Catch Up Time!

Woah - a whole week of sick kids, then a whole week off school with a sick mama.  I haven't been at the computer at all, but I have been stitching in between sleeps, tea, and hot baths.  I *think* I'm done the old corn field.  I expect that matting it will add that perfect look.  Want to see?

Old Cornfield, 2015  8"x20" / 20cmx50cm

This is number 4 of 12 that I'm creating thanks to a grant with the Saskatchewan Arts Board.  There is baby blue in the puddles but my camera appears to not see it well.  I also have lumps and bumps stitched in with other yarns, and some beads and rocks too.

detail of work in progress

I'm still on the watch for Stitch magazine to arrive in our city's bookstores from the UK.  I was assured it't coming but is very late due to weather.  In the mean time, I got this.  A Needle Pulling Thread (Canada) winter 14/15.  My goodness, goodness... I love how Carla colour themes her issues.  This one is indeed STUNNING.  There's the prettiest tea cosy ever, and an absolutely gorgeous winter cape.  I wish I could make everything in there.

hot off the press

The back pages have a regular column titled, 'In the Loop'.  Look!  There was coverage of the Focus on Fibre Arts Association show.  That is wonderful to see!  : )

'In the Loop' - A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine

Two pieces on those pages are here in Saskatoon as part of the Our Prairie in Fibre show - Judy Weiss' Mosquito Country (middle right edge), and Leah Gravells'  Canola Fields (upper left corner).  Can you believe that it is coming to an end?  I wish I wasn't so sick.  I want to go spend more time in that room.  I want to run my fingers through the yellow frayed fabric of Heather Lair's torn strip landscape, The Ice that Hid the Sky.  (No no, not allowed of course... I'm just sayin'!)  I want to run my fingertips over those thousands of hand stitches in Arlee Barr's Winter Prairie.  I want to squish my hands into all of the hooked rug art - I'll have to get one of Jean Ottosen's Prairie Sky pieces sooner or later.  It really takes a lot of restraint to be an admirer of fibre art.  So for those of you who are just that, kudos to you!  Though, (haha) I wonder what happens after you purchase a piece and take it home.

Okay - the last of the news:  Saturday, Febraury 21st.  That is it.  That's the last day to see the exhibition.  It's a bit sad, but I feel so fulfilled by the whole event.  The show really took on a life of it's own, and so many new opportunities were made because of it.  Did I tell you?  One depiction of a piece in the show that was drawn & coloured by a kindergarten boy was loved so much by the fibre artist who made the piece, that she plans to display his rendition alongside her art in an upcoming exhibition in Regina.  WOW.

And the tears during the curator's talk were so humbling.  Leona Larson's passionate endorsement of the show that night still has me tearing up.

It's wonderful how your homeland can heal you and ground you..  While at a school, I noticed one of the staff having a rough moment after a phone call.  I walked into her office (uninvited) and held up a student's colourful prairie fabric art.  She exhaled all that stress she was holding in, her shoulders dropped, and she said, "Thank you.  I needed that."  And then she breathed in and said, "Wow.  That really is beautiful."

The stories that have come out of this curated show are unending.  In retrospect, this has been the BEST part about curating.  I witnessed people feeling deeply, expressing, discovering, connecting, and carrying their inspiration forward into the community as a result of the collection of art in that room.  It's been an absolute gift (and extremely difficult to put into words).

Get Them Before They Are Gone! GIVEAWAY x3

It's nearly time for summer issue of A Needle Pulling Thread to hit the stands.  That means the spring issue will suddenly vanish into the archives...  It occurred to me that I haven't even done a give-away for ANPT Spring 2012!  I guess I was so busy with March, that it got put on the back burner.  In case you are wondering, 'what's the big deal about the spring issue?'  That's the one where they featured me as a fibre artist.  I got heck from someone in my guild for not announcing it.  I was too embarrassed.  I was worried they were getting sick of hearing my name announced at meetings.  There was a LOT going on this spring.  Well, here you go.  I'll announce it again: 

Guess what!?  

