IDEAS??????????

When I first started this Blog, I thought it would be so easy to come up with ideas to share with those of you who chose to visit me. However, it seems like I am posting less and less simply because when I stare at this emply screen sometimes I catch a void. I promised myself to keep this in the quilting realm, so that makes it more difficult.

So today I guess I will share my mini gathering with you. We have 6 in the group. In the beginning everyone was busy quilting on a lot of individual projects. However, after a period of years we all know each other pretty well, and our lives have changed also. One got a divorce and so now has to work full time. Another was seriously ill, but has worked so hard to get back to the point she could manage on her own. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that this group doesn't quilt so often anymore, but thru our quilting we have all gotten close enough that we can spend 2 nights a month, and even if we don't have something to do, the evening will still pass like a flash. For those of us who are seriously involved in quilting it is a great place to test the waters, and get feedback that you know is truthful! Good friends are hard to come by, it doesn't matter how they come, just that they are there.

I haven' figured out yet how to put my e-mail on this site, so if you want to reach me to ask a question or make a comment here it is. I am usually on Surfbest, but I have been having a problem with it so I set up a yahoo account. It is shedrumcs120@ Yahoo .com.
Come visit me!!!shedrum.blogspot.com

Third Ugliest Car on the market. 

Fabric Painting class--------- 

Fabric Painting class---------- 

Third Ugliest Car on the market!!!!!

Honest to God, this is what it is called. It is a Toyota Scion. Gets really good gas milage and drives so smoothly. Actually, my husband was the one that wanted it, and he drives it every day, so I haven't had much time to drive it yet.

My Butterfly quilt is finished. As usual I am a little lost when I finish a big quilt, although I have several other small quilts and etc I am working on or thinking about. Our State guild is having a card swap, and want to play with some ideas for that.

But FIRST I must clean my sewing room. Otherwise I will never be able to find what I need to start something new. I noticed in viewing other peoples sewing blogs that ever so often they also need to clean house. So guess it is that time!!!

Free at Last, sneak preview of quilt that will be in the Houston show 

sneak peek!

I am working frantically! Why I don't know, but just have a bit to do on the binding and sew on the label and my Butterfly quilt will be all done. I haven't decided where to enter it, so don't know why it is so important to get it finished.

I just feel that after a number of years I have finally found a style that really suits me. Sort of exciting actually. I see so many other artists that fit into a style of their own, and I am always so eager to try something new it has been a struggle.

Back from Teaching

It has been awhile since I posted anything mainly because I was learning how to post pictures, and some other things I want to try adding to this blog.

However, I spent yesterday in Frankfort, Kentucky teaching Fabric Painting. I so enjoy teaching, and those ladies were wonderful. When I arrived they had everything set up with plastic covering everything, so all I had to do was set up my things and get on with it.
They also prepared a wonderful lunch, so we could not have had more fun the whole day. I took some pictures with my digital camera, however, I always like to have some pictures made at Walmart, and then download them from my camera to the computer, and in doing this delete the pictures. Well, those machines at Walmart are always broken as people try and cram their memory cards into the the slots, and so both machines were broken when I went in. So, I can't post any pictures at the moment. Will, do it as soon as I find another place to get my pictures done.

I am working on squaring up my butterfly quilt this morning, and chosing a binding. I have worked so long on this quilt I can hardly believe it is almost finished. It is strange, but before I even started making the top I chose the backing fabric and made a label. I just knew exactally what this quilt was going to look like.

TRY AGAIN!!1

This quilt was made with the images of myself and my two sisters. It was accepted in the Nashville show 2005.

Sisters shown in Nashville, Tenn.

SISTERS QUILT SHOWN IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 

QUILTING, QUILTING AND MORE QUILTING

Finally finished the top of my Butterfly quilt, and now comes the quilting. It is a big quilt, and the design of the quilt really dictates how is is quilted. Now the big job arrives. I can not quilt on my machine for more that 45 min without having to give it a break. I had lunch yesterday with a friend that does beautiful machine quilting and I was complaining about the fact that no matter how hard I consentrate, there are still moments that the stitches get smaller or larger because there is pull on the quilt from somewhere. Just do not know how to stop that completely. I guess my attention span is shorter than hers.

I am working on several projects at a time. What is new? I almost always do that. I really like to do clothes but then also like to have a big quilt going.

I have a quilt in the Houston show this year. I am really excited about that, and have been giving some thought to attending the show. However, getting a hotel room at this late date is nearly impossible. Especially with all the people they have brought to the city from the Hurricaine. So, guess I will have to pass this year. It's a shame because I have been trying to get a quilt in for several years now.

The weather in Lexington, Ky. is just beautiful for the moment. I have been taking advantage of it by fabric painting in my backyard. Trying some new techniques. Interesting!!! Must make hay while I can .

I did it!! only it is sideways!!!

I finally figured how to post a picture, now I just have to figure how to turn the darn thing right side up. Sorry, but it really is a cute picture and I thought everybody might enjoy. I'll try again tomorrow.

