In a Minute Ago is a blog of online resources which relate to contemporary and historical textiles, embroidery and needlework, quilting and crazy quilting, fiber arts, paper, book arts and visual journals. It also performs a “whats new” function for my site, and documents current projects which are of a textile nature.
Please feel free to leave a comment. They will not appear immediately as comments are moderated by me in order to block spam.
I also another blog, Mind Tracks which covers new media, web design, and my interests in the visual arts. I also use this blog to provide links to various online resources for my students in courses run out of the Computer Arts Studio at the School of Art, which is part of the Australian National University.
An area of my site is the hand embroidery Stitch dictionary which I hope people find useful. Each stitch is illustrated in step by step photos and I have categorised each stitch as to its degree of difficulty.
For Crazy quilters there is also diagrams of embellished seam treatments. Eye candy for crazy quilters includes I dropped the button box crazy quilt and 8 inch blocks for a Crazy Quilt I have yet to name, there are also other crazy quilted projects including a small wall quilt titled Safe as houses which was made in response to the Canbarra fires in 2003.
For needlework enthusiasts I have also put online images of embroidery samples I have stitched. Some are simply ‘doodle cloths’ others are designed as samplers.
I also teach crazy quilting and contemporary embroidery. Information about Workshops and Classes offered can also be found on this blog.
There are also a number of projects on this site that were run in order to raise money for charity. The All that Jazz crazy quilts are a fundraiser for survivors of the Katrina hurricane disaster. The aim was to produce a crazy quilts which were auctioned on EBay in the United States. A total of $1,503.57 was raised in this project.
Members of the Southern Cross Crazies discussion group and the Canberra Crazy Quilters, at the First National Crazy Quilt Retreat in October 2004 were invited to decorate a bra in order to raise funds for Breast cancer research. Images of all the bras are in the Can-bra gallery
I have also run challenges of various sorts from this blog. Bags of fun was a challenge run in late 2005 between September and November. The idea was to make a bag or container of some sort, from recycled jeans embellishing them using any technique available to textile practitioners. This challenge also has its own gallery.
In 2007 I have been running the Take a Stitch Tuesday challenge. Each week I take a stitch and experiment with it, push it a little and see what possibilities it holds. This becomes the stitch of the week. Anyone who wants to join in and blog their discoveries is welcome.
For more information about what is on my site and how it came about I have an extended about page which you really need to settle down with a cuppa to read, as it is far too long. It has grown over the years in response to regularly asked questions.
If you are not totally satisfied with that there is also an artist’s statement also long, and also a document that has evolved over the years for various exhibitions I have been involved in and in response to email questions people have asked.
Now, for those students that drop me an email because they have to write about a contemporary fiber artist. Firstly the artist statement and the about page is where you will find information about my work. If you really can’t find an answer to a question feel free to email me but I won’t write your essay for you. If the answer is on this or the about page I will simply redirect you back to these pages to look, think and write up as that is what research involves, and yes you can have an image or two for your essay providing you credit me as the source.
That should keep everyone happy! Enjoy the blog and enjoy my site In a Minute Ago.
April 21, 2006 at 7:53 am
Thank You for the embroidery stitches.I’ve just started my frist crazy quilt,and it is driving me crazy.Should the small pieces be embellished before sewing togther?I think i bit off more than I thought. My blocks are 12 inch square.Please help!
September 5, 2007 at 4:04 am
Sharon..I don’t have a computer of my own, so I’m just sort of auditing TAST for now. In your shisha article you mention using pieces of cds for the mirror. Please tell your readers that if they try to cut up a cd they absolutely must wear safety goggles or glasses. Cds splinter like mad and the shards have a tendency to fly. Thank you.
September 5, 2007 at 8:44 am
Thanks Mary I have done that
October 5, 2007 at 6:32 am
will there bean access to your stitch dictionary and I dropped the button box again? soon? I am a button-junkie and found your pict’s really inspired me. thanks
October 5, 2007 at 7:06 am
EJ Saba There has always been access to the Stitch Dictionary and the buttonbox quilt as only the blogs have moved. Just pop over to http://inaminuteago.com and it’s there.
I may move it in the future but in the mean time it is up
November 14, 2007 at 9:33 am
Sometimes the only practical gift is a merchandise card or even a check, but they can both feel a little impersonal. Enclosing them in a fabric envelope or pouch that you’ve embellished somehow makes for a very nice presentation, especially if you’ve included in your pattern the recipient’s initals or some design that has a personal meaning for them.
November 20, 2007 at 1:11 am
Recently my daughter and I taught a primitive rug hooking class at an event called “From Our Hands” in Columbus, Ohio. This was a class on how to extend a hooked rug by adding several rows of lamb’s tongues. The lamb’s tongues were finished on the edge with a blanket stich. One of our students brought inaminuteago.com to the attention of all in the workshop. That spot led me to this one. So glad to have found you! Like so many of you we love all things pertaining to fiber arts and working with our hands to add a personal touch to our lives! I will visit often to inspire myself!
Bonnie Smith, editor of The Wool Street Journal - an extraordinary rug hooking magazine for hookers with heart.
November 21, 2007 at 5:45 am
Hi, Sharon; I am a french embroiderer and every day, I am going on your blog; I know very many stitches (learnt with my grand-mother)but I learn very often in your blog, I like the manipulation, deformation, …… I didn’t know the thorne stitch and today, I have made trees (for a christmas card). But I do not find your email address (I have no blog) for submiting it to you……………..I have only a site……….Thanks for this new stitch)
Anne
http://quilt007.free.fr
December 12, 2007 at 3:39 am
Hi Sharon! Bit by bit, I’m getting back to things. Currently I’m using the library’s computer to get back in touch; unfortunately, I cannot post pix. I would like to join in the Take It Further project; in addition, I wanted to say again how very much I appreciate you and your work.
