Diva Quilts: Contemporary Quilts by Kit Lang

Goodbye! So long from Kit at Diva Quilts

2011-06-15T00:00:00.010-04:00

That's it! June 15th, and Diva Quilts is done.

I had so much fun here, from my first quilt that I ever made - proudly blogged about to no one, as far as I could tell (lol), to my my third quilt, that everyone saw (thanks to my participation in Amy's first Blogger's Quilt Festival).

I made about 60 quilts over the 2.5 years that Diva Quilts has been around - and for those of you who have been with me from the beginning - you know that they were widely ranging.

From the one that confused me - because everyone loved it -

( this quilt has more than two thousand hits on it - and I was all "Dude! It's just circles!") to the one that I loved but no one else seemed to:

(at only a couple of hundred hits I was all "Dude, it's AWESOME!")

to BSP's favourite quilt:

to quilts about my family (Oma's Pocketbook, Strawberry Sunday and others) and the quilt about my struggle with depression.

I made a quilt on which I finally learned how to free motion quilt:

(Seriously, you hafta click on that pic. One year before that, I did my first free motion quilting, with the feed dogs down (heh) (I was all feed dogs? What the heck are feed dogs? Dum de dum...] to THAT. )

And here, I made my first real art quilt (I don't count Coneflowers in Leslieville, because, although it spawned what will be a life-long path, I didn't make it on purpose)

And here is where I struggled to find my artistic "voice". I made schizophrenic art work in the same way I made schizophrenic quilts - exploring very different kinds and ways, making pieces that were pure expressions of love and hope, until finally I began to see glimmers of the path to finding my way.

When I started Diva Quilts, I had a secret, ridiculously, grandiose vision: even though I'd only made three quilts when I started the blog - I believed that some day I would make luxurious, luscious, one-of-a-kind, high-end quilts, and that I would leave law and support myself by selling those quilts under the company name, Diva Quilts. I even bought the name, the domain, registered the business and got a GST number!

But then I made that (damn) Coneflowers In Leslieville, and I found myself pulled in another direction. I had no idea that by following instructions from my dream self, I would open a Pandora's box that would change my life's course!

And as I struggled with that, I struggled with blogging. I didn't know whether I wanted to make quilts, or art; I didn't even know if what I was making was good enough to be considered art. I felt like I was fooling everyone; myself most of all.

You may remember that in January I posted that I was going to start a whole new regime of making what I wanted without worrying about my perceived "audience" and blogging in the same way. I didn't know where it would take me, and I certainly didn't know it would kill Diva Quilts - but it turns out that I don't want that dream anymore; so I'm letting it go for new ones.

In January of 2012, the Diva Quilts domain will come up for renewal - I won't renew it, and in fact, will probably delete this blog - but I have already moved all the content from here over to my new home. (Funny thing happened when I exported it - all the comments come up as being me talking to myself!)

And in my new home, I'm going to continue making quilts - quilts that are beautiful to me, and that may fall into that "Diva Quilts" category; but I'm also going to continue learning and growing in making textile art/fiber art/quiltArt - but not as someone who dreams of opening a business making quilts for divas. So I need to leave this phase behind.

But before I do - I wanted to say thank you.

This isn't some Oprah goodbye - "You made me who I am and go with the God of your understanding" etc; but really, I do truly thank you.

Knowing you were there, reading, commenting, checking in now and again; motivated me to keep on working - sometimes when I didn't want to. And that process really has made me who I am.

So, thank you.

And I hope you'll join me in my new home: Kit Lang Fiber Art

Ciao!

Kit

Reminder: Diva Quilts is CLOSED

2011-06-06T06:49:00.000-04:00

as of June 15, 2011.

Come and join me at Kit Lang Fiber Art.

The long goodbye...

2011-06-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

Just a reminder - Diva Quilts is closing June 15, 2011 and I will be (am, actually) now blogging at Kit Lang Fiber Art

Working

2011-05-23T07:03:00.001-04:00

...on something new.

More at Kit Lang Fiber Art. And just a reminder - on the 15th of June, Diva Quilts goes into the ether...

This is the quilt top

2011-05-19T08:42:00.000-04:00

That parfait dyeing built! I'm so pleased - my first quilt top where I dyed the fabric!

I'm hoping to quilt it up this weekend...

By The Sea

2011-05-15T20:33:00.000-04:00

Details at Kit Lang Fiber Art

More work on the mysterious thing from Monday

2011-05-12T07:49:00.000-04:00

and the mystery is solved over at my new blog

More mandellas

2011-05-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

How I made it over here: Ta Da!

Pyromaniac in the making?

2011-05-09T00:01:00.002-04:00

Was very busy on Saturday playing with all kinds of things: paints, dyes, textile art, quilts...so much fun!

And my mother's day present was golfing at Royal Woodbine. which was so much fun! Happy belated to all the mothers on my list. :)

If you want to find out what's going on here, come on over to my new site (soon to be my only site!) Kit Lang Fiber Art

Wood Witch

2011-05-06T07:48:00.000-04:00

Hopefully, this doesn't look too familiar to you, but you may remember (if you used to follow me at Coneflowers In Leslieville) that when I was "done" this piece, it looked like this:

I was really pleased with it at this stage (the base was a piece of linen cloth I'd "painted" using the shaving foam technique, and then I had needle felted wool roving, bits of scrim from Deborah O'Hare and piece of other fabric I had hand-painted) and then quilted the dog out of it. I like it as an abstract piece, but couldn't come up with a name for it - which usually means it has more to say. In other words, it's not done.

So I took it to my contemporary quiltart group; and asked for their input. They had lots of great ideas although none of them appealed to me - the best suggestion was from Judy who said I should hang it up where I would see it every day, and eventually I'd see what needed to be done.

And one day, I glanced over at it, and saw a face looking back at me.

I didn't think to take a pic after I quilted it but before I further embellished it with paint; but that's what I did. And decided I'd ruined it! The eyes were too heavy and the "hairline" on the end was wayyyyyyy too much.

So I put it away, thinking I'd ruined it but I kept taking it out and adding a little more quilting here and there.

I added another piece of hand-painted fabric where the dark hairline was and quilted it within an inch of its life. And the more I quilted it, the more I came to like it, and wondered whether those eyes weren't too dark after all.

And then I had my "doh!" moment. Umm... why couldn't I paint over the part that I had painted too dark?

Er.... no reason.

And then she really was done.

I love my Wood Witch. She`s a good witch, after all.

Kit

In the Pink

2011-05-05T00:01:00.001-04:00

(Thanks to Beth from Maine for the name)

So, those of you who have been with me for awhile were probably wondering what the heck I was up to with this little quilt - I mean, I've been known to do a baby quilt on occasion - but usually they're more... "adult". And pink and white? What's up with that?

Well, there's method to my madness actually; my girlfriend and her husband are about to give birth to their first child; a girl. And when I told mommy I'd make her a baby quilt, specifically requested pink and girly and floral. (She doesn't read my blog as far as I know).

As a rule, I don't do "floral". So I had fretted about this for quite some time. I asked for input on the design, showing her examples and asking what she thought, and she unhelpfully declared "I trust you. I like your style so whatever you make will be perfect."

If you like my style my friend, why did you ask me for "pink", "girly" and "floral"?

But I digress.

Her due date is rapidly approaching, so having no more time to dither, I pulled my box of pink scraps and her paint swatch out, and did my best to be true to us both.

I'm pleased with the result and I only hope that she will be too - if not, I'm putting some other delightful goodies in the package (having had three sons, I never did get to ~~inflict~~ indulge my girly fantasies on a girl-child); so she'll have some other things to assauge her disappointment, should there be any.

These pictures were taken in the (very) early morning light so the colour is a bit off; but you get the idea.

What do you think gentle readers? Will it fill the brief?

Say hello to my leetle friend...

2011-05-02T21:55:00.000-04:00

I have a new friend in my sewing room...

As you know, we have cats. And as I've also explained, even though I'm a dog person, we have a LOT of cats, and no dog.

But I never told you that up until seven years ago, I was a fish keeper as well. Back then, in addition to my one dog and one cat, I had five aquariums, four of which had fish, and one of which had teeny tiny, totally cute African toads.

I had a terrible tragedy happen and over a period of four days, they all died. My last remaining fish was "Larry" a betta fish that I had had for about five years and who I was remarkably fond of - one might even say I loved him.

(The Day Supervisor is very interested in the new edition to the sewing room)

Despite the fact that I spent days crying over Larry's death - or maybe because of it, I never got new fish to replace the old that had gone on to fish heaven.

I rationalized this by saying that they were wayyyyyyyy too much work (and they were - you'd be amazed at how much work a tank with live plants, fishies and friends to keep it clean is to maintain - a biosphere is really what a tank like that is, and you discover it's hard to be a demi-god!)

But every once in a while, I'd say to BSP "I'd like to get another Larry". (Over a period of two decades, I'd had four betta fish - all blue/burgundy, all named "Larry".)

But I never actually got off my kiester to purchase the set up - I'd long ago given away all my tanks, filters, water conditioner, and all the other accoutrement - and ideally, you have the set up before you get the fish.

Well, BSP decided that I needed a new Larry for my sewing room and gifted me with the works, with my choice of whatever I wanted to make a home for my new studio-mate.

And so, on Sunday, we headed over to my favourite fish store, to pick up a new Larry. I immediately picked out a blue/burgundy version and had even gotten so far as the cash register with him, when I realized it was time for somebody new.

So, I'd like to introduce you to Charlie. When my new sewing room is completely renovated, he'll have a place of honor.

And once I convinced my supervisor to get off my work I got back to it.

And the work continues... over here.

2011-05-02T00:02:00.006-04:00

When I was working on the as yet un-named pink and white baby quilt last week, I had some leftover white circles.

One of the blogs I read has been talking a lot lately about dyed mandellas, and because of that, I had already decided that I was going to try my hand at making some with my procion dyes, but since I had these circles pre-cut, I decided to play with them first.

So, what fancy-pants method did I used to achieve this effect, you ask?

Crayola Gel Paints from the dollar store. No seriously!

Ever since I first started using things from the dollar store to create with (i.e. my shaving foam experiment using craft paint, and using craft paint directly on fabric), I've wondered what other surprises the dollar store had for me.

So when I saw those gel paints for $2, I had to pick them up (of course!)

I first gave the fabric a thorough soaking and then squeezed it out until it was damp. Then I folded my circles into quarters until I had a little slice of pie. (Sorry I didn't think to take pics as I went along.)

And then I just painted rows of colour on the slice of pie, and squeezed and rubbed it in. I didn't thin out the paint, I just painted it directly on. When I unfolded the fabric, if there were spots where the fabric didn't have enough paint, I just added some more with the paintbrush until I liked the coverage.

After that, I wrung out the little circles which got rid of the excess paint and also helped to blend the colours, and then I microwaved them for four minutes to set the colours. Even with the first washing there was no colour loss whatsoever; and afterwards, the hand of the cloth was almost exactly the same as it was before. Because of that, I actually liked this result better than using acrylic craft paint which leaves the fabric with a sort of crunchy feel.

I don't know what I'll do with these circles (which are eight inches in diameter); but I'll think of something eventually.

In the meantime, I'm really pleased with the fun. :)

Cheers,

Kit

I'm feeling a little bit traditional...

2011-04-29T00:33:00.001-04:00

and pink... and baby...

and maybe a little log-cabin-y?

maybe not:

Let's see what develops over the weekend...

Also, just so's you know, I'm moving this blog within the next two months.

I've decided to combine my loves of art and craft in one happy place. It was a huge mistake on my part to divide them up into two blogs - it made me feel less motivated to talk about what I was doing and made me feel like I had to be two different things to two different audiences. Take me as I am! :)

You can get a jump on it by joining me there right now - Kit Lang Fiber Art

Hope you have a good weekend!

Creativ Festival

2011-04-27T00:01:00.002-04:00

The weekend before last, I went to the Creativ Festival. In the fall version, you can take all kinds of courses as well as shop; but the spring version is a shopping only extravaganza. I didn't really need anything, but I was going with the express purpose of buying thread and possibly, depending on how much of my budget was left - stabilizer, pellon and /or fusible web.

