Not there yet but trying.
Last night I was at a local meeting of Israeli artists. Shaked invited me to joint. I was all gung-ho until I realized that their meetings are the same night as the York Heritage Quilters Guild meetings. Bummer.
But this morning before work, I started sewing bookmarks which I may or may not submit to an exhibit at the Koffler. I have a few ideas for the bookmarks. The first one didn't turn out the way I wanted but I have another idea I'll give a shot, maybe tomorrow morning.
I went downtown this morning for work and on the way back, while walking through the Atrium on Bay, I stopped into a store/gallery which had the most amazing Chinese Su embroidered pieces which gave me an idea with respect to the library travel pieces. Hmmm. Gotta think about it.
This evening is the season's first Pomegranate Guild meeting. So I'm looking forward to that.
Anyways, gotta blog more often, stitch more often, and post photos.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Go Jeremy!!
Yesterday, we went to a baseball game. Little League type. It was the championship game and our nephew, Jeremy, was playing. Jeremy only started baseball this year so to be in the championship game was quite a feat. We had a great time. The game rules are way more flexible than official baseball, considering the kids' ages and abilities. It was great though to see the parents, all supportive of their children's efforts.
And Jeremy played surprisingly well. His team came in second (I refuse to use the word "lose" in any of its variations) and there was an awards ceremony to boot. So way to go, Jeremy!
Afterwards, we popped into Costco to buy Menachem's ciabata buns. It's the only place he gets the kind he likes. Of course we left with more than just the buns, but really only essentials -- laundry detergent and hummus. I usually go up and down the aisles to see what they have but couldn't be bothered.
Stitch-wise, it's been a totally unproductive weekend, so far. I've been surfing, playing computer mahjong, and watching TCM. Maybe next week will be better.
We're waiting for special news from Inbal and sending our positive and happy thoughts her way.
And Jeremy played surprisingly well. His team came in second (I refuse to use the word "lose" in any of its variations) and there was an awards ceremony to boot. So way to go, Jeremy!
Afterwards, we popped into Costco to buy Menachem's ciabata buns. It's the only place he gets the kind he likes. Of course we left with more than just the buns, but really only essentials -- laundry detergent and hummus. I usually go up and down the aisles to see what they have but couldn't be bothered.
Stitch-wise, it's been a totally unproductive weekend, so far. I've been surfing, playing computer mahjong, and watching TCM. Maybe next week will be better.
We're waiting for special news from Inbal and sending our positive and happy thoughts her way.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Baby steps
I am slowly getting back into a routine after being out of one for so long. I still haven't been bitten with the energy I had before and my creative process has definitely slowed down. So I am trying to spend time in the studio even if it's only to reiron and refold fabric.
I have several projects underway.
For the York Heritage Quilters Guild show, one lap-size quilt is finished but needs a hanging sleeve. The second slightly larger quilt has most of the quilting done. I have finished tying and hiding thread ends. Now I need to quilt the borders, then bind, and finish with the hanging sleeve.
I am also donating one or two smaller pieces for the YHQG's silent auction, probably the "blues" I made in my fibrearts group.
I am also trying to figure out what to do for the Toronto Public Library exhibit in March. We are each doing three new textile pieces on the theme of "travel". I have a few ideas but I need to move them from the idea to the how-to stage. I guess when someone looks at a piece of art, they consider the time put into the actual making and less so the time thinking about it...
I also need to figure out how to make a textile mezuza for the Pomegranate Guild's traveling exhibit. Also due in the spring.
While reorganizing my studio, I came across a few crazy quilt pieces which are pieced and now need to be embellished. I'd like to get them done as well.
In the meantime, and back to the "baby steps" title, I am putting together a quilt from 2" squares I cut up during the summer from leftover fabrics. I arranged them on my design wall and am trying to get at least one row done a day. Then I'll add borders and hopefully have another baby quilt.
So, just to let you know what's going on.
I have several projects underway.
For the York Heritage Quilters Guild show, one lap-size quilt is finished but needs a hanging sleeve. The second slightly larger quilt has most of the quilting done. I have finished tying and hiding thread ends. Now I need to quilt the borders, then bind, and finish with the hanging sleeve.
I am also donating one or two smaller pieces for the YHQG's silent auction, probably the "blues" I made in my fibrearts group.
I am also trying to figure out what to do for the Toronto Public Library exhibit in March. We are each doing three new textile pieces on the theme of "travel". I have a few ideas but I need to move them from the idea to the how-to stage. I guess when someone looks at a piece of art, they consider the time put into the actual making and less so the time thinking about it...
I also need to figure out how to make a textile mezuza for the Pomegranate Guild's traveling exhibit. Also due in the spring.
While reorganizing my studio, I came across a few crazy quilt pieces which are pieced and now need to be embellished. I'd like to get them done as well.
In the meantime, and back to the "baby steps" title, I am putting together a quilt from 2" squares I cut up during the summer from leftover fabrics. I arranged them on my design wall and am trying to get at least one row done a day. Then I'll add borders and hopefully have another baby quilt.
So, just to let you know what's going on.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Summer's almost done
I can't believe that my last post was at the beginning of July. But I really didn't have anything to report because I haven't done a stitch (unintended pun) of work since the summer started.
