In the Shop

Hey there folks!  I hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend.  We're all stuffed full of turkey now in Canada.  I'm pretty much settled in to the new studio now and have started a couple new pieces (FINALLY!).  I still haven't set a date for a Studio Warming as we are still wrestling with other things in our lives right now.  In the mean time, I did fill up my Etsy shop with more postcard supplies and as they were seriously dwindling.  Thanks so much to everyone who has been putting in orders!

double sided fusible stabilizer and prestamped backings

I also have something new!  I have these rockin' greeting cards from Moo dot com.  They make great quality cards.  The cards are very strong.  They actually feel tearproof, though I wouldn't try it.  The printed photos are just so clear.  On some of them, I can even see the shadows cast by the threads!  I have eight threadpaintings printed, most of which are cropped so that the owner of the original is the only one with the full version (well, and the original full sized version in thread of course).

I hope you like them.  The are signed on the backs and have a white fitted envelope too.  I had really dug my heals in and planned not to print cards of my work, but now that I'm so busy with commissions I feel this is a good way to continue to promote my work. 

You can also find a few 4x6 fibre art prairie postcards in the shop too.  Click on Etsy My Sweet Prairie if you'd like to see all the goods.  The link is also in the blog's left sidebar.  Thanks so much!

p.s. I plan to be running a threadpainting class this month here in my home. I'll take a small handful of people and then compare notes in order to set a date and time.  If you are interested, please email me at Monika at MySweetPrairie dot ca with 'Threadpainting 101' in the subject.  : )

have a good week folks,

Rolling Right Along

Yesterday was rough.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it was the weather.  Maybe it was that I had so much pent up creative energy, too many ideas, and flustered at where to start... so I get nothing accomplished.  Does that ever happen to you?  I love Kari, but I sure wish I could clone me over a couple more times : ).  Today is much better.  I stayed up late whipping up the beginning of 20 more Prairie Postcards.  It is amazing how many completely different scenes I can make with one horizontal line. : )  It will be a couple more days before they are all done.  I'll likely add them to my Etsy shop.  (Thanks folks for the purchases so far... there's 4 of everything.  We'll start mailing them out on Monday.)


I'm getting booked solid for Sept, Oct, & Nov teaching dates in the city, out of town, and in three other communities around the province!  WOW.  That all roll in on one day. 

So my weekends are full - every weekend until December.  One of those weekends is family Thanksgiving in Edmonton.  Three of those weekends are booked to display my threadpaintings.  It will be a busy, busy year end for sure!  Kari will be busy putting dozens of kits together for me this week while I promise to plug away at online lessons.  My goal is to have an online class for September.  THANK YOU for all the encouraging vibes!  Sheesh, I need 'em!

Commissions are calling, and I'm feeling so inspired to work on them.  That's great news - I totally can't force it.  And I'm happy to announce that I can now add Ontario to my list of homes for my threadpaintings.  This one just arrived safe and sound in Toronto.

Cattails at Sunset, 2013 (sold)

It was a gift and thank goodness she LOVES it.  (I always worry about art as gifts since everyone's taste is different.)

Have nice weekend everyone,

The Number Game.

Welcome to post # 1,000! 

I did it!  One thousand blog posts.  Three years of blogging.  2,000 photos on Flickr.  Over half a million hits to the blog.  Likely the same number in completed French Knots.  At least 2 hundred postcards.  Thirty classes.  Three cameras.  112 threadpaintings.  Fifteen art shows/exhibits.  Published a dozen times... and I still can't make a video!

I can't.  I did a 20 minute session and it was perfect, and when I went to turn the video camera off, I realized IT WAS NEVER ON IN THE FIRST PLACE.  Someone pass the tissues.  :(((  Or I can shake my head and laugh...

Oh well.  I'll get there.  For now, please enjoy the new re-opening of my Etsy Shop.

I dusted it out and put in a few yummies that were a big hit when I taught in Winnipeg.  You can read more about them in the descriptions at my shop.  Enjoy!

'stash enhancers' for fibre artists

I hope the 'yummies' will inspire you to begin postcards or get more creative with embellishing your quilts.  (I have LOTS of classes coming in the fall.)  These colorways are great for mixed media work as well.  I won't be stocking them regularly.  This is a one time sewing-room-clearance-thing.  Have fun!

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

This is a Hoot!

I love this owl quilt SO much.  It really makes me giggle.  I pinned it.  I stitched in the ditch.   And then I began the visual quilting.  This is the thread I chose.

Sulky thread

 I did some echo quilting with white first.  And then this is what I stitched with the variegated thread...

Little asterix!  And the go on...

looks like our highways!

and on...

Isn't that crazy?  I love it though.  I still need to decide on a binding color.  And I will most likely do more horizontal stitching in the white boxes.  Then I'll prewash it to pucker it all up, and put in in my ETSY store.

And oh!  Look!  The sun is out!  : )

the path to our backyard

~Monika

sewing in Saskatoon

* * *  ps - check the last posts - there's Angelina hot-fix fibres up for grabs!  You have until midnight on Monday to leave a comment to qualify.  * * *