And so, I came back with:

Just what every 48 year old woman needs! (What? I did so need it!) Listen, if a 48 year old man can buy a sports car and/or have an affair; surely I can have a Yeti hat? (Even if I do insist on taking pictures of myself wearing it sans make up and in my pajamas?) True story - I wore this hat after I bought it for about 48 hours straight. Even in bed. *heh* I nearly wore it to play golf on good Friday!

So, I also bought some thread. Just cuz, you know, I had to pretend I was a grown-up at least *part* of the time. So I bought a selection of Marathon and Wonderfil threads in my missing colourways; brown, blue/green and yellow/orange (and few pinks just cuz I can never resist pink). I went with a budget of $200, and the thread was over $200. Since it was blown, I decided I might as well really blow it,

So, I bought totally un-necessary but really cute things, like this pretty-yet-functional sewing machine oil dispenser. I also bought non-sewing related things like two new purses and two necklaces. Thereby supporting artist/artisans and crafts people. I am virtuous and charitable! (Not at all frivolous and drawn like a magpie to shiny things!)

AND, as if my virtuousness could ever be in question, I bought a 100 yards of Pellon, 50 yards of fusible web and 10 yards of stabilizer. All tucked up nicely under my Judy (ignore my poor floors - my sewing room is in the middle of renovation.)

And here the new threads are in place - blues, yellows, greens and oranges - and couple of pinks. Of course, this is a third of my thread storage - all a mish-mash of found objects I've re-purposed for thread storage.

Anyone got any good ideas for thread storage that takes up a small amount of real estate, but still allows me to see it at a glance? I was thinking a peg-board, but it's kind of industrial. Ideas?

So, that was my shopping trip to the Creativ Festival. I'm looking forward to the fall one when I can take some classes and avoid the shopping areas all together!

Look what I did!

2011-04-24T23:55:00.000-04:00

I actually finished a quilt, can you believe it?

I barely can! :) If you remember this top from several (or more) months ago, then you may be thinking, "Hey! Wasn't that a lot bigger before?" (I mean, a LOT bigger?) And you'd be right.

*cough*

See, first I somehow managed to quilt the whole damn thing without noticing that the last, outer edge wasn't lined up properly with that good ol' quilt sandwich - and so fully 8 inches of of one section of one side, had no batting. Another part of the same side had no backing fabric (about 3 inches) and all in all, I figured the best thing to do was to lop off the 8 inches on that one side - and then a length along the other side - whatever it took, for the design to be balanced.

That should work, right? Right! Except, for some bizzare reason, I couldn't manage to get it trued up after that! So, I'd shave off an inch along one side, and then shave off an inch on another side, and shave of 1/2 an inch on another side, and shave off an inch and 1/2 on another side - and before I knew it, I was standing in an ever-mounting pile of quilted strips.

Before it reached my knees and I had a doll quilt on my hands, I decided to quit before I got futher behind.

I put a very nice binding on it, and I must say, it looks great on our grey couch, and I swear, even I can't find that one wonky side, even though I know it's there.

So there. :)

But I think I need to get back to practicing quilting big quilts again.

*hee*

Happy Earth Day

2011-04-22T20:57:00.000-04:00

(and Easter, and Pesach, and bunny day, and.... the non-demoninational happy spring/fall day of your choice. )

Kit

Quilts for Japan

2011-04-20T12:43:00.002-04:00

I've been AWOL for awhile -And I apologize for that. Been super busy at work, and been exhausted and tired when I get home late at night - no surprise that I've developed Cold/Flu #11 of the 2010/11 cold flu season. (Last night, BSP and I counted. ::cranky sigh::)

I've been dyeing fabric because that's fast and easy (and very rewarding!) and have done some more quilting on the one I showed you last time; but really, the only thing fun I did was go to the Creativ Festival last weekend, where just over $600 was spent (I went with a budget of $200 - budget wayyyyyyyy blown!) and I shall do a post about those pretties very soon.

But one of the reasons I wanted to go was to hand in my quilts for Japan at the Janome booth there, in order to save on the rather prohibitive shipping!

In a nice piece of synchronicity, the organization had requested specific sizes, all of which fit into my own specific "Kit sizing" for my laps and baby quilts. So "Daisies Sing the Blues", "Celtic Gold" and "Weekend In The Country" have all gone off to live in Japan.

Which I think is wayyyyyyyyyy fun!

I'll be back as soon as I can.

Hope you're all doing well!

What were you doing in 1993?

2011-04-06T08:07:00.001-04:00

In 1993, I was in my early 30's. I was doing my Masters, walking around with a portable chemo pack, working, and trying to do all of those things while caring for two young children as a single mom. Although even before that time, I had a vague notion that "some day" I woud make a quilt - in 1993, quilts were not even on my radar.

Not so, Eleanor Burns!

In 1993, she and her Laura Ashley dress were very busy promoting her Quilt In A Day program! (Lookit that cute little Sunbonnet Sue one in the background) And how much do I love the french braid on the woman in the foreground - brings back memories!

I've spoken before about my friend who works with a company that provides costumes for shows and who then gives me the scraps; but with the latest load she's given me, she also included some old quilting magazines she had. I'll be featuring some of the items in these magazines over the next little while - this week, it's a Summer 1993 edition of Canada's Quilts, a magazine I don't think even exists any more!

In that edition, their focus was on male quilters. So, may I introduce to you:

Barry Moss. At the point this article was done, Barry Moss had been quilting about 5 years. Today, he teaches fiber art techniques in Canada, Wales and England, and will be teaching a minatures class in just a couple of weeks in Arnprior, Ontario.

Next, we had:

Graham Crowe. Unfortunately, Mr. Crowe doesn't have a web presence, but I was able to find a mention of a "one of a kind hand-made quilt" he made from (coincidentally - see above!) the scraps of the costumes from the 2010 theatre season of The Grand Theatre in London - which sold at a benefit auction for the theatre for $5,175. Sadly, there were no pictures of the quilt available.

And lastly, may I introduce Art O'Keefe:

I wasn't able to find a breath of anything about this husband and wife team, originally from Fraser Valley, BC (and founding members of the Fraser Valley Guild); who, at the time of the article were living in Oliver, BC. Vera made the tops, and Art hand quilted them.

Given their ages at the time of the article, they may have passed on by now; but when they got their start in 1968, I was just a wee lass, falling asleep on my uncle's lap during that historic moon walk! Someone gave them a 7lb roll of cotton scraps from a shirt factory in Hawaii, and Vera thought she'd make a log cabin quilt out of the pieces. After that, there was no stopping this dynamic duo.

So, were you quilting in 1993?

Sneak peek...

2011-04-04T01:14:00.001-04:00

You know, I have been C-R-A-Z-Y busy since I went back to work after my vacation (isn't that the way it always goes?); so I haven't had any time to spend in my favourite room. However, I managed to sneak in a little time late tonight and so got a start on the project above (an actual quilt by gosh!); and also managed to finish up the second of my Charley Harper QAL quilts

Which I talk about a little more over at my other blog.

And how was your weekend?

2011-03-28T00:44:00.000-04:00

Amongst other things I did on my vacation, I made a couple of pieces for the Charley Harper QAL hosted by Ethne at Flaming Stitches.

She was able to obtain permission from the estate of Charley Harper for those of us in the QAL to either be inspired by or, if we wish, to produce as closely as we can exact reproductions of his work. Since I've always loved Charley Harper's birds, this was a great fit for me, so I jumped in. This was the first piece I made - an exact copy.

More about it/on it at Coneflowers In Leslieville

Hope you had a great weekend/week! Tell me all about it in the comments below. :)

Did I mention I'm on vacation this week?

2011-03-23T02:45:00.000-04:00

I am - so no posts - I'm living in the sewing room.

But I'll probably have a finished quilt next week as a result!

In the meantime, here's my latest fiber art piece. Called: June

As usual, process over at Coneflowers In Leslieville

Shopping!

2011-03-18T00:01:00.001-04:00

For inspiration Friday, have a look at what I bought on Tuesday! :)

Want a closer look at what's inside??

Lovely cotton solids..

Some pretty greys..

Stripes

Shiny!

The one on the left is an incredible buttah soft linen. I just wanna stroke it and stroke it.

So, that was my shopping trip!

I have vacation coming up this week and it's a staycation, so guess what I'll be doing?

Hurray!

Have a great weekend!

Quilting in Pakistan

2011-03-16T01:43:00.001-04:00

I'm sure we're all aware that we North Americans aren't the only ones who quilt - and I'm sure most of us know that North Americans didn't "invent" quilting (although I read a blog post two or three years ago where at least one of us was convinced that we had!).

But did you know that there is a quilting tradition in Pakistan (where they are called Rallis) that is perhaps thousands of years old, and that the men of Pakistan continue to use those same patterns for their quilts even to the present day? I didn't! These days women as well as men continue to make rallis, all through India and Pakistan.

But don't think I'm so smart - I didn't know any of this until I read an article in Fabrications last year. What I'm amazed by is how "modern" these ancient traditional patterns look.

And also *ahem* somewhat familiar?

Cross border shopping, anyone?

:)

Spilling Over

2011-03-14T01:07:00.001-04:00

okay, okay, it's not a usable quilt, but it is a finish - and it's ready for a Monday post, so here it is! :)

I feel a great need right now to make textile art as opposed to usable quilts, but I will continue to post here about other quilty things and hope to keep you entertained as I work on other projects.

Hope you had a great weekend, and if you're interested in the process on this particular piece (which I call "Spilling Over") please come and check that out at Coneflowers In Leslieville.

Cheers,

Kit

Busy week!

2011-03-10T23:27:00.000-05:00

so busy, I totally forgot my Wednesday post!

But check out this pretty...

and see you Monday!

Casting about...

2011-03-07T00:20:00.000-05:00

I had to finish a piece for my quilt art group this Tuesday, so I didn't have a lot of time to work on anything.

I made another piece on Nif (the needle felter) called "Back Seat Driver"

And then I pulled some things to work on. I didn't realize that I had so many WIPs!

Moon River...

Hanging Ten...

On Parade...

Happily Ever After...

So, what did I choose?

Stay tuned...

:)

and how was your weekend?

For your inspiration (and mine)

2011-03-04T00:01:00.002-05:00

I saw this in the Doll Quilt Swap Flickr pool by Spicy Pepper:

Now, it's a doll quilt - so it's teeny weeny; and you know I could never (ever!) be bothered to hand stitch all those squares, so I'd have to piece it - but just imagine: just imagine this quilt in real people size.

...

I know, eh?

So now, go out and do eeetttt!

:D

(and have a great weekend too!)

Wednesday Not-A-Wip

2011-03-02T00:29:00.000-05:00

Perhaps I should start calling it "introduction Wednesday" because instead of a WIP I have another new friend to introduce you to. Perhaps that's a misnomer - she's a great love, rather than a friend. May I introduce, Baby-Belle:

Isn't she pretty?

*hee* Okay, okay, perhaps describing her as my "great love" is a little over the top; but boy, I really do love her. She's a HP Pavillion - Entertainment Notebook Series. I don't really know what all of that means, but I know she has 2GB, she runs Microsoft Office, she's as speedy as my desktop when I'm online (which is pretty darn speedy), I can upload, store and play with my pics in various programs, I can fax and she has a built-in internet stick so I can access anything online anywhere. And did I mention this all comes in a teeny tiny package? And you know who much I love doll-sized things!

So, because she only weighs 3 pounds she needs something to protect her while I'm carrying her around, right? Right! Enter a tote bag for Baby-Belle!

Here she is all snuggled in. She has an inner pocket for her mouse pad (I always use external mice because I don't like the touchpads on laptops as rule), and a little room in case I need to put a paper notebook in there;

and I also made this cool inner pocket that has an elasticized cubby for her mouse, and the separate components of her cord.

It's the first time I've made elasticized pockets (you can see my first attempt - sewing the elastic directly to the pocket - which I don't like cause [duh!] the elastic shows), and then the other two with hemmed pockets for the elastic.

