Textile Artists

I decided to do a short post tonight. I've been looking at a few web sites and decided to share some with you. The art of the following textile artists are meant to be inspirational. These were chosen at random. Enjoy!

Barbara Weeks, textile artist & tutor
Heather Lair Designs, Canadian artist
Carol Sloan's blog
Sue Dennis, textile artist & tutor
Regina Benson, artist, lecturer, curator
Jenny Bowker
Lorraine Carthew, tutor, textile artist & author
Brenda Gael Smith, contemporary quilts
Leni Wiener, photo inspired art quilts & thread painting
Arlee Barr, Canadian artist

Garden by Judy Cooper

England in the Fall

Alexander Palace

Well, it is confirmed that I will be heading to England in September on a Quilting & Needlework in England in the Fall tour with McCarthy's Party! For awhile we weren't sure it was going ahead but while I was on vacation, I got the good news. My friend and I will be staying in London for an extra week after the tour. One of the places we will visit on the tour, is the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexander Palace, London. This show is one of the major textile events in the UK. I'm looking forward to this one as I've read about it over the years in various quilting/stitching magazines. I've been to the International Quilt Show, Houston, Texas and that was fantastic!
Another stop will be the Royal School of Needlework based at Hampton Court in south-west London. In the morning, there is a tour of the Embroiderers Guild collection and explore the Palace (somehow, I can't see doing all that in one morning - maybe a second visit might be the thing to do) and in the afternoon, a private tour of the Royal School of Needlework is planned.

Victoria & Albert Museum

At York, we will visit the Quilters Museum, headquarters of the Quilters Guild of Great Britain. A special 'behind the scenes' tour has been arranged with the Museum Curator.

Sistine Chapel

While in London, we will be visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum. Apparently at the V & A  there is a special exhibition of tapestries from the Sistine Chapel. This is the first time ever in the UK for such a show. Of course, we will also see some of Princess Diana's wardrobe. 

That's a few places we will visit. I am hoping to meet some quilters and embroiderers while in England. I think that would be fantastic!

Printmaking with Gelatin

Making a gelain print from HGTV

Are you interested in trying a different way to print on fabric without a press? Linda Germain's blog is devoted to ways of printing on fabric. One way is to use gelatin. I've used rubber stamps and stencils as well as transfer paints but I haven't tried printmaking with gelatin. Yes, gelatin. Apparently early printmakers used a gelatin base for transferring an image onto paper. Linda has several short videos on her blog about gelatin printing. Take a moment to view them! To make your own gelatin plate check here. YouTube is another place to view Linda's videos as well as a few videos by other artists.

Check these out:
How to make a Gelatin Monoprint Accordion Book
Interview with Amanda Gordon Miller (scroll down to read about gelatin printing)
Cat Bennett's project - Floppity Flop
Maryland Printmakers
Gelatin Printmaking 202
Elizabeth Creates

L. Z. Products

During the last week of my Chicago visit, I was given a business card by a friend of my daughter. It was for L. Z. Products, a hugh textile discount outlet. I didn't think I would get there this trip as it was a long bus ride away and the weather was hot. However, my husband asked if there was something I wanted to do before leaving the city! Big mistake! HA! So of course, I got to shop at this three level store housed in an old brick factory. It was quite a large shop. I had never been in such a space as this before - three floors. There were rolls of fabrics on the walls and on free standing displays. Many of them were colour coordinated . One room had every type of trim/fringe/tassels/ribbons imaginable while another contained drapery material. There was also lots of different upholstery and cushion fabrics. I didn't see much in the way of quilter's cotton except a collection of African prints. But then, I really didn't get to see everything this trip. My husband decided to drop in as it was too hot to wait in the vehicle. There was lots of prom dress fabrics, glittery tulle/sparkly organza - the kind of stuff I like to use in my art work. I did manage to buy some of that kind of fabric. I will definitely go back to this spot on my next visit.

Landscape Quilting

I was reading some of the postings from Valerie Hearder's landscape group today and came across a reference to Quilters TV, specifically videos on Sewing with Nancy. The Art of Landscape Quilting videos part 1, 2, and 3 are listed and you can view them at your leisure. I have seen these before but had forgotten about them. If you google landscape quilting videos, you will find a fair collection on that topic to watch. It's amazing the number of full videos and video clips that are out there for free.
This landscape (not quilted) is one of a series I made with icebergs in the distance. It is mostly hand appliqued with some machine free motion stitching and hand embroider. The sky and water are hand dyed.
For more information on landscape quilting, check out the landscape quilts on Paintings With Fabric.
Interesting article here on How To Make a Landscape Quilt.
Quilted Views by Joan Jamieson.
Veronica's Sewing Supplies, Saskatchewan, Canada, has beautiful landscape fabrics. Check out the store.
Now it's your turn to try your hand on making landscapes!

