Blue Muse Update

Erato Finds the James

Blue Muse Takes the Waters

The Lyric Muse Was Here

My piece for the VCQ Minds Wide Open challenge progresses!  These are my three practice pieces, and attempts to include the muse of Lyric Poetry, Erato.  She’s sometimes shown with a wreath of roses and myrtle in her hair, thus the rose petals. (In case you can’t tell what those pink specks are!)  Not sure which, or if any, of these approaches I will use.  I welcome your feedback!

Here’s where the actual challenge entry stands.  I’ve done some of the quilting – more still to go.  The tree branches, like the muses in the practice quilts, were printed on organza prepared for inkjet printers, Extrav Organza by Jacquard.  I’ll do some stitching over them – not sure yet how much.

Adventures with The Bags

At the Theatre

Wonder of Color

Theatre Doll

I’m enthralled with quilting, and I’ve had the good fortune to fall in with a group of 6 or so like minded women, who share that pursuit along with others of a fiber/artistic nature.  Five of us have season tickets to the Barksdale at Willow Lawn in Richmond, which I’m thoroughly enjoying.  A typical evening: Chatter, laugh, eat dinner, giggle, view the play, critique, chortle, go home happy.  So far we’ve seen The Clean House and This Wonderful Life – both with excellent actors, intriguing staging, high points, and challenges.  I wouldn’t be getting out to plays otherwise, and the company is great fun. 

This weekend I had the added pleasure of joining the group on Saturday for a day of quilting, spinning, doll-making, and general sharing of expertise in Bruington, VA.  The country setting alone is worth the trip, not to mention good fellowship and delicious lunch! 

I picked up tips on yarns and knitting – I want to make some socks.  Jury’s still out on whether I’ll bust out of my comfort zone and try knitting, or reduce the opportunity for disaster and stick with crocheting.  I’d hoped to use the yarn I spun with the drop spindle last year (or was it 2006?), but looks like that will work better for a hat.  So may give the alpacha fibre from cousin John a try.

I’d planned to try spinning on Beth’s spinning wheel, and took all my wool, but chickened out.  Maybe next time!  She knit the shawl shown in detail above, and the one she’s wearing in the group photo.  Beautiful work!

I was fascinated with the faces Debby made for her dolls using push molds, and the incredibly small hands.  She gave me several websites to check out, and tips on gluing seams before turning to increase chance that they will hold. 

It is indeed, a Wonderful Life.

Folk Festival Wrapup

Button Spinner

Stenciling muslin

Choosing fabric

Stitching the rice bag

Boltz visit

Here’re a few photos from the Richmond Folk Festival this past weekend!  The ladies from the Richmond Quilters Guild and I had a wonderful time, and were exhausted by the end of each day.  We went thru 90 pounds of rice, a 1/2 cup at a time, in the two days, at least 1500 5″ squares of fabric, a quart and a half of buttons (for the button spinners) and 400 yards+ of string.  There was also a  quilt quiz which had good participation.  But that doesn’t begin to tell all the stories of the two days – the kids were entranced with the sewing machines, almost as much so as their parents.  On Saturday we had a machine standing idle, so a dad and two mothers each took a turn sewing rice bags for their children and others.  Sunday after we’d run out of fabric, one little boy lined up 1/4″ x 5″ strips that had been trimed off and tried to convince me that we could make him a bag from the scraps.  He was very serious about it, but agreeably left with his mom after stating his piece.  Turned out his dad sews theatre costumes.

It was a wonderful time – hopefully one folks will remember.

(This is the second of two posts today – so roll down for another!)

Just a note…

Just a quick note, as I don’t want to take the time to download pix this morning – the Richmond Folk Festival is awesome!  I was a bit yesterday nervous since I knew the quilting/sewing activities were going to be understaffed, and then two ladies weren’t able to make it.  But we hung in there and made rice bags non stop in the Children’s Area from noon til 5pm.  Several of my stalwart volunteers worked way beyond the time they’d promised, and we even had assistance from several folks that were coming thru with their families, including John and Holly Dartez!

Everyone was very patient as they waited for the handcrack sewing machines, which at times did get cranky.  We went thru 50 pounds of rice a half a cup at a time. Weather was perfect, everyone was in a good mood!

Today we do it again, with more quilters scheduled which will be wonderful.  If you’re anywhere near downtown Richmond, come on by!

Team Quilting

Kitty’s View

Assembly Center

Design Wall

Approaching Completion

Yesterday, Saturday, was such a fun, full time that I’ve put up three posts, so be sure and scroll down. 

My morning started with an early drive thru misty fog and myriad yardsales (I didn’t even stop at one – but it was difficult), to Kitty’s for team quilting.  Members of VCQ have been sending in these blocks since March.  The block design was specified, fabric for the center square was provided, and batiks were to be used.  Our target is a completed quilt by early November.  So we’re coming down to the wire – and its looking great!!

Beginners’ Quilting

Quilting classes at my local quilt store haven’t been filling up this year – of four I was scheduled to teach this fall, only one made.  We met for that class yesterday afternoon and had a good time!  Age range was 8 to 12 years old and fortunately a grandmother and mother stayed to help out.  Part of the challenge was that of the five students, only 1 showed up with any knowlege of the supply list.  At least all of them had their fabric and a positive attitude. 

The quilt pattern we were using is an easy quilt-as-you-go approach.  Works really well for something like placemats.  Here’s the class samples: