Rox's world of quilts

A... quilt?

2011-11-20T09:54:00.000+02:00

I was saying the other day that I gave up (just temporary!) quilt making, when a thought suddenly crossed my mind (yeah, yeah, laugh all you want, but in the dark hole from my head from time to time thoughts are passing by :PPP). And that though is that I FORGOT to show you the most quilt of my quilts so far!

I made something I've never made before, I've used techniques and gadgets not used before at all, or just very little, I worked my ass out, and the result was completely satisfactory: the recipient was left speachless when she received it.

The idea was to give a gift with a mark of every colleague that worked together with the one that was leaving, because this was a good by collective gift. So I gave everyone a piece of fabric and some textile markers, and asked to write a text/make a small drawing etc. I received back all the patches, and then I started the real work.

The "written" patches were all various shades of yellow, I wanted to make the the centers of flowers, and the whole quilt to be a huge bouquet of flowers.

So I draw every single flower in real dimension, calculating angles and shapes, then I cut them out in vliesofix. I've added that to the fabrics that were ment to be the petals, then cut them and fixed them all to another piece of background fabric.

Here you can see the flowers in their individual form, laid out to see how they will get together on the quilt.

Then I started sewing the flowers prepared to the big background, one by one, free-motioning around each of them. The layout changed a bit while working, I didn't manage till the end to have the same placement as in the original, but hey, who's perfect?

This phase being done, I've put together the quilt sandwich and started quilting... around the flowers middles.

Then I had another big question: shall I make the border square, as a frame to a painting, or shall I make a rounded border? This was going to be a wall hanging after all... The rounded border idea won the argument, so I started making yet another new-to-me thing.

To make a long story short, I will just say that I've quilted three echo-lines around the same round border, added some sleeves to the back, and gave it off to a person that was enchanted, thrilled, completely surprised and totally amazed to receive this.

Some flower details.. I forgot to mention that all applique was raw edges.

And, as a nice story ends, they lived together happily ever after :)
The end!

Christmas... again?!?

2011-11-17T09:25:00.001+02:00

So soon, there comes Christmas again! Right after finishing the long summer "run for fairs", it started the x-mas frenzy. Can you believe I have orders more than I can handle? And that I have tons of ideas, but notime to put them into real life?

All my little felt ornaments.... all my little triangle toys.... my leather necklaces (tempting story involving black lace and pearls and chains...), even my quilts! my beloved quilts! are postponed till further notice.

In the mean time, I keep myself busy with pins, trims, ribbons and patches, all fitted onto acryl or foam.

Here, take a look!

I owe a great deal of thank you to my mother: she's done the crochet part. Well... she has more time than I do :)))))

Now, I have to leave you with these wonders, and go make some more (day job first) Christmas items. If I will find the time, I'll make more photos.

But, before leaving, I have one question to you: how do you like them? I appreciate every response :)

We're going to the market!

2011-09-29T14:11:00.000+03:00

We're going out, selling all the nice things you have seen here, and not only here, I mean the L'Elefants series as well :)

We're waiting for you!

feng shui bracelets

2011-08-16T10:48:00.007+03:00

Or multi-purpose. Or multi thing bracelets. Name it what you want, I love them!
It's a great way to use up all unpaired, left over, single beads, and it makes such a great effect every time.
Here, the new collection:

Going ban(d)anas

2011-08-15T10:20:00.000+03:00

Now, let me reveal the mystery: I've showed you this, remember?

And I said I went nuts. Well, yes, that is just one sample of going bananas :). The request was for a couple of nice bandanas for my hubby. So I started pulling out some Kaffe Fasset fabrics. The Paperweights and Millefiori and Roman glass, you know, that kind of fabrics. Just some. Well, about 12. Or more. I was thinking "hey, it's going to be fun, the kids can have one or two as well, I also know some friends that will love one..."

So, the selection should have been this at the end. Nice, no?

But then karma came in: from a slip of hand, and a bit of not paying attention, I've cut all of them double. Yes, double. See?

Therefore, I ended up with this.

Do you like it? :))))

Lazy saturday afternoon

2011-08-06T20:13:00.002+03:00

I know I've promised something else, but, as I said, I'm in "lazy mood".
Therefore, I will just let you enjoy some laziness products (or should I say: this is what I do when I don't feel like doing anything?!)

Maybe I should do more lazy work, what do you think? :))))))

Ladies and gentelmen of the jury...

2011-07-31T21:20:00.000+03:00

... let me defend myself!

I've been accused lately of showing little or no interest at all to the "textile matter", of "quitting the patches", of "running to a different hobby". Well, let me explain myself: I've always told that I have more than one focus, and that I like to do more than one thing :). In my defense, you can see the very motto of this blog (yes, look up, in the title, there you have it!).

Secondly, I didn't quit the patch world. At all. Just that I'm very busy, and the quilting projects tend to run a lot slower and to be much more time consuming than the others (aka jewelry, for now ;) ), that is why you get to see more of the quick products and less of the slower ones.

I have proof to sustain my afirmations:
Some quilt tops:
Boy one:

Boy two

Girl:

quilt sandwich to be quilted, for grandpa ;)

and, not quilts, but (who said it's not possible?) from patchwork fabric (oh, that yummy, tasty, mouth watering Kaffe Fasset....) two skirts for a young lady that requested "summery, colorful, twirling skirts)

aaaannnnnnddddd a preview of my insanity, side, back and front.

Why insanity, would you ask? well, that is a completely different story, that will be the subject of another post....
Till then, have fun and enjoy life!

Dreaming of tango...

2011-07-24T14:59:00.001+03:00

I don't know if I've already told you, but I am quite a passionate tango dancer. At least, I used to be... last years of my life kept me far away from my dance love. We'll see if the future will bring us more time to go back on that lost love, or not, but, until then, I keep dreaming of milonga's (for those unfamiliar with the term, that is the tango music party, where all friends and dancers gather and share their love and joy in the dance).

