Carla’s Free Blog Giveaway!

Having reached the first 1 Million visitors to Feathered Fibers earlier this year, I wanted to offer a free blog  giveaway.  Not only a giveaway, but a custom giveaway!  The winner will have their choice of one of the following, created just for them by me!

Prize Option 1: Peyote Bracelet- you pick the main color!  Here is an example:

or, Prize Option 2: Freeform scarf or bowl- again, you pick the main color!  See examples below:

        

or, Prize Option 3: Custom cartoon- created for you, matted and ready for a 8×10 frame!

or, Prize Option 4: Freeform Beaded Necklace- you choose the main color!  Below are examples of a freeform necklace and a freeform beaded pendant.

 

Entering this Free Giveaway is easy as 1-2-3 :

1. Post a comment under this blog post if you are entering (so I may keep track of  your entry) Share what prize you would want if you win?  If you want, you can copy any photos of the prizes if you would like to share them on your blog. Be sure to leave me your blog address, so I may verify that you followed my 1-2-3 rules.

2. Post a link back to my blog at either http://featheredfibers.wordpress.com or http://www.carlabarrett.com using my birdie art (below):

  (to copy, just right click and save as)

3. Last step- Post on your blog that Carla Barrett is having a free blog giveaway  and that Carla is holding another Quilt Whisperer Class on January 9, 2012, a creative class on quilting design for all levels of quilters.

That’s all you need to do to enter!  I get some exposure for my blog and class- and you may win a custom prize!  Contest ends on noon (PST) January 7, 2012, and the winner will be decided by a random number generator and immediately notified.  I will also announce the winner on my blog here, too.

Please note that the winning item selected will be made custom, so obviously, it will take me time to create. I do promise to be as timely as possible.

Good luck to you all!

Happy Holidays from Carla

Two Scarves

I am in a scarf creative frame of mind lately.  The first one is a scarf created in the Pixeladies Fabric Design with Photoshop Elements Online Class.  I started with a sunset view image looking out my front door, taken from this perspective:

, then, using techniques taught in the class, I created this scarf:

The font words relate to how I feel about my DH, Joe and our home.  I plan to tweak it just a bit more, then have it printed out in silk.

Interested in taking this class the next time it is offered?  Just leave a comment to be added to my online class interest list.

Freeform Crochet Scarf

My next scarf uses a lovely palette of colors and textures.  The technique used is freeform crochet and I happen to have a free tutorial HERE.  This scarf is about halfway done, and I plan to wear it this winter:

Won’t this look lovely when finished?  Stay creative!  Carla

Holiday Month

The holidays are right around the corner.  Is money tight this year due to the economy?  Here are some free tutorials I have that would make wonderful homemade gifts.

Microwave Potato Bag Pattern

If you appreciate using this pattern, which gets hundreds of hits per day, please leave me a thank you note.  Disclaimer: Use at your own risk and please note that I am not liable if you decide to use this free pattern and fail to read all the directions, follow them, and supervise your microwave.

Directions:

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Copper Bookmark Tutorial

For the reader in your life.  This is a beginning metal project using easily attainable materials from the hardware and craft store.

This tutorial does not have any disclaimers- except maybe to not hammer your thumb, or pull a muscle in your elbow.  LOL

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Mokuba Freelace Scarf

This is a fun project using a little known product, called mokuba freelace.   If you cannot find it, then substitute 2 sheets of water soluble, your favorite brand.

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Last Tutorial I will feature is my Freeform Crochet Tutorial.  This is a tutorial for beginning and advanced crocheters, but only if you purposely crochet in a haphazard manner and let your free spirit come out!

Freeform Crochet Tutorial:

This project is for any friend or relative.  Why not make one for yourself?

Have fun!!  If you try any of these, please let me know.  I offer them free because I love to share, spread good karma, etc.

If you are a quilter, be sure to check out my site, QuiltWhisper.com.   Happy Holidays to all!!  Hugs, Carla

Retail Therapy etc.

