Quilter's Blog Christmas Contest

I have entered the weekly quilting contest at Quilting Gallery! I chose my Catch A Christmas Star as my quilt, so go on over and vote for your favorite quilt. You can vote from Friday until Sunday at 11:59pm!
Click here to link to the website and caste your vote!

country snowman stockings

Here are some pictures of the snowmen stockings I was asked to make this week.

Luna moth

My latest work has been to thread paint a luna moth.  for the book journal back ground I used some of my walnut dyed fabric with some additional brown ink.  Then I lay a piece of fusible on it stitched it in all directions.  Next I held an iron over it and it shrink up wit gathers.  I used thread painting and re-purposed denim for the rest.

I also made a Christmas journal and several color pencil holders.

reverse side

Humming Bird & Leaves

Last week I worked on thread painting a humming bird.    I just put the feed-dogs down and stitch with the open toe embroidery foot.  It is a lot like coloring with pencil except you use a needle and thread. Here is a picture of the Humming bird journal I made for a friend.

I enjoyed it so much I decided to thread paint the autumn leaves I have found. Here are the first ones I did to day for a wall hanging.  I have about 8 left to sew.  I am using invisible thread for the bobbin so i don't have to change it every time i switch colors. 

A change of venue

I've gotten my pen and inks out and am taking a class.  Forgot how much I likes doing this; it is so relaxing.  I finished my inking, I pick up my brushes today. still waiting on the paints to arrive.  Here's a peek at the ink drawing.

Pounding leaves for color

Here are a few pieces of fabric I pounded with a hammer and fall leaves inside. 

Leaf Dyeing -part 3

The darker cloth in this set had been previously rust dyed on chicken wire with results much to faint.  The rust reacted with the tannin in the leaves and gave a nice purplish color.

 Before washing

 After Washing and ironing

 

Waiting to dry and annoying my family!

a few more ironed cloth pieces

Leaf Dyeing Part 2

Okay, so here is a picture of the leaf wraps after being boiled and let to set for a week.

 

Opening the leaf packages:  maple leaves w/ 1 oak

Sycamore leaves:

                              Washed and ironed -- lost the 1st cloth somewhere