Another embroidery piece

Last summer, I embroidered a piece I called Petri Dish Promenade. It was done on a piece of white fabric I had batiked with soy wax, and then dyed. I still have not decided what to do with it, but I’m leaning toward making a simply-quilted background and stitching it to that, rather than trimming it in any way (after some of my fiber art friends who saw it were aghast at the thought).

A few months ago, I decided to start another similar piece, this time using a piece of clamp-dyed shibori fabric I dyed last year. The black-and-white background gives quite a different effect, much starker. It is 18" x 20". And this time, I’m working with squares, diamonds and angles – quite different from the circles in Petri. It’s still in progress; I’m working now on the red patch at the bottom right.



I’m using all different weights of threads and flosses by many different manufacturers. The stringy bits are actually the threads that came out of my dryer after I washed quilting fabric (mostly hand-dyeds) for the first time. And a bit of hand-dyed silk hankie here and there.



I just love the simple hand stitching and French knots.











When I’m not working on a needleturn appliqué project, this is what I take to my kid’s soccer practice, piano lesson, dentist’s appointments, etc., to keep me busy. In between, it lives here (on top of this adorable child’s toy dresser) in this beautiful African basket:



I made the liner using a pattern by Clothesline Quilts. Inside is a little quilted bag with all my shreddy fabric bits:



… and below that, some of my embroidery threads:

Artist Profile: Beth Hemmila of Hint Jewelry

I just discovered an artist who makes the most delicious jewelry, and I wanted to share her work with you. Her name is Beth Hemmila, and I found out about her when she was featured in a promotion for Moo cards. (Moo, if you didn’t know, is a company that makes artful custom business cards, calling cards and postcards that are all the rage among artists. You can order 100 MiniCards with 100 different images on them for $20.)

Beth uses Moo’s MiniCards with images of her work on the front and clear stickers on the back that tell the story of each of the charms she creates:



Here’s Beth, who works and blogs and sells her work under the name Hint Jewelry from her home in Portland, Oregon:



Note to my husband, who may or not read my blog: There’s absolutely nothing on her blog or in her Etsy shop that I wouldn’t love to own and wear. Like the little beauty below. And Valentine’s Day is coming up. Hint, hint.

Beth’s Joy necklace (above) features her Field of Flowers handmade silver charm on a 16" sterling silver chain, with two pink tourmaline gemstones.

At the core of Beth’s business are these darling little charms ($12-$22, depending on size):


One really cool product Beth offers are her Charm Necklaces, which you can design, choosing the charms and gems you want to tell your story.

To build your personalized Hint charm necklace, you go to Beth’s online Etsy shop, and purchase the charms, silver jump rings, silver chains or leather cords, and gemstones, and when you place your order, you provide any additional instructions so she can build your necklace. Cool, huh?

Or you can buy just the charms and make your own necklace. Here’s an example of a necklace that another designer created using Hint charms:


This necklace features Beth’s Flaming Heart Milagro:


This is her Stillness charm, so lovely in its simplicity:


And I have to admit that I’m a sucker for her gorgeous photography, which sells her work very well and sets a sensuous tone. Like this one:

It is a shot to illustrate her blog post about pearls. Beth has been running a series of posts where she reviews a chapter from the book Jewels: A Secret History by Victoria Finlay. “What is it about pearls that is so enticing?” writes Beth. “For me, it represents what I feel most close to in nature, like the luminosity of the moon, fluffy white clouds, secret treasures found underwater, pure falling snowflakes, and being able to appreciate the unique qualities of each living thing.”

Beth’s beautifully written and photographed blog tells the story behind her charms and her necklaces. From what I’ve read, she seems to be a very thoughtful and spiritual person, and regularly donates 10 percent of her earnings to non-profit organizations like the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Note: All photographs are copyrighted by Beth Hemmila and are used with permission.

An interview with Pat Sloan … and a give-away!

I met Pat Sloan briefly last October (she was surrounded by adoring fans at International Quilt Market in Houston) and snagged her latest book, Quilt the Seasons, Book 2. It’s packed with 14 great new projects to decorate your house for each month, including table runners, wall hangings, and lap-size and bed quilts. There are appliqué projects as well as pieced items, so there’s something here for everyone. Leave a comment about this post by noon EST on Monday, Jan. 18, and I’ll put you in a drawing to win my autographed copy!

