Thursday, August 2, 2012

Half Chevron

My ongoing project this year is the Take a Stitch Tuesday challenge.  Here is my sampler of the Half Chevron stitch, featured in the nineteenth week of TAST-2012.  I've jumped ahead in my effort to catch up (and so I can post a link to the Pintangle Half Chevron page).  Click here to see the original challenge post about the Half Chevron stitch.


This is another fun stitch - though it was a touch confusing to learn as it has a few different steps than the Chevron stitch (look at my Chevron sampler here).  I love the geometric-ness of this stitch and the variable ways in which it can be layered.  I experimented with layering the Half Chevron onto itself (over lapping, back-to-back, face-to-face, and to make a frame).  I had more trouble doing a rambling organic version, but I think that was due primarily to my own preference for it's simple geometric elegance.

I am one week closer to being caught up (stay tuned for more posts as I catch up with the stitches featured between weeks 6 and 19).




Take a Stitch Tuesday is an annual challenge hosted by Sharon B from her website Pin Tangle. Click here (for the beginning of the 2012 TAST Challenge).   Join in anytime for a year of fun stitching ....or follow the many participants (found in the comment section in each challenge post) to see where our Tuesday Stitchings have taken us....

OR
   
You can follow me on my blog.
Click TAST to see all of my stitch samplers.

If you enjoy embroidery, or wish to learn more about many stitches (from the history to a step-by-step how-to) be sure to look at Sharon B's Stitch Dictionary.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

on the road...

You can find inspiration for quilts in many unexpected places ....


such as the rear view of the truck above.  I wonder if this driver is aware of the interesting pattern created by the truck's load ... what do you think?


          Two color ways,
                    two different stripe patterns,
                              endless possibilities!


May you also be inspired by sightings made during your summer wanderings!

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Chevron Stitch

My ongoing project this year ... TAST = Take a Stitch Tuesday.  The featured stitch from the sixth week (yes, I'm racing to catch up -- at least a little bit ...) is the Chevron Stitch.


The Chevron Stitch is an easy stitch and so very geometric, yet fun to twist into a freeform style too, although I kept to a fairly tame meandering as you can see above.  My favorite version is to stack the stitches (the blue above).  Click here to go directly to SharonB's Stitch Dictionary, Cretan Stitch entry. Click here to see the original challenge post on the Pintangle blog.


Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST), is an annual challenge hosted by Sharon B from her website Pin Tangle. Click here (for the beginning of the 2012 TAST Challenge).   Join in anytime for a year of fun stitching ....or follow the many participants (found in the comment section of any featured stitch post) to see where our Tuesday Stitchings have taken us
OR   
You can follow me on my blog.
Click TAST to see just my stitching posts.


If you enjoy embroidery, or wish to learn more about many stitches (from the history to a step-by-step how-to) click here for Sharon B's Stitch Dictionary.  


Sunday, July 29, 2012

Albert Einstein

When I started stitching my earliest "Take a Stitch Tuesday" pieces, I decided to make a stitchery-roll (my version of SharonB's original "For the Love of Stitching Sampler Band" - click here to see her's in an "on-going project state").  Then I came across this quote by Albert Einstein, and I knew it would be the first 'extra' to be included in my short-but-growing stitchery-roll.




I admit, I was surprised how long it took to stitch this short quote!  But here it is, finished, photographed and ready to be shared with you (and eventually sewn to my growing roll).

Now I must select another 'extra' to add to my stitchery sampler.


P.S.  Click here to see the beginning of my stitchery roll.  Click here to follow my ongoing stitch samplers for this year's TAST challenge.

Friday, July 27, 2012

a new "Call for Artists"

Copper Shade Tree has featured fiber artists and their creations every February since 2007.  I was honored to be included in their first two fiber art shows featuring Beyond the Borders, my art quilt bee.

Time has come to think about entering "The Art in Fiber 2013" , a juried show.  More exciting news:  the juror for the 2013 show is the one and only Karey Bresenhan (one of the founders of the International Quilt Market and Festival, among other accolades).  

Check  http://www.coppershadetree.com/ (Copper Shade Tree's website) for details on submitting artwork.  "A View from my Window" is the theme for this year's show with a deadline of Sunday, October 13, 2012 to submit art by.


Hmmm, I wonder if I have time to create a new and impressive piece to enter this year?  Or rather, I wonder who will be juried into this show?  I can hardly wait to see (especially if it includes me) .....



P.S.  My very first blog entry talks a little about the first show.  Click here to read that long ago story of mine ....

Friday, July 20, 2012

Texas Quilt Museum

An enjoyable day-trip from Houston (or Austin or San Antonio or other locales in-between) is to La Grange, Texas.  Why, you might wonder?
 To visit the best little quilt museum in Texas, of course!

Texas Quilt Museum, La Grange, Texas
This museum opened in 2012 and is located in the heart of La Grange in a beautifully restored 1890s building (originally a furniture store).  It is simply wonderful.  I visited for the first time recently and now am wondering what took me so long. 

The exhibit I saw with my friend is the third installment of "Texas Quilts Today" featuring quilts from Lone Stars III.  I wish now that I had not missed the first two exhibits of the quilts from this book. I may have to go back to see this exhibit again before it closes on September 30, 2012.  For more information, the museum's website is http://www.texasquiltmuseum.org

After soaking up the visual eye candy of these wonderful quilts, you may be hungry for lunch. My favorite lunch spot in La Grange is Weikel's Bakery.   I love their sandwiches and always take home a loaf of fresh bread (or two)!

As you head for home, you may enjoy a stop at All Around the Block Quilt Shop in Giddings (they have a fabulous fabric selection and patterns and notions too) or Copper Shade Tree Gallery in Round Top (they have "a delightful collection of decorative and functional crafts, all handmade by Texas artisans").

I hope you enjoy your day-trip as much as I did.  I'm already planning a return trip .... soon!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Herringbone Stitch

Where does the time fly to?   I finished this piece ages ago, even took the picture some time back, but I am just now getting it uploaded to share with you....

At long last, here is my Herringbone Stitch sampler, part of my ongoing (perpetually behind) Take a Stitch Tuesday challenge.


This stitch was featured in the fifth week of TAST.  I enjoy starting off with a classic simple Herringbone, then test it with a meandering wandering style.  It is fun and will be a nice addition to my growing stitch repertoire.  To learn how to do this stitch, please click here (a direct link to Herringbone in Sharon B's Stitch Dictionary - a wonderful resource for all stitchers!)


Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST), an annual challenge hosted by Sharon B of Pin Tangle fame.  Join in anytime for a year of fun stitching ....or follow the many participants (found in the comment section of any featured stitch post) to see where our Tuesday Stitchings have taken us.  Of course you can always follow my sporadic work here on my blog -- click my TAST label to cut straight to my posts.

If you enjoy embroidery, or would like to learn more about the many stitches (from their history to a step-by-step how-to) click here for Sharon B's Stitch Dictionary home page.  She has compiled an amazing compendium of information and fabulous photographs!