Generations - Peach Trees

My upbringing has taught me to make practical things and not have idle hands. I don't know if that was a conscious lesson or not. Definitely my parents are some of the hardest working I know.
Dad worked sometimes unending on the family fruit farm his whole life. At 84 he still goes out daily to prune in the winter and Spring, Summer and Fall to do what needs to be done. Farming is not his job it is his vocation.

Times have certainly changed this work. All the canning factories in Canada are gone to my knowledge. No pears or peaches you buy canned off the shelf are from Canada. The economy of scale and standard of living here has taken care of that.

Fresh fruit in our local stores tell the story too. Strawberries from Florida or California can sell in our season for much cheaper. $ 5 a quart or more for Canadian Strawberries. Who can blame the parent or person who buys the cheaper imports.

I made a piece of fibre art last November that celebrates the annual taking pictures of the peach blossoms that my family usually does. It is kind of a joke that we have but upon reflection it also celebrates the hope that comes along with it. The hope of a full crop. The hope that the blooms made it through the winter. The hope of a good price to the farmer so you can pay the bills and have some money left over to do the whole cycle again the next year.

So I created the peach trees in their blossom state. A tribute to the cycles of a farmer, to honour the work that they have done and will do and a hope that this way of life, this vocation of farmers will still be around. Farmers work hard. They are not defined by pension plans, minimum wage, benifits.
They are called.

I love the land but I don't have the vocation, the calling to carry the burdens and worries of a farmer.

So here is my piece. I entered it several call to entries. I am pleased that it was accepted into Fibre Content 2016 which will run at the Art Gallery of Burlington, Ontario from the 8th of September until the 18th.

Maybe I don't have a vocation for farmer but maybe I have a desire to tell a story in fabric.  I must admit it is difficult to pour your heart into a piece of work and not be accepted. That is part of the process of life. Disappointments, successes, roadblocks. But in the end maybe I have to change my mindset and become more like my dad. Do the work, put in the time - day after day. 

This one is for you Mom and Dad. 

No matter what the future brings  on reflection you have taught me resiliency.

Jo

And PS thinning peaches was and remains my most hated memory of jobs on the farm. 

Inspirational Class With Katja

Mother daughter bonding. A long time scheduled class with Katja Marek author of The New Hexegon, host of the New Hexegon, Millefloria Quilt Along, and Quilts on the Go for Quilts on the Grow was yesterday. My daughter and I have been packed for weeks, fabric chosen and anticipation high. This is the first class my daughter and I have gone to together since she was in high school and we went the Creative Festival in Toronto each year.

I was not disappointed in the class only in the fact that I could only watch people stitch!
I am feeling better - able to walk better, nose almost healed but I am waiting for my follow up x rays to see if I need a full cast.

Katja was an amazing teacher. Very organized, thoughtful, giving, sharing and engaging!
She was so interested in seeing the show and tell of some of the class participants on her quilt a longs.

Her Quilt Along information is free on her web site. She just asks that you purchase a book and register. She sayes she loves what she does and you can tell she does too!

The book is like a primer in English Paper Piecing, well laid out and organized published by Martingale.

Viewing potential where to fussy cut.

Diamonds laid out and on template paper ready to stitch

Six triangles laid out to stitch. 

We all learned that English Paper piecing is not as hard as it looks and makes a great by the TV, in the car, out at the park, in a waiting room type project. 

Katja uses a glue basting technique that cuts down the time to prep the pieces.

If you get a chance to have a class with her, or would like to book a great lecture for your guild ask Katja to come. 

Katja also owns a quilt shop in Kamloops, BC Canada. She has been to Germany and the Netherlands teaching this year. 

She also brought some lovely quilts that her very supportive mom has made. Beautiful workmanship! 

I am thankful my friend Leslie and Karen from my stitch and chat group decided to try and book her. They organized a great 2 days of classes and lecture for The Stoney Creek Quilters. Oh what you can achieve with a dream and some work! 

Till next time... 

Jo

I ran out of steam one hand typing or I would have written more about what a great day I had!

