Virtual Open Studio Tour

Thanks for visiting on the Cloth Paper Scissors Virtual Open Studio Tour. Welcome to my studio. I am lucky to have an extra bedroom in our home to use as my studio.

We’ll start in the corner with my sewing table. I invested in this table six years ago, and I’ve never been sorry. When I am working on a big quilt, I can pull it away from the wall and open up the drop leaf to double the surface. The roll around carts hold threads and notions. I’ve recently put up my serger and find I use it more often.

Moving clockwise, is my design wall and closet. I took the doors off the closet and put up a curtain rod. The curtains are normally open, but I can close them when overflow guests need to use the studio as a bedroom. My design wall is floor to ceiling, about 8 feet wide. It is thick Styrofoam insulation covered with cotton quilt batting, and I could not get along without it. It’s big enough for a large bed quilt, but usually has inspiration photos, and in process projects displayed on it. I only showed half the closet, the other side looks worse than this one, and it never gets any better than this.

I’ve been so inspired by the Quilting Arts Gifts Magazine projects that I have put up some of those projects for decoration. For details on the Advent houses, click here. For a post relating to the stockings, click here. For the vertical bird strand click here. For the Christmas garland, click here. The green squares are destined to become coasters. For more info on the coaster project click here.

Moving clockwise from the closet is my ironing/cutting/work table. The table is an inexpensive one I purchased about 7 years ago at Jo Ann Fabric. It folds up to just 12” wide and is on casters. The thing I like best about it is the ironing pad that goes with it. I’ve been through about 4 in the life of the table.

Continuing clockwise, are my bookcases. These were “repurposed” when I changed some furniture. In the ‘80’s they were in our living room, in the ‘90’s the girl’s TV room, and now in my studio.

The thing that makes my studio work for me is the work triangle I created. I can move easily between the three main areas, design wall, cutting/ironing table, and sewing table.

Adjacent to the studio is a bathroom. I should keep it neater than I do, but it’s where I wash brushes and clean up. It has a door that opens to the lanai where I have a clothesline strung.

Thanks for visiting!

Christmas Countdown Village

When I saw the cover project from the latest issue of Quilting Arts Gifts Magazine, I knew I had to make these little houses. They are designed to hang on the tree or on a garland, and the idea is the fill the back pockets with treats, messages and trinkets to discover each day in December before Christmas. I just love the way they look hanging together.

Designing the roofs, windows and doors was fun, and suprizingly I enjoyed sewing the blanket stitch numbers for the back pockets. If I did them again, I would used fusible web on the back of the doors and windows to control raveling.

A new Christmas stocking

My daughters rejected new stockings, preferring the ones I made them over 25 years ago, which have grown a little grubby over time. And might I say, they are a bit juvenile. However, we do have traditions, and nothing brings out tradition like the Christmas season. Having no matching stocking for Jeremy, he gets a new one. I chose Jane Davila’s pattern in the latest issue of Quilting Arts Gift magazine. Fun to make! I’ve been trying to figure out how to get his name on it, and the idea of using waste canvas and doing cross stitching on just occurred to me. Wonder if they still make it?

Yes, they still make it. I found some in 14 and 10 stitches per inch. I started with the 14, and couldn’t see where the stitches were supposed to go. I switched to the 10 canvas. It was a little better, but I could only work on it in direct sunlight. Gotta get my glasses changed.

Heroic Stitchery

Every now and then I find a gem online. Have fun with this one.

Find your color personality

Better Homes and Gardens offers this quiz to help you decide what color to paint your walls based on your answers to eight questions. My color personality is yellow. Yellow? Not much yellow in my house, but lots in my garden, so maybe that’s it. I was a bit uncertain about some of my answers, so I took it again. Chose Scotland over Rio, and it came up green. Mix them together and you have chartreuse, one of my favorite colors. What color are you?