It was also my first go with grommets which wasn't entirely successful (they're there, but fairly rough around the edges), and my first go with a zippered tote - which turned out rather well.

I like the little purse format for Baby-Belle; but I also want to work on another, more sophisticated container for her, even if her name is Baby-Belle.

But. that's another project for another day. Lots going on in the sewing room right now - after such a long fallow period, it's a bit schizophrenic in there with my trying to get all of my ideas out at once!

On Friday - the return of Friday Flickr Faves.

Till then...

Test Pattern

2011-02-28T00:01:00.003-05:00

Ta da!!!

I can't believe it's the last day of February and I'm only now posting my first finish of 2011! Sheesh!

On the other hand, evern if I do say so myself - it was worth the wait!

When I posted the sneak peek last week, I bet you didn't know where I was going, did you? When BSP asked me "What's that?" and I said "a test pattern", the reply was "O---kay..." lol

When I designed the quilt, I was thinking of it as a painting - but when I started making it, the vertical stripes reminded me of a tv test pattern - hence it's name.

But I could see this quilt - practically down to the placement of every one of those circles.

At 58.5 inches wide and 77 inches long, it's a bit big even for my laps (55 x 75) but I've discovered it's the perfect size to use as a topper on a queen sized bed - it covers the top exactly. I think I'm going to make all my laps that size now so they can double as toppers too.

Anyway - I'm feeling much better now, so I should be able to get on some sort of schedule - which means, more quilts are in our future!

Hope you like this first one of 2011. I sure do. :)

P.S. I lied! lol Besides my art quilts, I have finished a twin sized quilt in January for a 3CS challenge. So, `Test pattern`is number two.

I have two new friends to introduce you to!

2011-02-23T02:29:00.000-05:00

The first is Reuben.

Isn't he sweet?

I had the pleasure this week of pattern testing this little guy for Jodie Carleton at Ric Rac There are a couple of differences - hers is Rueben instead of Reuben (as we spell it - my oldest son's middle name is Reuben); and of course, hers is much more beautifully constructed.

But I think he's very expressive for my first time making a stuffie:

He also came with a pattern for a completely adorable jacket and satchel. Unfortunately ~~I didnt follow the instructions EXACTLY~~ he ate a little too much and outgrew his jacket on the long trip from Australia to Canada!

But I wanted you to see how completely adorable it is - that Jodie has a lot of talent! Could you even begin to think of making something so cute?!

I liked Reuben so much I decided that he should be Diva Quilt's mascot - and ought to oversee all that happens in the sewing room. But then I thought, he might be lonely - so I decided to make him a little friend to keep him company.
Which is where Maddie came in!

I may have mentioned in the past, how much I adore elephants - so his friend had to be an elephant. At first I was going to make a boy elephant, but then was tempted by the idea of cute dresses and bows. And er... cute dresses won. :)

And you know how great Jodie's pattern is? This is how great it is:

with my vast experience making stuffies (after all, I'd made ONE); her pattern writing was so easy to follow that I was able to riff off hers to make an a: slightly smaller stuffy with a slightly larger belly (she is an ELEPHANT after all); and franknpattern an elephant head out of a donkey

I mean check out that cute nose!

And so, now Reuben has a friend to hang out with. (Don't worry Reuben, I shall make you some new clothes too)

Don't they look happy together?

And be sure to watch check out Jodie's blog, (which is incredibly entertaining); (seriously, if nothing else, click on those last two links to read her amazing stories) and keep an eye out for Rueben's availability as a pattern!

Next week - a finished quilt. I promise! :)

Early days yet,

2011-02-21T23:35:00.001-05:00

but I'm working on something new,

and I'm pretty excited! You can't possibly see what I have in mind for this from this - but I think it's gonna be wayyyyyyyy cool.

*claps hands excitedly*

Also, as you can see, I was able to get into the sewing room this weekend - for a couple of hours yesterday, and a couple of hours again today. This is, of course, practically no time at all for me, who usually spends 30 hours or so per week in my sewing room; but between life stuff and being sick; it's the first time I've been able to do anything since the beginning of February.

Life is good, no?

So what are you up to?

:)

Better late than never...

2011-02-16T22:51:00.001-05:00

Here's my Wednesday post!

I'm currently laid up in bed, cuz the throat infection I had last week became a sinus infection over the weekend which became a chest infection this week (oh joy!) So meds and bed rest are all that is in store for me, but hey, speaking of joy, look, just LOOK at these lovelies that came to me from over the sea today!

These stunningly beautiful hand-dyed lengths of scrim came to me, for no reason other than that I mentioned I had gotten Nif, from the generous (and clearly, fabulous) Deborah O'Hare. She has a lovely blog called The Blue Hare

I first became aware of Deborah just about two years ago. I was clicking through blog links and came across this:

and was totally gobsmacked. (I especially loved her incorporation of actual stones and pebbles!) I started following her blog right away, and was later inspired to make my own grey quilt

Which though not at all like hers, had some similar quilting motifs. (clicky to see)

But back to Deborah:

In addition to making lovely scrims such as these.

she also has beautiful hand dyed and hand painted fabrics for sale as well as art quilts and templates for sale at her shop called Quilt Routes (on Folksy). (click there too!) For example:

I mean, how beautiful is that !?

She also has a website called Quilt Routes, where, if you should be lucky enough to live near her, you can find information about booking Deborah for workhops, talks, or find a link to her Flickr, where you can see even more of her amazing work.

And as for what she so kindly sent me,

Oh, I have plans for this!!

Until then, go visit Deborah and enjoy what she has to offer.

Thank you Deborah! You have definitely brightened my day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T06:00:00.002-05:00

Hope your day is filled with love and hope and plans for your quilty future! :)

1. red + white, 2. red & white scrap mini quilttop, 3. Red, White, and Happy Quilt 2, 4. A bit more traditional - Red & White Barnraising, 5. Red and White Quilt 131/365, 6. red and white baby quilt, 7. Red and White, 8. red and white wall hanging quilt 1 of 4, 9. Indigo's Red, pink and blue quilt, 10. Red Criss Cross, 11. Red Diamonds, 12. Confetti Queen

I'm due for a little levity

2011-02-10T23:57:00.000-05:00

and this made me laugh out loud.

And yet, he retains his dignity.

Have a great weekend everyone!

::SIGH::

2011-02-08T23:41:00.000-05:00

I'm having a very hard time this year finding my groove. I feel disjointed and untethered, unable to focus and planless.

Hand dyed fabric by Vicki Welsh

This is a highly unusual mode of being for me. In fact, one might even say, it's an extraordinary mode of being for me. Ordinarily, I'm super organized, efficient, and NEVER without a plan (or twelve).

It's been a tumultuous 2011 so far: illness, a shocking death in our family, drama (and I abhor drama!), constant tension and constant change. I feel like I can't put a foot down for fear the ground will shift under my feet.

knitted pouch by Stegart

Oh, and did I mention, we're renovating in the midst of all of this? *laughs*

Amazingly beautiful journal by Terri Stegmiller

All of that to say that yet again, I have nothing to show you.

Excpt of course, for this lovely gift package I won from 3 Creative Studios - whose contents were made by combined talents of Terri Stegmiller and Vicki Welsh. Thank you ladies!

And as for the rest of you ladies (and gents) - I am hoping - more than you could know (!) that I will be back to some semblance of routine very soon, and that I will have something (anything!) to show you.

Soon.

An Homage To Black Velvet Paint By Number Paintings

2011-02-06T23:47:00.000-05:00

Where does the time go?

So, because I was experimenting with the Nif, I ended up making a journal quilt this week even though I said I wouldn't. *hee*.

Here it is - and as usual, process is over at Coneflowers In Leslieville

I'm also working on a cute little baby quilt (it's all designed in my head!) so I may have something new to show you on Wednesday depending on how my Monday and Tuesday go.

And how was YOUR weekend?

Friday Flickr Faves

2011-02-04T07:44:00.000-05:00

A (very) random selection of quilts I came across on Flickr this morning.

From the subtle to the bright and saturated!

1. Simple Insanity, 2. Lattice Baby Quilt, 3. Hankie Quilt, 4. Art Quilt Modern Wall Hanging

I got something special on Monday...

2011-02-02T02:15:00.000-05:00

I've been planning to buy one of these for quite awhile. I did a lot of research, and decided that for my purposes, the Janome FM725 was the right one for me. At a $300 price point, I decided to get one for myself for Christmas - and so, just before Christmas, having safely purchased all my Christmas presents for everyone else, I started looking for a Christams present for me.

My regular dealer told me that Janome had discontinued the model, and though he assured me that they would continue to support it if I found one in the city; I didn't feel 100% comfortable about it

My second choice, the Babylock Embellisher, was more than twice the price at $699 and since I was also shopping for a new laptop, I decided the needle felter would have to wait until March or April (personal quirk, I never, I mean never pay for anything on credit. Cash only for everything except my house!)

That said, on Monday morning, I got a bee in my bonnet that I should start looking for one. I went online to Kiiji and Craigslist and found one for $375. I was fully prepared to buy it, and then thought I would just check in with the local Babylock distributors to compare prices.

The second one I called said that they were on sale for the month of January at $399. I said, "But that means it ends today!" "Yes," the dealer replied. "Tomorrow it goes back up to $699".

No pressure though!

However, with no extra shipping costs, a guarantee and service included (which I wouldn't get with my online international sale), it was a no brainer. I went off to the bank, withdrew the cash, and $455 later, I had a brand spanking new embellisher!

I experimented with her a bit tonight as above - and am excited by the results! Explanation and process at Coneflowers In Leslieville as usual.

Isn't she pretty?

Her name is Niffer Fliffer Floffer. "Niffer" short for Jennifer, and Fliffer Floffer because that's what BSP kept calling needle felters when I was first researching them. :)

Weekend In The Country

2011-01-31T01:44:00.001-05:00

(Maggie's making a cameo - she thought I draped the quilt this way expressly so that she could play with it

-and consequently, I couldn't get her to go away!)

A definite departure for me, this twin sized, all cotton quilt was made for a couple of reasons: the first was that I needed to produce something for 3 Creative Studios January Colour Pallette Challenge, and I didn't have a lot on hand in those colours.

The second reason was because as I pulled these fabrics with bears, moose, pine trees, canoes and snow shoes, I was brought back to my childhood in Northern Ontario - and I realized I had to make something, some day that was a reflection of growing up on the Canadian Shield, and this was as as good a time as any!

The thing is though, over the last week, I've been thinking about my involvement with 3 Creative Studios (the journal quilt project and the colour pallete challenges) as well as my involvement with my own co-challenge at The Art Quilt Blog to do journal quilts twice per month, and well...

the thing is, I'm not having fun.

I'm feeling really pressured to produce the 3CS journal quilts (I recognize the pressure is all my own, but neverthless); those little quilts take a LOT of time - 7-10 or even 12 hours - (what with the hand dyeing and the drawing and the painting and the hand stitching and the re-stitching and the... etc.) ; and they're not furthering what I want to do.

That 7-12 hours per week really eats into the small amount of time that I have to work on what I really want to do - which is already divided between textile art and usuable quilts not to mention full time work, BSP, kids, family, home and friends! I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to get involved in the first place!

(back - clicky to get a better look at the quilting)

I know that it's not really fair to use this month as the yardstick - having a death in the family removed ten days out of the 30, only adding to the time pressures - but the fact is, when I have finally gotten to my spend time in my creative space, it's been all about the journal quilts.

And so, I'm going to withdraw from the 3 Creative Studios Journal Quilt Challenge and the colour pallette challenge as well. If I do that, I'll have more time - more time to be inspired, more time to work on ongoing projects, more time to explore and do and be.

*phew*

And maybe get back on some kind of schedule!

Happy quilting to us all!

(And enjoy that wintery weather.) :)

Hey, guess what? It's Friday - so here's my journal quilt!

2011-01-28T06:56:00.001-05:00

This one is called "Taking Flight".

