Post Card Swaps Go Up Tomorrow!

You are invited to try your hand at making little mini-fibre-art!  Please come to PostCardCottage at Yahoo groups dot com.  Once you join as a member, you have the option to sign up for swaps.  So hang out there and wait until you see something you like.  I'll be putting up fun topics tomorrow to spur your imagination!!!

the backside of a card I got from Miriam G. in Ireland

If you sign up for a swap you only have to make 3 pieces, 4 x 6`` each, using ANY technique you want.  Basic instruction are in a file there.  You also GET 3 postcards back from fabulous people around the world via REAL MAIL!  Want to see a few in my collection?  Click on the following:

WOW LOOK AT ALL THESE!!

It`s very fun and practically free.  Please do join if you have a sewing machine and some scraps.  I would love to swap with you!  : )

funny little cards i made for an easter swap, 2010

Monika
sewing in Saskatoon

Pattern, Pattern, Who Gets the Pattern?

Congratulations to #5 - Judy!  Judy was randomly chosen to get this PATTERN I made emailed to her as a PDF file.  (Judy, can you send me your email?  I'm having trouble locating it.)  I must say that I am very intrigued by the dark blue / light blue / white / rust combination that was suggested by Cheryl.  Nice!  Contests always suck since there can only be one winner.  However, if anyone really wants to try it, it's cheap ($6) and can be found here:  "In The Meadow" PATTERN

...back to work,
~Monika
 sewing in Saskatoon

Sunday Snapshops #15

I met some friends for coffee at the Mendel Gallery this morning.  It's been AGES since I've done that!  Unfortunately it's another grey day outside so I didn't snap photos of the snowy river out the front windows of the cafe.

i'm addicted to coffee... but also interesting mugs.  meet my blog cup!  ; )

I headed over to the big bookstore to get lost in it and mope around looking for pretty things to inspire me.  Do you ever do that?  I found some beautiful books on embroidery and fibre art.  sigh.  I sat and looked through them, fully prepared to buy them.  But I changed my mind.  It's just not me.  One was fairies and one was little cut out flower petals.  All I could think about was making another prairie landscape.

I headed over to the magazine section.  There are dozens upon dozens of quilting magazines... either traditional or simple-modern.  And they are starting to look all the same because I'm seeing them everywhere. I appreciate them but I am not inspired by them at the moment.

I flip through Belle Amoire.  Gosh - gorgeous and luscious and oh my!  Check this out!

cover of Belle Amoire, Dec 2010

 
Is it the mood I'm in ?  This is GORGEOUS and I would wear it.  ; )  That is art meets quilter meets dressmaker.  It definately sparked my attention.  My current subscriptions are expired now so I need to think about what to get for the next year.  I really like Belle Amoire.

last year's Quilting Arts magazine pile

There were several quilting magazines that spoke of "hot new thread sketching - all the rage".  I almost bought one, and then thought - nah. I already do that.  And my artist mother's voice rang in the back of my mind, "do your own thing.  Don't go to art school because then nothing will be original anymore".  Her artist uncle told her the same thing.  In some respects I suppose that's true.  I really want to express my heart with fibre and thread but it just can't come out fast enough. I suppose that's what sketch books are for.  ; )  As I'm looking through other artists' work, all I could think about was making another prairie landscape.

my own detail of prairie grasses

Here's something I hadn't come accross before.  I looked through it at the bookstore.  It's Canadian and covers a wide variety of crafts from quiting to crochet, cross stitch to fibre art, knitting and embroidery...

A Needle Pulling Thread 

Maybe I'll go paperless with my Quilting Arts Magazine renewal.  I'm really looking forward to the day that the new issue of Quilters' Connection Magazine shows up in my mailbox!   In the mean time, all I can think about is making another prairie landscape.

~Monika
dreaming away ~

Gingerbread Cookies

No, I'm not baking.  I'm quilting.  I'm working on the St. Nikolas quilt today.  So far so good.  I decided not use the paper pieced gnomes by Sonja Callaghan only because I was too chicken to try it.  So I stuck with the applique theme and made gingerbread-cookie-cutter kids!

