Houston Quilt Show 2010

I have uploaded my pictures from my trip to Houston starting with boarding the bus, a view of the city streets, the convention center, a view of the show from up above and then some of the individual quilts followed by the artists name and their explanation of their process. I tried to photograph a variety of the different types of quilts, that is, traditional as well as art quilts. I apologize for the blurry ones but I thought they were still good enough to view.

Click http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=221287824310%3A433655270&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee to view the photos. Please let me know if you have any problems as I've never done it this way before. Enjoy.

Visual Overload

I spent 2 days at the Houston Quilt Show and had a great time. I literally walked around for 7 hours each day. I think I did see most everything. On Thursday, I concentrated on the vendors so that I could put all my purchases in my suitcase and be free to walk around on Friday to see all the amazing quilt displays. It was a 2 day bus trip and we didn't have access to our luggage or the motel except for Thursday night. I've been to the Houston show several times but continue to be amazed at the enormity of the whole thing. I went with a list of what I wanted to buy and found everything I wanted and more, of course.

Listened to several of the teachers demonstrating different techniques at 'Meet the Teachers' and took lots of notes. I will share all that info as I test it out. So many new ideas brewing. I can hardly wait to get started.

I did take lots of photos of the quilts but haven't finished editing them. Will try to link to the picture album so you can view them in a day or so.

In the meantime, here are a couple of collages of all my purchases. I took lots of business cards to view, online, some of the things I loved but did not purchase (I do have a limit). I saw a couple of very interesting wooden looms and will link to the websites as soon as I find them. One of the looms simply had a long, narrow spring tacked across the edge to hold the warp threads. So simple to make. Click on the images for a closer view.

all the business cards, crochet thread, bobbin holders,
basket made in Ghana, 60 yds silk ends,
 indigo and silk packs from Glennis, stencils



shot cottons, silks, velvets, wool, raw cotton from Ghana,
japanese kimono bits, bombyx silk for felting, indigo fabric,
variegated silk embroidery thread, dyed scrim



Memories of Grandma...

I have lots of things around my house that were made by my grandmother (mother's mother). She taught me to crochet, knit, embroider, cook, etc. She didn't read or write english so she designed all her own patterns. I have used lots of the thread and yarn she left behind on shawls, doilies, tatting, etc. I was going through some dresser drawers the other day and came across this little outfit she knitted when I was close to 3 years old. I went through some photo albums to see if I could find pictures of me wearing it and sure enough, I did. I guess my mom couldn't get me to wear the hat. It is in excellent condition and it was suggested to me that I give it to a museum. It was made in 1944. Thought I would share some photos with you. Click on the photo for a close-up view.

grandma knitting, of course

crochet table runner that I framed and hangs over a narrow window

skirt, sweater and hat

pictures of me wearing the outfit
mom is pregnant with my sister in picture

We had fun weaving at quilt bee today...

I've brought so many fabric weavings to quilt bee for show and tell since taking Jude's class, that my bee buddies wanted to learn how to do it. I think they did an excellent job and I think they all enjoyed it. I brought some samples of pieces at different stages of progress for them to look at. I taught them the invisible stitch used to 'glue' the pieces together and some of them even started the backstitch on each of the rows. I'm looking forward to seeing their pieces completed at a future show and tell. It was a fun day. Click on the pictures for close-up views.

my samples at different stages of progress

weavers at work



their works in progress



Old Dried Leaves work really well...

I overdied the silk from last week that I bundled with fresh beet leaves which just stained the fabric but left no leaf impressions.  I used some more of the old dried leaves I had saved from last year---some oak, chinese tallow and a 3 petaled purple leaf that has a pink flower (can't think of the name right now).  I'm pleased with the way it turned out and plan on going out to collect some more leaves today. Looks like the chinese tallow leaves left impressions but the oak leaves just left some good color.

Winter Shawl Finished

I've been working on this shawl on and off for months. Now that's it's finished, I'm hoping we get some cold weather. It's made from 27 rectangular pieces of wool, overlapped and zig-zagged on the machine and the seams were covered with embroidery stitches. I also used labels from old ties, buttons and some ribbon to decorate. I backed it with a soft silky type fabric, blanket stitched the edge and did a crochet border with pearl cotton. It measures 11" x 68". I'm very cold natured and needed something I could pull on and off easily when out in the cold. Click on the photos for a closer view.

This and That

I pulled out some leaves and flowers that were pressed into several books last fall (2009). They still had color so I soaked them in some water with a drop of vinegar. I rolled them into a bundle, steamed them and let them sit for a couple of days. I was amazed at the results.

leaves from the Chinese Tallow tree

flowers from Desert Willow tree

I also made a bundle of fresh beet leaves but only got a beigey stained result. I will probably re-use this piece for another bundle.

fresh beet leaves

I now remember why I don't like using a sketchbook. I change my mind too many times and the center of my moon quilt is now something different from the sketch. However, brainstorming and writing things down did give me some ideas.

beginnings of moon quilt

Jabuticaba Tree

Check out this amazing tree. I have never seen anything like it. A friend just sent me the link with all the infomation and lots more pictures. A beautiful flower as well.  Does anyone have any experience growing this tree?

Brainstorming the Moon Quilt

Haven't used a sketchbook in a long time. I'm trying it again to see if it helps me. I usually store all this information in my head. It makes sense to have it written down to refer back to in the future. Also did a little playing with Photoshop Elements to make it more interesting. Click on photo for a closer view.

tenerrife lace

Hope to do lots of Kantha stitching on this quilt. Was able to get a book through Interlibrary Loan. Wish I could purchase the book but can't find it for a reasonable price. The name of the book is 'The Art of Kantha Embroidery' by Niaz Zaman. If any of you readers have others that you could suggest, it would be appreciated.

