Jounal Quilt Entry

Got in my studio today but don't say hurrah for me just yet. Spent most of the day doing paperwork that had been neglected for the last few weeks. I am all caught up now, but just with the paperwork mind you....not with the computer work, so a small hurrah would be appropriate (smile).

In the next few days I will also have to get to work on updating my website and.........reveal my little secret thing I've been working on. Stay tuned for that.

Here's a pic of my entry for the Houston Journal quilt challenge. I can show you it because I ran into a frustrating problem and therefore didn't get it finished before the deadline.

I painted the whole piece but because I painted a few layers over one section it didn't take to being machine quilted well. I would have to say it protested strongly and must have thought it looked quite good just painted.

Here is the traitor and I've made sure to point out the culprit in the pic above. I was quilting it to resemble a gust of wind (you know...the AIR element silly) coming in from one direction. You can see the first swirl I created. They're some big a _ _ needle holes aren't they?

Thing is I really liked this piece too. This would have been my first juried competition too (pouting lips here).

Oh well.........on to other things.


See ya next time "In the Hayloft",

New Artwork

I was priviledged to take a workshop with Lyric Kinard this past Saturday. We worked on a surface design sampler of techniques including carving stamps, screen printing and beading.

Thanks to a fun time and a great instructor, today I actually finished the project from a workshop for the first time. Yippee!

The technique sampler is a great way to to learn a few things without taking an intense workshop on one technique you're not sure you will use again.

For instance I am so into carving stamps these days and learned some great tips from Lyric AND I've discovered I love, love, love screen printing.

So much so that I'm now trying to find a thermofax machine (old fashioned mimeograph) that someone has hidden somewhere just collecting dust so I can make my own screens.

If you know where I can get one on the cheap, let me know PLEASE. Until then I'll have to send out to Lyric to get them made.

I really like the finished journal. I'm thinking Christmas gifts this year.


journal spine

back cover

stamped/foiled word

inside cover

See ya next time "In the Hayloft",

Field Trip!

Today I went with my FAB friends to the shop Random Arts in Saluda, NC.

OMG!!!!!!

If you are into any sort of mixed media or want to expand your quilting to the next heights you must visit this tiny gem of a shop. We spent 2 1/2 hours looking over every inch of the shop, gathering things and then finding a little something else in another corner that had to be added to the pile.

We were exhausted! ...and very hungry.

Jane (RA's owner) and Joyce coddled us and spirited us in every different direction. They answered all our questions about any items we needed explanations on, then noticed us wilting. Joyce shoo'd us out the door, with a solemn promise to kept our little piles of gathered items safe, and sent us immediately to a wonderful little cafe down the street, The Purple Onion.

Off we went to enjoy a wonderfully nutritious lunch with Aaron, our tall, cute waitstaff.

Fully satiated we returned to find our piles of items all ready for purchase. I must say...I did not win the largest purchase award today, that title so rightly belongs to DeLane. Whew!!!

Jane has papers and books and ribbons and inking supplies and found objects and tiny letters and charms and rubber stamps and magazines and workshops and........I'm exhausted just thinking about everything again. Instead just head on over to Random Arts, a fantastic little shop hidden in the mountains of western North Carolina and tell Jane Grace sent you!


See ya next time "In the Hayloft",