Sunday, August 28, 2016

August 2016 Stitch-In

Susan P.

Well...I've certainly been away from this blog...my apologies! I've been busy contemplating the next five weeks...getting prepared for lots of classes and events (which I'll highlight in future posts).

Today was a nice respite...getting together for the August Stitch-In!

Susan P.: Cheese cloth and stitching.

Susan P. is continuing to work on her black and white squares...the series originally started in my Hand Stitching class... I just love what she is doing. Deceptively simple but effective compositions...only 4" squares...but can't you just imagine these larger?

Susan P.

Susan P.
 Ann Z. brought in her now finished piece from last month. It is so rich with the addition of many Running Stitches.

Ann Z: Finished piece
Ann is off for a two week trip to Ireland. She decided to start a piece called, "Pilgrimage" and will use it as a stitch journal during her travels. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Ann Z: Pilgrimage

Jodie continued on her piece from last month. I couldn't get a good new photo of it ...so here is one I took last month. I love all the patterns and textures and how she is using her stitches to integrate the two.

Jody F.

This was Helen B.'s first time at the Stitch-In. She just finished a piece based on a drawing of a map of Anchorage, Alaska. What a great idea!

Helen B.: Anchorage map
Helen B.: Detail

During the Stitch-In she began a new piece jumping off from a sterling silver pin design (which she inherited). She is planning to incorporate the pin into the stitched piece. This got us talking about jewelry inherited from mothers and grandmothers and how one might create pieces (of jewelry; of art) that would honor those precious possessions.

Helen B: Using a silver pin for inspiration.

Peggy G. brought in a piece that she started in a class at Artistic Artifacts...piecing a quilt top (or hanging) which used a batik panel as the focal point. Judy Gula, owner of Artistic Artifacts also owns Batik Tambal..and the shop has quite an array of gorgeous batiks from a number of Indonesian artists.

Peggy G.

Peggy is adding hand stitched details and plans to hand quilt it. Lots of hours of stitching ahead!

Peggy G.: Notice the stitched details (white on white).

I brought in two of my "swatch" books from the summer and continued adding stitching. I'll be sure to show you more about them and a book about my grandmother's sewing basket in a future post.

Julie B.: Swatch book about Cape Cod.

Looking forward to next month's Stitch-In!

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Images of Virginia Beach 2016


It's just over a week since I returned from my annual visit to see my friend, Laura, who lives in Virginia Beach.

It's always a special time for me...to visit with my friend. We first met at the local pool club when my son, Aaron and her son Nathan were babies. The two of us became close friends. I recently found photos from when Aaron and Nate were just under a year old. I also found some of the poetry that I wrote when Laura and I had regular writing get-togethers. Guess what I'm trying to say...is that my friendship with Laura runs deep.


During my visit, we spent lots of time outdoors on nature walks and cooling off in the ocean and the bay.


I got to admire Laura's flower garden...



And, of course, had the annual tour of Brian's vegetable garden.

These yellow tomatoes were SO sweet!

I enjoyed lots of yummy vegetable meals (and also some delicious meals out).

Sign on wall at the restaurant.

On the last full day of my visit, Laura and I spent some time printing fabrics. I can't believe that I didn't take any photos! She worked on a piece with printed trees that looked like hands that were lifting up a creature that was fish-like (again...how did I NOT take a photo of this!). She also started on a piece about her grandmother using lots of green (her grandmother's favorite color) and printing with Hibiscus...a favorite flower. I got involved in making another cloth book. I spent time printing the "edges" of things.

Laura and Lucy

On the last evening (at sunset), we went down to the ocean beach for a swim and a last walk...though Lucy, the dog had other plans...running off and greeting everyone on the beach!


Here are a few other things I want to remember...
--Cracking and eating my first crabs (I'm a lobster girl remember) at a surprise birthday party (for one of Laura's friends)
--Gorging on the most amazing home-made ice cream cake (I need that recipe).
--Riding bicycles with Laura and Brian at dusk.
--Watching a watermelon deflate (yes...that was an experience! It was rotting from the inside (unknown to us) and had a very slow leak. Laura inspected it...put it back down on the counter and then I watched it quickly deflate, leaking all over the place!)

Thank you my dearest friend!


Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Stitch-In July 2016

Ann Z: From her travels out west.

Just a quick post before I head off to Virginia Beach to spend time with my dear friend Laura.

We had a great Stitch-In this month. Lots of helpful (to me) discussion about upcoming classes. I was able to bounce some ideas off of Ann Z., Susan P., Barbara M-C., and Jodie F. ...especially about my new version of Story Cloth that focuses on memory. Thanks ladies!

Here are the pieces that were being stitched and shared at the Stitch-In:

Ann Z.: Detail. 
Ann Z. was working on a landscape. She fell in love with the red earth in Oklahoma from her most recent visit to see family.

Barbara M-C.: Bookmarks
Barbara brought along some stitched bookmarks using satin stitch...a stitch she learned while growing up in Hungary.

She also is continue to work on a "word-a-day" piece using some of her indigo dyed fabric.

Barbara M-C.: Word a Day
Barbara M-C.: Detail
Jodie brought along this piece...part of a series she is working on. BTW...Jodie is being featured in my upcoming issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News in a new section I'm calling, The Stitching Zone. The issue comes out on Sunday.

Jodie F.
Susan P. is continuing to work on her pieces from my spring Hand Stitching class. Aren't they fabulous! If you're interested in the taking the class this fall...click on the highlighted words above.

Susan P.: Using an unusual ribbon as inspiration.
Susan P.: Couching
Susan P.
Susan P.: Stitching over sheers.
I brought the book that I created at Cape Cod and some other stitched samples I'm working on for my Boro and Beyond workshop that I'll be teaching in October. I'll be showing you how to make the book in my upcoming newsletter (be sure to subscribe in right-hand column...if you haven't already!)

Julie: Summer Memories Book
Julie : Soap resist.
Julie: Printing with shells
Julie: Sample for Boro and Beyond.
Off for some fun in the sun!