My daydreaming had also a positive outcome: even if I can't be on the track anymore, maybe my earring can?

So, here you have them: the first in the "Dreaming of Tango" series (yes, I plan to make more).

Enjoy!

Deep space nine ...

2011-04-16T22:46:00.000+03:00

... or me just continuing exploring far away lands of jewelry making.

I have to admit: I like to play, and this time, I have a lot of new toys suddenly at my disposal.

Hence, I keep on playing and making these things, that just keep flowing.

Here, take a look!

These two were made to complete the previous post necklaces...
Then, I got a new idea! hanging stones on some wire... So, tried that out.

The shape was promising, so I had to try it again, with a little variation.

Then, I felt the urge of making something green... And I don't even like green!

Enough green! Time for some purple now!

Worse part is that I just end one and the next one is already a work-in-progress... I already dream of red and black, of more purple, of gray silver and red..... and I can keep on going :))))

It cannot be two without three (old romanian saying)

2011-04-15T00:08:00.000+03:00

...which means that if it happened twice, it will happen the third time as well.
Therefore, admire the third series :))))

Now, my only concern is: will I stop? But then, again, why should I? :))))

It's growing and I can't help it :)

2011-04-14T11:40:00.000+03:00

Help! I'm being taken over by a bead manic!!!!!

Look, there is proof:

I can't stop making these things, and I'm enjoying it tremendously!
I think I need professional help :))))

Spring is coming. Finally!

2011-04-11T20:26:00.005+03:00

Wondering where I've been? Not far, just here, around the corner, busy doing this doing that, you know, small life things.

But there is one thing I would like to share from my recent activities.

I've been following a course. A jewelry making course, to be more precise.

So, here I give you the results of my first three lessons:

Lesson number one: learning how to make rounded ends and attach them to each other.

Lesson number two: using silicone-wrapped wire and stops.

Lesson number three: more silicone wire and more beads.

Now, there are three more lessons to go, and I do expect them eagerly :))).

But wait, that is not quite all ;). Wonder why I've got this sudden passion? well... I've discovered (duh!) that I can make my own jewelry. And that there is a name for a style that I love since I first loved a piece of jewelry.

The name is "steampunk". It's a combination between pearls, lace, leather, mechanical parts, brass elements and all a strange, SF, old and new mixture at the same time. A lot to talk about, but not now.

Therefore, armed with my first three lessons, I've proceeded creating my very first steampunk piece for personal use.

Behold, admire! Be dazzled by my glorious creation :)))))

Very proud of myself, can you tell that? :)))))

Oh, this is the lady teaching the jewelry course: Ruxandra.Thank you, Ruxandra!

Later edit: couldn't help it. All this talking about jewelry made me go back to my working table. These are the results :D

Thinking...

2011-03-04T16:10:00.000+02:00

I was just editing my "wish list", how I like to call the list on the right side that is called WIP, and it's got me thinking. It is not a list with things that are really on-going on my desktop, but things that I would very much like to make.

OK, I'll admit, some are on my tables, in different stages, but some are just ideas. And, because I didn't get as organized as to have a folder/map/notebook/something with ideas, I'm using my side bar to keep track of beautiful things I would like to see coming out of my hands one day or another.

Now, that I'm writing this, at least three more projects are crossing my mind as being forgotten from the list.

Well, this drives me to some conclusions:

- I have to set a up a map/folder/notebook where I could put my inspirations/ideas/would-do things.

- I have to get a little bit more organized: ideas are crossing my mind, but they are quickly flying away, and when I remember, is already one year later. I think I'm getting pressed by the time :)

- I have to struggle more to really finish things. I've noticed that deadlines I can usually meet, even if that means I'm sewing till 6 o'clock in the morning of the day when I should deliver ;). So I guess it would be an idea to set up dead-lines: if you don't make this by then, then you have to let it go. But, on the other hand, isn't that a bit harsh??? On myself?

One friend (OK, Murphy too) said that conclusions are the places where you stopped because you got tired of thinking, but, in this particular case, I think it's a bit different. I was looking for conclusions, because I'm tired of doing things always in the last 5 minutes, because I'm upset of always missing something, because I just want my hobby to grow as a hobby and not as a pain in the ass :). (sorry for the word pain :P). I needed some points to relate to, some milestones to walk further, a line to draw between what it has been and what it will become.

I've been reading a lot lately. A lot of blogs. A lot of ideas. She wrote a bullet list, which I found very useful and pertinent. Someone else said other interesting things. She recovered from "I-just-want-to-quilt-I'm-quitting-the blog-thing", coming back and having fun again. There is more, but these are just the most striking things that stayed in my memory (I told you I need a notebook :D).

The final impression I have now is that one can have fun and do what she likes. As long as it doesn't transform into a "Friday 13" type of nightmare :)))).

The reason I'm sharing all this? No reason, just using my blog the right way: as means to share my personal crafty part of life. This is not a shop, it will never be. I think I'm not good at sales, and I definitely don't want to get annoyed by all the mechanics behind a shop. I want to sew nice warm colors, I want to live my dreams, I want to fly on my clouds, be happy with my loved ones, grow old and wise :P.

Thank you for reading this loooong self-exposing post.

Aaaahhhh, almost forgot!!!! I also have some news for my Bucharest friends: my (surprise) bags are to be found also in a real shop now: Hippie Hippie Shake, in Hanul cu Tei. Open even Sundays between 11:00 and 17:00 hrs.
These are some:

Honey, I'm hoooomeeeee!

2011-02-08T22:21:00.000+02:00

Ski holiday is over. No broken bones, just some bruises :))). Beside that, we're all safe and sound back at home.

From the planned work I took with me, I managed to embellish just a part. About 3 and 1/2 bags. And two raggedy fluffy scarfs from a special yarn (Katia Triana). One is already confiscated and worn proudly all day-all night long, no matter to which event. The other is hanging in my closet, off course, the red one ;).

Alright, enough mumbling, let me show you some pictures.