Oh Whats A Girl to do!!!! Forced Vacation

I have been so geared up to sew a storm. This week was to be the week! But it is not to be...
Friday I had a freak fall. Down I went off a curb... I can say life through me a curb honestly! lol
So now I sit (literally). After 1 ambulance ride, 4 hours in emergency I came home with a cut up nose, badly sprained ankle and a broken wrist bone.  Combine that with a few bruises and I was set to celebrate our May 24th holiday weekend in a lazy boy.

I am actually mending quite well. My face looks a whole lot better. Swelling has gone down in ankle and wrist. Still can't walk comfortably and I don't know how long I will have to wear my splint cast on my hand.

So for now I am having a forced rest and spend my time surfing the net, reading and watching videos. Off to the osteopath for assessment tomorrow and the Dr's next Wednesday.

I always say I want to be served by my family but it is not as fun as it once sounded. 

May Marching Along...

Marching along. That is what I feel like I am doing. Since my latest body rebellion I have been trying to just march along on what needs to be done.

Goals to get through the month.
Family needs come first. This has been another month of appointments for mom and dad and myself. The last to get through will be for my hubby at the last day of the month. Hopefully June won't be as full. Although mom has another spot of her cancer that has to be removed. We are glad it is only one tiny one.
Honour my own body rebellion. Letting go of the need for perfection and asking for help. This one is hard for a helper.

Craftsy's 50% off members favorite classes sale

Craftsy is continuing its birthday festivities! Put on your party hat and celebrate with 50% off member-favorite classes. Grab a class before the deal expires on Saturday!

On my sewing activity front. My main goal has been to finish my pieces I wish to enter into a regional show. The deadline is fast approaching. I did not feel well enough to work on this in April and some technical issues had alluded me. The issues are now resolved and I had a great day stitching away.

Portion of my piece yet untitled.

I am having a hard time coming up with a name for this piece. I think I have been working on it to long!

I took quiet time just to do some stitching on a project that I started in 2014. It is not a high priority and I usually only work on it in my monthly stitch group. It is a Judy Niemeyer Quilt - Log Cabins. 

It is not that it is particularly difficult but the process is time consuming. It is a paper piecing pattern for those who don't know. A lot of prep work. It just has not been on the high priority list. 

But to prove to myself that I have spent some time on it. Here it is ongoing. 

This is colour way two of five. The set consists of 5- arc A and 5- arc b. And 5 paper pieced log cabins. Set 1 is complete. Set 3, 4 and 5 are in bags patiently waiting their turn. 

The arcs take me sometime to figure out each time I start. I always did hate geometry with a passion. 

The log cabins less time. 

And Finally this week I will let you gaze at  another ongoing never ending project. My hand pieced grandmother flower garden. I have no idea when I started this. I did however start it using Linda Franz Inklingo products. http://www.inklingo.com/ This women's product is neat. You can use it to print paper piecing templates  as is the popular craze right now or to print on the back of your fabric to get perfect lines to sew on either by hand or machine. She has been

 doing this for a while and even had her husband drop off a book for me when he was going by to save me postage. Now who does that easily! (She offered.) 

I have no clue of how many I have made. I must find the box I have them saved in. It is a project I take in the car on long trips or lately been doing while waiting for someone at the hospital to have surgery or appointments.  This is not paper pieced but done by stitching on the lines printed on the back. 

I am going to test it out on my up coming Katija http://www.katjasquiltshoppe.com/ New Hexegon project. I just found out that I could use my already purchased Inklingo products to run paper through my printer to make my own templates for paper piecing. 

Well that is what I have been up to. I am finally feeling much better than I was for the last two months and am also happy the sun is shining. 

I am going to link to needle and thread network . 

I enjoyed reading the blogs of my fellow Canadians last week so I thought I would try to join in each week as well. 

till next time

Jo

What have you been up to?

