parallel play

What a fun afternoon spent with my fellow art quilter Steph.  (click for her website)

We have always had fun together, making stuff. We like to play. We like ink and paint, and thread and applique.We like humor and stories, and never run out of stuff to talk about.

 I had a lot to do today at home but the siren song of friendship was too much to ignore!!

I took some show and tell, a few stamps, and a new book to show her. She shared  her latest work, brought out her paints/inks and stamps and we started to play.





This was made with a rubber stamp, on white fabric. Then I used tsukineko ink pens to color it in and shade it.
Pretty.

I used some of my love stamps and some of hers, some of my ink pads and some of hers to make smitten.

Several stamps together, and colored in with pens. She asked what I will do with it.
I'm not sure but I will use it. When I play I don't stop to think what to make later...
Stephanie wanted some opinions on two pieces she's making.

I have opinions!!

We ended up shading one of her pieces with ink, and discussing options on a tote bag. It is always fun to collaborate on projects with her.

I imagine if we met as little girls, we'd have been coloring together, shoes off, giggling.

She enjoys making garments as well as quilts (and other art projects) so we discussed a batik for a top.
Clothing, stamping, sewing, what's not to like?

I came home to see this post by   threadingmyway.
It is about using vintage clothing patterns.
Vintage, like from MY childhood, lol.
She pointed out the tiny waists and I remember having to adjust patterns to my more athletic build.  Waist slightly larger in relation to hips.
I said I made my clothes thru high school, but it's much easier now to fit a bed.
It's basically a rectangle, but then so am I now!! smile.

Steph has two adorable cats that love me as I love them. I'm allergic to them but I love them.

Here's a short story, about her cat PJ who resembles the kliban cats from the 70's

and  he came running to me when I got there today. He immediately looked me in the eyes, and began rubbing against my legs. Uh oh, allergy city. He was put out to play and screamed at the door til we let him back in. He immediately ran to me, put his tiny front paws on my knee and looked into my eyes again.
Reluctantly I said no, I couldn't pet him but he should know how much I love and admire him.

 He left the room, but came back when I opened the ink pad. Very interested thinking it might be a treat.
So cute. Again, I was forced to say, no, it's not food, lovey. Dejectedly he ate some kibble and left the room again.
A bit later he returned wrapping around my leg again, and I had to say, "PJ... you know I love you right? I can't pet you but I love you. I'm allergic and must not play with you." He looked deeply into my eyes, and slowly turned around and left the room with no more contact.

I am reminded of my neighbor's daughter sitting with me on my front porch while Cole played in the yard.
She solemnly asked, "Miss LeeAnna, do you really think he understands you?"

I smiled and said, he does, every word. And he does. And so did PJ.
Luckily they understand English as I don't speak cat or dog.
I came home to chores and unfinished projects and was smiling because I got to connect with my friend today. And her cat.

Two ways to quilt-as-you-go, King-size edition

click on image to check out the snow bank quilting!

The two main sections are quilted and together! Yea! This center section is now 58" X 77"
Borders are next.
It is very heavy with heavy flannel on the back. I am sorry I put the flannel on the back because it's hard to deal with but it is very cozy.

 I am attempting to make it cover at least the top of the king bed.

The center (snow) section was joined to the bottom
(teacup) section directly. Meaning...
I left the bottom area of the white unquilted so that I could fold back the batt and backing and seam the top sections together as usual.

after piecing the whole bottom section to the white fabric, I  smooth one side of backing over the batting, then tuck under the edge of the other and use it to cover the raw edge. Pin, hand stitch (I used ladder stitch) and then quilt a bit more over the join to look like snow hills.

To quilt the snow I used the white sparkling Madeira thread. It behaves beautifully. 

To join the skate section to the house section, when I had quilted to the edge of each, I joined them with a joining strip. Sewed each complete section to an edge of a 1.5" strip. Fold aside the back and batt...

Press seams to center, trim batt to meet in the center

Then fold under the last backing edge, pin, sew in place. It disappears into the back, looks like normal.

I plan to do large borders, inner at 2" and outer at 10". I will sew these two together, quilt the border, sew it to the sides with a joining strip as I want to build in more width to cover the bed. My plan is to bind the two border strips first so I won't be shoving the whole under the quilt sewing on a long binding.
I am tired of this project but want it done, not another UFO. Plus it's seasonal for the bed right now.
I need to move on to this year's V-day quilt.

It's started and on it's way to fabulous!

It's all color! Sorry about the boring pics of blue here. Stay tuned!
LeeAnna

Well, red is a color...

 What's wrong with this picture?
Cole's porch bed cover has blown off?
There is a box in the chair?
The cardinal is INSIDE the screened in porch?!

 That's it!

Cole and I were chillin' in the Family room, I was having another cuppa coffee, he was watching the yard, and

surprise!
A flash of a brilliant orange-ish red on the porch.

What!?! Poodle alert!

 I tapped on the sliding glass door, and the gorgeous cardinal f-r-e-a-k-e-d out!
Maybe it could see the  predator 8 feet away, and hear the high pitched whining thru the door.

 

It was beautiful, and all shades of red,  and in full blown panic. It could not remember how to get out! 

  

I COULD remember the time a bird flew into the house thru our front door, thru the living room up the stairs and into the open office upstairs.

It was a looooong night. We ran up, it flew downstairs. We went down it passed up flying back up to the office.

No rescue organization was interested in helping.




 I finally got an idea. They are attracted to light, so we turned off the overhead light, shown a flashlight on the floor and it went for it, I threw a blanket over and we re-located the bird outside.