I think I'm hit by a bug

2011-01-29T23:21:00.002+02:00

My dears and darlings, as I was saying, I think the bag bug bit me. Look, this is my holiday luggage. Yes, while all the house was packing ski suits, t-shirts, socks, swimming suits, etc. I was packing: pieces of fabric, shisha mirrors, beads, thread and other necessary tools to keep me busy on the one week ski vacation.

You may see further proof of my madness, in all colors and variations.

Ahem, yes, they are 2 kinds: the left and right ones. The purpose is not to have two the same. Look-alikes, yes, but not the same.

This being said, ladies and gentlemen, I declare the holiday as begun!

Mass production

2011-01-23T14:49:00.001+02:00

I've told you I'm producing a mass of items! Here is the proof :)))

And furthermore you may see more details in this slideshow, I thought adding too many photos of the more or less the same thing would be boring, but, in the same time, I couldn't resist showing off with those beauties.

I really enjoyed making them, and I liked them so much in all the color of the rainbow I was about not to let them go... but then I thought "hey, you can always make some more", and I've sent them in their way. They are now about to meet their new owner, a nice lady who makes jewelery. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a blog, so I can't show you her work... that is going to fit into my work and be gifted/sold together :)))).

I've learned that making more items at a time, strangely, takes less than doing one item form start to finish, then repeat. I've learned that practice makes me get shorter times, after repeating and perfecting a procedure.

I also learned some negotiation techniques :P, and I've discovered a lot of wonderful shops on Dawanda platform. Quite an accomplishment, don't you think?

Pouch bags - continous mission :))

2011-01-18T00:11:00.000+02:00

I've told you I'm mass producing. Here is proof:

I like them very much, but these tiny pouches are a bit fiddly to make. I can't wait to start working on woman/mother/valentine's day models (yup, I'm planning a series. I have mirrors and Rhine stones and beads floating all over my dreams, and my working tables :D)
Do you like them?

Bags - reloaded

2011-01-12T00:00:00.000+02:00

First one of a new series: jewelery wrappers this time. Same pattern, same execution, different size than the ones made for presents last summer. Off course, different fabric :))

And this is just the beginning "of a new era", meaning I am mass-producing the things. What, is it not mass production when you make 10 of the same kind? Well, for me is close enough to any regular assembly line: I am working in production phases, therefore I am very productive :D. I've produced so far three more assortments. And I'm thinking of more :PPPP

The Chinese brocades came from far, far away: I've got them In San Francisco, in China town, during last summer's visit. Not all of them, but the prettiest :). Well, now they have found their purpose. We are all happy.

Thank you for visiting, thank you for reading along, and may you have a wonderful Day!

Baby quilts - Christmas edition

2011-01-06T23:34:00.000+02:00

Beside regular Christmas items, this year I've had a special order. Three baby quilts, two baby girls, twins, and a baby boy.
The rule was, as usual: to be the same but different. I guess I've reached my goal, I've received a lot of appreciations.

The first plan was to make them naked, but then, since it was a(n) (almost) Christmas gift, I've decided it had to be more festive, so I've sewn some decorative lines, I've added some other bling! elements, and there you have: three little baby blankets, all cotton, all soft, all warm...

Christmas items

2010-12-22T00:16:00.000+02:00

Not much time to talk: been busy!

I'm going to share with you some photos of my latest work:

The things are already gone from my hands, they sold as "hot bread", I was amazed of how well they were received by the public. This is a must do for next year, starting with gathering the necessary supplies as early as September, I reckon.

I wish you good times with your families and your loved ones, health and happiness!

Happy birthday!

2010-11-17T00:34:00.002+02:00

When he was born (well, baptized), he received this. Sometime later, at his anniversary, he's got this.
Now, a year has passed again (when????).
So, he's going to receive something. Off course, patched :D

A Scottie :) , since he didn't grow so much to be in need of another quilt. Yet.
Yes, it's my nephew, turning 2. Therefore, he gets a toy.

Do you like my Scottie?

(drum roll...) And the Oscar goes to.....

2010-11-15T23:46:00.000+02:00

Well, my dear readers, you were too scared to guess, I guess :D. Now, it is Monday, and a promise is a promise, so, let's see what this was about.

I gave you this photo:

And a number: 106. OK, I admit, the number was just confusing. You should have thought it divides by two. And think of things in pairs.

As in pair of wings. This kind of wings:

Who got (half of them) hearts.

Then they received a hanging ribbon

And then, nicely paired and ribbon-ed and all set together with the white stuff stuffed inside the wings to make them fluffy :))), they got embroidery, and beads, and fantasy, to become this

Slide show with details:

Sooooooo, the winner is...... (after looong debates and consideration) ..... not one, but two. Yeap, that's right, both of you girls, Ingrid and Sheila, will get a set of three angels, to hang wherever you want to this Christmas, and the next one, and the one after that and again and again. Merry Christmas!

P.S. I thank to all my readers that passed by and struggled to think. I am a bit sorry that you didn't dear comment more, but in time, maybe you will.

Guess what? - giveaway

2010-11-09T08:00:00.002+02:00

Since I feel already the Christmas atmosphere, and since it has passed a year since I've started this blog (well, in august, but better never that latter, don't you think?) I've decided to make a small giveaway, based on a question.

I'm going to give you just one photo. And a number. The number is 106. The photo is this (you can click on it to see it bigger):

One hint: I've started working for Christmas, so think Christmas decorations.

So, do you guess what is this? First closest answer will get three of the final product. Which is beautiful, I promise!

Leave me an e-mail address in your comment, so I can get in touch with you. The winner will be announced next Monday.

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!!!!!!!!

Pfffffeeeeeeeewwwww!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-04T00:04:00.000+02:00

I'm relieved: we all survived, and it is all gone now. Pfeeewwww! what a mad time it was! I mean Halloween. Yes, I know it's past, thank God! Why? Oh, because, after the witch costume, I had to whip up a werewolf.

Then tons of cupcakes: creepy, horror, bloody, toxic and finally, just muffins.

