Postcards & a BIG Thank You!

I really need to thank all the amazing people who have been getting involved with The Needle & Thread Network.  Not sure what that is?  The link is HERE.  I started it in the fall.  It's an open link-up blog specifically for creative Canadian stitchers & fibre artists.  I love to see what everyone is working on each Wednesday.  I love to blog hop and meet like minded neighbors.  We have about twenty regular women posting weekly and nearly 80 people signed up as followers.  When I feel like that number is low still, I am reminded that Canada is only one-tenth the population of the United States... and then I think, "Wow!  What a big group we are!".  I can find a handful of American link up parties like this, but finding the Canucks is like finding a needle in a shag carpet.  lol.  So for this group, I am so very thankful!  If you are interested, please sign on as a follower.  Once we hit 100 followers, we will start a 'feature Friday' where you get to know these creative souls a little better and take a good look at their best creations or online products & art for sale.  Please note - this group is open to embroiderers, weavers, fabric & quilt designers, fibre artists, crochet & knitters...  anything related to fiber including home sewing and garments.  If you have a favorite Canadian blog that fits this description, please pass this info on to them!  ; )

And now, for some Friday Finishes!  Well - I signed up for THREE swaps.  (WHY MONIKA!?  WHY!?).  lol  I couldn't resist.  For one swap, I have to make three 'Self Portraits'.  They are nearly finished.  For the other, I have to make 'Year of the Dragon' themed cards... nearly finished.  The third swap is for 'Embellished Owls'.  I didn't think I would join this last one, but then I started staring at this fabric.  I think it came to me from a swap via the mail.  I'm not sure!

I have never used those self-threading needles before.  I change thread colors A LOT in my work, and I must say that I absolutely love these!  'POP' and it's threaded.

I stared at the fabric for a while, and then after nearly three hours of sewing, I did this!

It's all by hand with two strands of embroidery floss, and ooooh it's so cute!  It's so cute!

I did the borders with a decorative stitch, and then narrow satin stitch on the machine.  There was the before & after shot.  It turned out so lovely, and I adore the colors!!

sweet!

The question is, "Whoooooooo's going to get it in the mail?"  ; )

WIP Wednesday

Here's what I'm working on!  The 'groovy autumn quilt' has a new home waiting for it, and so I'm working on a little label for the family.  The mom wanted owls.  : )  I had some of these little guys left over from an earlier quilt, and thought that would be pretty cute on the label.

Those 4 owls are to represent mom, dad, kid 1, and kid 2.  I'm going to turn that brown fabric below them into a little branch for the family to perch on, and then I'll put the quilt information in the white part below.  The binding is all on!  The hand stitching went very well, and it looks like this quilt will make it under the tree in time. : )

Check it out!  Before....

After...

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle & Thread Network....

Meanderings

It's Monday, it's guild night!  And oh, I forgot to post this!

I'm meandering... not as stitch, but is in 'moving here & there' with projects.  Gosh.  I have two and a half weeks to prepare for a the group exhibit on May 29th.  I'm okay with that.  They are all small works which have all been started.  The frames and matting are all ready to go.  That's half the work right there!  I'm focusing on these pieces now also with extra care and attention because I'll be submitting images of these to A Needle Pulling Thread for the Spring 2012 Featured Artist article.  Gotta be perfect!   I didn't finish Mandy's wall hanging, but did put hours and hours of beading and hand stitching.  It's completing itself really well.

I'm not letting Mandy see until I bring it to her home.

Just before the weekend, the wonky owl quilt was finished and labeled and is now in the hands of the new owner's mother.

The polka dots were perfect with all the circular quilting.

I hope the next couple of days are equally productive!

See you tomorrow for Tips on Tuesdays, and remember you are all welcome to chime right in!
~Monika

Works in Progress Wednesday

Good news!  ALL of my framed thread paintings have now sold.  Right now I'm lying low and taking a few days of rest.  Still, in my head, I'm planning.  The month of April will be specifically to complete commissions.  There is Mandy's tree that needs to be finished (right Mandy?).  Gosh she's been waiting so long! This quilt really stumped me several times along the process.

just a corner of it here...

And Jesica's quilt made from her late grandmother's stash will be done too.  I've been slowly putting blocks together and spent hours pressing them.  I sent her photos and we've been discussing the arrangements before they all get stitched together.  That shouldn't take long once the layout is confirmed.  That stage - from blocks to completed top - is always very fast.

Finally, I'll be reworking this piece into a larger quilted wall hanging for a new B.C. resident who left the prairies.  She found me on Etsy and commissioned it from me for her own house-warming gift.  Sweet!  "Telephone Poles Along Highway 7" came from this photo.  I added a larger third pole on the right of my piece (see yesterday's post).

I just love working from my photos!  I'll make new works for the next showing of my work which will be on Sunday, May 29th with a group exhibit.  I have in mind:  trains, fence posts, more ditches full of wildflowers, and the old grain elevators too.  sigh.  I can't wait to start those!  I've already decided they will be more of the same style:  fabric collaged, thread painted & hand embroidered scenes under glass in frames.  Those were so well received, and so incredibly enjoyable to create. Here are some more photos I'm considering stitching out.

aren't they the cutest!!?

