CQMag Online is Out

I am behind the news again this morning because CQMag Online has been out a week or so. So make a cuppa and settle back to browse and read. What is in the latest issue? I am picking the eyes out here but to give a brief and quick overview of what this issue contains first there is a continuation of Barbara Blankenship’s Ideas and Inspiration Challenge. Don’t miss it as Barbara assembled interesting seam treatments and motifs for inspiration in your crazy quilting. An article My Favorite Crazy Quilt Embellishments by Dean Deerfield ties in with this.

Allison Aller writes about a method for finishing blocks in Mounting Crazy Quilt Blocks Onto Foam Core.

Leslie Ehrlich has started a new Yahoo group to promote Crazy Quilting with CQ Promoters.

Stephanie Novatski gives us the fourth installment Creating a Memory Quilt from Ties. Stephanie Novatski has also written a step-by-step tutorial for the tissue paper transfer method in Transferring a Design onto a Dark Fabric Using Tissue Paper and in Using a Die Cut Machine for Appliqué Shapes Stephanie uses a die cut machine for quilting.

Barbara Blankenship introduces a technique for edge-dyeing ribbon and Julie Yonge shares an idea for spooling ribbon in Wind ‘Em Up

Gail Odegaard has translated an idea from the world of paper crafts into Crazy Quilting with Quilted Tags.

Marie Alton has produced a pattern for making CQ pincushions.

These are just a few articles in this issue. There is heaps more. As I said make a cuppa and pop over and see for yourself what is on offer in the latest issue of CQMag Online.

 

Work in Progress crazy quilting, samplers and chatter!

Hi all grab a cuppa, as you can see I have done a little more crazy quilting work. Not much stitching because work is busy and frankly from now until the end of the year it just gets busier. I am also polishing my latest online workshop that is on offer at Joggles so for the moment stitching time is limited

The other week I lay out a few of these completed blocks to see how they would sit together and this is what they looked like. Progressing and they look better once they sit together. As usual if you click on the photo it takes you to a larger version.

As I said above I have been polishing my latest class Studio Journals: A Designer’s Workhorse . Since this is a new course I will be tinkering with it until it starts! If you are interested follow the link to find out more about it. The other course that is available is the Encrusted Crazy Quilting which teaches people crazy quilting. It has been very popular and there has been lots of new hands to crazy quilting find their way to me. Once again follow that link if you are interested.

On another note who has been following the progress of Annie’s sampler over on Annies Crazy World. She was inspired to start it after I pieced mine together. Just to remind you what it looked like - here is the image again.

For years I have made and kept samplers as a personal reference and teaching aid. I just love them. I always make them 15 cm (6 inches) wide and long like a band sampler.

Pieces are worked on a number of different fabrics. Linen, aida and cotton are all represented on a number of different counts from 25 count linen to 38 count. I plan to just keep adding to the roll so this sampler will be forever a work in progress. Currently the sampler measures the sampler 33 ft 2 inches or 11.05 yards in metric that is 1010.92 centimeters or 10.109 meters but I have two more sections to add that I have worked since the start of the year.

The reasons for stitching these samplers together in one long roll is that it is easier to travel with them like this. A pile of teaching samples stored like this are lighter and more compact - think about how heavy they would be if this amount of teaching samples were housed in plastic slip files in folders. The main reason I did it however is that I like to hand out samples to students in workshops and lectures so that they can see and feel what a stitch is like. People learn by touching, but unfortunately in the past a couple of samplers were handed out but never came back. I figure if they are all stitched together no one can stuff it in their hand bag. So it is a security measure! It also means odd samples can not get lost.

Often along the way I have added a little bit of text stating the date or what has been happening. Like this

Now Annie’s of Annies Crazy World has taken this idea and really run with it. She has been documenting bits of her life on her sampler. The other thing I really like is that Annie’s sampler is 4 inches wide. It is just so appealing when you have it in your hand! Annie and I get together every week to stitch and I can’t stress how delightful her sampler is. I have fallen in love with the width. So much so I thought to start to another thinner sampler but decided against it because I felt that part of the appeal for me is that my sampler consistently tells the history of my stitching so I am still working on a a 6 inch width but attracted to the format that Annie is using.

Anyway thats a very round about way of saying a sampler (and the crochet rug I spoke about last week) are the other things I am working on.

On another note: Do check out the comments on yesterdays post as many new bloggers are leaving their details and its a great way to find new faces. Swing over, check them out, leave a comment and welcome them to the online community of fiber blogs. It is great to have the opportunity to share what we do but becomes very empty feeling if no one comments. So as I say check them out and let them know you have dropped by.

 

BBC Quoted me!

I was rolling around the floor laughing this morning not because I was quoted by BBC News but what in a long conversation was chosen to quote. The BBC has run a piece on water usage in Australia and I was quoted.