Reminder: Craftsy is offering a 50% off members favorite classes sale.  If you go through the link below as an affiliate I do get a small renumeration. I want to encourage you to get access to some of the best classes on a broad number of topics to help your creative growth.  I will never promote something that I don't myself use or feel is a rip off. Craftsy classes are one of my main goto's to learn new things. No pressure but if you like craftsy please consider going through my link. These offers will always be at the end of my blog posts. This is to ensure you are not pestered and can read my blog posts for enjoyment not pressure.
Jo

Craftsy's 50% off members favorite classes sale

Craftsy is continuing its birthday festivities! Put on your party hat and celebrate with 50% off member-favorite classes. Grab a class before the deal expires on Saturday!

Work in progress

I have been busy working on two pieces I hope to enter into a show that will be in Burlington Ontario. No guarantees to get accepted especially with all the very talented artists who will be entering.

The encouragement from my family especially DH is so empowering. To have someone believe in you is such a besting. 

My small group the Fabrigos are like this too! We can bounce ideas off of each other, ask for opinions on the direction of our work and support each other. 

I wonder if there is any statistics on percentages on submissions to acceptances to shows. This would still be quite subjective depending on number of entrants, skill level and a mirad of other things. 

So why take the chance to enter juried shows? I think the best reason is because it pushes you. It pushes you to complete. It pushes you to hone your skills. It gives you a goal. Does that mean if you don't get in that your piece was no good? Maybe... To the standard of the day. Or maybe yes it wasn't that good. Or it wasn't what the juries liked. But if you are happy with your piece than you have accomplished a goal that many never try. Putting yourself out there! 

With that in mind I have been working on two pieces that are near and dear to my heart. Afraid to continue in case I may wreck it. 

Talking to my friend Al helped me put it in better perspective. It is only a few meters of fabric and 65 hours of work! Lol the investment in actual materials is small. Less than a dinner out. But in reality the time is the expensive part. But I can now say I have learned many ways I don't want something and vital lessons on how to do somethings...or not. 

How not to make my tree attempt 3!

Fear of quilting in action. What if I do it wrong. 

Time to get off the couch put some tunes on and tackle my fears and move on. 

These works in progress need to be done! 

Jo

Do you let the fear of perfect stand in your way? 

Craftsy Class Review - Amy Johnson - Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine.

Craftsy Class Review - Amy Johnson - Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine.

So I have set my note book (see last post), viewed the whole class and now have completed some of the lessons.

I have to say I really like Amy Johnson as a teacher. freemotionquiltingadventures.com is her blog which has lots of information and her online shop where you can find machine rulers and feet for your domestic machine. Disclosure: I do not get anything for promoting her web site. I just love it!

Her teaching style is easy to listen to, filled with information and she repeats key points which is helpful when you are learning. She shows many rulers that are available but stresses that you can use just two to start a straight machine quilting ruler and a curved machine quilting ruler. She even provides a template and how to create your own temporary ruler to get started! No hard sell for supplies here. I like that in a teacher. This makes this a class for those who maybe can't quite afford it all to participate. And will let you test some experience before you leap into the world of supplies.

Here are a couple of pictures of my first attempts

The machine I am using

Using the straight ruler in grid work. Notice the little glitches on the bottom line as I started up the line.  

 The great thing about this class is you can take a picture and ask the teacher why this happens. Amy responded within a day.

Here is the finished square. 

This square was done not using the stitch regulator that comes with the machine. I have yet to try that. 

Next I did grid work with the curved ruler. 

 This I didn't feel as good with. I did not take my time or mark the grid lines well. I also did not understand how to use the registration lines on the ruler. Rulers are not created equal. Before you invest I suggest watching or looking at on line tutorials of how the ruler is used and see what you think would work best for you. I plan to use the two rulers I have until I feel that I have mastered them. My I bought are about 6 inches. If I bought another I would buy a 12 straight ruler as well for bigger blocks.


Seeing Amy do it it looks effortless. But she stress what I think we all know... practice, practice, practice.

I would definitely recommend Amy's Craftsy Class.

If you are interested you may click here to go to Craftsy and this class description
Quilting With Rulers on a Home Machine

Disclosure: If you do, I do get an affiliate fee.
I am stating that I don't want to turn anyone off of reading my blog.  So No Pressure Here!

