Author Archives: Colleen Kole

An Amazing Vacation

I am so glad to be home today. We had an amazing vacation at our second home in Vermont. We left the day after Christmas and came home late (very late!) last night. We have had our home there for about five years now and really cherish the week after Christmas playing. My husband and the kids ski. I stay behind and cook hot soups or stews for them, take long walks, go snow shoeing or sew. It is win, win for everyone. I love having a fire and reading or sewing at night. But I hate flying home-it’s chaos and last night we left Burlington, VT after it had just had 26 inches of snow. I thank God that we made it out and made it safely!

I was able to start some projects. I have had so many requests to make baby quilts and wanted a prototype to sell. Just had fun playing with that. Also, spent some time setting those goals that sometimes get accomplished. One thing I know I will be doing is picking up my journal again. So, I bought a new journal to start out the year. Seems to be one more step to the process but I always can pick up new ideas and plans through it.

I am very glad to have internet service! I went to the library in Stowe, VT to do the minimal posts after Christmas that I did. It took forever to download photos though. I appreciate my easy internet access here!

Well- need groceries and errands run. Better go! Nice to be back. Happy Sewing, my friends!

Project Joy #9-FINISHED!

Well, it wasn’t without a bit of a struggle last night. I put the flat binding on and it wouldn’t roll over without bunching up. Too much stitching and beading. So at 9:30 pm the binding came off and I finished it with just an envelope finish which then needed more quilting :). But I completed Project Joy with the UFOs I originally signed up for -9. And my work basket is basically empty. Just works in process now. Feels really good to start the new year this way. And then, I went back and looked at what else I did- 2 scarves and three charity quilts. Not bad…

   Connections # 11- Fire
   9×11

So, what did I learn from this whole crazy thing during the holidays? I can be productive and enjoy creating art even though things are busy with my family. Let me say it in another way. I have a passion for making quilts-being an artist- creating with my hands and there was time for me- and my family. A few yucky dinners every once in awhile but no one was really inconvenienced by me doing something that I really enjoy. And as a mom, I even did a better job of delegating. I had plenty of time to do everything they were involved with and enjoy it, too. And that’s a nice place to be at , at the end of the year.

One of my goals for 2009 was to start a blog and begin journaling this art quilt adventure. I am enjoying it and thank you for visiting me. I appreciate your comments from near and far. I am enjoying your works as well. Thank you for stopping by!

I won’t have access to the internet tomorrow-just my I-phone which I can’t figure how to blog on. So Happy New Year. I have lots of fun things planned for January: jeans quilt, snow dyeing…I am never bored .

Happy Sewing my friends!

(No I didn’t cave in to the puppy desire….) Having fun playing with them though!

Hand Dyed -From the Same Cloth

I am battered down inside from the terrible winds today-40mph and 7 degrees out-brr! A sharp contrast from a great walk at the end of the day yesterday. I snuck away to the library and stole my daughter’s laptop to blog in peace and quiet of the library. First, let me show you what I fell in love with yesterday. I am such a sucker for the runt of the litter. The one on the right is Junior-I would name him Moose JR. Except it is a him and probably wouldn’t work too well with my two females…. I just love puppies.
You come for quilts, I know. I have been madly sewing on Project Joy #9. I will definitely make the deadline but have decided it needed to be handquilted and have all sorts of embellishment. I really like it. It is of the same piece of material of the last small work I showed you hung on my tree. I can’t count it as done yet but just need about two more inches and the binding.

The photo is a bit too red. But here’s another of the hand work.

The cloth was a large piece of hand dyed fabric. I overdyed it and the bottom was much lighter. This is from the bottom.

The lightest green and yellow did not come form the cloth. Amazing how different one piece of cloth can look like in composition! Both pieces are about 12 x 15. I’ll post with them side by side when done.

Better go- stay warm. Happy sewing, my friends.