 

I made ten of them, one for each child.  I'm putting them in a circle on the quilt with names embroidered on each.  But I cannot show you yet!  Here's all you get...

It's not sewn together in this photo.  It's just stuck to the design wall.  I've rearranged it a dozen times!  I think I know what I'm doing now.  : )  So I squared all the blocks up, which helped to centre some of them a bit better.  I use tape on my rulers as a guide now ALWAYS when doing repetitive cutting - ever since accidentally slicing fabric too small too many times. 

This is a very busy quilt, but it has a pretty christmas feel to it.  I think the kids will love it.  Arwen is a bit freaked out.  She said, "you mean you are SELLING THIS!!???".  She says that about everything I make.  Needless to say, she owns more quilts than anyone in this family!  lol

back to work...

see ya tomorrow!

~Monika

Quilting Again

I spent last night shoveling.  My kids were sledding in our back yard until ten pm!  We spent the morning sledding again.  There's so much snow and it's so mild out.  FUN!  I love days like these.  Now we are back at home and sipping hot chocolate.  I made a quick trip to Periwinkle Quilting to grab more of this awesome fabric.

And now I'm slicing up strips for the preschool quilt.  My plan was to make a picnic blanket with this.  But it goes so well with the blocks that the kids made.  This is how I quilt:  I chop up things and figure out what I'm doing later.  It's terrible.  Most times it works.  lol  We'll see.  I have ideas but no real vision for this quilt. 

One thing I did do was order the EQ software (Electric Quilt).  !!!  I'm actually buying an older version because I am extremely frugal.  ; )  I've seen demonstrations and think it looks really great.  If I love it, I'll upgrade when the next version comes out.  I've heard the newest version (EQ7) actually will spit out fabric requirements for you if you create a quilt in its program!  Is that true?  I'd love to hear from anyone who uses EQ.  Thanks in advance!

~Monika

Quilt Pattern Give-Away

While I'm busy working on the preschool fundraiser quilt, I thought I would post another draw!  This time, the winner will get a copy of the quilt pattern I have in my etsy store.  I will mail it to the recipient in PDF format.  It's based on a traditional 'in-the-meadow block', but I think the new name has become 'square in a square'.

in the meadow / square in a square

It's a full size quilt made of 63 blocks in four color groups.  The pattern includes measurements for fabric amounts in metric and imperial.  There are quilting instructions included for easy "circles" on small machines.  It's a great pattern if you have precut jelly rolls too!  Diagrams and photos are throughout the instructions.  

i made this in autumn colors for our living room

Want to try it out?  I would love feedback on the pattern.  Leave a comment telling me what four colors you would like to make this in.  I used cranberry centres, chocolate brown, maple, and butter.  haha - mmmmmm.  The winner will be chosen by a random number generator on Sunday midnight.  The winner will be announced on Monday morning!  Good luck!

~Monika

Everything is Changing Inside

You might remember me saying that I sell my sewing to make money so that I can buy more fabric so that I can sew more so that I can sell...  You get the idea.  Well.  It's partly true.  After talking to various buyers of my art this week, my heart has really been opened to something I had not anticipated.  I sold and delivered over half of all the art on display.  I left each home in awe and very humbled.  And I have no problem letting my art go when people react so strongly to a particular piece.  Tonight was no exception.

Spring on the Prairie, 2010 (4x6")

A woman called me on the phone.  She said she walks in the mall regularly.  People do that in the winter here.  She said every time she passes my exhibit, she stops to stare at one piece in particular: Spring on the Prairie.  Today on her walk, it was GONE!  (I took the show down on Sunday.)   She said she was so upset about not being able to see it, so she went straight to the management to get my contact information.  "What was I thinking!?" she exclaimed.  "I need to see it again!"  The way she talked about what this piece of my prairie art would do for her brought tears to my eyes!  "I was so upset when it was gone.  So I've decided I'm buying this for me. It's my Christmas present to myself.  I deserve it!  Is it still for sale?"  It was!  It's one of my favorites and I was hoping someone would fall in love with it.

