Painted Pockets!

I took a class from Sarah Ann Smith (Sarah by the Sea)  where I learned to  make freezer paper stencils from traced designs.  I had a lot of fun tracing and painting  these cute little flowers.  Watch for the video on how I did it! Oh, by the way, this is the Mug Bucket from www.bucketsgonewild.com.

Jitter Bucket size

Care Package

Lynn wrote: I have just purchased the Mug Bucket from Home-Sew and am anxious to get started making one. I see you have a pattern for the jitter Bucket and I have a couple of questions. What are the dimensions, are the buckets specific to the pattern and where do you get them?

The bucket size is now in the Material List on the back of the pattern.  It is a 5 quart paint bucket, 8.5 diameter x 6.5 inches high.  The best place to buy them is at a hardware store or in the paint department at WalMart. The old ice cream buckets worked fine, but most have been replaced by a taller, thinner model.  Hmmm..... That just doesn't sound right!  :)

Happy sewing, Georgia

Renewed Inspiration

Enjoying a family vacation skiing in Reno/Tahoe.  Enjoying being with my family while they ski, that is.  I had a lot of free time today at the lodge to review online workshops, tutorials and ebooks on my laptop.  I just signed up for Linda Matthews' Creative Explorer and will begin in earnest when I get back home. 
I bought Laura Wasilowski's new book, Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts, for the trip.  I love the design of the patterns. Hand embroidery is great for times when I'm not near my computer for my machines, but that time is rare.
I've been listening to some of the business experts on making better use of our limited time.  I plan to look for a accountant when I get home to handle my books. I've lined up a person at Hancock's to do my pattern testing.  Those things tend to bog me down.
Wishing you happy sewing days!
Georgia

Connecting Thread SAQA Regional Exhibit Report by Martha Ginn

Connecting Threads SAQA Regional Exhibit    by Martha Ginn

Martha Ginn wrote the following report.  My entry pictured at right is Butterfly 17" x 17".

 I just returned from Little Rock, AR, where I attended the opening reception of "Connecting Threads," a Studio Art Quilt Associates regional exhibit of Contemporary Art Quilts at the Butler Center Galleries of the Arkansas Studies Institute. SAQA regional reps Deb Kuster and Michelle Jones had done a great job of arranging and hosting our first exhibit for the LA/MS/AR/AL region.

The exhibit was curated by fiber artist Amie Adelman, associate professor of fibers, College of Visual Arts and Design, University of North Texas in Denton. Amie attended the opening and the following day presented a program of her works and also discussed and critiqued each work in the exhibit.


In the Beginning, 44" x 36" (left) Pacific Coast, 15" x 18" (right)

Amie Adelman and Martha Ginn

The exhibit will run through April 28 and includes 23 quilts from 15 artists in the region: Barbara Carlson, Darlene Garstecki, Michelle Jones, Deborah Kuster, Georgia Lewis, Judy Tipton Rush, Margie Trembley, and Ruth Anne Yax from Arkansas; Donna Leigh Jackins, Murray Johnston, and Dorothy West from Alabama; and Martha Ginn, Sheri Marshall, Sarah Scott, and Marcus Weekley from Mississippi.

Pocket Purse from 6 inch Practice Quilting Block

Do you have many practice quilt sandwiches just lying around?  Well,  I had practiced some designs with gold thread on leftover drapery lining laundered several times to remove the soil-resistant finish.   The gold thread, used on top and bottom, really looked great. Needing to make another sample Pocket Purse,  I hand dyed the fabric.  The batting shrunk, giving the fabric a great texture. 

With the quilted fabric, I was able to leave out the lining, so it only took about 30 minutes to make the Pocket Purse.  To dress it up, I used a gold paint stick in the center of each design.  Then I rubbed some leftover flecks on the zipper.  I took an 1/8" strip of  the dyed sandwich and zigzag stitched over it with the gold thread to make a matching cording and added large-eyed beads.  In less than an hour, I had a great looking Pocket Purse and had used up some of my supplies.  A win-win!

Finishing the bottom of the Jitter Bucket

Q. MM:

I have your buckets gone wild pattern for the jitter bucket.  I am going to make them for my granddaughter.  How is the outside bottom of the bucket finished.  ( the part that the bucket sits on).

A.   
At the very end of the printed instructions there is a paragraph in italics that tells how to cover the bottom. If it is not on your pattern, please let me know and I will send it to you. Also the attached site may be helpful.


See the YouTube tutorial at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QIh9qtYpNY

  

New Marker from Marilyn

Marilyn Swartout asked for suggestions on marking pencils for the MB pleats.  I told her my suggestions for chalk markers, mechanical pencils, and soap slivers, but she had a better one.  She said, "Also, when marking I grabbed a charcoal pencil that I use for painting. It worked wonderfully - seemed to show up on light or dark fabric and wiped right off. This is what is written on the pencil "Generals Pastel Chalk 4474 Dk. Grey."  Gotta try it!