Field Trip, Play Day and….

Our Guild Field Trips have been so much fun! We have been out and about for 3 so far and they have all been so different. This month we went to The National Museum of Women in the Arts to see the “Workt by Hand” Exhibit. No pictures of the quilts in the exhibit, as photography -with or without flash was prohibited. Not much in the way of other information to take with us… so I can only tell you what we saw. Mostly old quilts (about 100 to 200 years old) of not particularly of the finest workmanship, but in remarkably good condition, no holes or faded reds and greens. The silks were beginning to shatter/blow… in the crazy quilts, but otherwise great condition. I think one of the most disappointing aspects of the exhibit was the Docent that walked us through. Her information, was a bit flawed or incorrect… I don’t know if it was her assumptions or information that came with the quilts. She attributed one quilt to a wealthy maker, because it was made of silk… (A Broken Star/Texas Star), it was made from scraps of silk, not yardage, so it was most likely created from a Dressmakers cuttings or scraps. There were many other errors, but this one bothered me the most. I pretty much quit listening to her… after this and looked at the quilts.

Before we toured with the Docent we went up to the Art Exhibits… where paintings, sculptures, photographs, etc. were on display and we cold take photos (no flash)…. I like this one the best!

Untitled #781 (1994)       Petah Coyne

Oklahoma City, OK

wax, plastic, cloth and steel

On the way to the bathroom I found this.

It is a ventilation screen. I would like something like this for my house too. Does it bother anyone else that builders use those ugly ventilation covers (huge cold air returns) in the homes they build. Can’t they think a little more creatively? Or the heating / cooling companies…. start to include something a little less ‘ugly’ in the design specifications. REALLY for a few pennies more????

Also on the first Wednesday of April… I had a little Machine Quilting Play Day/Coaching session for several members of our guild, (sorry forgot to take a picture). They had all taken a class or 4… on machine quilting, but you know how it is…. at home… it’s a whole other ballgame. I think it was successful… I am considering more Play Days… in the future.

I also have several more Rwandan fabrics. The DH was invited to return to Rwanda for a conference and 20 year Commemoration and Conference on the Rwandan Genocide carried out in 1994. The reunification of the country between the 2 factions is quite remarkable! If you are interested in more information on the Rwandan Genocide, go here.

That all for now…

More Later! Beth

More about FABRIC!

It’s amazing how debilitating a hand injury can be. I have  had to be careful to keep my hand clean and not pull on the stitches. …. Which means… no slopping through the dishes in the sink, cooking takes a bit more precision, and sewing has been pretty much a non-starter.  Although I did do the dishes and I even made some attempts at cooking for one. Good thing most of the time I just wanted to eat…. so PB&J would have tasted just fine.

I did try to put a little time in the sewing room, but to complicate my life… I have either acquired a head cold or allergies. Since it is spring here… Allergies are a distinct possibility. The last time I had this much difficulty with my sinuses… I got an ear infection just before leaving for South Africa. Took more than 8 weeks and several visits to a ENT and prescriptions for it to clear up. I am hoping… it’s a head cold!

The DH is home. He arrived yesterday. Of course…. he went shopping in Rwanda for some additional fabrics for my collection. So I couldn't wait for him to unpack and show me what he brought home!!! (In previous travels he brought back these and these and more… here.

The prints are so enchanting, and I noticed several different things I didn’t see when they were either folded or, even when hanging on the wall for the picture. For instance, this one.

When it was folded, I didn’t notice the different sizes of the print. There do you see it now? I really like the log cabin-ish centers too. DH was sure to bring me home a ‘green’ print because I think it’s my favorite color.

This next one is great because it has circles on it and a very bright red. I would love to make a jacket or a shirt out of it… but unfortunately, I just can’t wear red. I can sleep under it though!!!! so it just might have to become a quilt… (disregard the crooked photograph…. I’m using an old point and wait and wait and wait for the sewing room camera…now. The waiting gets to me!)

 

and the last one….

Would be a great piece paired with denim…. either shirt or jacket…. but the pinwheel… also says great quilt back too. I asked DH if he knew that there was pink on the print…. it was folded in such a way that unless you unfolded it…. you wouldn’t have known there was any pink on it!!!

Each piece is 6 yards long and about 50” wide. Plenty for making a shirt, jacket and some quilt pieces too. Speaking of shirt… does anyone have a recommendation for a simple blouse shirt pattern …. for cottons? I get so frustrated looking at patterns on the Internet… maybe you have a hint or two so I can take a short cut!!!

I think I am going to have to plan some fabric cutting soon. I really like this little jacket, but it doesn’t have any pockets. I like a pocket… but I think I figured out a way to add a pocket…. and I will make it a bit longer too… for a little different look. This LITTLE JACKET goes together in a few hours, a bit more if you make your own binding. (You going to have to go to the page… and scroll about half way down. Can’t figure out how to get it from Picasa to here…. and this is just EASIER).

So I hope everyone has a great Labor DAY!

More Later- Beth

From Rwanda

My DH is home from Rwanda, but unfortunately it’s really only a stop over!! He has to go back to Rwanda and then from there to the US. He will be gone again for several weeks… but I am hoping to join him sometime at the end of June.

He of course brought me a few things from Rwanda. A basket with a set of coasters in it, another basket that has a top or could be 2 baskets, a small purse of very bright fabrics, and of course some fabrics.

The fabrics are REALLY cool!

The first is a batik, with some simple giraffes printed on a green background. It’s about 4 yards and about 40 inches wide.

The second is very interesting! It is from Tanzania. It will be more of table topper… rather than a quilt I think, also about 4 yards (2 panels) and again about 40 inches wide.

Remember you can click on an image for a larger view.

The third and fourth are from Cote d’Ivoire and is a ‘veritable’ Wax Prints. There are 6 yards, but the really neat part is there is a positive and a negative part. It is supposed to be used as a dress, the largest piece is the skirt and the smaller piece is to be a top. The light part is the smaller piece, about a yard and a half, and the dark piece is about 4 1/2 yards and about 47 inches wide. They both have the makers labels attached. The brown one had to be photographed from the side, it was reflecting too much and the green one I managed to line up as if it was just one piece of fabric!

The fifth and sixth are also really cool. They are also Wax Prints, but don’t have the 2 different pieces. These are both 6 yards long and 47 inches wide. The brown one is very sophisticated in the print and color choices and the yellow, green and red one is so right there!!!

All together he brought me back about 30 yards of fabrics from different areas of Africa! I have a very good guy, (don’t I?).

I don’t have a plan for any of them yet. Anyone have any ideas?

As always-

More Later-

Beth