To celebrate yellow, here are a couple of photos Tom took at the dahlia garden at High Hampton Inn in 2008

Japanese Stab Binding

I told myself before my surgery that I was going to learn another bookbinding technique, and last night I cut the pages and cover. Today I watched two videos that gave step by step instructions. Here’s my first effort at Japanese Stab bookbinding. It really was very easy. I’d put the holes closer to the edge next time.

Tutorial turns into class

I’ve never made money with my art. I’ve had a few commissions for art quilts, done a store display quilt and sold some baby quilts. Mostly I just spend time in my studio because I enjoy it, and give the resulting projects to my friends and family. I recently stopped in the Sewing Garret a quilt shop near my home. I wanted to buy some Kona cottons to do bleach discharge. The salesperson asked me what I was going to do with the fabrics I was buying and I told her about my project. She was interested, and asked me to bring samples. After seeing the samples, she put me on the calendar to teach a class on coaster construction and surface design in November. It will be fun!

We’ll do some sewing with scraps and decorative machine stitches, we’ll learn two easy methods of coaster construction, and we’ll do some discharge dyeing with bleach pens. I’ll have lots of ideas on how to translate these techniques to other projects.

1—couched threads

2—bleach discharged on black fabric quilted with metallic thread

3—bleach discharged fabric thread painted with multiple threads

4—scraps and decorative stitches

5—scrappy background with fused and stitched elements

6—scrappy background diagonal format

7—bleach discharged fabric quilted with fluorescent thread

8—bleach discharged fabric with machine and hand stitching

9—easiest of all, simple fabric coaster

Collage Lab—Cardboard Substrates

Today I worked on Lab 5 in Bee Shay’s book Collage Lab. I cut and distressed the cardboard to reveal a lot of the ridges, then I prepped the top row of the samples with white gesso. The second row was prepped with matte medium and the third row was not prepped.

Next I painted the samples

The first column was painted with full strength olive green paint.

The second column was painted in a 50/50 wash with turquoise paint

The third column was painted with a vivid lime green

The fourth column was painted with a blend of titan buff and a robin’s egg blue.

I’m already liking how the ones prepped with gesso look.

For the final coat I did a dry brush technique with yellow paint on the olive green column

On the second column I did a dry brush with full strength turquoise mixed with a little bit of bronze iridescent.

On the third column, I did a wash of 50/50 turquoise. It really toned down the brightness of the vivid green.

For the fourth column I did a dark blue ink wash (50% water)

The last piece in the photo was an un-prepped piece I painted when I had paint left over from other samples. I think I’ll lighten it up and try the tissue paper overlay that Bee Shay writes about in her blog.

Lab notes: I liked the samples that were prepped with gesso the best . The colors were truer since they weren’t influenced by the color of the cardboard.

After the pieces dried, the green gold pieces were really ugly. I added a 1/1 mix of light aqua paint and acrylic glazing liquid. I colored the extra piece that was dark turquoise as well. I liked it so much when I was finished that I followed Bee’s lead by writing on tissue paper with a Pitt artist pen and adhering it to the cardboard with matte medium. I’ve got a plan formulating for how I will use it.

Bleach Discharge Coaster Tutorial

I was inspired by Kelly Nina Perkins article in the most recent issue of Quilting Arts Gifts. She discharged fabric with bleach and made mini quilts then assembled them into gift boxes. I decided to do a quicker project and just make a set of coasters with some flat surface design elements.

Select fabric to discharge

You can try commercial printed fabrics, but my best luck with fabric discharging has been using Kona cotton solids by Robert Kauffman. I chose a green for this project

Discharging the fabric

I used a new Clorox bleach pen (they do lose effectiveness over time) and made some doodles with the small end of the pen. It took about a minute to begin discharging the color. I immediately put the fabric in a bucket of water and swished it to remove the bleach and then washed it in the machine

Making the Coasters

I cut the discharged fabrics to about 5” square and adhered them to lightweight stabilizer with temporary adhesive spray.

