Author Archives: Colleen Kole

Congrats my friend!

I was so excited to get this postcard in the mail this week! My friend Gail Baar is having a show at the Raue Center for the Arts and it opens this weekend April 28th. I met Gail a few years ago at a Nancy Crow workshop-she was the quiet one sitting next to me. I remember looking up at her work wall on the second or third day and knowing she would be going far. I felt as if she had her own style two years ago. We have kept in contact and she has been working very hard the past two years. How many pieces have you finished in the past year, Gail? Hard work and talent have paid off for her. Congrats and someday I will be able to come and see your pieces in a show.

Well, yesterday was my fabric dyeing day. I took your advice and worked on tans and browns. Some good results with the lighter colors. The pile that is ironed is the keepers. The pile behind it turned out grainy-as if the dye wasn’t mixed enough. Bummer because it was an eight step gradation. It will be overdyed today. Need greens yet. So much for getting it done in one day. The thing about dyeing is that you have this big quantity of mixed dye left that you are compelled to use up. Which in turn means you buy more fabric…

I tried one thing yesterday that seemed to work. I soda soaked the fabric first. Then, I squeezed the dye on in another container, mushed it around and then dumped the excess out. Then I laid the fabric flat in the grass to dry. Popped it into the washer-presoak and extra rinse( no rinsing prior to) and dryer and I had fabric with good results without batching it overnight . I followed the directions in this Frieda Anderson’s new book, Fabric To Dye For. This is what I did for the lighter fabrics-you must wait until it’s fully dry and then she says it processed. I’ll keep trying it and let you know if I get consistent results.

Might be taking a break for the next week as I need to drop my machine off for service. Plus with my foot I am very slow and far behind in general stuff….Yikes! I’ll let you know.

Happy sewing my friends!

The Color of Tulips

Yesterday was a day filled with colors. I went to drop of one of my quilts for the Tulip Festival Quilt Show. It’s at a new venue this year at the Holland Arts Council and I can’t wait to see the quilts hung in this space. It was a beautiful sunny day and I did remember my camera! You guessed it that the Tulip Festival is all about tulips and this little town has planted them in amazing batches and bundles of color in every empty space.

By the bank

on street corners

reaching for the sun

my favorites-the pinks. Had a great lunch with my daughter and began the carting of stuff home from college. Then, I began folding and sorting of my fabrics for my class to see what colors I have yet to dye this week. It took longer than I thought it would….

it was fun grouping them

kind of like opening a new box of crayons when you were a kid

I dyed this majority of this fabric last summer and have been waiting patiently to “open this box of crayons”. I am more than ready to cut into it.

If you have a clue, what am I missing? Maybe nothing? ( I mean seriously if you can’t make a quilt out of all this -you should have your head examined!) Tomorrow is my only window of opportunity.

Oh and did I mention that 2 other gals must ridewith me. They are dyers so won’t have the bulk initially.

Finally, A Finish

Sometimes it just takes longer than others! I was very glad to finish this little guy last night. I was hoping I would be able to take a picture outside but it’s really wet out there. This is a happy piece and I will probably take it to Vermont and find a place for it there.

Vermont Sunshine
18.5x 32

I went to my daughter’s soccer tournament on Saturday. It was in Traverse City which is about three hours way from Grand Rapids. I had only about an hour in between games and quickly slipped away to their downtown area. The cherry trees were all in bloom and smelled wonderful. (Traverse City is known as the cherry capital of the world.) I had one store that I didn’t want to miss-my favorite antique store-Wilson’s. I could have stayed for hours but only had about 50 minutes…still found a few great things. What fun is this:

It had some interesting articles in it but mainly it was a woman’s magazine. I found two issues and I love the cover on this one.

I also ran into an art co-op in the main street which has two great fiber arts pieces which is very nice to see.I just saw a glimpse of Lake Michigan on the way out of town. It was a grey day but water is so beautiful even in the rain. The second time in a row on the weekend I have not had a functioning camera. My daughter’s team won all three games. A great day for everyone.

Getting ready for my class in two weeks and seeing what colors I need to dye this week. Maybe not much!

Off to another busy day. Happy Sewing, my friends!

Lost and Found

First, I should respond to some of my comments. Thanks-it is so generous of you to give your advice so kindly and freely. After I got used to it, I found the process of tying in the ends by hand relaxing and it did look nice so I will continue. My machine does tie off but it ends up a jumbled mess and not neatly-might be a bit of repair needed.
Secondly, my piece from yesterday in my hands is one that is mine and not the commission. I wasn’t very clear. And my not liking a commission, I thought about it and tried to clarify what was bothering me about the process. It wasn’t the commission I didn’t necessary like -but the colors were difficult for me to work with. If it was totally up to me and I needed to use these colors, I would add another one in. I am learning something through this process! I guess now, I must kindly relay the option of an additional color to the client and it will be up to them, won’t it? Learning, learning…. Thanks again.