My shopping mission today involves finding just the right dress to wear to a wedding later this month.  I will admit that I rarely wear dresses,  so looking in my closet revealed some summer dresses, rarely worn, and lots of comfortable clothing- including a whole wardrobe for those times when I need to speak in front of a crowd.

No dress appropriate for a fall wedding though.  None.  So off I go hunting for a new dress today.  Any dress shopping advice is welcome though.

Other News…  Now that my class is finished, I am busy working on future class developments, plus working on my book, plus a new booklet.   I also plan to design some fiber/bead wearable art, maybe if I find just the right dress, I can design a cool art piece to match.

Also, I am making a new freeform  crochet scarf  using a wide variety of yarn.  Here are the colors I am using:

Of course, Oscar saw yarn and just had to get in my way:

Silly kitty!  What is it about cats and yarn?  Or cats and quilts?

Enjoy your day!!  Carla

 

Freeform Scarf-in progress

I have been busy of late.  Quilting during the day, and freeform crocheting at night.  I haven’t shown you any freeform crochet in awhile, so I thought I would show you a picture:

Here is a picture taken in the sunlight, which does tend to distort the color, but does show you the texture:

I tend to give most of my scarves away.  I even gave one away as a Grand Doorprize when I taught at MQS.

I have also been doodling some more…. but that is a future post.  LOL

Enjoy your day, I am meeting my DH for lunch today.  I think we will go to a dim sum place on this date.  Enjoy your day!!  Carla

Feathered Fibers on the Web

Many of my readers know I have a free tutorial page with lots of good stuff there.  I always love it when people use my tutorials and then link back to me.   Or see my work and want to post about it.  Here are some lovely examples of links that talk about my blog or my work:

April, from the Modern Mama blog, used my Fabric Storage Tutorial and I must say, I love how it looks on her bookcase. (Just click the link to check out her picture).  Here is my picture from my studio:

Crochodile, a blog from France, honored me by showing  a picture of my favorite freeform scarf along with some Freeform Crochet artist masterpieces.  Wow!  I am honored to be included, but since I cannot speak french, I sure hope she included it for all the right reasons… LOL  Perhaps a reader could translate it for me?  LOL  Anyway, just click on the link and scroll down until you see my piece:

Check out my Freeform Crochet Tutorial, too.

Tipnut site loves my Copper Bookmark Tutorial since they have featured it a couple of times.  Here is what it looks like:

Karen Griska, Selvage Quilting author, has featured some of my selvage projects on her fabulous Selvage blog. In fact, if you look on her right side table and scroll way down, you will see she has grouped all of them under both my name (Carla Barrett) and this site (Feathered Fibers).  Thanks, Karen!  Of course, I do have a mini Selvage Tutorial, too.

The talented Vicki Welsh has a fabulous blog feature called “Field Tripping The Web,” where she compiles all the highlights from other blogs, and websites that week. Vicki also has an etsy site, where she sells a variety of wonderful items including her stunning dyed fabrics.  I have several bars of her soap, and I highly recommend them.  They are especially nice if you sensitive skin, as well.  Anyway, in the current edition, she shares a link to my last batik quilt that I quilted for my friend, Molly seen here:

front side

back side

Last link I will share with you was for a jewelry design that I made inspired by a book on the Something Sublime blog by the talented Deryn Mentock.  This was a copper pendant and I was taking a metal arts class at the time.  This piece was made for the Mary Hetts Jewelry Challenge on Deryn’s blog:

I hope you have enjoyed  clicking on the links to some truly wonderful sites.  Regards, Carla

Beaded Bracelet and Freeform Scarf

I am in a beady sort of mood today, so I created this using peyote stitch bead weaving technique:

The swarovski crystal in the center will also be beaded, then added as a focal point.

I am also working on a new crochet scarf, this one is going to be a gift:

The cool color palette is soothing, isn’t it?  Here is a close-up:

In case you are interested, I do have a tutorial for how to freeform crochet my way.

Also been doing a little quilting each day, too.  I love creating and making things, I hope it shows.  I want to end the new year with a creative frenzy!

