Birds on a branch make me smile

     Every time I walked from the study into the front hall today I almost laughed, or certainly smiled big. Joe as well. Last night he hammered a branch in the top of the door and I hot glued three birds to the clean, washed branch (one bird for each of the grandchildren, fabrics chosen by each of them) . I had found this Spool Bird pattern on-line at Whileshenaps.com and thought the children might have success sewing their own bird. So...when they were leaving the house the other evening, I told them to run upstairs to my sewing room to choose two fabrics for their bird from my fat-quarter stash. Of course, after they left,  I just had to cut out the pieces and then sew them together.

    Abby Glassenberg posted a story about the Spool Bird. The Spool Bird was a free pattern designed by Michael Fulkerson around 2008 for Spool Sewing, a fabric store which no longer exists. His pattern ended up on the Internet and many copied the pattern to sew colorful birds by hand or machine. He won an award from Martha Stewart. I had never seen the bird or the pattern, but I thought my grandchildren would like the softee project. I follow or subscribe to Abby's rich blog. She is a friend of my daughter-in-law and was the person several years ago who encouraged me to blog since it stimulates productivity!

     I was having so much fun and frustration sewing the bird and mounting them, I did not take photos of the process. I printed up the pattern I found in Abby's blog (perhaps Copy and Paste or Drag) and reduced and enlarged the size. The only thing I would add to the instructions is to iron down the tail's 1/4" seam allowance to make closing the bird's tail easier .

     In the meantime, Joe is having a success of sorts with his cactus...a real yellow flower bloomed from one of them (it opens more when the sun hits) and the octopus cactus (please let me know the name!) keeps growing and producing babies as well. As usual, click on the photos to enlarge!

Cooking Clay for Jewelry

      Joe and I were lined up to keep the grandchildren for 3 days while the parents went to a law firm retreat. I saw a big container of polyform clay in my studio, the pasta rollers on the edge of the table, books on the subject and thought it was time to go to a new level. I got out the "bead rollers." I read the directions, conditioned some Sculpey III in my hands and felt the girls would find making the beads magical as I did. Click on all the photos to enlarge.

      Hannah chose a package of blue Sculpey and Erika chose pink. They decided to share. I restrained my need for a green bead necklace until today. They strung theirs with Stretch Magic and tied two square knots. I put a bit of glue on the knots. They wore and slept in them for two days here and the beads held up. So I decided I must make my long-wished-for green choker for which I could never find beads. See below for how I made the beads.

      First I consulted Making Polyform Clay Beads by Carol Blackburn. I got out my bead rollers and soft green Sculpey which I conditioned by squeezing in my hands.  

        I have two types of bead rollers. One involves pressing a snake of clay into the top part and slicing off the sides and bottoms. After I mark every 3/4", I pull the clay out and cut the pieces. The secret of same size beads is careful measuring. You put the top on the bottom and roll back and forth a few times and VOILA! The other bead roller has you push pieces of clay through a hole, slice off the excess and extract the clay using a pencil. Again, you move a fitted top back and forth a couple of inches over and over.  These beads will also be the same size. Erika wanted the cone look from the latter.

       After  I gathered all the beads in a box lid, I pushed the thin metal wires through them. The ends of these rested on a tray in the little polyform clay oven I bought w a coupon at JoAnn's. The beads cook for about 30 minutes at 275. Magic. Then I strung them today and made earrings...not matching. I am looking forward to making more beads depending on what I need and sharing the technique with friends.

Spring Break in April

   THE SUN IS OUT! In April I wanted to get to NYC to see the Degenerates Show at the Neue Galerie. The lines were long, but I found it helpful to get there ten minutes before the museum opened. I once made an oil painting of Hitler's Degenerate Artists. Hitler put up one show of art he had preferred, but more people attended the other show of artists' work he ridiculed. Here is my painting, containing names of some of the 125 artists censored by the Nazis and others from the Renaissance up to the present who have been subjected to public censorship. Click on photos to enlarge.

    I returned to NYC the next week to meet elementary school friends who were in the area to see Ann's grandchild in a musical. I took those bracelets and NYC quilt birthday card I showed last month.  One bracelet was way too big...but it feels good to make something to gift when you gather with old pals. I enjoyed playing with photos and videos afterwards...at one point making a video with my iPhone of the slideshow and music on my computer. I used Comic Life software to collage photos.

    Easter was next when Joe and David tied the eggs on the tree. After setting our casual table, Joe and I made string eggs we saw at Ben Franklin. We blew up balloons and wound string around. We anchored string by painting all over with a watery white glue called Stiffy. After we hung these to dry overnight, we hid dyed eggs, burst the balloons and draped the string shapes on the lights. It was fun to be kids, but may not do that craft again :*))

     I made up 8 blocks for Katie's Project Hope Quilt and painted (sample) and stitched in the plain areas. I used Jaquard fabric paints and small brushes.  I also created a challenge quilt with strips, cutting casually, called "Where oh Where oh Where is Spring." Here is an earlier photo. I have since free-motion stitched the title in the top row and am still working on this. This quilt will be interactive.

     The Journal Quilt Connection is getting excited about the QC quilt show May 30 to June 1. Hope to have photos soon. This is too much for one post so I am off to bed! Thanks for looking and come to the show!

Elana's Winter

Click video link QC quilt show above

Marathon Quilting Satisfies the Soul, creates chaos

     Over the river and through the woods, back and forth to NYC, birthdays to note... Crafting both calms and excites. Click on the photos to enlarge.

