Although I had a great time exploring stencils in April’s class yesterday, I missed using my own imagery. Flowers and insects are great, but I missed hamsas and pomegranates. So I decided to make some of my own. Here are some of my new stencils. Most are make of plastic, but the white ones are freezer paper. I’m going to another stencil class with April Sproule on Monday. I’m going to try out these stencils there. I don’t know if the freezer paper will work. It might be good for a single use.
I had a fun time today, taking a stenciling workshop with April Sproule. Although this isn’t my usual cup of tea, it was interesting to play with her shapes and colors. The bugs and the leaves were my favorites. With my new volunteer position in EBHQ as the workshop assistant, I will be taking a free workshop once or twice a month.
Here are some of my tee shirts with stencils on them. I really like the bug on the sleeve detail.
I sewed a straight stitch on both sides of each vine! Although labor intensive, this is quicker than the zigzagging I used to do on each edge.
Here is a detail:
I’m not usually a fan of fussy cutting, but sometimes it’s what you need to do. I decided I wanted four squares with this ball/flower in the middle. Now I remember why I don’t like fussy cutting! There’s too much wasted fabric.
On the right are the squares. All the fabric on the left is not usable for this block. Of course I won’t throw anything away. I’ll save it for another project.
I’m making a block for a friend. It’s a liberated or wonky star.
Here it is, done!
I’m teaching a class on “Wonky Stars” at Hello Stitch on October 8 from noon to 4 PM. click here for the registration link. This class is good for beginners as well as more advanced quilters. It’s a simple stitch and flip technique. If you don’t know what that means then this is the perfect clas for you.
Here’s another quilt with this technique.
I’m back to making postcards for EBHQ to sell at the next Voices in Cloth quilt show. This one has Laurel Burch cats, and a sun made by machine stitching. Instead of zigzagging around the appliqué as I usually do, I just did a line of straight machine stitching on the outside edge of each piece.
There are a lot of interesting fabrics in these pot holders. Double click on this image to see all the great details.
My younger daughter just left for her freshman year of college and her first apartment! I offered to make her something, and she asked for pot holders. (I made her a quilt for her bed several years ago). She requested black and white fabric with one additional color on each. Above are the finished pot holders, and below are in progress photos.
The skeleton fabric is on the back. My daughter loves drawing skeletons, so that’s why I used this fabric. Most of the fabric on the front of the pot holders was also chosen because it’s something she likes: shoes, Dr Seuss, chickens, dragons, recipes, tea, etc.
Traveler’s Mizrach 2013
Sacred Threads Quilt Show opened July 7 in Herndon Virginia, near Washington DC. I will be visiting my quilt, Traveler’s Mizrach there soon! Click here for more info SacredThreads. The show will be up until July 23. Sacred Threads is a show of quilts with spiritual or religious subject matter.
This is from the Sacred Threads website:
‘The show does not emphasize any particular religion or theology but conveys the spirituality, healing and inspirational messages that transcend all people.
For the exhibit, quilts are divided into categories based on theme. These are Expressions of Joy, Spirituality, Inspiration, Grief, Healing and Peace/Brotherhood. The artwork themes provide thought-provoking insights, encouragement, inspiration and healing responses to grief and human hardships. It has attracted a wide array of visitors and has proved appropriate for all ages from young teens to seniors. The exhibit is a positive influence on the human spirit, giving joy as well as addressing concerns of the soul and mind.’
I honestly don’t remember which category I said my quilt fit into.
Here is the hamsa I’m working on. I wanted to see how small I could cut the fabric with an Xacto knife. I think this is the smallest I can cut. It was rather frustrating to work on. However it looks just like some of my paper-cuts out of paper. When finished it will be 12″ X 12″. I plan to sew a straight stitch along every edge. Luckily I have another week to do it as my 12 x 12 group is meeting a week later than usual because of July 4th.
I’m teaching my class Exploring the Hamsa again on July 23 in Berkeley from 10 AM – 1 PM. It will be at the new quilting studio, Hello Stitch. Here is a link to get you to the sign up page https://www.hellostitchstudio.com/product-page/exploring-the-hamsa. Here is what I wrote about the class there:
A hamsa is a stylized hand for protection against the “evil eye,” frequently worn as jewelry. Found throughout the Middle East, hamsas are traditionally made by both Jews and Muslims, but predate both religions. Come learn about the folklore of hamsas, as we make them out of paper or fabric. The basics of paper-cutting, a traditional Jewish folk art, will also be taught. The class will also cover techniques to make intricate fabric appliqués with that can be ironed onto a backing.
No artistic talent or sewing is required to make stunning hamsa designs. The finished paper-cut hamsa can be framed to hang on the wall and a fabric hamsa can be a wall hanging or become part of a quilt.
This class is open to adults and children age 10 and up may participate as long as they are accompanied by an adult who is also in the class. Students will be working with exacto knives in the class.
Hello Stitch Studio
1708 University Ave.
Berkeley , CA 94703
510-982-6549
Please sign up! It will be a lot of fun, with useful information.