I was asked to be the profiled artist for A Needle Pulling Thread magazine!  I said yes!  Look, here it is...

A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD, SPRING 2012

Here is about 1/4 of the table of contents.  ANPT is PACKED with a wide range of projects by Canadian designers.

The Needlework pages ad above, a peek at my article below...

WOOHOO!  It's still a great reason to celebrate even though it's 'old news'.  Let's have a give away!  I have THREE copies courtesy of Carla, the editor of this magazine.  Thank you so much Carla!  I'll draw three names with my random # generating children.  Enter by leaving a comment below.  Anyone can enter once.

Sweet!  Page 30, 31, and 32 in ANPT

You can have a second entry by following the blog or saying you are a follower.  I'm sitting at 299 right now.  Let's break 300 wide open! : )  Tell your friends too!  

You can have a third entry if you mention I'm having a giveaway over at your blog, linking back to this post... 

Heck, you can have another entry simply by sharing this on Facebook.  Sure, why not?  It's easy to do.  You click the little 'share on Facebook' button at the bottom of this post.  You'll see M (mail), B (blogger), T (twitter), and F (facebook).  Click the F to tell all your facebook friends I'm having a giveaway.  Just let me know you did it in your entry comment below.  ***Each comment is one entry, so if you are entering three times, you need to make those as three separate comments.   : )

Contest closes on midnight, May 31st.  I'll announce the winners the next day.  Go for it!

You Mean There's More!?

Didn't I tell you last weekend?  It's all fun and games this week.  Today's blog birthday party prize is a ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine!  How cool is that!?  That is very cool.  Thank you ANPT!

A Needle Pulling Thread magazine (click to link) is a very unique publication featuring patterns by Canadian designers which cover all sorts of fibre crafts in each issue.  (Strongly recommended for those who dabble in everything.)  Look here, they also have The Needlework Pages - there's a list of blogs, businesses, and more! : )  Look around at their site.  The photography they do is just gorgeous!

I had an embroidered quilt pattern published last summer and they surprised me by putting it smack on the cover!  My kids nearly peed their pants when they saw that! lol.  Carla, the editor, had also asked if I would be interested in being profiled as an artist at that time.  I was SO nervous that I think my initial reply was, "I don't know... let me think about it".  ! ??  I took a chance and said, 'yes'.  It was a bit of waitlist, however, THAT issue is finally on stands now in their Spring 2012 magazine.

If you would like to peek into their pages to see this fine magazine for yourself, you can do that by clicking on any picture of their back-issues.  That link is here.

sample photo of the range of projects that you will find

We will pick one lucky reader drawn at random by midnight on Friday the 4th.  All winners for the week will be announced here on Saturday May 5th.  PLEASE MAKE SURE your email is in the comment or is linked (I can't find your email if you click 'anonymous' so you will need to add it please).

How to enter to win today's prize?  

* To be entered, leave one comment below telling my what sorts of crafts you dabble in. *

One entry per person please.  If you don't follow my blog, that would be nice if you did.  My Sweet Prairie is also on Facebook if you like it better there.  In fact, A Needle Pulling Thread is on Facebook also!  To be entered, your comment needs to be left here on the blog though.  Thanks and good luck!  Come back tomorrow for more surprises!

This Was Worth the Wait!

Over a year ago, I was invited to be a feature artist in the lovely pages of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine.  Late last summer I wrote up the article to meet the deadline.  That feels like soooo long ago!  This was worth the wait.  Here it is!  Copies have just arrived at my doorstep!

www.aneedlepullingthread.com

a peek inside...

There are three pages loaded with pictures.  It's such a beautiful spread!  Wow.  Pinch me.  I had to re-read the article because I didn't remember what I wrote!  I like it.  I like it better than what I have planned to say tomorrow.  lol  Maybe I should just crack it open and just read to everyone instead?  hehe

Creative House in Saskatoon will have over a dozen copies to sell at the open house event tomorrow (11:30 to 2:30... I speak at 1pm and will demo shortly after).  McNally Robinson Booksellers will have them in Saskatoon and Winnipeg, as will Indigo Books across Canada.  Our very own Wool Emporium should get them too!  When everyone runs out, I'm sure you can get back issues.  I've ordered lots.  : )

Spring 2012 - hot off the press!