     At a journal quilt meeting I noticed delicate earrings on petite Elana. I was stunned they were made from Shrink Art which I played with 40 years ago and never imagined such artful renderings. I drove way out into the suburbs for our play date and was immediately stunned on walking inside to see the large quilt she had made for her late dog Marty's comfort. I took photos of her clever Shrink Art procedure, but for brevity here, I recommend the book Shrink Art Jewelry by Klutz. I ordered a copy for the grands. It tells all the steps and includes everything! See Elana's hands quilt in the recent Quilting Arts magazine!

      Next, I had an hour to make a surprise birthday card for Patsy when several of us gathered to see Ann's grandchild in a show. I sewed embellishments in the car on the way to NYC, listening to a CD of The Zookeeper's Wife. I took the quilt-like bracelets I recently made to give to friends who gathered.

 

        Hannah was born at the time of the Boston Marathon. Both are celebrated this weekend .  I whipped up a solar system throw from a panel from the City Quilter. A bookee, the birthday girl has been zipping through the Rick Riordan modern Heroes of Olympus books, some names found in the constellations.  Her accompanying soft birthday card this year is a 3D book, seen below the throw.

     And finally, just in time for an 80th birthday dinner last night, I worked on one of the hulk panels with imagery (logos) appropriate for Roy's company and his wife (tattoo on the arm). This birthday card completed,  I think I can take a break now to catch up and clear the massive clutter I produced!

Note: I used more fabric paint than usual for solutions...and experimented with rhinestones. If you have questions, post below to Comments to say "Hi" and I will try to answer. In most cases, you are viewing fronts and backs of cards and the throw.

Working with Wood: toys for the grandchildren

    On one of the recent snowy days, the grandchildren discovered Joe's electric saws and woodpiles. The girls rummaged through it and asked him to make them some doll beds, 20" long. Then he had to think of something to build for David, which the five year old could paint.

     We picked up the requested bed colors of light blue and purple by asking for wall paint samples at the hardware store. That way we got plenty of paint in the requested colors at a reasonable cost. The girls painted the first coat with sponge brushes; Joe put on a second coat. Tonight they start to decorate them with paint!
     

Hannah casually wondered about mattresses. I picked up 1" thick foam and cut it to size of 9"x 20" with the bandsaw. I stopped at Ben Franklin to get a yard of fabric for covers that went with both beds. Whereas I planned to cover the foam with a pillow case method, I found when fitting the fabric to the foam I could fold the edges as in wrapping a present. I fused and hand stitched the three edges and had enough left over for me to make a couple of pillows and more for the girls to do the same.

     Joe outdid himself on the truck. With no pattern, he cut and put pieces together. I will be curious if it will hold grandson's interest given how many trucks, trains and cars David already has. Well, grandchildren are a good excuse for adults to escape to get to play some more. Now it is back to the blocks for a Project Hope quilt (I've made 8 so far) and to write the recipe for those cute bracelets I am working on.

A Winter Snow Story, and some 12 x 12 quilts

    1. It snowed, snowed, and rained. There was more snow and the tree branches held the snow. Again, more snow, bigger snow, more layers. Finally, the biggest snowdrops of all. I re-read Rayna Gillman's book, but this quilt should not reflect on her. These are my first strips, a story which I sewed while listening to NPR. I painted snowdrops on the trees with Jacquard Super Opague White 220 OP. French knots may have been more appropriate. Black fleece doubles as batting and backing. I quilted in the ditch and on some of the branches. Snuggly, but how to show the snow cone tops on all the bushes.

   2.  The birds in the front of the house were making such a mess, like a copy of a Pollack painting;  so we moved the feeder to the back yard. It was not easy for the feathered ones to find their way west. I quilted an arrow. This was definitely a journal quilt...a memory of a special event. I could still paint some shading or use netting to shadow a side of the bird feeder. Beeds are the seeds flying everywhere.

 
     3. Trying to use up my stash, I had earlier tried a blue quilt that almost made me give up quilting. Jo Diggs uses dots so much better. I learned that it is probably good to join pop or graphic fabrics with each other and realistic prints together, but not to mix the two. I read that one should think about what one likes in a quilt to know what to do to yours. I like hand stitching, but it didn't save this piece.

     4. and 5.  Then there are the two quilts that really needed help. Winter Palette with padded paints needs a brush as well as a photographer; and Erika's 8th soft birthday card needs a redo. But both are ok and were part of the process. You win some and lose some. Click to enlarge photos.

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Vintage Valentine Mug Rugs: a surprise favor

    Four couples who served a law firm in London 25 years ago reunited this weekend. Each couple was charged to contribute to the meal overlooking the Boston Common and the lights of the city under snow. The hostess made artistic and delicious scallop and salmon terrines. The host added superb Moroccan Rock Cornish game hens and risotto. Another brought a beautiful large cheese collection from Wasik's in Wellesley including one with truffles. There were the abundant grilled vegetables, a salad before dessert, and vanilla poached pears...not to speak of paired wines and a unique kir to greet us.

      I always like a bit of surprise (not needed with this crowd) but wanted to take a little something besides my hostess gift (Poire William) and poached pears. So, on a Friday afternoon I stitched up these campy vintage mug rugs. I had the novelty print on hand, found some black fleece for batting, and put cherry red/black print on the back. First, I cut solid black fabric, fleece and backing to 5" x  8", then stitched around all sides, and finally cut the stitched sides with a pinking rotary cutter.  I cut out the drawings and poems with pinking shears from the novelty fabric and stitched them onto the black top with invisible thread, quilting where needed. I wanted more color and added a red bow, held in place with a few machine stitches. I didn't need to go to Ben Franklin for some white "lace" or envelopes (I could have folded red construction paper) or glitter heart stickers, but I did!

     I realized I was having a blast making Valentines Friday afternoon just as I did on the rare rainy afternoons in Amarillo as a child. Only this time, I was using fabric instead of doilies and hearts. Click to enlarge photos.