Postcard Fun, Take 2

Yesterday, the cold wind blew in and the day became rather blustery.  Still no snow, but you can finally feel things changing.  I had a postcard workshop in my home studio yesterday.  Because my fabrics were still divided by warm and cool colours, I went with the theme of Hot & Cold once again for this group.  It was a little vague for a first time theme, but I think folks enjoyed the fabric play nonetheless.

hot and cold theme

These (above) were made by two women at opposite ends of of the classroom.  The first was about staying warm in the winter, and the maker spoke about her fond memories of cross country skiing.  She said they would stop to build a fire and heat up some hot chocolate.  I love that story.  What a great experience!  This card isn't quite finished but the feel of it is so magical.

The second card (above) is so cute how she has one tree decorated!  She worked to use hot and cold colours.  She did quite a lot of couching with the warm coloured yarns.  How clever to use them as strings of light!

high contrast colours

The card above is pictured here in progress.  She was wanting to stay in Autumn mode since winter isn't really here yet... but she went all out using hot and cold colours in her fall leaf scene.  You can really see how the cooler greens and blues recede and the hot reds and orange come forward and visually pop right off the background!

The nest one made me laugh.  It's 'naked snowmen on a beach'.  hahhah  Yup.  So she used the hot and cold in her image as well as her fabrics.  Every time she said 'naked' I yelped and covered my eyes.  lol

soaking in the sunshine

This last photo is too cute.  I think she started out abstract, just piecing very different fabrics together, some warm, some cool.  Eventually, she realized it looked like a camera.  So that's what she did!  It even has a strap attached.  How creative!  She added black plastic for the shiny viewer, and buttons for the buttons!  : )

Say Cheese!

Thanks Ladies!  I'll see some of you soon again as I get ready for the Threadpainting Class this afternoon.  : )

Hot & Cold Theme

Hello!  Here is the final installment of the Foam Lake workshop I taught.  The afternoon theme was 'Hot and Cold'.  The women were encouraged to use both warm and cool colours from the colour wheel, and also work around the theme of staying warm in the cold.  I was fully expecting to have a winter theme, but winter just has not arrive here!  So the idea of warm/cool seemed like a very fun challenge.  As the women worked on finishing up their poppy cards, I worked on separating my fabric stash into warm and cool colours.

If you look, you can see that there is a large mirror suspended from the ceiling in the classroom.  It's a Home Ec room, so this is used for food prep demonstrations, allowing the students to be able to see the counter top from their desks.

You know me... Photo op!!  : )

this is a photo of the mirror above the work table!

That's so neat!  There you can see the cool fabric colours on the left and the warm fabric colours on the right.  the middle boxes are full of embellishment odds and ends (yarn, ric rac, tulle, dryer sheets, buttons, sequins).

With the Hot & Cold theme, I also had some templates available.  They are all still 4x6" postcards, but with pieces chopped out.

elbow deep in fabric, trying to make a decision 

Everyone finished, but this next photo was a bit premature.  The participants were asked to add more in the way of embellishments with the afternoon theme.  Here are some of the results...

Here is a great example of the use of yarns, both in the composition and for the border as well!

Hot Cocoa on a Cold Day

Notice that she used hot & cold for the subject as well as for the choice of fabrics.  : )
Oh, and check these out!

His & Her Mittens

Aren't they adorable!?  These were made by Audrey, the woman I billeted with.  Good gosh, she is creative.  Coincidentally, she happens to sell dried flower pendants & jewelry at Handmade House!  She is also a seamstress and a great photographer.  You rock Audrey.

And here is the last one I'll show you.  Pretty cute!

The funny thing is that I was assuming it would be winter by now, but it just hasn't happened.

Thank you so much to the whole class in Foam Lake!  I had such a fun day with you all.  One participant won the draw for a postcard to be mailed to her from me!  : )  I mailed it off this week.

Poppies and Postcards

After driving many hours west to teach, I drove a few hours east last week as well!  I headed to Foam Lake to run a full day Creative Quilted Postcards Workshop.  As I prepare for teaching this class, I always get a little nervous trying to come up with a theme.  Each time I run this workshop (at least 20 times now) I come up with a new theme.  Noticing everyone with poppies on their jackets, I figured that was a great idea!  Poppies!  : )  How fitting.  The only problem was I really didn't have much red in my huge stash of scraps.  So, off to the LQS!

The shop was closed on that day, but the owner was kind enough to meet me there to sell me some poppy-red fabrics.  Then she headed to the classroom with us to take the workshop!  (Thank you Catherine!)  Notice the pretty posies on her card!?  So pretty!