I thought you might enjoy a little inside scoop about Pat, and I wanted to get to know her better, too. So here’s a little information about her, and a quick interview.

Pat worked as a computer programmer for 20 years, and started quilting as a hobby during that time. Pretty soon, she was obsessed with quilting, and she left her job to start her company, Pat Sloan & Company, in 1997. She lives in Fairfax County in northern Virginia, and is the author of more than 15 quilting books published by Leisure Arts. She has also designed several fabric lines with P&B Textiles.

In addition to publishing her own patterns, she also designs for American Patchwork & Quilting, McCall’s Quilting, McCall’s Quick Quilts, Quilters World, Create & Decorate, and the Fons & Porter magazines. And as if that doesn’t keep her busy enough, you can usually find her chatting it up on Facebook, and teaching workshops all over the place!

Pat is a ball of energy, and seems to always be smiling. Here’s the photo I took of her when she was autographing books – laughing, even with her eyes closed!



Me: Pat, I’ve only met you in person once, but you seem like a really fun, outgoing person. Are you really the quilting party girl you seem, or are you secretly shy?
Pat: Oh my.... I’m not shy!!! I USED to be shy.. painfully shy.. but I guess I just needed longer for my inner big mouth to come out!! I do need my quiet time, which is different. After being with people a few days I need some silence to recharge the batteries. I spent 20+ years in computers mostly working alone… so I’m used to hanging in groups, but like to work by myself in my zone.

Me: Tell me about an important turning point in your life.
Pat: You are giving me SUCH hard questions.. LOL! The first thing that comes to mind is the decision to have my own business. Which is a very classic turning point for many of us who have done this. I went against all biz rules and just quit ... then decided what my biz would be after I had already left the comforts of the corporate world!

But I’m wondering… was there another? I think a very long time ago when I left home it was a turning point. I was 17 and left my family in Europe to go to college in the mountains of Pennsylvania at a small campus of Penn State. I could not call home. No cell, no computers, no mom to run to. I had to toughen up and find other avenues of support very quickly!

Me: I see that you selected “Possibility” as your word for 2010. Why?
Pat: Ahhh… why DID I pick that? You know some of my friends were writing about the meaning of the word they picked… and I thought that sounded nifty… nifty as in maybe I should do that… have I?? No! Okay, let me think....

What does “Possibility” MEAN in a dictionary sense...
1) the condition or fact of being possible
2) archaic : one’s utmost power, capacity, or ability
3) something that is possible
4) potential or prospective value —usually used in plural

This year my business focus is to inspire and motivate quilters to actually QUILT! We want to quilt but life happens, other things get done, and the joy of stitching or pushing fabric under the machine does not happen as much as they want. So the word ‘Possibility’ seems so hopeful. It IS possible to quilt every day. It IS possible to have fun with your hobby. It IS possible to finish those projects (one of the top three things people told me they want to do this year!!)

My personal goals all fit in with Possibility too. The possibilities for change are endless… the possibilities to improve… the possibilities to have fun!! I want to look at everything I do and know that I can make it possible! (I'm SUCH a Pollyanna… my glass is ALWAYS half full!)

Me: So, what new projects are in store for you in 2010?
Pat: I have a VERY cool thing I'm doing! Starting on January 18, I'll be recording a weekly podcast interview with creative quilters and crafters. You will be able to listen live (maybe with call ins) and then download or listen to it online forever after it’s done… I'm SO EXCITED!! It’s going to be great… I’m lining up people now… mmm… So Susan… what Monday afternoon in March are April do you have free????

Me: Ooooh, I’d love to do that, Pat! You’re on! I’ll e-mail you with some dates. Anything else you want to tell us about?
Pat: Let me PLUG my cruise... it’s in June leaving Baltimore and going north to Boston, Maine and Canada! We still have a few slots and I’d LOVE to have you join me. Click to my workshop page here for info on WHAT a quilting cruise is and on this specific cruise... bon voyage!!!

Me: Thanks so much for letting me interview you, Pat. Here are links to all of Pat’s online ventures. As you can see, she is a very busy lady!

