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

Paper Bead Necklace

This weekend, I decided to make a bunch of paper beads, the turn them into a lovely necklace:

I love the colors in this necklace… they are some of my favorites!

By the way, making paper beads are very easy.  It is a fabulous way to recycle and reuse. Here, they are drying out and hardening:

This color combo remind me of the beach.    One day I hope to live near the beach and collect things.  It would be my daily ritual.  One can dream….

Fiber Pendant Necklace

I was digging through my beading boxes and found this little gem:

 This is a painted fiber bead wire wrapped pendant with beads and fibers.  Kumihimo necklace finishes this simple, yet cool fiber necklace.

I have been quilting, also working on some bead projects this week.  I have been slacking in the creativity department of late, so I thought it was time to get inspired!  Look for some interesting items coming up!

I want to know where this week went and who took it?  Why does time fly by so quickly?   What is your theory?  Hugs, Carla

San Jose Quilt Museum

The Northern CA/NV Studio Art Quilters Association (SAQA) quarterly meeting was held yesterday at the San Jose Quilt & Textiles Museum.  It was an inspiring and fun day for those in attendance.

I really enjoyed hearing our guest speaker, fellow SAQA member Joan Schulze, who discussed her inspiration and how she intertwines poetry with her fiber art.  She also gave us a walking tour of her works, reading poetry and discussing that the art represented what was going on in her life when she created the pieces.  She was very gracious to our group.

The Museum also gave our group a behind the scene tour.  I enjoyed seeing the next show being organized and put together.  I was amazed by how much work goes into a show.

I discovered an interesting artist, Meg Hannan, who does fiber millefiori jewerly pieces and sells them in the museum shop.  Of course, I couldn’t resist buying this pin:

The carpool drive to  San Jose and back was just as fun!  We had lively discussions about politics, art, and a million other topics!  Thanks to Jenny Lyon for driving.  Jenny is an amazing sit down machine quilter and fiber artist.  Her wearable art is simply amazing!

That is what is so wonderful about SAQA N. CA/NV… the other members do amazing work, plus they are so down to earth.  Everyone is so friendly and accepting.

This is the sort of day you drive home with your head full of designs and techniques.    You really want to just go into your studio and create!

How has your week been?  Hugs, Carla

ipad, iphones, i oh my!

Wondering where I have been?  I have been enjoying my new ipad and enjoying all the features.  It does so much!

Sometimes I can be a blond without trying very hard.  Today, I lost my iphone, luckily it was found by a good Samaritan, who called Joe.  In case you are wondering how I lost it, it fell out of my purse, which doesn’t have a zipper closure.  I now have a very good reason to go buy a new purse… LOL

Speaking of retail therapy, I bought 2 pairs of Privo shoes today.  They are very comfy, too.  I also bought some camisoles that you wear under low cut shirts so you can control not showing too much boobage.  Not a good look on anyone over 50….  LOL

Tomorrow is a fun day!  I’m traveling with my Studio Art Quilters Association (SAQA) group to the Quilt Museum in San Jose.  We get a special tour.  I bet my face hurts from all the laughter.  They are a fun bunch of gals!

That’s it!  I need to QW and draw on some quilt pictures now.  Hugs, C

Feathered Fibers on the Web

I thought I would share some sites which posted something about my blog, my work, or had something nice to say.

First up is Dorothy Miller’s blog, where she has a post titled, “Taxes, yuck! Carla Barrett, YEAH!!!”  I am so glad I ranked higher than taxes, whew! that is a relief!  Anyway, Dorothy drove many hours to attend one of my classes in Northern CA, and she talks about her experience prior to class.

Dorothy’s next post after taking my class is titled, “Carla Barrett”s Quilt Whisperer Class.”  She talks about her experience both in and after class.   I invited her home with me to show her some tricks in person.  I warned her my studio was a mess, but she didn’t mind and even took a picture of what my studio looks like after I finish a big product.  LOL

Next Feathered Fibers mention is on Barbara Chainey’s blog.  Barbara blogs about the post I recently wrote about her stencils and work.  While you are there, be sure to check out the stunning corded and quilted quilt she shares…  inspiring!

Vicki Welsh mentions my recently finished guild quilt on her blog, Field Trips in Fiber. Vicki compiles all the interesting items she comes across on her internet blog feeders into a weekly column called “Field Tripping the Web.”  As an FYI, Vicki also makes and sells some wonderful soap, which I use all the time.

Cold Feet Quilter, Deb H., mentions one of my many tricks for working with wonky quilts on her blog.  Deb, I hope you found it useful!  In case you were wondering, Deb lives in Alaska and also does fiber art.

Judy, from the Apron Strings blog,  took up one of my challenges and converted thrift store sweaters into useful, decorative items!  Here, she made her husband felted wool slippers and a camera case.  In this post, she made a cute Tea Cozy.  Kudos, too, for Judy’s wonderful tutorial on how to make felted wool mittens.  Terrific job, Judy!!

