Just saw this post on Whipup and can't believe when I did a quick search for crazy quilt necktie quilts, bags, etc that I came up with nothing.

Can everyone post some photos and then post a note over at Whipup? There are tons of things to do with silk ties...I can't believe there aren't some really cool pictures out there (simple and difficult in creativity level!). I saw a gal at our street festival that did hats, etc.

One of the pieces of advice was to take them apart (which you could do - yuck the time!) but I know I've seen lots of cool stuff with intact ties!

Go! you all! Stumble It!

This is what we did this weekend! We GOT OUT OF TOWN! Hooray! It was absolutely wonderful. We stayed the first night in Leadville (which is 10,000 feet and I lived there until age 10). We took the "long way" and went over Loveland Pass, thus crossing the continental divide and standing over 11,000 feet high. Here's Rog and the kids there:

Then the next day we drove from Leadville to Aspen over Independence Pass which also crosses the continental divide at a whopping 12,000 feet. Here are the kids (freezing in the brisk wind - it actually wasn't cold if you could avoid the wind), but it's a bit harsh looking up there, eh? We ran through fountains and had an outragously expensive lunch in Aspen and then drove to Glenwood Springs.
I'm exhausted today, probably no more quilting until tomorrow...today is "catch up day". Gotta do laundry, catch up on emails, ets. But here's where I got on my grafitti quilt before we left (which has to be done in 2 weeks...I'd hoped to do two more, but we'll see!). The letters are silk and polyester - the back is a really cool cotton I got from equilter (of course!).
So far just fused down and needs lots and lots of other stitching. I may be looking at some creative way to mount it...like to steele or something, but we'll see.

When we were in Glenwood Springs (yesterday) we went through the fairy caverns...it was gorgous! Missy C. was completely freaked out by it, but I think had a good time (after she got back out). The final room was this one...gorgeous, eh?
I'll probably have more on the quilt and progress tomorrow...I did a bit of stitching in the car, but on other projects. Mostly I read. Good heavens we needed a break, but today...back to reality! :-)

Stumble It!

This cool storm moved over last night. I just really liked the cloud formations (probably should have been a meteorologist! Anyway, typical Colorado summer storm!
Just to update on my other project, Tina's quilt is coming along pretty well. It may stall for a week or so, so I can get this other stuff ready for the show, but I'm still working on it! Only the head is partially stitched...but the rest is just pinned on....don't you love the floating arms?

I also found this cool link on the About:Beading list:
Free Bracelet Kit. Sign up, it's for a good cause and FREE BEADS? How can you beat that, eh? Stumble It!

I know it's a lame excuse, but do you ever have the problem that you have SO much to blog about that you can't blog because it just seems overwhelming? I guess that's been my problem. Yikes!
The kids had a wonderful birthday party at Lakeside Amusement park in Denver. The park is like a trip back in time (hasn't changed since I was in Junior High School) and it's very fun!. There's a whole section with kiddie rides that isn't ever overcrowded. Best of all the rides are SO retro:

Then yesterday was our neighborhood street festival, which has grown to be quite the event!
Don't mean to be a huge snob, but this was about the only truly innovative thing I saw there:
I believe it's a silkscreen/painting on newsprint. The effect is very very cool!

Then, the big news is that I've been invited to participate in a fiber arts show here in town...and I think I mentioned in my last post that I'm going in a new direction. Believe it or not, I'm going to use all of my beading and hand embroidery skills in the finished product (I know,it's probably hard to picture) but I'm incorporating graffiti and fiber art. Weird, eh?
Here's the beginning of my first letters. The fusing/outine technique is thanks to Pam Rubert and her post (that she directed me to) on how she does hers (I really do appreciate that folks in the quilting world are so willing to share...thanks Pam!). I'm sure it won't have the perfect quality that her pieces do, but it's a beginning.
This will be the background (read 3-d portion) of the letters.

It's all in the beginning stages, but I'm having fun. I was going to try to duplicate existing graffiti, but I was afraid of upsetting some of the artists, so with the help of some inspirational pieces, I'm trying to create my own.

On another note, I've been reorganizing (and cleaning up the blog ring) as well as trying to find some new blogs to read (I'd appreciate any suggestions on interesting/inspiring new blogs). Speaking of which, did you know Quilting Arts has a blog? Seems like a pretty good "behind the scenes" blog.

Ok, off to work on my piece. Sorry about the long post. I guess that happens when I get so far behind. Oh, postscript to family, I'm trying to clean up our webshots family photo site (sidebar) so feel free to go ogle your grandkids/nieces/nephews, etc. - that's another of my weekend projects!

Stumble It!

I finally have gotten back to the habit of reading all my favorite blogs. I probably need to go through and clean up my list - add some new ones, etc, but I still love my basic ones!

I noticed over at Camille's Place not only did she do a nice job of recovering a lampshade, but WHEW, that beaded fringe is GORGEOUS (and worth EVERY dime you paid for it by the way!)

You probably all have noticed that I have a very ecletic taste in stitching/fiber art and so on the "flip side, I love this post over at Layers of Meaning - since I have a tattoo and actually enjoy tattoo art, I thought what a COOL way to express yourself in fiber art! (you'll have to go look to see what I'm talking about!).

I just joined a Yahoo group that I read about on Pamdora's blog (be sure to pop by and take a look at the beaded work the group was critiquing...it's totally amazing)...it's for "serious" artsy types. I think I'm about to take all I've learned from crazy quilters and other amazing experts and go in my own direction. Up until now I've been following patterns and copying - which frankly gets on my nerves! (:-)) So, it's about time to spread my wings and see what direction I'm going in. Brace yourself...it may be VERY VERY different! Stumble It!

This is sort of a tribute to Andy Warhol...for my first attempt all just a photoshop effort, but I promise to do more of a comic book attempt next time. I have some ideas, but I'm sure it will evolve over the month. This is my passion. I LOVE Pop art and have studied it (and it's ironic message) for years. Then, of course, it will go on fabric....never boring around here!
Stumble It!