So I met her in the lobby of her complex after supper.  I wrapped it like a present under the tree.  She opened it and showed all her friends the little stitches under the glass.  They all gasped and oooh-ed and aaah-ed.  It was quite a performance!  She hugged it, and then she hugged me.  And we said goodbye.  I left the building and instantly burst into tears.  I like my prairie scenes very very much.  To have someone feel the same way is an incredibly moving experience.  So the ex-social worker / trauma counsellor in me was very pleased to help another person to feel good inside.  Likewise with you Carol-Lynne!

Happy 94th Birthday to Carol-Lynne's Grandmother!

Here's a quote that Pippa Moore had quoted on her blog... and I couldn't agree more.  I think I had forgotten this.

"Art is our memory of love. 

The most an artist can do through their work
is say, let me show you what I have seen, 

what I have loved, 

and perhaps
you will see it and love it too."
-Annie Bevan

Have a great day!

~Monika

Grandma's Cabin, Stage "All Done"

I worked on this a lot today and yesterday. Aside from a sign with the house number and family name, it's DONE!  I added all the planters and then began stitching the flowers.  I did french knots and glass beads.  I needed red thread.  But which one!???

 

I really loved working on the planters the most I think.  The roof gave me satisfaction too though.  ; )  So here I am stitching on the geraniums into the planters.

Don't they look pretty!?  Ah I love how this turned out.  They add so much dimension.

 

I added the lamp and the lights and the birdbath...

click pic to enlarge

What do you think Carol-Lynne!?

It's going to look great in that black shadow box.  p.s.  The white planters are the about 3 mm at the widest.  Crazy!  And here are the photos I started this commission with.

~Monika

Pippa Was Here

What a great talk last night:  "Travels with my Treadle".  Pippa Moore came to our guild and told us about her travels to Uganda where she taught a small group of women/mothers/widows how to sew some specific items that would make profit for those women & the people in their lives.  Incredible. 

i think she called these "Alice bags"

I won't give away the story, because you really must hear it yourself.  Afterwards she had African fabric and some of the items available for sale.  Needless to say, she was QUITE BUSY writing up receipts and the women gathered around the table of goodies.  There were a LOT of women and I got bumped a few times trying to snap these.  This isn't a great photo, but it's cute and certainly captures the action at that end of the room ; )   

the buzzing market table (Pippa with glasses)

Thank you Pippa!  Her link is RIGHT HERE  if you want to learn more about the fabulous project, women, crafts, and fabrics.

~Monika

Up and Running!

I realize I use a lot of exclamation marks when I type, but they are all warranted! (See there's another one.)  I just was contemplating taking a couple days off from projects when I got an email that three of my pieces have been accepted for the Delta Bessborough Hotel's 75th Anniversary events!  It's 'the castle on the river' here in Saskatoon.  They are having one closed and one open art auction.  This quilt will be at the by-invitation-only night on Friday December 10th. 

black & white & red all over!

And I have 4 packs of photo / fibre art blank greeting cards at the open house on Sunday December 12th from the following photos!

the window grates on the Bessborough Hotel, Saskatoon

WOW.  Here I am, stunned and humbled beyond belief.  I thought I was told that if you weren't contacted by the 10th of November, then you weren't selected.  So the tenth came and went and I moped around a bit.  But wow- EVERYTHING was selected.  I have one of each made, so now I'll have to sit and reproduce them before December 1.  

we all affectionately call her "the Bess" (bez).  i thought this shot was a winner!

I still have the St. Nikolas quilt that needs to be done by the 5th.  And I need a day more to work on Grandma's Cabin.  Then it's off to work on the baby-carrier turned wall hanging commission.  There's one more commission after that to make a BIG quilt and I'll be putting up a little "closed for now" sign aater that point.  I have my own ideas that I need to get out.  And there's a few of those!  Remember that gorgeous blue fabric from Dorothy's fundraiser?  Those ideas are really nagging at me.  It will be great to see them get produced.  

waiting...

