Cross Stitching: Another Fun Aurifil Blog Post

Interesting Information: April 4, 2021

Cross Stitching: Another Fun Aurifil Blog Post

Way, way back in the day, when some of my cousins gathered at my Reynolds, Georgia, grandparents‘ home for summer visits, the girl cousins started cross-stitch projects from kits available locally in this small rural town.

Later, as a young married, and occupied with two small children, I returned to making some cross-stitch projects at night. These projects pre-dated getting a sewing machine and beginning to sew garments and, for one Christmas, what were probably my very first quilts. These “bedspreads” were just big squares that were layered and tied. I don’t even remember what I layered them with—but they were really heavy and warm and around and about both Falls Church, Virginia, houses we had for many years.

Cross Stitching, like the quilting I eventually discovered, has “taken off” in terms of complexity. And who knew that Aurifil makes a kind of twisted “floss” that is so pretty—much like the size 8 perle cotton I like.

So, if like me you were not aware of where cross stitching has gone, enjoy the eye candy on this recent Aurifil blog—which contains an interview with “Susan” that features both cross-stitching and some quilts.

There is also a link below the interview to information on the above-mentioned Aurifil “floss” threads—which are just pretty to see.

https://auribuzz.com/2021/04/02/little-quaker-abc/

Aurifil Cotton Floss

“Bright Trees” and Spring Wood Walks

Turkey Tracks: April 3, 2021

“Bright Trees” and Spring Wood Walks

This neon-bright quilt is off the long arm and has its binding installed—and I now have some hand-sewing for night tv watching. I quilted with a medium dark rose color that helped “knock back” some of the neon brightness and chose a similar binding color, a solid that I had in my stash.

I love having this machine set up with a walking foot installed and where there is plenty of couch and an extra table to handle the weight of a quilt that is getting its binding installed or, even, being grid quilted in some way.

We have had some rainy days, sure, but spring is…springing forth. The woods are clear of snow and ice now, and AC and I have been out these past two weeks enjoying long rambles through the woods. The early spring air is so energizing.

AC has remembered that he loves water and what he calls “swimming.”

And I don’t know who enjoys these outings more: AC who is delirious to be outside in the woods or me watching AC being delirious.

The ground cover is “greening up,” and the early bulbs are “up,” but there are no leaves emerging from trees or plants yet. Soon. My cold frame, seeded last fall, has lettuce plants showing they are sprouting.

Water is pouring off the hills, and though I have shared this particular stream’s activity in most years, I will so so again, as it is both joyful and peaceful.

This particular stream has water most of the year, which probably means there are springs involved further up the mountain.

AC turned 3 in late March. He has settled a lot, but he will always have a lot of energy. If not for AC, I would not be getting the kind of extended exercise that clears my head, restores my soul, and just puts everything in my day into a really good perspective.

Virtual Tour of Nancy Crow’s “Riff” Quilts

Interesting Information and Quilts: April 2, 2021

Virtual Tour of Nancy Crow’s “Riff” Quilts

I forget now how this information about this exhibit and history of Nancy Crow’s “Riff” quilts came into my social media, but I was immediately drawn to these quilts for several reasons. One is that while I knew Nancy Crow was an early creator of the turn quilting took toward art quilts and innovative “riffs” on traditional quilting back in the day, I had not connected her work to either what we now see often in “modern” quilting or to more recent quilters like Maria Shell, the Alaskan quilter who won a major prize at this year’s Modern Quilt Guild show, Quilt Con. Or, to Tara Faughnan, who is the featured designer in Sewtopia’s online class The Color Collective. Or, to Timna Tarr. And I’m sure there are many more current quilters Nancy Crow has influenced—including all the students working with these clever teachers.

Crow’s “Riff” quilts were on display at the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska, until the end of March 2021.

Crow’s originating idea was started with remembering some railroad tracks from her childhood. Then she went deep with her explorations of those images, and her progression is seen in the way these “Riff” quilts were hung.

Maria Shell has been a student with Nancy Crow. Here is the quilt that made her a top winner at the 2021 Modern Quilt Guild’s Quilt-Con show this year: “Mosh Pit @the Golden” quilt. So you can see where Nancy Crow’s work has influenced and inspired other quilters.

And here’s a link to Maria Shell’s blog where she talks about creating “Mosh Pit”:

https://talesofastitcher.com/2018/02/17/mosh-pit-quilt-riot-stitched-anarchy/

Enjoy!