Talented Machine Quilting Teacher, Kim S., mentions on her blog both my Quilt Whisperer Class and my Quilt Whisperer Yahoo Group.  Thanks, Kim!!  By the way, if you want to talk about quilting design and life, you are invited to join my Yahoo Group.  The link is above.

Craft Detective shares my free Copper Bookmark Tutorial and even shows a great picture that looks based on my Tutorial.  Great job!:

Timber Hill Thread’s Angie has lots of visuals on her post where she mentions dusting off her bamboo tablet and practicing what she learned in my Quilt Whisperer Class.  She even shows off a QW example I did for her in class.

Emma from Sampaquita Quilts in Australia says that I inspired her gorgeous feathery design.  Thanks, Emma, you did a fabulous job.  Be sure you look at her quilts while you are visiting her site.  Good stuff!!

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Thanks for all the links!!  Hopefully, this helps to share the love back at some recent sites linking to me!!   If anyone blogs about me, my work, or my blog, please drop me a message so I can return the favor.

Regards, Carla

Thrift Store Finds

I visited my local thrift store this week, and found a couple of finds in the clothing department.  Since I am down a couple of sizes, I wanted to pick up a few items without breaking the bank.

I found this lovely top by SweetPea, a brand carried at Nordstroms, which looks very flattering on:

It looks terrific with jeans, too.  The next top I found was from the Serenade brand:

Again, this is very flattering on- even better since it only  cost me $1.50 each due to a half off sale.  LOL

I also found a book for my DH by a favorite author; and also a retro pyrex dish.  All in all, a good day!

I love hunting for items at the thrift store!  I guess it is the recycle/reuse philosophy I have, or perhaps the thrill of the hunt?   Any others who feel the same way as me?  I know you are out there!  LOL

By the way, the thrift store is also a perfect place for craft supplies.  One of my favorite projects I did involved buying a couple of those long “teacher” dresses that were in style about 15 years ago  and cut them into strips of fabric.  I then crocheted them into a large bag or purse.  Of course, I have a tutorial for that here.  You could also wrap the fabric around cording and make a fabric bowl for your home or perhaps a rag rug.  The ideas are endless!!

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:

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

Thrift Store Shopping

OK, I just can’t help myself, I just have to go hunting to find just the perfect old sweater to use in my challenge.  In case you missed it, here is the link to my challenge:

I will be looking for a variety of items, but my main goal is to find sweaters to felt, and sweaters to unravel.  I will report back and let you know how I did and whether my hunt was successful.

To change topics, I met with my local quilt store (LQS) yesterday and scheduled 5 classes I will be teaching in Feb-April, 2010.  3 are project classes and 2 are design theory classes.  If you live in Northern California, check out my classes at High Sierra Quilters.  They should be up on their website soon.  If you visit their site, notice the quilt on the main page.  That is a quilt I quilted about 5 years ago, and was auctioned off for $5,000.00.  It is now hanging in a private installation.

While I was there I purchased some lovely batik fabric to strip and make into a LARGE crochet bag for myself.  Most of my fabric crochet creations have been medium sized to small.  This one will be larger, so wish me luck on figuring out the pattern as I wing it.  Oh yes, I do have a free fabric crochet tutorial for you to see.

Now I’m off to create something, anything.

Recycle/Reuse & Other Crafty Tutorials

I went web surfing this morning and found some really interesting and cool tutorials to share with you.  I have organized them into various craft areas below.

Fabric Jewelry

Stiffened Fabric Jewelry by Sister Diane

Stiffened Fabric Jewelry Tutorial by Sister Diane is found on the CraftyPod blog.  Lovely fabric jewelry, I plan to make some soon.

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Artist Kate Cusack’s Zippered Flower

Zipper Flower Tutorial on Craftster by Eli-chan.   Also see artist Kate Cusack and how she uses zippers in her amazing work, too.

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Louis Vuitton Knock off Fabric Bead Necklace by Froo*gal

Louis Vuitton “knock off” Fabric Bead Necklace Tutorial by Froo*gal- Great tutorial!

and here is another one:

Fabric Beads Necklace Tutorial– Julie Hardee  on the Martha Stewart site.  See the video, too.

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Terrific Necklace by Mixi

Fabric squares Necklace Tutorial by Mixi- Another great Craftster tutorial.  I really love this website.

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Mixed Media Projects:

by Diane Gilleland

Soda Can Flower Brooch Tutorial-by Diane Gilleland on the Craft Stylish Blog.  Quench your thirst and be stylish- all in one wonderful tutorial!

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Stacked Button Necklace and Photo by Kayte Terry

Stacked Button Necklace Tutorial by Kayte Terry.  This tutorial makes me want to pull out my button collection and play!

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Recycle/Reuse Jewelry Tutorial- How to make Shrinky Dink jewelry out of  recycling #6 Plastic.

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Scrabble Tile Pendant Tutorial by ihow.  (note by Carla- the website is no longer up and operating.  Google “scrabble tile tutorial” for more information.)

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That’s my list for today.  I do think that the lovely crafts above should get you plenty of ideas for being creative in 2010!  Hugs, Carla