Sunday, November 30, 2014

Pincushions

Yesterday I finished stuffing a few new embellished starfish pincushions. I have them all ready for Some Good Market next Saturday. They aren't tiny as I like to be able to stab my needles into a pincushion easily without having to search for it. I have been using one like these for the last year and the size is perfect.

Here's a few links with pincushions.  You might find one or two to make for Christmas gifts or for your own sewing space.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Christmas Craft Fair

It's hard to believe that the annual Christmas Craft Fair is over for another year. I would like to thank everyone who visited my booth and for those who purchased Christmas shimmer ornaments and other gifts. I know that some of my work will be going to China. A lovely young Chinese lady has been travelling across the country for several months and Newfoundland was her last stop. She is taking some of my shimmers, pins and cards back with her.

Other gifts will be going to West Africa, Spain, Scotland, Athens, USA, England, Australia and Eastern Europe. Years ago, I decided that some of my work had to be light enough and small enough to go into an envelope for mailing as the cost of mail is quite expensive. Over the years, I have found out that a lot of my work has travelled to most countries around the world. That is exciting!

My new Fibre Art Pendants were a hit this year! Now I have to make more for the Anna Templeton Tea and Sale in December.

Here's a few photos (taken by my husband) of my booth at the fair:


Just setting up so pendants aren't on the black
jewellery stands yet

 
Converted music stand holds a selection of Fibre Lace Scarves


Velcro is a wonderful invention!
Even the aluminum bars holding my art pins are attached to the back panel with it.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Guess What!!

Even though last week was an extremely busy one for me, I did manage to make a quick visit to the various blogs featured in Blogathon Canada. I did enter a few of the great giveaways too and guess what? I won a lovely teacup pincushion from Inch by Inch Quilting Blog. It was fashioned by Joanne of Etcetera. The pincushion is made from a vintage (children's) teacup.

If you haven't already checked out the terrific Canadian Bloggers from last week, it is a great way to meet new quilters and see what they are doing. It is also interesting to see the various links, tutorials and projects quilters list on their blogs.

Thanks again, Edith from Calgary, Alberta. (I borrowed your teacup photo to show off what I won).

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Thank You Everyone

Thank you to everyone (old friends and new) who visited my blog today. I only had time to take a quick visit to the blogs listed yesterday and today as I'm gearing up for setting up tomorrow for the Christmas Craft Fair at the Arts and Culture Center. Hoping to be able to relax on Monday, revisit all the fabulous Canadian bloggers who are participating in this Blogathon and reply to comments received.

New Sterling Silver Fibre Art Pendants
Here's a peek at some of my new Sterling Silver Fibre Art Pendants.  They will be at the craft fair this weekend.

Bolgathon, Canada - Maritimes

Welcome to the second day of Blogathon Canada! Thanks to Sew Sisters Quilt Shop for sponsoring this event and to Linda at Scrapmaster, and Linda at Stitch Lines, for co-hosting the Maritimes and Newfoundland Labrador.

A little about myself:  I live in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. I've been retired from teaching 17 years (I can't believe it) and having a great time creating with all kinds of fabric, threads, and yarns. To find out how I started creating textile art, please go to a previous post from 2010, Voyage of Discovery.

Since 1999, I have created many textile pieces portraying Newfoundland landscapes and seascapes. I have won several awards for my work, have been published, and had a gallery opening in Chicago, IL. Several pieces of my art have been purchased by the Government of Newfoundland Labrador and by the City of St. John's as part of the art procurement program.

I wasn't satisfied with the commercial fabrics printed with rocks (we have a very rocky terrain) so I researched how to print on fabric from my computer. The discovery of Bubble Jet Set 2000, saved the day, and I have been using it until pretreated fabric became available. I was printing on fabric long before it became popular with many textile artists. The rock fabrics I use are printed from my own photos. I usually cut up a printed sheet and applique the rocks to the background.

In All It's Glory is an example using 'rocks' printed from my computer. This piece was on exhibit at the Grand National Quilt Show, Ontario in 2002. The sky and ocean are hand dyed. The rocks and beach are printed on silk, cut out and each piece appliqued to the surface. The foliage and flowers are stitched onto organza using free motion stitching, cut out and stitched in place.
 
The other photos are samples of the textile art I have created. I thoroughly enjoy what I do. 
Check out my other photos and please visit my Website and things I have saved to Pinterest.
 
At the moment, I am getting ready to participate in the annual Christmas Craft Fair sponsored by the Craft Council of NL. This is the first time in four years that I will have a booth at the fair so needless to say, it's been a busy fall. Since my previous display was dismantled, my husband has been working overtime to get another one ready for set up Wednesday afternoon. The fair opens at noon, Thursday, Nov 20th and runs until Sunday, Nov 23. Maybe I'll see some of my local visitors to my blog there. Please drop by and say hello!
 
