Saved a Shirt

This was my favorite colored shirt. Then I got pink dye on the bottom of it. It covered nicely with a dip in brilliant blue. So glad to have my shirt back.

Interesting piece

This is a piece of sateen cotton that I decided to experiment with this summer. I put it in a jar of water and added avocado pits. It sat all summer. It didn't do anything that exciting, but turn grey. Then I rusted it to make it more interesting. Then I dyed it with safari grey. It looks pretty good now. A long process, but fun to have a challenge.

A new project finished

Took another patch of grass out to accommodate a fountain. Arranged some planted pots and added some glass rocks. Have some old twin bed foot and head boards behind the fountain that I found at a garage sale.

Christmas is coming

My six grandchildren will be happy with these Christmas tye dye shirts. This one was wrapped around a large nylon rope and it makes it look like water or bubbles. One of my grandchildren has a tye dye shirt for each day that he wears to school. He spent the night last weekend and made his own. I delivered it to his house today and I am sure he will be explaining to his friends tomorrow at school that he did the shirt himself.

Napkins and Table Clothes

My wheels are spinning with ideas of what I can do with the pile of linen table clothes and napkins I have. This shirt has four napkins and one each for the sleeves. Notice the pockets are on top of each other. Thought that created a different look. Some nice vintage buttons seems to set them off.

The back is a table cloth and the design of the table cloth really stands out.

Back in the Garden

I enjoy doing these little minature displays. This is a stone house that has a frog on top of it. A nursery near us went out of business and this was one of the things I was delighted to get. The Goodwill had the little rabbit that fit perfect into the scene I was creating. The bright shiny glass pieces were from a estate sale and so was the pot. I am learning to put together all that I collect and create a new atmosphere in the garden.

Cooking Oatmeal

I bet you thought that I was making my breakfast. This was a lot more fun. I spread a layer of oatmeal on 1 yard of fabric that I had dyed with procion dye and then soy waxed and then dyed again. I don't know if you remember but this was the piece that needed something more from my soywax workshop. That is where I decided to use some oatmeal for a resist. Here it is setting out in the sun drying. It was the first day of sun. It was suppose to have dried in a couple of days, but it took seven because it was so cold.

Once it dried I cracked it and then put dye and thickener on it. This was in Quilting Arts Magazine. I like the way it has a nice cracked look now.

Colored Drawing Now

My grandchildren will have fun with their pencil packet. Quilting Arts Magazine had directions to make these in a free ebook. I made one for each of them for Christmas.

One More

Feeling very blessed to have my God given gifts honored again. This vest won last weekend at the Pacific International Quilting Show in Santa Clara Calfornia with a Best Machine Craftmanship Award.

Another Vest

The pattern I used is from Purrfection, 1007 Kimono Jacket and Vest. I had seen it done up by Laura Murray. I like the way it turned out, so now I would like to make up another one from the pattern. Maybe a jacket this time. My husband's niece is turning 21 next month, so I made this for her.

I have been collecting old linen napkins from estate sells. I dyed three with procion dye, better black and imperial purple. There is one large one on the back and two in the front that were scalloped on the edge and had cut work on the corners. There is a piece of silk free motioned on under the zipper rose. The loop for the button is a tie that I saved from the old kimonos that I took apart.
I think linings should be interesting. This one has lime green commercial fabric on the back and hand dyed on the fronts. The collar band is painted and batiked.

Batiki

Back in August I went to a soy wax workshop and it has taken me this long to finish the pieces up that I started. The top one is sateen cotton with golden yellow and red wine. I used a half of a green pepper and a carved potato for the images. I really like the way this one turned out.

The next one still needs something yet. Avocado/Golden yellow under and then Forest Green on top.

This was a commercial lime green piece of fabric. Used a strawberry basket as one of the images. Then dyed it Imperial Purple.

Awards

I received the awards that my vest got at the California State Fair. A third place and honorable mention. I just received notification that this vest was accepted in the wearable art division of the Pacific International Quilting Show in Santa Clara. The judging will be in October.

Gardening

Today I created a miniature town garden.

More Thoughts

Today I thought of my Mother often. I realize it takes sometime for the reality to set in. I went into the jewelry store today to pick up some jewelry that I had repaired. As I entered the door I thought my Mother died yesterday. These people did not know my Mother so I do not need to tell them that she died. And then I thought she loved jewelry so. That must be why I have always loved it to.

