Tibetan Robe

Here is my newest project. I have had this pattern for years and never got around to making it. I love those Folkwear patterns. I got the Moroccan robe one and made lots of robes to wear at our art party. People love them. Now I want to try something a bit more complex. I have the fabrics chosen, but the burgundy is just a sample of what I want. I don't have enough of it and will get some tomorrow. The gold leaves are stamped on. The blue is a silk brocade I got in China when we were there a few years ago. On my monitor it's hard to see the dark brown piece on the left but it will be the plain strips in the picture. I sandwiched and quilted it this morning. The pink is the lining. I have sewn the lining together and can see that the whole thing will be very nice to assemble once I get the rest of the fabric and get it stamped and quilted. I will be looking for some interesting way to fasten it in the front.
Now, where can I get some of those neat Tibetan boots? Maybe I'll have to go to Tibet soon.

A Finish

We have been in recovery mode since our party. I did finish this one up except for the hanging sleeve.
The exciting news is that I have been asked to do a workshop on my techniques for these wall hangings. I have never even attended a quilting workshop, let alone given one. I do have 30 years teaching experience in elementary classrooms though. A roomful of quilters can't be much more difficult than a room full of nine year olds. Or can it??

July 7 Art Party

Yesterday we had our annual art party. Here is a photo, courtesy of Sara, of a red hot pot coming out of the raku kiln.


Later, after the pot luck we lit a huge bonfire.


And then lit a grass fire in a circle around the stones. After that we set off some fireworks but I didn't get any photos of that.
Many of us were wearing cloaks that I made a few years ago. I'll have to make more though, because there aren't enough of them to go around.
We are thinking next year we might have an outdoor quilt display on the stones. Stay tuned...

My First Quilt

Camille at Simplify is hosting a Parade of Quilts featuring first and latest quilt. Pop on over to her blog if you want to join in.

This is the first full sized quilt, which I made in 2005. It was made with all Bali Batiks which cost me an arm and a leg! I still like it a lot although technically, it has some issues. I quilted it in sections using stitch in the ditch. The back is gray with a rainbow border and a black border.


This is my most recent completed piece. It is a small wall hanging, about 20 inches square.

In between these two quilts I have learned so much that I don't know where to begin. My biggest breakthrough was buying a mid-arm quilting frame and machine.
Much of what I now know, I learned from all those generous bloggers out there. Thank you all.

Flowers

We are hosting a party in a couple of days so I've been too busy to sew. Instead I'll give you a picture of our Mock Orange shrub with the last of the wild roses snuggled up to it. The perfume is heavenly.

Back to Work

After enjoying a family party on July 1, Canada Day, I am back in the studio.


I changed the top on this one and auditioned some rick rack to unite it with the area below it. It's not sewn down yet so it could still change to something completely different.


I did some dyeing while the weather is nice and sunny. These are some of them on the clothes line.


And some more.


This one was spread out on a tray and the dye painted on with a foam brush. I like the watery look. I may do some more this afternoon.

Food

Today I spent thrifting and got a few things but nothing picture worthy so instead here's my mother's Ginger Snap recipe.
Gramma B's Ginger Snaps
3 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups mixed butter and shortening (about half each)
3 eggs
1 cup molasses
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
5 to 6 cups flour

Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Add molasses and mix well. Sift the dry ingredients with 3 cups of the flour. Mix in the flour and then add enough more to make a stiff dough. You can make into logs and freeze to cook later. I rolled them into balls, flattened a bit and dipped the top in white sugar. Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes. This is a very large recipe so I usually freeze about half of it.