Fiber Divas Challenge

Here is the start of my quilt for the Fiber Divas Challenge. I mentioned the challenge in an earlier post. We received a piece of fabric from everyone and had to make a quilt using those fabrics. Look here to see the fabrics.

I'm finding that I am having lots of fun exploring these circle quilts that I've been making. I don't think I posted an updated picture of the purple, orange and green circle quilt I started last November. I'll have to get a picture of it. I have the top completed. Just need to back it and quilt it. That one was all machine stitched. This challenge top is all fused. I'm trying to decide if I like the black yarn between the blue and the green squares or if I just want to leave it plain.

Oops gotta go! I have to leave for work soon and still need to get dresses and make my lunch!

After looking at this picture on my blog, I noticed that the lower left "green" square doesn't look so green. Didn't show up as much on my design wall. Since it is already fused together, I guess I will try painting the square with some dynaflow to see it it will add just a touch more green to make it blend in better. I proabably won't have time until next week when I'm on vacation. This weekend I will be straight out at work since it is Easter Weekend and people are rushing in to get all the goodies for Easter dinner!

Table is Done

Don't have any new quilts or progress to show. Gary did finish my sewing table so my sewing machine is now level with the table and has no gaps around it. YAAAA!!!!

I did get a lot of cleaning done down in my sewing area especially since I had to vacuum up saw dust.

Tuesday, the Fiber Divas met here at my house we had a great time. Unfortunately Susan and Anita were not able to make it. There is a nasty stomach bug making the rounds up here. Marilyn and I talked about the workshop in VT we went to and showed off the quilts we made.

For our challenge this year, we each brought a yard of fabric which we divided into sixths so everyone received a piece. Here is what we have so far. Susan still needs to bring hers.

The challenge is to make a quilt using a part of each of the fabrics. We can make it any size, use any technique, dye, paint, etc.

That's about it here for now.

In the Works

Just a little teaser of a new project I'm working on. Have to get ready for work so can't say much about it yet.


Tuesday was the Fiber Divas Christmas party. Lots of fun, food and friends. I was so inspired after getting together that I spent the whole evening down in my work area. I also spent most of yesterday down there too. Now back to reality for a little while. Work and Christmas stuff to do. Gary set up our old tv and a dvd player for me downstairs so now I can play movies while I sew. I'm one of those people who works better with something to watch or listen to. Sometimes music is ok but other times I want something more especially when I'm downstairs for a long time.

Better get moving. More later.

New Quilts

Here are some of the new quilts I've made. This is the sketch that the first quilt was made from. Doesn't really look like much. I drew this after looking at pictures of our house construction. All the framing for the walls both inside and out gave me the idea for this.

This is the final quilt from the sketch. I went with totally different colors than I usually use. I always fall back on the colors I'm comfortable with and find easy to use and wanted to challenge myself to use something different. That was one of the first comments the Fiber Divas made that it wan't my normal colors. This one I called Construction.

This is actually 2 separate quilts. I took the idea from Jean Wells book, Intuitive Color & Design, Adventures in Art Quilting. She calls it Portrait Finish, where you make a simple quilted piece to mount the actual quilt on. It acts like a mat for a painting. I think it gives smaller pieces a much more finished look. Some people mount their pieces on painted canvas or mount the actual piece onto stretchers. I've always thought some of the smaller pieces that I've done look unfinished and needed to be presented differently. They needed something more so people would think of them more than just fancy potholders!!

This is a closeup of the quilting in Construction. The quilt itself was made with hand-dyed and painted fabric. The background piece was made from batik and hand-dyed fabrics.



I have always wanted to try my hand at more abstract work like Jean Wells. I've also admired Robin Ferrier's work and Liz Berg. Theirs is more abstract also.

