It's Been A Long, Long Time...

Cannot believe so much time has elapsed since my last posting....so what's been keeping me so busy?  At little thing called Life!

Amazing how time just slips away from you when you're having fun exploring all your fascinations.  But then reality steps in and shakes you, hard.  Before beginning this blog, I was a banker, then a mortgage officer, and then...March 2007 changed everything.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac became insolvent and no one was getting mortgages.

Undeterred, I made an interesting career move - asset recovery for a pharmaceutical company as a contractor.  Enter the economic downturn of 2008 and not only did my contract end but my manager, also a contractor, lost the concession held for 15 years.  Retirement #1.

Now my back up retirement plan was to be a Notary Signing Agent which would allow me to control the hours I worked and do the things that interested me - like this blog.   Sadly, when no one can get a mortgage, there's precious little work for NSAs.  So between 2008 and 2011, I puttered along, finally getting a new job in the medical field.  Things moved along swimmingly until....the practice was sold and my department was taken over by the new owners.  Retirement #2.

Since 2014, my notary business picked up substantially and has kept me solvent.  Increase business meant limiting the time I can spend on this blog and my other fascinations.  That's about to change....Stay tuned.

Been Gone A Long Time.....Redux

Apparently, it was decided that taking the summer off was a much needed respite from the normal routine.  Not much was worked on or completed, but much was learned.   While quilting has not been a primary pursuit, it seems to be where the most time has being spent in the last year.  No fewer than three quilt shows have been attended... Pennsylvania's Quilt Odyssey [August 2009 and July 2010] and Virginia's Quilt Fest [February 2010].  All have been inspiring to expand my knowledge for the most part.

Specifically, a project that has been noted here previously - the quilting of a duvet cover - has been completed!!! And a new skill has been acquired.  Despite owning a late model sewing machine, several attachments to aid in the quilting process, the equipment proved inadequate for the size of the project. A long-arm quilting machine with the harness to mount a queen or king sized quilt was needed.  There were dozens of professionals willing to take on this project but at $.025/inch, the cost would have become prohibitive.  So the search continued for the owner of a long-arm quilting machine willing to rent the machine to a neophyte.

Behold! There is such a place.  A designer in Newtown, PA [Karen Thompson] recommended a shop in Burlington, NJ, Ole City Quilts [http://www.oldecityquilts.com] to be exact.  They conduct classes on their two long-arm quilters ("Hoss" and "Miss Kitty") and each is available to rent by the hour.  A three hour class netted practical application, a test quilt and a finished project - two pillow covers that are a gift for my sister.   As luck would have it, one machine was available that same afternoon and the duvet cover was in the car.  Three hours later, the duvet cover was completely quilted by one very excited neophyte!

The finished duvet is reversible with a napped band that looks darker on the quilted side and lighter on the jacquard patterned side and  has matching pillow shams.  Floppy flanges on the shams were dealt with by adding cording.  Sewed some velcro strips at strategic spots to the insides of the duvet and down comforter so it stays in place very nicely.  Without the comforter inside, the duvet works well in all seasons.  I especially like the idea of having two looks with one piece.  Nice not having to keep space free to store stuff!

What Can I Do Next.....?

Where have I been and what have I been doing?  Pondering many things, dear ones.  Seems I need to reorganize the "stash", which is currently hole up in numerous cupboards, drawers, chests and boxes.  Lord, how did I acquire so much?

My sister and I share tales of our respective stashes and find frequent review of our holdings, just to make sure nothing gets overlooked or lost, is necessary.  This practice has a delightful fringe benefit....inspiration for something new.  Case in point, last year, she and I took two road trips in which we visited many delightful shops and made multiple purchases each.  I uncovered one such purchase of threads that was surely destined for something spectacular but somehow this packet of threads has gotten separated from the original project.  Ah, well, they'll find their way into something at sometime, right?

What's New?