From time to time I am going to share my free motion progress as well. Here is a sample of a design based from Leah Days 50 Free Motion Filler Book. freemotionquilting I have been following her since shortly after she started her 365 free motion project. Go to her site and check out her story. She has posted the most amazing videos showing her designs for free. You can also purchase supplies from her.  Disclosure: I get nothing from promoting her web site. I just love her. 

Leah also has classes on Craftsy with if you went through my craftsy button I would get an affiliate fee for. Again no pressure. 

I will add more pictures of my class work for you to view. This I hope is going to keep me accountable. 

How do you feel about machine quilting. Is it something you want to do? Is the learning curve to high? If you are an accomplished machine quilter how long did it take you to feel comfortable with your skills? 

Trying to figure this new skill out is a challenge for me for sure! 

jo

How I approach learning from an on line class like Craftsy.

How I approach an online class like from Craftsy or any other online or in person class.

I have a tendency to watch the whole class before I start any work so that I can get a feel for the class.
Being bit of a geek I then print the class requirements and put them in a three ring binder that I have for classes I have taken. This is to ensure I don't lose the papers!

Then I use one of these

for each course I take. I am not expecting to fill up all the pages but they are so cheap at back to school time I stock up to use them. 

I write the course name on it and as I watch the video I write down the information I like to remember or any questions I may have. 

Craftsy makes it easy to stop the video and rewind to review again or to listen again to what you missed because the dog choose that moment to jump on your lap or the cat threw up a hairball! 

Samples I make and want to keep go into this book. Pictures I take of my process through the class can go into this book. 

Working this way helps me to remember. It is how I worked in school too. Write notes, transcribe them and find out what I didn't know or need to look up. 

I prep anything that needs prepping ie find fabric, supplies etc. 

Then I work through the class with the computer beside me to remind me what to do and my notes. 

This is what works for me. What do you do when you take an online class? 

How many do you actually finish? 

I have not been very disciplined. I have viewed all my classes but not finished them. Some I admit just are for me to do the project. But with my note taking I have learned valuable things from each class. 

I am hoping that accountablity to blog land will help me not only add to my skills but make me finish what I take. 

Craftsy has a sale often of which will be noted on the side bar of my blog. 

I am also going to add bloglovin as a feed option. 

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6045929/?claim=9qkxz4c8v3v">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Hope you enjoy how I work. 

Jo

Thoughts...

This post is going to be thoughts... not really a post on how to but a reflection on some things I am learning from others.
.
I love reading blogs. I learn alot from them. From time to time I want to spot light some of those who I get a lot of thoughts from.

A disclosure is needed before I do this that I am only going to focus on positive thoughts and reflections. Negative rants - of which I have been subject to or have given have served no purpose accept to put me in a downward spiral. So the old saying "If you don't have anything nice to say - don't say it" will apply. This is going to be hard work. Think of how many negative comments flow through your brain?

Elizabeth Barton
I have never met Elizabeth Barton. I have her books

and

She teaches on line at the Academy of Quilting

And has a masterclass sign up each year which you can access on her blog via the link on her name above.

She doesn't know me at all. I am just one of the people who have signed up for her blog.

Her writing is engaging and thoughtful. She encourages people to respond to her posts and replies to their comments.

Her insights are worth a read. April 28th's post talks about adding some spice to your work like you would a recipe or dish you would make.

What I have learned from this blog is in a nut shell. Do the work, invest in learning, learn to critique your work - she has suggested  how to critique section in the end of her book. (Can't remember which  one.)

Check out her blog.

Do you have her books? What do you think of them?

Jo 

Craftsy

I am a Craftsy Fan.

I have bought several classes now and really enjoy the format. Granted you have to have a Internet connection that works well to feed the video so it doesn't make it ideal for some.

Why do I like Craftsy Classes?

Here are my top reasons.

1. Affordable. Hobbies are expensive. Very fulfilling but expensive. Some people would be appalled at the amount of money I have spent on my hobby but since my hubby is good with it and it makes me happy to create for our family and others I don't have to justify spending the money. That being said there are limits. Craftsy makes classes affordable. Price points for these classes are great .