After I finished Construction, I again hit a blank. I'd go down and pull fabric out, move it around and nothing! Didn't help that I had an awful head cold and was all stuffed up! I finally decided to just start pulling stuff out of my scrap bag and just start sewing. Well, as I was pulling stuff out, I found the piece with the vases on it. I had started it years ago and never did anything with it so finally just tossed it in the scrap bag. I also found the pieces to this border in the scrap bag. Something I had started in a class I took with Carol Taylor 3 or 4 years or so ago. I started by sewing all the pieces to the border together. Had no idea what I would do with the finished piece but just started sewing. I then decided that the border would look interesting around the vase piece that I had pulled out. The border might be a little too big for the center but oh, well, at least I was sewing again!! I do love how the colors of these went together. I doubt I ever would have thought of doing this if I hadn't come across them in the scrap bag. It did need something between the center and the border so I picked out the tan and black batik. Now to just finish it. I think I need to add something on the upper right to fill in a little of the space. I'm thinking some sticks (not real, maybe embroidered) or pussy willows. Something simple.

Last Saturday the Fiber Divas went to the Belknap Mill Quilter's Guild Show in Laconia, NH. Lynn Elkinton, one of the Divas, was their featured artist. She does such lovely work, it was great to see it all in one place and see some pieces we hadn't seen before. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera!

I just took a look at Carol Taylor's site so I could put the link in my post. I love the new work in her linear series!!!

Let It Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Just a quick shot of what it looks like outside. Thought the birdhouse looked cute out in the snow.
Finally, here you go Kara, my challenge quilt all put together. Mine is on the top that all the others hang from. Starting from the left is: Anita's, Marilyn's, top: Susan's, botttom: Lynn's and the final one on the left, Carmen's. I found copper colored circles with holes in them to hang everything from. I really like the way it came out.

Fiber Diva's Challenge Quilts

Here are the quilts that we had displayed at the exhibit at the Gilford Library. I remembered to take pictures when we took it down. This first one is Anita's her theme was Ecclesiastes 3. Starting at the top and going clockwise, the quilts were made by: Susan Wei, Marilyn Mason, Lynn Elkinton, Carmen Burns and mine is in the middle. Anita wasn't able to make one for her theme.

This one is Marilyn's. Her theme was sashiko. Unfortunately, you can't see the stitches in this picture. The stitching really adds a lot to these pieces. Starting at the top left and once again going clockwise: Anita Furbush, Marilyn, Susan, Lynn, Carmen and mine. I have some other pictures that show the stitching, I'll try to get them posted in the next couple of days.


This one was Lynn's. Her theme was a song that had to do with rolling down the river or something. I can't remember exactly made which one but I'll try. Once again starting in the upper left: Susan?, Anita?, me, Carmen, Marilyn?, and Lynn.
These two photos are Carmen's. Her theme was also Ecclesiastes 3:1. Upper left: Anita, Upper right: Lynn, Lower left: Marilyn and Lower right Susan. I didn't take a picture of mine. If you want to see it again you can go here.


This next one is Susan's. Her theme was The Moon. Starting at the slice with the 2 people and going clockwise: Susan, me, Lynn, Marilyn and Carmen. Susan's actual piece hangs sort of like a mobile but to display it at the library, she had to display it like this.
I don't have a picture of mine yet. It was too big to get a picture at the library and I need to get it hung up on the wall to get a good picture. I will get it taken tomorrow after work. Sorry Kara! I know you wanted to see it!

Fiber Diva's Exhibit

Here are some pictures of the Fiber Divas Exhibit at the Gilford Public Library. Thanks you Lynn for letting me use them!!! The library has a great area for displays and exhibits. These are the first two cases you see as you walk into the exhibit area (not really sure what else you would call this space. Having the glass cases made it really great for displaying small items. Besides the quilts, we also have sewing items like colorful spools of thread, pincushions, chatelains (not sure of the spelling), felted wool balls and fabric beads. These small things are spread out among the 3 cases. The case in the corner has Susan's challenge quilt which had moon as the theme. She also has 2 three dimensional pieces in there. Lynn has 2 pieces on top of the case.

This case is the biggest and has my circle themed challenge piece at the top. You can see the 5 pieces the other Fiber Divas made that are hanging off of my piece. At the bottom is Lynn's challenge piece. I can't remember the words from the song she used for her theme but it had to do with a river. Sorry Lynn!! She also gave each of us a piece of blue fabric that we all thought was really pretty and then found out it was one of the hardest shades of blue to work with!!! We all managed to get a piece of that blue fabric in there somehow. On top of the case is a purse I made and a mixed media piece I made also. Lynn has a couple of her quilts in the bottom of the case.