To the editors Carla and John at A Needle Pulling Thread magazine:

 a BIG WARM THANK YOU for such a lovely honor!  

The article looks wonderful and I am so proud to have this accomplishment under my belt.  WOW. 

The Bobbin Thing. And BEAUTIFUL Thread.

I was at Creative House the other day to see their new sewing lounge and inquire about teaching there.  (Yes!!  I plan to be teaching in the fall!!)  When they heard me gush about my love of thread, they sent me home with this to try.

I know... excuse the left-over holiday party-polish.  ; )  But seriously, check out the thread!  It's by Wonderfil, and it's called Razzle.  It's a big fat crochet-size rayon in my favorite color with sparkle through it!  I have a regular 'red arrow' bobbin case for sewing, a 'blue arrow' for free motion and thread painting so that I don't have to fiddle with the machine's tension at all between threads.  (LOVE that about Janome.)  So I bought a third bobbin case and marked it with party-green nail polish to distinguish it from the rest.  It's my "play" bobbin.  What a liberating thing to not fear adjusting the bobbin tension!  : )

I set the tension screw so that the Razzle cord could easily unwind off the bobbin.  Then away I went.  I didn't want to try too much because I really don't want to waste an inch of this thread.  ; )  I put a green 50 weight Wonderfil cotton in the top (Tutti green variegated), away I went... basically sewing upside down.  When you flip it over, you'll see the cotton top thread appears to couch the Razzle bobbin thread onto the fabric.  Isn't that cool!?

This was just stitched down onto a scrap of stabilizer.  What a cool thing.  I'll couch with it on top too, feeding it through the foot.  For now though, this is pretty intriguing....

perfect couching.

Thank you George & Wendy : )

Works in Progress Wednesday @ TN&TN

I'm working!  I'm working!  I have been doing so much 'paperwork' (ie: computer documents) it's incredible.  I finished my article for A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine.  That's one important deadline completed!  Break out the bubbly!  I filled out application forms and guild membership forms.  I wrote out the tutorial for my guest post at 3CS, which is coming up very soon.  I will blog when it happens so you can go see.  My thing will be threadsketching.  I have yet to add all the photos and maybe a video.  It's a lot of work!  : )

I have my project well under way for the big show!  Flo at Butterfly Quilting was sweet enough to bring me some patterns to pick from.  I found a great one!  Thank you Flo!

paperwork.

I copied out the pieces so I wouldn't wreck hers.  I used gift bag tissue paper.  Why not?  I also had to add over and inch and a half of waist length.  This is a big learning curve folks!  Remember, I can't follow a pattern!

using my window as a light box

That's all I can show you there!  I am documenting it so I can post it all later (when my hands are recovering).  Smart hey!?  I finished this and finally got a half decent photo of it.  That was no easy task.  With all the colors in there and even good day lighting, something kept registering funny and messing up the hues.  So I tried a technique I had heard of before.  I laid a greyscale paper on the side of the piece, lined up the camera, focused, and then removed the grey paper before snapping the shot.  It worked!  Brilliant.

Bloom, complete.  2011

I'm also preparing for the online course Embroidery, Embellish, Create by Karen Ruane in the UK.  I am so excited!  We just got our supply list from her and I'm getting it all together.  It's all white on white embroidery including cutwork and cross stitch...  (yessss).  Can you believe a guild friend of mine here in Saskatoon is signed up too?  We'll have to present our finished projects to the guild for show and tell I think!   Just look what this fabulous woman does!

Karen Ruane's photo of her work, blogged with permission

Her class begins Monday.  My postcards class at Bernie's is set for Sunday, Sept 18th. There are a few spots left if you would like to try your hand at quilted postcards.  Just email me.  mysweetprairie@gmail.com
Speaking of which, look what arrived in my mailbox from PostcardCottage!  Thank you so much Heather P. of Mississauga, Ontario. : )

"My Favorite Place" postcard from Heather P.