With a full day class, we did a couple themes.  The morning theme was 'Poppies'.  After my 'spiel' we got to work.  This class was in the Home Ec room of a local highshool.  What a great space!

Everyone had their own tables to work at.  This is Audrey, working on her poppy postcard.  Just look at her!  She's so good at what she does, she can sew projects with one hand.  : )

Audrey is the woman who contacted me about the workshop, and was kind enough to have me stay the night before at her home.  She fed me fish and wine for supper.  She showed me all her favourite things on the walls.  She has a beautiful sewing room which reminded me a lot of my space: French doors that open to a long, bright room with dark brown laminate floors.  And her guest bed gave me the best sleep I've had in a long, long time.  Thank you again Audrey for having me!

Here are the results of the Poppy challenge - 13 beautiful and unique mini art quilts.

I regret that I don't have close ups of all of them.  The details are beautiful.  I will show you a couple I did get images of.  This next one has so many layers which gives is a nice feel.

This next one was very unique.  She made the poppy seed pods!  How creative.

When she started the top pod, he bobbin thread came loose.  We decided to leave it, and say it was on purpose to add dimension, (just don't tell anyone!)

I love the photo above!  They are all checking out each other's work.  I have more to show with the afternoon theme, but I'll save it for another post.

If you are interested in a class with me in Saskatoon, I have room in my Postcards class scheduled for Monday, November 16th in the afternoon.  Message me at Monika@MySweetPrairie.ca.  There are 2 spots left.

Teaching Time!

Now that the shows are over and the galleries are stocked, I'm shifting over into teaching mode once again.  First, I am heading west to Innisfail AB to do a Threadpainting class for a quilting group there.  After I come back home, I head east to run a day long Postcards Workshop in Foam Lake, SK.  While I have all my supplies out and ready, I figured it's a great time to slot in some classes in my home studio.  If you are interested, Postcards will be the afternoon of Monday, November 16 (3 hrs, $30+kit) and Threadpainting will be the afternoon of Tuesday, November 17 (4 hrs, $40=kit).  Email me if you want a spot.  Monika@MySweetPrairie.ca  Monday is more creative and adventurous.  Tuesday is more technical and skill based.  Extra classroom machines are available for a $5 rental to cover maintenance.  : )

Janomes in my Studio

Right now, I'm getting the details prepared for a two day workshop I'm doing in Olds for the Fibre Pot Pourri weekend in the Spring of 2016.  It's a handwork / embroidery event and so I'm creating a new workshop for it based on what I's very excited about at the moment.  ; )  It will be all about going from Sketch to Stitch.  I took out some supplies and sat and waited for inspiration to come.  I thought, ' hmmm....  LOVE this bison photo I took several autumns ago.'

I love the sunlight on them.  And so I sketched it out with some horribly messy oil pastels.

I chose a group of five of them.  I dislike the sky, but I adore the grasses and the beasts in the sun.  And so with that positive experience under my belt, I did a couple more all based on personal photos I have kickin' around...

You likely know that one.  It's the 3 sweet shrubs at Cranberry Flats that I've stitched out many, many times.  I totally want to stitch this one with fat yarns on black.  I think it would be a blast.

My idea is to sketch out natural scenes like they were to be patterns for embroidery.  The lines are fairly thick and lend itself well to stitching.  Then I have all these Noro yarns which totally rock.

With just one ball, you get so many colour variations!  This is how I worked the Birch trees that sold at my open studio.  I'm so excited to do more and share it at the Workshop next spring.

Well.  Writing this post out is enough to inspire me to make more Noro embroideries!  I'm a tad addicted.  Linking to The Needle and Thread Network.  Now off to stitch : )

Have a lovely day,

Postcard Bee & MQG

I recently discovered that the Saskatoon Modern Quilt Guild will be having their first official quilt show next month.

Right away, I thought how cool it would be to have a section in the show just for Quilted Postcards with modern flair!?  I recall one year, the Saskatoon Quilt Guild's huge show had a section for an idioms challenge.  I enjoyed looking over those smaller art quilt challenge pieces so much.  Sometimes small, creative bursts of eye candy can really bring a joyful flavour to a quilt show.  So - I called up the Saskatoon Modern Quilt Guild and invited them to my sewing space for a late night postcards bee with the idea that the results of the evening could be displayed at the show.

I HAD SO MUCH FUN.

I spend many nights alone in my sewing space, so this was wonderful to invite people in just for sewing.  It was one busy Bee night.

that's a whole lotta Janome machines! : )

I picked the Friday of the May long weekend for this, and unfortunately. several were not available because of family events, travelling, or health reasons (Oh Carly - we missed you so much!).  I did have four fantastic women come in though.  Each brought a small bag of modern fabric scraps... because I have none.  *thank you.

