Down the Dyeing Path - Comes Home

My little quilt came home today after much adventure.

Down the Dyeing Path,
a quilt I made in 2012

was used in an instructional video on
iquilt.com

The course is 
Full Spectrum Dyeing by Cindy Lohbeck.

What a compliment it was when Cindy contacted me last summer and asked if she could use my quilt in her video.

This picture is from the preview of the class and there is my quilt,
 Down the Dyeing Path,
right there!!

The inspiration for the quilt came from a fabric dyeing class at my local quilt shop by Cindy.   The class was Hands on Hand Dyes and I did the Full Spectrum Playgrounds Kit.  I had never dyed fabric before and loved doing it.

Cindy makes dyeing fabric so easy and is a great teacher.

Now you can take her class at home!!
(You know I will)

Cindy took the quilt on a promotional tour for her class 

and

now it is back to hang in my sewing room.

(No more adventure) lol

Welcome Home.

Thank you, Cindy, for taking such good care of my quilt and for the opportunity to see her on the big screen computer. 
 What a beautiful treat and honor!

I made a huge (to me) quilty purchase yesterday, so between the quilt coming home and my soon to be announced purchase,
 I'm calling this post my Friday finish!!!!!!!!!

Oh the suspense....lol

Swiftly Fly the Years - Project Quilting Season 6 / Challenge 2 - Sunrise/Sunset

Several years ago I came across this exciting way to challenge my brain and creativity

in quilting.

Kim at Persimon Dreams hosts Project Quilting.

She announces a challenge and you have one week to create something quilty.

Prizes can be won and it's a great way to meet new blogging friends.

Season 6, Project QUILTING, Challenge 2 - Sunrise/Sunset

The Challenge:

Sunrise/Sunset

1. Your inspiration for this challenge is Sunrise/Sunset.   Use what inspires you…the colors...the images...the things you do at this time of day.’
2. Your project does not need to be a traditional quilt, but must meet at least one of these requirements:
   1. Include patchwork.
   2. Include applique.
   3. Have 3 layers stitched together by hand or machine.
3. Your project must have a name.
4. Please remember that these projects need to be created during the week of the challenge.
5. Link up your FINISHED challenge piece to the linky bySunday, January 25th, 2015, at noon

Whoo, just made the deadline...

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the challenge was 

The Fiddler on the Roof

and

one of my favorites! When I was in elementary school we performed some of the songs from The Fiddler on the Roof  and I can still can remember most of the words to the songs. (I just don't sing out loud anymore..) lol

I used my snow dyed fabric as the sunrise/sunset fabric because I always thought it would be perfect for such a quilt.

It's only taken me 2 years to cut into this fabric.

Link to the dyeing process.

The pattern is my own.  The suns were heat appliqued and then cut in half and sewn back together.

(I had added a 1/4 inch at the bottom of each half circle so when they were sewn back together they remained round.)

Then I blanket stitched around the designs.

The roof and chimney are raw edge applique and the fiddler is part applique and part thread painting.

Painting with thread - his bow and the neck of the violin.
I liked the way the blocks looked set on point.

The quilting is freemotion echo on most of the quilt.  The inside of the suns are a swirl design.

The above picture is after the quilt was washed.

BUMPY GOODNESS...my favorite part.

Swiftly Fly the Years

Sunrise/Sunset Challenge 2–Project QUILTING - Season 6

Made by Carla in Dodge City, Kansas

http://www.createinthesticks.blogspot.com/

Size:  48" x 48"

Patchwork, Applique, Thread painting
Freemotion quilting 
Fabric - cotton hand dyed

You can see all the other challenge projects and vote for your favorites starting at noon central on

January 25th

by clicking 

HERE.
(If you voted for #64 before Friday, January 30th, 2015 it would be so nice.)

Labeled and ready to hang on my wall. 

This one is mine.

(I can't let go of the fabrics)

Home and Heart - Flags on a Stick Blog Hop

 

 

With the arrival of spring, it's time to get outside and make our outdoor space ready for

warm entertaining.
 

(The calendar says spring is here.... )

The weather thinks otherwise.

 

 

Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt created a blog hop called "Flags on a Stick" where everyone is to design their very own garden flag.

 I signed up to make a flag
and
hubby jumped on board to make a couple of garden flag poles for me.
:^)

 

A great big thank you to Thearica over at Pig Tales and Quilts for organizing the blogs participating in this hop.

She has done a great job!

Home



Welcome to Duck Creek



 I made this flag to welcome guests to our home.

It represents our home with the cowboys (Dodge City)

and

the ducks (Duck Creek surrounds our home).

 

 

The background fabric is a piece I snow dyed that looks just like a Dodge City sunrise.
Black Kona fabric for the silhouettes.
I wrote the word welcome in chalk at the bottom and then covered the chalk lines with jute twine.
The twine was couched with zig zag in a matching thread.
I put a little fabric glue on the ends of the twine to keep it from fraying.

