece has 412 edges to be exact.

This piece is by Jeannie Palmer Moore. I worked with her in my Soy Wax class in San Diego and I must say, I love her work.

This piece is by Leslie Tucker Jenison, whom I met for the first time. I really like her alot! I want to plunk myself squarely in her studio and play. This too is a detail shot.

I got to spend some quality time with Jamie Fingal and Judy Coates Perez too. I wish I'd carried my camera around more.

What a great time.

Busy Bee.

I have completed the forth I2Q Vid Prompt: Soy Wax!!!

So I dyed and surface designed my peasant blouse. And, well. I don't like my results. I like the shirt better in white. That is the bummer about blogging, you have reference of before and after. My dyes aren't up to full strength, they are a little old, the batik, daisy boob motif? Ah well.

Should I keep the neckline open? It feels more comfortable that way... But does it look OK?

Aw geez, Marge.

This is the piece I am going to be working on in Open Studios at the Make It University booth. I like this a lot. Just so you know that I do like some things that I make.

Speaking of which, if you want to meet up and trade ATC's I will be doing Open Studios in the Make It University web site on Saturday from 2:45 to 4:45, stop by then. OK? Stop by and say hello no matter what your intent!

Long Beach Prep!

Using this tutorial, I created this peasant blouse for Quilt Festival in Long Beach. In the next post, I will show this same blouse, surface designed and dyed!

What's in a day.

First off, a drawing of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Promenade. David and I walked through Brooklyn Heights and enjoyed watching small sailboats compete with water taxis and barges. There were trains, planes, boats, helicopters and automobiles, bicycles and I am sure I am missing something. The page in my journal is incomplete, needs color.
Ah well. Good stuff.

I warmed the wax pot and created a few more wax and paint samples. This is the artsy view of things. Not the all-get-out-mess-of-the-living-room scene.

That darned city squirrel is at it again. He is riling up Arrow! You can't see but someone has given Mr. S. Querrel a Ritz cracker. He is proudly nibbling all around the circumference of the cracker while maddening Arrow, who yells in a broken patter of frustration. The gall!

Really I think Mr. S. Querrel lives in a very open society and he believes that all creatures can live side by side. This despite the fact that he glances nervously at Arrow while still not caring to put a little distance between them.

And then, I put the finishing touches on a pattern I am creating for the non-dye oriented Pretty Purse class. I will be teaching this class at the City Quilter in September, in Houston and at the Village Square Quilters, next March.
I need to venture into the city tomorrow morning to pick up some new zippers. I am interested to go because I have never been before. Shopping in NYC is always an adventure.

Then! I have to give some kudos to Pellon, makers of Wonder Under, my preferred glue. I recently bought 10 yards or the stuff at a big-box-pseudo-fabric-store. When I get it home and start using it, it is all wonky. Yucks!

So I call to ask if they have had a bad batch. I had to leave a message and didn't expect to hear back. Wrong! I got a prompt call, they told me yes, there was a bad batch a couple of years back and this must be old stock. They are replacing all ten yards and sending a new product along too. Wow! I am impressed.

The rep told me she is the one who deals with the public and when this problem occurred initially, she got a call in the morning, then afternoon. The next day a deluge of calls which then occured day after day. I had to sympathize! I can't imagine taking all those calls from quilters just like you and I, in such quick succession (Pokey can-her most recent blog post is fantastic). Geez! But really, we are a great bunch too. We like our products and are loyal once we understand thier use and importance in our art. And well, with customer service like that! I like 'em! Good work, there.

ETA:
Zipperstop is/not a store front type store. It is in Chinatown, among food warehouses and acts almost as an auto parts store does. There is a counter in front of boxes and you place your order. I am sure it does much more business through the internet (and they are great internet retailers) than as a storefront. But hey, free shipping.
I also bought myself a 12$ mountable sewing machine lamp and some new mixing cups.

And then we were three.

So here is my latest I2Q VidPrompt #3: ATC's

Use techniques found in the my book Inspired to Quilt to create Artist Trading Cards to trade with me and fellow readers at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach.

I used the heart motif in 4 different ways to create these super quick Artist Trading Cards. I am going to take a buch of cards with me to the show and encourage you to do the same! I would like to meet up and trade if you want to, wanna say Saturday? I need to see when I am scheduled to do Open Studios and a Book signing, so I will nail down specifics. Will you leave a comment if you plan to meet up?

I am going to give these four cards, featured in the video as special prizes.

This 'Lucky' card will go to the first male quilter who asks to trade a card with me. If there are no male quilters, then it will go to a Lucky duck at our meet up.

This, 'Love Springs Up', ATC will go to the person who brings the most cards to trade.

'Flight of Fancy' will go to the person who uses the most techniques in a single card.

'Tattoo you' will go to the first person who creates a set of four ATC's using a single motif, as I did in this Video Prompt.

So are you gonna play? Leave a comment to say I will see you in Long Beach!

Today our family lost a well loved member:

Monk passed into the romping hills of cat love today. He was with us for 15 good, long years. He was and is well loved and we mourn his passing.