I can imagine layers and layers from this one.

this too!

I set them all in high contrast before I stitch them.  It brings out the depth and the understated details that can really make a picture POP.

p.s.  I'll let you in on a little surprise.  !!!  Actually, it's a BIG surprise.  I will be the featured artist in the spring 2012 issue of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine with my latest works.  I am going to work extra hard to make the most lovely creations I can for that issue.  The work in that magazine is truly stunning and incredibly tasteful.  Because they are all sold so fast, I will have to photograph my work through all the stages in high resolution.

Oh!  And the owl quilt which has been claimed for Baby Bell #4.  Yes... that will get done too!

For more works in progress from other sewists, check out Lee's blog at FRESHLY PIECED.
: )
~Monika

Owl-right! : )

Wow.  Friday must have been my lucky day.  I was about to head off to Gardenscape with the kids when the phone rang.  Someone bought a piece!  And then the phone rang again!!  Someone bought a piece again.  Wow.  So I stayed in my sewing room for the day with phone, pencil, and paper nearby.  What to do?  What to do?  How about a quilt for no reason at all, no commissions and no exhibits in mind.  Okay then.  Cut, cut, cut.

Stitch, stitch, stitich.

Press, press, press.  Done the top!

It's wonky and happy and fun.  It even has purple without looking silly!  I love it.  The blocks 'wonk' in all different directions.  I cut up a fat quarter of fabric from Periwinkle Quilting & Beyond (Saskatoon) into sixteen charms.  I added coordinating solids from a jelly roll strip and then I cut them all crooked before adding the white sashing.  I decided on this because the owl branches were all angled and looking crooked anyhow.  So this works great.  I can't wait to find the perfect pretty variegated thread to do the quilting with. 

And get this... then I checked the mail. TWO PACKS OF FABRIC!!

thank you to my running pal Christie!!

I love the strawberries and teacups.  Also, all this rolled in from a swap I too part in.  Look at the landscape goodies!

Thank you Elizabeth!

And she even threw these in the bag.  More owls!

Awesome.  I mean, OWL-some!  And that's only the first swap pack of three I signed up for.  I'll be swimming in fabric, won't I?

'Swimming in Fabric'... hey now, there's an idea for the SQG theme show!  : )

~Monika

Surprise! A Trip to the Bookstore

A bit of personal first... I'm a super-proud mama!  One of my kids' reactions to reading is to breakdown crying with severe humiliation.  So in September, I pulled him from school and did my best to slowly and positively teach him how to read.  If he cried, then we didn't bother.  Well this past week he announced to me that he read a 55 page book, without me asking, and totally tear-free!  It was an older version of The Little Mermaid (serious - not disney).  He was hopping up and down squealing for me to take him to the bookstore!   Side note: we have five bookcases PACKED with books here at home!  This milestone, however, required serious acknowledgment, so off we went to McNally Robinson's.

I love that place.  It's so much more colorful and homey than the big new Indigo across the street.  Plus they have a way better selection here.  Indigo is pretty mainstream.  Even their needle arts sections was like, "Reader's Digest How to Embroider".  yikes. 

2 story book store, full of color and trees and handmade goodness.

I forgot!  My two quilts are up with a fine selection from the Saskatoon Quilter's Guild.  Go check it!  If you've never been there, it houses a very fine restaurant and a fantastic selection of handmade gifts.  I looked for the latest edition of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine, but it must not be on the shelves yet.

My kids got a kick out of this when they walked in!

I have to really thank my homeschooling/artist/mother/friend Sam for showing me this place and encouraging me to get my quilts up in here.

Up near the kids section. 

On the drive home, my little guy read two chapters of his new paperback novel and promptly phoned the grandparents to make his big announcement.  Me... I cried a few happy tears.  : ) 

happy weekend! 
~Monika

Housekeeping Ooohs and Aaahs

My life feels so crazy-full.  I have too many ideas.  So for today, I relocated.  I spent the morning learning to focus and organize by working in a clear, fresh, fabric-free space.  I went to a newer library with my middle child - the homeschooler for this year.  What lovely windows!  And THE BEST, most comfortable chairs EVER.  They are at the Alice Turner Library, and I must find out where they ordered them from!  So as my son organized his thoughts, I organized mine.

little library on the prairie - BEST windows, BEST seats

You've heard of the Blogger's Quilt Festival?  Lots of eye candy!  Look here, courtesy of Amy.  I think all the entries are in by the time you read this. The link is here in this post...  My entry - "Quilt Bloggers Festival"

But wait, there's more!  There is a major event being planned for 2011.  It's the The Sewing Summit!  OMG we all get to meet each other and sew together.  Can you imagine!?  ***Unfortunately, the date is all set for our country's Thanksgiving weekend (Americans celebrate later in the year).  So, Canadians are out of luck.  I notified the organizer.  She had no idea and assured me the next one (and there will be more!) will be on different weekend.  Whew.  Thank you Amy! We don't want to miss it.

