All in One Word

The end of 2008 has arrived and I am thinking of my New Year's Resolutions, reflecting back on this past year and looking forward to 2009. Last year, some of my Beyond the Borders friends made One Word Resolutions rather than the traditional Lists of Resolutions. This year, I will again choose one word -- just one -- to be my focus, my guide, my mentor and reminder of the goals and dreams I have for the new year. I cannot explain this better than the original explanation by Christine Kane, so I have included it here. Thank you Janice for sharing the link with BTB today! Christine blogged about it again on New Year's Day of 2009. Read that post here. Be sure to read it through to the end as that is where you will find suggested "resolution" words listed at the end of the post.

So ponder deep and choose one, just one, to be your word for 2009. Feel free to use one of these words, or come up with one that is better, more appropriate for you and your own goals, desires, and dreams.

Which word did I select? I am still pondering -- I have a few more hours still to choose!

Three versions of Primo Star

My family gathered for our first family reunion in over 15 years last year on December 26, 2007. Here we all are: next to me are my brother, my sisters, my dad & stepmom.

Knowing that I wanted to make something special to commemorate this reunion, my Thangles buddy, Mary Beth Hayes, suggested I use her new Primo Star pattern and make quilts for everyone. While I am the world's greatest procrastinator and slow to finish projects, I decided to give it a try anyway .... and I did finish six quilts in less than 2 months time! ... well, six quilt tops, that is! These tops became the gift that I gave but also got to keep (to finish and then re-gift).

Here are three of the quilts, starting with the first one that I cut out. This one will soon be in Gretchen's home. She and Mary love it as it reminds them also of a dear friend who passed away last year. Her name was Sunni and she loved Sunflowers! I need only to finish the label before delivering it to them.


The second one that I made and finished has a longer tale. I pulled these colors out before learning that Doreen, my brother's wife, loves blue so decided this would be for her. But as I put on the final borders, I realized that the quilt was really more purple and blue rather than being shades of just blue, so I decided to make a second "all blue" quilt and ask Doreen to choose her favorite (my original plan was that the one not chosen would then be my quilt to keep!). She loves the all-blue quilt which is still waiting to be completed. Not to worry Doreen, I promise to finish it soon!


This blue and purple quilt is finished, however I am not keeping it after all. I learned on New Year's Day 2008, that my husband's brother loves blue and his wife's favorite color is purple. They also celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary this past summer, an event truly worthy of a special gift (especially since I didn't give them a quilt when they were married!).

I am excited to have this quilt finished and ready to give to Robert and Colleen, hopefully on New Year's Day, 2009.

The third quilt that I started and finished is this one in country reds. Many years ago, my niece Brandi had suggested red, white and blue as possible colors for a quilt for her mom, my sister. Since Brandi's husband Josh had served in the Iraq conflict, I decided to make Carole two quilt tops to choose between -- this one and another one of more vibrant and patriotic red, white and blue prints. Like Doreen, Carole was able to select the one she preferred the most -- a hard decision for her. Tommy helped out by insisting that he liked this one the best, so this is the one they will soon own.


Carole, now that I've got the photos taken and posted here on my blog, I will get back to packing your family's gift box. As my usual, I am running a tad behind and have yet to get your box into the mail, but I will do so before the new year officially is here. That's my plan today!

Dad and Mary, your quilt is still needing it's last border -- I keep changing my mind on which fabric to use for it. I also need to select and prep the backing fabric as well, but I've not forgotten that I need to finish your quilt.

My plans include making two more Primo Star quilts -- one for me to keep, as my memento of our Myers family reunion as well as a second one for a dear friend who is like a sister to both Ronnie and me. Should I mention who that person is here, or wait to see if others contact me, hoping I am referring to them? Stay tuned, I will keep you posted.

Mary Beth -- thanks for such a fabulous pattern! The Primo Star is available as a Thangles Project Pack (pattern packed with plenty of Thangles to make a King Size quilt). You can order it through the Thangles website or check with your local quilt shop. Here is a link to the shops worldwide that carry Thangles. This quilt does piece together fast and easy, especially using Thangles (click here for a video link). Let me know if you make a Primo Star quilt by sending me a photo or posting a comment below!

For a direct link to the project pack, click here.

the Last Two

I have been participating in a yearlong swap of arches with members of the Textile Challenges group that is led by my friend, Carol T. Taylor. While I ran behind almost every single month, I am so excited to announce that I have completed all twelve of my arches before the year is complete! Hurrah for me! an even louder Hurrah for everyone who participated in this swap!

My November arch is for Hannah Katarski of Australia. I decided to go with Hannah's suggested theme of Renaissance, using the rich and sumptious wardrobes worn by the royalty in those days for my inspiration. I call this arch "A Renaissance Abstract." I hope you like it when you see it in person, Hannah. If not, send it back & I will make another one for you (teasing!).


My last arch of this yearlong swap is for the person who sent me my very first arch -- Gillian Beadman in the U.K. Gillian requested trees, seahorses or all things relating to Egypt .... my original plan had been to do something along the Egyptian lines, but as you'll see below ... those plans have changed.