Well, with spiders.

And werewolf fingers.

And other wormy mushy stuff.

And other stuff.

Then the party began. We had lots of fun.

We played on WII a whole band.

We had some fun with computer games.

We did some crafting, building dream-catchers to prevent nightmares invade our sleep.

We carved pumpkins. OOOOhhh, look at the pumpkins!

We fixed small accidents, as falling bones of over excited skeletons.

We wanted to watch scary movies, but the DVD wouldn't work.

Well, in the end it did work, but then we were too tired, so we went to sleep, and had small chit chat till dawn.

Then we had breakfast with all kids gathered around the kitchen table, and feeling like summer camp :).

The end.

P.S. I received token of appreciation: one girl made this for me. It says "Rox is cool!". I'm thrilled!

Halloween

2010-10-26T08:24:00.000+03:00

Short post: I'm not busy, I'm super-busy!!!!!!!!

I'm preparing a sleep-over creepy horror cool Halloween party for the kids. On the craft menu: pumpkin carving, spooky garland making, Happy Halloween felt banners, maybe some dreamcatchers (I still need some supplies, does anyone know where I could find wooden circles of about 15 cm diameter? In Bucharest? yesterday? :D)

For me to do: Witch costume (done), Werewolf (to do), Creepy troll (just some skulls/bones and face painting: pfeeew, no costume!), prepare the whole crafting session, and the food, oh the food: creepy-scary-crawling cupcakes and sandwiches. And, maybe, frozen radish eyeballs :D to throw into the juices.

Yeah, baby!

Witch costume (hat and blouse, the skirt is from previous years)

I couldn't stand wearing the hat, even for a little bit :)))).

Zendala's

2010-09-30T10:42:00.000+03:00

I've been playing lately with this new concept of drawing organized things. I've been doodling nonsense on paper since primary school, but it never occured to me that I could give it a gracefull from. It was always banished and always a bad thing to do on the school papers. And it was always someone else that had talent :), not scared little me.

Nowadays, Smaranda has bestowed on us the possibility of doing actually something nice with the flowers and curls I've been putting all my life on all paper around me.

She's started a new blog, and gathered much dedicated people around this.

I feel humble in my beginnings, but I want to do this, and I am thankfull that she's shown me a way.

Originally uploaded by Rox's fun games

Zoo - continued

2010-09-27T22:53:00.000+03:00

Some more animals have seen the light of the day, or shall I say the light of the night? since all of them are mostly sewn and captured on film at the artificial light available at nights...

My day job keeps me busy, therefore just evenings (sometimes late evenings) are left for crafting, so my little friends come into reality one by one, slowly, I would say painfully. Well, I've sketched them in one evening, just one or two were added afterward, but so far, only a dozen has became solid pyramids.The slowness of the process is killing me.

Ok, I didn't make just one of a kind, so maybe I've made already 30 little things, but not 30 different species, if you know what I mean!

Now, take a look at the new comers, who's already gotten friends even if they are unlikely partners, and to a merry gathering that is going to join a little girl, the same one that has received some time ago the blanked called Pinky.

Boo-hoo-hoo!


Beezee!!!

Grrrrrrrrr!

Now, this guy deserved a picture to show you his back. He's the brother of the giraffe, in the sense that the line, as well as the spots of the giraffe, are felted. Yup, that's right: I've cut up little spots/lines, then felted them into the background colour, and just after this proceeded with the normal assembly process. But I think is worth the work, when I see the giddy light in the eyes of the kids.

Merry gathering

The ZOO - part one

2010-09-22T22:32:00.000+03:00

You have seen the preview, right? Well, there is a follow-up, and there will be more, since kids are enthusiastic, almost ecstatic, and trying hard to find new animals. The rule is "basic features, no legs or eyes allowed, unless that is the only distinctive feature". They propose, I am trying to keep up. Some proposals are rejected from scratch, some are the "duh! how did I not think of this?" kind.

But enough babbling for now. Enjoy the parade!


Team together


Giraffe


Happy feet


The king of the jungle


blablablasaurus flex

Fly terror

Chubby


King of the Yard

This last guy took a lot of space. Whatever I did, couldn't get a decent photo of him without the surrounding crowd. Is it just me, or is he really vane?

preview

2010-09-20T23:20:00.001+03:00

Some folks have moved in on my table. Well, to be correct, they first moved in my dreams. Than they started invading my table. You wonder who? Here they are. Some of them. The rest are still in transition from the paper to real life. I feel like Gepetto, sometimes :)))

Here is a close-up

Now, the idea came form here. She's got it from several other places, mentioned in her blog. Which, by the way, is very interesting and instructing and funny and helpful... I think I should stop now. But I really liked it :D

Good night, everyone!

p.s. my new sewing machine is a dream. A total fairy tale dream. I'm in love, can you tell?

Holiday

2010-07-23T10:35:00.015+03:00

Officialy, we're gone!
This blog will now take a break untill return from the country-of-all-quilting-possibilities, the mighty US of A that is :))).
I hope to see ya all in good health and good shape when I'll be back ;)

Happy quilting and blogging and crafting, folks!

p.s. these photo's are from the internet, from places we'll go and from places we will not go :P. Real photo's of our trip will follow somewhere at a later stage.

Presents... part 2

2010-07-20T08:30:00.001+03:00

Although not completely finished, I have to share these now, since we are already packing and doing and running around for last minute details. I plan to hand finish them on the plane, imagine that :))

The inside detail was the idea of my little boy, who was already forming the shape and utility in his head loooong before the squares were even something together. He was just remarking that a backpack-with-something-to-hang-things-from-inside is much more handier that one with nothing in it. So I added the loop, and a small pocket, just in case.

custom order

2010-07-17T08:30:00.007+03:00

Soon after the delicious present series, I've got a custom order. It had to be a girlie pink bag, but not pink, but pink, but colorful... just like the story: "a color that is not any color, but is not the color that it is".

I hope I was up to the challenge... by now the little one should have received her pink bag that is not pink.

