Stitch Challenge...Stitch for Five Then...

This Christmas weekend, we were visiting my mother-in-law in New Jersey. Since we were spending most of our time inside chatting...I was able to get a bit of stitching done too!

Here is the piece that I stitched. It is one of the stitching challenges that I'm going to suggest to the students in my upcoming Hand Stitching class. In this challenge you stitch for five and then make a change. The change could be a change in the direction of the line or a change in the stitch...or both!

I stitched five Running stitches, then changed direction and stitched five Back stitches. The background was hand painted and sprinkled with salt to get the gradations of gray.

At first I did all the stitching with two strands of white DMC floss but I found the result lacked the "punch" that I hoped for. I thought...maybe I should start over on another piece of fabric with three or four strands of white floss. But then I got the idea to shadow the original stitches with two strands of black floss. I think the result is pretty interesting!

It was fun to work out the changes in direction while stitching. I wanted to make sure that the stitched lines filled out the square area, but that they never crossed...sort of like building a maze!

Only two spots left in the class!

Hidden Color

Hidden color found after bleaching these black fabrics.

Had some fun in the studio yesterday, prepping a bit for my upcoming Hand Stitching class.

Cut up some of my hand printed and hand painted fabrics for the two formatted sizes. One of the goals in this class to to create a hand stitched book. It was fun to imagine what I'll be stitching on these fabrics!

Also had great fun finding hidden color in my black fabrics. I used a Clorox bleach pen on black Kona Prepared for Dyeing cotton and also a black wool-poly felt blend. I love that rich brown...but the red was a real surprise!

I'm bringing lots to stitch on over the Christmas holiday. We'll be spending time with my mother-in-law...and I hope there will be some quiet moments to make some headway on samples.

BTW...only 2 spots left in the Hand Stitching class!

Searching for Roy G Biv #4: Blogger's Choice...One Last Trip Around the Rainbow Update #4

Welcome to the final (for now) installment of Searching for Roy G Biv... the colors of the rainbow. This month's color (or colors) is YOUR choice!

I decided to look back at some past photos and include a few new ones to present one last trip around the rainbow...

To participate in this last installment of Roy, post your photos and then leave a comment here or on Jennifer Coyne Qudeen's blog. We'll link to your post. I'll be updating this post through Saturday, December 19...so you have some time to get your photos together...

I want to thank those of you who have participated in the Search for Roy over the last few years. It's been so great to get to know you and your work and also to see the world of color through your eyes. Many of your photos have been simply astounding! I especially want to thank my cohort, Jennifer Coyne Qudeen....the Search for Roy started as a little game between the two of us and it was Jennifer who suggested that we open it up to all of you.

I echo Jennifer's thoughts about how the Search has opened my eyes to my surroundings. Each month, became a sort of a color treasure hunt. I believe that I'm now a more active observer...and I hope, a better photographer!

I hope that you've been inspired to really LOOK at all the beauty that surrounds us each and every day!

Jennifer's photography has always impressed me and continues to do so...those "pops" of color that turn up in the most unusual (and sometimes mundane) places...she has a selection of her favorites and they are simply gorgeous!

Fiona at Paper Ponderings ends her years of contributing to Roy with the quiet stillness of WHITE. Thank you Fiona...I've enjoyed your Thursday Thoughts for many years!

Lisa at arzigogolare is featuring GOLD-GREEN inspired by the magnolia leaves from a recent bouquet. I love the close-ups of the leaves and your ideas for creating books with them! Thanks Lisa for your contributions to many, many months of Roy. Your photos always amaze me!

Elizabeth and Susan at PG Fiber2Art have RAINBOWS of color...most of them enticingly hanging on clotheslines! Thanks for participating in the Search for Roy this year. It was great to get to know you better and I know that our paths will continue to cross!


Maya Matthew at Take Diversion chose one beautiful and meaningful MULTI-COLORED image to end this year's Search for Roy. Thank you Maya for continuing to participate. Through your images I've gotten a sense of the colors and flavors of India.

Mary Ann at Blue Sky Dreaming features a "blast from the past"...a beautiful monotype of colorful fish. Thanks Mary Ann..I've look forward to seeing your art pieces each month!

Margaret at Charlton Stitcher has a photo of a fascinating work of art from her travels to Australia. Thank you so much Margaret, for your years of participation. The photos of your travels are inspiring and make me want to "hit the road" to see new and exciting places!

Roy Reminder...Blogger's Choice

Some festive Roy!

Hi there- This is a VERY late reminder that tomorrow is the final installment of the Search for Roy G Biv (the colors of the rainbow). It's Blogger's Choice...so a time for you to be creative or to show us photos of a color that didn't make it in this year.

To play....post up to 5 photos and leave a comment here or on Jennifer Coyne Qudeen's blog. We'll link back to your post for a colorful blog hop. This post will be updated with new links as they come in through Saturday, December 19th.

If you stopped by Jennifer's blog, you also know that we are taking a break from the Search. We would be happy if someone else would like to pick up the reins and continue. Looking forward to a colorful Thursday!

