Refracted Rainbows

I presented a fashion show yesterday to the Los Angeles County Quilt Guild. I try to have at least one new jacket each time I narrate a show and this time it was a bit of a stretch since I had less than 2 weeks. Fortunately this was already in progress.

Using spring colors (yes, I will be wearing this on Easter morning) I made another curves jacket, but this time the curves are set on diagonal lines and there are no accents added. Top-stitching was done using iridescent Sliver thread and while it doesn't show in photos it adds a nice sparkle.

I hope you like it as much as I do!

Lisa

Square Dance in Progress

The class I'm taking at Bits and Pieces is working on Square Dance quilts. Naturally I had to be different and make a jacket. It seems like most of the others are done and this is all I have: enough for the back of the jacket.

Lisa

New Purse

One of the things I've been doing lately is working my way through a new list. I called this list my "procrastination list" because it consists of all the things I should be doing, but have been putting off.

I'm almost through the list, only one thing left and I really really wish I could find someone else to grade my pattern for me so I could be done.

Here is the purse I made to complete one of the items on my list. It wasn't that I didn't want to make it, but that I missed the lesson on making the purse. I really don't like reading directions, especially directions without pictures.

But whether I did it right or wrong, it's done!

Lisa

Small Projects?

I'm looking for ideas for small quilted projects to make over the summer. When it's hot outside most of us don't feel like working on a large quilt or even a jacket, but the urge to sew is still there. I thought this would be a good chance to get some small Christmas presents made. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to post in the comments section or drop me an email. Thanks!

Lisa

Pillow Time

Not much going on around here this week. I am between fashion shows and trying to complete my procrastination list, LOL. So I will reach back into the photo archives and show you some pillows I made a few weeks ago for our library.

Lisa

Visitor

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of brilliance. I turned and there he was, right outside my back door!

Lisa

Garden Peeks

Today I thought I'd show you a few little peeks at my gardens. After all, spring has sprung pretty much everywhere by now.

I don't know what this plant is but it worked wonderfully in my gelatin prints. It's quite light and airy. It has been suggested that it's creeping phlox, but it's much taller and airier than that.

Another unknown plant, but one I dearly love.

Our porch with some yellow roses in bloom. My husband is not fond of roses so I hope these survive!
Roses closeup
We also have a number of tiny roses

more tiny roses
Here is the Satsuma in blossom again. I really wish you could smell how heavenly it is!

Iris are one of my favorite flowers. The house came with quite a few and we've been adding new ones also.

Isn't this the perfect rose?
Amaryllis. Last year the snails got them, but this year they really look amazing!

Lisa

April Chickie

My little April chickie is done! I like this one better than the March chickie, but it took longer to complete. I can't wait until December when I can put all of them together into a quilt for the spare room.Lisa

Saturday Workshop

I will be teaching a workshop this Saturday for the Fallbrook Quilt Guild. Students have their choice of 4 different projects, all using similar techniques.

You may make a random curves tote or jacket such as Trickles (above)

or an echoing curves tote (above) or jacket such as Forest Echoes (below).
At the fashion show I heard there was a last minute cancellation so there is room for another person if you're interested. I don't teach wearable art locally very often so don't miss out!

Lisa

Fallbrook Fashion Show

Tonight I will be presenting a fashion show of 42 of my favorite jackets to the Fallbrook Quilt Guild. I try to have at least one new jacket for each show, but this time there are 5 new jackets; I think that's a record!

If you're in the area please come! I will be at the Fallbrook Community Center, 341 Heald Lane, Fallbrook, California. Guild meeting starts at 6:30 and I start at approximately 7:30.

Lisa

"Sick" Shoes

I while ago I bought some black Vans slip-on sneakers. Okay, no jokes about my getting too old to bend over and tie my own shoes. My goal was to embellish them with paint. It took a while for me to get up the nerve, but I finally did it.

I used Stewart Gill paints because they are nicely opaque and I was working on black. The squares were made with a brush using metallic silver paint. Then I used a variety of stamps with red, silver and gold paint. I thought it needed something more so I added the red dots using the blunt end of a wooden skewer.

I'm happy with them, but there are some stamps I'd skip next time. The Chinese characters didn't work well and the silver dots are hit or miss. It's hard to work on a curved fairly inflexible surface!

I was wearing them yesterday when I stopped at the mall after my weekly weigh-in at Weight Watchers. (I've lost 12 pounds so far and it's really starting to show!) One of the store clerks told me I had "sick" shoes and asked where I got them. I explained that I had painted them myself. He kept saying how "sick" they were. I'm hoping that was a good thing!

Lisa

The Sweetest Perfume

Our Satsuma tree is in blossom right outside the door. It's absolutely covered with blossoms! The smell is absolutely incredible (I wish I could share it with you over the internet) and the fruit will be great, too. We are so lucky to have found this wonderful home.

Lisa

My Design Wall

I thought you might be interested in seeing what is on my main design wall.I will be the first to admit that I use part of it as a place to put things where I can find them again easily. The paper jacket patterns are embroidery designs I drafted for a loooong term work-in-progress. I expect it to take several years at least. The green jacket parts are slowly being painted. If I paint too many at once I tend to get sloppy so I'm taking my time. By putting them on the wall I'm keeping them somewhat wrinkle free AND, most importantly, cat hair free. The four resident cats seem to feel it's their duty to recline on every new scrap of fabric or garment in the house.
On the other half of the design wall you can see one of the Whisper Quilts at the top. I really like this one and am keeping it out as inspiration. Below that is the start of a Square Dance that is being team taught by Barb and Kathy in our Wednesday class. To the right of that are more drafted jacket designs, left over scratch paper, freezer paper etc. (I can't bear to throw out big pieces of paper!), some leftover curves from a green jacket I made last fall (hey, wouldn't it be cool to save all those leftovers and make a scrappy jacket?) and some commercial sashiko kits I bought for when I have nothing else to do, LOL.

How about your design wall? What is on it today?

Lisa