Closeup of Susan's quilt above the fireplace at the library. I will have to get the name of the quilt from her since I can't remember it and add it later. Ok, somehow I've lost the picture showing the quilt and all of the fireplace.



Here is the 3rd case in the display area. This has Anita's challenge quilt in the top. Her theme was Ecclesiastes 3:1. Marilyn's challenge piece is in the bottom half of the case. Her theme was Sashiko. I wish I had remembered to take pictures of everyones quilts before we put them in the cases. I'll have to remember to take some when we take the exhibit down. I have a couple of quilts laying on the bottom of the case and Lynn has the 2 pieces on top of the case.



Here is Carmen's challenge piece. Her theme was Ecclesiastes 3:1 also. There are only 5 pieces here. Carmen didn't get a chance to make one for her challenge.



Here's a closeup of 4 of the pieces. Left to right are: Marilyn Mason, Susan Wei, Anita Furbush and mine. Lynn Elkinton's is the one missing from this picture.

If anyone is near Gilford, NH, stop by the Gilford Public Library and see the exhibit. It will be up for the month of October and it looks like the exhibit for November fell through and we will be up for November too.

Gilford Public Library
31 Potter Hill Road
Gilford, NH 03249

M, W, Fri 9am-6pm
T and Th 10am-8pm
Sat 10am-2pm

Two More Circle Quilts and Geocaching

Here is the quilt I did for my "Going in Circles" theme. It makes me think of pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. This is 7"x39". I had to make it really long because all the other circle quilts hang off of it. It looks really great with all 6 quilts put together. I found copper colored metal circles to attach the quilts together.




This is Carmen's quilt for my circle theme. I love all the machine quilting in the background.



A closeup of Carmen's piece.


Melanie, you asked what geocaching was. We use a GPS to find hidden caches all over the place. These caches are lock n lock boxes, ammo boxes or some other type of box that will keep the inside dry. Inside is a log book that you sign when you find it and some little trinkets that you can trade for. We go to the geocaching site (click on the above link) to find coordinates for caches that are hidden all over the world. I found a couple on my way back from taking Kara to college. It is fun and something that the family can do together and we get to explore places we never would have gone to before or never knew they existed. We've been doing this for 4 1/2 years now.
Sharon, I found 2 out of 3 caches that day. Of course, the one I couldn't find, my husband said was easy to find.

Play Day with the Fiber Divas

I meant to post these pictures a while ago. The Fiber Divas had a play day and tried gelatin monoprinting. We took the idea from the August/September 2009 Quilting Arts. Frances Holliday Alford, had an article about monoprinting.

To make the smaller monoprints, above, I cut the gel with a biscuit cutter.



We found that the monoprints came out really cool on black fabric.



This was a really fun project and could get really addicting!!! Before I knew it, I had a good size pile of monoprints. It was interesting to see how different each divas monoprints came out. Now, I just need to find some time to embellish these and decide what I am going to do with them.

To make these bigger round monoprints, I set up the gelatin in a 9" cake pan.

Fiber Divas Challenge

Meant to post these a long time ago. These are the quilts that I've received from the Fiber Divas for our yearly challenge. My theme is "Going in Circles" This first one was made by Susan.

This was made by Lynn.

Marilyn made this one.

And finally, Anita made this one.

Now to start figuring out how to put these together. I had an idea when I first started, now I just nee to figure out how to get all the colors to work together. I still need to make mine, which I was waiting to do when I got all mine back.

I'm still working on the pieces for everyone else. I finished Marilyn's a while ago and have been working on Lyn's for a while. Hers should be finished for the next meeting. I'm finding it harder to get things done now that I'm back to my normal work schedule. I have alot more energy than I used to but I still get tired out.

Where's Beth?

I'm right here at home. I can't believe how long it's been since I've written. Just been so busy - no quilting really but busy. I'm back up to a normal schedule at work and get home too tired to do much. I have to get working on the Fiber Divas project. I've only finished Marilyn's quilt.

