Pat's Retreat

I spent a wonderful time the weekend before last with a fun group of ladies at Pat's Annual Retreat. I was the "newbie" this time and they all made me very welcome. We come from all different places and our interests varied but we sure had a lot of fun. Each person brought their own projects and we shared information along the way.

This is a detail of a sheep commission. I had decided to bring four pieces to finish and I was ready to sew until my fingers bled or I fell asleep at the machine. Friday night I hit a huge snag. Somewhere along the way I had sewn with bad thread. After finishing the free motion on my animals, I sewed them into the piece , layered the top with batting and backing and proceeded to quilt. First I noticed one small pop as the thread used in piecing the background broke. But not liking to reverse sew I soldiered on. More pops and then I just had to come to terms with the fact that I had to take the whole thing apart. Elaine's fabric is too fabulous to throw in the can. I took it all out that night and then put it away to finish at home. Below is the result of this week's work. It took me a day to iron, pull out the thread and re-quilt it. Now I am happy with the result and it can be delivered this week.

The next day went much better. It must have been the company. I finished my sample for ourLoose Threads Retreat at the Opinicon in Chaffey's Locks the end of next October.We will be learning bobbin work, silk screening on cotton, and lots of embellishing techniques with Wendo ,Pat and I. More to come later.

Below, lots of pics of our fun weekend. I should have made a slide show. Oh well I will tackle that idea another time. More to learn.
My roomie and swimming partner Sally busy at work.

A terrible trouble maker.

Consultations.
Hand and machine at work.


More trouble makers in the corner.
Our resident artist Bonnie Lemaire.

Much fun was had by all. Thanks everyone, I'm in for next year.

RETREAT_FALL 08

A beautiful fall crisp weekend found us, Wendo, Pat and Cathy running a weekend retreat " Fibre Art With The Loose Threads" at the Opinicon Resort Hotel in Chaffey's Locks.
There was much fun had by all but I would like to highlight the work accomplished by the participants.

Jo-Anne found a creative way to fill the organic shape of the hole that she cut out of her piece.

Rosemary also worked out of the box.

Francis brought some of her work done on the embellisher and then added a hole to it.

Helga's painted fabric.

Helen's work in progress.

Pam's hand painted fabric with free motion embroidery.

A lesson on embellishing for Ann.

Janet working incognito , with the embellisher.

More painted fabric.

And a lesson on how to take care of your sewing machine by Eric Simkins from Kingston.

Although we were a motley gruop with varied interests, much learning ,sharing, and fun was had by all. With dinners prepared and no dishes to do it was sewing 24/3.

WORKING AT HOME

My bed quilt top is finished and now it will be off to Pat Lemaire at Purplepatch Pieces to be quilted on "Elvis" her longarm machine. It sure feels good to have this project to this point .



Back to my mosaic experiment. This certainly has been great free motion practice as I have gone around each shape three times. I sure got the texture that I was expecting.




Then it was more free motion between the shapes. I wanted to push the grout down even more.

A closeup of the stitching, I love my new camera. As you can see the stitching doesn't have to be perfect to be effective.

Now some playing with paint. These will become the binder covers for our retreat.

Love what happens when you spritz it with water.

FALL PREVIEW_1

The last week of summer still puts me in a planning mood even 10 years after retiring from teaching. When the nights get colder and there is a chill in the air my mind starts organizing my life for the next few months. I am looking forward to sharing my work with like minded, addicted, fibre junkies and sharing what new things I have discovered.

This is what I am up to this fall.

1. Seaway Autumn Studio Tour on Sept. 13th and 14th.
I will be at stop #1 in Johnston with four other artists Joanne Zorzie, Bonnie Lemaire, Pat Lemaire, and Wendo Van Essen. At my table you will find my work large and small,postcards, journals, and my patterns. Come and have a chat.
Visit our website http://www.sast.ca/

2. Art With Loose Threads Retreat from Oct. 3-5 at the Opinicon Resort Hotel
Come and participate in a small and intimate retreat where three fibre artists will share with you what they have learned.These techniques can be used in all kinds of work, from fibre art , in your quilting, to wearable art. We will also try some painting on fabric.

Wendo will be showing you how to felt fibre and sculpt this moose head.

Pat will be demonstrating various embellishment techniques. Great for wearable art.

Cathy will share with you her new technique where she hangs washers in a hole . Small kits will be available for each demo at a reasonable cost so that all you have to bring is your machine and your favourite sewing equipment.



3.Then in November it will be my pleasure to participate in Fibreworks, in Kingston.
The weekend we have chosen is Nov. 13,14,and 15th. It will include a lecture on Friday evening and a two day workshop. I will be discussing how I use colour to give things life and you will be making a small piece that will use those colour concepts. We will try different free motion techniques as well as some bobbin work. I will also show you how to mount your work on a wooden frame.More info to come.