Paper Making

What a fun workshop! I took a two-day paper making workshop at Paper House Studio.

sculptural paper made by one of the teachers

Great teacher. (thanks Flora)

ME making paper

I made about 50 sheets of paper using different pulps and adding threads and fabric inside some sheets.

my paper back lit

I signed up for a book binding workshop in September at CBBAG and I hope to be able to use my wonderful hand-made paper.

paper marked with "tear drops"

two layers of paper with a piece of hand dyed fabric inside.
It looks very different when it is dried.

I'll explore with stitching when I get back. Some of the sheets are very thick and I am sure they can take it.

the press used for the last stage of drying

I Gave Away a Quilt

A few years ago a company in Verona, Italy, asked me to write a quilt book. It was going to be part of their How-To series but with the economic crisis in their country they ended up cutting that entire series and so my book didn't get published.

the back of the quilt with the label visible.

I did write it. I made all the samples. I had friends make the quilts as they checked the instructions.

approximately 65" x 125"

I had two friends who are photographers take pictures for the book.

One of the photographers has finished university and is leaving Toronto. I wanted to thank her in a  special way for her time and talent. I offered her one of the quilts.

She chose the one she liked best, which incidentally is not one of the ones for the book.

To make it I cut 5 inch squares and sashing of 2.5 inches wide. I made one of the squares in Verona, a shibori circle.

Shibori circle with butterfly quilt lines done on
a long arm machine by Judy Davidson.

I am going to have the book published. Just need to shop it around, I guess. A lot harder than being invited to write it.

Hand Work

"(She) rolled her shoulder slightly to relax the cramping muscle as she tried to keep her focus on the tiny, even stitches..."

Clouds, detail, 2009
Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
key figures in the international design scene.
Clouds seen at Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.

"She liked sewing."

 Clouds, detail
Momentané (exhibit) closed September 1, 2013

"Liked the steady repetition that allowed her thoughts to drift, and the unequalled satisfaction of creating something functional, and sometimes even beautiful, with her own hands."

Clouds (right side)
Twigs, detail, 2004 (left side)

It makes me happy to know that my mom is starting quilting classes in France. Sewing is something that has brought me great satisfaction.

Clouds (right)
Twigs, (left)

Oddly enough these textile works were not sewn by hand! I put them with this post because of their title- Clouds. Dreamy and relaxing, which is the feeling I hope my mom gets from sewing quietly.

(quote from the book I read this summer on the beach, The Firebird, by Susanna Kearsley.)

I Love

I recently attended a celebration of a friend's life well lived.

She was an artist. She loved dance. She loved children.

She had started a diary of things she loved. Some of those things were read at her memorial.

I have decided to start one of those books myself. I have bought it already and I will start filling it out when I am in Europe next month.

I love.

Happy Valentine's Day

Saving Time

The thing with quilting (I guess the word I should be using is PIECING) is the time it takes.

One of the stages that takes time is cutting! Imagine if that part was done already. Sure you can buy pre-cut strips and squares (be mindful as they are not always measured accurately) but how about adopting my method?

tip: when you are cutting fabric for a project and you have a small piece left over, cut that piece as well instead of folding it and putting it away. You are ready with a clean surface for cutting and your rotary cutter is in your hand...why not cut it then and there?

Know which sizes are practical for you. Personally, I use lots of strips in my scrap quilts (sizes 1.5, 2, 2.5 inches). I also use 5 inch squares so if the fabric is wide enough I cut some of those. 
(segment from my soon-to-be-published book)

I made these blocks in 4 days, just little bits at a time.

It sparkles! I love scrap quilts.

Most of the half-square triangles were left over from another project and the squares were already cut and stored in a labelled shoe box, also left over from a previous project. I had to add to that, of course. It came together so fast! I still have a few more blocks to make and one of these quiet days between big projects I will.

Several blocks up on my vertical design wall.

My scrap class at the Mississauga Guild is coming up on February 9. It's a full day workshop. Sign up!! It's open to everyone who has too much fabric!!

Another Last-Minute Christmas Gift

It is amazing what you can do when you are creative!

Take these fire-breathing dragon mitts (idea from Martha Stewart).

Buy a pair of mittens from the dollar store.

Cut out some felt 'dragon-spine' shapes and sew by hand on the top part of the mitt.

I used two colours, sewed them together
by machine and then hand sewed them to the mitts.

Sew on a felt tongue and some button eyes (or you can embroider on the eyes)

Accompany them with a short chapter book- My Father's Dragon (1948) by Ruth Stiles Gannett.

the first in a trilogy....
but this one is my favourite of the three

Put them in a nice tin...

and there you go!

A perfect gift for a little one!

Here's another colour combination.

(for another gift idea from last year's December post, click here)

Circles

The never ending line...

early morning spider web

asparagus ends

Paving stones in a Toronto garden

lamp sphere at Sweet Grass Spa, Toronto.
It was too high to touch!

I am still embroidering circles on my quilt.

It's so fun! I want to cover it completely!