Dollface

I took an embroidery class today. I don't have to be so serious all the time.

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Laundry Magic

I'm working on many projects at once right now. I've started working crazy hours and I don't have as much time to do things as I used to.

Instant gratification projects are really making me happy. I felted a pair of slippers for my BFF. I make her the same pattern in a different color every year. These little clogs are quick and easy. Since the original pattern isn't available online anymore, I might write up my modifications someday. I've made at least 5 pairs of these, but never a pair for myself. I can add that to my list of things to do.

Once these clogs are dry, I'm going to give them a haircut to get all of the fuzzies off.

I also made a really fun baby blanket. The technique is all over the internet, so I won't bore you with the details.

(You stack some flannel, sew on the bias, slice the top layers, then launder.)

The coolest thing was throwing the sewn and cut flannel into the washer and pulling chenille out of the dryer. I am so easily amused. I'd recommend a flannel ragg or flannel chenille baby blanket to anyone who is interested in starting a basic quilt. A crooked seam won't matter much and the end effect is really fun.

I've already bought more flannel to make a larger blanket for my daughter. The only thing I'll do differently this time is to sew the bias lines closer together.

In other news, I've decided not to beat myself up for crappy pictures anymore. If I waited for perfect pictures, I'd never blog. I won't apologize for it anymore, either. I'm not a photographer. I do my best with what I have. Perfection is for crazy people.

Completed project

I made a Wisp. I used a yarn my best friend gave me for my birthday. It's Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball. It's more of a sock yarn than lace, but I wanted something soft around my neck. My 6 year old has adopted this scarf, though. It matches her coat.

I've been documenting all of my artsy-fartsy projects at my other blog http://meetmeinthedayroom.wordpress.com. Stop by if you're into embroidered weapons and similar nonsense.

TASER, 2009, wool and cotton 11 by 16

Report to Target immediately!

I found Cindi Paige's Christmas Eve pajamas. Don't lie, you think they're hilarious.

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I'm such a proud mama.

Isabel's first embroidered masterpiece.

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Miss Isabel has taken up embroidery.

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Hand carded rolags for spinning floss.

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Spinning Floss

I've been dying and spinning embroidery floss for my latest projects. I've been using a tightly wound single. This allows me to twist the fiber tighter or looser depending on the effect I'm trying to achieve. I've had a lot of fun experimenting with dyes.

If you want to see some of my handspun in (embroidery) action, check out my Art Therapy blog.

I knit a bit

This was my traveling to OK project. I love entrelac and Noro Kureyon. Together? Forget about it.

I was a little disgusted by how many Eucalan washes it took to get this shawl clean.

Here is the first wash.

Here in the 5th wash.

Here is the 10th wash. Ew.

We are getting settled in Oklahoma. I'm going to reserve judgement for a while. I don't actually know if I like it here or not. It's really hard to say yet.

Quilted Portraits and Stitched Scenes

This is the first time I've even had my work shown in a gallery, so I'm really excited. Here is 360SEE Gallery's words about the show.

Quilted Portraits & Stitched Scenes is the first exhibition at 360SEE to feature fabric and fiber artwork.
While fiber art is often abstract and can feel unaccessible to many, this exhibition shows amazingly well executed fabric pieces that are approachable both in subject matter (portraits, scenes, and the depiction of representational objects) and in (painting like) presentation.
The exhibition will feature (6) wall hanging portrait quilts by, practicing architect and fine art quilter, Luke Haynes. Subverting the traditional quilting form by integrating modern concepts, Haynes' art transforms the comfortably familiar into the visually evocative.
The large Haynes' quilts will be joined by embroidered / stitched pieces by Alexandra Walters and Gillian Bates.
Montana via Kansas City based artist Alexandra (Alex) Walters, explores the identity of illness and the promises of drug marketing from the perspective of a military wife and mother with her sewn series of (5) prescriptions piece titled The Promise of Pills. These "painterly" stitched pills and bottles done in silk, cotton, and rayon floss evoke the promised mood altering result of each medicine with a well chosen found fabric background.
English artist Gillian Bates will round out the exhibition with (3) illustrative feeling works comprised of stitched line drawings of people and scenes colored in with scrap fabrics on canvas.
Works by:
Luke Haynes
Alexandra Walters
Gillian Bates
All of the pieces in this exhibition are exclusive to 360SEE and embrace the sustainable minded media choice philosophy of the gallery.

Here is a review of the show from Claire Haasl: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/art-talk-chicago/2009/09/zoloft-on-cloth-360sees-high-concept-quilts-reviewed.html

I'll be back

We're moving to Oklahoma this week. I packed more yarn and fabric than I did clothes. TTYL.

Just like a peasant cap

Pattern is here. This was yarn salvaged from a horrible sweater. Just horrible.