Well I'm off to the guild meeting.  Pippa Moore is our guest speaker tonight!  I can't wait!!  If you aren't a guild member, you can come!  It's $5 admission to non-members.  She's speaking on "Travels with my Treadle".  7:30 pm at the big church on Preston Avenue and Circle Drive.

~Monika

up and running! 

Sunday Snapshots 14 & Thank YOU.

Whew, what a day!  I took down the show today, brought it all home and then started wrapping up the sold pieces.  Today I delivered my art to the buyers.  I was nervous all over again!  It was like going to a second job interview!  (Don't look nervous.  Smile.  Be polite.  Say thank you.)  gulp.  Should I dress up? 

The Moon One Morning (detail) 2010 - sold

It turned out to be a really good wrap up to the whole experience.  Each person invited me into their homes to show me their prized art collections.  One woman loved fibre.  Two bought things for friends who love to sew.  Another had a gorgeous home filled with painted landscapes of the prairies in every room.  ALL PRAIRIE.  It was a prairie show-home!  I was stunned to have my art in that house.  What an honor.  I am truly in awe.

a photo i took this spring

Back at home I slowly put things back.  I put my red courthouse step quilt in the living room. I put up the red curtains that I used for the floor of the gallery.  And I placed the Rosehips Under Glass on the mantle.  WOW.  It's instantly my favorite room.  The big windows face south and the floors and walls are a warm honey color.  The place sure was bare without all that color!

my quilt, my favorite colors.

I want to thank everyone who commented on the show, the buyers who are keeping my work on display in their homes, and the sudden surge of Facebook and Hive followers!  It's really great to have an audience that provides so much feedback.  I feel so very lucky, and so very grateful.

evergreen and sunshine in the back yard

 

And yes Janice!  I am doing this again.  I've already put my name back on the wait list for next year.  : )

~Monika

Calling All Swappers!

Earlier this month it was announced that PostcardCottage was coming to an end.  It is a fibre art postcard swap group on yahoo.  (Say that three times fast!)  I have been so thoroughly enjoying this group and all the opportunities it has offered.  I wasn't ready for it to quit, after all I just got there this spring!  So I stepped up as the new list-owner / moderator.  .  Want to see what kind of gems you get when you join?

I loaded a whole bunch of photos of cards I received into a new flickr photo sharing group.  Here it is!  If you are already a member of PostcardCottage, go ahead and add photos.  Flickr is pretty easy, and the first 200 photos are free.  Not bad!

* * * PostcardCottage on Flickr * * *

Want some too?  It's so easy.  You go HERE if you want to join the group.  In the group, you can sign up for swaps.  Swaps are posted on the first of each month, and yours must be mailed out by the 15th of the following month.  In each swap you make three cards to mail out, and you'll get three cards mailed to you.  Each swap has a topic to inspire you to create something fabulous!  They go out with regular postage depending on the country you are sending them too of course.  No envelope required.  Further card-making instructions can be found in the files that are already there at the group.

See you soon!

~Monika

many hats, many aprons.

Sunshine and Lolipops!!!

After ten days of grey and several vitamin D supplements, I woke up to this in my kitchen!!!  Whooopeeee!!  I jumped right in the light and let my face soak it all in.  : )

 

I can't even begin to explain how this warm glow of the morning sun just soothes my soul and makes everything normal again!  As soon as I'm done this blog post I'm heading out to shovel!  But first I want to show you the progress I made on "Grandma's Cabin".  

excuse the warp - the canvas curls a bit so it doesn't look right until I tack it down flat.

It feels strange to work so diligently on the building and then sew trees over it  ; )  But that's what I had to do to get it right.  I broke a needle while stitching the foilage.  

 

Can you see it hanging there on the thread?  Not bad - it's the first one.  I can't seem to set my machine fast enough - or move the canvas slower.  When I do this, I put the machine on an applique / grass stitch and then free motion quilt with that.  

