When life gets in the way

You know how we roll along and then life throws us a few curves? I’ve had a few of those lately. Some family illnesses, both my mother and mother in law and then this terrible flu that’s going round. I’m doing physio for my side and neck. It may be caused by my fall way back in December.

I’m feeling generally tired and I’ve been conserving my energy, spending a little less time in my studio. Snowshoeing is the only outdoor option as our streets are icy and rutted, sometimes full of water, and not great for walking.

I’ve been giving myself permission to rest when I need, picking up my knitting or maybe reading. This too shall pass.

I have progressed some on my surfer adding more fused pieces as I go. I found some of the white water that I’d made for another piece.

I’m concentrating on all the little slivers before I move on to the stitching.

Last year, made 1 Swoon block and got so frustrated trying to cut pieces for the second block that I gave up. Since I’m trying to clear out some UFO’s, I pulledit out and got a friend who has made it to help me cut and lay out the pieces.

Today, I put together the one 9 patch on the bottom right.

Here is the first block.

Optimally, 6 blocks would work well for a twin sized quilt but I may only have 3 blocks in me! If so I’ll add some smashing s and maybe some smaller stars.

Birches, snow dyeing and a surfing piece

What a beautiful February day! Lots of snow but very bright and sunny. The days are getting much longer and I’m able to get out snow shoeing later in the afternoon without getting the chill of impending dusk. Since my bout of back and neck pain with cervical vertigo, I’ve been taking it easy, going to physio and neck massage. This week I’ve eased back into snow shoeing. I so love to be out on the trail where there is silence and fresh air. I love to stop to breathe deeply and to commune with the birds.

Yesterday, I spied this little nest for the first time. It is very small. I’m not sure about the bird. Some sort of finch or small bird.

The pilliated wood peckers have been to work on this dead tree. I love  the circle patterns!

I’ve got some Procion dyes that are quite old and this week I decided to try a little snow dyeing to use it up.

 

Magenta and blue loosely pleated:

Yellow, blue and a touch of magenta, loosely pleated:

The soft pleats suggest landscapes to me. Water and trees.

Scrunched, magenta and blue:

There seemed to be a lot of color rinsing out so I stopped and dried them. I may try rinsing again just to be sure.

In my sewing time, I’ve been finishing my birch trees. For now, it’s tacked up on the design wall for pondering. There are still a few touches to add in the foreground.

In the meantime, I’m slowly cleaning out my storage closet. I found this piece of a winter surfer friend of my son’s in Lunenburg, NS and decided to finish it. A couple of years ago, I did one of my son. The pieces were all laid out, so I cut an interfacing and started stitching in the sky and the background water.

I still have leftover pieces of thread lace that I made for the waves and spray. Maybe enough to do it.

I’m feeling pretty satisfied to be finishing some things tat have been languishing in the closet. Pieces that I’m not so fond of, I’ll pass along.

Slow stitching

I know there is a hand stitching movement called slow stitch which although I do enjoy is not what I referred to in the title. I’ve always been slow at finishing a piece but now I’m slower! Everything was going good for me and then a new problem develops in my back and neck. I’ve been stitching in shorter bits of time. 

I’m still working on this piece, getting ever closer to finishing. As usual, I’m already thinking and planning my next piece.

In the meantime I finished this little 6” by 8” piece for the SAQA Spotlight auction and hope to get it mailed this week.

I started with a Gelli print on white cotton, free motion stitched with black, added a few more designs with variegated and Hollowshimmer thread and finally did some hand embellishing with perle cotton and beads.

This is the postcard that was  made to advertise our SAQA Atlantic show opening March 28th in Dartmouth, NS.

There is a sliver of my waterfall on the right. I am planning to attend the opening if all goes well.

Saturday studio afternoon

My husband just made a spiced hot chocolate while I quickly diced veggies for a pizza. We’re doing it the easy way—purchased whole wheat  crust and grated cheese. That way, I got to spend most of the afternoon in the studio and now I’m sitting with my hot cocoa.

I finally got to cut and arrange the birches on my stitched background and I added some black spots and lighter grey areas with fabric paints. Once it’s dried overnight and ironed, I can add some stitching.

