As 2012 Rolls Into 2013…………

2012 has been a good year for me. I hope it has for you too!

It has been filled with family, friends, home, creativity and color.

How can I choose pictures for this post without writing an entire book?

FAMILY

No additions or subtractions in my immediate family. I’ve enjoyed spending time with my sons, daughter in laws, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family.

 

FRIENDS

I have had a chance to reconnect with long lost friends again this year, make new friends and enjoy the many friends in my life.

HOME

I made a lot of changes in my home in Wisconsin this year. I was able to find several pieces of “New To Me” vintage Scandinavian furniture on eBay. With them I’ve added storage and been able to reorganize my studio and my living spaces. Of course my home is always a work in progress for me.

 

CREATIVITY

I dyed yards and yards and yards of fabric in Florida this past year. Each piece is a surprise and a delight when I remove it from the dye pot and wash and iron it. 

I also finished quilts. Some were started in this calendar year and others were started at least 15 years ago.

I also enjoyed time spent painting fabric and canvas.

I enjoyed creating some things both with recycled fabrics and some of my painted fabrics.

 

I enjoyed knitting a variety of things, learning as I created.

I am looking forward to 2013 with anticipation and I hope you will be a part of it.

Tying One On–Again!

I made a second set of tie pillows. I used some of the same ties and added others. The diagonal log cabin blocks are a perfect design to showcase the luxurious tie fabrics.

These were also gifts for members of my family this Christmas.

I think they will work well in their homes.

The ties are silk and the center fabric and the backs are men’s wool suiting.

Pillow Talk

If you have been following my blog you have seen these fabric paintings before. I had no idea where I was heading when I painted them, nor what I would do with them.

I made perfect pillows for the loveseat with them.

I used Pellon Fusible Fleece as the batting and quilted them along the grid lines. Since the fabric was very firm because of the painting they were very easy to quilt.

I used some Marimekko fabric I had for the backs and put zippers in them.

I simply inserted a pillow form in each one and zipped them shut.

It’s great how something as simple as changing the pillows can give a room a fresh look.

As I was ready to take the picture of these my camera battery died so I used my phone for the pictures.

The colors are really lighter and softer than what you see in the picture.

Merry Christmas

My colors of the season!

Visitors To My Blog

According to NEOCOUNTER I have had 200,003 visitors to my blog as of December 24, 2012 at 10:19 p.m. CST.

 

According to Google statistics I have had 321,969 visitors to my blog in approximately the same time period.

Pageviews last month

10,966

Pageviews all time history

321,969

I guess they each count differently.

Don’t know how a math teacher would accept these figures that are so far apart!

Tie One On–Or Maybe Two!

I’ve had the idea to make these pillows for several years. I finally did it!!!!!!!!!

They are made from men’s silk ties and wool suiting fabrics.

I have a “ton” of ties and this hardly made a dent in the collection!

Please don’t tell anyone about these as they are a gift for someone who doesn’t read my blog.

“Coconut Ice” Potato Chip Quilt

Cassandra Philpot has taken my directions for the Potato Chip Quilt and made it her own. I’ve lost track of the number of Potato Chip quilts she has made.

 

She’s used soft colors with just enough contrast and accent to make a great quilt.

Her use of two spacer squares between each strip adds color contrast and value contrast.

The narrow inner border with the diagonal inserts is another detail that enhances the overall design.

This still is one of the fastest quilts you’ll ever piece.

You can find the instructions at:

http://quiltspluscolor.blogspot.com/2011/04/sunrise-sunset-quilt-tutorial.html

You can also find more ideas for variations at:

http://quiltspluscolor.blogspot.com/2011/04/potato-chip-quilt-what-ifs-and.html

It’s so quick and easy you still have time to make one for a Christmas gift!

12/12/12 Twelve Tea Tables–Part 2

I thought it was interesting that this hostess found a round printed Christmas table cloth that just covered the top surface of her table.

A red Christmas table cloth always is attractive.

I loved the way this hostess used a red band around each chair and then repeated it on the table top.

This table also features layers on tabletops but done in a different unique way.

The tablecloth round topper adds a touch of glitter to this table.

The hostess who set this table always does a lovely dramatic table. It is one of those that the more you look at it the more you see.

This is a closer view of the centerpiece that extends beyond the center of the table!

I hope these table gave you some ideas of things you can do with your own table at home or for a party.

You don’t have to do things in as much detail as these tables show. Just using one of two ideas can make your tables special.

I hope you enjoy another CHristmas puzzle!

12/12/12 Twelve Tea Tables

I may be a day late reporting this, but it took place on 12/12/12 at our community center.

Each table is set by the hostess for that particular table.

There is a theme for each tea and each hostess interprets it her own way.

The tables are all set with white cloths and white chair covers. The hostesses may or may not add layers with other cloths and decorations.

In this picture you can see part of the decorations the hostess has done on her chairs.

May of the hostesses uses chargers under the plates, although this is not a requirement.

This hostess really layered her table with a table cloth, place mats and chargers!

To be continued – either later today or tomorrow – It is taking me too long to edit the photos and I DO have to do a few other things!

BIG Gridded Painting

This is almost the size of 3 of the smaller gridded paintings.

You can see the entire color progression on this full view.

Again, it was done on a fabric previously painted with Seta color paints.

How Great Thou ART!

I am continuing along the art path with these gridded paintings. The more of them I do, the more possibilities unveil themselves.

This came next. I am still using those pieces of fabric that had been previously painted with the Seta color paints.

I used a different type of paint for these 3. I found it easier to use for the most part.

I know what I am going to do with these three but I’m not telling!

I really really really like this direction the painting is taking.

Thermofax Screen Printing

I am doing more fabric painting.

These are pieces that have been previously painted.

I added some Thermofax screen printing to give another layer of pattern to them.

These will be used in future compositions.

While the painting supplies are out I am doing a lot of different things and enjoying each one.

These screens are my own original designs.

Gridded Paintings–Day 2

This is the first layer of painting I did on another piece that is similar to the first grid I did.

This is what I started with.

This is the final layer.

I also did a second piece that was smaller.

This is the first layer of paint on the second piece.

This is the piece with a second layer of paint – really a third layer as I started all of these from fabric that had already been painted with Seta Color.

This was cut from a larger piece. You can see what it originally looked like by looking at the piece on the left.

I am enjoying doing these paintings, but I will have to switch gears in a few days as I have some things with high priorities to finish.