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!

Metal Play Day

Who says you can’t combine metal and quilting??  Yesterday, I trekked over to Faith’s house in Lodi, CA (remember the song about Lodi? LOL!) where Faith kindly shared with me how to etch metal.  It was FUN!!  I am hooked on etching now.  Here’s my first attempts:

Sorry for the blurry image, but this next one was handwritten quotes, then dipped in liver of sulphur for a nice patina:

The last 3 photos relate to my patina experiments:

Last up is a necklace in progress… I need to wax it, then assemble the necklace pieces together:

I hope you enjoyed the show… I am now loving this class since I have gotten over my hesitation of the new medium.

Last reminder….  I am currently offering a fiber art freeform scarf in my Fall blog giveaway.  Click on the link to win this:

Regards, Carla

Andi’s Quilting Sign

Andi asked me to help with a logo sign design for her brand new longarm quilting business.  After a few rough drafts, here is the resulting graphic artwork:

And here it is made into a sign on the window of Andi’s new business venture:

Pretty cool, huh?  From art to reality!  If you see this sign, drop by and say hello to Andi!

It has been a busy week in the studio… I’m making another scarf to replace the scarf I’m giving away.  I also have a new quilt I’m quilting, I’m writing a new tutorial, and I’m working on metal art class homework.

The homework is getting pretty smelly- I’m patina-ing copper by using chewing tobacco, ammonia, and vinegar.  I’ll show you what it does to copper in a day or so.  So, are you wondering how does a girl suck up the courage to go buy her chew?   Well,  I first tried to get DH to buy it for me, but he wouldn’t bite.  Then we bought a bunch of groceries, and when I got to the part where I ask the checker to get my tobacco, I told her why I wanted it.  She agreed it was a strange reason.  Then, I told her that it was a cover story for my DH’s chew habit, who was too embarrassed to buy it himself.   By this time, I’m not sure she believed me, but I was laughing and having a grand ole time.  DH may never bring me to the grocery store again, though.

Tomorrow, I visit Faith’s wonderful studio to work on etching metal and other jewelry projects.  Faith is a fun person to hang with, so I’m bound to have a good time.

Before I go, if you haven’t already, I’m having a free fall giveaway in yesterday’s post.  The lucky winner will receive an original Carla freeform crochet scarf in honor of my new tutorial:

Do something creative today!!  Hugs, Carla

Yet Another Freeform Scarf

Here is what I am working on:

I love the colors above.  Very cool, refreshing!  Obviously, my focal point yarn is the multi-colored yarn in the front.

Later this week, I have a quilting retreat to attend at Tahoe.  I love it especially since it will give me an opportunity to get to know some other quilters.  AND, there is no cooking- all of it is done for us!  Woo-hoo!

The focus of the retreat is “UFO’s” aka unfinished objects.  I do have a unfinished quilt that i would like to finish during this weekend.  I need to make lots of leaves that I plan to 3D out on the quilt, too.  This particular UFO is a remake of a wonderful quilt that Molly and I made a few years ago- AND which later took a Blue Ribbon and Best of Class at the state fair.  I really want to finish it so I may send it back east as a special present for someone who is retiring.

Hope your day is creative!!  Hugs, Carla

Inchies and Other Mailings

(Carla Note: blog contest details are here.)

How are you today! Thought I would mention all the goodies which have arrived to my studio recently.

Inchies, Inchies and More Inchies!!– I am running an inchie exchange over on MQResource, a quilting site. What are inchies, you ask?? Just see my inchie tutorial to learn more! Anyway, the inchies are trickling in, here are the ones which have arrived so far:

Don’t they look lovely?? Terrific job by all the artists above!

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Beaded Workspace– Next up relates to the freeform beaded necklace that I shared in my post yesterday. Quilter Karen A. asked me how do I keep the beads from going in all directions as I work with them? Here is a photo of my workspace that shows the piece of fleece/felt, the ceramic dish and other items:

You might be wondering why I have an antique key in the picture? I found it recently, so I’m planning to use it somehow. It is just sitting there for inspiration.

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Another Mailbox Goodie– My sister, Yvette, sent me an adorable Life is Good t-shirt from the New England East Coast region:

I love that Lobster!! Thanks, Sis!

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Don’t Forget! Before I go, I must remind you of my blog contest I am currently running until Sunday, August 17th, 2008 at noon:

The winner gets their choice of a lovely freeform crochet scarf, handmade by me! This is at least a $150.00 value (or was it $175?). I arrived at that price because that is how much that my friend and wearable artist Susan Italo sold it for when I let her wear one of my scarves at a quilt show. A merchant vendor saw Susan wearing it and decided she must own it!! Thanks, Susan, for your negotiating skills!

That’s all for today. Hope your day is creative! Hugs, Carla

More freeform crochet and Jack

Joe and I babysat Jack last night, and here he is crawling around on my quilt playing with toys:

and Yum!:

He is so blasted cute!! Of course, I’m biased…

Onto artistic endeavors… Watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics last night. The Chinese govt. really did a wonderful job on the show. Spectacular even. Shame they wouldn’t put the same energy and emphasis on human rights and individual freedom….. just my political thought for the day.

Since I’ve been in a freeform mood lately, here is another crochet scarf- this one has a focal point flower on the front

:

here is a closeup of the crochet:

That’s all from here…. life is quiet, which is a good thing.

take care, Carla

freeform crochet gallery

I have my own style of freeform crochet. Rather than create scrumbles, then sew the scrumbles together, I like to take my yarn for a walk, so to speak. I like all ways of doing FF crochet, it is just this is how I learned and it feels right to me.

I focus on color and texture, the relationship of the yarns to each other.

The very first freeform item I made was to wrap around a wire armature, creating a FF basket. I showed this the other day:

I moved on to scarfs from the basket:

I’ve made more scarfs than the above ones, I just can’t seem to find the pictures all right now.  All of the scarves I have presented as gifts or sold.  One was won in my blog contest.  My friend, Susan,  sold one off her neck at a quilt show when she asked to wear mine. (When I open my etsy shop, I need to ask her for marketing help!! LOL)

Next up, I want to make some scarfs to keep my neck warn this winter.  I think I need a freeform crochet purse, one that matches one of the scarfs.

Hugs, Carla