The Calm

I love the week after Christmas. Don’t get me wrong- I love Christmas as well. But it is the lack of schedules and extra time with the kids that I really appreciate. We woke up to a dreary day and I thought they might be bored with all the rain keeping us inside.

Everyone keep peeking outside to be let outside-one of those days. But finally it cleared and we walked and walked. It was warm.

Took a lot of pictures.

And played in slushy snow.

And took more pictures of a beautiful sunset in a beautiful place. And then I sat in front of the fire to sew. What a great day in the week after Christmas! Pictures of sewing coming tomorrow I hope.

Happy sewing, my friends!

A Few Extra Moments

I think I have known this for a long time but this season has really made me notice this. I am much happier if I can do some form of creating -sewing, knitting or even journaling – on a daily basis. So little snips of time over the past week have led to this. A tiny little work. But it has led me to be more grounded and less stressed to keep making art even if only for short periods of time. It is made from my hand dyed fabrics from last summer. And I enjoy it much more as a end of summer garden vision I had in my head.

Yes I did hang it on my tree. Doesn’t everyone hang a quilt on their tree? Just for the photo. So another finish and it needs a name-maybe End of Summer #2. It’s 13×15 and machine quilted. Find a little time to stitch and enjoy the peace, hope and joy this Christmas.

Happy Sewing, my friends.

The First Present

Well, because of the blizzard and three cancelled school days, everything is happening in four days instead of two weeks. I repeat everything- concert, 5th grade play, teachers luncheon and class party. Amazing how it can all be compacted into four short school days. Even more amazing that I signed up to help on all four events. Please remind me next year to take blizzards into account when I sign up for school volunteering in September .My kids are done this week Thurs and my girl comes home from college on Thurs too. I am ready to take a break with no schedules and no sports other than outside fun stuff.

I FINISHED #7! I am so excited to think I can actually make this crazy challenge goal. It will be so odd not to have this huge pile of UFOs to start the new year with. So here it is…(not many are blogging so I know you need pictures…) I do like the next two quilts you will see.

Connections #
20×40

I just did random kind of straight line( improvisational at a very fast speed) quilting. It is made from packet of hand-dyed fabrics from simply robin and a few of my own. I can even say this is one I like.

Please indulge me on seeing a present my kids bought for me for Christmas. They couldn’t wait to give it to me and wanted me to hang it up now. Did I tell you I am the world’s worst cheater on gifts? If my gift is in the house, I will find it and PEEK. I am the worst kid at Christmas. I can act surprised too if I have seen it before I open it. My husband does not bring my gifts into the house until Christmas Eve. I have been known to unwrap it. Really bad and I can’t believe I have told you this. So this is my present from the kids- a vintage Christmas wreath-

You really needed to see the wreath today. I even took my quilt down above my breakfast nook to hang it up. It needed a place of honor. Look at all these ornaments and I know you will remember them from your Christmas’ of long ago-ok when you were a kid.

The sparkly pear.

The satin wrapped bulbs.

Plastic green bells.

And your calico ornaments. What more could I ask for? I love it and I love my kids. And it makes me smile every time I come into the room because it is just over the top!

Well, I am over the top as well with a list so blogging must be last on the list the next few days. I have really enjoying catching up with friends I have met over the years at workshops. I will let you know when I finish # 8 . Otherwise, enjoy time this season with your family and friends.

Sit by the fire and stitch quietly and remember why you love to sew. Merry Christmas and happy sewing, my friends!

A Little Stitching

   I have been doing just a little handstitching on a small quilt. Not much as we had eight soccer games this weekend. That was just insane. I was sitting there thinking of an even more insane person who scheduled these games-certainly not a mother.
   They have all returned to school and after three snow days last week, it is quiet. Peacefully quiet. Even the dogs are tired and just laying here at my feet.
   I want to share with you a link to a great resource for machine quilting. It is an e-book written by Frieda Anderson and Robbi Joy Eklow and it’s FREE! You’ll find it at www.quiltingarts.com under free stuff. I printed it out as it is an easy and concise guide to different ideas I would like to try.