Process and explication at Coneflowers In Leslieville.

And on Monday, I'm going to talk to you about some further changes here at Diva Quilts after a month of toiling under the new regime! :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Shopping...

2011-01-25T23:47:00.001-05:00

I was at my local tonight (50% off - God bless January sales!) and picked up some lovelies.

These are Alexander Henry's Island Girls, - as the sharper eyed among you may remember, I collect vintage pin up girls (I have probably 50 more than are pictured here); so these lovelies were completely irresistable to me. I also love the Tiki island-like Aloha girls although they're a bit more risque - so I could think of even fewer appliations than these. I want to get the Heavy Equipment boys version too.

And then, as I was wandering through the store, I came across a lovely print. Although I'm not (as you know) much of a print girl, something about this fabric really struck me, and I was pretty sure I had coordinates in my stash - and indeed I did:

And then, while I was there, I wondered if they had a fabric that I fell in love with a few months ago:

Also by Alexander Henry, this one's called Calabash. At the time, I didn't know what I would do with it, but at 50% off, why not? :)

On an unrelated note - I noticed the last couple of weeks my followers list has gone through a lot of changes - up a couple, down a couple every couple of days. Please bear with me as I work through this new approach to my quilting, and new way of blogging. But if you feel you're looking for something else - thanks for reading along with me thus far, and much luck and happiness in your future quilting adventures.

To those of you who are new - thanks for joining me! Looking forward to getting to know you. :)

Elephants in Peril (3CS JQ 3/52)

2011-01-24T00:25:00.002-05:00

...

He was hunted now by farmers.

A marauder of fields, a thief in his own lands.

The savannas and forest had grown smaller.

He had searched a long time

This season for a mate,

none to be found

...

by Morton Templeton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My journal quilt was posted today instead of Friday as I only got home on Sunday night due to the family matter I mentioned last week. I whipped it up in a couple of hours - inspired, for some odd reason, by the colours in my hand dyed fabrics.

As usual, process at Coneflowers In Leslieville

Tag Galaxy

2011-01-19T08:04:00.001-05:00

Have you ever heard of Tag Galaxy?

It's this super neat software program that gives you a star-like sphere with little planets - i.e. a galaxy. to You enter whatever tag you want (for instance, "quilt") and then it pulls in related tags (hand-made, fabric, etc.) which rotate around your "sun", and then pulls in all the pictures from Flickr with those tags.

Then you click your sun, and all the tagged photos coalesce on your sun,

You can click individual quilts all around your sun (your sun rotates as you click) and look at each of them:

And if you double click the pic it will you give all the information the original quilter supplied with their picture, or you can click on the information and it will take you to Flickr if you want to look at that individual's photo stream.

And when you're done looking at all the quilts on the rotation, click "next" (and here's the super fun part!) the next level of pictures come flying in at your sun, and you have a whole new set of quilts to look at.

Of course, you can choose a different tag than "quilt", but why would you? ;)

Happy Wednesday!

Of Quiet Stars Post Two

2011-01-17T00:06:00.000-05:00

In amongst my adventures with my new toys, I managed to do some work on "Of Quiet Stars">

These are the other two blocks in this four block quilt . They look eerily simliar to the ones from last week, don't they? lol That's what happens when you make a monochromatic quilt!

The one on the left is taffetta silk and silk charmeuse; and the other block is of course the reverse of it. And it isn't puckery the way it looks in the photo. *ahem!*

This is a reminder of the silk shantung block from last week

Someone asked me last week whether or not I was piecing the blocks. I'm not - I found the process too fussy. Of course, the way I chose to do it was rather fussy too. I had to mount the fabric on fusible interfacing

and then cut them into strips.

I have to make 36 blocks for a queen sized quilt, which means I only have another 16 to make.

Make that: 17.

::sigh::

However, I had a great weekend playing with all things dye. :)

I tea dyed some fabric with tea and cranberry juice; I dyed some other fabric with freezer burnt berry mush; tried my hand at some snow dying

(Okay, I know shorts and a tee is a somewhat odd outfit to be scooping snow in, but I have frequent hot flashes, so this is an ordinary "at home" outfit for me - no excuse for the unbrushed hair other than that I wasn't expecting to be photographed)

and also took my "procion MX starter kit for a spin.Super fun!

So how was your weekend?

Highly Prized - 3CS JQ 2/52

2011-01-14T00:00:00.010-05:00

This week's journal quilt is a combo 3 Creative Studios Journal Quilt Challenge and an Art Quilt Blog Challenge - whose theme is "Highly Prized".

When I thought of what I prize highly, I immediately thought of my BSP (Beloved Spouse for those of you who are new to my blog), my children, my family. There is nothing that I prize more highly than my precious family and our love for one another, and I am nearly daily, consciously grateful for BSP and the life we have made for ourselves.

Highly prized - my Beloved Spouse, our children and our life together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How Did You Do That?" at my process blog - Coneflowers In Leslieville

My plan for 2011

2011-01-12T00:02:00.004-05:00

So.

You know how I show you something new most Mondays, whether it's a completed quilt, a finsihed tote bag, or a textile art piece? You know how on Wednesdays, I do a Wednesday WIP post and show you what I'm working on, and on Friday I do "Friday Flickr Faves", pictures from Flickr that I find inspiring?

I set it up that way because I wanted to make sure that I had regular posts available for you, the people who are kind enough to pay attention to what I'm doing, and to make sure that they were at least a little interesting.

So last week, after I had spent most of the week working on my journal quilt challenge, making some more blocks for Of Quiet Stars, and doing some work on another big textile art piece I'm working on, I was in my sewing room casting about for ideas for a quilt that I could whip up quickly for Monday's post. I started making a sweet twin sized quilt for a girl in coral pinks and yellows, and realized that though I could race through it quickly, it wasn't really what I wanted to do. So I asked myself, "What do I really want to do?"

Well never ask a navel gazer such a question. It started not a only a whole train of thought - it started a life plan!

I realized that I don't want to continue making quilts that whip up quickly just to have something for a Monday post; I don't want to try 20 different things in a year for the sake of trying stuff or to figure out if that's something that I'd like to do. I know what I like to do and that's what I want to work on.

I want to work on artful quilting.

By that, I don't mean that I only want to work on textile art - I mean that I want each quilt I make to be a piece of art, whether it's meant to hang on your wall or be put on your bed.

I want to make beautiful things: because I can now, because I want to, and because somehow, I need to.

I want to make beautiful things for their own sake.

And that means time. Because it takes time - sometimes a lot of it - to make beautiful things.

Which means that I have to, out of necessity, change how I talk to you. And I want to - talk to you, I mean. I hope that you'll talk to me too - in the comments - about what you're doing, or what you're thinking, or what you've seen and are interested in. Link to your posts if you're a blogger or to your Flickr or other photo sharing site if you don't, tell me what you're interested in!

As for me, I'm going to have to post more process pics and talk more about the process - and talk about other things as well. I'm not sure what those things will be, but I'm glad you're here to find out with me.

Cheers,

Kit

My Entry In The UHGly Quilt Contest

2011-01-10T00:11:00.000-05:00

There she is - this is it: the ugliest quilt I ever made.

A couple of years ago, quilter's connection or blogging quilters or somebody like that was having an "Ugly Quilt" contest. I can't remember what the prize(s) were for winning, but I'm quite sure this quilt of mine would have won.

I mean, seriously - have you ever seen such an ugly thing? What the h-a-double-hockey-sticks was I thinking?

This weekend, I was working very hard on Friday's journal quilt (more hand painting of fabric and completely hand quilted) and knew I would be - after all - when the muse visits, you don't say "Wait a minute, I'm busy right now..."; but I also knew I had some partially finished quilts that I could probably quilt up in a couple or even a few hours for my Monday post.

In fact, I was pretty sure this was the one. When I posted it as a WIP this time last year, you may recall that I said i didn't like the colour pallette and was merely using up some fabric I had been passed. But I like it even less (if that's possible) with the passage of time.

I recalled that I had only one border to quilt and a binding to add and I was right - what I didn't recall was how truly hideous this thing was. lol

But it's always an honour to win - even if it's only an ugly quilt contest. :p

I promise I'll have something pretty for you to look at in the next couple of days.

In the meantime, please post a link to YOUR "Ugly Quilt Contest Winner" in the comments if you should be so unlucky as to have one. Then we can all laugh at ourselves. :)

Come And Take A Walk With Me - Exploration Fridays

2011-01-07T00:01:00.002-05:00

3CS JQ - 1/52

So hi there. Yes - in case you were confused, you are indeed at Diva Quilts, and that is indeed, a quilt that I made. :)

Although my pieces are usually more vibrant and strong, spoken in voice that's confident, and this is a quieter voice that I'm not quite comfortable with; I'm using this particular challenge to push myself; learn as much as I can and trust myself as an artist/maker - even if that means I venture into territory in which I'm not particularly comfortable. After all, doesn't art (even sometimes, really good art) come from a place of discomfort?

So, I'll be exploring on Fridays - trying out different things (like hand painting my own fabric and *gasp* hand stitching!) - and I hope you'll enjoy seeing what I do.

Explication over at my process blog, Coneflowers In Leslieville

WIP Wednesday - Working Title - "Of Quiet Stars"

2011-01-05T00:42:00.001-05:00

I don't know what this quilt will be called when it's done, but the whole time I was working on it tonight, the song "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" was on loop in my head. It's a beautiful song, so if it develops into an ear worm, at least it will be an enjoyable one!

These are two of the four blocks for my first bed quilt of 2011.

( silk shantung, silk charmeuse strips, linen border)

I've had a set of six teals in different kinds of silk and a linen for the backing and borders almost since I started quliting; but since these fabrics cost more than $500 (that's just the fabric alone *ahem*); I have been a-skeered to cut into them and possibly "ruin" the fabric.

Well no more! I don't make resolutions per se; but I do try to live my life by a central tenent each year and choose one thing to improve about myself. In 2011, it's all about trust - and that includes trusting myself. So last week over lunch I designed the quilt in my new sketchbook (purpose bought) and tonight I cut the fabric. No turning back now!

(this one is the reverse of the other - i.e. the charmeuse is the background in this one)

While making these blocks (and some friends) tonight I discovered an ironic fact. As you become a better quilter, you use the stitch ripper more. (That Universe. So funny! S/he must have her little jokes...)

This quilt's gonna be a beaut! The next set of blocks are going to be a deeper version of the silk charmeuse and an irridescent silk taffetta in the mirror blocks. Only 36 more blocks to go!

On Friday, I'll show you the first of my journal quilts.

So, what are you working on?

"In Love and Hope"

2011-01-03T00:01:00.005-05:00

This is my final piece in 3 Creative Studios' 2010 Art Quilt Challenge Group.

When we got the challenge word "destination", I immediately thought about the plans BSP and I have for our future.

Both of us have had big career plans/changes in mind - have had for a couple of years. But my plans were stalled while I began to lay the groundwork for the initial changes, and BSP's were stalled while I dithered with my own. Were we moving out of the city, the province, the country? Could my groundwork be conducted elsewhere? And if we stayed, how long would we - and where would we? In our current home, or elsewhere? Did we want to invest - even if only in our current home - if we were going to be moving elsewhere soon?

And so, we spun our wheels.

Over the last several months, we came separately to the same conclusion - we each just needed to "go for it" and when/if relocation or other big stuff came, we would deal with it on an as-needed basis. Recently, we came to another joint agreement - we both feel that 2011 is going to be the year that things really start to happen, although we have no idea what those "happenings" will bring.

And so, we go forward on our path towards an unknown destination; hand in hand, in love and hope.

Technique explication over at my process blog - Coneflowers In Leslieville.

2010 - Year in Review

2011-01-01T00:01:00.344-05:00

ETA: some folks have been commenting that I work really fast. I don't, actually. I work a lot, and I work hard. I put in 30-40 hours a week on my quilting in addition to my day job and spending time with my family. So, I don't sleep. ;)

Today is the second birthday of my blog. My "blog birthday" also marks my quilting experience, and though it seems hard for me to fathom, my blog is only six months older than my quilting experience. So I have now been quilting for 2.5 years.