No Jesica's Quilt?  No Jesica's Quilt.  I dislike my quilting and am pulling out a lot of stitches.  I will post after I redo it!  :(  Linking to The Needle and Thread Network...  come join if it fits!

LINK HERE

See you tomorrow!
~Monika

It's Give-Away Time Once Again!

Okay folks, I now have extra copies of A Needle Pulling Thread!  To celebrate making the cover photo, I'm giving away a copy of this issue to 2 lucky people.

win this issue!

That's right, "17 summer projects"!  It includes patterns for cross stitch, rug hooking, crochet, beading, Hardanger, machine embroidery, canvas work, knitting (gorgeous pillow covers), and Swedish weaving.  Oh gosh, have I forgot anything?  Doll making and pretty little free motion stitched bags!  It's pretty terrific, and showcases some great Canadian talents.  Also, the pattern for my quilt is in there.  It's a child's summer quilt, featuring buttons and embroidered patches of my mushrooms, dragonflies, and snails.

If you are needed more information on making and attaching bias binding, or how to construct a proper hanging sleeve, you can find tutorials for those at the top of my blog just under my banner. If you already have this magazine and are interested in getting your hands on these specific fabric solids, I have them in my Etsy shop (link at the top of the page).

very fun binding

To put your name into the draw for this, just leave a comment - including your favorite color scheme at the moment.  : )  The draw will close Thursday night, and the winners will be announced Friday July 22.  One entry each please.  Good luck!!

~Monika

All the Colors of the Rainbow!

Yesterday, I went to Periwinkle (our LQS) to find thread for Jesica's border.  It's always so nice to go in there.  They are so smiley and friendly.  Michelle even scooted to meet me at the front door to say hi.  ; )  My daughter and i sat for a while to just enjoy the place.  It's quite a different experience from the national chain store that sells fabric (you know the place).  I feel bad walking in there.  I feel like I get looks as if to say, "oh great.  here' she comes AGAIN," and they all close the cutting tables.  Everyone at Periwinkle seems to enjoy their job.  So Michelle helped me find this thread.

Valdani Hand Dyed Variegated Thread (Jewel 540 yrds)

Oooh I'm happy with this choice!  It's hand dyed, and a very heavy thread.  It will show nicely I think.  She said that not all machines like it, so use a big needle.  I'm assuming I will need the same thread on bottom to balance the tension.  I'll play around with this a bit and let you know how it goes.

every color of the rainbow

Last week I took out my cheap-o watercolors that I bought myself in May.  My plan it to hand stitch the entire previous photo onto canvas.  I love that photo so much.  I took it on Canada Day this year.  I'm thinking that I can use my painted rendition as a guide when stitching. 

Here is a loose color placement that will keep me on track when I stitch.  Bear with me, I am not a painter.

painted on an old piece of aida cloth

I haven't started stitching it yet,  It's quite large and will probably take all summer, fall, and winter.  I figure once I have it on that scroll frame, I can work on it anywhere, including the spray park this afternoon and the lake tomorrow.  : )  It's been a pretty fun summer so far. 

My last rainbow item is this:  I got all the solid color fabrics cut for the Snips n Snails kit!  If you have the Summer ANPT magazine already and you are interested in buying the right color strips, let me know! ; )  You can e-mail me at mysweetprairie@gmail.com.

Now to get Jesica's quilt backing done.  It will be flannellette with some more fabric-memory pieces.  See you all tomorrow!

~Monika

Things I Love Thursdays

I love when all the goodies I ordered finally fill up my mailbox...

tada!

mmmmm... 

I LOVE those colors.  Quilt kits available soon!

I also love the blog facelift, and the facelift I got on this website.
Saskatchewan Craft Council
They did such a great job.  (thank you Colin!!)

~Monika

Christmas in July - Giveaway!

The fine folks at "A Needle Pulling Thread" sent me complimentary issues of their magazine as thanks for contributing.  Since I already happen to have these two issues, I would like to share my extras with you!