This is "Sea Critters" in progress -- I meant to photograph more of the layering steps, but I always forget to do the in-between steps ... maybe on another project. Above is the arch after creating the background: a multi-layered affair using foil candy wrappers, batik cottons, fibers, and assorted colors of tulle (from pale green to deep navy blue). After layering, futzing, and relayering some more, I added the seahorse which I cut freehand from a metallic green fabric then stitched down into place. Below is the finished arch, which looks pretty much the same except for the beaded&embroidered tiny goldfish, beaded airbubbles and embroidery outlining the sea horse.


Gillian, I hope you like your 12th arch! I did enjoy making it for you and it is now in the mail and on its way to your home.

Now I'll wait patiently for Carol T to finish my last arch -- no hurries and no worries Carol as I know I will love whatever you create!

an old trade and a new one

Here is my September arch for Kate N. which I call Out for a Stroll.

Kate's arch features a portion of an old Valentine card, assorted candy wrappers, sheers and sparkly voile fabrics, glass beads and fun stitching. I hope she is pleased with it!

Here is a view of the back. This is one of twelve arches I have swapped with my Textile Challenges group. Well, it's one of 10 as I have two that I am still finishing.

Below you may recognize one of my BJPs from last year, Cooler Days Ahead. This is going to Susan Lenz for her Cyber Fyber exhibit. This exhibit has three main components, one of which will feature all the fiber art postcards that she has received from her internet trade. If you are interested, there is still a little time to join her show, click here to learn more. I am trading for her postcard #223 in her second round of postcard trades.


Susan is also trading Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) for her gallery show. I have made Spirals especially for Susan and her growing ATC collection. I am trading for her ATC #139. Click here or here to see other ATCs that are still available.


On Saturday, January 17, Gallery 80808, site of the Cyber Fyber exhibit, is hosting an ATC Trading Day. I am sending in a few to trade (maximum is 3), including this one, Space.



Here is a peek at the back of my Space ATC.
I am keeping this ATC for myself, perhaps because it still needs a name.


If you are interested in the gallery's ATC Trading Day, mail your ATCs (no more than 3) to arrive by Jan 17, 2009 (include stamped & self-addressed envelope to cover the return postage). Perhaps you will receive one of mine!

BTB show extended

Our Beyond the Borders "Unifying Threads" exhibit at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft has been extended one more week. It will be in place through December 28. If you are in the area, be sure to come see it!

The HCCC gift shop has many unique hand-crafted items that may finish up the last of your holiday shopping too.

Cyber Fyber fun!

I've found a new internet inspired Fiber Art show, Cyber Fyber exhibit curated by Susan Lenz in Columbia, South Carolina.


CYBER FYBER is an exhibition of international fiber art scheduled for January 8th through 20th, 2009 at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios, 808 Lady Street in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, USA. The brainchild of Susan Lenz, this exhibit will focus on the supportive, global community of fiber artists with whom Susan regularly shares new techniques, contemporary approaches to textiles, and finished work by Internet websites and blogs. The exhibition will include three primary areas: Fiber ATCs (Artist Trading Cards); fiber postcards; and the work of several invited artists. The exhibition will also include FIBER DAY and ATC trading day. From the beginning, Susan Lenz is documenting CYBER FYBER on a blog/journal.

In Susan's own words:
When I first introduced CYBER FYBER on February 2, 2008 I had 163 Postcards and 130 ATCs. Before this time I'd never made an ATC and had only made seven or eight postcards for a few Internet friends as surprise Christmas presents two months earlier. I honestly thought it would take all year to trade this number but within six weeks all but about six ATCs were gone! I had to make another round of cards! As a result there are 267 postcards and 163 ATCs in CYBER FYBER. Most of the ATCs are gone. There are still postcards left....but WOW....the numbers are staggering!

Intrigued, I had to take a look and found both a postcard and an ATC to trade for. If you are interested in joining this show, take a peek at both the available postcards and the available ATCs. Remember Postcards measure to be 4" x 6" while ATCs are 2.5" x 3.5" Hurry as time is dwindling .....

"Cooler Days Ahead" is my piece that I have decided send to Susan, in trade for one of her fiber art postcards.


If you want to join this show, start by looking through the postcards/ATCs still available for trade, choose one that interests you -- then follow Susan's directions:
post a message at that postcard or ATC site stating "this is the one you want!" then email Susan directly with your snail mail. She will reply, letting you know you have made contact. Then simply mail your postcard &/or ATC so that she will receive your package in time for the fast approaching show.

Only one of each (postcard or ATC) can be traded, as this allows for a greater diversity of artists in the upcoming show!

wandering ...

Recently I wandered away from Houston ....

heading northward into bonafide winter weather!


I landed in the lovely town of Banff in the Alberta Province of Canada, specifically at the Juniper Hotel


Isn't this a lovely location for a wedding, an outdoor wedding?


Yes, it was a bit nippy -- but oh, it was so gorgeous!
I learned later that Elk were wandering by on the nearby frozen lake.