"Focus"

Happy New Year to one and all, near & far, friends & friends-yet-to-be!

Each year for the past 3 years I have selected a word to use as my focal point for the new year.  Friends in my Beyond the Borders art quilt group began this practice which originated with Christine Kane.  She calls it a Resolution Revolution (click here to read her 2007 blog about it, simply the best explanation).

In 2008, I chose Complete for my resolution word while last year I chose two words: Discipline and Release (click here or here to read my earlier posts).

It is the first day of the new year, and of the new decade ... time to finalize my word choice...and share it here.... drumroll, please .... my 2010 word will be:

Focus

I've selected Focus as my word to guide and redirect myself in this new year.  While I still need to 'release' more of my clutter and to practice more 'discipline' at keeping on task; I believe that I truly need to 'focus' while working on any project, whether it be in my studio or around the house (even folding laundry!).  Focusing on completing the variety of chores/duties/etc that calls for my attention every day.

The below is taken from the definition for focus as seen in Dictionary.com:

–as a noun

1.	a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity.

2.	Physics. a point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation, meet after being refracted or reflected.

3.	Optics. a. the focal point of a lens. b. the focal length of a lens. c. the clear and sharply defined condition of an image. d. the position of a viewed object or the adjustment of an optical device necessary to produce a clear image: in focus; out of focus.

Curious to learn that the Origin of focus is from Latin, 1635-45: fireplace, hearth -- as this is my ultimate goal, to focus positive energy and change in our home!

Yes, I do think that focus is a great word for me this year.  It is already inspiring new ideas for new quilt art pieces, or BJP pieces ...

Now it's your turn.  What's your word?

Yes, another Primo

I've been waiting for the last Primo Star quilt to arrive in Washington State before posting these photos.  Hope they have it by now!

Here is "Shades of Blue", the Primo Star quilt for my older brother and his family.  My sister-in-law loves blue, hence this many shades of blue used here.  It is the only Primo Star made strictly in one color. 

Perhaps I can share photos of Doreen and Garry receiving it or a photo of the quilt in its new home (on a bed or back of a couch?)  Allison, can you help me out with this one?  (hope so!)

Here are my willing and able quilt-photography helpers taking a break:

Helper #1 (the tall one)

Helper #2 (who is tall with the aid of a chair!)

Felting (2 UFOs)

I have dabbled in felting -- just a little bit -- this year.  The first was in a class with Gika Rector during the bi-annual conference of the Texas Federation of Fiber Artists (TFFA).  Gika taught us how to Nuno Felt, a wet felting technique that felts into a fabric base -- quite fun to do, and sadly I've only one photo to share.  My piece is here:

I used the three primary colors in Merino wool roving, trapping snippets of other fibers in the process.  My initial thought was to spin it into a color wheel .... perhaps I will felt it a bit more first....

Then, at this fall's International Quilt Festival (IQF), I was entranced by the ArtFelt booth.  They had a lovely variety of felted items as seen in these photos:

The samples are showing their many patterns and kits.  There was also luscious wool and silk roving.  I could hardly wait to get my hands on some of my own to play with!

I believe these shawls/neck-warmers are the inspiration behind my first knit scarf which was too short (click here to see that post).

 

Aren't these felted fabrics lovely?

Since Festival, I have played with one of their smaller kits, making a small purse for my cell phone.

This is the roving punched into the artfelt paper base.

Here it is after being felted.

The artfelt process uses a dryer to do the felting -- fast, easy and fun!

I've stitched the sides together ...

and added a little embroidery embellishment.

All it lacks is the final clasp or tie ... (yes, it is unfinished at the moment ...)

The year is winding to a close and I'm sharing two unfinished works in this post in hopes that I can get them finished before ringing in the new year .....

Happy Holidays!

Greetings from Austin!  I wanted to show the fun pine tree mantle runner that I made several years ago.  I travel to Austin every season to see how my stepmom has displayed it in the new year.  Sometimes it has her Christmas village arranged on top, but this year thers is the lovely red poinsetta-lights, and some of her angels dancing across it.

If you travel to Austin, Texas before January 3, 2010 -- be sure to visit the Legacy of Quilts exhibit, featuring antique quilts and more in the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, near the State Capitol.  It is Fabulous!!!! Amazing that it is only a small piece of the Joyce Gross quilt collection that was acquired by the University of Texas (click here for more on the acquisition) which contains over 170 quilts.

Click here for my earlier post about this exhibit.

Better still, take $7.00 and hurry over to this museum before Jan. 3rd!
This is a Must-See Exhibit for all lovers of textiles and antique quilts.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Another Primo

I've so enjoyed making the Primo Star for my family, that I cannot seem to stop.  Each quilt has been made in differing colorways -- perhaps I'll call these quilts my color study series?

I made this one as a wedding gift for good friends, John and Laura, who married this past August.  Yes, true to form, the quilt was not finished until after the wedding - but the happy couple has it in their possession now!  Yippee!!!

more Primo Star

Two years ago, my family all gathered for a reunion in Austin.  My gift to everyone that year was a quilt, making one for every household, all used the Primo Star pattern by Thangles.  However, none of the quilts were actually finished then, just the tops.  So it became the gift that I got to keep and give again.  Can you believe it has taken this long for all the quilts to be completed, with one small exception -- my own!  (not to worry, mine will be finished before 2010 ends).

This is "Ambrosia" made for my Stepmom as the Reunion was held in her home.

Don't you love the quilting?  The blue thread shows up so nicely on the black, and the lighting catches it just right.  Love that tongue of concentration as she admires her new quilt.

Everyone posing with Grandma and her new quilt!

Extreme Knitting

How many strands of yarn can you knit with at once?

Ponder your answer before you watch this YouTube video.

Amazing, right?

Here she is: Rachel John, extreme needlework artist/inventor/innovator from the United Kingdom.

Visit her website http://racheljohn.co.uk/default.aspx to learn more about Rachel and her exploration into extreme needle crafts.

I would love to visit her studio in Gloucestershire to see her work first hand and possibly take a workshop ..... 

I wonder if I am ready (as a beginner knitter) to try some extreme knitting .... or should I practice with a multi-strand scarf first?