Two weeks ago, Kara and I went on a girls weekend to Houghton College in Houghton NY. Where's that you ask? It's south of Buffalo. Ten hours west of Plymouth. I was really happy that Kara and I made good time getting to Houghton. I drove the first 5 hours and Kara drove the second 5. She picked out her classes for the fall semester and lined up a work study job. I sat in on talks about financial aid and other talks about Houghton. Kara stayed in the dorm while I stayed with Gary's younger brother and his family.

Geri Ann leant the Fiber Divas the 3rd season of Quilting Arts TV. I ended up with it first and really enjoyed watching it. A couple of my favorite episodes were the ones with Beryl Taylor and Melanie Testa. There was a third person who I really liked but can't remember her name right now. Watching Beryl's episode on machine felting with unusual fabrics is where I got the idea for these pieces. I have a collection of scarves and other fabrics that I've been wanting to use in something. I experimented to see which ones would felt and which ones wouldn't. I used my hand felters since I don't have a machine and it worked!! I added some beading and big stitching.
I painted warm and natural batting to use as the backing for the felting. I had been wanting to try painting the batting for a long time. Just hadn't taken the time. I also wanted to see if these different fabrics would felt to the batting.

These were fun projects that I could make without really thinking about. Which is great when I'm really tired.

This blue one isn't quite finished. I still need to add some more beading. I took these pictures before I started the hand stitching and beading on the blue piece.

Now I just need to figure out how I want to finish these. I think it would be neat to leave the edges of the different fabrics sticking out. Before I thought of that, I cut a couple off on one side.

Circle Doodads

I know, same picture as the last post. Lorrie asked what the circle doodads are. They are Clip O's (paperclips) that I picked up somewhere, probably a scrapbooking store. They are made by the American Tag Co. There were circles, hearts, stars, diamonds and triangles in the container.
The Fiber Diva meeting was fun. Everyone has been working hard on our challenge. I forgot to bring my camera, so I don't have any pictures of them. I'll try to remember my camera next time.

New Quilt

I finally have something new to show. This is Marilyn's quilt for our new challenge. Her "theme" was to use a technique using big stitches to sew all the layers together, instead of sewing by machine or fusing. The background is a piece of my hand-painted fabric. I finished the edge with a zigzag stitch and then ran a piece of yarn around the edge. The fiber Divas meet this Friday. It feels good to have something to show this week. I've been having trouble getting into my quilting lately. I think part of it is the time of year. I seem to have trouble each year at this time.

The "I don't Know What to Call this Post" Post.

Haven't been doing too much with quilting lately. Been too tired from work. I'm still only working part-time but get tired easily. So haven't had much energy to do what I like to do. I did make this ATC for a swap with Terri Stegmiller. I know it's a little late for Valentines Day but I did get it done and it is on it's way. At the last meeting of Fiber Divas, we decided on our challenge for this year. It's sort of a take off on cutting up a picture and each person making a piece of the picture. Except, we aren't using a picture. Each person decided on a shape for their quilt and cut it up into 6 pieces we also decided on a theme for the quilt. Now everyone has 1 piece from each quilt. So at the end of this, each person will get back the 6 pieces for their quilt and have to figure out how to put them together to make a whole piece again. Then to add another part to the challenge, some gave out fabric that each person had to use in their piece or drew some sort of line through the pattern pieces that have to be included in the finished piece.

I decided on a theme of "Going in Circles" and made a big rectangle that I cut into 6 unequal pieces. On each "pattern" piece I drew a circle for the person to include in the finished piece. At this point I'm thinking of attatching the pieces together with some type of rings but that may change when I actually get them back.

I've been working on Marilyn's piece and really need to get going on it. Her idea is to use a technique that she and Sue learned at a workshop called chopsuey sashiko. We are meeting tomorrow and I don't have anything to show. I have some ideas for Carmen's and Anita's pieces but am not quite sure how I'm actually going to execute the ideas. They both picked Ecclesiastes 3:1 for their theme (I almost picked that too!). Sue picked the moon for her theme and Lynn picked the song "Ride the River" by Eric Clapton.

