More Critters

This morning we found this beautiful specimen on the side of the house. It is a luna moth (info courtesy of http://www.dpughphoto.com/moths.htm) Incomparison of the site photos and my moth, he is missing his tail wings. We had one on the house several weeks ago and I would say it is the same one but the site also says they don't live very long, so it must be another.
This little critter got stuck in the garage. It's a hummingbird.

This happens several times during the summer. I don't know if they are attracted to the white walls or the shade. We hear a simultaneous squeaking and buzzing noise, and there is a tiny bird struggling to get out by only going up. They respond nicely to the broom and off they go.

I must add that this past weekend Cathy, Susan and I went to the quilt show in Asheville. It was wonderful as always and we had a really good time. We made quite a day of it, 13 1/2 hours from start to finish.

And Monday we made a trip to Carowinds. Hard to believe the summer is almost over. We're planning our last trip this Monday before the pool closes on the 17th. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Michele

Petal Purse

Let me start by saying I know I need another bag like I need a hole in my head but oh, well. So every now and then, I get overwhelmed with projects. I don't how to finish something or I'm not happy with it and then I get stagnant. So I turn to something functional that I can finish quickly and have that feeling of satisfaction. Sometimes it's cross stitch or a small piece and other times it's a bag. This is my friend Susan's Petal Purse pattern.
It's a nice big bag that I'm taking to the Asheville Quilt Show tomorrow. It has plenty of room for my stuff and anything I may buy. And I've made the strap just long enough to wear messenger style.
The highlight of the piece is it's beaded button. I love making these!! This bag also gave me a chance to practice freestyle machine quilting so it was an added benefit.

Michele

Stitchin Fingers

View my page on stitchin fingers

Hand Dyes

I've been silent. We were gone for a week and then it always takes me a week to get back on track. But before I left my friend Grace had her annual dyeing party. I was really happy with my results this year and I wanted to share some photos.

This is a piece of Shibori. Last summer we didn't get this quite right but I was so happy with this.

These two pieces are for my Studio Journals class. Sharon wanted us to play with design. It is just like making snowflakes. I'm slowly catching up with my class. The good thing is that we work at our own pace.

Michele

Treadle Sewing Machine

I'm so excited about this and wanted to post some photos. I picked it up last Thursday but it had been in the car until Jason came home so this is the first chance I've got to post it.
I bought it at a yard sale in Lincolnton a little over two years ago for $50. Jason refurbished the wood case and we had the metal pieces powder coated. Then it went off to Danny Wicker to have the sewing machine refurbished to working order.

Now it sews and works great. It's really a gem and Danny, who has fixed and seen everything, had never seen a National Treadle Sewing Maching before so that was interesting. It really looks like a piece of furniture. It's even going to be allowed in the main part of the house, probably the dining room.

Michele

Hodge Podge

This is for my Studio Journals class. It is a complimentary color study. I wanted the blue circles to show up better and I wasn't really satisfied with my watercolors earlier in the week, so I got out my watercolor crayons which gave a much richer effect. I would like to try the crayons with the salt technique and another where you use cling wrap for a different effect. I didn't do the fabric/fiber additions because, well, today is Friday and the next lesson is out, so I'll save it for later. That is the great thing about this class. All of her exercises can be used over and over to spark creativity.

Sharon also wanted us to explore the color wheel. One of the ladies shared a photo of a thread wrapped wheel which intrigued me and another showed a sample of one she had stitched years ago from a free pattern, which unfortunately was no longer available. Well, I searched for a stitched color chart and found one for purchase but it won't be finished for the class. Anyway, I was struggling with using the correct colors. I know this sounds silly but if they aren't labeled how do you know. (The ladies from my class know what I'm talking about.) So, I was coloring with Natalie and have some older Crayola's with the right names on them. I figured this was the only way I would be happy. I think it's pretty.

Now for some piffle. This is my latest finish. Sometimes when I can't focus or am stuck on a project I find a small cross-stitch in my stash and I usually finish it within a couple of days. Sometimes I feel better and sometimes, like this time, I find another little one to start. I should just post it here and ask for help but I guess I haven't reached that point yet.

So, it is July in North Carolina and what does Natalie want to wear with her customary dress...tights. Winter tights. We went to the grocery store like this today.

Here she is sitting at the table with me while I worked in my journal and what she was working on. She was also into her watercolors today. It seems only Crayola offers her the vibrance she desires. Anyway, she started to paint her hand and I had her make a handprint to put in my journal. One of the ladies in my class is staying with her daughter and grandchildren, and someone suggested she do this. I thought it was a great idea and as soon as I saw the paint on her hand I knew I had my opportunity. I should put her piece of art in my journal, too.

Michele

Studio Journal Color Study

I wanted to make sure that I got to work on at least part of my exercise for this week. This week Sharon has us working on color. The first photo is a watercolor wash that I then sprinkled salt on. The salt is supposed to pull the color away and create a very interesting effect. The green worked but the red was already drying. I then thought it needed something so I added the stamps. This was kind of my warm up and I wanted to try the salt technique.





Next was a color study. We were challenged to find colors in magazines. I started with the multi-colored one in the left hand corner and built from there. I can see how helpful this will be when planning a project. I to often work strictly in my head and then I get frustrated. Sharon tells us that ideas don't necessarily have to be seen through and to often I've felt that everything I think of has to come to fruition. I need to stop doing that and I reall think this class will help. We have several other exercises for the week but Jason leaves tomorrow so I never know what time I will have.

Michele