GRATE IDEAS

The Group of Eight Fibre Artists July challenge was based on a photo taken by one of our members.  While visiting Mexico, she came upon rusty grate, on a golf course.  Our challenge was to interpret this photo in some way.

I saw the photo and said "What?!!!!".  I kept coming back to the photo and here's what I came up with.   It's a rough depiction of the photo.  This one is made using the Stonehenge fabric line, and backed with golf-theme fabric.

For this piece, I used all hand-dyed fabrics from my stash, picking up the colours from the photo.  I have to admit that most of my hand-dye fabrics are made for me by my sister.  Aren't I lucky?

My first idea (and last to create) was to use transparent fabrics, but it took a while to come to fruition.  This piece represents the sewage troubles that plague Mexico city.  Every year, their water levels recede up to 7cm.  Unless drastic measures are taken, the water ways will be taken over by land and sewage.  

50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going to a 50th birthday party for a friend.  The party was a backyard affair and the only things to bring was a chair and whatever I was going to drink.  No gifts were expected.  Of course, I have an issue with that, because I always like to take a little something with me if I visit.  

Here is a look at the "50 BLOWS" gift that I put together.  I filled a fishbowl with gum balls, bubbly Perrier, Pepsi, and 7-Up,

then added a few skewers fitted with the various "needs" of an aging someone, a card, some blow horns, and a small bottle of Champagne.

This was all wrapped up in cellophane and tied off with a pretty bow!

JOURNAL COVERS

It's almost time to think about making some more journal covers.  Each year the Group of Eight Fibre Artists donate journals, complete with covers, to a local women's shelter.  I'm getting a head start on them.

This cover is made from old plastic bags, cut up and melted together.  Take note that I added a bit of stitching.

These two were made from left-over half-triangle squares stitched together, then quilted.

FABRIC FABRIC EVERYWHERE

I spend most Saturday's with my sister - shopping, going to a play or movie, visiting friends, taking in an art class, walking the local farmers' market or attending quilt shows.  This past Saturday, we planned to go to Bloor-West Village and pick up a thing or two at Bizzy Bee.  Now, I'm not really into scrap-booking our journaling, but I do enjoy looking at them, so why not tag along?  I picked up my sister as usual, but she drives all the time (I'm directionally challenged).  I know that Bizzy Bee is to the east of us, but my sister headed out going north.   Hey, where's she going???  Surprise, surprise.  We ended up at the Hobby Horse Quilt Shoppe - one of my favourite stores.  My sister had heard that there was a big batting sale going on and we were going to get in on the deal - and so we did.  

Ok, great deal, but where to store it????

Not only did we pick up batting, we picked up many fabrics.  Here, they have just been washed and dried - now ready to be pressed (ok, maybe not pressed, but at least folded).

The blacks were purchased to back a traditional Chinese Lantern quilt.  The white fabric is for dyeing.  The blue was for my sister's retreat, and the orange just spoke to me (I have no idea what to do with it, but I loved it).  If you love it, it's too late.  I took it all.

HHQG PRESIDENT'S CHALLENGE

I'm usually up for a challenge, especially when it involves stitch.  This past year, the Halton Hills Quilters' Guild President Challenge was to complete a UFO by the end of the quilt guild season.  I signed up in February, thinking that if I pushed myself, I would be able to complete a quilt that I have been working on for years and years.  My brilliant idea, at the time, was to quilt it by hand.  Of course, I backed it with flannel.  Quilting by hand was long and tedious and hurt my fingers.  Now I remember why I quilt by machine these days.

Anyway, I persevered but did not complete the quilt in time.  Over the past week, however, hand-quilted for hours and completed all the hand-quilting I thought necessary.  This morning, I brought the quilt to my machine.  I'm going to machine quilt the borders and maybe even free-motion stitch around the hearts.  Maybe it will be ready for the next President's Challenge.

FIBRE-ART POSTCARDS

I received a couple postcards last week.  Our postcard exchange group has been re-organized so for the next six months I start trading with another group of artists. 

This is a card from Amanda in South Africa, depicting the theme "colour".

Here's one from  Flossie in Alabama showing an Oriole, in keeping with this month's "Bird" theme.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

 Some days you just have to celebrate the country in which you live.  Happy 146th Canada!

This quilt was a result of a "Tinners" block exchange.  I chose the theme "Canada", and the blocks that were returned were amazing.  I added a few more blocks to square up the piece and I love the result.

Close up of one of the blocks.

Last week, my boss left the country to take a new position in India.  This was the cake that I made for our Farewell-to-Canada pot luck.