Between the trains rides to and from camp, the short work weeks, and our visitors (who we very much enjoyed having), I haven't been in my studio at all, except to unload stuff which I didn't know where else to put...
Yesterday, our Fibrearts Toronto group met and did indigo dyeing. As much as I dislike getting my hands dirty, I did enjoy the experience and came out with a few pieces which I may actually use somehow.
And this morning, I did go into my studio and started organizing a little and unpicking some stitching from Inbal's quilt. I hope to spend a little time each day in my studio so that it is organized by September 1st. I always feel like it's a new year at the beginning of the school year even though I don't have anyone at school. And I'm hoping to get several projects underway or started projects completed.
Between the trains rides to and from camp, the short work weeks, and our visitors (who we very much enjoyed having), I haven't been in my studio at all, except to unload stuff which I didn't know where else to put...
Yesterday, our Fibrearts Toronto group met and did indigo dyeing. As much as I dislike getting my hands dirty, I did enjoy the experience and came out with a few pieces which I may actually use somehow.
And this morning, I did go into my studio and started organizing a little and unpicking some stitching from Inbal's quilt. I hope to spend a little time each day in my studio so that it is organized by September 1st. I always feel like it's a new year at the beginning of the school year even though I don't have anyone at school. And I'm hoping to get several projects underway or started projects completed.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Cough sneeze sniffle
I have been down with a touch of the flu or a very bad cold or both. I was off work for a week. Normally I'd say -- great, I can stitch. But I was so miserable coughing, sneezing, sniffling with a fever and headache so I did nothing but sleep, cough, sneeze and sniffle. On Saturday, I finally got around to sandwiching and pinning version 1 of Inbal's quilt. I now have version 2 sandwiched on the dining room table but have run out of pins.
Yesterday, I considered walking from work to Fabricland (two blocks) but didn't feel I had the strength for so much activity -- shows how out of it I've been. So, I may just have to quilt version 1 today to free up the pins...
Our poor garden is so neglected. When I got home from work yesterday, I rushed to finally mow the lawn because rain clouds were hovering. It didn't rain. This morning, I went into the backyard to do a little weeding and without much work managed to fill one of those big gardening bags. And it barely made a dent. Some of the garden areas are lovely -- the sweet woodruff has filled in very nicely. The raised brick planter is disintegrating. The raised wooden planter is rotting. From afar, it looks lush. From close up it looks out of control. Especially a lovely green-red variegated perennial which keeps sending shoots all over the place.
I am hoping to make it up to camp this coming weekend and bearing that it mind, I have no plans for today other than to stitch and "veg".
There, I've blogged.
Yesterday, I considered walking from work to Fabricland (two blocks) but didn't feel I had the strength for so much activity -- shows how out of it I've been. So, I may just have to quilt version 1 today to free up the pins...
Our poor garden is so neglected. When I got home from work yesterday, I rushed to finally mow the lawn because rain clouds were hovering. It didn't rain. This morning, I went into the backyard to do a little weeding and without much work managed to fill one of those big gardening bags. And it barely made a dent. Some of the garden areas are lovely -- the sweet woodruff has filled in very nicely. The raised brick planter is disintegrating. The raised wooden planter is rotting. From afar, it looks lush. From close up it looks out of control. Especially a lovely green-red variegated perennial which keeps sending shoots all over the place.
I am hoping to make it up to camp this coming weekend and bearing that it mind, I have no plans for today other than to stitch and "veg".
There, I've blogged.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Back from camp
So I spent two weeks with Menachem up at camp. Busy days trying to get the physical aspect of things into place.
Just opening all of the shutters on the dining hall/kitchen, rec hall, staff buildings and cabins takes at least half a day.
Major projects?
We painted the kitchen -- not an easy feat because the previous paint had chipped terribly. Menachem did the scraping which alone took almost a full day. In many places, he scraped down to the original plywood. After the first coat of primer, we decided to do a second because the walls were so uneven. Even after the final coat you can still see the scraped patches but at least it looks clean and fresh. The way we do paint work is that I do all the "below waist " cut-ins (so Menachem doesn't have to get down on his bad knees) while Menachem does the ceiling cut-ins (so I don't have to climb up on a ladder). Then while Menachem paints the ceiling and walls, I am the "paint police" pointing out the areas that he may have missed with the roller.
We also painted the boy's washroom in the upper camp area. Also a two day job with a lot of uncomfortable "below waist" work -- behind the toilets, under the sink countertop, within the stalls. We were planning to do the girls' washroom as well but realized we wouldn't have enough paint, didn't want to buy any more, and realized that we were too pooped to continue painting. Maybe next year.
Then we put up the third tent in the tent area. It isn't really a difficult task but you need patience to follow the instructions step by step and it is time consuming.
We set up the office and checked the equipment and internet (dial-up) was working, opened the rec hall and evicted the raccoon family, set up Avichai's room with a queen bed (box spring from the local waste site re-use area) and mattress from Yaron's former room. Those babies were heavy!!