On to today’s post-

It began as a simple search for something. Might of been a lame attempt at cleaning…I don’t even remember what I was looking for but I got caught up into some of my bins at my work table. I found some delightful old projects that I had just forgotten about. Look a these beautiful old pieces I have re-discovered.

A find from my days in Ohio:

Still interesting to me:

A whole village as my husband said when he came up to tell me it was really late:

And another bag of silk scraps:

And a lot of other things which I know I will never use and have packaged them up for a local group that really needs supplies. Seemed like a fitting thing to do for Earth Day.

Must go-I am feeding 20 soccer girls at my house in about an hour.

Happy Sewing, my friends!

Trying to keep up

This is the week of flowering trees here in Michigan. I can’t believe my lilacs up against the house are in bloom already! I cut off the top of the picture….but still pretty.

I have said this before but it is really busy this time of the year. I can’t bear to look ahead more than one or two days and am running to the grocery store like it is the european market and I can leisurely browse through the items being creative about what will be for dinner. Not. There is no time for that and I must conquer the whole what to eat for dinner in the midst of this chaos.

Worked yesterday on machine quilting one of my tops and designing a commission quilt. I wish I could say I enjoy this commission process. I think it’s much easier to sell what you have made rather than make what someone else wants. That is an understatement, isn’t it? But it’s coming together. Do you pull your end stitching through by hand after you have ended machine quilting or do you backstitch by machine? It seems to add another step into the process but does look neat. I haven’t decided if it is worth it. Any thoughts?

I found another book for you last weekend at the quilt show. I love, love , love it. Just a book to dream with and one that you will look at again and again and see something appealing and different each time you look at it.

If you don’t want to buy it, go to one of the big book stores, get a cup of coffee and just sit and look at the great pieces in it. But don’t have a super caffeinated latte too late in the day. It will keep you up all night. Don’t ask me how I know this. (You can get a serious amount of stuff done after you have had one of those drinks-I am not sure I want to know how much caffeine is in them….)

Well off to run errands today. Hope you have fun creating today.

Happy sewing, my friends!

The Countdown Begins

I have three weeks until I go away for a week to my class. I have quite a few things I would like to accomplish before then. Every time I go away for a week, I make myself crazy trying to get all those unfinished projects done-house things, family things and sewing tasks. I am asking myself whether or not my list is reasonable. If I wasn’t going away, would I be as productive? Maybe it’s just the end of the school year looming overhead as well. Or the mounds of weeds growing higher than the plants….

Anyway, here’s my list. And I am joining one of those challenges again. It just seems to motivate me.
1. Commission quilt-sew together and approved
2.Vermont Sunshine-quilted
3. Loving Lucy-quilted
4. 2 more class motifs done
5.Dye lighter neutrals-20 yards

That seems kind of reasonable. I could add some other things but then I would drive both you and I crazy.

I did finish one thing this morning. A small quilt that I tried fusing last week. I just don’t think I like the fusible with the type of machine quilting I am capable of right now. It all started popping up or fraying along the pieces as the machine went over it. But I finished it.

I think I like the flowering tree in the background better than the little quilt!

Happy Sewing, my friends!

IQF 2010

I had cancelled my reservations to the International Quilt Show in Chicago on Tuesday last week knowing that it would be foolish to think I could drive 4 hours and then walk for two days straight after my foot surgery. But two things changed on Thursday-I was offered a ride for the day on Friday and I found out that it was the last year for the show in Chicago. So I jumped on the ride with some friends and got up very early to make it to the show by 9:15.

After the announcement that it’s the show’s last year in Chicago, the crowds were huge. I am very sorry to tell you that I got to the show and found out that I had left my memory card for my camera at home. I was so sad…..the quilts were amazing as always. I think I saw about 75% of the exhibits and about 40% of the vendor booths. The exhibits I think I liked better than last year-subject matter and I really had fun with so many names I was beginning to recognize. The Rust Tex exhibit was interesting. I was pleasantly surprised to run in to some old friends too. I ended up buying the cd because I felt so badly I forgot the memory card-ok I couldn’t stop obsessing about my mistake and needed to move on with the day.

My foot got tired and sore so I signed up for those great classes from Make-It University through Quilting Arts. I got into to two of the mixed media classes and it was a good time to try different things I probably wouldn’t do on my own-gel medium, setacolors, bling, etc. not because I don’t like those things but just because it’s another investment of art supplies.

