quilt in progress

It's not easy taking photos of the quilt now that it's being sewn together...it's huge!

I've just started the quilting process so it won't be long now!! I have been delayed because my machine died and the holidays.

I'm definately learning a lot working on this piece!

Previous post about this project: http://apatchofshade.blogspot.com/2011/09/quilt-making.html

remnants series in progress

While waiting for my sewing machine to be repaired this week I worked on my Remnants piece.
I'm adding the red blood cells...a very meditative process of hand embroidery! And fun to work in red again!

Previous posts about this series:
http://apatchofshade.blogspot.com/2011/07/remnants-series-in-progress.html
http://apatchofshade.blogspot.com/2010/09/work-in-progress.html

quilt making

uncut t-shirts

cutting into strips

sewing into larger squares

Did I mention I'm making a quilt?! For a teenage boy?!! It's being made from his outgrown t-shirts.

Most are band logos hence the dark colors. I'll update my progress as I navigate this new endeavor!

I may be asking some of you for advice!!

remnants series in progress

It all started with these 2 top photos. Driving into New York I would pass these two relics and wonder: What are these things? What happened there? Who worked at the site?

My research lead me to the answers. They're part of a Float Bridge. Designed to transfer freight cars from the railroad to barges that took them out to ships in the Hudson River or onto tracks that ran to the nearby warehouses usually carrying livestock.

I would imagine the dockworkers working in their tattered and stained denim overalls - sometimes torn, only to be mended by their wives and re-worn over and over.

I found out these men lead very hard lives that soften were ended by various types of diseases prevalent at that time: diptheria, influenza, encephalitis, tuberculosis and meningitis. I felt compelled to honor them by creating a piece that includes scraps of work clothing that are sewn together by hand and also mended in places as was done in their time. The hand embroidery   reflects a microscopic view of the various bacteria that caused the illnesses.

It's a work in progress and I am still sewing!

in progress

Updated progress on my portrait piece: finishing the New Zealand flora and fauna drawing. Inking next.

elevator speech

From Wikipedia: An elevator pitch is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a product, service, or organization and its value proposition. The name "elevator pitch" reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately thirty seconds to two minutes.

I was reminded this weekend how important it is to have an 'elevator speech' prepared for people who want to know about your business. I have been working on a new business idea for awhile now and it's so easy to get involved in all the small details and forget that you need to be able to explain your idea simply and quickly. Stay tuned for mine!

portrait in progress

New portrait project started!

grandad's stool (in progress)

Started a new project: Grandad's stool.

Reupholstering a vintage stool with a grandad's saved clothing in a improvisational pieced quilting style. Fun!

hand embroidery

Working on the embroidery details...the end is near!!!

memorial pillow update

Recent progress on memorial pillow. Showing front & back so far. I still have to add details: buttons, embroidery and hand sewing.
In memory of an outdoorsman using his clothing to create a memory pillow for his daughter.

memorial pillow update

These photos show progress of the small pillow I'm making out of neckties.
After weaving the ties together I taped them in a diagonal pattern and then stitched them together using the tape as a guide.

The second photo shows the back before sewing. Please forgive the bad photos it was a dark rainy day!

work in progress

Starting a "modern wedding sampler" for friends that were married in August. (I know, I'm a bit late!)
It will be painted on fabric and embroidered with their names and wedding date.

work in progress

Working on my Remnants series.