2. Life time access to classes.  No where can you get life time access to classes to watch, re watch and re watch that I know of. Yes you can buy DVD classes and I do, but here comes my next reason.

3. Top notch teachers at your disposal. Every class I have taken has top notch teachers at my disposal. The format design of the class allows you to ask questions at any point in the classes. And the teachers answer. You also benefit from reading other students questions, the replies from the teachers and fellow students.

4. Access to teachers I would never get to see in person. I would love to study under these talented teachers. Living where I do and being practical it is unlikely that I will get too! Although if I ever get a chance I would because there is nothing like the in person experience. Lets face it how often have I heard of my friends and acquaintances say they have spent $$$ on a class at a venue only to be disappointed that the teacher was not a great teacher in person.

5. You can preview what the class is like before you buy. Is every class going to be what you wanted? Probably not as we all have different expectations but I can learn something from each and every experience.

6.  Craftsy has sales. Sales on their classes. You can book mark your wish list classes and wait for a sale.

7.  Great Supplies. Ability to buy through the Craftsy store. Access to get supplies at great prices.

8. Patterns available for free or for purchase

9. Community. Craftsy has a great community if you want to be involved in that way.

10. Blog. You can follow along and learn even more great things.

There are great venues out there for learning. And I make use of a variety. I love have books as a resource. I search the net. I buy DVDs. I take local classes when they are available in my area.
I belong to some small groups that are great for encouragement and growth.


On my side bar is a Craftsy Badge. I have signed up to be a Craftsy Affiliate. As a Craftsy Affiliate if you go to Craftsy and take a class through my link it will give a small monetary remittance to me. I am not going to get rich from this but hope to be able to create some content for this blog with it.

As I work through my Craftsy classes I am going to share my successes and failures on my blog.  I hope you enjoy seeing what I am up to and join me in my journey of becoming a better artist and encouraging others to be creative.

What will be first up. Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine with Amy Johnston. This is going to teach me not to be afraid of my Baby Lock Tiara!

Until next time

Jo

Opportunity Knocks...do you listen?

"Opportunity Knocks... do you listen". I think this would make a great quilt title. Image what you could put into it.

How about "Look Before You Leap because you just might land in ... " This could go so many ways - whimsical, political, dark, light.

I attended out local SAQA Meeting yesterday afternoon at the artgalleryofburlington where Robynne Cole and Dwayne Warner put on another great meeting. Record turn out!

Denis Longchamps Artistic Director and Chief Curator of the AGB was our guest speaker.  What a great job he did! I wish I had taken notes but the lights were dim and I couldn't see very well so I will have to rely on my memory...

Denis did a great job of explaining about Art, Craft and the divisions, and interactions of the subject. Where lines get blurred is the historical, contextual, and perceived definitions of Art and Craft.  Art begs the person to ask questions. It pushes the realm of the known in a medium in relation to the time and space it is created. At least this is my take on it. I still don't get some "Art" and probably won't at least with not a greater study of the subject. Which I think would take a lifetime.
But for now it has opened the door a bit wider to my understanding of things created with out a purpose or practicality.

How does this relate to my post title?

Well I guess it relates on many levels. A flare of my Fibromyalgia has lead to me resigning from my part time job. This in turn allows me to pursue other activities such as my "art" quilting and other hobbies while turning my mind to keeping myself in better condition health wise and freeing me up for opportunities. Which in turn can ramp up symptoms of my Fibromyalgia. In other words if I don't plan my opportunities I could end up in a bigger mess.

Over the next little while I am going to be doing some serious thinking about Looking Before I Leap. I am impulsive and have a creative problem solving mind. I am naturally curious and intrigued by new things. This leads me down rabbit holes of what should I do with my life? and Staying at home and not working for pay does it have meaning? Should I take a course for a designation? Should I start a business? Should I ....

On one of my favourite sites to visit is Textile Artist. It has great articles for fibre artists and more. I am going to be making some mind maps to clarify my thoughts and options.  Putting on paper the rabbit hole where my mind goes. textileartist.org/bren-boardman-on-mind-maps-and-sketchbooks/
I used to use this technique with my son when his mind was going to fast as a kid and making him anxious.

