Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Pin It Weekly #110

How about a little fine art for fun pinning?  I just love artwork that depicts women and girls, so that's what I'm pinning.  Sit back with these proper ladies (most of them anyway) and enjoy.

Sir Thomas Lawrence 'Portrait of Mrs. John Allnutt'

John Singer Sargent, Mrs. Hugh Hammersley, 1892

Portrait of a Child John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)

1893 Mrs John Jay Chapman (Black Dress) by John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent Wow! The lighting is divine!

John Singer Sargent's Violet Sargent (Bench)

41a1bbebb54fc61da6a54876f1d7e8d8.jpg 440×640 pixel

portrait painting: "morning breeze" by contemporary Italian painter Pino Daeni, in his beloved modern warm family love style of motion & passion (influenced by Pre-Raphaelites & Macchiaioli)

Girl with a Book - Philip Maliavin.(1869-1940). Russian

A Quiet Hour (c.1901). John White Alexander (American, 1856-1915). Oil on canvas. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. There is so little tension in the woman’s body she resembles the drapery that covers her. The painting might be used to show how ill-suited women are for study. The woman is dozing over her book, eyes closed, one arm lying languidly at her side, the other falling over the open book, which is, suggestively, blank.

Lady Holding a Book [alternative title: Portrait of a Lady] (late 19th century). I. Sabatini (Italian, active late 19th century). Oil on canvas. Cooper Gallery, Barnsley. The work was painted in Florence but it is believed that it was acquired in London from the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. Sabatini’s work is characterised by meticulous execution, as seen in the representation of the sitter’s fine lace collar and cuffs, hair and jewels. All of his works are highly decorative.





What have you been pinning lately?  Add the url to one of your Pinterest boards or to a blog post that includes pins from your board.


Have Bernina Will Travel

In yesterday's post I promised to tell how I brought the Bernina to NY state and back.  It's one of the really nice advantages of hauling a camper behind the truck.  I set up a section of storage just for sewing.  Well, I had a separate "library" with books and magazines, too.  On the days that I did get to sew, I used the dining table as my sewing table.  I was a bit worried about its stability but it turns out that it's not a problem, at all. 

Just because I had a nice bit of storage does not mean I could fit the entire studio, so I had to carefully choose what I'd bring along.


I decided to make and bring a couple of kits.  One such kit included 4 1/2 inch squares that I cut on the Accuquilt Studio cutter.  To keep the pieces together and separate from the other kit pieces, I put them in this little net bag.  The second kit included about six different bright pieces for a plus quilt.  The pluses are different sizes.  Although it was difficult to fit together, I managed to finish the top this week.



These two kits I stored in a plastic container along with needles, thread, scissors, etc.

The final kit included this rose fabric that I bought several years ago.  My tastes have changed tremendously since then, but what's a girl to do?  I can't just toss out perfectly good fabric just because it's not what I prefer to work with now.  So I decided I'd cut a fast-kit using some fairly large pieces and make myself work on it.  I sewed all the blocks together, but because I didn't have space for a design board, I pressed them and placed them back into the plastic container that they were packed in.  I do have to press them again, but they should go on the design board fairly soon.

This is what they look like, but I don't have the same number of each border color, so I'm definitely going to have to play with them to  figure out a design.

Because I never know when or what inspiration will hit me, I decided to pack a third container of solid fabrics that would serve if I decided to do some improvisational or art quilting.  

Inspiration did hit, but I didn't actually piece anything.  Instead, I took notes and drew out a basic design so that I could remember what was in my head.  I've played a bit with the design, but it's not ready for fabric quite yet.  I promise to keep you posted though.
What do you do when traveling?  Do you just leave it all behind or do you carry some things along?  How do you choose and pack your things?

Monday, June 29, 2015

Modern Monday: Cross Quilt

I managed to start a new quilt while on vacation.  I'll tell you how I pulled that off tomorrow, but in the meantime, I thought I'd show a couple of sneak peaks of this very bright quilt.


This is what I managed to put together while on hiatus from traveling.  There weren't many hours off the black top, but on those days that we pulled into a campsite early, I pulled out the machine and played.


That means when we got home, I had these blocks all finished up.  I decided to add some more background fabric to separate the blocks so they would not be quite so busy.  







And this is where I am right now.  Quilting the background.  I've decided to quilt all of the background then come back and quilt the crosses.  I am thinking of matching the thread to the individual crosses and that will take time since I have six or seven different colors.






And that's what's modern in my studio. What modern fun are you playing with?  C
ome back tomorrow to see what I did to be able to sew while on vacation.

Linking up with
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt 

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: W A T E R

"Although water covers 70 percent of the Earth's surface, water is actually a rare substance that represents just 0.05 percent of the Earth's total mass."   Science Nordic

The water....

I've seen waves do this in Hawaii, it happens when one or more catches up with the one making beach fall and you get a stacked effect.

Sorvagsvatn - lake over the ocean {Sørvágsvatn/Leitisvatn is the biggest lake of the Faroe Islands. It is situated on the island of Vágar between the municipalities of Sørvágs Kommuna and Vága kommuna. )

reminds me of the tire swing at the creek behind my mom's house when i was a child.  it was so fun.  i would try it again...

Thick Water  | Klave's Marina has been serving the boating community on Portage Lake in Pinckney, MI for more than 50 Years! Call (734) 426-4532 or visit our website www.klavesmarina.com for more information!