Its been a very long time since I have successfully sewn a garment that turned out as planned.  That, Dear Reader, was my sister's wedding dress in 1989!!  The pattern she chose was just right for her.  That she actually found the exact fabric shown on the pattern envelope's photo was serendipitous to say the least.  Princess-style bodice with an organza over blouse embroidered in three dimensional flowers with seed pearls and a background of embroidered leaves.  One selvage edge was scalloped, the other a drape of emboidered leaves - the latter made a perfect finished edge for the full  sleeves that were gathered just above the elbow.  Covered buttons with closely spaced loop closures at the top and along the the under-bodice opening were encased by a row of paired embroidered leaves that bordered the opening and terminated in the center of the front boat neckline with a spray of embroidered leaves.  A full skirt, in a matching creamy peau de soie,  had motifs of the embroidered flowers and leaves just above the skirt hem.

Probably the most fun I've had making anything.   To have it turn out so well and the bride be so happy with it was more than I could ask for.

What's Up Next...?

Well, boys and girls, I've been looking into restringing a knotted Jade necklace inherited from my mother that is in several lengths due to damaged silk cord.  Have had this piece salted away until I could master the  knotting of silk cord that separates each bead.  The knots are used to prevent loss of expensive cultured pearls or other precious/semi-precious beads.  The test project came courtesy of my local Embroiderers Guild of America Chapter [EGA] using fine silk cord knotted between fresh water pearls. The pearls are copper with a corresponding cord.  The technique is rather simple and the tools are few - my kind of craft - your fingers and a pair of needle nose tweezers.   I found the work can be tedious for the beginner but diligence will produce a rhythm much like any needlework where the motions are repeated over and over again.   With a bit more practice on inexpensive supplies, I should soon be ready to attempt restringing the lovely Jade necklace above.  Especially since I've found a supplier for the silk cord.



Decided to cut to the chase and ordered a drawing plate for finishing the Viking knit from my last post from an Etsy vendor - great site that.  Lots of brilliant artists doing all sorts of stuff.  Displaying, selling, etc.  If I ever get to the point that I finish ANY of this stuff I'm working on, maybe.....

The drawing plate arrived in short order and was put to work compressing and lengthening the bit of "knitted" wire I'd completed.  Used 28 gauge wire which was finer than the 24 gauge recommended in the tutorial I was following but as the results were for the most part

favorable, I found the whole process rewarding.  I'll try using the recommend gauge wire next time along with the 20 gauge wire for the connecting rings and clasp.  The bracelet picture at right has no commercially manufactured parts.  Not bad for a first effort, if I do say so myself.  I intend to get much fancier with the clasps in future.

A Very Unlikely Place....

Another month has slipped away.  What happened to April...Oh, that's right, the IRS took precedent.  Glad that's behind me now.

Remember those Peter Rabbit buttons that went missing a few months back that prompted the "whole house search"?  Well, dear ones, the mystery has been solved.  Read on....

As often happens, spaces get cluttered, cleared, filled, reorganized, re-cluttered, etc.   Case in point, my collection of knitting needles.  This collection has evolved over time from a bunch of mismatched plastic and aluminum needles.  No more.  Since being introduced to bamboo several years ago, I have winnowed my collection down to exclusively bamboo and limited the types to circular and double-pointed only.    So recently, while cataloguing this collection, what should I find tucked in the packet that held the #4, 29"circular needle?   You guessed it, the elusive Peter Rabbit buttons.   Now I'll have another finished project ready for boxing and gifting.


On another note, trying a new craft culled from the legion of books acquired over the years, is always a challenge.  Up next, Viking Knitting.  The process is quite simple, 24 gauge wire is 'knitted' over a jig - in this case, an Allen wrench held in a vise.  Round and around and while a little time-intensive, the results are encouraging.  My one "stumbling block" to finishing is literally a block of wood known as the  draw plate with graduated holes from 1/8" to 11/16".  The draw plate is necessary for finishing since the length of knitted wire coil is "drawn" through the plate's succession of holes, largest to smallest.  This action tightens and lengthens the piece to the desired size.  As I don't have this plate, it will have to be made or purchased before I can complete the test piece [inexpensive craft wire] before moving onto the luxurious silver and gold wire waiting for a level of expertise practice will ensure.


The addition of an extensive stash of supplies [beads, fabric, threads, yarn, etc.] that was recently acquired, suggests that new skills are needed.  Again, the craft books mentioned above, come to the rescue with the know-how to producing finished pieces while achieve a reduction in the volume of this stash.  A few of the major bead collections [shown at right] require just a few findings or filler beads to create finished pieces.  So a search of the Internet or local craft store should produce some interesting clasps, cords, and fillers. All should help in turning these collections into viable finished projects.  I can fairly see my Gift Closet bearing quality gifts moving forward.

