Downtown

Today I had to go downtown on business. Parking spaces are few and far between so I opted to try the parking garage. I ended up on level M. What a view of the waterfront! The large white structure in the first photo used to be The Battery Hotel. It's now closed. I think it's been turned into office space. The homes you see, are located in part of the city called The Battery. This is a very unique spot. Further along, you can see Cabot Tower on the top of Signal Hill. It will be very nice to see some green on the hills instead of white.

When I got back home, my new one inch pendant trays and chains were in my mailbox. Now to get some ready for this weekend.

ART Studio Tour

"Studio Tour is a half hour documentary series that airs on Bell Aliant's Community One channel. Each episode profiles artists, galleries and art centres from around Atlantic Canada. The show is written, produced, and directed by Matt Brown."

While I was in Halifax this past February, participating in the Atlantic Canada Trade Show (ACTS), Matt  interviewed several of us about our work.

• Bernard M. Burton
• Bronwyn Arundel
• Trudy Gallagher
• Gena Denning
• Jade Ansley
• Robert McMillan
• John Morris
• Judy Cooper
• Susan Cannon

You can view it here.

Finishes

Today I'm showing off some of my newest work - Fibre Art Pendants. They will showcase next weekend at the Provincial Wholesale Show here in St. John's. These pendants are needle felted and inserted into the metal pendant trays. These trays are nickel and lead free. Check out last Sunday's post. Now I'm waiting for the one inch pendant trays to arrive.

The Quilt Show

The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims, is celebrating International Quilting Weekend by giving FREE access to 169 shows (Series 1 - 13). So if you want to be inspired this weekend, check them out HERE. I'm hoping to take in a few shows myself!
Enjoy!!

Simple Storage Solution

The plastic bags that sheets, duvets, and blankets are packaged in, make great containers for such things as yarns, tulle, or other soft stuff! Many of these plastic bags have zippers that allow them to be very accessible. I have several of these stuffed with yarn, another with my selection of tulle, and one for organza. Unlike a solid container, these can be stuffed into compact spaces!

Work Table

I have been working on my Fibre Art Pendants. My work table is filled with beads and other assorted tools. Selecting which beads to use and stitch on the little pieces of fibre art takes time. One of the most useful tools that I have for beading (in my opinion) is the bead tray that I purchased at the $ Shop a few years ago. I find that the $ Shops have lots of cheap, useful items for crafters.

Watch maker cases from Lee Valley Tools

Thinking Spring!

It's a beautiful, sunny day but still very cold. It snowed all day yesterday (light, fluffy stuff) so we still have lots of snow on the ground.

Spring! It seems as if we have been forgotten in this part of the world and there's not a thing we can do about it. However, there is something you can do to make it look like spring has arrived inside your own sewing space (and get organized at the same time). I've found a few nice projects to get you Thinking Spring at least. Using up some of those bright spring like fabrics is one way to go.

Have a look!

• Cube Pincushion and Pin Cushion Jar
• Cutting Mat Caddy
• Fabric Storage Bin, another one HERE
• Thread Catcher / Pin Cushion
• Sofa Organizer
• Scrap Basket
• Oval Bag Tutorial
• Tool Organizer

Fibre Arts Conference 2015

To help celebrate the Year of Craft 2015, the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador is hosting the Fibre Arts Newfoundland & Labrador 2015 Conference. This conference will take place October 15 -5 18 in Gros Morn National Park. This four day conference will consist of workshops. lectures, exhibitions, seminars, panel discussions and tours. To find out more about this event, please visit the link above.

Pendants

Thursday I showed you some work in progress. Well, the needle felting has turned into pendants. I have also added some beading to further enhance the design. In a few (not shown) I have not added beads as I think the embellished felt looks great as is. These are metal (lead & nickel free) in 5 different colours: pewter, silver, black, copper, and antique gold. These pendants measure approximately 1" x 2". I am also ordering the 1" x 1" pendant sizes and 24"chains to match the 5 colours. The green in the first photo is darker than shown.

California Fibers

Today's post is short on content but when you click on the link, you will be just a few steps away from been totally immersed in eye candy from the California Fibers artist web pages. Take a break and feast your eyes on some incredible works of fiber art. Click on the artists link to visit their web pages.

