My Latest Experiment

I used a pinking blade to trim the edges of this small zippered pouch.

Detail of my fused plastic bags. I recommend fusing at least eight layers together.

My DIL told me a good friend of hers was making purses out of plastic bags. Plastic bags? Yes. She fused them together to make 'fabric.' A Google search yielded tons of tutorials on the process.

Above is my prototype bag. If you'd like to try this, make sure to:

1. Use several layers of plastic bags so your 'fabric' will have some heft. The bags will stick together once heated without you having to add an actual fusing product like Wonder Under or Misty Fuse.
2. Make sure to use parchment paper above and below your bags to protect your iron. If you do accidently get a bit of plastic stuck to your iron don't panic. It will peel right off when the iron is cold.
3. The bags are slippery to sew. I recommend using an even-feed foot.

Note: Betsy asked whether the fusing gave off fumes. Since I have virtually no sense of smell, I'm at a great disadvantage to answer this completely. I noticed nothing that bothered my asthma. One of the tutorials found on Google may have more information.

Setacolor Study

I painted the coral border fabric with Setacolor transparent paint overlaid with cheesecloth and mesh webbing. It was then set in the sun to dry. I've found an Ott light will also work for this technique.

The circles were sunprinted with a 'holey' mesh bag.

Solid color fabrics are my hand-dyes. The pinkish flower print is a batik. The unquilted very cool chartreuse fabric to the left of the star is painted with gold. My sister Patty bought it for me in CA.

I had fun creating this little 19" square piece - not yet titled. The grid format allowed me to use various machine quilting designs. The star is rubber stamped and then outlined with embroidery floss.

As an aside - I'm distressed each time I learn of another independent store closing. The small quilt shops around me are nearly all gone. I'll have to drive at least 20 miles now in order to buy quality batting - not to mention really good thread. 'Tis very sad indeed.

Just Pure Fun

Here's what I did over the weekend instead of quilting a small piece I'd layered. Deka Silk paint (my fave which was discontinued long ago) was used for all the scarves as well as the little make-up bag shown. Click on any photo for a closer view.

I sprinkled this chiffon scarf with salt while the paint was still wet.
Colors used were chestnut and moss green.

My surface wasn't quite large enough so part of the scarf hung over the edge while drying. I turned the resulting darker strip into a positive with a rubber stamp and gold paint.

I painted the Devore' velvet scarf with royal blue and shamrock and then scrunched it a bit.

Detail. This one is my favorite.

I scrunched the painted scarf a bit to combine the royal blue and rose colors.
The silk scarf was then manipulated before drying.

Detail.

A painted small canvas pouch make-up bag.

Detail.
I didn't have any neat yarns in my stash, so used a few beads on the pull tab. I'm not happy with the white of the metal showing so will paint it with a different product.

Photo Credit: Bill Guerrant

New Work

Surface Study

This 11x14 study will be framed. It's from fabrics I created using resist, stitched shibori, rubber stamping and hand-dyeing. A couple of commercial prints were added for contrast.

I used blue Elmer's School Glue as a resist for the spiral design (upper right). After the glue dried (takes a long time) I painted the fabric with Setacolor paint sprinkled with salt. You can see the embroidery stitches on the stitched shibori and my sop-up rag from a dyeing session (upper left).

I enjoy doing both hand and machine quilting on the same piece. After I'd stitched the triple rows, it hit me I could have used a triple needle! But I rather like the irregular look.

I'm trying to finish several small studies for an upcoming show. I've taught surface design classes for many years and had a huge stash of small pieces which came together in this abstract study.

Both my parents were sewers and had 'his and hers' sewing machines. They made quilts together in the winter when my father wasn't weaving. He always chose the colors, saying, "You know..... if you put something in that doesn't quite go - that will give your quilt spark. Otherwise, it's dull." I think he was right. That's probably why I like unusual color combinations so much.

My Other Blogs

"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride."*

If you're as addicted to politics as I am, check my blog:
http://yellodogdemocratrants.blogspot.com/

I'll be starting a separate blog on my cardiac rehabilitation soon. Since I plan to chart my progress, I thought it would be helpful to post things I learn along the way about heart health. I'll keep you posted.

*Bette Davis in All About Eve, 1950. One of the all-time great movies imho.

Cardiac Follow-up

My DH and I saw my cardiologist late Wednesday. All vitals are excellent - heart and lungs sound good. I do have extra heartbeats which feel like little flutters, now and then as many people do. Thank goodness it is not atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia! I will have an echocardiogram on the 29th - standard following a cardiac event.

Because I was in the hospital for such a short time and the cardiologist who did the catheterization and stents said, "You're fixed," I didn't fully realize I'd been in such danger. I asked, "Then this was really serious - as in it could have killed me?" "Yes, you came SO close."

Initially doctors were going to do a stress test, then they decided on a heart cath late in the day. I was moved to a room and kept feeling sicker and sicker and too weak to even sit. I was so nauseous I was kind of in and out, but do remember someone constantly taking my blood pressure (which had dropped to 80/30), stuff being pumped into my IVs and lots of people scurrying around. Suddenly I was being rushed to the cath lab for an emergency procedure, as I was about to throw a clot (two were found).

My DH, with all his training in crisis communication, was extremely calm through it all as were my son and DIL who arrived later in the day. We now know that if I hadn't already been in the hospital, with IVs in place when the attack occurred, I probably wouldn't be here today. The place to have a heart attack is IN the hospital, not on your kitchen floor.