Lollipop with flower

2010-07-16T06:36:00.001+03:00

It's called lollipop because is sooo sweet. And with flower because, yes, it has a flower. It had to have a flower. You know, it was just asking for it. So I've made it. There. Lollipop with flower

I must say that the fabric selection was made while Andreea Maria was born. This is the quilt that saw the day of the light in the same time with the little one. Long and happy life I wish them both, the quilt and the little one! May God bless your every day, Andreea!

Exhibit numer... ;)

2010-07-14T07:44:00.001+03:00

I still owe you some photo's, from exhibition works. Here they are:

The Magenta

The Iris

The Zebra

The Zebra is about four times bigger than the Iris, which was the try-out for making the Zebra, and is one group theme, interpret the work of Victor Vasarely, a famous visual artist.

The Magenta play is part of a group play, where, together with my friends from "Peticelul romanesc", we've exchanged some pieces of fabric and we tried to make something original out of it. I wanted a "tree of friendship", unfortunately, my quilted tree is barely visible, and I was too upset about my not-working-free-motion-quilting to keep on reinforcing it... Long sad story, my tree of life is just some bubbles over strange squares. Well, I supposed it has to do it for the time being.

presents... part 1

2010-07-12T22:02:00.001+03:00

Sometimes, looking at a pattern makes it get stuck in my head. Like it wants to become, but not just yet.

Then, a certain fabric strikes. And, from the clash of pattern and fabric, new ideas emerge.

This was the case of these beauties, that were born last Saturday.

These are going to be presents. The people who will receive them do not know yet ;). Please, don't spoil the secret!

My first exhibition!

2010-05-27T12:36:00.000+03:00

EXPOZITIE

Patchwork & Arta Textila
29 mai – 11 iunie 2010

Casa de Cultura Traian Demetrescu, salonul Medieval
vernisaj 28 mai, ora 17

Str.Traian Demetrescu, nr.31, CRAIOVA 200395
Telefon: 0351413369, mobil 0723919750
e-mail : casa_cultura_traian_demetrescu@yahoo.com ; office@cctd.ro
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This is a group exibition, a group of enhtousiastic, fabulous, extraordinary women, that I had the chance to meet through our common passion: the pieces :). The group is called : "The Romanian Little Patch", and is guided, with great care and inspiration by Mrs. Smaranda Bourgery, a truly fantastic person, that shares her great knowledge with us, the less gifted ones.... Thank you, Smaranda, for that you are doing for us!

I managed to pull out two quilts, but, unfortunately, since I've been sewing till 2 o'clock to finish them, I did not get the chance to take a photo. You have to wait untill:

a) somebody else publishes photo's from the exhibition, or

b) the quilts are coming back and I can make nice photo's :)))

Bye!.... I'm going to long in front of my computer, waiting for news from the "exhibition comitee"....

How to make a kanzashi flower

2010-04-20T00:16:00.000+03:00

These are 2 ways of folding the fabric square, in order to obtain the original Kanzashi flower, and a pleated variation. The red folded petal is the pleated variation, whilst the green is the original. Here we go:

Take a 10 cm square. (can be any size you think you can handle, it also depends on the fabric structure)

Fold in half. Iron. This is the only fold that needs ironing.

Fold in half again, keep fold towards you.

Take the corner and fold it back to you, leaving it a bit aside so you have a pleat at about 2-3 mm from the point.

Take the new corner and fold it again towards you, repeating the same 2-3 mm distance.

Turn the whole construction. (the original fold is now away from you)

Fold the corner towards center, repeating the first steps, mirrored.

Raise construction from table and put a pin in, to keep it together until a later stage.

Cut the loose ends (be careful, not the point!), at about 6 mm from the pin.

Now, the original flower. Take the same 10 cm square. Fold in half, iron.

Fold both corners towards the center. (opening towards you)

Turn around, keeping the fold on the same axis.

Fold in half...

....and mark well the center.

Open again and take the corner...

...and fold it back to the previously marked center.

Do the same with the other side.

Fold in half, with care to keep together the inner corners.

Put a pin in, observing to catch the corners, at about middle of the figure.

Cut the loose ends (not the point!) at about 6 mm from the pin.

Once you have prepared a series of petals (about 8 for one flower), prepare a needle with a strong thread (I've used quilting cotton) and keep it ready by your working hand. Take one petal and take the pin out.

Insert the threaded needle through the petal, on the same point where the pin was.

Take it out. (I use a medical pinch... it is rather difficult to take out a needle from so many layers of fabric)

Leave about 7-8 cm of thread to hang loose at the end.

Continue with the rest of petals, taking care to have them alingned in the same direction.

Now, take both ends of the thread...

... and start doing a "surgeon's knot". That, if necessary, will be subject of another tutorial.

Tie the knot, not very tight, but also not very loose, just average. (leave some space to maneuver)

Start opening the petals, while arranging them on the string.

Form the petals with your thumb.

At the end, put it in the cup of your hand and give it a gentle push in the middle, to give it just it's beautiful form.

Cut the thread.

The same procedure goes for the pleated version.

Now you can start adding embellishments: buttons, felt, etc.

Oooops, I was not supposed to be in the photo! ;)))

Till the next fabric-ated adventure!

p.s. Hubby helped taking the photos. Thank you very much, darling!

p.s.2 I've got an idea of what to do with all these flowers, beside gifting them left and right, or making them hair pins, head band decoration, brooches or other wearable items, just wait and see ;). It also involves some soluvlies and all those loose ends that were cut at a certain point in the process...

Long time no see...

2010-03-29T08:05:00.008+03:00

...says an old saying. Well, you can imagine I've been busy. Not busy, but super busy. Cause we cannot just stop everything we're doing, do something else and them resume. No, that would have been to nice.