 

The cowboy sihloutte is my husband's pattern
that he cuts from metal.
There were some very narrow cuts for fabric, but I love the result.
I will have this pattern available soon.

Heart


My daughter is going to be married in October this year.
As the mother of the bride, I'm very happy for her.
I'm also a little sad.
(Is that normal?)
I suppose it is kind of like "empty nest syndrom" in a different kind of way.

 

 

I used this dress as part of the fabric for my next garden flag.

Don't worry, the dress had a few stains and wouldn't have been useable in any other way.

I'm not usually a saver of things, but I have a few special things from when my kids were little.

This is a surprise for her.

 

Wedding garden quilt.   "I Do"

 

We can wave this flag to greet guests at her wedding.

 

 

Then later, it will make a sweet wall hanging for her home.

 

 

 The bride's dress is fabric from my daughter's little dress. 
I used the lining and the lace overlay.
The wedding colors are to be purple and lime green.
Hubby, once again, made the flag holder
and I designed the pattern for the flag.

That is my home and heart.

Be sure and check out the other waving flags of the day.
There will be some beauties with this bunch, I assure you.

April 1st

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Quilt Doodle Designs

Buzzing and Bumbling

Why Knot Kwilt?

Creatin' in the Sticks ME!

Meadowbrook

 

Thank you to the sponsors of the hop,

Flags on a Stick

and

Flag OUTLET

And
thank YOU for visiting
Creatin' in the Sticks.

 

 



Howdy Partners - Welcome to Don't Let the DOOR STOP You and She Who Sews Blog Hop

Howdy, partners.

 

Welcome to my spot in the
 

She Who Sews
And
Don't Let the DOOR STOP You
Blog Hop

 
2 Blog Hops in 1

 

 

We are having a
Door Stop
Rodeo
Here in the Sticks!

Every rodeo has sponsors.

Thank you

Madame Samm
and
Quilting Treasures

 

 

First up:

 

a little pre-rodeo entertainment
for all you buckaroos

 

 

Remember our Rodeo Queen, "So Last Year?"

 

 

Now she's stopping doors with a new attitude.
But, her reign as Miss Duck Creek is over.

 

It's time to crown a new

"Miss Rodeo"

to stop

that Duck Creek door.

 

Burlap Duck

 

Made of burlap and canvas with Kona fabric wings and pearl bead eyes.
 

Yep,

she represents Duck Creek much better.

She'll block that door with her aquarium gravel stuffing

and plastic canvas bottom (the plastic canvas is inside).

Her free motioned feathers will delight
all

"Duck Creek Rodeo"
fans.

 

Now for the Main Event:

Ride 'em, Cowboy!

 

*The crowd cheers...*

cowboy silhouette in burlap and felted wool

 

Sometimes, sitting on the fence is the best way to see

the rodeo.

The "Main Event" is made of burlap (canvas behind) and felted wool with a rope handle.
The handle will make it easier to move.
 

This contestant had never played with wool before.

After cutting and appliqueing with it,

she'll be back for another round, for sure.

 

Putting burlap and wool together...love

 

This one is heavy with aquarium gravel and will keep a door in place,

especially in a

door stop rodeo.

Once again, hidden inside on the bottom, is a piece of plastic canvas to keep it nice and flat.

 

 

During intermission
count on our
 Rodeo Clown
aka Molly
 to

entertain.
 

Some clowns steal the show.

(If I lay down in front of the photographer, maybe she will rub my belly...)

 

 

Pull up your boot straps.

Yee-Hawwwww

 

It's time for the

Grand Finale.

 

 

cowboy boot door stop in teal fabrics

 

 The door won't hit you when you have a

Cowboy boot

holding it back.

 

The lighter teal fabric was a treat from For Quilts Sake.
The darker teal fabric was a treat from Dye Candy Fabrics.
The brown for the boot sole is, once again, Kona solid fabric.
You can find the pattern, here.  I did modify the pattern a bit (it was for a pincushion) and added the decoration.

I used decorative stitching from my Janome for the top of the boot and
stuffed it with Aquarium gravel and fiber stuffing.
 



western door stops for a rustic room

Perfect door stops for my "Dodge City" bedroom.

Go west

and visit my

Compadres

 

 

February 3rd

Why-Knot-Kwilt
 
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
 
Marjorie's Busy Corner
 
Shepody Mountain Crafter
 
Lydsfire Sewing
 
Creatin' in the Sticks You are here!

 

 

The complete schedule for this 2 for 1 hop is here.

 

Don't forget to cheer for these creative blogs!
A kind word will make some one's day.

 Please say a prayer for Linda J
who has had a loss in her life.
Thinking of you, Linda.

 

 

Check out all of the Door Stops:

 

 

 

 

Happy Trails, to you...singing.