Another thought occurred to me today. When I was spending time with my Mother a couple of weeks ago I looked at her legs and her feet. She had heart congestion and her legs and feet had swollen up so much as the fluid wasn't being pumped out any more. She even had blisters on her legs that the fluid was flowing into. Her socks and shoes would get wet. It was like the fluid had to go somewhere. I thought I want to do something to bring her comfort. I brought a pan with warm water and began to soak and wash her feet. As I was down on my knees and doing this I remembered the bible story of Jesus washing his disciples feet. I said to my Mother do you remember this bible verse from the bible. She said yes. I realized that God was having me cleanse her of all of her sins. Since I had forgiven her he had chosen me.

The other thought that I began to work though today was the word love. When I called my Mother on her birthday to wish her a happy birthday the last thing she said to me was I love you and then I said my last good bye. Even though it wasn't a love that a mother and daughter usually has. What was it? My Mother hadn't said those words to me in my life time except for the last few conversations. There was admiration for the courage and strength that I had shown in some of my life's challenges. Perhaps some amazement at my life choices. Some feelings of wishing she could of done the same. I often felt she lived though me with listening to my stories. Even though she didn't like pictures, she did like the pictures I created. It sounded so exciting to her in her little world. So today I thought of the what those words I love you meant. They were not the usual, but they were her words.

Thanks again for listening.

One Life is Over

Today my Mother's life is over. She turned 90 yesterday. I called her in Minnesota and wished her a Happy Birthday. I was able to go back to be with her a couple weeks ago. I sat with her to keep her company. She wasn't talking much any more. She thanked me for keeping her company and for taking such good care of her. She did try to make some conversation and asked me how my garden was. I reminded her of some of the things she had loved...like she liked a good party. She said did I and smiled liked she remembered. I found her red nail polish and asked if she would like her nails painted. My Mother always liked to look nice. I sensed a frustration with not being able to do much for herself any more. I said I bet it is so hard to have to ask someone to do or help you do all the things you could always do before. She said it is so hard and I said you are doing such a great job. You are remembering to tell people thank you and please. This was not one of my Mother's virtues so I knew that she was trying so hard. When I left to go back home from Minnesota and I stopped to say goodbye, I leaned over and kissed her knowing this would be the last one and she said you are so beautiful. I want a picture of you. My Mother had no pictures of me as she did not like pictures. So I sent her a picture of me, so she received it on her birthday.

My Mother had a very hard time being a Mother, but God replaced her with a step Mom who was a wonderful Mom.

About ten years ago my Mother had hip surgery and I flew back to be with her. When I was on the plane I was thinking why am I going back to be with my Mother? She awoke and saw me sitting there and said you are always here for me and I was never there for you. Mother you have made many mistakes, but I have made many in my life as well and God has sent me here today to forgive you for everything. She began to cry and thanked me. I have never felt so free in my life.

I never loved my Mother and I wondered what I would feel when she wasn't here any more. It is early for me to know, but I think I will miss hearing her voice when I would call and she would say is this Jonadele? Yes and she would say where are you? In California. She would always scream with glee. You see my Mother lived in a five block radius all her life and couldn't imagine anyone living anywhere else. She loved to hear my travel stories. I think part of her wished she had been stronger and could of done more in her life.

Thank you for sharing my thoughts tonight.

God Bless Mom

Air Show

Here is Brad my six year old grandson. We took him to a air show. He liked the slide and a snow cone the best. The next day we took him on a bicycle trail in Alva Beach. He has just learned how to ride his two wheeler bicycle. He does pretty well.

Hot and Humid

Now isn't this just the cutes town ever? My cousin and I went a trip for a couple days to Ashland, Wisconsin to learn about our family roots. Our Great-Grandparents settle here after coming over from Sweden. We have a cousin which we had never meet that showed us around. It was delightful.

I spent a couple weeks in that wonderful midwest weather and enjoyed being with my family in Minnesota. I also attended my 50th high school reunion.

Workshop

Just took a four day workshop from Jill Schumacher. She is a wonderful teacher and I learned a great deal. We learned free motion, trapunto and sashiko. When I finish mine I will put some pictures on for you to see. These are two quilts that she just finished to show us her work. Some of her work is done in silk/cotton sateen. She uses silk thread to do the free motion and it is just beautiful. I can't wait to get some time to experiment with some of the techniques that I learned.