After that I pulled out one of my Gelli prints to do a bit of free motion stitching on. It’s to be used as a donation in an upcoming SAQA auction if all goes well.

I often like to outline in black and add layers with other threads overtop. 

Something else I’m working on a few strips at a time is this piece of muslin oversewn with selvedge edges. This has been laying over the back of my computer chair for ages!  Another project I’m going to finish. I’ve added about 10” more and have about that much to finish it. The plan is to add batting, lightly stipple quilt it and then make a simple slip cover to slide over the back of the chair.

Im feeling satisfied finishing up some old projects as well as starting some new ones. Always percolating are ideas for what’s next.

Happy Saturday, I hope you’re having a good one.

Two pieces accepted into SAQA Atlantic show

I’m so excited to let you know that my last 2 fiber art pieces, Waterfall and Autumn Umbels and Ferns were accepted into the SAQA Atlantic Canada show, Transitions which will open in April in Dartmouth, NS. 

They will travel to the Inverness Art Centre October 2018 and to the Art Centre Saint John. in 2019 with more venues to be announced. 

Waterfall

Autumn Umbels and Ferns

Finished tote bag, new quilt, thread painting

For some time I’ve wanted to make a quilt of softer colors for the my bedroom. The majestic mountains pattern is one I’ve liked for a while  too. I’m using the tutorial by Bonnie Hunter. I couldn’t wait to try a few sample squares to get the idea. The blocks aren’t sewn together yet.

I cut about half of the squares that I'll need. I'm going for a more neutral look, a sort of 'low volume' look so I may remove the few darker ones.

Yesterday, during the snow storm I also finished the tote bag except for slip stitching it closed and top stitching along the top edge.

I am planning a small reno here in my studio. I have my 2 machines set up along the outside wall. since it's such a small room -- about 9+ ft by 10ft-- I can't do much else in the room except sit at my computer just opposite.

Beside the computer space is a closet full of fabrics and a few other quilting supplies. the pain is to remove the wall, install cabinets across the top, and extend the counter all the way across making room for my 2nd sewing machine on the right. I would have room fro a couple of IKEA cabinets below.
This would allow me to remove the desk in the opposite corner making room for an armchair for hand work.
The second phase would involve installing a second window which would make it more like a sunroom and give me a better view.

The sun is shining this afternoon; however, besides shovelling the front steps and walk, I opted to stay in as its pretty slippery after the storm yesterday.

I've been stitching on this fall/winter scene. It's almost ready to have the large birch trees added.

I'm linking to the Needle and Thread Network.

http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/2018/01/wip-wednesday-323-tn.html

Quiet Saturday

This morning I went to quilting at our civic center. While checking my mailbox on the way home, I noticed a fallen branch and couldn’t resist breaking off a few twigs. I love the lines and shapes.

It’s a very mild day. We had a few inches of fresh snow this morning making everything fresh and white. I’m taking another day off from snow shoeing due to a problem I’m having with my back and neck. It’s causing a cervicle vertigo which leads me to need to lie down to avoid the nausea.

The view from my window is pretty though.

Winter skies are so soft and pretty.

Wearing my heat belt, I started a batch of applesauce raisin bread in the bread maker. I purchased the machine just before Christmas on sale. It is getting more difficult for me to stand and knead bread. 

Then I spent about an hour in my studio free motion stitching a bit more on my latest piece. What shall I name it?

Sill more to come in the foreground. Now that the background is done, I can add a few trees up front. Next session.

In the meantime, I’m taking a break with a cup of tea here in my spot by the window. 

Maybe I’ll knit a bit on my latest socks.

Before supper ( leftovers, yum!) I’ll run outside with the garbage, compost and recycling. Hubby has driven to Montreal with our youngest son to see a hockey game tonight. Montreal versus Boston. It is a 60th birthday gift. So I’m having a quiet weekend at my own pace. I’ll probably be in my pjs right after supper, lol. I’ve made plans for a short, gentle  snow shoe with a friend tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.

I hope you’re having a nice weekend, making time to enjoy some fresh air and maybe a little creativity.