The statement was made during an interview with Caroline Holmes for BBC radio 4 about how we re-established the garden after the fires which I wrote about here.

The interview with Caroline Holmes is not online yet as it will not be aired until May 20th but the programe details are here. (I will remind people when a podcast is available)

On another note but on topic I have another diamond block complete. In my last work in progress report I showed some dark blocks as you can see this one is a mid tone. To put this in context you can tack back on this project at my declaration of UFOs and WISPs at the start of this year. As usual if you click on the image you can go to a larger version.

 

The letter D in the huge blog list

Make a cuppa settle back as I have another section of the blog list prepared for your enjoyment. Late but I hope you enjoy it anyway. I am releasing a letter every couple of weeks so that people have chance to browse the blogs they may not have encountered. These blogs are mostly on topic and written by textile practitioners and designers who do such things as quilt, stitch, dye, sew, embellish fabric, bead, use visual journals, and are interested in art and design.

If you want to know where the other letters are here are the link to letter A , then B, and C was published over Easter so now w have the letter D

Added later: I am taking a little blogging break for a week or so as I am in catch mode at work (and am in need of little break)

Enjoy!

Dacia Ray covers crafts and cooking

Daily Thread Katie writes about knitting and sewing

Dakini Dreams Sapphire is a contemporary fiber and paper artist

Dalbhat Tik-tiki writes about crafts and sewing particularly when it is applied to community and economic development with extremely under privileged groups in India.

Dancing Crow creates fabric postcards (lots of them), uses her visual journal and and takes classes to develop circus skills!

Dangling by a Thread Smarcoux is a contemporary fiber artist interested in quilting, sewing, fabric dyeing and printing

Danita Art mixed media paper arts and collage

Danny Gregory Everyday Matters constantly draws and sketches offering advice and tips along the way. He hosts a weekly drawing challenge and runs a Yahoo group for people participating in it. Danny Gregory has also authored a number of successful books on drawing.

Dansnark Art is a blog started by Danielle who is interested is fabric postcards, ATCs, inchies, paper arts and crafts. Danielle has in interest in mixed media and collage

Dave’s Blog Dave documents his progress while learning to draw and paint

Dawn’s Icy Sun is a craft and sewing blog, Lately Dawn is mainly quilting.

Dear Ada Paper arts and collage

De Ponto em no Belém Belém writes a bilingual blog in which she covers her interests such as quilting, embroidery and sewing.

Debbi Baker tracks her latests projects creating fabric postcards, ATCs, and paper crafts

Debbie Overton Designs Debbie is a mixed media and collage artist

Deborah’s Journal Deborah Boschert creates art quilts, fabric postcards, and fabric collages.

Debra’s Design Studio Debra blogs her work in progress and has a wide interest in textiles.

Decor 8 Holly is a interior design consultant who blogs her favorite finds

Definatealie Natalie writes wll about design and craft which include altered books, drawing, illustration and soft toys

Deirdre’s Sloppy Studio covers the work that goes into of Deidre’s art quilts as they are in progress

Denise Aumick - Wild Thread Studio Art Quilts Life Among The Textiles is an art quilter who writes about her progress and process

Design is Mine Craft and design blog

Design Observer considered writing on design and culture

Design Sponge Grace Bonney writes about home and product design

Designers Who Blog which includes illustrators, photographers, writers, advertisers, and marketeers who blog

Devon House Recollections The blog of Mary Christian-Bailey who lives on Norfolk island and is a crazy quilter

Diary of a Mad Fabri-Holic a well written and amusing blog about knitting, crochet and quilting blog

Digital Gran has an interest in using computer graphics to design one off contemporary textile pieces. Her blog is dotted with her fiber projects and experiments using different technique

Dioramarama quilting, knitting, sewing and crafting.

Disdressed Liesl writes about sewing and has tutorials in the side bar of her blog.

Dispatch From LA Carol keeps a visual journal and is interested in mail art. There are links to her galleries in her side bar.

Displacement Activity Charlotte Narunsky keeps a craft blog that covers crochet, quilting, sewing, knitting and needle felting

DJ Pettitt combines photography, drawings, scanned found objects and textiles to produce imagery using Photoshop. She also does fabric painting, sewing and quilting. Spreads from her visual journal are also often posted to her blog.

Doll Mimi Kirchner is a fantastic doll maker. Mimi blogs the making of her dolls.

Doll Makers Muse Rivkah Rosenfeld is another doll artist who blogs her work, techniques and other craft interests.