I tried to show this technique off in my postcard class but it flopped due to a bent needle (I figured that one out later).  I'm chuckling, wondering if anyone believes me that it actually does work!   : )  

the hedgerow

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is the last day of my exhibit at the gallery.  Sunday morning I take it all down and then deliver the pieces to the buyers around the city.  It's always neat to meet strangers who like my art.  Someone bought "Black Eyed Susan" for a gift right out of the gallery!  I never got to meet her to thank her.  The cheque was mailed to me and (here's the lolipops) she wrote a little thankyou note for me right on it.  SWEET!

And then I picked up the last pieces for the preschool quilt and got this card from the teachers!  (Lolipop #2)

It came with a pack of gummi bears which I ate on the way home.  hehe  I feel so young and so appreciated.  ; )  hahaha  Today I'll work on thank-you cards for everyone.

So there's the sunshine.  sigh

And there's the lolipops.  ahhh

They makes yesterday seem not so bad at all.  Thank goodness last week is OVER!!!

the icy blue darkness is real.  i didn't photo shop this.

Have a great day!!

~Monika

Sewing in sunny Saskatoon

Hey Holiday Shoppers!

It's completely snowing outside.  In fact there is a drift of snow in the backyard nearly to my waist!  At -25 celcius with the windchill, we've stayed in all day and worked on various crafts (me and the kids).  They color and built farmyards.  I've been working on 'Grandma's Cabin' which I figure you've already seen a lot of.  So, I thought I would use this post to list some items I have for sale if you want to make me an offer, or pass it on to people stumped for gift ideas.

Baby Quilt (click here for more info)

Country Charms Quilt (click here for more info)

Daisy Daisy (click here for more photos)

Seriously, if you love any of them, make me an offer.  Don't be shy.  But don't be mean either!  : )

I also have a quilt pattern in PDF for sale that I can email you.  It is from a quilt I made several years ago for my living room.  It includes yardage and quilting instructions for small machines.  You can substitute your own 4 favorite colors too of course.  It does not include binding instructions (most don't).  I can provide you with online tutorials if you need. 

Quilt Pattern for sale (click here for more info)

In the mean time, my exhibit at the Crimson Gallery comes down Sunday morning.  It's been such a great opportunity!  I'm so glad I found the courage to do it.  I've sold several major pieces of my fibre art which is VERY thrilling for me.  Thank you to everyone who has complimented on or purchased my work!  It sure takes my fear out of being so public.


...now to build a fire and go make some supper. Have a good night!
~Monika

W.I.P. Wednesday

Lee at Freshly Pieced has started this thing called "WIP Wednesdays".  WIP stands for work-in-progress.  So we all post our blog at hers, and we can look around and see what each person is doing these days.  Great idea!!!  So here's one project I'm doing.  It's a fibre art commission of "Grandma's Cabin" that a family is having me do for a gift.  I'm about half way done.  It will be in an 8x10 black shadow box under glass. 

I'm also making a quilt for the St. Nikolas day fundraiser at a German Preschool.  I went into the classroom and had all the children make a block with tree parts and house parts and a glue stick.  I'm appliqueing it all and then turning in into a quilt.  I have 2 weeks and still have a couple blocks to get back from 2 sick little girls!  (They are better now). 

And a new commission came in that I'm so excited about!!  I mother gave me a bag of her baby slings and carriers that she carried her boys in.  She supplied me with a sketch of how she'd like things assembled.  I'll have to take her to the fabric store for a few more selections and then I'll get going on this one.  It is going to be FUN!!!!  It's very very pretty and creative and magical.  Just wait and see!

Then there is next summer's picnic blanket.  It's for ME.  And of course, it's last on the list.  But here's the fabrics.  It will be big-block modern.  I cannot wait!!

There's more - there are postcards to make for a swap.... and there is a Quilting Arts entry I want to get in that's due next month.  "Quilt Your Pet" for their 2012 calendar.  Here's my to-do pile.  (That counts right Lee?).  It's my singing canary who loves the hum of my sewing machine.  And I love him too.  I printed the photo of him onto fabric.  PRETTY BIRD!!  His name is Pippin.

Thanks Lee!
~Monika

Sewing in Saskatoon

(Lee - I got your button but I'm not sure how to install it!)