Block of the Month

I've been searching for free Block of the Month patterns. Not that I'm going to do one but someone out there might be interested. However, in my searches I usually come across the unexpected. Then I save the site in One Note for future reference. You never know what you will find.
The Quilter Community has an alphabet pattern that is nice. All the blocks are ready for you to use.
For those out there with a sweet tooth, try Sweet Treats offered by the Quilter's Guild of Plano.
Snowbound, twelve months of snowmen, is the latest from Bunny Hill Designs. However, once all the blocks are posted. they will be taken off the 'free' page. Check out the tutorials as well.
For stitchers, here are some 'Flowers of the Month' patterns, a Country Calendar, Veranda Views and Under the Sea.
Just For Baby has applique blocks to make a quilt. To get the patterns, click on the text above each block. On the same web site check out the Floral Sampler and Magic Vine.
The Santa Rosa Quilt Guild has been very busy with their BOM's!  So have the Blue Mountain Quilters.
State Flower Quilt Blocks will be available until December 31, 2010.
One Piece at a Time has some wonderful applique blocks with tutorials. Scroll down to get all the Florabunda blocks to date.
I sat down to do a quick blog post! Time sure flies when you are having fun and I thought I was going to put away the things I purchased on my trip. Guess that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Folk Art Christmas Sampler - BOM

I just discovered another Block of the Month Christmas Quilt Sampler from Angie's Bits 'n Pieces. This BOM will run for five months starting in July. The quilt layout is the first thing given to you so that you can start cutting the background blocks and sewing the sashing strips. Just click on the download now for the folk art Christmas. Check out Angie's blog.

Electric Quilt 7

I just opened up EQ7. For years I have owned EQ6 but didn't do much with it. In fact, it hasn't been installed on my computer for a number of years. I don't do traditional quilting so why did I purchase this latest version? Time will tell. However, I read a few reviews about it and was interested - again. I won't be making quilts but I do want to do some designing. Here's the Electric Quilt web site. The section, Working With Images, caught my attention in the beginning and since I purchased 10 yards of pre-treated cotton fabric from the C. Jenkins Company, I have to start using it. I wish I could get treated white silk fabric too. I love printing images on the silk.
If you are interested in seeing some virtual quilts, check out the Virtual Quilter. Angie's Bits 'n Pieces has some freebie EQ patterns.
Hopefully, I'll get this program installed this weekend. So many things to do. I am still unpacking after five weeks of travelling. More of that later, especially when I get my photos uploaded.

Here is some good advice if you are new to EQ.

Bits & Pieces

I am reading some stuff on different blogs and thought these tattoos might interest you! These aren't just any tattoos, however. You have to be dedicated to put these on your body. Maybe you would like to have this one (scroll down a bit). Cross stitch anyone! Embroidery tattoo but not for me. Can you believe this one!
Now for some stitching. There are tutorials on Anita's Stitching blog. Her blog looks familiar (grin). check these and these. 
Creating an art quilt tutorial using Bubble Jet Set 2000.
To jazz up your quilt check out this one.
Enjoy!

Durian

Durian, is a fruit that is known as 'stinky fruit'. I have a Chinese sister-in-law in Ottawa and she introduced me to this fruit. Her family will not permit her to cut it open or eat it in the house so we had it out on the patio. When I first saw it, I was skeptical as to trying it. But what the heck, I could always spit it out if I didn't like it. Before I read about it, I compared its colour and texture to custard - stringy custard. The smell, because it was frozen, wasn't as bad as I thought. It did smell a bit like something had spoiled but once you get by that part, the taste was quite nice. I did go back for seconds. Check out the interesting story about this fruit here.
Here's the video about how smelly this fruit really is!

Christmas in July

The early bird gets the worm, so we have Christmas in July! If you want to get a jump on making your christmas gifts, check out the following:
Sew, Mama, Sew! has a tree skirt all ready for you to make. Check out their sewing tutorials too!
Cinderberry Stitches is having QFD or Quilt Fabric Delight's Christmas in July. You might like to check this one out. This one's not free!
Quilted placemat with Silverware Holder at Quilt Therapy
Block of the Month (BOM) Quilts has a few free Christmas patterns for you.
Gail Pan Designs has a free BOM for you - block one of nine!
Hugh list of free patterns not necessarily Christmas ones but . . .
Christmas patterns from Free Quilting
Christmas in July embroidery at Needle in a Haystack
Simply Santa from Compu Quilt

These should keep you busy!

Happy 4th. of July to Our Southern Neighbours

Happy 4th. of July! My daughter and American husband are living in Chicago. They just started a new business, Forte Framing and Gallery. I've never experienced a 4th of July holiday but I hear there are lots of fireworks and other celebrations. I've found a few free patterns dedicated to the American 4th of July holiday, however, I realize these can't be completed for this year but maybe it will get you thinking for next year! Better still, why not design youe own simple wall hanging or placemats! Use my research as a jumping off place to give you a few ideas but take that next step and put together something original. It's easy to take someone elses pattern but with a bit of thought I'm sure you can do your own thing! 

Table Topper
Flag Block (scroll down)
Three Paper Pieced American Flags
Fireworks Quilt Pattern
Happy Flag Day
Shooting Stars Quilt
Independence Day Quilt
Fourth of July Placemat

Christmas Row by Row - July Block

Row 8 and 9 - Trees, are available for the next part of the Christmas Row by Row quilt. Have fun!