More Progress and Happenings! And more treasuries!

The progress made on current projects:

1- A large wall hanging commission for a friend. Currently hand embroidering around the edges of the elements.

I'd estimate at 2/3rds, up from an eighth, of the embroidery complete!

2- The 'Here We Are' challenge piece for the Pagan Team on Etsy.

So I didn't get it completed to enter the challenge but continue to work on the design. The border/corners are coming together. Figured a way to reverse applique the center element to its borders, went well. Will now apply the corner the same way.

3- A piece I have been brainstorming for the Deep Spaces Exhibit.

I got the borders on the whole cloth background. Layered with batting and a heavy interfacing to support the beads I will use to embellish. Ready to quilt, the design is solidifying! I layered 3 ACEOs to practice the quilting and bead embroidery on before the big one!

Two weeks ago I rented the long arm machine at Bayside Quilting.I was able to finish quilting 2 twin sized, ~50 X 70 inches, quilts. I used a 108 inch backing fabric and turned the piece long wise, it was 2.5 yards wide to accommodate the length!

One I have already turned the back to the front and machine stitched the edge. The other the bias binding is on but needs hand sewing to the back. The later is a challenge I had with a quilting friend many years ago. I played with free motion quilting a leaf design and used a variegated bright thread! I will get them listed to etsy eventually. Maybe images posted here before I wash and, dry them to pucker the batting.

The 5th and 6th of January I spent the weekend at the Olympia Weekend Market!

The reason I got so much of the above noted hand work finished! It was a free booth weekend and I wanted to see if it was somewhere the Etsy Olyteam and/or I would be interested in renting space on a regular basis. I am now considering renting a booth the first weekend of the next few months to get my work out and available. Once summer hits the Market is only 2 - 3 blocks from the Farmers Market... a good idea to be somewhere in the vicinity as getting a space at the Farmers Market is limited, they really do like people who sell their farm goods after all.

Here's an image of my booth!


And then there are the 3 new treasuries from Etsy!











Check out the great work available on Etsy!

Progress and another Treasury on Etsy!

A little progress made on current projects:

1- A large wall hanging commission for a friend. Currently hand embroidering around the edges of the elements.

I'd estimate an eighth of the embroidery complete!

2- The 'Here We Are' challenge piece for the Pagan Team on Etsy. The center area has settled on a design option.

The center has morphed into a unique shape with a center 'cut out'. The fabric I wanted to use there isn't working so I am in the process of making a mosaic of 1 inch squares! I ran out of fusible grid and needed more so will hope to get it ready to iron tonight, then I can spend a few days piecing and getting it ready to quilt!

3- A piece I have been brainstorming for the Deep Spaces Exhibit.

:( no progress.... some design work i my head though!

And the Treasury! The focus is Imbolc, the next Celebration of the Turning of the Wheel and honoring Saint Bridgit. Imbolc is a time of reflection for me, I recall my intentions for the past year and focus on a new year ahead! We will never, ever loose our way to the well! We must all chop wood and haul water!

Update and 2 more treasuries I am in on Etsy!

I have been busily working on a few projects at once.

1- A large wall hanging commission for a friend. It is ~45 X 72 inches. I am using a graphic design Conan (my 16 year old) drew. There is also the negative of the applique cut out in the wings now. Currently hand embroidering around the edges of the elements.

2- The 'Here We Are' challenge piece for the Pagan Team on Etsy. I have made a circular Bargello with a twist. Much larger than I intended, the center area is settling on a design option. This will be a lap quilt if it doesn't grow any bigger!

3- A piece I have been brainstorming for the Deep Spaces Exhibit. This one will be heavily beaded so I need to be sure and give myself enough time to work on it! Due date is May 2011. But we all know how fast time can move when we aren't paying attention! The whole cloth and borders are cut!

I have been featured in 2 recent treasuries on Etsy! Thanks curators!






I have to work this and next week but get 2, 3 day weekends so looking forward to some home time for working on projects! I am taking pictures of progress along the way. I will potentially post the photos along with the completed pieces when the time comes!

A Treasury I was featured in on Etsy!

Etsy members create unique collections of listings they like.

This Etsy treasury showcases my Evergreen Tree Series Postcard Purple Power!

More postcards listed on Etsy!

Holiday Yule 4.5 X 6.5 Postcard Holly Star 2

Holiday Yule Postcard Gift 1

Chickadees!

I have been listing postcards! I have about half of them listed already. There are 6.5 X 4.5 inch Holly Stars and Gift boxes, and 4 X 6 inch Evergreen trees.


I am almost finished with 4 Winter Solstice/Yule table toppers. These are a bit smaller than my usual ones and will be great centerpieces or altar covers as well! I'll come back and post images when they are listed!

I have been collecting fabric for a challenge from Pagans of Etsy Street Team I am hosting titled, "We Are Here" in celebration on our new team page on Etsy and all the places we can be found on the web!

I have been playing with design options for a set of zodiac elements I have sitting in the 'do something with these' pile.

Also struggling with a commission for a friend who, thankfully, last night assured me I can take my time until it feels right and to make it so I like it too! Whew! I have been struggling with the graphic design options and not able to cut fabric yet. I am considering using one of Conan's more graphic designs as my inspiration... Ronn looked at some of Conan's work last night and agreed it would be great! Now to see if there is one that speaks to me more than another!

The Art Show/Sale hosted by Friends of the Olympia timberland Library raised over $1000 for their organization with 20% commissions from 27 artists. I sold several things. It encourages me to possibly reach out and participate in more local artist events... we shall see. There is so little free time and I want to spend it all making stuff!

Speaking of time, I am off to work on those table toppers!

QuiltArt Jewelry Show

A member of Quiltart asked if there are others who incorporate quilting and jewelry. I do pins/brooches that are pieced then hand quilted/beaded. I have been contemplating fabric beads for some time now and may actually get to some before too long!

Here is one of my bow tie pin/brooches!

Evergreen Trees Postcard Series and seeing Stars!

I have been working on the Evergreen Trees in Winter Series I started in 2008 in anticipation of the Friends of Olympia Timberland Library Art Show and Sale scheduled for November 20th. I have sold a few of this series in the past, likely in 2008, and did not number them so I don't know how many total there are or will be. One was nearly complete and only needed the binding sewn to the 4 X 6 inch watercolor paper backing. It is in my Etsy shop now. It is titled Thaw, there are beads that look like water drops in the design.I uploaded an image as it is no longer front and center in my Etsy mini in the side bar. I have completed the beading on 13 more and the next step is to trim them to size, add the binding then sew them to the watercolor paper.

In addition I have begun beading another series I found unfinished. This one is stars that are 4 X 6 inches and all made from different fabrics with holly designs. I am thinking I decided to do these before the binding on the Evergreen Trees because binding is my least favorite step in the production of these postcards. But once completed there will be over 20 to have at the show. I also have a set of postcards with wrapped presents on them. I may simply finish those with binding, no need to bead. We shall see...

I have a pair of jeans I have agreed to hem for a friend. Last night I picked up the right color thread and plan to work on them Friday afternoon. Once back at the machine I hope to get the binding on a few of the trees and maybe a star so I can do the sewing to backing during my standing Saturday 'dinner and a movie' at the above mentioned friend's house! Much easier to sew bindings than it is to bead there.

I continue to collect blue beads, branching out to a bit of periwinkle. I did find and buy five 20mm cobalt blue round beads that are awesome! Then I picked up a few 10, 8, and 6 mm. Several of the 'seed bead' strands I have will take the size down to as low as 2 mm! I am searching for a few 12, 14 or 15 mm. We shall see what I find. The possibility of a 'strand' across the surface of my Deep Space project is appealing to me!

My Physical Therapy has been going well. My knees are improving noticeably, or actually I find myself doing something I haven't been able to do for years and realize my knees are getting better with out being aware of it! Looking forward to a long weekend, not on the schedule to work Saturday. However must get myself there one more day this week!