The tranquil Androscoggin River in Turner, Maine • photo: Amber Waterman / Sun Journal  | Klave's Marina has been serving the boating community on Portage Lake in Pinckney, MI for more than 50 Years! Call (734) 426-4532 or visit our website www.klavesmarina.com for more information!

Mach 2 Two-Seat Towable Tube & Rope Set by AIRHEAD #zulily #zulilyfinds  | Klave's Marina has been serving the boating community on Portage Lake in Pinckney, MI for more than 50 Years! Call (734) 426-4532 or visit our website www.klavesmarina.com for more information!

Stardust 11x14 : twinkle star photo beach photography shimmer sparkle water print blue green teal home decor on Etsy , $40.00 | Klave's Marina has been serving the boating community on Portage Lake in Pinckney, MI for more than 50 Years! Call (734) 426-4532 or visit our website www.klavesmarina.com for more information!

Portage Lake homes Livingston County MI near Onekama, MI  | Klave's Marina has been serving the boating community on Portage Lake in Pinckney, MI for more than 50 Years! Call (734) 426-4532 or visit our website www.klavesmarina.com for more information!

Lake Tahoe is a great summer and winter destination. You can expect a visit full of outdoor activities and fresh air!- Little Passports #littlepassports #tahoe #california | Klave's Marina has been serving the boating community on Portage Lake in Pinckney, MI for more than 50 Years! Call (734) 426-4532 or visit our website www.klavesmarina.com for more information!

Looks like off our old bulkhead :)  Beautiful and sad all at the same time. | Klave's Marina has been serving the boating community on Portage Lake in Pinckney, MI for more than 50 Years! Call (734) 426-4532 or visit our website www.klavesmarina.com for more information!

White Water Lily!  Klave's Marina has been serving the boating community on Portage Lake in Pinckney, MI for more than 50 Years! Call (734) 426-4532 or visit our website www.klavesmarina.com for more information!


The quilts...
Walking  The Water’s Edge - by Diane Herrmann.  awesome quilting.  Love the use of ombre blue fabric.

Other pinner: I will do this on my next quilt.  Me:Perhaps I will do it on the 1st one I do!

http://focusonfiberart.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/It-Suddenly-Dawned-3.jpg
I wish I knew who did this! Great water, see, ship... lol.

Water Garden with Lotus Small Kit by Jim Stratton

Moonlight 9 by Kirsten's Fabric Art.

Amazing water lily quilt by Barbara McKie.

Where We Met, 43 x 59", by Linda C. Anderson. Best Wall Quilt, 2014 Road to California, photo by Quilt Inspiration

Joy in the Journey, 1990.  Carol Johnson.

Janice Stevens, Silence

Jeanine Malaney  'winter quiet'

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Hooded Beach Towel ~~ a tutorial

Today I made a couple of hooded beach towels for the little granddaughters.  They love to go to the beach or to Mim's house to swim.  A school of fish, they are.  

Tracking pool water into the house is an idea few of the adults appreciate.  So I thought I'd help just a little by making some hooded towels.  And to help you, I thought I'd write a tutorial that explains how I did this.

Supplies: 
1 regular bath towel (27 X 52)
1 regular hand towel (16 X 28)
fabric scraps (fat quarter) 5 X 33
(These measurements are for the supplies I had.  You may have to make adjustments to fit your own supplies.)

To determine the length of the fabric you will need double the width of the hand towel and add one inch.  If your hand towel is 17 X 30, the final measurement is 17 x 2 + 1.  So the fabric should measure 5 X 35.  If you're using scraps or a fat quarter, you'll need to piece the fabric, but don't forget to add the extra 1/2 inch for the seams.
Once the fabric is cut to the right length, press the seams open. Then fold and press down 1/2 inch along one long side and both short edges.  Set aside for a moment.



Figure out which side of the hand towel is the right side.  (Not all hand towels have a right and wrong side.)  With right sides together (RST) fold the towel in half on the width and make a short angular seam beginning 1 and 1/2 inches from the edge.  Sew almost to the edge but stop short of the hem seam.  



Now to make the hood, lay the towel down and place one hem edge on top of the other hem so that they both lie flat.  Sew the entire length of the center back seam.  Tip: To encourage the seam to lie flat, sew in a wavy, rather than straight line.  Notice how crooked my seam is?  That's on purpose!





Now you're ready to add the colorful fabric that trims out the hood. There are two open edges of the hood, one with a seam and one without.  Lay the hood on the worktable with the un-seamed edge right side down. Pin the fabric along the edge wrong sides together.  Tip: the fabric will roll around to the other side leaving a small amount to frame the wearer's face.  You can adjust the width of this amount by moving the decorative fabric.  Look at the bottom picture on the left to see the difference.  I prefer the wider version, but the decision is the maker's.



Once this seam is made, turn the decorative fabric around to the right side of the hand towel and pin in place.  Be careful to make sure the edge is flat.  

Sew along the edge of the fabric to create a top-stitch.  Tip: I use my presser foot to keep my seam fairly even, just a point on the presser foot as you would the lines on the machine.

Now you're ready to attach the hood to the bath towel.  Determine the right side, and then fold the towel in half on the width to find the center and pin to mark.  Lay the towel on your work surface so that the center portion of the towel is flat.  Beginning at the center, pin the edge of the hood so that the center back seam of the hood is directly on the pinned center of the towel.  


Tips: I opened the hood center back seam to reduce bulk.  I also sewed this seam so that both hems lay flat by sewing a wavy line as I had earlier.  One final touch I added is a small tailor-tack at each end of the hood to help hold the seam together.  To do this, make a narrow, tight zigzag stitch about 1/4 inch long.