Onion Skins and Pokeberries

Glad I experienced dyeing with pokeberries, but never again. what a mess.....the color of the fabric after the bundles were undone was fabulous but after drying, ironing and washing, much of the vibrant color was gone. The onion skins, on the other hand turned out well. I put some vinegar in the water with the onion skins and added the fabric. All that simmered for about an hour and was left in the pot overnight. The silk turned out the best---it always does. Wish I had added some wool, but I forgot. Will definitely do the onion skins again. Here are some photos of before and after.
If anyone has had experience with dyeing with pokeberries, I'd love to hear about it.

Pokeberries, bundles, fabric simmering in onion skins

Before and After washing

Two Nine-Patches Completed

I have completed the 2 nine-patches I was working on and have decided they will be the beginnings of a moon quilt. I love working with the blues and have started accumulating some indigo fabric. One very kind and generous blogging friend even sent me some indigo dyed thread and 2 moon squares. They will definitely be included in this quilt. Here are some photos of the 2 nine-patches and I've included a piece of the brown velvet fabric used in one of the blocks. It was just a scrap that I found at the last Houston quilt show. Hoping to come home with lots of great finds this year as well. Click on photos for close-ups.

surface weaving with silk thread and ribbon

center moon was done with a stencil and a paintstik

cut-outs from brown velvet scrap

Jude's cloth to cloth class was simply fabulous and is highly recommended. She is planning another one so if you are interested, be sure to follow along for more news on her blog.

Surface Weaving

Jude is working on a nine patch piece as a giveaway in the cloth to cloth class. She is posting her progress and I decided to take advantage of this process. I have been working along with her to get a feel of how she progresses through a piece. My version is quite different than hers, of course, but the process is the same. I did some surface weaving on 2 of the patches and I loved that technique. I got that idea from a post that Grace did on her blog.  Click on the photos for a closer look.

surface weaving within a hoop

background 9 patch and weaving all invisible basted to ground fabric

I'm also working on some Teneriffe and Nanduti lace weavings. Hope to post those soon.

More Possibilities Unearthed...

I could not do anything more until I exposed my cutting table that was just covered with all kinds of strips and pieces of fabric. I sorted the strips, somewhat, into a basket for easy access and put the larger pieces back in their containers. While doing that I came across some cording that I thought would make a good weaving to incorporate with some of the pieces I have made in Jude's classes. I also came across some sashiko I have worked on that will also be cut up to use with the blues and reds.

I love finding things that I completely forgot about. I had bought a small square wooden loom about 8 years ago and wove a few pieces. Some were made as gifts but I still have 2 of them that will also find their place in quilts. I plan on reinforcing them with stitch in several places and then cutting them into several pieces. I still have that loom, and I actually know where it is, so I can do some more weavings. I might try using fabric strips this time.

Here are some pictures. You can click on each for a closer view.

weaving with cording on an old hanky with tatted edge

sashiko stitching

woven on a 12" wooden frame loom

The Double Shift

I was so anxious to try this that I did it in record time. I found some luscious knit velour fabric that was stashed away in a basket for who knows how many years. I had started making a Japanese style blouse but never finished (another ufo). All the pieces were cut out and the collar was bound with some beautiful piping along the edge. Pulled out some satiny type purple and lilac fabric and stripped and stitched away.

I do have plans to build on this one to make a larger piece. Maybe it will represent some kind of a 'time warp'. I need to think about this one...

Here are some photos. Your comments, criticisms and ideas are always welcome.

satiny purple and lilac and grey velour knit

initial weaving

double shift

Double Weavings

Jude taught us double weavings this week. You weave with strips that have another strip behind it (face up). After you finish weaving, you start cutting out sections revealing the bottom layers to form a design. Lots of fun but also tricky sometimes. I did the first one without a plan. For my second try, I drew a pattern before I cut. Here are some photos. Hope these inspire you to try it. Click on photos for a closer view.

done without a plan; top layer is reverse of a rose patterned fabric

paper plan for double woven piece

cut outs before stitching

lots of stitching and halo appliques

close-up of stitching around cut outs and halo applique



The Shift and more...

The ideas keep coming from Jude and my other classmates. I've wanted to learn how to do 'the shift' for a long time, ever since I saw it in one of Jude's quilts. I think that's my favorite, so far. Have I said that before??? so many favorites... I was trying to organize all the fabric that is strewn all over the house and came across these bits and pieces of wool and cotton strips, so more experimenting resulted. The fabric has yet to be organized. Click on image for a closer view.

the shift

wool and cotton strips

wool and various cotton strips

The Weavings are Multiplying

The second lesson on weaving with Jude is all about anchoring. I anchored one weaving to a quilt top that was never finished and the other to an old linen doily.

anchored weaving pieces



pieces woven







linen doily with setacolored cloth




I also played with some of the first pieces. I added a moon and stars with oil paintstiks and did a mini overlay weaving. The fun continues.



You can't do just one...

It's hard to stop doing these, especially when you see all the ideas coming from the students in Jude's cloth to cloth workshop. I guess it's time for me to stop and start stitching because I'm running out of pins.

with spaces so background shows through

lace, eco-dyes, scrim, sheers, cotton, linen

hand dyed fabric