Focus On Fiber Retreat -Part 2 - Color Swatching, Discharging Dye, Shibori Wrapping, Permanent Pleating

We started our first day of class by dyeing color samples of various colors with Procion MX dyes.



These are the colors we chose to sample. They are still wet in the photo.



Our next project was dyeing silk scarves with the dyes we had mixed and sampled.
We wrapped and bound them and squirted 3 different colors of dye on them.
After we let them rest for a while we bound them again, a little tighter this time and they were submerged in a pot of black acid dye.
After another resting period there was more binding – tighter this time.
We then submerged them in a pot of Thiox to discharge some of the color.
After a short time in that pot we took off the binding and rinsed them. They are really awesome.
These are just a few of them.



After lunch we had our choice of things to do.
Here Linda, our instructor is showing one way to do a shibori wrap on a pole.
Several of the class members chose this activity.

Linda is showing Barbara how to use the pleating machine.

For my afternoon activity I chose to pleat this 8 inch x 2 yard piece of sheer polyester.
I will be adding a color or pattern to it during one of our next exercises.
After working so hard, a group of us retired to one of the cottages for snacks and beverages and “girl talk”. It was great bonding and sharing evening. We didn’t even need dinner after all the snacks everyone brought.

Sentimental Journey

Recently I have had some wonderful experiences connecting with long lost friends and relatives I haven't see for years. The connections have been made with and without the aid of the Internet.


This is Threads Through Time. As I worked on it I felt a strong connection to my paternal grandmother. I thought about the similarities between the two of us and our differences. During the holidays I was looking through old photos and found photos of each of us at the same age. We could have been twins! I had never made that observation before. My grandmother also sewed and made quilts.
I have recently reconnected with 5 cousins who share the same grand parents. I had already had connected with several others. I now also know how my 2 surviving aunts who are 93 years old are doing.


Through The Years makes me think of friends who I had lost track of and recently made contact with. This includes high school friends, college friends, first job friends and quilting friends. These groups included friends I hadn't been in contact with for as much as 50 years. What a thrill to find them again.



For years I attended Jinny Beyer's Quilting Seminar on Hilton Head Island. For the 10th Anniversary of the seminar I designed the signature block and facilitated making this quilt top for Jinny. I made many friends through the seminar. As we all lead busy lives we lost contact over the years. I have reconnected with so many of them through Facebook.



This Lady Of The Lake quilt is significant because when I returned to Florida this year a long lost friend started talking about a lake in our area. I drove to the lake and also became interested in the history of our part of Florida. I am now reading the history of our county. We still have some "Old Florida" within a few miles but it is rapidly disappearing. Perhaps the current economy will help to slow down the disappearance of the natural beauty. We can hope.

I have so enjoyed reconnecting with everyone. Some nights after finding someone during that day or evening I am so excited I have a hard time getting to sleep. These connections are making my life much richer.


Recently I posted about the Quilt Art Altered Art Playing Card exchange I facilitated. After the post I heard from several of the participants. The cards for this puzzle are some of the ones I made for the exchange.

The Pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow!

Today was a beautiful day for a walk.



The 70 degree temperature was ideal. There was just enough of a breeze to keep me cool.
This is my pot of gold at the end of my rainbow as I reach the half way point on my daily walk and then turn around to return home.

Another beautiful day in Paradise. Life is good!

Quilting Natural Florida II - more birds

These are the final bird photos from the show. There were a lot of other wonderful bird quilts but my photography left a lot to be desired so I won't be showing those!

Egrets by Maureen O'Doogan

Happy Together, by the Lovin' Spoonbills by Susan Slaton

Roseate Spoonbills by Sally Pierce Freeburg

Rosy and Bill by Rebecca Douglas

Roseate Spoonbills makes a beautiful puzzle.

Quilting Natural Florida II - Flamingos

I don't think there is a more recognizable symbol of Florida than the flamingo. I am featuring the flamingo quilts from the show on this post.


Fla. Mingo is by Beverley Hilton from Gainesville, FL. She has used a variety of techniques to achieve this iconic Florida quilt.


Flamingo was made by Mindy Marik from Brookville, Ohio.



The hanging of the show was very impressive. This section contained the bird quilts.

The adventures of Judy and Kay or another beautiful day in paradise!

After a very leisurely morning enjoying the perfect warm weather with a gentle breeze we went to the Market of Marion which is just a few miles away.
It is a typical Florida flea market. It has a few antiques and collectibles, a lot of fresh produce and the usual assortment of STUFF that you can find at Florida flea markets. T shirts, knock off purses, painted wine glasses, Harley stuff, luggage, dollar stores, fresh strawberry shortcake, fudge, cheese, clothing, Mexican imports, puppies, tools, eyeglasses and magnifying glasses, golf carts and golf cart accessories, plants, rugs, yard flags, paintings and frames, contractors who will paint your driveway, build you a screen room, tile your floors, craft items, peanuts, candy, and that is just the beginning.

People come from miles away to visit Marion Market but for us it is just a few miles away. Sometimes the traffic backup to get in stretches 2 or more miles. Welcome to Florida during snowbird season!!!!!!!!
At the end of this month we will start seeing the gradual departure of snowbirds.

Judy and I each bought 3 glass pendants and we got a free ribbon when we purchased 3!
It was a fun girl thing to do. We did our little bit for the economy.

We came home, had lunch and enjoyed the weather again as we caught up on each others latest news.

For dinner we went to The Villages. The parking lots were super full but we found a parking space after less than 10 minutes! Every third Saturday there is a car show at The Villages and tonight was the night. It is a fun activity but we missed it as we had to wait in line at a restaurant and didn't get out of the restaurant until 9 p.m. At 9 p.m. they roll up the sidewalks in The Villages and everyone disappears.
It was very crowded tonight as it is spring break and many people have visiting children and grandchildren. Spring break, perfect weather and the car show and it was one of the biggest crowds I've seen there.

My sister Connie said she thinks every senior citizen in the area goes to Wal Mart at 11:30 a.m. as she had to drive around for a half hour to find a parking space when she visited us. (This is the top selling Wal Mart store in the country}. Well Connie, I have news for you - they were ALL at Spanish Springs Town Square tonight.



One of my favorite quilts representing Florida is Mary McBride's Snowbirds In a November Sky. I've seen this in person and it makes a statement that we all can relate to here in FL. Humorous and so true to life!

Tonight's puzzle is another quilt, Three Dimensional Rainbow, I designed in Corel Draw but never made. It actually could be pieced quite easily with strip piecing. The 3 dimensional construction would not be easy.