Where to find Pat:
Website - http://www.PatSloan.com
Store - http://www.PatSloan.biz
Blog - http://patsloan.typepad.com
Quilt Forum - http://www.quiltmashup.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/PatSloan
Twitter - http://twitter.com/QuilterPatSloan
Quilt GAMES - http://www.deathbyquilting.com
Yarn blog - http://patsloan.typepad.com/yarnmashup/
Studio webcam - http://patsloan.typepad.com/quiltershome/pats-design-wall.html


Pat’s adorable “Zig Zag Pillow” is one of many free patterns that Pat generously makes available on her website. But as she reminds her readers, “I can only offer these because quilters like you also buy my books, fabric and designs from my web store and your local quilt shop.” We all need to keep that in mind!

Okay, one more time: Leave a comment about this post by noon EST on Monday, Jan. 18, and I’ll put you in a drawing to win my autographed copy! Don’t forget to check back here that afternoon to see if you’ve won.

AND THE WINNER IS: Wordmama! Thanks for playing, everyone!

Salley Mavor

I have been working on a bunch of art quilts for my series of articles for Quilting Arts magazine and another big upcoming project, and they are all top secret for now, and it is driving me crazy not to be able to share them. BUT... I was reading the C&T Publishing blog today and found out some exciting news I could share with you: Salley Mavor, whose work I absolutely adore, is working on a new book called Pocketful of Posies that will be out this fall!

Salley is the author of the book Felt Wee Folk, which has directions for making the most adorable little dolls out of felt, pipe cleaners, silk flowers and acorn caps. I made my little fairy (above) about five or six years ago, following the directions in Salley’s book.



Felt Wee Folk was released by C&T Publishing in 2003. Salley has also created illustrations for many spectacular books for children. If you want to be really inspired, don’t miss Salley’s blog and her website.

C&T’s blog has photos of an amazing self portrait she made that has a little Salley doll for every year of her life, each wearing an outfit she would have worn that year, starting with her as a baby. The fashions are fun, and I love how she included her husband (next to her in her bridal gown) and her children (in her arms or pulling on her shirt’s hem).

My word for 2010:

A bunch of my online friends at Quiltart, “an internet mail list for contemporary quilters,” are picking words to motivate and inspire them for the year 2010. A sort of mantra to keep yourself on track, and mindful of your purpose or path.

To me, authentic means:
being true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character
being actually and exactly what is claimed
being genuine
having good faith and sincerity of intention
being reliable, trustworthy, bona fide
being free from hypocrisy or pretense
being original, not false or imitative

Here are words others in the Quiltart group have chosen for 2010:
Grow
Focus
Journey
Explore
Challenge
Bold
Balance
Work
Cultivate
Territory
Experiment
Innovate
Fun
Survive
Intent
Serene
Dare
Finish
Instinctual
Concentration
Accomplish
Courage
Simplify
What if
Discipline
See
Step up
Curious
Freedom
Me
Forward
Life
Joy
Over
Be
Dance
Yes

What is your word for 2010?

Bonnie McCaffery’s latest VidCast features Janet and me

For the past few years, award-winning quilter Bonnie McCaffery (well known for her Painted Faces and DigiBobbE techniques) has been interviewing quilters and producing videos, which she posts on her website. In May, she interviewed me and Janet Lasher (above, on the left) at Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh. Janet and I both belong to Fiber Art Options, a group of fiber artists from the Charlotte, NC area.

Bonnie’s just posted the VidCast, and you can now see it on her website!

For a complete list of Bonnie’s VidCasts, click here. You’ll find interviews with some amazing quilters, including Charlotte Warr Andersen, Maggie Weiss, Paula Nadelstern, Robbie Joy Eklow, Terry White, Larkin Van Horn, Isabelle Baydova, Maggie Grey, Denise Tallon Harlan, Ellen Lindner, Sue Nickels, Linda Schmidt, Ferret, Jenny Bowker, Melinda Schwakofer, Ricky Tims, Esterita Austin, Alex Anderson, and Caryl Bryer Fallert.

Bonnie is a fantastic teacher, a very talented quilter, and a really great person. It was an honor to be interviewed by her. Thanks, Bonnie!