Thanks for visiting!
Click on the Blogathon Canada logo to the right of my post for the lists of hosts for the week. Lots to see and lots of quilters to meet.
There will also be some great giveaways!
 
Enjoy 
In All It's Glory
Treasures of the Sea, Award for Innovation and Design

Calm (private collection, California, USA) 

View From The Rooms


The Deep

Quilt for granddaughter

Western Brook Gorge (commissioned piece)
The mountain is dyed cheese cloth.

Gower Street, St. John's (commissioned piece)


Fishermen's Museum, English Harbour West
 (Part of the City of St. John's art collection)

Fishing Stage, Quidi Vidi, St. John's (commissioned piece)

Tea Cosy (private collection)


Pisces Fantastica
Garden Sewing Box (published in magazine, A Needle Pulling Thread;
also won award for Technical Mastery, NL; and Original Design, EAC)

Back Garden (commissioned piece)
 
 

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Framed!

We just finished framing twelve 5" x 5" textile pieces, for the Christmas Craft Fair next week. All my smaller work has black metal custom frames from Image Fusion, Mount Pearl.

Here's a sample:
I'm not happy with the photography as my lightning wasn't good. Usually, I take photos of my work in daylight but time was the issue tonight.

Samples

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Blogathon Canada is almost here!

Sew Sisters Quilt Shop in Toronto, Canada, is again, hosting Blogathon Canada.

There are host bloggers for each province and each host blogger will have links to other great blogs for you to visit. There will be lots to see and new friends to meet. And who doesn’t like a giveaway! Well, each host will have some wonderful prizes that have been provided by Sew Sisters and by the sponsors of Blogathon Canada: Aurifil Threads, Northcott Fabrics, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Camelot and Timeless Treasures. I hope that grabbed your attention!
I have been invited by Sew Sisters to link up with this blog hop! See you on Tuesday!

Here are the hosts:

Monday, November 17BCStaceyStacey in Stitches
Monday, November 17BCJessicaMomiji Studio
Tuesday, November 18MaritimesLindaScrapmaster
Tuesday, November 18MaritimesLindaStitch Lines
Wednesday, November 19ABKelseyEveryday Fray
Wednesday, November 19ABLeanneShe Can Quilt
Thursday, November 20SKHeatherPeace.Love.Quilt
Thursday, November 20MBLoriNight Owl Quilting
Friday, November 21QCJoséeThe Charming Needle
Friday, November 21TerritoriesJanetCaribou Crossing Chronicles
Saturday, November 22ONLorna Sew Fresh Quilts
Saturday, November 22ONSandyUpstairs Hobby Room

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Great Day!!

Happy Birthday to my mother who is 93 today. We are celebrating tomorrow.

I had a great day at Some Good Market! Now I have to make a few more fibre lace scarves for the Craft Council Christmas Craft Fair. That's a good thing. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table. It was great to see friends and to make new ones.



Friday, November 7, 2014

Local Craft Fairs

Tomorrow, I will be attending Some Good Market, 8 Military Road (Canonwood Hall, St. Thomas' Church), St. John's. Drop by if you live near by. I heard there will be about 40 vendors so you will have the chance to seek out those Christmas gifts that have to be mailed early. Did I mention that all my work is light weight and inexpensive to mail?

I will also have a booth at the Christmas Craft Fair sponsored by the Craft Council of Newfoundland Labrador. The fair dates: November 20 - 23, Arts and Culture Center, St. John's. Drop by to see my newest Shimmer Ornaments, Fibre Lace Scarves and Fibre Art Pendants.

Last but not least, the Anna Templeton Annual Tea and Sale takes place December 12, 13 & 14.  I will have a table at this event. Yah! I am hoping to have a new product ready for sale too. Guess my sewing machine will be working overtime!

In any event, I hope that wherever you are, check out the local arts and crafts in your area. You might be surprised at what you find. Good hunting!

Look for my quilted sign at the above venues. I'd love to see you.
Enjoy!








Sunday, November 2, 2014

November 2nd.

October just flew by. My posts were sparse as I am getting ready for two major Christmas Craft Fairs. As I write this, I am listening to the rain with lots of thunder, accompanied by some lightning. To have this kind of weather here in November, is quite unusual. In fact, the temperature forecast for Tuesday is 21C - I'm not kidding! However, it will only be for a couple of hours and then it is suppose to drop 8 degrees.  

In between work in my studio, I have been looking at some of the quilts on exhibit at the 2014 International Quilt Festival in Houston on Facebook. However, I finally found the official site of the winners! The quilts are fantastic. I envy those who were fortunate enough to attend. I was there in 2001 and it was fantastic.
Enjoy!

IQA