I know I am in for a change. You will see them here on the blog.

Let me know if you go down rabbit holes or look before   you leap or how you deal with opportunity...
I would love to know what others think.
Jo

Weekly Stitch - Cretan Stitch

Well this weekly stitch bit is a bit of a misnomer. 

But I will stick to this title until I get there. 

So many things have been happening and time and energy is not always there but I finished the sample.

Stitch Sample

The leaf sample -  a slow start

Part of the problem with this leaf is how to 

interpret this stitch to fill in the leaf. 

Suggestions? 

If you want to see a really successful weekly stitch blog.
 notesfromstudiob.blogspot.ca by Linda McLaughlin

Do you hand stitch.

Jo

Red and White and Black All Over....

Do you remember the old jokes of what is red and white and black all over?

This quilt started out as a workshop at the Grimsby Quilters Guild in Grimsby, Ontario. And this joke is on me! 

It was a technique based on a pattern from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. Wonderful free patterns and You Tube Video's. 

I have slowly been working on it over time but it is now sprinting to a finish.

I choose the fabrics out of my stash. Red, white and black because I had bought some with no purpose in mind other than I liked them... (typical quilter behaviour)

This pattern could be made from a jelly roll but I stripped my colours into the 2 1/2 strips myself before the workshop.

4 units 8" squares form one large 18" block

I tried for a pattern but it was mostly random placement of the strips. We sewed strip sets then sub cut them and formed the squares. 

I didn't like the busyness of the blocks all added together so I bought some grey intending on sashing the blocks. But I didn't like that idea. 

So I got the idea to place them on point but still didn't like that. 

Then I make an alternate block with one 8" unit sashed in the dark grey. A wonderful piece from Northcott. 

Laying the squares out on a sheet to pin them in place to remember the layout.

I was adding white blocks to as the alternate blocks from the patterned ones.  But when I added them in I thought they white stood out to much and looked to stark.
So off to the fabric store to get some red for the centre of the white blocks. 

Auditioning a piece of deep red in the centre of the white space.

This is the layout I decided on. 

Some how this lap size quilt has grown to around 100 or so inches on all sides. 

The answer to the opening joke is this quick technique for a lap quilt has grown to enourmous proportions. 

It will be awhile until I quilt it. I am still practicing on my Babylock. This is such a big project to quilt but I know once it is done it will find a home.... 

Finally I feel like I am getting things done. 

I will post a picture of the finished quilt top when all the sewing is done for today.  

I have been making...

Absence makes the heart grow fonder... that is the old saying. 

In this case absence make for making more art. 

I have been prepping a workshop on Thread Bowls and items on Dissoluble Stabilizer. This I will be presenting to the Stoney Creek Quilting Guild in Stoney Creek, Ontario next week.  I also will be the guest speaker on Every One is Creative! This is a great opportunity for me a newbie to teaching and speaking. I know some of the people in this guild and they are kind, generous and funny so I know I will be in good hands. 

Prepping a workshop is a lot of solid work and research to do but is wonderful for learning the ins and outs and how something works. 

I have prepared one other workshop before on Lutradur. This I gave at the Burlington Fibre Arts group in 2014 and at the same time I shared it on one of my favorite

blogs andthenwesetitonfire.blogspot.ca

I don't claim I am a expert but I have found many ways not to do something in my experiments and I think that is as valuable as being perfect. 

So here is a sneek peek at a couple of samples... 

Bowl shape all sewn and ready to put in water to dissolve the stabilizer.

Leaf shape stitched and cut out of thread made fabric using this technique with stabilizer dissolved.



What else have I been up to?

My seventeen ways to use sari fabric given to my fellow fabrigos.blogspot.ca
You can check up on my progress on this challenge on our blog above.

And trying to finish up a quilt from a workshop given by the Grimsby Quilters Guild 2 years ago. It is a quilt that I am calling loosely - Red and White and Black All Over.

 Other things are in the works for this girl... Some will hopefully fulfil part of a dream of mine. 

But more to follow when the time is right. 

Do you have a favourite dissolvable stabilizer? 

Jo