My New Years Resolution---- fading already

Resolution one is that I will not sew gifts, especially Christmas gifts for anyone on my list next year. Well that is I will not after January when I should be finished with the last seven gifts.

Resolution two is to finish what I started. Oh, the baby's wall quilt will probably not be finished by January's end. So does this give me a reprieve from resolution one. Does this include all the quilts I've already started that are in various stages around my sewing room, or all the ideas sketches and computer mock-up. I have a few quilts going back at least 10 years.

Resolution three is to just create each and art every day. (This really should be resolution one.) Well art every day unless I'm still finishing gifts and old UFO. (unfinished objects) Oh and if I'm not home or we get in way too late. Then I also will not get to create much on designated laundry day. Oh and I must try to get some of the housework done. Does it count as art if I leave the dust and just draw pictures in it?

My main resolution is to put family first. I guess this means I have to come out of my studio to prepare dinner or at least heat up the leftover pasta from the earlier in the week. I guess that also means I have to fold and iron the laundry that I might have gotten done. And then their are friends who are like family that I might need a special gift for, so I guess I will have to make gifts for them. But then, if I make gifts only for friends would that mean I don't think family is as important. And if that is so, then why is this my main resolution?

I could sit in a quandary all day debating this and then where did my art time go. And yes before I start creating art i have to clean out and organize my studio again. By the way has anyone seen my 4' X 7' table. It might be what's peeking out from the ever-growing mound of fabric scraps. Speaking of scraps, be sure to save yours for me. I will be using them to create fiber art pieces. To get started I have to clean and organize all the scraps I already have. I think that table mound looks like a potential avalanche. Hope not because I can barely see the floor now. I must find a small area to create art every day or at least finish those gifts ........

Happy 2012 Everyone!

Last post of ornaments

Here are just a few more. David made the choir -which is my personal favorite.

This is just part of the aftermath! Now I must start cleaning up.

More ornaments -No two alike

So we still have plenty of ornaments. No two are alike.

Mine - a first home ornament with ladybug

Jessica and David - by Jessica

Our first home -Jessica

David's Ribbon Ornament

More of David's Ribbon Ornaments

David's Reindeer

Jessica's heart

David's tree

Jessica's shooting star

More ornaments

Here are a few more ornaments.

Mittens by Jessica

David's Sled

Another by David

Jessica's Heart

Jessica's gingerbread girl

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

We decided to make all homemade ornaments this year for our tree. My Son and Daughter-in-law have been working hard. Our living room is now a complete disaster area.
Here are some pictures of our ornaments.

more Dye results - fire bush

More dye results. The fire bush leaves from a friend's fire bush came out a beautiful shade of pink. the results from the leaves from my bush came out mush lighter. I used the same process for both, even had more leaves in my batch. Here are pictures of the results. Picture one shows results on a cotton shirt and cheese cloth. The second one shows the results on , cotton shirt, linen, and cheese cloth.

Eco Dyeing - Maple leaves

Here are some results from the maple leaves.

Maple leaves on linen

Maple leaves with alum mordant on cotton

Maple leaf water in iron rust pot.

Linen fabric in rust pot

Dye Results -sumac

Here are some pictures of the sumac dye results. I love the color. I used Kona white cotton, cotton duck, and cheese cloth.

Strange Little Helper - and oops!

I had a strange little helper this morning while taking the fabric out of my dye jars. I cut up paper scraps to label the fabric and the mordant and leaves used. Litte Bella got up on the counter and kept steeling my paper scraps. Yesterday she kept stealing pencils and quite a chase ensued trying to get them back.

Bella is 4 month old chinchilla. She is very friendly and inquisitive. I let her have run of the kitchen on the morning while I work in there. I was afraid she might upset something so I put her in her cage. Good thing I did, I am such a klutz. I knocked my jar of sumac dye off the counter and it shattered. It had to be the one with ammonia for the mordant. Glass has gone everywhere.

Raccoons return

The raccoons have returned. In my studio I can hear them scratching in the chimney and fighting. Now they had the audacity to did up fabric bundles I had buried for compost dyeing and toss them over the garden fence. Well at least they didn't tear them up. I will have to rewet and rebury them later today.

Baby Quilt Wallhanging

This is one of my WIP's. The background for my quilt in progress is made of scrap yellows sewn together and then cut in to squares and rectangles. These were sewn together in log cabin style, trimmed and sewn to other blocks.

This is a picture of the flower and girl that will be appliqued to the quilt and then embellished.

Up all night ...quilt lock in

Just getting home from our quilt lock in. Yesterday morning was gentle and sunny, this morning a really thick ice had to be scraped from the window before driving home. I Spent the day working on UFO's with the other Sassy Stitchers. We teamed up with the night quilters for an all night lock in. We have great fun and get a lot accomplished. I began quilting the quilts I've made to cover the windows, added 10" to my granddaughter's quilt and thread painted the hair. I made one purse as a Christmas present and a large microwave bowl holder.
Am falling asleep at the keyboard, Good Morning and good night.

Fall leaves - eco dyeing

I am currently allowing several jars of leaves to batch on my porch. Monday will make 2 weeks. I plan on straining the liquid and preparing the fabric for dyeing then. Here are a few preparation pictures. I used japanese red maple (these had not turned all the way), sugar maple, various oak leaves, as well as sumac leave and berries.

Rose Dye

2 weeks ago I made fabric dye from red knock out roses. I stuffed a jar full of rose petals and hips. I poured boiling water over this and let steep overnight.

Next i strained the liquid and returned to jar with fabric. The petals were added to another jar along with a mixture of stars and stripes petals from the freezer. More hot water was added and allowed to sit overnight. I strained and added a few frozen petals wrapped in cloth. Both jars were set on the porch to batch.

The end result was a lovely shade of pink for dye 1. The second looked better before being washed and dried.

Michigoose's gander at quilts & life: Halloween Power Suits

Michigoose's gander at quilts & life: Halloween Power Suits

Happy Haunting

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Trumpet Flowers

A beautiful day before the cold weather.