Dolls are my Canvas Fran is a mixed media doll artist and doll designer who blogs her interests

Dolls stories Nita creates mainly cloth dolls but blogs about her dolls,sewing and crafts

Don’t Call Me Crafty Lauri is a crazy quilter who regularly blogs her projects

Down by the River Rosalind is a contemporary quilter who writes about her work and textile techniques. She does some wonderful machine embroidery.

Downunder Discourse is blog which mainly covers cross stitch projects - but interesting ones!

Downunderdale Dale is contemporary Aussie textile artist who regularly uses an embellishment machine and other fiber techniques blogs her discoveries.

Drawn from the Heart Carol Rosinski an artist, author and drawing teacher blogs tips tricks and advice on using the humble pencil to draw

Drawn! is a collaborative weblog for illustrators, cartoonists and artists

Dreaming Spirals is kept by quilt artist Liz Plummer who laely is heavily into print and paper making journals and the like

Dubi Quilts Debi’s blog covers her quilting, fabric surface designing, and scrapbooking activities.

Dyeing 2 Sew Valerie is a contemporary textile artist whose main interest is dyeing. Valerie also does applique and quilting.

Dyeing to Design Shirley Goodwin of New Zealand quilts and dyes fabrics

Dyers Hand Sandra Wyman is a dyer and quilter

 

Work in Progress

I realised yesterday that I am falling back into my old habits and forgetting to post about what I have been stitching as it’s been 3 weeks since my last work in progress report and over a month since I last wrote about the progress of my crazy quilt diamond blocks. Since I promised on my declaration of UFOs and WISPs at the start of this year I would try and post images of projects as I work them here we are 3 more blocks done!

Regular readers will remember that these diamond shaped blocks are part of a crazy quilt which will be set in a tumbling block pattern. As usual click on the images for a larger photo.

What else have I been doing?

Mainly I am writing a course to be run through Joggles.com about keeping a studio journal. Hopefully it will help people in both keeping a visual journal and getting the ideas from journal to textile. I don’t really write too much about course development mainly because I think readers find it a bit boring and I don’t like to put too much on the blog that is then used in a commercial enterprise. WordPress has some very strict rules about advertising so I keep the self promotion stuff to a minimum. If anything makes me move this blog it will be the combination of fear of losing my archives because this is free service (there is a lot of time and emotional invested made here if WordPress closed up shop I hate to think about it) and that I can’t self promote what I do! That said I am working quite hard on this new block o f lessons and it will be in the next round of offerings.

The other thing I am working on is a book on CD for Crazy quilters the emphasis is on seam embellishments and loads of variations. That and teaching at the art school is keeping me busy!

On the April Take it Further challenge page Jane asked if I was doing the challenge as well. No I am not I was talked into running this challenge. If you want to trace back the story behind the challenge I put the idea to the vote here after fishing for ideas here and discussing here.

To summarise quickly I wanted to get on with some of my own projects rather than spend too much time running a challenge as TAST last year really bit into my time. I must admit not a lot of arm twisting was done at the time but as I explained at the time I would not be taking part. My part was to think it up and co-ordinate.

So Jane the short answer is no I am not taking part even though the guilts get to me at times but I am not wonder woman sitting at the other side of key board. I work and have a home to run like us all and want to get some of my own stitching done. I am sure people understand. It takes time and energy to run long term challenges and things have to be prioritized. I must admit to feeling guilty however! Hence the need to explain LOL !

Anyway how are people going with their annual craft/sewing goals? Blog it and leave a comment or just leave a comment I would love to know and I am sure others would too.  One of mine is to work on this diamond quilts so I am feeling quite good about what I am doing considering work is taking up quite a bit of my time. Perhaps we need a “review” of what is achieved in the year so far. What do people think?

 

Grab a cuppa - and have a browse

Grab a cuppa because this is a mix of news around the blogs, gossip and leads to resources.

Pam Kellog of Kitty and Me Designs has worked out the DMC colours for this months Take it Further challenge colour scheme

Leslie from Pinyon Creek Stitching is aiming to establish a crazy quilt association. Read her post on the topic as many of the points she makes  is what is needed to raise the profile and promote crazy quilting.

Lisa Call of Contemporary Texitle Art has an interesting interview with artist coach Alyson Stanfield of ArtBizBlog about her new book I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion. Better still you can listen to the 12-14 minutes long podcast and stitch (I love podcasts!)

If you are interested in Slow cloth and the cultural aspects of textiles Lainie of Red Thread Studio pointed to some podcasts over on the Maiwa site. I have not listened to them all but I did delve into the excerpts from Kismet, Ajrakh and he Fish of Knowledge which was recorded at the Maiwa Symposium in October last year. Its good and food for thought as you stitch

Mimi Kirchner, of Doll has written a great tutorial on a dainty little felt rose

Meggiecat pointed readers to this information on making a Rosette

Also discovered via Meggiecat is a new blog on the block titled Spoonflower which describes itself as serving Internet-savvy crafters, creative folks who sew and quilt. What Stephen and Kim Fraser appear to do is to take digital files and print on fabric.