Update on Project Joy: #7 is actually under the machine. I might actually finish all eight! Happy Sewing, my friends.

Something fun-Recycled Stitched Scarf

We are now on our 3rd snow day. Lots of fun and a little work. I had fun making a stitched scarf last night. Everything but the stabilizer is recycled . I took my yarn scraps, layed them down on a long piece of water soluble Solvy, made a little sandwich and stitched away. Start to finish was probably about 3 hours but easy. One of the girls in my Fiber Arts group brought one in last week and I was intrigued by it. Now, this isn’t a new idea and it resurfaces every once in awhile but I hadn’t tried it.

Suggestions if you want to try it:

1. Water soluble Solvy can be found at your local craft stores by the stabilizers. Use that coupon! I measured my length, laid it out and folded it over the yarn like a sandwich. I think I can make three from the package- at 4$ per scarf.

2. I did pin along the sides and iron the edges only-WITH a pressing cloth over it-Solvy is bad for your iron
3. Sew the edges first.
4. Sew horizontally and vertically- I used free motion stitching and some decorative stitches on my machine.

5. If you have a single needle throat plate that would help too- I don’t for this machine yet.
6.I used bits of ribbon too. I don’t like how it feels though with the yarn.
7. I used rayon thread which is a bit stiff. I would use cotton next time to make it softer and not as much yarn- more wispy.

All in all, great fun for a last minute gift. I need four of them and thank goodness it worked!
Happy sewing, my friends!

bothered by the end result

It’s in small letters because as much as I would like to keep it a secret, I have to tell you the truth. I hated what I showed you yesterday. Hate is a strong word-disliked. And it bothered me so much I had to go work through it again(ok maybe the series thing is sinking in) or try something different. I can visualize what I want the design to be but can’t execute it yet. Don’t get me wrong- there is improvement- the sewing construction and the speed at which I work is improving. But, the not being able to do what I want is bigger-my frustration- than not wanting to show you yucky stuff. I’d show you if you were here having coffee with what doesn’t work -so i might as well confess here too.

It’s all part of the process, I know. I started something new. I pieced like you would a crazy quilt. With no plan in mind -each piece directing the next. Smaller. I feel like hand stitching today.

I like it but think it looks too much like many other people’s creations….ugh…..but I”ll keep working through it.

Happy sewing, my friends.

An Early Christmas Present: A Giveaway and a Quilt

Wahoo- I am done with my quilt and it’s Wednesday – the day of my giveaway drawing. Thanks for all of you who have entered and left comments. I am having fun looking at other new sources of inspiration and you are very talented people! We have a snow day today. No blizzard yet but the calm is kind of eerie right now. The winds are supposedly coming.

Ben helped me out and picked the winners. And the winners are:

1.Sharon-Pieces of Vermont. I have knit socks out of this yarn and they are warm.

2. Robin W– Lorna’s Laces. Very pretty color!

3. Gail Myrhorodsky-ArtGirlz stuff. You will like the beads and silk!

Congrats and enjoy the new stuff in honor of a sense of community. Nice to have you stop by. If you e-mail me(colleenkole at gmail.com) your addresses, I’ll get your packages in the mail after the blizzard is done. Hopefully Friday.

And I finally finished # 6. Another really big wahoo! If I critique it, it falls flat on composition. I wanted to insert lines into shapes rather than working with strip sets. However, if you go by the definition of line being less than an inch, my lines are too big and look choppy. The main purpose though was to use my Carol Soderlund hand-dyed fabrics. These pieces were my end of the summer garden’s colors in September. I do see this as one of the series I will work on the next year called Directions but will work with smaller lines and smaller compositons to allow me to experiment with it. Maybe….but I definitely have two different series going on without even trying.