We have been enjoying great weather and a visitor this week. It made me appreciate the views and just slow down a bit.
When I can squeeze it in, I am machine quilting. Last night I measured how far I had stitched on my Artprize piece and it was 18 inches out of about 83….just moving along inch by inch.
But things like this just keep pushing me along: a nice blog article in the Experiencegr regarding my work! They are doing a series in regards to the AQS show in Grand Rapids in August.
Just a sampling of what I did before the trip here last Thursday.
Tried to finish up some fabric dyeing of deep browns, blues and a funny mustard color.
I hand basted my Artprize piece-twice. The first time I didn’t follow the You Tube directions correctly using Sharon Schambers method. I really resisted hand basting but was going to hand carry this throughout the airport. The idea of hundreds of safety pins going off through security convinced me to do it. A few wobbly lines which I am calling organic have been sewn in. Yes, I am doing this one from top to bottom with the walking foot.
And I squeezed in a little ice dyeing. I had a few pieces of fabric left and it was so hot I thought it a great time to try it.
A little ice on top of soda soaked fabric.
A little dye sprinkled on top of the ice and then a few more layers of fabric.
Twenty four hours later, I rinsed as usual and washed and I have some interesting pieces.
Nice markings on the fabrics and it was super easy.
I was stuck in the airport for about 36 hours and my husband came to get me in a CT airport. I retrieved my lost luggage on Sunday which had the thread it in it for machine quilting. It was really an adventure from the netherlands which I have no idea why it always happens to me. But this time it exhausted me .
In Vermont now for a few weeks and I hope I catch my breath enough to get the stitching down on Miss Artprize.
I finished piecing AND basting of my Artprize piece yesterday. It was a really long weekend….with several adjustments on one of the edges. I had to join what I had designed on two design boards and when I actually sewed it together it was a mess. I ran over to a friend’s house with all my various pieces in a plastic bag and she gave me some advice when I was not at all rational. ( Thank you Betsy!) Calm but not thinking straight. I returned home and out came the fabric for a few new pieces and more adjustments. It was frustrating to say the least but what a relief to have it this far.
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| Rooflines # 6 in process, © Colleen Kole 2012 |
It will be about six by seven feet -large. I am anxious to get the machine sticking started. I thread basted it to reduce the weight of moving it under the machine. I will take it to Vermont with me on Thursday when I return there. It’s only 6 weeks away before I need to turn it in to the venue. I am about 3- 4 days behind on the schedule I set for myself.
At 4 pm yesterday, I was way too cranky and tired to start machine stitching so I fiddled around with washing out some more hand dyes. This is a picture of earlier in the weekend. My tree in back of the fabric is so stressed with the drought, it is losing leaves and looks like fall.
I thought I would have my piecing done today for my Artprize piece but decided to re-make a few of the blocks. Took longer than I thought. I am almost there and could have left them. But then I would always be frustrated that it was just off a little bit. I dyed about 40 yards of fabric today on a hot 90 degree day, too.
You know what I will be doing tomorrow! I will be washing out fabric and basting with a lot of pins. I think it will be 7×8 when I am done. That is kind of scaring me as I have never quilted anything that large with a machine.I don’t know where to photograph it as it is bigger than my design wall. Any suggestions?
I have journeyed back to Michigan (yup, a mixed up summer) late Sunday night and hit the ground running with all things art in my world. More tomorrow for you on that.
Just having my cup of coffee and enjoying my friendly neighbors. I love the Brown Swiss breed and this one’s name is Charm. We will go to the beach in the afternoon at a local state park but this morning I will do some machine quilting.
I wasn’t able to go to the Vermont Quilt Festival this year as we arrived here about a week later. But I did submit one of my quilts, Rooflines 4. I re-titled it Rooflines #4: The Barns. I found out via a friend on facebook that it received one of the three Judges Choice awards and a red ribbon.
It had a few “technical” issues-a few spots of bad thread tension and a little ripple that I am sure came back after folding it and packing it in a box. But someone liked it as much as I do! Just reminds me of the barns here in Vermont.
You can find the complete list here: Vermont Quilt Festival Contest. The picture of my quilt is upside down. I had to laugh as I put two sleeves on it because it was so long it needed another rod on the bottom. I wonder if they hung it this way in the show. Haha!
You have seen it many times but here it is again.
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| Rooflines #4:The Barns , 36×70 © 2012 Colleen Kole |
We are hoping to go to fireworks tonight although the rain might postpone it. Happy 4th!
Just arrived in Vermont on Sunday for the week. I kept working on my Artprize piece the past few weeks and have driven my family mad with it. I think I am now on version #2578 of the same piece and left it half assembled on my design wall. I promised them that I wouldn’t talk about it all week long. 🙂
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| Rooflines # 6 in process , 2012 Colleen Kole |
Nope not it.
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| Rooflines #6 in process, 2012 Colleen Kole |
Nope, not done yet…
So where have I been?
1. I finished some over dyeing of last week’s fabrics before I left.
2. Attended a wedding of my daughter’s best friend. My daughter was a bridesmaid and it really shocked me that I have a daughter with a married friend. They just seem so young.
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| my pretty girl |
3. Went to two SAQA exhibits at the Gerald Ford Museum.
4. I was interviewed by the Grand Rapids Magazine in regards to an article they are doing titled (?)The Quilt as Art. A photographer was sent to my studio to take pictures of me working. ( I really cleaned it up before they came and that took a few days! ) They are doing the article in preparation of the AQS show which will be in Grand Rapids August 22-25th.
I really don’t like have my picture taken-ok I hate it… but I hope I am not too much of a dweeb in this article. More importantly, I hope I have spoken somewhat intelligently. It should come out at the end of July. At which point I could snatch all available copies off all shelves in all stores if it is horrid.
5. I was also interviewed by the experiencegr blog for the same reason. I was more relaxed and had an easier time answering questions for that interview.
6. Packed and rode 14 hours here.
Settling in to summer between Vermont and Grand Rapids. I hate lists in the summer. But I think I might need one this summer in order to get done what I need to do for the fall.
Anything fun planned for the 4th?