New Book

Yesterday I recieved Gloria Hansen's book, "Digital Essentials". I've started reading it and love it. It's written in an easy way for the normal, non-techie person to understand. Having a book that is directed toward quilters is great. It answers questions that a quilter might have about printing onto fabric, putting photos up on the web, submitting images to a quilt show and lots, lots more. This will definately be one of the most used books in my digital library! If you are interested in it, go to Gloria's web site at the link above to learn more about it.

The Fiber Divas get together this afternoon. I'm really looking forward to it! We will try to figure out our schedule for this year and plan our challenge. The sky is nice and clear so we won't have to worry about cancelling again because of snow!

A Fiber Diva Christmas Party

Haven't had a chance to post lately. Friday the Fiber Divas had our Christmas party. We had a great time. Carmen still had her tree up and the house was still decorated. The food was delicious. On my way over I realized that I had forgotten my camera. We chatted alot and shared new projects and ideas and exchanged presents. It is so much fun getting presents from like minded friends who know what you like. Fabric, thread, yarn and other fibers, tea, homemade blueberry chutney, beads. You would think that everyone coordinated their presents, everything goes together!

Anita gave us all wool squares which I have been playing with.

I started work on Monday. Only 4 hours but I was really dragging by the time I got home! I'll only be working part time for a while until I get my strength back.

I've been having trouble starting a new project. There are so many things I want to do that I just don't know where to start. Tomorrow I have the day off and will set aside some time to myself while everyone is gone and make myself start something - anything. It doesn't matter what I make just as long as I make something.

Birds of Change Exchange and too Many Projects

I've signed up for Birds of Change Exchange over at Creative Kismet Blog. It sounds really fun. Click on the above link to learn more about it. I've been trying to get the button up on my blog and it just won't appear. Since I've managed to get other buttons to appear, I'm assuming it has something to do with Blogger. I'll try again tomorrow and see what happens.

Lately, I've been thinking about what I want to do creatively. There are so many things that sound fun and that I want to try that I don't know what to do and get nothing done. I love quilting and anything fiber related. But I'd also like to do some mixed media things, some easy jewelry things, more explorations with felting(wet, needle and recycled) and I have the new Photoshop Elements program to play with. So, what to do. Do I just do whatever hits me ? Or do I make a descision to focus on one thing at a time to get proficient at something?

Today was supossed to be the Fiber Divas Christmas party but guess what happened today! If you guessed snow, you got it! We have now rescheduled the party for Friday. Looks like the weather will be ok. Hope we don't get any suprises!!

School was cancelled today. At least that means that Alex didn't miss another day. He's feeling better but still has a bad cough. Don't know if he will be going tomorrow or not.

It's finally happening, I'm going back to work. It's been 9 months. I've been having much more energy and feeling much more like my old self so I decided it was time to go back part time. I'm not sure I really want to go back. I really enjoy being a full-time mom, cooking, crafting, etc. but we could really use my income. Now it will be back to juggling everyones schedule and having to fit my projects in between everything else. I am grateful though that my job is still there to go back to - especially with the economy the way it is.

Playing with my New Toy

Happy New Year!!!

I meant to post before this but have been having too much fun playing with the kids and my new "toy", Photoshop Elements 7. I've been wanting this program for a long time and finally used some Christmas money to get it. There's a lot to learn with this program but it will be worth it. Learning this program is one of my goals for 2009.

Here is a photo I took a couple of years ago, that I played around with.

Love the new color. It might not be realistic but hey I like the brighter more vibrant look.
Then I applied some filters and got these next two looks. A quilt or fabric like these would be really neat.


Kara goes back to school tomorrow but Alex will be home another couple of days. He spent the second half of Christmas vacation sick. Poor kid!!! Went from a fever and chills to a bad cough. He is getting better but still not his best. He went to bed before 8 tonight (on his own). This from a kid who will try and get away with staying up as late as he can.

The Fiber Divas are getting together this Wednesday for our Christmas party! Our date before Christmas was snowed out. Hopefully Wednesday will be good weather! I haven't looked at a forecast in a while. I'm really looking forward to this, we haven't gotten together as a group for a long time - can't remember when.

It's almost midnight now, so I'd better get to bed. Lately, I've been finding that late at night when everyone else is in bed is a good time for me to get some things done. That will change when I go back to work! I really enjoy having quiet time by myself.