Girls Just Want to Have Fun

I've been so busy with kids moving, end of the semester grades, etc., that this week just wanted to have some fun.  For me that meant going to a Phil and Dave Alvin concert midweek, which was fabulous and then the beach with a good friend yesterday.

Above is a picture of Phil and Dave Alvin, formerly of the Blasters, a great band from the 80's.  They were playing at Slo Brew and put on a great show.  Very versatile music from blues, to rock to old American tunes.  Wonderful voices and a very tight band.  Excellent female drummer, Lisa Pankratz.  She could really bet those drums!  Don't often see that in an all male band.

Sunny weather in Cayucus with great waves.  Had a lovely picnic with my friend Joyce.

Hope your week was good and you found time for fun and relaxation too.

Guild Workshop on Fabric Manipulation Techniques

Our Almond Country Quilt Guild sponsored a workshop on fabric manipulation techniques Saturday. I had a lot of fun and learned some new techniques as well.  Our teacher, Denise was excellent, friendly, enthusiastic and even made us very creative fun stuffed fabric face pins.

These are my all my samples with a couple other fabrics I'm auditioning with them.  Not sure how I will use them yet, but have lots of ideas.

This is a piece where we made tucks and folded them different way to create the design.

  Next time I think I'll use thread that matches the fabric. Adding beads to all the folded 

intersections will add a lot of interest.

The top row are Chop Keys, made from having a larger square sewn and folded to a smaller one to create the diamond in the center.  The bottom one is done in a similar way but with hexagon shaped fabrics. I still need to add a bead or small button to the center of the diamond shape.

How great that our guild offers these free workshops. It's also a great way 

to get to know other guild members.

Fabulous Quilt Exhbit

Unfortunately, I didn't get to any quilting this weekend, as I was helping one of my sons move, but I did get to do a virtual visit to a fabulous showing of art quilts.  From November 2nd through January 4th there was a show at the  Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn, New York.  Here is a link so you can visit too:  http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/exhibits/QAQ.html

Be sure to check out their virtual tour of the show. 

I've never heard of this artist before, who had a beautiful piece there entitled, "Will-o'the wisp".  His work is very amazing, very painterly.  His name is Randall Cook.  This quilt of his was in the show along with many other unique art quilts.  Here's a link to his website to check out more randallcookstudios.com

Hope you enjoy his work and the others as much as I did.

Ice Dyed Fabric Quilt

Happy New Year to everyone!  Been laying low, still fighting this cold with three more days of antibiotics to take.  Hopefully by then it will be over. Had a busy weekend, helping one of our sons move out.

Found some time and energy to cut out and fuse my ice dyed fabrics, that I pieced together in November, to a black background.  Was a new way of working for me with making the cuts this way. I used clear film over the fabric to draw out exactly where I wanted the 'fractures'.  Next I  put tracing paper over the clear film to create the four pattern pieces.  Hadn't done any fusing in awhile and I find that stuff rather tricky to use, but pleased that it came out how I envisioned it.  Started to do a little stitching on it last night.  Back to work tomorrow and next weekend will be helping my other son move, so not sure when I"ll get back to it.