Progress on existing stuff seems to be faltering.  I am about two projects behind with my ANG Chapter; the heart project and the ornaments that will spell N-O-E-L when completed.  The heart project will become a biscornu as I mentioned in an earlier post.  The half squares will be made into full squares to complete the required square shape for a bicornu.  The finishing of this jewel will be momentous as my finishing skills have been lacking for many years.  Beth from The Gazebo, my sister long distance from Virginia and Trish from local ANG Chapter all are accomplished finishers who have offered to help "train" me in these fine tasks.   I'll be posting how this and other projects are going as its the only way to ensure stuff gets done.

I happened upon another blog which bore an extensive list of items the blogger plans to complete in 2010 - awesome detail and equally awesome goals.  I wish him a finished list!  I should be  lucky to complete a fraction of what I have in place.  Perhaps listing "chapter and verse" all the things I have yet to complete is the only way to ensure I keep tract of what needs to be done..  Somehow I think that would be too daunting...exposing my procrastination in such a public way.  Oh well, we'll see.

Until next time.

Forever In Our Hearts...AMB

Today is a very sad day for our extended family.  It was three years ago that my niece, Allie was killed in a tragic auto accident.  Her loss is still felt acutely by my younger sister and her family.   It so hard to imagine how difficult it is for them to get through each day with such a burden on their hearts.   Thankfully, their faith in God and the support of their church, Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia, has helped them through this troubling time.

There isn't a day that passes that I don't think of the beautiful young woman Allie was becoming and wonder what might have been.  She had so many interests and  so many friends that miss her as well.   Happily, their contact with my sister and her family keeps Allie very much in the 'present'.

My thoughts and prayers are with my sister and her family at this time and pray that God keeps them in his loving arms.


"'Til We Meet Again...."
AMB 08/01/90 - 03/12/07

Time Well Spent.

The trip to Hampton, VA to attend Quilt Fest 2010, was a wonderful experience....so many quilts and such imaginative work.  As I am not a quilter, I am awe struck with stippling -  heavy quilting that covers areas large and small - that can be totally random or follow a distinct pattern.  Whether done by hand or machine, its  remarkable.


The miniature quilt detailed here, achieves its three dimensional quality and various backgrounds colors by stippling in different color threads rather than different patterned fabrics to provide color.    Since the quilt is created from whole cloth [a single width and length of fabric], its pattern is derived from quilting alone, giving the artists the freedom to develop any pattern they desire.   Despite its diminutive size, the detail is marvelous and well presented.

Equally remarkable are the picture quilts depicting a complete scene.  The piece shown above is a superb illustration of the use of many techniques to achieve realism - thread painting of the figure's hair and spray from the water; water color washes provide the shadows in the water and texture of the rocks while quilting provides the illusion of depth.  The layers of color in the hair shows the lengths the artist goes to to achieve realism.  Wow!

Then there are the fabric painters who paint the design onto the quilt top and then quilt around the painted objects.  One particularly striking quilt was a whole cloth white top with black and creamy iridescent  fabric paint.  The quilting, done in black and gold threads, highlighted the contrasts between the values.

As much as all these techniques fascinate, I dare not add another medium to the number I have committed to already.   No need to court disaster. I'm already indecisive about what to do first.  

At home,  the little heart that has been waiting patiently for my return.  Meeting time is approaching and I want to have something to show that I've been "stretching my repertoire".  I picked two overdyes, Waterlilies Cameo and Fiesta and pulled corresponding flosses for each but ultimately chose the  Fiesta.  Nine squares of the thirty are completed out of the twenty that are true squares.  The remaining ten are triangles to shape the heart.  I'm thinking that since I'm working this design on #22 Hardanger, I'd rather make it into a biscornu which I can make better use of versus another picture.

In any case, I have resolved to complete one creative project per day.  Most will be small and easily finished, while working at least one square a day, perhaps more if I get into a rhythm, on the heart.  By next month I should have quite a few items to post.

As always, we'll see.....