Btw, I am getting a very strong desire to take a lampwork making class.  I love the idea of making my own beads to use in my work.    I will try to withstand the pull….  Hugs, Carla

Leaving Sodus Point, NY

This is my travel journal from a yacht delivery trip of the Motor/Yacht (M/Y) Odyssey, a 75 foot Lazzara, which started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and ended in Bay Harbor, Michigan.- Carla

Hello to all!  I haven’t updated my post for awhile… the flu bug laid my sister and I low for about 5 days.  We are now up and feeling well once again, so life is good!  Even better- we just returned the rental car and plan to leave today!

Here are a few pics from our stay here in the marina (click to enlarge)   and (oops, the crochet one shouldn’t be in this grouping):

The mechanics are done, only some computer programming to do with the engines and the joystick.  This boat has the new feature where you can drive it with a joystick control.

Staying here a week, though picturesque, has been challenging.  It is a remote location and even the grocery store is far away.  I am glad that we were hit with the flu while awaiting parts and repair, it would have been miserable to be sick and working the locks.

Speaking of locks, tomorrow, if all goes to plan, we will be in the Welland Canal.  The Welland Canal allows shipping and sea traffic to bypass Niagara Falls.  Due to our time constraints, we will miss taking an extra day to see the Falls, visit the Niagara wineries, and obtain some ice wine.  Bummer!

Creative wise, I have only finished one item- a freeform scarf for my sister:

(click photo above)

I am working on some beaded items to share later.  Hopefully, I will finish at least 2 items before the trip ends.

More to tell you, life on a boat is very interesting.  I confess to being a bit homesick right now to see Joe, Baby Jack and home!  Big news at home is that Oscar got 1) a foxtail in the eye; and 2) bit by an animal in the hind leg.  He has been to vet 3 times this week.  Poor Oscar!

My favorite picture of Oscar

Hugs to you all, hope all is well on your end.  The Oydssey continues…….

WIP Monday

It’s beginning to look like Christmas here in the Northern California Foothills.  We’ve had snow the last few days, but it has melted.  Right now, it is starting to accumulate, so I’m hoping I can get a good picture tomorrow morning to show you.

Now that I have my batting, I’ve loaded and have started the beautiful Egyptian quilt.  Here is a picture to remind you:

I have one more quilt to do  before Christmas, the next one is for a friend’s daughter.

Then, my favorite (and only) sister, Yvette, is coming for a visit right after Christmas.  She shocked me by asking if I would help create her very first quilt- a baby quilt.  Once I picked my jaw off the floor, I agreed.  I’m still thinking of a easy quilt that would only take one day to piece…  Ideas???

Still haven’t finished my two freeform crochet scarf projects, been sidetracked by online Christmas shopping.  Remember that purple/blue/green one?  Susan Italo had a birthday on Sunday, and this scarf is earmarked for her:

Remember the Bella Bella book that was published last year?  Susan did some quilting for the author, so if you have that book, you can see her work.

So the big question of the day is….

Have you finished your Holiday shopping or not??  Do you procrastinate like me or do you have it wrapped and organized before Thanksgiving?  Something in between?  Do Tell!

WIP report

Time to share some of my work in progress.

Yesterday, Faith came over to work on our homework.  Of course, we got sidetracked, so we went shopping instead!  One of our stops was to my favorite bead store- the one with the infamous bead box that you can dig through for hours.  I bought silver wire in various gauges, I hope to make a new project after I finish my final class homework, that it.

Faith had a birthday the other day and so I am making a freeform crochet scarf in these colors for her:

Then I have another friend’s birthday coming up, so I’m making her this one, too.  I would say these are my favorite colors at the moment:

Since this is a WIP post, I will show you my last 2 metal art projects to turn in next week- both are from silver:

And here is an asian motif from the kimono quilt I’m currently working on:

The next two pictures are not WIP, but thought I would show them nonetheless.  Check out this delightful mini quilt, it was in the bag from Barb.  I’m hoping that was intentional and I get to keep it- LOL!:

Last up, I bought these outside the store from a charity to support Project Linus, which is a worthy cause:

What are you working on???   Hugs, Carla