(you should be glad you can't hear me)
That other, other lady made me think I should be singing
as I was thinking of her and her cattle crossing when I decided to post this...
 

Our neighbor's bull in our yard.  I wasn't going out to take a picture.  He's big!!

 The bull stops here...
On hubby's newly planted grass.
Free fertilizer ;)
 

 

 

Peace and Harmony

It's so exciting to post "Peace and Harmony."  This quilt was created for the "Let's Twist to the 60's with Batiks" blog hop. 



Peace and Harmony Quilt

 Welcome to my stop on this magical mystery tour. There have been some trippin' projects in this hop and it has been my favorite hop to participate in, so far.  Color is my THING!!  Batiks are a favorite of mine and I was born in the 60s, so this hop just seemed to click with me.    Madame Samm created this hop and Mary put the organization to it and I want to thank them.

Peace Sign Free Motion Quilting

I've always been a fan of the artwork on the Grateful Dead albums and used that as my inspiration for this quilt.  It's kind of tie dye meets pixels in batiks.  I think of it as color harmony in a twist.  I will work up the pattern and share it later. It's 72" x 90" double bed size.  Update:  THE PATTERN IS NOW AVAILABLE AT CRAFTSY.

The quilting is at least a million a lot of peace signs free motioned in a mixture of sizes on my Janome 6600.  This is the first time I used different thread on the front than the back.  The thread on front is variegated cotton and the back is white poly. 

A look at the back

Once I figured out the tension, it worked like a charm.  I never realized the difference having a pieced back would make.  The white fabric needed a little less tension than the peace sign fabric.  I had to change my tension in the middle of stitching some of the peace signs to keep the threads from showing.



Love, Peace, and Daisy Hill Forever Jayhawk in Lawrence Kansas



This quilt traveled with me to northeast Kansas (5 hours) and had it's picture taken with a Jayhawk in Lawrence, Kansas.  My son was the photographer and posed the quilt.  I'm not really a Kansas University Jayhawk fan (unless it's basketball season), but it was a perfect shot.  Thank you, Randy!

 

Thats not all, of course.  My twist on words... a batik project called "Peas and Hominy."  You can never have enough Pot Holders, right?  I'm pretty sure pot holders were used in the 60s.



Peas and Hominy

Another twist - not the dance - I tried my hand at dyeing my own batik fabric and made a little coin purse from a 1960's pattern.  I adorned it with a button and a charm I found at Hobby Lobby.

I will try making a batik again, but with a little more planning on the designs for the fabric and colors.  It was fun to give it a go, though.  I'll keep you posted on all the trials and errors...

Here are the other far out blogs participating today:

October 1

Gracie Oliver Arts

How ART You?

Creatin in the Sticks That's me.

Sew Peace to Peace

Meadowbrook

 

Please spread the love and visit them.

I'm so sad to see my days of listening to 60's music and watching 60's inspired movies come to an end.  I loved researching for inspiration and working with the beautiful fabrics.  In fact, I want you to have some 60's fun too.  How about a giveaway...

Just leave a comment and you have a chance to win these fat quarters of batik fabric and your very own peace charms.  If you are a follower you can leave me another comment saying you are.  That will give you 2 chances.  The winner will be announced by Monday October 7th.  Anyone can win, just make sure I can e-mail you...



Wishing you Peace, Harmony, and Love,

Linking up with:  Amada Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts 

 

 Leah at The Free Motion Quilting Project

Snow Dye Fabric and a Fabric Postcard

Yesterday was spent dyeing fabric with a snow melt method and today was spent playing with the fabric. 12 fat quarters of lovely.

Fabrics Hand Dyed with Snow Method

Here are pictures of the process. Hubby and I had a blast and the results were amazing.  The kit is from Hands on Hand Dyes.  We used the Playgrounds Snow Dye Kit.

 

After soaking the 12 fat quarters of fabric in soda ash, the fabric is gathered up and sat on a prepared platform.

Snow is packed on top of the fabric.  That is snow from our yard.

 
The fabric dye is then "squirted" on the snow.

 

 

 

The snow is then allowed to melt into the fabric.  It takes several hours.

 

 

 





Once the snow is melted, the fabric is rinsed in hot water.

 

The fabric is washed in the washing machine, dried, and pressed.

 



Now to have fun with this beautiful fabric.



Fabric Postcard

I made my first fabric post card and I used some snow dye fabric.  This will be sent to Kisha in Arizona. 

Kisha, has stage IV terminal breast cancer and my niece has started a card shower for her on facebook. Here is the link -  Cards for Kisha.  I don't know Kisha, but it sounds like she could use a little lot of love sent her way.  Please take time to send a card if you can.  Wouldn't it be cool if she ended up with bags and bags of mail?  I'm so proud of my niece for her support of people in need.

 

Prayers for Kisha,

 

Linked up with:

Crazy Mom Quilts

      Horrific Knits