In some ways, (all good ways) it feels as if I've been quilting for a much longer period of time. And in other ways (when I look at my somewhat schizophrenic oeuvre and my lack of ability in some areas) it absolutely makes complete sense. :)

So I thought I would review what I made in 2010, and then talk about what I see for myself in 2011. If you're interested in seeing the quilting on them, click on the links to the original post.

First up:

The Invention of Pinwheels

This was a WIP from 2009 that I finally finished, so-called because in my eagerness and excitement as an entirely self-taught quilter, I "invented" the pinwheel. Of course, I later discovered pinwheels had been around for hundreds of years, but still. As far as I was concerned, I invented 'em!

One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others)

Also made in January, this lap-sized quilt was based on another traditional block; the snowball block. I called it "one of these things" because I ran out of fabric for one block, thus making it different. It wasn't a WIP, originally, I was making this quilt for my youngest son, and it was going to be a mix of those print blocks and solid colour blocks in a queen. But as it came together, I realized the quilt was too juvenile for my soon to be sixteen year old, so I turned it into a lap. Which BSP is napping under as I write this. :)

Cat Nap

In February, I was experimenting with making tote bags and other small quilted items, but I did manage to start and finish one lap sized quilt, "Cat Nap" . I loved the printed cat fabric - a gift from a friend - but there was so little of it, I was hard-pressed to decide what would best show it off . In retrospect, I'm not sure this was the best use of it (in this quilt, I can certainly see why a design wall would come in handy!); but I was glad to get over my fear of using a fabric I loved, and this quilt gets a lot of use.

Puzzle

In 2010, I decided to explore this whole "textile art" thing, and try to find out if that was something I wanted to do. In furtherance of that, I joined 3 Creative Studio's art quilt challenge group. I thought, among other things, that it would be a way to push myself and learn. It did do those things for me although most of the other things I hoped/expected from the group did not come to pass.

This first foray in the group has it's own charm, but was not reflective of the work I wanted to produce. Nevertheless, I was pleased to have produced a piece on someone else's theme and to a deadline, both things I wasn't sure I would be able to do.

Passage

At the beginning of March, both of my sewing machines died. Died deader than doornails. And I decided that rather than pay to have the machines fixed for the umpteenth time (I had already paid for each of them twice over in repair costs!); I would save to buy a really good machine. Of course, the fates conspired against me in the loss of my work contract, so it was literally 3 months before I could afford to buy my Juki.
The only reason I was able to show Passage (another textile art piece produced for the 3 Creative Studios Challenge) at the end of April, was because I had actually finished in February. Passage had a great deal of emotional import for me, and I was actually grateful for the opportunity to have made it.

Last Fall in Spring

Not having had a sewing machine for nearly four months threw off my "2010 Plan" by at least that long. And so June found me still working on the WIPS from 2009 that I had hoped to have finished by February or March at the latest. Beginning to explore new work and ideas would have to be put off, as I had promised myself that I wouldn't start any new work until my old work was done.

Un Poco Loco

But then, something happened. It was beyond my control!! :) I was given a box of scraps by a friend, and amongst them were these little bits of shiny stuff. I looked through the box, brought it to my sewing room and a day or two later came out with this quilt. Sometimes, the Universe just grabs your hands and you make stuff without even realizing it. (Or at least, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)

A Sparrow In The Rain

A Sparrow In The Rain was my magnum opus. I had started it in the late fall of 2009 when I was going through a depressive period, and it was my meditaion on depression and mental illness. I don't know whether it was the choice of colour or the subject material, but people didn't respond to the quilt well. Neverthless, I thought it was the most beautiful quilt I had ever made and I was, and am, immensely proud of it.

Double Helix On The Downbeat

In July, the third challenge piece for 3Creative Studios was due, and I called mine Double Helix on the Downbeat. This was another instance where I felt that my abilities were not up to my expression. I liked my idea, but the execution was flawed and juvenile. So I was disappointed with it on the one hand, but pleased because such learnings were at least one reason that I joined the challenge group to begin with.

Orange You Glad I Did?

Another July finish, this was a 2009 WIP - a dreaded HST quilt. This quilt looks great on our queen-sized bed and is light and warm. I doubt I'll ever make a queen sized HST again, but I'm glad I did.

Little Boy Blue

Another July quilt, this queen sized number was yet another quilt that I couldn't figure out how to photograph in a way that showed its true beauty. It's a gorgeous, luminous quilt - the blue silk glows in all lights and is a wonderful contrast to the rich chocolate brown prints in stripes and dots.

Jungle Princess

This oversized baby quilt was an early August finish and wasn't one of my scheduled WIPs - in fact, it wasn't a scheduled quilt at all - but for some reason, these fabrics just grabbed me on August 1, and I made this little quilt out of them. I had no idea what I was going to do with it - after all, I didn't know anyone with a baby or even someone who was expecting a baby, but there it was.

Sleep, Baby

Not having a baby to make baby quilts for was apparently no detriment, because a few days later, I made another one. "If I had a baby girl", I thought, this is the quilt I would want for her.

Mango Tango

And a few days after that, I made another one again! What was up with the baby making *ahem*, baby quilt making phase I was in?

Daisies Sing the Blues

And then (apparently), I decided that making a baby quilt wasn't enough, I had to make a whole SET. A baby quilt - no surprise there, but also, a diaper bag with cunning zippers and bottle holders and diaper pockets, and a vinyl lined change pad that rolled up and fit in the bag. August was baby-quilt-making month, no doubt about it. Would the streak ever end?

Once, I Was A Child

All is clear in hindsight, of course; and I realize now that making all of those baby quilts throughout August was my sub-conscious' way of fighting back against the dreadful memories I was dredging up while making the next challenge piece due at the end of the month for 3 Creative Studios. My mummified child-self in the piece says it all, really; but if you wish to read more about the meaning of the piece, click on the link.

Side Dish

Early in September, I got back to the work list, finishing up WIPs from 2009. On the one hand, I couldn't believe that I was still finishing WIPs from 2009, but on the other hand, this queen sized quilt has become a real favourite in our house and gets used constantly. In trying to understand this (I've certainly made prettier quilts); we finally realized that it's the quilting that we find so charming on this quilt - so I'm including a pic of that

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Towards the middle of September, I decided to try a whole cloth quilt out of dupioni silk. Not only did this quilt not photograph well, there are some things I've learned since then that would improve the technique - nevertheless, this is a very pretty quilt in real life with its hand beading and three dimensional flowers; and I will some day, try it in a larger size as it was a huge favourite at the show and sale I participated in at the beginning of December.

Battaile des cerf-volantes

For a couple of weeks in the first part of September, there had been a small controversy stirring in my city about a a rather sudden, arbitrary ban on kite fighting. I read the articles with interest and towards the middle of the month was inspired to make a quilt about kite fighting.

Celtic Autumn

At the end of September, the falling leaves and muted gold colours all around me inspired this quilt of warm wool and bright gold satin, that I ended up calling "Celtic Autumn".

Of The Moment

As you may recall from my 2009 Year In Review I had an "Aha!" moment or two - and at the beginning of October, I had my 2010 "Aha!" I made this quilt far more consciously then I usually do, and quilted it in a way I hadn't tried before and which went against my "fill up the space with lots of busyness showing off cool quilting skills" desire but seemed to fit the quilt despite myself. And I ended up with a quilt that lit the way to the path I'm going to follow as a quilt maker and textile artist.

Turtle Island

You may recall that October was an extremely challenging month for me. Beloved Spouse had had major surgery on October 1, and at the end of the month I was starting a new position at a prestigious firm after doing some long-term temp work after having lost my contract in April.

So, I wanted to make some quick quilts to keep you, my readers entertained, but not have to spend a lot of time in the sewing room as I had a lot to do! So I made two quilts, one of which was this one - which I showed you in the third week of October. It was cute and simple and lightening fast (start to finish, this baby quilt took me about 2 hours to make - but of course years of learning went into it!) and I was pleased.

Animals on Parade

The following week, I showed you "Animals on Parade" Athough this one took twice as long to make as "Turtle Island", it was still fast and easy, with a pretty result.

Time To Face The Music

At the beginning of November, our fifth challenge for 3 Creative Studios was due. For this challenge, I decided to tackle a modern primitive style. Although I was pleased that the message was clear, and pleased with myself for pushing forward into new-to-me territory; I decided that this style doesn't speak to me. Another great lesson learned and on to the next challenge!

Islands In The Stream

This was a WIP from earlier in the year - prior to "Of The Moment". You can see that I was feeling my way towards it, but hadn't quite gotten there. In a way, I'm sorry I quilted this one up - I should have taken it apart and had another go at it. After finishing "Of The Moment" I knew better what to do with this quilt, and I should have done. Live and learn! In the end, I have a lap quilt whose colours I love, and it was a lot of fun to work with parachute "silk".

Midas Touch

You know what quilt wasn't fun to work with? This one! This quilt was a WIP from 2008, and the reason it took so long to finish it was because of the fabrics. Not only were those silly lames and chiffons and silks and poly-something-or-others difficult and time-consuming to work with, I had to sew them to a base fabric (cotton muslin) for stability which made the top incredibly heavy. And then I chose to use a heavy ultra-suede for backing and borders. And so this quilt weighed roughly 1000 pounds and once quilted, I hated the quilting and so had to take it all out - stitch by delicate-don't-ruin-hundreds-of-dollars-worth-of-fabric stitch.

And then, months later when that was all done, I had to quilt it AGAIN.

The quilt it stunning, but wow. I'm not convinced it was worth the work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So that was 2010, my year in quilts. I averaged one quilt every two weeks even with a four month break (and that's not including nearly 30 quilted bags and a couple of table runners); so I've learned, that if nothing else, I'm prolific!

After experimenting with all of these styles, I also have a better sense of where I'm going - if I picked out my favourite quilts of the last two years, you'd see a definite pattern in the work as well as a developing voice.

And hey, speaking of a developing voice - I want to do more of that in 2011. So expect to see more textile art pieces this year - maybe a lot more - and more quilts along the lines of Of The Moment, Zen Gardens, Passage and Once, I Was A Child. Even Turtle Islands, that simple baby quilt, fits comfortably in the direction I'm heading.

Thank you dear readers for coming along with me. I've enjoyed your company and look forward to spending more time with you in this new year and seeing what you're working on.

Happy new year!

Kit

I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart. ~ Van Gogh

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Okay, I know I'm early, but I'm so sick I don't think I'm going to be able to any proper posts before Saturday.

So Merry Christmas, happy holidays, good solstice, all of that.

See you next week!

I habn't been sewing this weekend cuz my head is stubbed ub!

2010-12-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

Not to mention the achy flu symptoms. *le wah*

And so, though I planned to have a finished art quilt to show you today, I'm going to be posting a couple more of the stockings I've entered in the mini-peep boot contest that Lizzie House is having.

This one's my favourite - faux pony and sequins and beading, oh my! It's not quilted like the first one was, but I still think it's totally cute.

And speaking of "totally" - I am TOTALLY addicted to making these little numbers. I want to make 20 or so of them and do a whole mini tree of them next year. BSP thinks they're great fun and agrees that we ought to have a mini-stocking tree. (You'd only know how amazing that agreement is, if you knew we already have four Christmas trees which get put up every year.)

And then I made another quilted one, which I had to bead just cuz they're saucy that way. :)

I have one more that I want to make for the contest (a shimmery baby blue number) and I have until the end of the day tommorrow to do so - however, I've been so sick I literally haven't been able to stand for more than five minutes and get dizzy and nauseous if I do so. Not to mention, that if I say more than three words I start coughing up my lungs. *le wah*

Off to the doctor tommorrow for me; and maybe if I can, another mini stocking for the contest.

Hope you're all doing much, MUCH better than I am (it took me two hours to make this little post!) and I look forward to talking to you all later in the week.