I started blogging right when the Modern Quilt Guild movement was born.  I was blown away by what I saw.  The guilds popped up everywhere across the USA and then in Canada.  The Modern Quilt Guild members across this continent are very passionate what they do.  It's practically an industry.  I tried so hard to keep up as a new quilter, but I just could not get it.  I did not fit in and could not for the life of me create an original modern quilt.  That was also the time I got into fabric art postcards, began landscapes, and was hired to do my first commission.
And then another.
And another.
...and so down the art path I went.

This Modern Quilt Show announcement reminded me how much I tried to create that look but failed.  And so, initiating this Bee with the SaskatoonMQG was a way for me to (hopefully) learn.  I provided the stabilizer, backings, and sewing space.  They provided the fabric scraps, and thank you for the munchies!  We made a pile with the fabric donations and we started to sew postcards.  I asked, 'how do you make modern?' and Jaclyn would say, 'Just be yourself ...but don't do landscapes.'  haha. Yeah.   And so then what!?  ; )

I watched them create, I asked questions, and I tried out a few things.  Postcards are SO great for experimentation with new techniques because it's small and over quick so you can assess how you are doing.  Me?  Meh.  Not so great.  However, the fabrics were so AMAZING and I marveled at how they put them together.  Here are some of their results.

sweet mini-quilts / modern postcards

Once everyone left, I kept going.  In fact, I made 10 cards myself that night!  I woke up the next morning and whipped up 5 more.  No kidding!  I could have kept going - I was so inspired by the fabrics and how to coordinate them.

This was my first card.

playing with 12 weight thread, so nice and thick

I love it.  I'm not sure it qualifies as Modern though.  Maybe?

This next one was too much fun.  It all started with those EARS.  That's the whole piece of fabric - just the ears.  Away I went.  It's a cut & paste collaged style.

I won't show you all 15, but this was one of the last ones I made.

I could just keep going.

Postcards are addictive!

my batch of modern postcards

Okay - one more.  Someone in the MQG made a rainbow stripped card that was sliced and had a white piece put in between.  I thought looked fantastic, so I bounced off that idea and made a b&w rainbow and split it with some major colour.  (see below)

the fabrics are just so fun.

Am I getting close?  Well,, if not, between the bubbles and the paper clips, I'm pretty happy anyway. : )  The fabric is too fun and I'm definitely enjoying letting go into abstract.

Thanks for reading this loooong post.  In the mean time, I have restocked Fabric Postcard supplies in my ETSY Shop (linked).  There's lots of supplies available.  I hit the garage sale jackpot for embellishment colourways as well!

THANK YOU to the Saskatoon MQG for letting me play with you. ; )  I am so inspired.  I will be putting some of my Modern Postcard entries into the show too I hope.  If you already make postcards and want to add some modern ones to the show (or larger Modern quilts), there's a small entry fee if you aren't a member (ten bucks).  You still have today and tomorrow to enter quilts.  It's easy, via email.  You can read more about the show and how to enter  here.

linking to WIP Wednesday @TN&TN

Finished It Friday

I just completed a big postcards order for the SK Craft Council.  Believe it or now, these are my Prairie Postcards #308 to #321.  Yes.  That is how many I have made: THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE stitched prairie scenes @ 4x6 inches.

I absolutely love making and teaching Quilted Postcards.  I'm not picky.  I will use any fabric that works, from hand dyes to commercial prints.  We had a lot of fun making them in Melfort last weekend.  I chose the topic I Love Spring and someone said, 'I prefer fall.'  lol  And so I quickly amended the theme to be My Favourite Season.  That resulted in a couple people choosing winter.  So there...  I'm not the only one.  : )

I meant to have these ready for Mother's Day at the Boutique but life and health got in the way.  I was pretty sick for 10 days.  I missed celebrating my birthday and I lost my voice as well.  I really hope that I didn't pass that bug on to anyone who took last weekends classes!

I really like this batch of landscapes.  They were easy to do after the drive home.  I was feeling so inspired.  These mini landscapes are a perfect way to simplify.   It was really nice to have a couple hours on the highway again.  I miss that.

Now I'll pack these up and run them down to the SCC Boutique on Broadway in Saskatoon.  If there's one here you particularly like, let me know quick and I can hold it back for you.  I sell them for $28.  The are not framed but do look terrific that way! : )

* * * For anyone who happens to be on Flickr, you are more than welcome to add your Postcard photos to the pool HERE.  You might also enjoy clicking on that link to take in all the eye candy.   There's a great batch of fibre art there.

