Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Dark Sky Compliant: Another Art Quilt



"Dark Sky Compliant"


So, you ask, "What is that?" I'd never heard the term before I saw a notice asking everyone in Sanibel, Florida to modify all their outdoor lighting. In a nutshell, it means reducing light pollution while allowing the stars and moon to be more visible to people, but more importantly, the wildlife that biologically depend on it. Sea turtles nest on the beaches there. The loggerheads depend on the moonlight to lay their eggs, and the hatchlings to find their way back to their ocean home. Reducing artificial light gives them all a better chance at birth survival.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Island Management: An Art Quilt


Island Management


If I tell you I've been neglecting everyone and everything for a few days, would you forgive me? I'm sorry if I owe you an email or reply. Soon, I promise. There's a story with a not-so-happy ending, too, if you want to read on, and I'm the only one to blame. Ready?

Friday, May 20, 2016

Beading and Embellishing the Naked Ladies



All day long I thought I could just run inside, and get this post written. All day long, it was one thing after the next, and it turned out very prolific. I spent some time playing on Instagram with @gogokim and #missingmarket. Quilt Market is going on right now, and there are lots of us living vicariously through the feeds from those there. Oh, to be...or not, but it does look glamorous and fun. We're still having our fun together on Instagram. I'm PINKDOXIES. Look me up.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Second Chance Quilts



 Quilters Are Passionate About Scraps!

There are dozens of ways to say this. You've all spoken from your hearts. 

When I last presented my dilemma with the awful term scrap vomit, and how much I disliked it, I asked for ideas to give these delicious quilts a better name. You all came through. What a list!

Monday, May 16, 2016

Pink Doxies' Scrappy Quilt


I officially have less of a scrap stash than before, but admittedly could make another of these if not 2. Then there's the bin with the more traditional colors, but that's another story. I needed a finish yesterday--not to post, but for inner satisfaction. I needed to hear the purr of my machine, and I needed some time alone. My husband calls my studio, "Your Happy Place." I spent most of the day there feeding strips through my vintage Pfaff, and was perfectly content.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Guest Blogging at Confessions of a Fabric Addict Today




Today I'm taking a break here, but so pleased to be a guest blogger at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. I struggled for weeks to think of what to write, and when I sat down to actually do it, it seemed to write itself. Funny thing is, it's nothing that I planned. There's a link party there next Sunday for anyone involved in Hands2Help quilt charity, and I encourage you to pop over to check it out. 


In the meantime, I'll be working on the Naked Ladies, and have some dye pots going, too. I might even get to do some project sewing. I miss the purr of my sewing machine. It's too wet and cold out to work, so we're holed up inside with each other. I rather enjoy the company, and the break from the garden and lawn. 

I hope you have something fun to work on today. If you're working to finish your quilt for Hands2Help, I'll be sending you good thoughts. 

Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's cuddle while I sew.
Shh, Lucy. You're snoring!

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Fabric Printing, Stamping, Dyeing, Painting, and Putting It All Together



Some days I sit down to write, and wonder where in the world to start. You and I both may well admit that I I work in a widely scattered pattern. It may appear that there is nothing linear in my thought process, but I swear there is. Imagine all the puzzle pieces out on the dining room table. I've finally found a few that fit together nicely.

PRINTING

I am a type junkie. I love the printing word, or just single letters or numbers, but maybe numbers most of all. I found some perfect balsa wood numbers in the scrap booking section, and turned them into stamps by painting them first, and then attaching wooden clothespins to them. (Why clothespins? Seriously, they were within reach, and I could hot glue them on.)

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

An Update On the Naked Ladies


Spring is harder on my quilting hours than the holidays. As fast as it rains, the grass grows, and so do the weeds. I have to sneak time to work on my projects, and there have been days at a time I didn't get anything done at all. Add to it a little planned getaway last week, and I felt pushed and stressed.