“My Splice” and “Trees”

Turkey Tracks: March 31, 2021

“My Splice” and “Trees”

“Trees” is on the longarm—mostly because I need another night time hand-sewing project. Though, I should confess, I can fall back on the EPP project that has been underway for several years now. But, it is a hard project. Sewing binding is more soothing.

This quilt is SUPER BRIGHT, for sure.

But…cheerful.

And I have finished and hung “My Splice,” a project from this year’s Color Collective class with Tara Faughnan—hosted by Amy Newbold’s Sewtopia. I wanted something I’ve made for this spot in the living room, so I made a wall hanging rather than a larger quilt.

I quilted with 12-weight Sulky cotton, with a Tulip Sashiko needle AND had a lot of fun using different color threads.

The corner where I hung it had an old opera poster—Turandot—that was looking faded and stodgy. “My Splice” has certainly brightened up that corner of the living room.

Here’s one more:

The April project will arrive online tomorrow.

Ah, anticipation unfolds strongly today. The fabric is already here and is very pretty.

Giovanna McCarthy’s Knitting

Turkey Tracks: March 29, 2021

Giovanna McCarthy’s Knitting

Giovanna McCarthy is a master knitter.

She stopped by the other day to bring me this beautiful shawl/scarf, which I will treasure forever.

She said the pattern is meant to embody ocean water rolling out over the beach sand at its edge.

The outer darker edge is deeper water, with a curvy wave line reflected in the work. The water color fades to a lighter blue as it grows more shallow, and, then, there is the foamy water at the edge where the wave spreads out over the sand.

This piece is a work of art from an artist! Wonderful!

Thank you Giovanna!

Sewing Justice Sewing Academy: Beginnings

Interesting Information: March 28, 2021

Sewing Justice Sewing Academy: Beginnings

Linda Satkowski sent me this interview article featuring Sara Trail and her formation of the Sewing Justice Sewing Academy (SJSA), and I hunted down the link so I could share it as this story about Sara Trail and the SJSA formation is so interesting.

Aurifil threads is a sponsor of Sara Trail’s Sewing Justice Sewing Academy, and they have a really nice blog. I signed up for it and am getting their interesting and informative posts.

Enjoy!

https://auribuzz.com/2021/03/26/sjsa-beginnings/

An Orchid Story

Interesting Information: March 27, 2021

An Orchid Story

AND, here’s another fun story—sent to me by local friend Marsha Smith.

“Our daughter in FL always looks forward to her cattleya orchid blooming every year. She has to time it just right to pick the blooms before the iguanas eat them-Look at the picture and see the iguana coming down the tree to get it as she is cutting it. Think they must smell them. The orchid has grown all over the tree.”

And here’s the beautiful bloom, now saved from the iguana.

Thanks Marsha!

A True Maine Story

Turkey Tracks: March 26, 2021

A True Maine Story

Wendy from wendysquilting.wordpress.com sent me this piece of Maine history written by Heather Cox Richardson about 10 days ago now, and I so enjoyed reading it.

I think you will too, especially if you are a Mainer.

The Maine birthday is earlier in the month, but it is still March.

Wendy’s blog is so interesting too. Wendy is a Canadian and lives near the US border on the “other side” of Lake Superior. She is an artist when it comes to her longarm quilting, for sure. And like me, she is a quilter who loves to piece.

Enjoy!

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-14-2021

Betsy’s Latest Baby Quilt

Turkey Tracks: March 20, 2021

Betsy’s Latest Baby Quilt

Betsy Maislen has been steadily quilting all winter up in Vermont.

I think she has completed 4 or 5 baby quilts in recent years and at least 3 this winter. Plus, she just made a BIG quilt of her own design that will be gifted soon—it’s out at the longarm quilter’s at the moment.

I love this pin wheel block quilt she made—and this is the second one of these. What I especially love is the star print background behind the pinwheels. I think that is a Cotton+Steel print. Anyway, it just makes this quilt sing, don’t you think?

Betsy has a really good eye for combining fabrics—very different from mine—and I always enjoy seeing what she has done. There are other blog posts here of her quilts, if you care to explore her “eye” choices.

I smiled when I saw her backing—and she sent me a piece of it too for my stash, which was fun. I sent her something in return that I hope will be fun for her too.

She got me into trouble a week ago when she sent me a picture of a fabric print she loved. I wound up ordering YARDS of it for a backing. But more on that later…

Meanwhile, have a great weekend!