Cheers,

Kit

Friday Flickr Faves

2010-12-17T00:15:00.000-05:00

1. Summer Grove with Fireflies

This "digital doodle" called Summer Grove with Fireflies is by A Drawing A Day Unfortunately, I have no link or identification information about this person other than their Flickr account, but I highly encourage having a scroll through their work.

There's a lot to choose from for inspiration... this one's "feeling" may show up in a quilt of mine in the very near future!

So, dear readers....

What inspires you?

The holidays just throw things off, don't they?

2010-12-15T07:25:00.001-05:00

So, instead of doing a Wednesday WIP, I'm showing you a stocking I made for BSP the night before last.

Excuse the bits of snow on it - but it does make it seem somehnow more authentic, yes? :)

As I was auditioning fabrics for BSP for a stocking (ALL of which were vetoed) BSP asked "Don't you have anything Christmasy?" I didn't think so, but as it turned out, I did! As soon as I pulled it, I knew that I had to use some of my brown fur and little bits of Italian gold scraps.

I quilted it overall in my standby for small project - honeycomb quilting, and then I hand beaded it with green glass beads.

And I even free motion quilted some little trees on the ankle band!

The pattern is from Lizzy House quilts . Join in the fun!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2010-12-13T00:45:00.000-05:00

Here in Ontario, we've had crazy snowstorms the last week - as much as 46 centimetres in one night, and it continues to snow!

Of course, when you have that much snow, you make snow angels, snow caves, snow forts, and snow men - or in my case, snow people!

Of course, mine were on a table runner - which I made so that I'd have something to show you today (because the owners of two of the commissions I'm working on have asked me not to publish).

However, our kitchen is white and a paler shade of that blue, so it'll be put to good use.

And how are you all doing in these last days before Christmas?

A Project for The Fliffer Floffer

2010-12-09T23:27:00.002-05:00

1. Red Rocks

This is a piece by Jane LaFazio, but it's the kind of thing that I imagine I will make with my fliffer floffer once I get it. What's a "fliffer floffer" you ask? Oh, I'm sorry, didn't you know? It's a needle felter. In particular, the Janome FM-725.

For the past couple of weeks I've been researching needle felters and have/had decided on the Janome FM-725. However, when I went to my usual sewing machine guy, he informed me that Janome wasn't making it any more! I called Janome direct, and they confrimed that it was true, although they said they would support it forever. So then I called around and sadly, most places haven't had one.

I did find two - or so I thought - the other day I sent BSP to pick it up at a particular location, and it turned out that the dealer lied! She didnt' have it - didn't even know what it was and had never heard of a fliffer floffer. *ahem* BSP called me from the dealer and asked me what the fliffer floffer was called. After the dealer got the information that the FM 725 was a needle felter and not a fliffer floffer, she still maintained she had never heard of such a thing and didn't quite believe it existed.

In any case, the hunt continues. (I may have to settle for a Babylock version). However, when I finally do get one, I will of course call it "Fliffer Floffer" - because seriously - could there be a better name?

El Anatsui

2010-12-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't quite gotten back into the swing of things, so I thought I'd show you an art installation I went to see at the ROM a couple of weeks ago. First, I went to see a documentary about the artist El Anatsui, and then I went on a curated tour of his work.

His art is huge - I mean massive - it's all encompassing. To give you some perspective:

Dusasa I

It has the feeling of textiles with hints of mosaic, quilting, weaving... as if the scale of these pieces isn't impressive enough, here's what these pieces are made of:

He makes everything entirely from the tops liquor bottles!!!

His philosophy with respect to the materials he uses is that if you use inexpensive materials, your vision isn't constrained by the costliness of the project. This really resonated for me as for two years now, I've been looking at a pile of fabrics - all silk - for a quilt I've been holding in my head for those same two years; but haven't cut into because the fabrics alone cost $500.00. Would I have made that quilt a long time ago, if I hadn't been afraid of "ruining" $500 worth of fabric? Of course! Perhaps you've been simliarly constrained by much loved fabric lines or bits that you can't get anymore.

And, of course, he is also, among other things, opening a dialouge about our detritus, turning said garbage into something beautiful, alcohol and the role it plays in his particular society (and by extension, ours), among many other things.

I know this exhibit is going to be in New York in February - apparently an extension is being built onto one of the museums to permanently house it. If you have the opportunity, please do go and see it. The pictures I've taken are nice - but they are in no way indicative of the power of these pieces in real life. They made my eyes well up!

If you're local - come and see it while you can.

Love for sale...

2010-12-06T00:01:00.004-05:00

So, as I've been blathering about for some weeks now, I particpated in a group show and sale in the neighbourhood just east of ours.

It was my first show and sale and I would give it an 8 out of ten. I learned a whole lot through the process, among them the following:

Pretend your show is a week earlier than it actually is, and set it all up with all your products. You'll figure out what you're missing, what you're going to need, what'll it look like and you'll be totally calm, cool and collected the day of.
Don't forget your business cards.
Do your research! By this, I mean, go around to the local sales before you actually enter them. See how the vendors are and if you'll fit in at that particular sale. See what kind of show it is. Check out the venue so you'll know how to display and what things you'll need for that particular location.
Don't forget your business cards.
Have professional signage made - and a variety of it - again, know your location. Hanging, standing and table signage.
Don't forget your business cards.
Bring extra lighting for your booth/table - don't depend on the location to have it available.
Don't forget your business cards.
Bring snacks, drinks, food, etc. I had BSP to fetch and carry, but you may not be so lucky, and shows don't always have runners.
Don't forget your business cards!
Bring a camera (as I obviously didn't) to take pictures of the venue and your presence there.
Keep up a good attitude even if things aren't going well. There were a few vendors who didn't sell a thing, and as the day went by they became grumpier and grumpier, and even if someone were interested in their wares, by that time, the customer would be afraid to approach them!

There were more learnings, but those were the main ones - if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Also, don't forget your super duper specially made professional business cards at home.

Favourite Moments:

One woman who oohed and ahhed her way through my quilts, stopped dead at "Jungle Princess", gapsed, put her hand to her throat, welled up and said "Oh. It's so beautiful, it makes me want to cry!" I've had that experience with other people's art - it was amazing to be the recipient.
So many enjoyable and fun conversations with different people!
My neighbour, Carolyn of Carolyn Draws was a lovely, friendly and helpful seller, who had experience and was wonderfully willing to share it - she even gave me some helpful suggestions about ways and means of getting myself out there. She was a true pleasure to sell with.
That my little quilt "Zen Gardens" a quilt I've always thought was incredibly beautiful but perhaps too subtle for most people, got as much attention at my personal favourite "Of The Moment". It was so gratifying to see that when viewing the quilt "live and in person" people absolutely loved it. How amazing to be validated in my design aesthetic.
I was told over and over again that I need to be in "The One of Kind Craft Show and Sale". It would take me probably two years to make enough product for the show - but I always imagined myself there one day - how cool to be told by customers that I should be there.
all the beautiful babies!!! So many people brought babies and small children - my kids are grown, so it was so wonderful to be exposed to all those delicious smelling and sweet looking little bundles.
Last but not least - my absolute favourite moment:

Did you know I invented contemporary quilting?

I DID!

These three ladies came along - an average of ten years older than I. They went through the top set of quilts and oohed and ahhed and stroked them and twittered about them amongst themselves at an amazing speed (I mean amazing - an entire conversation and five quilts were looked at in about 30 seconds flat. *hee*). And then one of them said to me, "Did you invent this?"

"Quilting?!!!!" I asked, laughingly?

"No", she said, "Not quilting. I'm a traditional quilter, but we've never seen anything like this"

"NEVER!" piped up the second one.

"It's amazing!" said the third one.

"Soooooo beautiful..." said the first one. "What do you call this kind of quilting?"

So I told her that I call myself a contemporary quilter, and that no, I didn't invent it, though I am trying to be true to myself and hopefully, bring something new to the craft. We had a converation about it, and eventually, the two friends pulled the third one away, she looking longingly back all the way out of the building.

First, I invented Pinwheels - now I've invented Contemporary Quilting!

I am magical!

Blogging Break

2010-11-29T00:13:00.000-05:00

As you may know, I'm going to be participating in my first show and sale this coming Saturday. Unfortunately, I've had a set-back in this six week long battle against a cold I've been engaged in, and have had to spend the weekend in bed. (Could this have come at a worse time, I ask you?)

I've been tucked up under my quilts reading when not napping, but that hasn't furthered my cause.

Consequently, I'm going to be working like a crazy person this week at night and won't have time to blog. I'll miss you, but I'll see you next Monday.

And that book? I highly recommend it!

See you next week!

Friday Flickr Faves - Grey Addition

2010-11-25T20:13:00.001-05:00

Arlee Barr, Bridgette Guerzon Mills, "Dancing Crow", Kirsten Chursinoof,
1. untitled2, 2. growing_mending, 3. veils of mist, 4. Silhouettes, Black and White

Wednesday Not-A-WIP

2010-11-24T03:41:00.003-05:00

It went from a balmy 15 degrees yesterday, to a blisteringly cold minus something or other in a 24 hour period, which highlighted for me the need for a winter coat. Why am I telling you this? Because instead of quilting in my sewing room, I've been sewing in my sewing room - i.e.; making myself a new winter coat.

Of course, it's not like I don't have a winter coat - in fact I have several; it's just that they're all in storage at the moment, and I don't have access to storage until our car is available, and that won't be for another couple of weeks. (Long story, I'll share another time)

So, I'm showing you this, I think, quite cute little quilted tissue cover I made to add to my bird theme cubicle decorations.

Also, a couple of weeks ago, I won some really lovely loot, and it arrived in the mail last Friday.

Hand made cards, a "leaf gatherer" pouch and assorted deliciousness from Heike Gerbig, a textile artist who blogs at Gerdiary (and has recently been published in Cloth Paper Scissors and 1000 Artisan Textiles.) In addition to being a maker, she also produces beautiful hand dyed cloth. I already know exactly how I'm going to use this fabric - it's perfect for a piece I've had in mind.

Speaking of how I'm using it:

It's the perfect size to drape around my neck while I'm working in order to hold all the little things I use frequently - instead of putting them on my sewing table where they (singly or collectively) manage to fall to the floor several times per session.

Lucky me!

Thank you Heike!

Hello!

2010-11-22T00:29:00.001-05:00

So, as you may remember, I'm going to be part of a group show and sale taking place in two weeks. I've been very busy getting ready for that, and realized today that I have a paltry five tote bags and six lunch bags to offer. I hope I'm going to be selling more than THAT.

So, earlier this evening, I whipped up a couple:

You may remember "Oscar" - this is a blue/green version. And the back:

That's a pocket on the back there - and the inside follows:

I LOVE that quilting! I may have to do a whole quilt like that some day. And then I made a chenille and velvet tote:

The inside is a solid golden mustard colour and it's quilted very simply - just the vertical runs up. The sides are the velvet and are quilted in diamonds:

I think I should have at least 20 tote bags and 20 lunch bags, even if I don't sell them all in addition to my quilts.

Stay tuned, as I become superwoman, if only temporarily, what with making quilts, tote bags, lunch bags, praticing for choir, spending time with my family, and, oh yes - working full time!

:)

Friday Flickr Faves

2010-11-19T06:56:00.000-05:00

I love this photo by Luisa Puccini, in Cambodia in 2005, is one that I come back to again, and again.

The colour pallette, the subject matter, it all lends itself beautifully to a textile art piece. Some day....

Wednesday WIP

2010-11-17T07:32:00.000-05:00

So, I had this idea: make a luxurious, elegant monochromatic quilt in a luscious range of silks - an homage to a 12 patch, with a tiny linen seam to break up the silks. Given that those silk fabrics cost close to $500, I thought I should do a trial run with something much less expensive:

All I had to do was perfect a quarter inch seam!

It's not going so well, actually...

*heh*

Midas Touch

2010-11-15T08:18:00.002-05:00

I think I first showed you this top about a year ago April/May - it's a string quilt made with copper and brown lame, burnt orange velvet and burgundy silk.