New Shoes

Now what do you think about these? First I made a trip to the thrift shop and found a pair of black leather shoes. Then I attended Margot Silk Forest's shoe redesigning class. I painted these with Lumiere paint. Then took a old zipper apart and gathered each side and sewed one side to the top of each shoe. Plan on wearing these to a wedding in Minnesota where my conservative relatives are sure that Californians are way out. I am sure that this will confirm their thoughts.

Another Gift

Just finished some napkins and place mats for a nephew's wedding. I didn't have enough material to make napkins, so I dyed some fabric to match. I think it adds to it.

Trip

Just got back from Sacramento to see the California State Fair. This was my vest displayed with the best of them. I had never been to the state fair and really enjoyed it. The creative art building was very impressive. It was displayed like a museum. Also enjoyed the master gardens and the new born pigs in the animal nursery. There was every vendor you could want to see. I was really strong and told myself that I already had everything that I needed.

Big Success

I am enjoying liver and onions. This one really grew. It will last me a few days.

Silk Flowers

I started making my silk flowers and have laid them out on the panel to see how they will look. The flowers are fun to make, but take some time as you would suspect.

Fun

These are the color silk ribbons that I dyed with colorhue dyes today. They will go with the lavender panels that I will be working on in the online class. Color is so much fun to work with, don't you think? The larger piece at the top of the picture is what I put all of my left over dye on. Even that one looks good.

Online Class

These are two panels that I am making for a class with Christy Brown on Joggles. You were to lay various pieces of lace, dollies or hankies on silk and a muslin base. Sew them on with your sewing machine. Then dye it. I used procion dye. I am going to eventually use these for panels down either side of a jacket front. Next I am to dye ribbons to go with it.

Another Trip on the Horizon

At the end of July it will be off to Minnesota to see my family for a couple of weeks. I am thinking of the humidity, rain and mosquitoes. Two of my nephews are getting married and my high school reunion will keep me busy. I used Marcy's pattern to make a couple light weight jackets.

These will make nice covers and not too hot.


I like the little ruffle at the center back.

A Dress for the Little Women

Every summer I like to make my two grand girls some dresses. They are eight and nine and wear about the same size. I think this one came out nice. A sundress with matching pants so you can leave the skirt unbuttoned. The other one I didn't have enough of the green for the shorts, so it is the same as the main fabric. I used up some of the vintage buttons that I have found at garage sales. This one has red and the other dress has orange buttons. Should be quite fun to wear for a little girl.

T-Shirt

This is the last and eighth shirt made for the grandkids. I used a stencil and sprayed it with Tsukinek Walnut Ink, Terra Cotta and Eucalyptus. I was experimenting to see how these inks would look on fabric. I think it gives a different look. Rather like it.

Going Native

I have been working on beginning to bring in some native plants to my garden. I have put together some planters to set around the garden to give it some interest.

I collected a few containers from garage sales.
This little pail was a favor at a dinner that I went too. Fits right in.

This was a bird bath that I made out of two large pots sitting on each other and now that I have two cats I thought it would be saver for the birds to have succulents in the bird bath.
This was a nice old pail from a sale. I found a glass ball at a boutique.

Garden Blooming

With all the rains this year our gardens are just out doing itself. Just before the rains started in January I took four packages of poppies and threw them on the hill. Now they are blooming their hearts out.

What a sight. Makes your heart feel good.

Silk Screening today...

I am being very adventurous and decided to make six t-shirts to include all of my grandchildren. I did have some knit fabric that needed to be used up. This is the boy version.

These are for the two girls.
Silk screening sure is fun. On the light shirt I put some pink set-a-color with water in a spray bottle and sprayed it on the shirt to add a little color here and there.

Good News

I put this picture on before I entered it in the California State Fair. It won honorable mention with the Meissner Sewing and Learning Center Award. Can't say I know what that is.

Doshi Influence

I folded and clapped this silk scarf using colorhue dyes to use for a sample for my next class I am teaching. The date is June 4th. Join us. You will have fun.

Doshi

I was able to attend a one day workshop with Doshi with my wearable art group in LA. She gave us so many ideas that I want to just try them all. She was very good and inspiring. This was a small scarf that I pole wrapped and then put into a acid dye bath.

This was a sample of silk noil doing some of the sewing techniques she taught and then used acid dye as well.