So we moved to a new home, while still going at work (and my work is just some sitting-behind-the-desk thing, but hubby is a bit more delicate subject... he has to perform surgery every now and then, let's not go there, OK?), celebrating the move with a huge box robot, having a kids party (the middle one turned 10, thank you ;), having open house for all friends and a zillion other things.
I've been busy doing curtains (and believe me, we have some windows :))) ) arranging a bit a space where I can spread my creative skills (call that my studio), fixing a tone of small sandwiches with paste of this or of that for whomever entered the house, fixing kids their favorite foods, buying plant and not forgetting to water them :P.Now I'm shortly leaving to visit some friends for a day or two, and that is what caused this post and some (more) work to do. Because I cannot just learn a new technique by doing just one thing. No sir! that is not me!. I've seen the famous Kanzashi flowers and I've fallen in love with it, so what better excuse and opportunity to make some than the visit to friends? They will receive one, I get to learn something I like, what better deal can be?
So I started cutting "just" some colors... (I wanted them rainbow, not just plain one color, hm... maybe that was a tad ambitious?)Maybe from the other side?

Hm, it still looks an awful lot! Never mind that, I've started pleating.
And sewing (how do you do a surgeons knot??? I could not understand that from my surgeon at home, since he can only do it with his instruments... I'm not going to tie knots of string with a surgical instrument! No way!) ... To make a long story short, this is the result:

The green one is the pleated version, the other two are the originals. I've been using 10 cm squares, the flowers are about 5-6 cm big.
'Til next time!

Mail

2010-02-13T23:38:00.012+02:00

We're beginning, slowly, to move.

We started with the most unused and unneeded items in the house: my fabrics, my supplies, my creative things.... well, not olny because of unneededesness, but because also, my sewing studio is one of the rooms that are ready.

Beside this news, mail is incoming every now and then. This time, it brought me the supplies for a special order for two special little girls: the "double flower Winnie" project. The name comes from the number: two girls, the absolute urge to have the above mentioned bear and the necessity of flowers.

Enjoy the samples!

Looking back...

2010-02-06T11:12:00.007+02:00

...at 2009.

It's been a very busy year, with many happenings in my life. It changed a lot, and it stayed the same, but in a much fuller way. I've gained a bunch of new friends, and I've managed to make my quilting dreams come not one, but more steps further. I've learned a new technique. I'm moving in a new home.

I think is time to let go. Good bye, 2009!

Welcome, 2010, with new projects, with new perspectives, with all new surprising days!

And, for you, my dear quilting friends, may the year bring the same joy and happiness as it already brought me... A big hug for all of you!

More fabric ;)

2010-01-13T10:14:00.000+02:00

The other part of the luggage arrived, hurray!

Beside the dirty clothes and bath slippers and jars and boxes and bottles of Porto wine, there was also my green bag of first shopping stop at Arco-Iris a Metro in Lisbon, Portugal.

Some (more) fabric:

Some (even more) thread:

aaaaaand.... some felt :))

After all, Easter is knocking at the door, isn't it? And I don't want to start running again for raw material, I just want to sit on my table and make the design and then just plain execute the thing ...

One other thing I should mention: the lady in the shop was very friendly and helpful. She even threw in some extra fabric when I was done shopping, and she even said she could send orders by mail, so it seems like a good future relation.

p.s. great photos from non-patch visitis here!

Polka dots? Yeeeeessssssssssssssss!!!

2010-01-11T13:33:00.000+02:00

I've been drooling over polka dots since a long time now, but couldn't get my hands on them so far. With the family trip we had for holidays, I've been eager to check on the local patchwork market. This time, precious Cosman was not of help, I plan to inform him as well about my finding, so he may add the shop to his list.

But, stubborn as I am, I started reading blogs and reviews, so this way I've stumbled upon this wonderful shop: Arco-Iris a Metro. I've been there twice: once on our way in, and once on our way back. (Since we spent most of our vacation in southern Portugal, and this shop was almost in Lisbon, I couldn't get there more times, luckily for our finances :)) )

Today, I show you the result of the second shopping session: polka dots and (some) quilting thread.

The rest is still on the way, since we could benefit of a friends car that brought most of our luggage back in the country. He didn't arrive yet, but is close, so you will see those things soon.

I'm back in action :)

2010-01-10T17:03:00.000+02:00

After a long vacation in Portugal (more here today, tomorrow and the days to come), I'm back in my nest.
I've had some Christmas items I wanted to share, but couldn't do so before departure, so here you can see them now:

I also have some patching stories from the trip, so check back for that too!

Have a great Sunday!

Visiting foreign countries

2009-12-05T19:56:00.001+02:00

Today I have been visiting a foreign country. Let's see, do you recognize it by some of its inhabitants?

(Noreen the keen is mean to demean - rumors go that she's having a bad tongue)

(Raphaella, a fallen angel, that picked up human habits, started smocking, drinking beer, sometimes even she doesn't believe she once was an angel, because nobody believes her)

(a ghotic missie that was happening there with her rainbow friend)

(a thing)

(another Halloween thing)

(Chilperic, another thing :)))

a W.I.P.

(exhibition pannel)

(the mother of them all ;)

Ooooh! I almost forgot! She is Agatha, and she came home with us, very determined about where she is going to live from now on.

All in all, I was visiting Falushtain, the land of dreamed stories, a mysterious, curious and wondrous realm. Go visit too!

p.s. This means I went to the hand made event that is taking place these days in Bucharest :))) and I met Anca, and her puppets.

Soul Cake

2009-12-04T00:03:00.001+02:00

Tough it is not crafted by me, this is a carol that has grown very dear to my heart, part because of the singer, part because of the lyrics... Halloween is not (yet) a tradition in my country, also all saints day, but the simplicity of the words, the pureness of the request... has touched a part of my heart.

and there is more: a recipe of the beautiful soul-cake:

Soul Cakes are an echo of the sacrificial foods of the Celtic festival of Samhain held in early autumn. These little cakes were traditionally set out with glasses of wine on All Hallows Eve (31st October) for the souls of the dead. On All Saints Day (1st November) children would go "souling" calling out "Soul, Soul, for a Soul Cake: pray you good mistress, a soul cake".