Meanwhile, the poodle is running up and down the stairs in a frenzy of frustration! Barking. He almost never barks. (news flash, if you're a hunter, you don't bark and warn the prey)
Cole leaves the porch door open when he goes out to the yard and critters sometimes find their way inside the porch. It always causes a ruckus. I mean that bird was pacing around on Cole's bed.

Cole was not amused.

He looked at me, and I didn't need a psychic to tell me what he was thinking.
"Oy! My mother is the WORST hunter EVER! Open the door!!!
All I could see happening was Cole getting covered in bird poop. Oy for reals!

Luckily when our collective backs were turned, in prep to deal with this, the cardinal left the building.

Dreaming of Sticks

 Cole here...
I don't know if you noticed but Winter is here.
This year there is snow and ice, and my people continue to groom my hair! It's outrageous!

Cutting my coat off when it's 20 degrees outside. Mommy made me several t-shirts out of fleece to replace my home-grown fleece that she says begins to smell after a month.

 Sheesh you pee on your leg a few times...

 Check out the ice flow.

There's a glacier in the making.

Even a poodle's sure foot will slip here.

While walking along the tundra, I spy the cutest tiniest little stick.
A TASTY looking stick.

Being on the Stick-Relocation-Team, I picked it up to transport to the correct location.
Then I noticed just how, umm, yum... tasty it was.

My people started yelling at me for eating it. I mean, who could resist it???
They didn't want to eat it, so why shouldn't  I??

 Eeek it's hard walking on ice! Builds up an appetite!

Anyway... They made such a stink about it. Mommy pulled it out of my mouth, how undignified.
She threw it away and yelled about splinters and vets and "what's wrong with you Cole?!" and what a scene.

Anyway, when we got home, I found another stick to eat in the yard. I was right into it when here came DADDY this time. "Cole knock it off!" dragging the stick out of my mouth.

People are annoying.
I ate some kibble and decided to sleep it off. Tomorrow's another day.

Dreaming of sticks

linking to Monday Mischief  and  Wordless Wednesday at Blogpaws

Swirling Midwinter Ball 2015

 Do you wanna dance??
                                        We do! We do!
Mr Not-Afraid-of-color, Drew to his friends, and I met over 21 years ago at a Contra dance.
It's the most fun you'll have while wearing clothes!
We went to the Ball last night, and both of us are feeling the physical reminders of all that swirling and twirling and fun.

I studied ballet, tap, and modern dance. I also belonged to a Cajun dance group in Tampa so I enjoy a good fais-do-do.
Drew and I have been known to Swingdance, Tango, waltz and zydeco together, but our real love is Contra.

If you've never done it, run to find one in your area.

So many nice people, laughing, enjoying the Giant Robot Dance band, playing live music.

 This is NOT me!! The 20-somethings have really added a lot to the mix, luckily with each other! I think my upside down dancing days might just be behind me but it's fun to see.

For those who don't know this style of dance, it's addictive. You find a partner for a dance, the movements for that dance are walked thru, you dance the whole song with that partner working your way up the line dancing with each couple as you come to them.  After the song is over you find another partner. There was one dance a month in Tampa. There are nearly 5 dances a week in this area.

Who knows you might meet the Valentine of your dreams at a dance! I did!

Little Blue Teapot

six inch block

 This is the last day of the month for  RSC2015 at so scrappy blog.
The color this month was blue, and I've been so busy quilting and putting together sections on my Winter quilt Silent Snowmen, that I nearly forgot.
But
I didn't! This is my little blue paper pieced teapot from Sew Precise software. From the scrap bin.

I plan to do another using the bright dots and wee little teapots fabric hanging next to this one on the wall.

Also plan to do a few cups in blue.

I'm behind so I wanted to link up to the party. I'll have to show you the teacups later.

Sewing is so much fun.

LeeAnna

Studio Words

It's cloudy with a chance of snow today. Again.

I run on solar batteries. When it gets too dark and depressing I flee to my studio, where the full spectrum daylight spotlight bulbs know my name and welcome me.

And all those hoarded supplies are available if only I can find them!


Today I would like to share a portion of my sudio.


I love words. I love them, I love reading them, I love hearing them well spoken, I love their meanings and the look of script. It's a long time love affair I've had with words. Me and words, we're like that (holding up two fingers close together)     There are words all over the studio.

 This is one of two calendars. I just adore this artist's use of image and word (CurlyGirl). She is an inspiration to me and this calendar faces me when I sit at the machine. So does the poster of Betty Boop, which my little niece said was kind of scary with that round face. Again, I love Betty Boop from childhood cartoon films shown in our house on a  reel to reel projector. So she is here too.

One row of books, with Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, my favorite movie,  inspiring, comforting and scary to me as a child. The moral was shoes are really important.

The pin cushion mouse says Embrace Imperfections

A subtle reminder not to even fret over choices.

This tiny little embellishment hanging off a quilt I made last year reminds me to take Risks. 

Another calendar. Erin Smith Art.
When they went on sale, I couldn't resist.

There are some more months I'll end up sharing with you too as they make me laugh!

Laughter is good in a studio, right?

We should enjoy what me are doing and what we make. It's called work, and there are times when it's frustrating.

 I must say, wrestling to put together the heavy bed quilt sections right now is physical work.

For me, I am more creative when I'm feeling something. Right now I need to feel happiness.

These two posters were among the first to go up in the studio. Click on the image to read them, it's worth it.

Greeting cards are especially inspiring to me. I collect them along with supplies. And stories.

This one speaks to my core, and without over-sharing here, my childhood wasn't idyllic. I have spent a lifetime learning about self worth and the role self esteem plays in accomplishment.
One of my basic tenets of creativity is that we must share ourselves in our work.

We are the only ones who can.
Love, LeeAnna

More Studio posts and pics HERE!  and in the tab at the top