We'll be busy enough here in Saskatoon.  The 2011 Biennial Quilt Show our guild puts on is in October of 2011.  It's always a BIG SHOW.  The theme is WAVES.  I'm doing my best to think up something!  It's not easy.  I really like my horizontal lines.  : )  This is a serious challenge.  I need cheerleaders.  I chickened out last quilt show!!

MKW/2009

Wednesday November 10th was to be my second Postcard Workshop at Sew & Home.  There's lots of room if you want to sign up (hint hint).  I may have to cancel it if we don't get a couple more registrations.  And that's okay.

Pippa Moore is coming to Saskatoon to do a Trunk Show and some workshops for our Guild.  She's speaking on "Travels with my Treadle" later this month, and I personally can't wait!  What beautiful empowering stories of women sewing around the world - bring a tissue!

Friday, November 12th, I plan to be at Judy's new studio space for the "Quilt 'Till You Wilt" night.  I'll probably be appliqueing the St. Nikolas Quilt for my daughter's school fundraiser.  $5 drop in.  Other quilters are teaching classes there as well throughout the month:  Quilt as you go, Braided Runners, Leaves & Butterflies, Bag Ladies, Color & Texture, Bindings and Finishing, Wonky Houses, just to name a few.  Check out Quilting at the Studio on Ninth.  What a great idea.

And the Owl Boxes quilt is now sold (THANK YOU!!).  That was quick.  Please do let me know how the little one likes it.  Off to Calgary you go! 

In come 2 fabulous fibre art commissions.  oooh I can't wait to share!!  One is taken from an old photo for a Grandmother's upcoming birthday, and one is a wall hanging made from mama's baby carriers.  I am thrilled and over the moon.  Here look!  It's the moon I am thrilled over.  : )

Luna, rising just before the sun.  MKW/2010

Enjoy your weekend!  

Enjoy the post.

~Monika K.

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.  * * *

 

Pinning vs Seam Ripping - Which Takes Longer?

This is my second Sunday post - but it's all about the quilts.  I cut up one choir gown into many 2 1/2 inch strips and started putting the top for this cute owl quilt together.  Then I realized - OOPS.  I don't pin.  My machine seems to take care for me.  But the rows of little boxes didn't line up, so... out came the seam ripper again!!  The birds don't look too impressed.  

One is in shock.  One is in disbelief.

: )  I'm funny hey?  lol  Yeah.  I"m funny.  Maybe I should have been a comedian instead of a quilter.  Needless to say, I learned my lesson.  Shortcuts in quilting often are not.  So I vow now to pin my rows from here on.  And WOW was that fast and easy.  Silly me.

Here are some more owls, checking out the new top.

It's raining today, so I put the top up in the window.  Pretty how it glows!

 

I can't wait to quilt it!  The quilting always changes the look of the top.  I'm not entirely sure how I'll do this up.  Those owl boxes make me happy.  They remind me of a computer game called Chuzzle. 

I think I'll chose red for the binding.  Prairie points would really rock this quilt!  hmmm

I will need to put it on hold for a couple days.  I need to gather all my wares to sell at the quilter's flea market tomorrow night!  YAY.  I look forward to getting out of the house and being with other quilters.

~Monika

Color Matching Tips

I saw a request in our guild's newsletter for selvedges.  (Is that how you spell it!??)  I cannot recall who was asking - but I've been saving these up for her.

People sew some pretty neat-o things with these.  They are tough like a light denim.  Aren't all those colored dots so pretty?  They contain the dye colors that are used on that particular fabric.  They also show if the printed colors are off pattern or not, depending on how the colors fit into the circles.  See?

I realized that those might actually come in hand when choosing coordinates.  I'm not sure why I hadn't realized that before!  (Don't worry - I'll still pass the selvedges on to that member who requested them : )  I think I will actually take this selvedge strip to the fabric store to match fabrics.  I LOVE this birdie fabric, but I've had so much trouble getting a good match.

LOOK at all those color options!  I had no idea with this one until I looked.  Grey and charcoal... I hadn't noticed that.  I was always trying green, red, and brown.  And the cream - I hadn't seen that before.  

I do that a lot.  I buy fabric that 'speaks to me' - but only one piece.  Then when i get home, it doesn't match with even one of my hundreds of other pieces of fabric!  So I did an experiment.  I pulled out a cute retro-owl fabric that I've had for over a year but have been unable to use it.  I tore off the selvedge and held it up to compare it against my stash.  IT WORKED!  This plaid fabric from a different line of coordinates just matched all those little colored bubbles.  : )  And out came the iron, the cutting mat & rotary blade, the ruler, the sewing machine.  Excuse the crappy lamp lighting!  Here's some pieced owls:

And here's some of the plaids:

And there are the threads to chose from when it comes time for quilting:

Of course, as you know from the last post, I have a LOT of white fabric.  I'm nearly done the top.  It's looking so darn cute!  I'll finish it tonight and post it.  First I need to clean the house, clean the yard, do the dishes, feed the pets, make supper and run my kids to a birthday party.  OMG It's 4 pm now.  Gotta fly!

~Monika

who laughed out loud all afternoon while listening to CBC radio in the background.  I LOVE CBC Radio!!