Pink Petal Party featured in Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine

My friend Sarah Ann Smith has been writing a series on the elements and principles of design for machine quilters for Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine. The most recent installment is “Depth and Dimension through Contours, Rhythm and Repetition” in the January 2010 issue. When Sarah was writing this column, she was looking for examples from both traditional quilts and art quilts, and asked if she could include my quilt, Pink Petal Party. How nice!



Sarah notes that the dense quilting in the background helps to concentrate attention on the focal point, the vase of pansies. She also points out the realistic stitching on the pansies, and the stitching on the vase, where vertical lines cover the whole vase and horizontal lines come in from the left and right sides, making the center appear to come forward.

The article features photos of beautiful work by Sarah and Suzanne Sanger to illustrate her wonderfully informative column.

Machine Quilting Unlimited has a great mix of articles for long-arm machine quilters as well as for those of us who use regular home sewing machines. And there’s a nice balance of traditional quilting and art quilting. In the January issue, there’s a great profile of Laura Wasilowski, whose work is featured on the front cover.

My new thread organizer

Look what I got for Christmas! It’s an oak thread organizer by Rom Woodworking. I saw these at Fall Quilt Market in Houston and knew without a shadow of a doubt that one would go on my Christmas list.

They make several different versions, including full cylinders that rotate on a lazy susan and sit on a table, and in different styles for those who use thread cones and those who use smaller embroidery thread spools.

Mine is the “Wall Mounted Half Barrel” and is 29" tall x 22" wide. It holds 72 large cones of thread and 64 small spools or bobbins. It came with big pegs (for the cones) and small spindles (for the spools) but I drilled smaller holes in the spots for the big pegs, because I don’t buy thread in cones (yet!). Then I purchased some dowel rods at a craft store, cut them to length and sanded the ends, and used them instead of the big pegs. I didn’t glue them in place, so I can swap them out for the big pegs when I buy cones of thread.

Rom Woodworking also makes ruler organizers. The company is based in Harveys Lake, Pa.

The quality is exceptional, and you can get them in both clear finish and a golden oak stain. They are also not as heavy as you might expect, so it was very easy for me to mount mine on the wall.

I would need a second one to hold all my embroidery-weight threads and my hand quilting threads, but this one holds all of my spools for machine quilting, with some room to spare, and looks great doing it.

I am loving this thing! My husband calls it “the Thread Deathstar.” :-)

Christmas all over the house

I have been busy getting ready for Christmas, and thought you might like to see some of my decorations. The storm that is raging up the east coast brought us some wonderful winter white today. I took this photo at about 3:30 p.m.; we got a little more later in the afternoon, for a total of about two inches, I think. This is rare for the Charlotte area.


I have been collecting these glass balls for years. The nativity set is by Eldreth Pottery in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.


I purchased these darling primitive angels (”Hope” and “Peace”) from a woman at Barnful of Quilts last fall.


I got this standing angel on sale after Christmas several years ago... she was left behind because one arm is attached backwards... and I love that!


My mom gave me her carollers last year. They look marvelous on the piano.


My parents and my best friend, Dawna, gave me these elegant Russian Santas.


Snowmen and Eldreth Pottery Santas by the window in the family room.


My stitchery (a pattern by Buttermilk Basin) and little quilt, with my mom’s old wool skating socks, beloved Norwegian and Swedish mittens and booties purchased for my children when they were tiny, and a simple hand-carved wood star.


My wool advent calendar, “Gingerbread Countdown.”


A pile of quilts with the angels, and a sampling of folk art Santas by my neighbor.


A tin sign graces the old china hutch…


and these Eldreth Pottery Santas sit atop, in their wintery wonderland.


I put the Santas away after Christmas, but leave out the snow and the winter tree through February, wishing for snow.


Fresh mistletoe in a sweet vintage vase.




A wintery view out our window.

Working away

I’ve been working away on my yellow orchid piece, trying to add more depth, get the proper color balance, and fix the water droplets. I got some assistance from my Facebook friend Karen Dennison, who referred me to this great YouTube video and from Sandee Krueger, who left a comment on my last post. Isn’t cool that there is this wonderful community of people out there in the blogosphere who are willing to help? Thanks! My water droplets are looking much better, I think!