Coffee Cup Coasters

Here are the results of my silk screening project. I gave some sets like these away for Christmas presents before I took any photos. Then I made another set for myself plus a few extras. I have lots of leftover prints which I thought I would give away to quilter friends.


I decided I liked the prints better on fabrics which were printed with an allover large scale print. I only had a couple of small upholstery samples, so off to the fabric store for some printed canvas.

Not all of the words showed up well do to the problems I had developing the screen, and a few of the details have been lost from my design. But overall, I think it was a successful project and a good learning experience. I may opt to cut stencils or get thermofax stencils made for future screening projects.

Go to Off the Wall Friday to see what others have been up to this week. There are some great things up there already.

Christmas Preparations

We finally got a tree put up last weekend. I kept the branches trimmed from the bottom of the tree, and tied them into a wreath. My daughter decorated it with a beaded garland and added a bow.

I’ve been on a tote bag sewing marathon. Mostly for gifts for the small nieces and nephews. I picked out a different upholstery fabric for each one, so each would be unique. I have a couple more to get done.

Have a great Christmas.

Christmas Gifts & Illustrating Character

Did everyone have a wonderful Christmas? I received a pinwheel block from my nine year old daughter. She hand stitched it without any help, and I have instructions that I may finish it with quilting. I think I might make it a bit larger and turn it into a dresser scarf.

This month’s Fast Friday Challenge, we are to work with “zinger” colors, and illustrate a mood or emotion with the piece we create. I know I can easily add some zinger colors to a succulent piece, but how can I express emotion?

Verticals, branches reaching towards the heavens, sunbeams reaching down, rising bubbles, all seem of joyful. I nearly always choose to work in a vertical format even when my subject is a landscape. Last January, I did a digital experiment to stretch one of my vertical landscapes into a horizontal. The horizontal version seems more peaceful and spacious, and the water and horizon seem to have more emphasis. I prefer the vertical version where the emphasis seems more on the tree and the upward reaching branches.

So, perhaps this month’s succulent quilt will feature flower stalks reaching upwards.

I have been working rather precisely lately, tracing photographs to lay out main shapes before I begin to paint and quilt my succulent pieces. Perhaps I should try cutting or drawing freehand shapes to see if this will add character to my succulent series.

How do you express emotions or add character to your quilts or other artwork?

Christmas Stars Completed

I have finished sewing the stars.

I got tired making gold stars, so a few of the gold stars turned red and a few green.

The winners of my giveaway drawing are Chris and Doreen.

Chris has some nice quilts on her blog. I particularly like her Zinnia quilt.

Doreen looks like she has been having fun with her Embellisher felting machine. That’s something I’ve no experience with, but it’s fun to see what other people are doing with it.

Progress on the Gold Stars

The golden colored stars are about half done. I expected the metallic in the gold paint to show up a bit more. It's very bold in the jar, but looks rather subtle brushed lightly onto the stars.
The day before Thanksgiving seems an odd day to have a drawing. I will pick the names on Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving. So you have until then to leave a comment on either this post or the last post if you would like to have your name in the giveaway drawing. I am enjoying reading your comments and visiting your blogs.

A Blogiversary Giveaway

It’s been a year since I started blogging! I wasn’t sure if I would like blogging, or if I would keep at it. But I have enjoyed the process, and I have made a few online friends. I often wonder who my readers are. Leave me a comment if only to say “Hi,” or share what kind of projects you are creating for the holidays. I am making Christmas stars. In one week, two lucky people will be drawn from those who leave comments on this post to receive one of the stars I am making.

I have begun quilting the orange-yellow fabric for the golden stars. I darkened the color a bit on the already quilted stars, and I may go back in with the darker paint after it is dry for a less even look. After the stars are sewn and finished, I intend to add highlights with lighter colored and metallic paint like I did for my “Succulent” quilt.

I used some of the green fabric to try out a few construction techniques, so I could get the look I am after without too much fuss.Turning it like a pillow was near impossible with the thick quilted fabric. Light stuffing with extra stitching year the inside corners gives a nice dimensional look. I tried paint on the edges to disguise the raw edges, but prefer how couched yarn looks.

Christmas Project

Yesterday I painted some fabrics in a golden yellow color for a Christmas project I have in mind. A bit of bronze metallic paint was added for just a bit of shine. I think I will get a lighter gold metallic paint to add highlights to the finished product after they are quilted.

This experimental bit of fabric has been sitting around for over five years. It is strips of fabric and embroidery floss laid atop a rectangle of green fabric, topped with a piece of green tulle, and free-motion stitched. It’s about time to see what I can do with it.

Christmas Table Runners

I was inspired by Gerrie to make table runners a couple of Christmas presents and one for myself. I used Kristen’s “Mod Log Cabin Table Runner” pattern that she has on her website. If you follow her written instructions, you will get two rounds of logs around each center square, but if you are going by the photo that accompanies the instructions, you will get three rounds of logs (not that it makes a whole lot of difference). I have three rounds. I guess that means I'm a visual learner and don't like to follow directions.

Making the blocks for one runner at a time, then afterward searching my fabrics for something that coordinating and big enough for a border, is not perhaps the best way to plan colors. But I am pleased with how they turned out.




“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

Have a great Christmas.