Art in unexpected places

I love to travel, one of the very unexpected bonuses is finding something wonderful in a very un-expected place, in this case , the San Francisco Airport!

Television: TV in the Antenna Age

“ TV will never be a serious competitor for radio because people must sit and keep their eyes glued on the screen; the average American family hasn't time for it.”

Author unknown, The New York Times, 1939

Skeptics abounded when the television was introduced at world's fairs held in New York and on San Francisco's Treasure Island in 1939. Despite how magical that box with the moving pictures must have appeared to

those lucky visitors who viewed demonstration models, few could imagine television competing with radio's far-reaching networks and larger-than-life performers, or that many of those stars would make the successful transition to the new medium. Within a matter of decades, proceeding generations found it difficult to imagine life before television.

I am thankful for many things

Guest Artist - Judy Stokes

Melody,

I'm sending you a picture of my finished top. I took the suggestions from the class and extended the shoe-fly blocks into the border. I am very pleased with the results. I look at finishing my quilts in a different light since Houston.

Thanks for your input,

Judy Stokes

Columbus, MS

Santa Rosa Quilt Guild

We made Eye Candies!







My visit to the Santa Rosa Quilt Guild included a delightful visit to the ST. Francis Winery & Vineyards for a wine & food tasting. The Executive Chef, David Bush, offers three delicious and distinctively unique wine and food tasting experiences. Many thanks to Janice and Diana for a delightful visit.

Santa Rosa Quilt Guild

I'll be at the Santa Rosa Quilt Guild giving my lecture -
A Fine Line: Creating the Quilting Design November 17 at 10:15

The workshop Eye Candy Quilts on November 18. Contact the guild if you want to play!

Houston - Guest Artists

Houston - Guest Artists

Houston - Guest Artists

Block Party Quilt Show - This Weekend!

Location: Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd. South, Issaquah, WA 98027

Date: November 11 – 13, 2011 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)

Hours: Friday and Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday: 10am-4pm

Cost: $5

Featured Artist: Colleen Wise

Theme: Color Expressions

Show Features: Over 200 quilts, Tea Room, “Own Your Own” Quilt Sales, Boutique, Kids’ Korner, Demos, Door Prizes, Challenge Quilt Exhibit

A Few of My Favorite Things, once more

"Fast Finish" Triangles - This is a great way to quickly and easily provide a fake sleeve to hang a small quilt on a single nail. Before sewing the binding, fold two squares of fabric in half diagonally, press. On the back, place them over the two top corners, all raw edges together. Sew the binding. Simply insert a pencil, small dowel, or chop stick under the triangles and balance the quilt on a nail.





Ever rub crayons on fabric? I can be a time consuming project. Try warming the fabric first with an iron, then applying the crayon. Works like a charm!

Is the eye of the needle getting smaller every year? Try the Clover needle threader. Just like having younger eyes, well almost! (They now come in pretty colors).

A Few of My Favorite Things, continued

Tie a bow that looks good every time by following these simple steps: Take a piece of ribbon and form two loops. Holding a loop in each hand (they look like bunny ears at this point), tie a single knot. Instead of trying to stick out at odd angles, your tails will both be pointed down.




Through trial and error and the occasional ‘beads dumped onto the carpet’ fiasco, I have learned that a neat way to hold your beads is in a six-inch embroidery hoop, lined with fabric and turned upside down. Thus safely corralled, the beads don’t jump around because there is no static charge to get them going. It definitely turns what should be a fun and creative process into an exercise in frustration when you have to chase down each and every bead! Another great advantage to this method is, if you happen to work in an upholstered chair or couch, you can pin the hoop directly to the arm, making it pretty close to impossible to knock over. A win-win situation if ever there was one.

I like to make and label using treated fabric in my ink jet printer. These treated-for-printing fabrics are usually white. Since I prefer colored fabrics, I paint on the white with textile paint mixed with 25 percent water and allow them to dry thoroughly before running them through the printer. Don’t worry if your painted fabric looks a bit messy – just let it dry, iron it flat and you are all set to follow the manufacturer’s directions for printing.

A Few of My Favorite Things

The Bottom Line by Superior Threads - This thread has a shiny appearance and is virtually lint free. It can be thin and lightweight, yet strong. Due to its smooth surface, it works well with metallic threads and heavy cotton threads. The smoothness of the filament poly thread does not snag or grab the top thread. If you've had trouble using metallics or heavy cotton threads, smooth bobbin thread may solve some problems.

Why is starch is my friend? Need to tame bias edges? Looking for the easiest stabilizer for stitching or just because you like to work with washed fabric with some stiffness. I prefer to use concentrated liquid starch, purchased at a big box store. A heavy solution of 50% water to 50% starch. Spraying the starch to warm fabric, makes the fabric firm faster. Need more body? Dip the fabric in straight starch and place in the dryer. Maximum stiffness? Dip fabric in straight starch and hang to dry!