Next I did free motion machine and hand stitching. I used rayon 40wt thread for the machine work, and a beautiful rayon metallic thread for the hand work. My friend Sue gave me this gorgeous metallic thread a few years ago. It is too heavy for conventional machine sewing, but works fine for bobbin work. I did hand stitching today, maybe next time I’ll do some bobbin work.

Next I trimmed them down to 4 1/2” square and cut backs out of a contrasting fabric. I also cut 3 3/4” squares out of heavy interfacing, like Timtex.

On the wrong sides of the backs of the coasters I ironed on some wonder under which helps to stabilize the back when you are turning the coasters right side out. I cut a 2” slit through the stabilizer and the coaster back, and removed the paper backing.

While I had out the iron and the stabilizer, I ironed wonder under to 1" x 3” strips which will later be used to cover the hole in the back of the coaster.

Next I matched the coaster fronts to the coaster backs, right side together and stitched around all four sides. Remember that slit you cut? That is how you will turn it right side out.

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Next I clipped the corners and turned the coasters right side out, and stuffed them with the heavy stabilizer. (the pin is only to hold the stabilizer together for the photo)

Iron the 1”x3” strips to the backs of the coasters to cover the slit, and sign if desired.

Finished!

Collage Lab textures and washes

Continuing the Collage Lab Book study, referred to in the previous post, I’ve done some more with washes over assorted substrates.

1—First layer, writing in wet white gesso, allowing to dry, second layer green ink on the bottom, blue ink on the top. third layer transparent red iron oxide diluted with acrylic glazing liquid. Note how the color pulled off the top blue portion, I had forgotten that acrylic glazing liquid can act as an eraser

2—First layer acrylic modeling paste stamped with a piece of a citrus bag. Second layer Brown Bombay ink. Third layer green gold acrylic mixed with polymer medium. I actually liked this one better before I added the green paint on the top layer

3—First layer, heavy gloss gel “combed” for texture. Second layer brown Bombay ink. This one is in need of a third layer

4—Peach paint tinted gesso allowed to dry. second layer, white gesso stamp, third layer brown Bombay ink, fourth layer green gold acrylic diluted with acrylic polymer medium

5—White gesso combed for texture while wet and allowed to dry. Second layer was turquoise acrylic paint diluted with water. It bubbled and separated, so I wiped most of it off and applied some yellow Bombay ink on top

6—Gesso tinted with turquoise paint and sponged while wet for texture. after drying, a swirl stamp was applied with white gesso. Next layer was brown Bombay ink

7—Acrylic modeling paste stamped with bubble wrap while wet. Second layer turquoise acrylic paint diluted with water. Yellow Bombay ink on top

8—This was my favorite sample. The substrate was modeling paste sponged on for peaks and valleys and allowed to dry. Second layer was turquoise acrylic paint diluted with water. Third layer iridescent bronze acrylic paint dry brushed to just hit the high spots. If I did it again, I’d make the turquoise paint a little greener so it would look like copper verdigris.

9—Heavy gloss gel sponged and swirled for texture. Second layer brown Bombay ink diluted with water, third layer red Bombay ink diluted with water

Back in the Studio

I’ve started playing a bit in my studio. My Yahoo group, mixed media art friends is doing a book study, Collage Lab by Bee Shay. Bee is blogging about the book at this blog. The blog is designed to be a companion to her book.

Today I was doing ink washes. I’ve never worked with inks before, so it has been fun.

I’m not doing any specific project, just playing with techniques, but it’s good to be making something again.

The wedding

Our daughter Laurel married Jeremy Trantham on August 14. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. Here are a few photos of the wonderful event.

Our dear friend, Robert Alexander was the officiant.