Friday, May 6, 2016

How Instagram Saved My Design



The Process Is the Prize


You may not believe the above statement, but I do. I find more joy in working out problems than finishing the project. That doesn't--or shouldn't occur if using a published pattern, so I choose to go the organic route, and create my own. 

This started as an experiment in improv block making, and merged with another design I'd made a few months back. It's dominated my design wall for weeks, and I pushed myself this week to finish all the improv blocks. When it came to the setting triangles at the sides, I decided more improv blocks would muddy it up. It was back to the stash to find a fabric that would work, and once again the Moda Grunge won with it's unique texture. There was just one problem.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

#BraveQuilter Winner for April & May Linky OPEN



Welcome back to the #BraveQuilter link party!

Although anyone is welcome to link up, four bloggers completed the challenge for April, linking up at both the beginning and end of the month. I had my husband draw lots, and he came up with #3. That means Jennifer at 
The Inquiring Quilter is the #BraveQuilter winner for April! She will receive a custom dyed bundle of fabric from me in the next few weeks. Congratulations, Jennifer! Cheers to everyone who joined the challenge.

And now it's time to open the May linky!

Monday, May 2, 2016

#BraveQuilter Wrap Up Linky for April



Do not panic! It's here.
I didn't forget, but life got in the way this weekend.
Now back to the agenda.

This ending link up will be open May 2-4, 
and the #BraveQuilter for April runs
April 5-11.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Bee Hive Blocks & My Month Arrives




Tic Tac Toe Block


April's block was the Tic Tac Toe, and the Queen Bee requested an orange center with blue or turquoise corners. I think this is going to make a beautiful quilt from the pictures I've seen so far. 

Friday, April 29, 2016

Mandalas Created with Ice Dyeing



These four mandalas were created using a new technique for me: Ice dyeing. After reading all I could find, and watching several clips from You Tube, I gave it a try. 

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Dyeing a Mandala



Experimental Dyeing Process: Mandala #1


I spent several months working with both vat dyeing, and low immersion dyeing. I played with wax/paraffin, soy wax, and glue resists. I stitched shibori. But up to this point, I never did good old tie dye as most of us grew up with. It was time.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Improv Art Quilt Progress



I thought I should show you some progress after a design wall stall. I jumped ship on this project to work on the Naked Ladies quilt, but I'm back. 


This particular project has taken a lot of my time just standing and staring. Rarely have I ever made anything like this, and it has taken a while to adjust to. First was the color, width, and variety of the strips. 

Friday, April 22, 2016

Three Naked Ladies Blooming In the Moonlight


Three Naked Ladies


In my early years as a gardener, I was a plant hound. If I knew a house was to be torn down, I would ask to go in first, and dig out all the useful plants I could haul. Sometime in my scavenging I brought home some tag-a-longs. Several belladonna lily bulbs were planted along with daffodils, and it wasn't until nearly a year later when most of summer blooms were over that they magically popped up at the edge of the woods. Beautiful, pale pink flowers on leafless stems, hence the name, Naked Ladies!

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Original Project Using "Soft & Cozy Keepsakes: Faux Rag Quilting" Technique



My original project made using Margo Yang's 
faux rag quilting technique from her new book--


Monday, April 18, 2016

Best New Quilting Book and Favorite Fabrics




The best way to choose variegated thread 
is to unroll a bit across your fabric. 

Is the color change subtle or sudden? 
These Sulkys are gorgeous on Schott cottons! 


Today's title should have hooked you: books and fabric. Isn't that like chocolate and peanut butter? But maybe you don't like chocolate? So it is with suggesting any book or fabric. This is my taste, and what works for me at this moment.



Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Taste the Colors!



Spontaneous Kisses

For lack of a better name, let me use that today. Hopefully you'll see where it's going as the piece progresses. 

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Dyeing Techniques: Shibori


Shibori Techniques


This was one weekend I was grateful for poor weather. Having an excuse to not go out meant I could play for hours on end, and so I did. I've been planning to try out some dyeing techniques from a new book, Shibori by Janice Gunner, and this was perfect timing.