This Years Valentines

Surviving a good ole fashioned winter here in Northern Michigan. It's zero this morning. Loads of snow so I'm a happy girl getting lots of cross country skiing in. Using an app my son told me about to track my distance and time. Nice way to keep motivated. It's called Run Keeper.

On to creative endeavors. Every year (almost) I create Valentines for a bunch of my "girlfriends". It gets me in the studio and I use these as a proving ground for techniques, tools, my skills.  I have to say I REALLY struggled with a. what to do, then b. the final approach to take. Since I got a new sewing machine less than a year ago I'm still learning and playing with it. So the mini quilts were born.

 

Every one is different, which is my usual way. Did loose water color hearts on muslin then doing free stitching where is seems pleasing for the quilting. 

One of my decisions, as I don't do "Resolutions", for the immediate future is to get more posts & pictures on this blog. Please subscribe so I know you are out there! 

Speaking of pictures. Going on a vacay in 3 weeks to the island of Vieques just off Puerto Rico. have decided to take only my iPhone as a camera. Going to use the Camera+ app. I have a tripod mount, your iPhone headphones toggle button can be used as a shutter release. I'll learn as I go & will post some (hopefully) wonderful shots. 

I've put a couple new links in the Interesting Things Category. A co workers son is on a wonderful adventure post grad school in Asia. weresthecrux? He is a terrific writer, way too smart. I'm going to love following his trajectory.  The other is the blog I discovered that led me to the Camera+ app. 

Baby It's Cold Outside

Our wish for a white Christmas with enough snow to ski has been granted. Going out for my third cross country ski of the year today. My favorite form of exercise! If I have to live where it's grey so much of the winter I want lots of snow & out door activity.

On to artistic endeavors.  Been working on FABRIC BOXES for gifts. Using black & white images printed on muslin for part of the embellishment. 

I have a couple gerat old book with flora fauna & landscape images I scan then print on fabric (or hand made paper). Iron the fabric to freezer paper, shiny side against the fabric, and run through your printer.

Here are a couple in the works. Using pellon "ultra firm stabilizer" Peltex 70 as the substrate. First I cover the inside with fabric, I zig zag or free stitch each side to the pellon to anchor it.  Then stitch each of the outside pieces to the substrate before zig zagging the sides together.

Here are a couple finished versions:

As you can see I incorporate everything form stencils, calligraphy, embroidery, extra fabric pieces, or anything that seems appealing at the moment. It's all about the process!!!

Winter Wonderland

There is a township park just outside my door and down a hill. It's interesting that whenever you get out in nature on a holiday the people you run across are more engaging than on other days of the year.
One young man was on his telemarking skis. He seemed to be one with them as he whisked up and down the narrow trails on the hills.One of our favorite things do do is go cross country skiing on Christmas day when there is enough snow.  From the looks of it that will be possible this year.

My husband and I were solo this year with 2 grown sons being at other venues for Thanksgiving. We did a 12 lb turkey & fixins. This may be the year I break down and get a new hand mixer....

It's now on my Christmas list.