This quilt was a pain in my posterior extremity if you know what I mean - because of the fragility of the fabrics, I first foundation pieced them. At the time (I've only been quilting for two years now!)I thought it would be better if the seams were large. So I had thick, heavy seams, on a foundation fabric that was too heavy.

Then I added ultra suede borders and backing, and wool/cotton blend batting. This made for a VERY heavy quilt. I actually shoved the thing through my little Singer (the machine I was using at the time); and though I broke a million needles and my machine hated it, I did, eventually finish the darn thing.

Of course, it looked TERRIBLE.

So, I put it away for awhile.

A few months ago, I took out all the quilting. Have you ever ripped out ALL the stitching on a completely finnished quilt? It takes a long, long time. Especially when you're trying not to damage really expensive ultra suede, lame and silk.

After that, I was really tired of this quilt.

But, I pulled it out this weekend, trimmed all the inner seams, patched up the few booboos that were made on the top where I had ripped out all the stitches, and then re-quilted. it.

So its finally done. I may do another string quilt again, but I don't think I'll EVER do another quilt with an ultra-suede back. It feels amazing ,but I'm pretty sure I have arms like Popeye after wrestling with that sucker for the last 20 hours.

DONE.

Thank goodness!

Friday Flickr Faves: November 12, 2010

2010-11-12T05:27:00.000-05:00

If Salvadore Dali and Gabriel Garcia Marquez had a love child...

S/he might take photographs like this. And I would make quilts inspired by them!

1. inner strength, 2. communication, 3. communication, 4. The lonely tree thing

Wednesday-not-a-WIP

2010-11-10T02:16:00.000-05:00

I've been busy working on stuff, but I'm trying to get my current WIPs done for a group show and sale I'm going to be part of next month - and you've already seen all those WIPs, so I've got nothing new (in progress) to show you which is why I'm showing you something new but not-in-progress, anyway, here's this cute bag I made; it's made of faux fur in a cow print and satin scraps and it has a big inner pocket on one side as well as three smaller inner pockets, and is lined with a black/white pinstripe wool gabardine. The end.

Happy hump day everyone!

Islands in the Stream

2010-11-08T05:47:00.001-05:00

If you're here for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival, the entry is HERE

Happy Monday, everyone!

You may remember this from a WIP back in September, I was just playing with some fabric remnants I had. Because I got them from a friend who often gives me her scraps I'm not sure whether they're nylon, or parachute silk, but I like to think of them as having been intended to float lightly through the air, gently landing on the earth.

Anyway, back in the summer some time, I was literally playing with these fabrics, not really consciously aware of what I was doing, and before I knew it, I had the "top" done. I put it away, and really quite forgot about it until one Tuesday night, I was in my sewing room casting about for something for Wednesday WIP, and digging around I found this top, and was all "Oh right!"

So, having posted it about a month ago, I moved it to my WIP pile - it was actually folded and put back with my fabrics - I think I intended to take it apart at some point and re-use the fabric in another project - but having posted it, I knew it eventually had to show up as an actual quilt - so I quilted it up this weekend.

I love it's graphic brightness, but next time, I'll be more mindful when I'm actually putting a top together! :)

Friday Flickr Faves - November 5, 2010

2010-11-05T07:15:00.001-04:00

If you're here for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival, my entry is HERE.

1. FANTASY OF TREES ...

Wouldn't this be an amazing quilt? It would, wouldn't it? I'm definitely going to have to do it!

Wednesday WIP?

2010-11-03T06:58:00.001-04:00

If you're here for the Blogger's Quilt Festival, my entry is HERE

Not sure where I'm going with this.... I've done six or seven iterations. I have an idea, but can't make it happen.

Stay tuned...

"Time to Face The Music"

2010-11-01T00:31:00.001-04:00

For those here for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival - the entry is HERE:

Regular Monday post below:

I know I don't usually post my textile art pieces on this blog, but I've been so busy I didn't have time to finish a traditonal quilt for my usual Monday post.

This was the 5th piece I made for the Three Creative Studios Challenge. Our word was "music". I decided to interpret it as "time to face the" music, and make my quilt about the ecological disasters we inflict upon our home and the culpability each of us holds in that.

On the left is smoke stack from a factory with an oil rigging juxtaposed on the front of it, a miasma of pollution surrounding it and the scorched sun, while a toxic sludge pours out of it running beneath the earth and seeping into our ground water.

On the right is a scarecrow, traditionally something to terrify without danger; however, you will note that the scarecrow has become a skeleton - a warning to us all.

Details on construction at textile art blog if you're interested: Coneflowers in Leslieville

Welcome to Diva Quilts

2010-10-29T00:01:00.022-04:00

and the fall 2010, Bloggers' Quilt Festival!

I'm so glad to have you here and want to begin by once again thanking our fabulous docent/hostess-with-the-mostest, Amy Ellis (formerly Park City Girl) of Amy's Creative Side for all her hard work as well as our wonderful sponsors including InLinks (how great is it to have pics in our links on Amy's site?) for having this great festival that allows us all to connect to one another in one homey but worldwide quilting community! I'm looking forward to seeing some great quilts and making some new friends!

I thought I'd share with all of you my favourite quilt that I've made this year (thus far), called "Of The Moment". It was inspired by a sketchbook cover that Gennine Zlatkis created about a year ago. I've been a follower of her blog for a number of years now and always find her incredibly inspiring.

Within a couple of days of seeing it, I went out and bought the silks. I knew that I would someday make a quilt using that colour pallette - I even thought I might do lilac sea urchins and shells on the coppery brown silk!

But what happened instead, was that a few weeks ago I was in my sewing room and out of the blue decided that I wanted to make a really contemporary quilt. One that was "of the moment". Inspired by the color field painters of the early 20th century and Geninne's colour pallette above, I wanted to make a quilt that was modern, genderless; that would look equally well hung on a wall or draped artfully over a couch, and that was, above all: contemporary.

And so I designed a quilt that used bold colour choices that drew your eye off the "page", that used strong, simple lines to give it a contemporary feel; and speaking of feeling, used all silks and straight quilting lines to give it a wonderfully soft hand.

I wanted to make the back a little less serious, but still evocative of the color field painters, and so I continued the geometric patterns and swaths of colour, but added a little "wonk" to make sure we all knew it was designed in 2010. :s:

And then I was done - I'd made what I hoped was a truly contemporary quilt - one that was "of the moment".

If you'd like to see my entries in previous Blogger's Quilt Festivals, you can see my entry in Amy's very first festival (and the third quilt I ever made!) here, and my second entry last fall, here.

Check out all the participants in the festival and their quilts by clicking on the button linky below:

And don't forget!

In February you can purchase Amy's highly anticipated,

sure to be fabulous new book: just in time to make something from it

for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival in Spring, 2011!

Wednesday WIP

2010-10-27T00:03:00.002-04:00

It is Wednesday, therefore, I WIP.

And here is my very Wippiest of WIPs - I don't think I've ever shown a WIP in such a state before, but I couldn't hang it outside, it's pouring rain and 90 km per hour winds! My flimsy would blow away!

And, I'm very tired... so I just couldn't fuss with it too much.

So here it is. My Wednesday WIP. I promise that it'll be prettier when it's done.

Really!

Animals on Parade

2010-10-25T00:49:00.001-04:00

It was a busy weekend for me this weekend. I made this little quilt on Friday night, worked on a queen most of Saturday as well as making the most delicious stock ever (I mean ever! Beloved Spouse wanted to drink it up just as it was); making cakes for birthdays and our anniversary and recovering from the cold I developed on Monday (of course, because it was my first week back at work, I got sick.)

But while I've been busy in my sewing room this weekend, I've been wondering why it is that I've been producing so many baby quilts lately? It's not like I know lots of people who are having babies, and it's not really a market I intend to develop for sale, so...

what's up with the baby quilts? In addition, up until a few months ago, I didn't even like making baby quilts. You see, although I know most (if not all) people like baby quilts that are cute and fuzzy (so to speak); I was never of that ilk. Cutesy quilts - though cute, aren't my particular aesthetic, and we all know how well it goes when I make something I don't like! ::s::

When I thought about making baby quilts, I always thought about making grown up versions of my quilts, scaled down. But mostly, they didn't work for babies - after all, who's going to buy a grey quilt, or a dark green wool quilt or...well, you see what I mean - for a baby? I mean, besides Morticia Adams.

But for reasons that are inexplicable to me (as yet, anyway), I've been thinking about designs for baby quilts. Designs that fit in with my aesthetic and that are fun to make. They're ideal really, because they're so fast to whip up - gosh - I made this one over a couple of hours on Friday night - contrast that to my current WIP: 16 hours in and the top still isn't done! (And sadly, I have really time intensive quilting in mind for it as well. ::sigh::)

So, to stop every once in a while and make a sweet little baby quilt, is a nice way to stop and smell the roses.

What do you think?

Friday Flickr Faves, October 23, 2010

2010-10-22T05:28:00.001-04:00

Christine Brallier's work is completely inspiring - and her techniques could so easily be translated in fabric!

Wednesday WIP

2010-10-20T05:30:00.001-04:00

Do you think I need to do something with my stash?

After some consideration, my thoughts are "Yes". (Oy!) I have more scraps than whole fabric - :) The big stacks are yardage of more than 2 yards, the small folded pieces are 1-2 yards; the rolled pieces are less than one yard. But the rest - in the boxes, baskets and clear plastic bags are all scraps. Sheesh!

Oh! Except - see that tiny little stack on top of the first row of boxes? That tiny little stack consists of my WIPs. Go me!
I'd like to totally re-do my sewing room, actually...

Stay tuned!

Turtle Island

2010-10-18T05:00:00.039-04:00

I'm back to work today after a five week absence (to have a vacation and then to take care of BSP pre and post surgery); and so I've been very busy the last four days getting things organized. You know, easily accessible and cooked food, a spring-type cleaning of the house, fall wardrobe update and the like.

This entailed not only the cleaning and organizing of my fall wardrobe, but also the making of certain additions - two new skirts, two dresses, and a suit.

I have a very specific work look which I call "sexy secretary". I've always been in love with 40s and 50s era fashion and have constantly sought out and made clothes in this style for myself. Pencil skirts feature frequently in this look and they're easy to sew - these days, I don't even use a pattern - I just cut directly into the fabric and they only take 45 minutes to an hour to make (including felled seams) - so quick and easy!
The dresses took longer - but that was mainly because the second dress (a Vogue pattern that should have taken only an hour) looked great on the tall, thin model on the pattern cover but on me looked like a sack.

I wasn't going to lose two and half yards of slubbed silk, so I had to re-work it; adding darts, princess seams, changing the sleeve and making a tulip shaped bottom. It worked, but the end result is nothing like the pattern I bought. The skirt for the suit took about an hour and 1/2 and the jacket about 5 hours. (It was way more complicated than I usually make).

I also intend to make myself a few more wardrobe pieces and an outdoor coat of red wool, but those are for another date. So, together all of those pieces had me working on Friday evening from 6 to 11 or so, and then a further further ten hours on Saturday broken up in the afternoon and the evening.

And then (and then!) I realized that I would also have to make a quilt for today's blog post. Normally, this might be an eep! moment, but as it turned out, I've had an idea in my head for quite some time to make a simple, modern baby quilt.

All that fooling around I've done over the last year with drunkard's path templates and circles gave me the design for this quilt, which I've been carrying around in the front part of my head for the last couple of weeks. I even took out the turtle fabric last week (I've had it for years as I bought it at the Textile Museum Yardage Sale even though I had no idea what I would do with it as I bought it before I started quilting!)

So, making the quilt was just a matter of measuring for size and then whipping it up. If you look at my notes, they consist of the following on a post-it:

"Turtle Island
38 x 48
16 inch block plus 4 and 2"

After following these very complicated instructions (!), I added a plain white back and quilted it front and back in this wave pattern with acquamarine thread.

Done and done!

Back to work I go...

Friday Flickr Faves, Oct 15, 2010

2010-10-15T00:31:00.000-04:00

Some prospective orange quilts...