Yesterday on Mindtracks I pointed to Ponoko is a new online service that I think many readers here will be interested in too. It is not got a direct textiles application but if you are a crafter who designs things this site may be for you.

You design the product and submit the eps files to Ponoko and they laser cut them for you. Rather than print on demand its a ‘make on demand’ service. You can also sell your products form their site via your own shop front. For more information have a look at the Make and sell section of the site and they have blog you can follow too. Check out their product of the week.

My thanks goes to Allie for dropping me an email and giving me the link.

Added later:

I just tossed a pair of Jerry’s undies out the door. I was folding the washing and discovered a scorpion - not nice. My hand just brushed past it when I noticed the sudden movement. I carefully took the garment it was sitting on - a pair of Jerry’s undies and tossed it and the garment out the door. (I don’t like killing things) All I can say I am pleased Jerry did not attempt to wear them this morning. What a place to be bitten!

 

Carolyn Cibik has a ebook out for Crazy quilters

Did you know that Carolyn Cibik of Evening Star Designs has a ebook out for Crazy quilters?

I recently received a review copy. It arrived on CD titled Block with Variations for Crazy quilters. Unfortunately the CD did not read as I am on a Mac the ‘pages’ of the book fell apart. Carolyn was profusely apologetic as you can imagine and I am sure Caroyln is working on this problem. After a bit of chasing around my computer I managed to lace together the book to review it.

This book by Carolyn Cibik of Evening Star Designs is aimed at the beginner in the crazy quilting world. Carolyn is an experienced crazy quilting teacher who, realising that there are many people who have trouble piecing their foundation because of not understanding composition decided to put this book together.

Carolyn has focused on producing line patterns of crazy quilt blocks which people can work from. The book of 30 pages or so illustrates the basics of piecing a block working from patterns that Carolyn has provided. In fact 52 block patterns means there are many choices!

I can see how this publication fills a need and if you are new to crazy quilting and unsure of piecing I am sure it will be very useful to you. If you have Mac computer just check the bugs are ironed out before ordering.

Please note I am not affiliated with Evening Star Designs or gain financially from this review.

 

CQ Mag Online is looking readers showcase photos

CQMagOnline is calling for readers showcase photos and article submissions for the April issue. No matter what level of crazy quilter you feel yourself to be if you have a project recently finished that you can photograph please feel free to contact the magazine and submit an article or photos.

As regular readers of the magazine will be aware this year CQMagOnline is running a Ideas and Inspiration challenge so its your chance to share a seam embellishment or motif that you really enjoy using in your crazy quilting projects.

Now don’t be shy - share!

 

A creative weekend

Sometimes it is best to leave the weeding, the grocery shopping, and the housework and simply have a self indulgent weekend. That is what I did and I was doubly spoiled as it was a long weekend here in Canberra. So what did I do?

This 8 inch block is now done. (Click on the image for a larger view)

The other thing I did was to sort out my large sheets of paper and clear out my old drawings and folios.

The folios are made of heavy card and they date back to my art school days when I was a student and they are a little worse for wear after 25 years. Since when I purchased them I was a broke art student they looked particularly tatty but I have never replaced them as they still protect the drawings/ paper inside them.  So I decided that I would tear up old drawings, sheet music, photocopies and papers and collage a cover all over them. I had a ball ripping into some of the very old drawings.

I have three of these folios all still in use more or less and I plan to ‘cover’ all of them this way. This first folio is in black and white (more or less) the others will each have a different dominant colour because then I can colour code what is inside. I use one for paper, the second for drawings I am working on and a third for finished pieces. I actually have a fourth but that one might just beyond it.

It is quite large as it will take a sheet of A2 paper quite happily. In other words it measures 66 cm (26 inches) by 46 cm (18 inches) Here is the front of the folio standing upright on the table

Here is the back of the folio standing upright on the table (Click on the images for a larger view) The sheen is PVA glue still drying!

I really enjoyed doing these and am looking forward to covering the others.

 

Work in Progress report

Two weeks has slipped by since my last work in progress report. As I promised on my declaration of UFOs and WISPs this year I would try and post images of projects as I work them. I keep meaning to take photos but I forget! Anyway I thought it was time to correct the habit.

Regular readers will remember that these diamond shaped blocks are part of a crazy quilt which will be set in a tumbling block pattern. To get this quilt done I should be moving it along a bit quicker but life is busy. These have been done in the last two weeks. Click on the images for a larger photo.

On another note check out this Big list of sewing blogs it will keep you browsing for ages

Swing by tomorrow for the Take it Further challenge as I will post it then