HAPPY HALLOWEEN

I haven't caught up with the season.  It's Halloween already and I haven't even carved the pumpkin.

I did manage to create a couple postcards in keeping with the day.

THOSE POSTCARDS KEEP COMIN'

So many postcards have arrived lately and I have had no time to show you.

July's theme was trees:

August's theme was Landscapes:

September's theme was Succulents:

One member of the group is way ahead of schedule and sent these:

October's theme is Cats:

November's theme is Love:

December's theme is Circles:

QUILTS

I started making large bed quilts when I was in my teens and have slowly progressed towards making art quilts.  I appreciate the importance of traditional patchwork and sometimes want to make a larger bed quilt.  

I recently completed these two quilts.    The blocks had spent way too long in storage.

PATIO LANTERNS

This was made up from Block of the Month winnings.  As I was stitching the blocks together, I kept singing a Kim Mitchell song called Patio Lanterns, hence the title.

COUNTRY HEARTS

I began this quilt in 1990 something - you can tell from the lovely country plaids.   My intention was to machine piece the quilt top, and then to hand quilt.  I chose a flannel backing so that the quilt would feel as warm as it looked.  I'm not the best hand quilter at any time, but quilting through cotton, batting and flannel was not my best plan.  It was tough going and I struggled through most of it (breaking lots of needles), but ended up finishing with lots of machine quilting.

I've had my fix of patchwork for a while!

DIAGONAL TRIANGLES

I've signed up for a quilting workshop next weekend.  I knew that there was some prep work involved, but I didn't realize how much prep work.  I needed to either purchase a couple jellyrolls or cut 80 x 2.5" strips.  I need to make a dint in some of my scraps so I decided to start cutting from my stash.  OMG where to I start?  This pile is almost as tall as me.  Yikes!

I don't even try to keep it under control.  Maybe it's time to start?????

At least these are colour coded.

The plan is to press and cut and organize all day long.  Wish me luck.

WORD CHALLENGE

The last Group of Eight challenge was difficult.  We were all given a cute box filled with items - organza ribbons, beads, wool roving and an envelope containing one or two words.  

We could do anything we wanted.  We could or could not use any or all of the items in the box.  They were there as props if needed.  However, we did have to use the word(s).

My box contained the words "HEAVENLY" and "CELESTIAL".  This series of 21"x21" works is my interpretation of photos taken from the Hubble Telescope.  Each piece is made using hand-dyed fabrics, organza ribbon, and beads.

Milky Way

Helix Nebula

Galaxy M31

Andromeda Galaxy

  

MAIN STREET INN

The Group of Eight Fibre Artists are displaying and selling almost 80 works of art at the Main Street Inn in Georgetown.  The show will hang until the end of November.  Stop in for brunch.

Already framed pieces by Linda

Beaded dolls by Diana

Awesome works by Ann

Even a couple pieces by me

Round Tuit's by Linda

The food is also a work of art

VARIATIONS ON A THEME

Now hanging, until November 3rd, in the Sisnett Lobby of the Halton Hills Cultural Centre is a show including textile art, stained glass, photography, painting and mixed media - all inspired by music.

I entered "All Blues" into the show.  It is inspired by Miles Davis' jazz CD, Kind of Blue - the best selling jazz album of all time.

WHAT A NOVEL IDEA!

What a wonderful time of year for a quilter.  There are so many quilt shows to attend.  I just love travelling to a different show each weekend - such inspiration.  

The Halton Hills Quilt Show challenge this year was "What a Novel Idea".  The idea was to choose a title of a book and depict that title in any way, using three provided fabrics from Northcott.  

Stonehenge Line

I chose the novel "The Lighthouse" by P.D. James.  Instead of quilting an actual lighthouse, I decided to depict the stairs inside the lighthouse.  I used fusible raw-edge applique, machine quilting, white acrylic paint to wash out the lighthouse walls, and Derwent Inktense pencils to add shadowing.  Viewer's Choice awarded my piece with first prize and $100!!!!!  Thanks to all who voted.

Printed on grey fabric, the sign on the lighthouse wall reads:
Warning: Injury and death have rewarded careless sight-seers here.
The ocean and rocks are treacherous.
Savour the sea from a distance.

GRATE SERIES #4

Taking photos is not my strong suit.  I use my iphone, which gets me by in most cases, but  when I need a really nice photo, I usually look to my sister to help me out.  In the last of my "Grate" series, I needed lots of photos.  My sister and I had lots of fun walking all over the place taking shots of different grates.  

The photos were printed onto a rough muslin to give them an aged feel.  The green and orange framing each photo represents the green grass around and the rust of the inspiration grate.  

Inspiration Grate

MEMBERS BOUTIQUE

I've spent a good portion of my summer trying to get my act together without any luck.  My studio is in a mess! How can anyone work like this?  

Lots of this pile if for the HHQG quilt show.

This pile will hopefully go to the show as well.

This side of the room is never any better than this.

Even the design wall is getting covered

Christmas wrappings for last year - what the heck?

An added influx of donated fabric & buttons didn't help.

When does one have too much fabric and too many books?

Organized to take to the Member's Boutique.