Sometimes the most unusual fabric makes the most interesting baskets! I found this fabric that had a very interesting dotted pattern in earth tones and on the same shelf was this off white and gold colored chevron print and they both said we belong in a bowl together to me. I don't have a lot of oval shaped baskets currently in my inventory so I started out with that.
This past week has been all about finishing my Spring collection and getting it delivered to the shops. Last Saturday I made a delivery to a new vendor who is located in South Deefield, which is about 20 miles southwest of New Salem in Connecticut River Valley. I had made a bowl to match the Santa Fe market bag which is pictured in my previous blog entry. I had also made this daisy collection which was featured in the blog entry 2 weeks ago. Both of these collections ended up at this shop plus 2 more the small shoulder purses and some hot pads. I stopped at the Leverett Village Co-op, who also carries my work, since it was sort of on my way home. I was pleased to see that they were getting low on my stock. I made a delivery to them this morning; two down, one to go.
Three weeks ago I purchased a brand spanking new sewing cabinet. The type of cabinet that has a lift in it so that the sewing machine can be lowered to table height. At the time of purchase, I ordered 2 plexiglass inserts that would fit each one of my machines. When we came home with the cabinet, we off loaded it into the basement since it was going to take a bit more man power than we had at the time to get it up the back steps and onto the main floor of the house. Also, there was still some snow blocking the back steps so some melting needed to take place. 3 weeks later, all this has taken place and at last, my new sewing cabinet has been installed and I am here to tell you that I LOVE IT!!!
It has been 2 years since I started making the coiled fabric bowls. I have enjoyed bringing together all sorts of fabrics with their different patterns, colors and textures. It truly has been a challenge to not only figure out how to make a good looking bowl but also what fabrics and threads to use together. This week, I decide to take on the challenge of making my very first black and white bowl.
This week, so far has been all about daisies. The wonderful thing about this collection is that I found all of these fabrics in my stash . How cool is that. The first item built was a table runner. I had some fusible fleece left over from another project so thought I would try it out as the batting for the runner. I quilted it to the top, fusible side down before I attached the backing. I then put the right sides together, top and backing, sewed a 1/4" along 3 edges, turned it right side out and then closed it up at the end. I then proceeded to fuse the fleece to the backing. I was very pleased with the result.
Several years ago I made my daughter a tote bag out of this stunning black floral print. It had blue handles and I had found this orangey/yellow batik to go with it which I used for the pockets. There was plenty of the fabric left over so it went into my stash. It got pulled out this week along with a matching green dot so I thought I would have some fun with it. The some what abstract blue flowers on this print reminded me of forget-me-nots. Why not start out with an appliqued forget-me-not on a hot pad but.....what should I use for the background. A search through my stash revealed that I had plenty of light blue scraps and WOW they looked GREAT with the black print. I did a quick quilt as you go stripe to use as the background. Once the 6 1/2" block was made I appliqued the posie and leaves onto it and used the black print as the border. It SCREAMED SPRING!!! and I loved it.
April 14 is the cut off this year for applying to the local Garlic & Arts Festival. Once again this year it will be the last weekend in September. When I was accepted last year, the artist coordinator gave me some feed back about my application. Most people on the jury obviously have seen my work since part of the feed back was that the photos I included did not do my work justice.
It's Friday...YEAH! You can probably tell by the photo what I have been up to this week! I spotted this fabulous blueberry fabric and OF COURSE, immediately thought of the the shop up in Maine, Mainely Quilts, that sells my wares. Blueberry fabric of ANY kind is difficult to find and to find one as nice as this one.....I was VERY pleased. I am now kicking myself for only buying a yard of it. First I made the apron. Since this fabric is wicked expensive I decided to feature it in a tri-colored apron. The blueberries are an indigo blue and when I found that orangey red fabric in my stash, I felt it was a match made in heaven.
I upgraded my sewing machine in August and it has become painfully (oh my aching back) clear that a sewing table designed for my new electronic machine was in order. I started looking around and doing some research this past month. I felt that a Horn sewing cabinet might be just the ticket for me. Upon inquiry, my facebook friend Holly, who has an exquisite sewing room, informed me she has a Horn cabinet and that she LOVES it.