What a Weekend!

Detail of a scarf made by Kate G.

Whew...what a weekend! Busy but fun. I took part in three events and had the chance to teach, demo and have great conversations. I even sold a number of copies of Fabric Printing at Home!

On Thursday, I taught three back-to-back "print your own scarf" mini-workshops at Stifel & Capra. What a great time! I had thirty students in total...and thirty very different and original scarves. Students printed with vegetables, hot glue on cardboard blocks and a number of my hand-carved Speedy Carve blocks. Here's a small sampling...

Thanks so much to Theresa Stifel for hosting the workshops and to my great friend, Laura Freeman for assisting me throughout the night (Laura...you're a rock star!).

On Friday night, it was Artfete, The Art League School's Open House event. There was live music, food, art exhibits, teacher demonstrations, a ceramics and a jewelry sale featuring work by teachers and students and even a fashion show! I had fun demoing and having people come by and make print blocks and print fabric (they could also print with my print blocks too). I had a number of my fabrics on hand to show and of course, books to sell! My wonderful friend, Kathy Scripka was helping me and schmoozing...getting people to sign up on my email list and even sold a couple of books!

Carving her first print block!

A fabric designed by a patron using some of my print blocks.

Saturday, I headed to the Artistic Artifacts Open House and Pop Up Holiday Market for more demos. The shop was "abuzz" with shoppers! Owner, Judy Gula, went all out with delicious goodies and the shop was chock full of its usual wonderful merchandise! The second floor had about ten or so vendors...each with uniquely crafted items. I couldn't help but purchase just a few things (especially some amazing Japanese silk and metallic thread hanks!).

My little demo board.

A sweet fabric designed by one of the vendors at the Pop Up Market

So...I'm tired but happy! I had a number of interesting conversations and made some new contacts that may lead to future teaching engagements...all very exciting! Hope you're enjoying your own "holiday happenings"!

Spreading Some Creative Cheer

Detail of a scarf printed with carrots and turnips.

I'm gearing up for a big end of the week! I have three events planned and if you happen to live in the Washington DC area, I hope you'll stop by and join me for one (or more) of them!

On Thursday, I'll be at teaching some mini-workshops at Stifel & Capra in Falls Church, Virginia. Sign up for a session of Kitchen Couture: Print Your Own Scarf. This is a great opportunity to take a printing workshop with me and walk away with a beautiful hand-printed scarf for only $10!!! I'll also be signing copies of Fabric Printing at Home. Pair the book with an additional scarf blank and you have a great gift for a crafty friend or family member!

I spent yesterday printing scarves in my studio. I'm going to have some veggies "blocks" available for participants, as well as hot glue, foam and carved blocks. I'll be demoing some printing "how-to's" and then you'll get a chance to play!

Here are some of the scarves I made.

Sign up for a time slot to save your spot.

On Friday night from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, I'll be demoing fabric printing at Artfete--The Art League School's annual Open House (Alexandria, Virginia). This is always a happenin' event...art exhibitions, demos, live music, food, jewelry and ceramic sales and even a runway show! Stop by my table and try your hand at printing. I'll have a number of copies of Fabric Printing at Home on hand and am happy to personally sign one for you!

Saturday, I head to the Artistic Artifacts Open House and Pop Up Holiday Market (Alexandria, Virginia). The event goes from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, I'll be there from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. I'll  be demoing veggie printing and other techniques from my book. Judy Gula will have copies of Fabric Printing at Home on hand...which I will, of course, sign! This should be great fun and I'm looking forward to seeing all the wonderful art and craft work for sale at the Holiday Market.

Hope to see you at one of these events!

November Stitch-In

Some new pieces by Barbara M-C

Just three of us for the November Stitch-In...Barbara, Peggy and me. But, as always, great discussion and sharing...and stitching!

Barbara is working on a new series of hoop pieces to hang on her pink wall. These are a combination of gelatin printing and block printing on a sheer fabric. Barbara backed them on white cotton and is starting to stitch details.

Peggy brought in a number of small pieces that she printed and is now adding stitched details. These will either be turned into individual pieces or stitched together into a larger wall hanging. She also brought in two new stitch books. The book, From Art to Stitch by Janet Edmonds looked interesting. The author creates stitched works inspired by famous modern painters.

I brought in some of my resist rubbing and stitched mats. I started hemming the one that is the featured project in this month's Julie B Booth Surface Design News (Issue #31).

Ann is out west visiting family. She'll be heading to Texas to visit with her granddaughter and foster great grandchildren. She sent me some photos today to share. She's just about finished with Buffalo Boy (click here to read about him). Isn't he great! I also love that his cape is stitched with encouraging words. Ann says that these are the qualities symbolized by the buffalo.

We had a extra special treat today...Barbara brought along the French embroidery floss and books that she used to sell in her wonderful little shop in London. She now sells some of these items online.
Peggy and I dove into the basket of floss...so many colors! Thanks Barbara for bringing them to the meeting and also for selling them for such a sweet price!

Looking forward to next month's Stitch-In!