Talking quilts and other things.......

Well now that I have packed all my fabric (Yikes!) and books what am I to do???Well my Quilting Arts mag. arrived as did my S.A.Q.A. (Studio Art Qults Association) newsletter , both of these magazines are full of inspitation and helpful advice and I read them more than once as I usually miss things first time round.When we move I plan to make new work using techniques I have never used before maybe more discharge then dyed , painted then thread painted over and use paint to accent areas of work.Information in Q.A. mags will help me work through lots of new and interestin techniques . The fact that I will be cut off, isotaled, on my own means no distractions so on my work day I can do just that WORK, I'm also hopeing that because I'm working solo I will not be influenced by other peoples ideas even if they think they are helping.I will take my hand felting tool and some wool tops as well as other bits and bobs.My plan is also to enter quilt shows both U.K. and in the U.S.A. as finances allow as entry fees can be quite steep however two of the web lists I,m on both have access to shows that I may not think of entering by myself , they have challenges with a theme and you enter a piece of work which is entered as part of an exhibition within the show.This gives me an in to people seeing my work in shows without the stress of everything that goes with entries, one entry fee for more than one show, thats in the U.S. and does not apply in this country which is a shame. In a way I am quite looking forward to the "rest" and plan to use my ideas book in the mean time., makes me wonder what others do if they have time without tools etc. Thanks for chatting, hope you come again.
Take Care
Janette

Time out

My Ichie Quilts book arrived today soI had some time out, mmmmmmmmm dont know if its quite what I expected however the inchies are lovely and the quilts look good.I have learned at least one new thing from the book, use a smaller satin stitch than the one I was useing, and it does make them look better.I think like most things its practise but they are fun to make which ever way you make them. In the book they are made from a single piece of fabric either just cut at random or fussy cut, in a tutorial I saw on line they used fusible to make fabric from lots of bits, while this is great fun it does mean there is a lot of "glue" so the needle gets gummed up fast.All I need now is TIME to try out all the things I want to try.I have looked and found wool tops, plain and coloured to use in my hand felting, now that I have a hand felting tool.This is an attempt to do something creative in a very small space. We are off to meet up with friends for a meal at a local restuarant so more time out (from packing!!!!) Its only 8 weekst to move day and I know it will fly so I am really trying hard to organise everything but some things will have to besorted at the lastminute.Time to go out now, you take care, and call again
Janette

Inchies and other quilty things.

Have you found inchies? I have only just begun to make these little works of art and I find them adictive, I am already planning to do more. I have also ordered a book called Inchie Quilts forget the name of the quilter, yes another book after I said no more!! One of the reasons I decided to give inchies a try was the size, no need for a large work area or lots of fabric, I also think they could be done by hand yet another reason to make them, and they can be used in quite a wide variety of ways.Can you tell I'm hooked??? Because of all the stuff going on right now my brain stops working and my memory goes on holiday, do you get the picture, so small is good.Its now only 10 weeks until we move and it may sound a long time but it will fly in with that in mind we have readied our llittle caravan and its close to ready to go. I have another quilt to finnish very soon, this one needs to be ready to go BEFORE we move however I think its almost there not much more stitching by machine then its embellishing and hand work which I can do later. This one has to be mailed to the U.S. and if all goes to plan I can send it off July ish.The theme was famouse pairs. my first attempt morphed into Sonny and Cher still w.i.p. but what I started to do was Adam and Eve so I had to start all over again this time it stayed as Adam and Eve with an apple.I tried to work the same way as Pamela Allen, I have her DVD Think Like an Artist but dont think I'm quite there yet however I have worked in a new way for me. Well now I must go and do more packing, will it never end!!!!Hope you enjoyed your visit, come again.
Take Care
Janette