scribbling on my playground...

my magic cloth has become a kind of playground. when i get tired of playing in one area, i move on to another. trying to reveal the inner layers of things, the essence. peeling away the layers, one at a time.

invisible to the naked eye but there just the same

a hidden web and some scribbling with the magic thread

a split personality or the beauty within???

just the beginning of embellishment. more soon.

the silky inside...

a couple of people asked to see the inside of my kindle fire pouch so here it is...

hand dyed silk with oak leaves and acorns (I think)

and here it is with the kindle showing I've received mail

It was quite easy to learn how to use this device with the manual I downloaded. Still having a little problem with the sound but hopefully I'll work it out. I like that I can download documents from my computer and read them when I'm away from home. Don't need the wi-fi for that. So far, I'm happy with my new toy.

Hope all those in the USA are having a great thanksgiving with family and friends.

waiting...

for FedEx to ring my bell and deliver my Kindle Fire. I just finished the case for it about an hour ago. It measures 7" x 6".

patches of silk from Gerdiary, grandmother's thread, shell beads and buttons and lined with my hand dyed silk

back

Making black and white hexagons for my magic cloth while waiting...

"I want to make this world good..."

says Isabel Allende in this TED video where she tells Tales of Passion. I first saw this on Rayela's Fiber Focus blog. Allende's words are funny, inspiring and passionate. I know you will enjoy it.

a free stitching challenge ...

Sharon B of Pintangle is doing a re-run of her Take a Stitch Tuesday challenge. If you are interested in learning some new embroidery stitches or brushing up on some old ones, this is a great opportunity and it is free. It starts after the first of the year and you can read about it here. I just signed up. Hope you'll join in.

I am patiently waiting for my new Kindle Fire. I should have received it already. Looks like it's coming via a slow boat through China. But it's ok because it's giving me time to make a nice soft holder for it using some plush cloth I used in the past for making teddy bears, some of Heike's beautiful dyed silk and my grandmother's old thread (wish I had more of this).

stitch scribble...

a grid

and patchwork with a scribble stitch

and I've gone from double knitting hexapufs to little pouches. love being able to knit the front and back at the same time. this pouch is 2" square.

meditative stitching...

taking it a bit further

lots of little stitches making 2 cloths into 1

and back to scrim

it works better with cheesecloth...

more beasts...a new way of drawing.

wish it was this easy with a pencil

all stitched down. now for embellishment.

I think I need to dye some cheesecloth.

the inner beast...

the WINNER and my first hexapuf...

CONGRATULATIONS TO HENRIETTA

 I have sent Henrietta an e-mail notifying her of her win and requesting her address.
 I hope you will enjoy these Henrietta.

Some of us around the globe have been taken with the beekeeper's quilt. I couldn't wait to get started. It took me 3 tries to get it right but here is the first one with some embroidery added. I don't plan on making a quilt but maybe a small purse or pillow. Watch the video. You might like to try it. The front and back of the hexagon are knitted at the same time, add a little stuffing and close it up.

missing 25 of these beads...

I'm working on a bobbin lace collar and decided to count to make sure I had enough of the beads I chose to use. I am short by 25 beads. I bought 4 vials of beads locally quite a while ago and pulled out all of the matte finished amber ones. Have gone back to all the local shops and they are not sold anymore. I also checked online but that company doesn't seem to exist anymore.
So......I'm hoping that someone out there in blogland has 25 of these beads they are willing to part with. I'd be happy to give you some beads in exchange.

amber matte finish beads

this is the vial and the loose beads on the side are what I'm after.

Thanks so much for looking. If I don't find the same ones, I'm planning on mixing 25 similar ones at the center point of the collar.

another BUTTON GIVEAWAY...

Here's the next giveaway I promised a few days ago. All you need to do to get your name in the hat is to leave a comment. I'd like to know how you will use the buttons if you're the winner, but that's not a requirement for entering. The winner will be randomly picked on Saturday, Nov. 12th.

 

GOOD LUCK...

bundle reveal...

bundled about 2 weeks ago

silk velvet with eucalyptus leaves rolled on a copper pipe and simmered directly in the dye pot

habotai silk in eucalyptus leaves rolled on a copper pipe. top piece was steamed over the dye pot and bottom piece was simmered directly in the dye pot.

Not sure why the leaf impressions did not show up but I'm pretty satisfied with the results.

Working with some cotton pieces right now that are soaking in soy milk. Will be trying red cabbage leaves and beet juice for these pieces.

the Magic Beast Cloth continues...

I've stopped trying to plan the whole cloth. Doing that just makes me put it aside and go on to something else. So I am now just adding sections that inspire me and will try to connect them all with embellishment.

playing with hexagons

and fringe (from Jude)

 I like the idea of extending a design into another section with applique and embroidery.

auditioning some silk (from Jude) to extend the flower into another section

I might be adding some beasts in amongst the hexagons...a kind of playground. maybe just hints of beasts as my drawing skills are not that great.

And just a reminder for those of you who observe Daylight Savings Time, set your clocks back one hour tonight.

and the WINNER is....

and the WINNER is...

Penny from South Australia

 

 

Penny from South Australia is the winner. I will e-mail you, Penny, for mailing information. Hope you will enjoy the brooch and the hand dyed scrim.

I will be having another button giveaway sometime this week, so I hope you will all check back here. If you click on the flickr photostream on the sidebar, you can see all of the buttons I have made in Karen's class.

back to the Magic Cloth...

Now that the button class is over, I'm getting back to some things that have been neglected. I added a couple of new sections to the Magic Cloth.

2 small new sections added to the Magic Cloth.

I have 3 bundles that are almost ready to be revealed. I think I will wait a few more days.

silk velvet, silk linen and silk habotai with eucalyptus leaves around copper pipe

...nice reflection from light through a glass jar...

AND don't forget about the giveaway...HERE. Just leave a comment on the previous post. Winner will be randomly selected on Nov. 5th.

the last of the buttons and a GIVEAWAY...

The button class is over and I loved every minute of it. I know I will be using some of what I've learned on lots of future projects. Here are some images of what I've made since my last post. Click on the images for a close-up view.

an old quilted jacket decorated with toggle buttons and a dorset button embellishment

close-up of the toggle buttons

front and back view of the embellishment

dorset button earring made from a ring ½" in diameter. there will be a second earring.

ball button

brooch made from a 1 ½" brass ring

 And I've decided to do a couple of GIVEAWAYS of the buttons/brooches I've been making.  The first one will be a brooch and some hand dyed scrim.

the brooch measures 1 ½" in diameter and has a pinback. The scrim (not pictured here) will be of the same color.

 You just need to leave a comment to enter and the winner will be chosen, by random selection, on November 5th.
I think that if you are the winner and see some of these up close, you will want to sign up for one of Karen's classes. She will be offering more classes after the first of the year.