I did find some neat things and actually went with a list.

1. Threads- I love Aurifil thread for piecing and these spools should last a good long time.

2. Scraps-Love poking around booths to see if they have plastic bags full of scraps-yes I pay for them but they are stuffed full of goodies.

3. Ribbons- Like to pick up special bits of hand-dyed ribbons and a great skein of silk scrap yarn. My little heart was from one of my classes.

Lynne-remember the banana yarn man?-this skein of scrap silk came from him.

Isn’t it funny that what I love the most are the scraps I can recycle?

I will truly miss this show so close to home and doubt that I will get much opportunity to go again. The beauty of a quilt -and the ability to admire whatever I aspect I want to-up close-or from far away in the exhibit hall-is something I will forever treasure. And the great times and laughs with friends…

Missed you Lynne!

Happy Sewing, my friends!

A Spring in My Step

I can’t believe how much better my foot feels without the big boot on it. Activity as tolerated was the word of the day yesterday and it definitely was a neuroma. So, it’s gone and I am taking things slowly but with a smile on my face. I didn’t realize how much it hurt before surgery-all gone now!

So what have I been doing the past week. I read three books. I couldn’t put down Jodi Piccoult’s new book and read it in 48 hours. I knit-a bit rusty I was-but finished a hat and am working on the mittens. I also am stitching on my new jeans piece. Again, slow but steady. Binding this piece in the background tonight. It is partially pieced and partially fused. A nice size for one of my walls and will be hung tonight. I watched these DVDs and picked up a few tips.

   Today, I have a confession. I have been sewing for a long time. I never had entered or attempted to enter a show. And this spring, I got up enough courage to do it. One of my pieces was accepted to a small show-80 pieces- in May-a quilt show. I was surprised because it isn’t like anything I have seen in the show before. But, I was happy!

   Also, I have a commission. Might be a challenge-working with colors I wouldn’t have chosen-but that is what I am finding to be a commission. Two good things in one week. You can’t beat that.

And now, I must go and work on these motifs for my class at the Barn in May.

When I couldn’t sew, I made little paper mock ups. Now to translate them into fabric and sew them together. Two more motifs and then I will be done with the homework for that class. And then , the work will really begin…I can’t wait to go back and now two gals from Grand Rapids might go too.

Happy sewing, my friends.

Day #5

I am slowly being driven mad by the fact I can not drive. I can’t walk very far yet so the houses in my neighborhood are kind of getting boring to look at-ok the mailbox at the end of the driveway. My foot is slowly feeling better and I am not in much pain when I just sit. But my bum is tired of sitting. The pain I had before surgery is all gone. That is a very good thing.

So why is not driving just making me crazy? When I do drive -to school, to get groceries and to all the after school activities – I complain I am in my car all day. And all I want to do is be home. Maybe it’s not necessarily the lack of freedom to drive -but just the lack of freedom to do whatever I want to do. Whatever a healthy body can do. I will never take my health for granted again. This is a silly little surgery in comparison to most. My being inconvenienced for a short period of time is really nothing. I am thankful that it is nothing serious.

But I can’t wait to go to the doctor tomorrow. And don’t tell him I drove there by myself. He better give me the real ok to drive.

The Art of Patience/Scavenger Hunt

As a Physical Therapist for 25 some years, I always considered myself a patient person. Loved taking time with people and cheering them on as they healed. As a mom of nineteen years, I am fairly patient. But, I am only a teensie bit patient with my foot healing. I had grand ideas of doing all this hand sewing. But that is proving to be difficult if you need to have the foot above the level of the heart for forty eight hours. Hard to sew on your back! I can knit on my back though and am working on a hat. One more day of foot elevation and three more days of no driving. No crutches though.

I have found some really fun stuff for you to browse through. Another scavenger hunt:

1. General fun:
The month of April is quilting month at Sew Mama Sew. Go to the blog and there is a new post each day with fun tutorials and giveaways. If you are new to sewing quilts, this is a great month to follow this blog.

2 Thermofax Screen Printing:
If you have ever wanted to try thermofax screen printing, there is a giveaway on this blog. Lynn Krawczyk does some really interesting things and I have recently started reading her blog. A good review of paints used for screen printing this past week.

3. Hand Carved Stamps and Water Painting:
Amazing Vimeo tutorials on making a hand carved stamp at Geninne’s Art Blog.( I love her banner. ) If you scrool down on the right, you can pick up this tutorial. She is very talented as well. She is also a self-taught watercolorist. You can see a Vimeo of her at work painting as well. Good stuff.

4. Dye resists
Terri Jarrod Dimond uses a flour paste resist with dye on her fabric. Great results and another nice tutorial.