Enjoy!

Work In Progress

This afternoon was devoted to needle felting. Here's a couple of sheets that are ready to be used in my latest endeavor (not art cards this time)! I'll post photos in a later post.

 



Iris Folding

Last evening at Eastern Edge Quilt Guild, the program was Iris Folding. This technique originated in Holland. It is called iris folding because the center of the design resembles the iris of a camera or eye. Traditionally, origami paper is used for the main design and holographic paper is used to fill in the center. Fabric was used in our project.

The quilter, who demonstrated this technique, was very well prepared and had all the fabric strips cut and folded for each person. Thanks Sheila! It was a great project.

• You Tube how to do Iris Folding
• Iris Folding on Pinterest
• Free Patterns
• Basic Instructions

There are lots of free patterns on the Iris Folding web site. I think I just might make a few more using some of my batik fabrics! Here are the apples completed at my table. Mine is the green one on top.

 

Art Cards for Summer

I jumped from winter into summer (wishful thinking). This has been another freezing but sunny day. My focus was to finish some art cards. The backgrounds had been painted ages ago and just needed free motion greenery and then flowers.

Pearl cotton was put in the bobbin of my machine and green bobbin thread on the top. The pieces were than stitched upside down. I added the flowers by hand. It's hard to tell from the photo but some  of the flowers were stitched on organza and others were hand done on dissolvable stabilizer. I laid one of  them on a card to show what they will be like. I will sign and number each one.

Wishing For Spring!

This has been the longest, coldest winter that I can remember! I go outside only when necessary. Of the four seasons, winter is my least favorite. I'm glad it's almost done (I hope). However, looking out my window today, one would think - Christmas card! Everything is covered with a soft cover of white. It does look pretty but enough is enough!
Many of you have been blogging about spring things so here's a few springy things I found! I also added one of my mini embroidery pieces, wishing it was Spring.

• Easter is in the Air - fabric Easter Egg tutorial
• Vintage Bunnies Wall Quilt
• Free Easter Patterns
• Easter Sewing
• Beaded Napkin Rings
• Felted Wool Chick & Egg
• Quilted Easter Egg Pouch
• Free Easter Quilt Patterns

Enjoy!

Machine & Hand Embroidery / Applique

   

 

Brrrrrr!

Yesterday at Quidi Vidi Village Plantation, I saw some ducks and pigeons enjoying a swim in the cold water. Brrrr! They didn't seem to mind the weather. As you can see, we still have lots of snow around.

March of Mugs

Today was cold but sunny. Just look at that sky! I went downtown this morning to the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation where the March of Mugs is been held this weekend. Curated by Alexis Templeton, this special gallery exhibition hosts functional and beautiful cups and mugs by exceptional and award-winning international potters and ceramic artists. To view the list of artists, please click on the March of Mugs link above. I was given permission to photograph the beautiful pottery on display. Enjoy!



View from the back of the Plantation

Interesting Things!

February is finally over (at least it will be at midnight). This is a short month and this is a very short post for me. However, having said that, it took me a long time to look at all the interesting photos at Interesting Things. They may not be textile based but I thought I'd share them with you anyway. Sometimes it good to get entirely away from the familiar.


Enjoy!

Busy Day

We had more snow today. As a result, I got lots of work done in my studio. Both embroidery machines were working from dawn to dusk - literally! Lots of shimmers are stitched out. Now on to the next step of finishing them.
I recycle plastic containers. This large one holds left over bits of bonded Angelina Fibers which will  be reused in the making of more sheets of Angelina.


Angelina film & cut up bits of netting - used in the bonded sheets

 





Shimmers waiting to be packaged

Sew Cute!

This is sew cute, that I had to share it. Baa Baa Black Sheep (or white) is the creation of Abby Glassenberg. You can find this tutorial at Sew Mama Sew. I figure we need something to help remind us that SPRING (hopefully) is just around the corner. However, the view from my window sure doesn't hint of anything close to spring. We are still into a deep freeze! Brrrrr!! The only consolation - the sun is shining.

So please hop (that's bunny talk) on over to see this nifty creation. You might just be inspired to make one for that little someone in your life.

Enjoy!