1. Wet orange, 2. Not a Fall overhead view but Almond Leaf drying in abstract greens, golds and oranges, 3. orange, 4. Shadow light, 5. Shadow light, 6. Orange Sky, 7. Orange and Red: Angles and Lines, 8. orange invasion, 9. orange-colored sky, 10. Orange over the Resevoir, 11. Orange Doors and Shutters, Rochechouart, Limousin, France, 12. orange wall, purple ashphelt, 13. Orange Gates Supreme14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Wednesday WIP

2010-10-13T10:34:00.000-04:00

Still needs trimming and futzing (I took apart and re-designed this quilt 3 times!); but this is essentially what it will look like in the end - with a burgundy back.

But I dreamed a quilt into being last night (a baby quilt) and I need to go and make it. Right now! :)

Of The Moment

2010-10-12T06:00:00.002-04:00

When I conceived of this quilt, I remember thinking "I want to make a contemporary quilt - you know, something that's of the moment". And as I put these silks together in this particular configuration, I wondered whether this quilt was not only of the moment, but whether its design would stand the test of time.

I quilted it very simply (but time consumingly!!!!!) in straight lines of two different varigated threads - one in purples and one in a fuschia/green/yellow.

I was pleased with the result (even taking into account the wonky back) and love, love, LOVE the hand this quilt has - which is, I think, as a result of the quilting and the fabrics.

An odd size for me, this quilt is 55 x 65 instead of my usual lap size - 52 x 73. BSP thinks my laps are too long unless you have a big couch - my thoughts have always been that I like things generously sized, and a lap quilt that two can cuddle under while watching t.v. or that man could comfortably nap under on a couch is the size I've been aiming for.

BSP says that people's couches are getting smaller and smaller as we adjust to big city living and that my laps are too big to use as a throw. If it's meant to be decorative only, than sure, it could be smaller, but to cuddle under - bigger is better, I thought. What are yours?

Friday Flickr Faves, October 8, 2010

2010-10-08T02:00:00.000-04:00

"Birds, Kit? Really? What do birds have to do with quilting?"

Well, some RTD fabric and pastel sticks later, you may end up with something like this:

And from there, who knows?

Stay tuned...

1. IMG_5950-2, 2. Red-backed Kingfisher, 3. Red-Breasted Nuthatch at the Bird Feeder, 4. Varied Thrush, 5. Chapim-azul, 6. Alcaudón (Lanius excubitor), 7. Greater Blue-eared Glossy-starling, 8. Carpintero negro (Campephilus magellanicus) Macho, 9. Peitica-de-chapéu-preto (Griseotyrannus aurantioatrocristatus)

Friday Flickr Faves and An Announcement

2010-10-01T08:54:00.000-04:00

Beloved Spouse is having major surgery later today (at 2:30 Eastern time). They have let us know that we can't expect BSP back home again until Tuesday at the latest, and then there will be an extended recovery time . Although I have taken time off work - returning on October 18; I'm not sure how much or how often I'll be able to be online.

If you're a "thinking good thoughts/sending good vibes/praying type" please spare some of those for BSP later today.

And I'll see you when I see you, until then, keep on quilting, and make a stitch or two for me. :)

Kit

Wednesday WIP

2010-09-29T06:05:00.002-04:00

and then:

Stay tuned!

Leafy Gold

2010-09-27T11:15:00.002-04:00

I showed you this quilt in one of my Wednesday WIPs a few weeks ago, and finally got around to quilting it.

Although this quilt's beauty may not show up in photographs well (BSP says it doesn't); this is one of my favourite quilts that I've made. Perhaps it's the warmth of all those wools (the entire quilt is wool except for the gold satin accents and the cotton batting!)

One of the reasons I love it, is that it's made entirely from scraps. Some of the "scraps" were so big that they may not necessarily be viewed as such (a scrap is in the eye of the beholder after all); but the entire quilt is made from leftovers from other projects, so technically speaking at least; it's a scrap quilt.

I chose to use a honeycomb quilting in the loden green wool panels; and line quilting in red thread in the plaid wool panels. The satin accents were quilted in a free motion leaf motif; and the insides of the one row of blocks was done in receding triangles. I quite like the way that turned out, and am going to use it again!

I love this quilt and will be sorry when it goes to live in someone else's house!

Friday Flickr Faves - Sep 24, 2010

2010-09-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, the quilt is just there. No fuss, no muss, no bother. There it is, just make it already.

1. model, 2. hafencity hamburg germany, 3. marine rothko, 4. Untitled, 5. Baku: Stairs, 6. red

Wednesday WIP

2010-09-22T10:37:00.001-04:00

Those of you who have been with me since the beginning may remember this quilt:

You know, the one in my header? :)

It was the second quilt I ever made. I'm revisiting it- this time in black. Won't that be luscious?!

Battaile des cerf-volantes

2010-09-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

There were a number of stories in our newspaper a couple of weeks ago about a new by-law banning kite fighting in one of our local parks as the strings were wreacking havoc with the wildlife in the parks and hurting adults and children in addition to being a nightmare for the workers to clean up. I only saw a kite fight once, but it was a beautiful thing, and remembering it, I was inspired to make this quilt.

Originally, when BSP asked me what the name of the quilt was, I said "Kite Fight".

"Fight? Fight? That doesn't seem very diva quiltish! Shouldn't it be called something more elegant?"

Well, we do live in a bi-lingual country and, after all, everything sounds better in French, so "Battaile des Cerf-Volantes" it is. *s*

Normally, I would make the "kites" separately and then applique them on; but when I saw this quilt in my head, I knew that they needed to be set in. And so I girded my metaphorical loins and learned how to do so.

I was quite pleased with the result, but what doing so has taught me is that I have to *gasp* make a traditional quilt, focussing on curved piecing to polish up those skills. I have my fabric picked out already (though not cut); and a pattern picked from the Winding Ways book by Nancy Elliott MacDonald a quilty friend sent me last year when I said I wanted to learn curved piecing, so expect a traditional quilt from me at some point in the near-ish future.

I love the quilting on this piece because well, I just love doing this kind of quliting - but also because it give the quilt a wonderfully soft hand. This quilt feels like buttah!

The bobbin thread was a varigated pink/blue/purple silky thread and the top was done in a varigated blue. I quilted the kites with a silvery gray thread to blend well.

54 x 72 inches.

Et voilà!

Friday Flickr Faves

2010-09-17T10:20:00.000-04:00

Black and White and a hint of pink...

1. Rainbow Reflections, 2. Silver Tree

I love these as examples of how a hint of any some other colour can really bring a black or white/black and white image to life. Not necessarily that "pop" of colour that interior designers talk about, but something more subtle...

Wednesday WIP

2010-09-15T14:49:00.000-04:00

Breakfast at Tiffany's

2010-09-13T06:05:00.003-04:00

So, last week, I was a little bored with what I was working on; and I pulled out this lovely piece of dupioni silk in this pale shade of Tiffany blue.

I wanted to try my hand at a whole cloth quilt, and since it was my first try at making a whole cloth quilt, I wanted it to be fairly simple.

I began by honeycomb quilting the entire thing, and then over quilting it with simple leaves, all of which I embellished with little silver beads. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to add three dimensional elements of beads and flowers, and was pleased in the end with how it turned out.

My intent was to bind it in the same silk, but in the end, I wanted something with a little texture to frame it.

And, because of it's colour; I called it "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

I also have a little quilt up over at Coneflowers In Leslieville . The quilt itself is a pretty little thing, but I dyed the fabric myself for the first time ever. How cool is that?

Sneak peek:

The Return of Friday Flickr Faves!

2010-09-10T06:00:00.007-04:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gizmocrazy/4046237554/in/faves-diva_quilts/

I'm not really a literal kind of quilter, but if I were - I would love to turn this photo into a quilt... the colours, the subject who uses his body as a piece of living art; the juxtaposition of colours and textures... *le happy sigh*

Wednesday WIP (on Thursday)

2010-09-09T01:00:00.002-04:00

This one is going to be a lovely winter quilt: the solid loden green panels are wool, the plaid inserts are upholstery weight wool, and the gold satin is, well, gold satin. *s*

I'm thinking that this one needs some fairly straight forward quilting - but perhaps a more "accurate" quilting than I am wont to do. On the other hand, I seem to be getting into a rut of sorts - honeycomb quilting. Perhaps it's time to move onto something else!

Garden Salad

2010-09-07T14:23:00.000-04:00

(Monday post on Tuesday because I was away...)
This was the last of my "journeyman" quilts: the quilts I made when I first started quilting and was trying everything and anything - whatever I thought was pretty, or fun. It was a good experience. Not only did I learn a lot in terms of sewing; but I also learned what my style was, what worked for me, and what I wanted to know more about.

This pattern called a "bento box" was the last of the "working to someone else's pattern" quilts that I made. Although I may in future re-visit making quilts based on other people's patterns (for instance, I see a sampler quilt in my perhaps-not-so-distant-future); from the time I made this one until now, I haven't made those kinds of quilts anymore. In fact, before I made this one, I had resolved not to make any anymore!

But the pattern was so pretty, and all the many bento boxes that I saw were so inviting. So I decided to make one. Of course, that turned out to be a bad idea - I always get bored when following someone else's pattern (which is why I made that decision); and I still hadn't grasped the importance of matching points. Though I had , by this time, grasped the importance of a quarter inch seam; unfortunately, I had cut the pattern before I had grasped the importance of cutting everything exactly. the. same. (When you're making dresses, you can fudge the seam a bit if necessary!)

Anyway - I decided to quilt it this weekend, and you know what? It's my second to last WIP!!!!

(Well, of the years-old WIPs. I have some new ones to quilt).

Just one more of those oldie-but-goodies; and I'm FREE!!!!!

Hope you like my wonky Bento - that I called "Garden Salad".

Daisies Sing the Blues

2010-08-30T12:53:00.000-04:00

(P.S. - I also have a new art quilt up at Coneflowers In Leslieville )

I made a baby set (!) which is called "Daisies Sing the Blues".

The baby quilt is, well, baby-quilt sized *w*; done in white cotton and scraps of the blue-on-white daisies fabric that you see here.

Then, I made a change pad, that rolls up and fits in the attached carrier on the diaper bag. The change pad has an clear vinyl back so that you can just wipe off any mess:

The diaper bag was a real trick for me - I'd never made such a complictated "tote" before. It's essentially a messenger bag and has a zippered pocket on the inside at the back, holders for bottles and another large, unzipped pocket for diapers.

I couldn't get a good picture of the inside, but here it is in the construction phase:

(not a pretty photo in comparison to the rest!)

But here's a pic of the baby quilt and the change pad to make up for it.

Hope you like my little set!

(and please check out my new art quilt - which I'm even more proud of - over at Coneflowers!)

See you on Wednesday, with another WIP! :)

FYI

2010-08-26T16:06:00.000-04:00

I posted my quilt Winter Moon and the "how to" over at Coneflowers In Leslieville.

WIP Wednesday

2010-08-25T08:39:00.000-04:00

From my rain-soaked garden, I give you:

this as-yet-un-named quilt; made entirely of silk.

I can't wait to quilt it!

What I did on my summer vacation...

2010-08-23T16:25:00.000-04:00

All lunch bags with drawstring tops and plastic liners...

But wait! There's more!

(from the side just so you can see the pretty ribbon)

And I made even MORE stuff - more lunch bags, more totes, two baby quilts, a changing pad, two laps and a queen.

But I'll dole those out at a later date.

(I TOLD you I made a tonne of stuff!)

Mango Tango

2010-08-18T08:48:00.002-04:00

This is a little baby quilt I made a couple of weeks ago called "Mango Tango".

Those of you who have been with me a for a long time may remember that when I first started quilting, I made a "cat quilt" as I was calling them (mini quilts on which I practiced different techniques), that looked nearly exactly like this. I liked the mini version so much that I always knew I would get around to making a big one, and I finally did!

I did a little "wavy/shell" quilting on this one, interspersed with flowers in the centres of each railway block.

I've been on vacation, so I have lots more to show you! :) I've been a busy bee - making a queen, two laps and more! I'm excited to show them to you!

See you Friday. :)

Kit