You’ll notice that I had to change my email…I’ll soon be back to my blog. On the bright side, I’ve stayed quite busy during my on-line absence! Please keep me in your thoughts as I struggle, slowly but successfully, back to the surface! Warmest regards from Sarah
December 15, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Dear Sharon,
I’m impressed about your side and your blog. Everyone who enjoy the work with embroidery have a lot of passion for this hobbycraft. Your side is special. Kindly regards from Ragnhild.
December 18, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Hi Sharon !
Thanks for your blog comment today on my little bag.
I honestly DID mean that this one was a “slow cloth” bag for me. I am truly waiting for a Slow Cloth button to put on my blog. If I knew how to write HTML I would make one!
I cringe whenever I see another book whose title begins with “Fast, Fun & Fabulous” … most of my work work IS slow and I have never taken much pleasure in any fast craft I have tried. Fast usually looks like fast —- with rare exceptions!
I am excited to try the T I F challenge — it will be a great “focuser” for the beginning of the New Year !
Thank you for your wonderful blog ( I look forward to it always) , thoughtful,considered posts and terrific organizational skills!
I wish I had not missed T A S T - it would have been great - in fact I may be using the stitch you posted today on a new project !
Warmest wishes for holiday cheer and blessing in the New Year, Marie
January 5, 2008 at 5:09 am
Dear Sharon,
I m very glad to see your hard work for embroiedry. I m impressed to see your blog.I need a little help from you…..
actually i knitted a sweater for my little angle and want to do some embroiedry on it.
Once i saw somewhere double colour chain stitch. it was an alternate colour. now i m searching for that but dint get that. can u pls tell me the name of the stitch and any link for that. Thanks
February 6, 2008 at 1:59 am
I love your blog and have “tagged” you - see my blog for details http://fibrefan.blogspot.com/
I’m new to blogging so thanks for the tips. Also, please could you add me to the waiting list for the TIF Challenge? I’m doing it anyway but missed the signup date. Thanks
February 13, 2008 at 4:05 am
Hi I am trying to Erradicate Sudden Infant Death by using ART and Rocks.
Can you please help me get the word out to as many artists as possible. by
posting a link or by blogging about my blog? Maybe even doing a Blog Interview
Look at http://kicksids.blogspot.com/
Thank you very much
Brian Carpenter
February 19, 2008 at 10:18 am
Dear Sharon,
I was very excited when I signed up for the TIF challenge, but am still unable to begin as there has been a few problems with the move to New Zealand. Hopefully once I have everything sorted out here, I will be able to again start hand work. Until that day, wishing all participants of the challenge a wonderful time with the all the amazing work that will be produced.
February 27, 2008 at 2:32 am
Dear Sharon,
As an intermediate crazy quilter, I wanted to thank you for all of the material that you have made available on line to help those of us that continue to strive to learn more…..from your unbelievable “eye candy” to tutorals….which are all wonderful!. I signed up for your “Embellished Crazy Quilting” online class, but due to a family tragedy was not able to actively participate. I am now working my way through the outstanding lessons…one by one…on my own. I am learning so much. You are a fantastic teacher! The class is one worth taking for crazy quilters of any level of experience from confident beginners on up. If there is ever an opportunity to take a class from you “in person”, I would do anything in my power to attend it! What an awesome opportunity that would be! If you do these type of classes, I would love to know about them. Again…Thank you so very much for your contributions toward my crazy quilting education….it has truly been appreciated!
Sherry Johnson
Minnesota
February 27, 2008 at 6:53 am
I just posted an “I Love You” award on my blog because I your blog is so informative and helpful… I don’t have many visitors yet as I’m new to this blogging and not telling many folks but those that I’ve told I want to be sure visit your site too.
March 4, 2008 at 4:12 am
Hi Sharon,
I wanted to send you a personal email thanking you for the gorgeous threads — but I don’t find one so am also posting here. You really were FAR too generous, but I am so happy you were! I’ve been showing them off to everyone and there is lots of drooling going on over them. Now I’m going to have to bump up my skills to properly show off such fine threads.
I’ve also come across a cool item you may wish to take a look at too. Its a swivel chair covered in YARN SCRAPS!! of all things! lol Its coming thru from a fancy schmanzy designer newsletter so I’m sure it must cost a bundle! I’ll attach the links here, hope you can see them.
Thanks again!
Colleen
Environment Furniture
Giramundo
This eco-minded manufacturer unveiled Thomas Bina’s Giramundo swivel chair, covered in yarn scraps collected in Rio de Janeiro. Legs come in a variety of metals or Sustainable Forestry Initiative–certified hardwood. 7257 Beverly Boulevard, Suite 108, Los Angeles, CA 90036; 323-935-1330; environmentfurniture.com.
posted 2/28/2008
http://www.interiordesign.net/id_newproduct/CA6525645.html?category=Seating&nid=2068
April 10, 2008 at 7:41 am
Thought you might be interested in an exhibition at the State Library of Victoria of medieval manuscripts called The Medieval Imagination. There is an online gallery of images. About half the manuscripts in the exhibition come from Cambridge University, the rest are from the State Library and private collections in Australia and New Zealand.
April 10, 2008 at 9:02 am
Yes Susan it looks great and I am watching the cheap flights to see if I can make it down to see it otherwise it might be the back of a motor bike
April 10, 2008 at 4:13 pm
nothing wrong with the back of a motobike
April 14, 2008 at 5:28 am
I didn’t know if this is the right place to put this but I need to withdraw from you challenge. I was really enjoying it but I found myself putting previous commitments off in order to think about and do this one. If I had found this first, I would have stuck with it and hope to try it again another time.
Timaree