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup caster/superfine sugar
4 cups plain flour, sifted
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 teaspoon allspice
3 tablespoons currants
a little milk

Method

- Cream the butter and sugar together until pale in colour and fluffy in texture.
- Beat in the egg yolks.
- Fold in the sifted flour and spices.
- Stir in the currants.
- Add enough milk to make a soft dough.
- Form into flat cakes and mark each top with a cross.
- Bake on a well-greased baking tray in a hot oven until golden.

and the lyrics...

A soul cake, a soul cake, please good missus a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry,
any good thing to make us all merry,
A soul cake, a soul cake, please good missus a soul cake.
One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all.
A soul cake, a soul cake, please good missus a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry,
any good thing to make us all merry,

God bless the master of this house, and the mistress also.
And all the little children that round your table grow.
The cattle in your stable and the dog by your front door.
And all that dwell within your gates
we wish you ten times more.

A soul cake, a soul cake............

Go down into the cellar and see what you can find.
If the barrels are not empty we hope you will be kind.
We hope you will be kind with your apple and strawber’
For we’ll come no more a ’soalin’ till Xmas time next year.

A soul cake, a soul cake, ......................

The streets are very dirty, me shoes are very thin
I have a little pocket to put a penny in.
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’ penny will do.
If you haven’t got a ha’ penny then God bless you.

A soul cake, a soul cake, please good missus a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry,
any good thing to make us all merry,
A soul cake, a soul cake, please good missus a soul cake.
One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all.

"God bless you!"

Seasonal crafting

2009-11-22T18:13:00.000+02:00

After a short question, a week of wandering all over the internet and a brainstorming session with the kids, my felting tools have been put at work. This is the result.

And I've been caught in action :))))), during the photo session.

Pinky

2009-11-15T01:33:00.000+02:00

... is ready. My fingers hurt. A lot. I'm happy, but I won't be doing this pattern for a while, I can assure you.

Next, I've started already inventing other projects... but I still think of old ones. I surprised myself today of revising the "to do" list: it became shorter by two, and longer by so many :))))

The complete mess

2009-11-04T19:59:00.000+02:00

This:

...should look like a decent cloth by the end of the week. I haven't decide yet if I will add batting (and try free motion on the sandwich) or if I will just be content with the upper cloth/inner cloth construction.

I've decided to enter this adventure after strolling the whole town and not finding a suitable winter coat (or at least to my liking) and after seeing one (on someone) that looked like this.

Do I make any sense?

Bonding

2009-11-02T21:02:00.000+02:00

After struggling, re-doing, thinking, and some more thinking, matching and querying, it is finally ready: the baby girl quilt with sunbonnets destined to be the child's most precious cloth.

I'm happy with the way it finally came out. The binding comes from Holland, fabric I bought 5 years ago. I didn't feel it matched any project till this one, when it was "the perfect match".

One of the girls "had" to have a cat. It was too small to make it an applique, it would have been a disaster. Then I thought of making it with felt, wool and needles, but would have it resisted the high temperature wash, the wear and tear a baby quilt gets? I didn't think so, therefore I've came up with embroidery as last resort. My little girl noticed, when it was finished, that the cat should have had also eyes, because, from the mustache, you could see it's looking to us, but I thought it would have been too much. She agreed when I explained it's too small to be able to make beautiful eyes, and she concluded: the cat is blinking like a lot of people do when you take a photo, and we caught it with her eyes shut! I just love her when she draws such logical conclusions...

Haloween....

2009-11-01T01:08:00.000+02:00

Speaking about crafts, these days we've been busy. Here's a sample. (more)

The busy crowd....

And beside that, I've had special orders:

So.... Happy Haloween!!!

What is a quilt and how can we take care of it - bilingual (RO/ENG)

2009-10-26T21:51:00.000+02:00

Ce este un quilt

Un quilt este un tip de lenjerie de pat – o patura care acoperă - compusa dintr-un strat superior, un strat de umplutura şi un strat de tesatura de suport, în general unite cu ajutorul tehnicii de matlasare. O altă tehnică pentru asigurarea coeziunii straturilor quilt-ului este legarea. Legarea se referă la tehnica ce utilizeaza fire, ata sau panglică ce trec prin toate cele trei straturi de quilt la intervale regulate. Aceste legături mentin straturile împreună în timpul utilizării şi mai ales atunci când quilt-ul este spălat. Această metodă este mai simpla atunci cand quilt-ul se face manual.

Multe quilt-uri sunt realizate cu modele decorative; unele quilt-uri nu sunt utilizate ca patura deloc, ci sunt mai degrabă facute pentru a fi agatate pe un perete sau expuse în alt mod. Mai multe informatii, aici.

Cum se intretine un quilt

In functie de gradul de complexitate si de structura quilt-ului, el poate fi spalat in masina sau numai manual. In general, se recomanda detergenti delicati, temperatura de 30-40 grade si stoarcere foarte usoara (de preferat deloc). Calcati usor, daca este nevoie.

Alegeti pentru spalare o zi calduroasa: asigurati astfel o uscare rapida a quilt-ului dvs.

Intotdeauna uscati ferit de soare, astfel prelungiti viata culorilor. Uscati pe bara rotunda, pe plasa, sau, daca nu dispuneti de asa ceva, pe franghie cu prosoape groase, pentru a evita urmele.

Informatii detaliate vor fi furnizate cu fiecare quilt in parte.

What is a quilt

A quilt is a type of bedding— a bed covering composed of a quilt top, a layer of batting, and a layer of fabric for backing, generally combined using the technique of quilting. Another technique for securing the quilt layers is tying. Tying refers to the technique of using thread, yarn or ribbon to pass through all three layers of the quilt at regular intervals. These "ties" hold the layers together during use and especially when the quilt is washed. This method is easier and more forgiving if the quilt is made by hand. Tied quilts are called, depending on the regional area, "lap", "comfort" or "comforter", among other names. Many quilts are made with decorative designs; some quilts are not used as bed covering at all, but are rather made to be hung on a wall or otherwise displayed. More info here.