Festive 2010, Spring 2011 underneath

I've seen so many Christmas in July sales lately, that I figured you wouldn't mind.  This publications is perfect for the eclectic crafter - which is why I love them so much.  They cover projects, patterns, and instructions in:

quilting

crochet

knitting

cross stitch

beadwork

rug hooking

canvaswork

hardanger

fibre art

needle tatting

swedish weaving

embroidery

creative sewing

and more!

Here's a little peek inside the issues up for grabs.  The photography, by the way, is gorgeous in this magazine!

You get the idea?  Beautiful!  Eclectic.  I could photograph every page.  It's all gorgeous!  To see exactly which projects are included, click HERE for previews.  Click on the magazine of choice and it will bring up a PDF file to see them all full size (you may have to reduce the images for better viewing).

To enter for the draw to win both issues, leave your name in the comments section.  Tell me what crafts you do/have done, and what crafts you would love to get into next.  That's all!  I'll announce a winner on Tuesday July 12.  It's best NOT to respond anonymously or I'll never be able to find you.  If blogger is not doing it's job, then you can leave your comment on my Facebook page under the post of this title only please.  People at the Hive should come leave their comments directly onto my blog if you don't mind.  I know lots of you will LOVE these magazines!  Context closes Monday midnight, July 11.

Good luck!

~Monika

Works in Progress Wednesday

I'm still workin'!  Here's what's up right now.  I have completed this custom order via my Etsy shop!  I'm so thrilled to have completed it.

It's a bit bigger than 2x3 feet.  I added the tabs yesterday.  This is for Kate's new home, far away from the prairie.  I hope she just loves it!!

border, binding, tabs.

It was a big project!  So there you go - I finished Mandy's AND Kate's.  I haven't done much at all on Jesica's quilt except for plan things in my head.  That counts.  I just don't have photos to prove it.  : )

I put together a kit for Emma to make the Snips n Snails quilt from the Summer issue of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine.

Okay... I have to show this again for the WIP wednesday gang.  ; )

I'm on the cover!  It's starting to sink in now... WOW!

Emma is the woman I met in the fabric store, magazine in hand, trying to gather the fabrics for this quilt I designed.  We met by "accident" or serendipity, more like it!  She's making this quilt to send off to Australia later in the year!  Isn't that cool?  Even stranger... she had no idea this was me, or that I was even in the same city as her.  When I met her in the store, I thought she bought it because she reads my blog.  Totally not.  She just liked the quilt.  I told her, "so you are a real fan!?".  She was as thrilled to meet me.  It was quite funny.  If i see her again, I'll ask her for her autograph.  hehe

Our mail is up and running after 2 weeks!! WOOHOO!  I hopped online and ordered the fabrics that I used for this quilt.  They are all 70's solids and I just love the way they look together!  I'll have some kits ready as soon as that box arrives.  The kit includes assorted buttons and embroidery floss as well.

'coppertone summer' colors picked by the editor of ANPT

Then I headed straight out and mailed these postcards to various places around the planet.  I love postcard swapping so much!  I can't wait to see what shows up in my mailbox.  i love snail mail.

off to New York, Ontario, California, Dublin, and Saskatchewan : )

I am about to rework this piece as a commission from the last show.  It sold before the exhibit but I thought I would display it anyhow.  I figured it was a good one.  The person who bought it knows I'm reworking it and that's okay.  I was sure to ask first, because, well... you know.  It's art, and everyone wants an original.  But each time I make something, it's never identical, and I learn more about what works and what doesn't.  I look forward to this, it was a lot of stitching that was quite loose and free.  I really enjoyed it.

barbed wire & dandelions

Other than that, things will go slow for the summer.  All the kids are home and one has some homeschooling to do to catch up before September.  Thank you everyone for your input to Tips on Tuesdays.  I will be taking the summer off from that particular posting.   There were a couple requests for thread painting to be covered.  Hang tight!  I will be doing that and it will be quite thorough hopefully, as it's part of a group blog effort.  More on that later...it's a surprise.

See you all tomorrow!  To see what other bloggers are up to, go to Lee's at Freshly Pieced, and Esther's Blog too!

~Monika