If you want to hear the radio show I was referring to in class, that is with Brandy Lynn Maslowski / Canadian Quilt Talk Radio HERE.  I've linked specifically to the Postcards podcast, but she has so many to listen through as well.  Brandy is from BC and was recently in Moose Jaw as a quilt judge!  She also caught the Quilted Postcard bug and runs swaps now and then.

Next - to get on with awaiting commissions.  I have four to get to!  2 are small and 2 are bigger.  (I THANK EACH OF YOU for your patience.)  Onward!

Have a lovely weekend everyone, and good health to you.

A Guessing Game Giveaway!

Here we go!  

It's been a while since I've had a giveaway.  Remember back in the spring, Brandie Lynn Maslowski did an interview with me on Quilt Talk Radio?  I was all about Fibre Art Postcards.  She later organized a Canada Day swap with a Maple Leaf theme.  Since then, Brandy Lynn caught the bug big time and has organized more postcard swaps via her site!  : )  At the end of the summer, we submitted information to Quilter's Connection magazine.  Hers was an article about hosting a swap and the love of postcards.  Mine was project instructions for making and sending postcards.

It's here!  Hot off the press.

cover art by Pippa Moore

This entire Canadian quilting magazine issue is devoted to art / artfulness.  Here is a peek at Brandy Lynn's.  5 pages and lots of samples!

I was really surprised to see 5 more beautiful pages they printed for me as well!  Being in between studios, time was tight and resources were scarce.  I could not provide samples of my own.  So I asked the makers of a handful of my favourite postcards if I could send those in to be photographed. I have received these through online swaps.

I'm so glad I did!  So, congratulations (and thank you!!) to Sheila Munro in NS (5 images), Vicky Baker in AB (1 image), Cheryl Coville in ON (1 image), Judy McCrosky in SK (3 images), and Mary Anne Kingston in ON (2 images) for contributing to have your wonderful postcards make it into the pages of the magazine.  And it looks like all your names are in there too, spelled right.

Quilter's Connection Magazine - Winter 2014/2015   Pages 18-22

To celebrate - a give away!!  I have 2 prizes each of a 1 year DIGITAL subscription to this magazine, courtesy of Quilter's Connection.  I know not everyone prefers the digital version, but if you are like me, you have piles of magazines and still manage to spend most of your time on the computer. ; )  It's not so bad, and it's free!  All you need to do is say hello in the comments and give me a number.  The two closest guesses to how many postcards I have received from around the world will win the subscriptions.  ONE GUESS per entry.  Enter as often as you want.  (HAHA this should be fun!!)

You have until the end of this week to guess.  I'll announce the winner on Saturday, December 6th, 2014.  Good luck!  I guess I had better get counting...

First Class

Here I am!  I'm writing from my little 'admin corner' of my new space.  No - we still are not done, and honestly, I'm scared of having an open house.  I'm nervous about the rest of our home needing to be a perfectly tidy work of art.  That WILL NOT ever happen.  And then I heard that when Anna Hergert has open studios, she bakes seventeen cakes. I'm not even making that up.  That sets a rather HIGH bar, does it not?  (Seriously - she can do anything!)  lol  I will not be able to do that.  I'm sorry.  But soon enough!  I'm still trying to figure out how to organize it all.  I need to get a move on things and start up some commissions before the December show rolls around... 

Here's a few photos to share.  I love my new cutting mat.  My old ones were so sliced up and old.  I discovered that you don't have to be stuck with christmas tree green anymore (!), so I went for a light grey.  I don't want dark anything in here with the exception of my floors.

My floors - which I love...

I was slicing up some stabilizer for a huge order of postcards, and they looked so pretty when I let them fall on the floor.  : )

This set is gorgeous.  They are all deep fall colours.  The skies in these cards are pinks, purples, yellows, and blues.  It is so pretty out there, I just had to pull all those colours into new mini-quilts.

And look - my friend Kari brought over a studio warming gift of 30 or 40 sets of teacups!  lol  Oh my.  Come for tea and stitch with me?

p.s.  I've decided to open up a first class in my studio!  What the heck, why not start now?

Wednesday, October 1  

Creative Quilted Postcards Workshop 

10am to 1pm.

I live in the SE side of Saskatoon.  The class will be focused on Autumn.  Would you like to come?  I can take five people.  This is appropriate for any level of sewing experience.  Please message me if this works for you and I can give you more details.  All fabric supplies are included and I do have a few classroom machines available if needed.  Monika@MySweetPrairie.ca

Happy Thursday!