How to tend to your quilt

Dependind on its complexity level and its structure, a quilt can be only hand washed, or machine washed. Use mild detergents, 30-40 degrees maximum and little (ot none at all) spin. You can iron it, if necessary.

Pick a sunny, warm day to wash your quilts: you will ensure a quick dry. Never dry in direct the sunlight: this will make the colors fade quicly. Try to let it dry on a flat surface. If you don't have one, than use thick towels on the drying rope, to avoid marks.

More detailed info will be handed out with every quilt.

And more felting

2009-10-18T12:59:00.000+03:00

As promised, here I come with the materials: wool and wool sheet.

And a sneak preview: the girls for the quilt made out of this selection:

It will be ready soon, then I can move on to the other projects.

A wonderful Sunday to you all!

Tools of the trade

2009-10-16T00:05:00.000+03:00

A new thing crossed my way: felting. So, as a good kid, I started gathering the tools. Here they are:

Felting moulds, felting mat and various sizes of needles. And a brush to brush the left-over wool from the felting mat.

And theese are the clearer photos of the forms that could be obtained using those moulds. I will picture next the wools to-be-used in the process.

Have a nice day!

That "long lasted for" sewing studio

2009-10-10T23:19:00.000+03:00

This:

... is going to be my working space. The one and only sewing/crafting/so-long-dreamed working place.

More "scary" photo's of the whole house are to be found here. I will try to keep you up with news, if I can :)))

Field play - fall version

2009-10-07T23:37:00.000+03:00

It is ready.

The binding is vintage fabric from my grandmother's stash.Yeah, it sounds kind of weird, but yes, I have stash from my grandmother.

The back is the sweet muslin fabric my darling brought home two weeks ago.

I like very much the way it came out.
Have a nice day!

DNP....

2009-09-25T00:20:00.000+03:00

....or, to call it long, Disappearing Nine Patch. I've came across this pattern here. I've fantasized long enough about how it could be, and after couple of trials, it ended up so:

(Oh, the color scheme comes from another baby, which is not ready yet, I'm in the process of making the sunbonnets for it).

Back:

Decorative stitch and binding:

I'm especially happy with the back, which is not the usual fabric, but the soft "baby" fabric that is so warm to touch. This is going to be a baptize gift as well, to a little boy this time. I know it's not blue, but why should we always respect the convention???

Oh, I forgot: the pattern is called "Disappearing Nine Patch", because it starts as a nine patch.

Then you cut it in four, straight through the middle, and rearrange it.

And than you sew them all back together again. Easy! And it offers endless possibilities. It is very likely you will see more of this pattern around here, because I really like it.

I've been working...

2009-09-25T00:03:00.000+03:00

...like crazy :), on things I like sooo much.

Sweet Mary it's finished. Ready to be packed and leave to its destination. Here it is:

Front:

Back

sewing (I've recently discovered I can use decorative stitch to quilt. Sooo funny!)

aaaand binding.

This quilt was sweet from the first two squares sewn together. It's funny how they tend to get their own way...

Shopping session results

2009-09-20T09:16:00.000+03:00

I went shopping on Friday, looking for something specific (the blue poppies I used as back to some quilt). I didn't find that. Instead, I brought home this:

and this two (I couldn't decide which one was prettier):

and some decorations:

and some more decoration:

And last, but not least, a gorgeous wool cashmere:

Oh, did I mention my hubby also went shopping? He brought home what he was supposed to, but also this:

Can I say out loud how much I love him???

I've been already transforming the cashmere into a beautiful school dress for a little girl, and the blue roses into a bed set. Both are presents for birthday girls. The dress was already so well received (did you really make it? and just for me?), and the bed set will find its destination today. I hope she will like it :)))

Two on the same theme: Baby girl

2009-09-17T07:59:00.000+03:00

Sneak preview: baby girl - baptize and baby girl - bonding

I love the looks of this pattern when it's finished, but the work to go there is quite a lot. here you may see it on its journey, somewhere between step 100 and 200 of the operation...

And this, well, this another "square dance" from enormous quantity of variations that it can be. It is also for a little one, from the selection I've made, but there is still a lot going in my head, before being finished.... The request was for a crazy one like Sweet Mary, but with some Sunbonnet Sue (with cat) somewhere there... I don't see it coming, but hey, maybe it will, who knows?

It is destined to be the child favored's blanket, thats why I called it "bonding"...

(I love the way this photo technique shows my selection... this way I can already see the mix of the colors, their way of blending)

Purple mix

2009-09-10T23:50:00.000+03:00

I've assembled the "Field play", and now I'm cooking this:

But off course, I can't help it. My mind keeps on flying here:

Well... this is the selection I've made for two projects. Now, let's see what comes out of it!

(the recipe of the delicious goodies may be found here, in Romanian. If anybody interested, I might try to translate it, but under the mention that I have no clue how those cousins of pepperoni are called....)

Field play - fall - preview

2009-09-07T23:47:00.000+03:00

I've finished the top of Sweet Mary, now it's time for a new project: Field play.

Some colors, no?

Teaser

2009-09-04T07:54:00.000+03:00

A new project just started. It comes from the leftovers of this quilt (I'm just there when it comes to cut without number...)

It's going to be "the older sister"... if I don't manage to find another name for it :). It is for the older sister of the little one that received the first quilt. I promised I would make her one, because the 4 year girl just went berserk over her sister's present: she grabbed the patch and wouldn't let go.... so, here it is, the same but different. I hope she will like it.

WELCOME!

2009-08-30T14:22:00.001+03:00

...dear friends and followers!

Here you may find the product of my imagination and creativity, mainly in the area of quilting. If any other craft will apear, don't be surprised, because sometimes I like to wonder in other fields as well.

For starters, so you may get an idea of things that I'm doing, you can scroll through these photo's of recent and not so recent work. Enjoy, and leave a comment or a question if you feel like it!