Featured Artist

Heartstrings


8th Annual Barnful of Quilts

A Celebration of Quilting and Fiber Arts

Featured Artist:

ELLEN GUERRANT

Saturday, October 11, 10-5
at Fox Farms
Sims Road, Waxhaw NC
$5 donation to benefit
Missions and Outreach for
Waxhaw Presbyterian Church
(free admission over 60 - under 18)

I'm excited to tell you I will be the featured contemporary artist at this year's Barnful of Quilts celebration. The show is Saturday, October 11, 10-5 at Fox Family Farms south of Charlotte NC in Waxhaw. Held in a huge beautiful barn, the event is the brainchild of quilt artist Valerie Fox as a fundraiser for her church. I'll post more information as show time nears.

Click on this link http://www.foxfamilyfarm.com/ and click on Barnful of Quilts Gallery to see pictures from previous years. Directions to the farm are below.

A Salute to Labor

Do you remember this song?

Look for the union label
When you are buying a coat, dress or blouse.
Remember somewhere our union's sewing
our wages going to feed the kids and run the house,
We work hard but who's complaining.
Thanks to the I.L.G.* we're paying our way,
So, always look for the union label,
it says we're able
to make it in the U.S.A.

Written by Paula Green in 1975 as an advertising gimick to combat anti-union sentiment in Congress, the ditty was commissioned by a strong labor union begun in New York City. The *International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, consisting primarily of females, was one of the most important groups in labor history of the 1920's and '30's.

As one who grew up when everyone I knew (including my father) sewed, I was always fascinated by the tune. I even imagined myself one day living in New York City, stitching away for the ILGWU!

To all the union members and organizers out there, I salute you! Happy Labor Day!

To read about and see actual ILGWU labels, go to:

http://reviews.ebay.com/Clothing-Labels-Union-Labels-ILGWU-Labels_W0QQugidZ10000000003230636

My Next Projects

I created this piece using only my own hand-dyed fabrics. Some of the edges were left curved, as a less expected design element.

These small studies are waiting to be machine quilted. The Shibori one (on the upper right) will have the strip of turquoise pinned near it added to the top. The center grid was sun printed using Setacolor Transparent paint.

I'm still having difficulty with the top tension on my Bernina 1530, having gone through the whole litany of cleaning, oiling, changing needles, changing threads and stitching a sample of every straight stitch tension setting available. Since there is almost no discernible change from setting to setting, I'm fearing for the patient. I did get a slightly better stitch however by switching bobbin cases and using the extra thread guide on the machine's handle (visible on the back when the handle is lifted up).

My DH isn't sure the foot pedal for the old Bernina 830 can be fixed. I've found very expensive replacements ($160 and $180) in only two places on the internet and am still waiting to hear from Bernina USA.

In the meantime, I have several small pieces I'd like to machine quilt in the next month. This is very frustrating indeed!

For the Beauty of the Earth

My husband grows a beautiful flower called angel's trumpet each year. The one is just beginning to open.

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our grateful psalm of praise.

For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our grateful psalm of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child.
Friends on earth and friends above,
Pleasures pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our grateful psalm of praise.

For Thy Church that ever more
Lifts her holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our grateful psalm of praise.


The words on my heart today come from a hymn written in 1864 by Folliott Sandford Pierpoint. Found in the Moravian hymnal, it has always been one of my favorites.

Getting Stronger Every Day

My typical lunch now is a large green salad full of whatever veggies we have on hand. This one has carrots, celery, cucumber, broccoli, cherry tomatoes from our garden, walnuts and a few chopped dried cherries. I use 1-2 tablespoons of a very low cal dressing. My carb is a pathetic little slice of 60 calorie whole wheat toast with Smart Balance spread. My beverage is always filtered water.

Although I've shown no evidence on my blog, I'm getting stronger every day. I'm eating so much better and have dropped some weight. And I'm driving all over the place as if nothing ever happened to me. The more distance I get from the event, the more I realize how fortunate I am to have come through with very little heart or other debilitating damage.

The wife of one of my DH's college roommates had the exact same symptoms as mine - nausea, a little chest pressure, a little discomfort in her left arm. Tragically, neither realized the seriousness of those signs and she died right there in his arms. My father had two sisters literally drop dead at 60 - one from a heart attack and one from a stroke. That could so easily have been me.

I know how incredibly blessed I am. I truly do. Life is fleeting.

I've made a personal decision to be more vocal about expressing love and caring. I'm making more phone calls, writing more letters, taking more time with the stuff that really matters. I don't want to leave this world without having shared what is in my heart with those important to me.

A stack of cards and letters written recently.

I love adding little whimsies to the envelopes!

If Only I Could SEW!

I'm working in the studio once more but not making much progress. The problem is getting one machine - any machine - to sew properly. This is extremely frustrating, as I'm on deadline and need to finish not only the wedding quilt but several small pieces as well.

I have a Bernina 1530 I bought used - from the dealer - many years ago. Unfortunately, I've had problems with it from the day I started to use it - which wasn't until I'd had it for two or three years. Go figure! Although it has been worked on several times, the tension is a mess. Last time it was repaired, the authorized Bernina repairman found three major problems - all within the workings of the machine. If the machine were a stick shift car, I'd say the clutch is slipping - it has that kind of feel.

My old Bernina 830 was on loan for several years and recently returned. I cleaned and oiled it, changed the needle, pulled a gob of monofilament thread out of its innards and set it up to sew. To my great frustration, nothing happened when I pressed the foot feed! It wasn't until I had floored it that it began to sew, but at a blazing fast speed allowing me little if any control. My DH took the foot feed apart, found one small plastic piece which had broken, and thinks he sees the problem. He's just returned from three days out of town, so will work on it tonight.

I'm going to dig out the Singer Featherweight I inherited from my dear Aunt Esther nearly 30 years ago. It sews like a dream and has a beautiful straight stitch. And the purr of the motor is always so comforting.

I've been considering a new sewing machine for several years now, but have not taken the time to test drive anything. And being such a thrifter, spending major coin really goes against the grain. Pun intended.