"If you hear a voice within you say, 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." --Vincent van Gogh

Monday, November 30, 2009

Seeing Red

First of all, I have finally opened my etsy shop! I hope to have it loaded up with plenty of goodies by the middle of the month!
This gorgeous (unretouched) sunset happened in late October. I was standing on my front porch when I took this picture. You would never know that we live in the middle of suburbia and there are houses in front of those trees!
And here, finally, is the promised photo of my red door! I love it. I love how the house turned out, love the color, love my red door, love the new hanging light fixture we installed. I might have to start using the front door!!!
I hope all my US readers had a nice Thanksgiving. Are you ready for December? It's time to turn the calendar. Where did the year go???

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

THEE Quilt!

Here is the quilt that resulted from the blocks I share in this post. The finished size is about 42" square. There are 36 blocks.
Here's a closeup shot so you can see my swirly quilting. I used a variegated blue thread and was surprised that it showed up so prominently on the quilt. These are the two pieces of hand-dyed fabric that I used to make the quilt. The first one isn't quite as pink and green as the photo suggests, it is more blue and purple. The pictures of the quilt are a better indication of this fabric.
This one was my first attempt at a one yard spiral. It came out ok, but I think it looks better all chopped up!
I forgot to get a photo of the back, but it is pieced remnants of these two fabrics plus a third hand-dye because I didn't have quite enough. I really like this pattern and will probably use it again.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Sweet!

This is my new autumn candy dish ... what do you think?
The talented Leilani led a challenge on Fiber Art Traders, and this was completed in 5 easy steps.
If you look closely, it has "inchies" with beads and shells stitched to it. I think it looks terrific and very festive, sitting on the side table, holding goodies.

The problem is ... I can't seem to keep it filled up. So I guess that means my family likes it too!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The End is Near

Our year-long house front swap on Textile Challenges comes to an end this month. I just completed my last house front for Pam in the UK. Her theme was "In Need of Repair".
Turn down any country road in central North Carolina and you will see bits of the old south ... simple homes, once painted white, with tin roofs and wayward vines still in glorious bloom. These homes have always intrigued me. They are quite modest, but always boast an inviting front porch and I'm sure these homes saw many a summer day with rockers creaking and neighbors stopping by to sit a spell with some sweet tea and biscuits. I am sending a bit of the old south across the pond, to sit a spell with Pam.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Minor Breakthrough

I have figured out how to use the scanner with this borrowed computer and so now I can finally share some of the things I am working on. I should have a new computer soon, but until then, at least I am not totally cut off from the blogging world!
I am working on a baby quilt for a dear friend of mine. Her baby shower is this Friday ... at MY house ... so you know what I will be doing this week. I promised her a baby quilt, and although I'm sure she'd take an IOU, I'd really like to give it to her on Friday. These are the two 6" blocks that will make up the quilt. I have 14 of them done. Not sure how many I want to make, but I know I need to make more!!!
I tie dyed two pieces of fabric. One is a spiral done in Cayman Island Green, Bright Yellow, and um, I don't remember the third color, but it's an aqua/turquoise type. The other was done by banding portions of the fabric and dyed with orchid, caribbean blue, and aquamarine. I love how the different colors show up in random ways when the fabrics are cut up. I think it's going to make a really nice quilt. She doesn't know the sex of the baby, so hopefully it will work for either a boy or a girl. I think it will.