This is Bagel the beagle. Above is the quilt I made picturing both our dogs. Sally is the one sitting up.  

Sorry

Some how I pushed a wrong key and my previous post published before I was finished. Tried to go back and edit, but they was more than I could figure out, so will just publish another blog to finish up.

Anyway, I was just telling you that the gel pens I bought were not anygood for fabric. Of course I can use them on paper so they are not a complete waste.
I am closing by wishing all of you a wonderful long week-end.

Art Quilt Group meeting

Every first Thursday of the month the Art Quilt group meets in the same place that the Guild meets. Last night there were only 6 of us. I think it was because it fell on the first day of Sept., and that caught some people unaware. Anyway, everybody brought whatever projects they were working on and others just brought ideas that they were thinking of. These ladies have come a long way, as they come from very conventional backgrounds. Next month when we meet we are going to plan projects that we want to work towards for the next 6 months. When I was in Nashville I bought the new book Paintstiks on Fabric by Shelly Stokes. I had actually purchased the paintsticks in Paducah in
April, and had actually demonstrated the various used of them at Get-away in June. At that time I had only used them on dark fabrics, and the book gives you a lot of other options.

The other thing I purchased in Nashville were some glitter pens that the sellers said were made to be used on fabric. They came from the Texas Quiltery, and when I tested them they are not permenent in any way. When you heat set them the glitter flakes completely off.

In the mean time I am very preoccupied with what is going on in New Orleans and the other areas that have been hit by the hurricaine. I don't think anyone can not be affected! I am just wondering what would have happened if this had been another terrorist attact. Would the response from the Federal Government for help still be as slow!!!

NASHVILLE TRIP

Left on Wednesday the 24th and it took us about 4 hours. Boy am I glad I don't live in Nashville. The freeway construction was something else. Luckily, the Opraland Convention center is on the North side so we didn't have to go thru the city.

We had some time to spare so of course we hit the shopping center that was in the same area. I was on the look out for some chandalier earrings that were not for pierced ears. Never have been brave enough to let someone stick something all the way through my ear lobes!!!! Anyway, ran into a gold mine and bought 4 pairs. Great fun.

Then in the evening we went to the award ceremony. I had a quilt in the show last year but did not attend, so was in for a surprise and I guess I thought it would be a little like Houston. No way. They read off nine names of which maybe three were there to accept their awards, and it was evident they were not surprised, so they had been told. Then they had an hour of Eleanor Burns jumping around with chicken hats and promoting her products. They didn't have the winning quilts, or pictures of them and for the people who had come early they had to wait until the next day to see the winners. Am I critical or what? I guess I was just expecting something else.

It was a very good experience to see my quilt hanging with all the other quilts. Funny, I remember my quilt being bigger!!! Lots of vendors- which was great, mostly new products etc, and not as much fabric as in the other shows I have attended. We shopped and gawked most of the day and then headed back to Lexington. I'm glad I went and always enjoy spending time with my friend, but will think hard about going next year!

We are now getting the remnants of the Hurricane that has caused so much distruction. We really needed the rain, as we have had a very dry summer, but boy do I feel sorry for all those people and the distruction the storm has caused.

Off to Nashville

I can't believe I am on to some new technique when I am leaving in the morning. But when the bug hit you if you don't at least get a start it can fly away. So, I am trying some fusing techniques and is it ever fun. Of course the first two pieces I tried to put together on side was down and the other was up, so I gunghed up my iron. Didn't put me off just tried to keep my mind on what I was doing!

As I said I am off to Nashville in the morning. A friend is driving. I have a quilt called Sisters in the show and I am excited to see it hanging. Will take lots of pictures and maybe next week I will get the hang of posting pictures for everybody to see.

Of course right now only two people know I even have a blog, but I am going to announce it at the guild meeting and the art quilt meeting.

Will try and post my impressions of the show on Friday!

Tried and failed

I tried to put a picture on my Blog- but it looks like I was not successful. Darn! Guess I will have to ask for help. That picture is off in cyber space somewhere!!!!!!!

In the mean time I finished a jacket and a shirt this morning. Still haven't started quilting my Butterfly Quilt. I sort of have to work up to free motion quilting. It is always a period of weeks or months between quilts so it is a little like starting all over again.

Anyway, this is my 5th posting so should be able to get on the ring web this coming week. It will be nice to be in a group that likes to do the same things I do. In my local guild there are hardly anyone that likes to experiment. I started a small separate group about a year ago. We just meet once a month, but at least it gets them thinking of possibilities. Actually several of them are really talented. So, it has been worth the effort.

Ready to Quilt

Feeling much better today after my visit to the dentist.

So, I am ready to quilt my Butterfly quilt. Spent the last couple of days with it up on the wall all pinned and now comes the decisions as to how to quilt it. I have to do some errands this morning but it will be in my mind, and of course I will do some things that I did on my last quilt since they both have black backgrounds.

This is my 4th post, so will be able to get on the ring site soon.

Hope to spend some time this weekend figuring out how to post some pictures.