Our new family, Susan, Tom, Laurel, Jeremy and Patricia

What I’m Reading

After Laurel’s wedding I had a hysterectomy. I’m four weeks out now. Progress has been unremarkable, but slow. I still have to limit activities, so instead of making quilts and art, I have been reading (and watching Mad Men DVD’s)

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

The Stieg Larsson Trilogy

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Girl Who Played with Fire

Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger

Waiting by Ha Jin

My current books: Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne and Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

Little Bee—Liked, unusual story, compelling characters

Larsson Trilogy—suspenseful page turners. Dragon Tattoo is a stand alone book, the second and third book are part one and two of the same story. Don’t start reading Girl Who Played with Fire without knowing where you are going to get Hornet’s Nest.

So Brave, Young and Handsome—best book I have read this year. Absolutely beautiful prose. It’s a wonderful story wonderfully told, and if you haven’t read his first novel, Peace Like a River, read it too. They are completely different stories, but equally beautifully written. He and Elizabeth Strout are among my favorite authors.

Waiting—It took a long time for this book to get interesting, (thus the title?) but I did enjoy it. It’s a post cultural revolution look at social mores in China.

Empire of the Summer Moon—This is the only non-fiction book in the group, but it reads like a novel. Fascinating story of the Comanche the most powerful tribe in American history. I’ve stopped reading it for now as I just picked up Jonathan Franzen’s new book from the library.

Freedom—So far I am really enjoying this book. I’ve read about a hundred pages. The only bad thing is that a heavy smoker read the book before me…the downside of a library book.

Art Dolls

My sister and her husband were recently here on vacation. One of their granddaughters and a friend spent a week with them. I had the privilege of spending an afternoon teaching them to make art dolls. The original pattern came from Debbi Crane who blogs at Paper Doll Post. After I left, the girls spent a lot of time making dolls going way beyond what I showed them. They made a bug, a mermaid, a cat, a snake, and a big assortment of dolls embellished to the max.

White ducks

A few months ago we had swans, now we have a flock of white ducks. They have been swimming in the lake behind our house for a week or so. They are never more than a foot apart from each other. These ducks cannot fly. Where did they come from?

Some of the neighbors have been feeding them, and tonight when I went out on the lanai to pick some herbs, they came to the screen expecting that I would feed them.

They quacked and made so much noise, we had to cancel our plans to eat outside.

I wonder if they are related to these ducks we saw in China?

Wedding details

My daughters are visiting for the week. Among our many activities we have been crafting some wedding decor.

Laurel needed a way to put numbers on the tables so the guests could locate their seats quickly. As a lover of reading, she is using a book theme in decorating for the reception.

Here’s the process:

Find masonite wall art at the dollar store and cover with grey gesso

Paint the gessoed wall art with acrylic paint

Use Mod Podge to apply book pages to the painted masonite

Apply cut out numbers (notice the bride’s left hand)

glue paper easels to the backs

Completed!

Another comic strip

I admit it. I read the funnies, the good ones and the annoying ones. I’m not as diligent as Tom who not only reads the strips in our paper but goes online and reads strips and commentary from the Comics Curmudgeon. However, I do read one he doesn’t, Cathy. Cathy falls in the annoying comic strip category. This strip from July 8, 2010 made me laugh out loud, especially considering my post about my new sandals.

Baby Quilts

I find it relaxing to take a break from mixed media and make traditional quilts. It is where I started out on my studio adventures, and I enjoy the process. I usually have a couple of baby quilts on hand for gifts, but my supply was depleted. I had to get busy.

I’ve made over ten sock monkey quilts over the years. I was once a part of a quilting group that ordered bolts of the monkey fabric from the manufacturer. I probably have enough fabric to make three or four more. I’ll bind it with red.

I love the bright colors of this flower power quilt. I found the large flower fabric at a quilt show a few years ago at Tammy Tadd’s booth. I bought several yards of it and made a bed sized quilt and two baby quilts. I only have enough for one more baby quilt. But something new will come along to catch my eye.

All better now

My computer has been in the shop for over two weeks. I picked it up on Friday, and learned that it was infected with viruses, the worst being a couple of Trojan Horse programs. Very nasty indeed. I hope that my computer will no longer send emails from me advertising prescription drug sales and that I can get back in the business of blogging again.