One of the wonderful things about being a fiber artist is the array of fabrics I get to work with. Even thought there is 3 feet of snow in my yard, I can get out bright, colorful fabric and if instantly makes me forget the monochromatic landscape outside my door. As soon as I found this Kilim fabric in my stash and this perfectly coordinating bright turquois, I knew they would be a cure for my winter blues.
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Sometimes the most unusual fabric makes the most interesting baskets! I found this fabric that had a very interesting dotted pattern in earth tones and on the same shelf was this off white and gold colored chevron print and they both said we belong in a bowl together to me. I don't have a lot of oval shaped baskets currently in my inventory so I started out with that.
This past week has been all about finishing my Spring collection and getting it delivered to the shops. Last Saturday I made a delivery to a new vendor who is located in South Deefield, which is about 20 miles southwest of New Salem in Connecticut River Valley. I had made a bowl to match the Santa Fe market bag which is pictured in my previous blog entry. I had also made this daisy collection which was featured in the blog entry 2 weeks ago. Both of these collections ended up at this shop plus 2 more the small shoulder purses and some hot pads. I stopped at the Leverett Village Co-op, who also carries my work, since it was sort of on my way home. I was pleased to see that they were getting low on my stock. I made a delivery to them this morning; two down, one to go.
Three weeks ago I purchased a brand spanking new sewing cabinet. The type of cabinet that has a lift in it so that the sewing machine can be lowered to table height. At the time of purchase, I ordered 2 plexiglass inserts that would fit each one of my machines. When we came home with the cabinet, we off loaded it into the basement since it was going to take a bit more man power than we had at the time to get it up the back steps and onto the main floor of the house. Also, there was still some snow blocking the back steps so some melting needed to take place. 3 weeks later, all this has taken place and at last, my new sewing cabinet has been installed and I am here to tell you that I LOVE IT!!! 
It has been 2 years since I started making the coiled fabric bowls. I have enjoyed bringing together all sorts of fabrics with their different patterns, colors and textures. It truly has been a challenge to not only figure out how to make a good looking bowl but also what fabrics and threads to use together. This week, I decide to take on the challenge of making my very first black and white bowl.
This week, so far has been all about daisies. The wonderful thing about this collection is that I found all of these fabrics in my stash 
. How cool is that. The first item built was a table runner. I had some fusible fleece left over from another project so thought I would try it out as the batting for the runner. I quilted it to the top, fusible side down before I attached the backing. I then put the right sides together, top and backing, sewed a 1/4" along 3 edges, turned it right side out and then closed it up at the end. I then proceeded to fuse the fleece to the backing. I was very pleased with the result. 
Several years ago I made my daughter a tote bag out of this stunning black floral print. It had blue handles and I had found this orangey/yellow batik to go with it which I used for the pockets. There was plenty of the fabric left over so it went into my stash. It got pulled out this week along with a matching green dot so I thought I would have some fun with it. The some what abstract blue flowers on this print reminded me of forget-me-nots. Why not start out with an appliqued forget-me-not on a hot pad but.....what should I use for the background. A search through my stash revealed that I had plenty of light blue scraps and WOW they looked GREAT with the black print. I did a quick quilt as you go stripe to use as the background. Once the 6 1/2" block was made I appliqued the posie and leaves onto it and used the black print as the border. It SCREAMED SPRING!!! and I loved it.
April 14 is the cut off this year for applying to the local Garlic & Arts Festival. Once again this year it will be the last weekend in September. When I was accepted last year, the artist coordinator gave me some feed back about my application. Most people on the jury obviously have seen my work since part of the feed back was that the photos I included did not do my work justice.
I upgraded my sewing machine in August and it has become painfully (oh my aching back) clear that a sewing table designed for my new electronic machine was in order. I started looking around and doing some research this past month. I felt that a Horn sewing cabinet might be just the ticket for me. Upon inquiry, my facebook friend Holly, who has an exquisite sewing room, informed me she has a Horn cabinet and that she LOVES it. 
One of the wonderful things about being a fiber artist is the array of fabrics I get to work with. Even thought there is 3 feet of snow in my yard, I can get out bright, colorful fabric and if instantly makes me forget the monochromatic landscape outside my door. As soon as I found this Kilim fabric in my stash and this perfectly coordinating bright turquois, I knew they would be a cure for my winter blues.