What with organizing the Shomria Hut (maintenance supply hut), powerwashing the kitchen metro shelving, degreasing the stove hood and ceiling fans, a little of this and a little of that, the days went by.
We spent Sunday washing down the walk-in fridge and half of the pantry in anticipation of the first food order and rehanging the shelves and stuff we had taken down to paint the kitchen.
Although I used to go up by train every weekend on Friday afternoon and return Sunday nights, not arriving home until midnight. This year I am hoping to return Monday mornings, catching the 6:30 a.m. train from Smiths Falls, arriving in Toronto between 10 and 10:30 and then subway it up to work by 11:00ish.
Yesterday was my first train ride and it went well. We're up early anyways and I read and snoozed on the train. I had baggage -- a carryon with clothes and my quilting "portfolio". Although I had taken stuff up to camp to work on, the only fabric related work I did was to cut my scraps into 2" squares for a future project. Next train ride, I hope to carry only my purse since I left clothes and toiletries at camp. OK, I may carry a bag with quilt supplies in case the muse strikes (I also left a sewing machine at camp...)
After work today, I have to mow the lawn, finish my Pomegranate challenge (well not finish but at least have it ready to show what I've done up til now) and figure out if I'm taking anything for Show and Share.
And that's all she wrote.
Just opening all of the shutters on the dining hall/kitchen, rec hall, staff buildings and cabins takes at least half a day.
Major projects?
We painted the kitchen -- not an easy feat because the previous paint had chipped terribly. Menachem did the scraping which alone took almost a full day. In many places, he scraped down to the original plywood. After the first coat of primer, we decided to do a second because the walls were so uneven. Even after the final coat you can still see the scraped patches but at least it looks clean and fresh. The way we do paint work is that I do all the "below waist " cut-ins (so Menachem doesn't have to get down on his bad knees) while Menachem does the ceiling cut-ins (so I don't have to climb up on a ladder). Then while Menachem paints the ceiling and walls, I am the "paint police" pointing out the areas that he may have missed with the roller.
We also painted the boy's washroom in the upper camp area. Also a two day job with a lot of uncomfortable "below waist" work -- behind the toilets, under the sink countertop, within the stalls. We were planning to do the girls' washroom as well but realized we wouldn't have enough paint, didn't want to buy any more, and realized that we were too pooped to continue painting. Maybe next year.
Then we put up the third tent in the tent area. It isn't really a difficult task but you need patience to follow the instructions step by step and it is time consuming.
We set up the office and checked the equipment and internet (dial-up) was working, opened the rec hall and evicted the raccoon family, set up Avichai's room with a queen bed (box spring from the local waste site re-use area) and mattress from Yaron's former room. Those babies were heavy!!
What with organizing the Shomria Hut (maintenance supply hut), powerwashing the kitchen metro shelving, degreasing the stove hood and ceiling fans, a little of this and a little of that, the days went by.
We spent Sunday washing down the walk-in fridge and half of the pantry in anticipation of the first food order and rehanging the shelves and stuff we had taken down to paint the kitchen.
Although I used to go up by train every weekend on Friday afternoon and return Sunday nights, not arriving home until midnight. This year I am hoping to return Monday mornings, catching the 6:30 a.m. train from Smiths Falls, arriving in Toronto between 10 and 10:30 and then subway it up to work by 11:00ish.
Yesterday was my first train ride and it went well. We're up early anyways and I read and snoozed on the train. I had baggage -- a carryon with clothes and my quilting "portfolio". Although I had taken stuff up to camp to work on, the only fabric related work I did was to cut my scraps into 2" squares for a future project. Next train ride, I hope to carry only my purse since I left clothes and toiletries at camp. OK, I may carry a bag with quilt supplies in case the muse strikes (I also left a sewing machine at camp...)
After work today, I have to mow the lawn, finish my Pomegranate challenge (well not finish but at least have it ready to show what I've done up til now) and figure out if I'm taking anything for Show and Share.
And that's all she wrote.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Off to Camp
Although I usually have every intention of posting frequently, sometimes it just doesn't work out. And since I'm off to camp Sunday for two weeks, I doubt if I'll get much posting done. But you never know.
I haven't really gotten a lot done fabric wise recently. Well that's not entirely true. I have been cutting up my scraps from previous projects into 2 inch and 1.5 inch squares. I hope to make a quilt with them. And I am working on the Pomegranate Guild "Women of the Bible" challenge for June 18th. I am making a tree, using the Hebrew words for mother, daughter, sister and wife. The tree top is fabric "paper" cutting (the Judaic art of paper cutting but done in fabric instead of paper) and the tree trunk which was supposed to be microcalligraphy on fabric is now writing on fabric. I'm not sure the letter size would qualify for micro and the lettering is in my regular handrwriting Hebrew script. I have fused the tree to a linen-like off-white background and now have to figure out what to do next. I may try to do some free motion scribbling tomorrow morning before we head out.
Which brings me to my next dilemma -- what work to take with me to camp. I am taking up a sewing machine but not my new machine so I can't do any fancy stitching. I have taken the remaining scraps with me to continue cutting into squares. If the muse strikes, I may start machine piecing.
I have also taken several books, including the Art Quilt Workbook. I have signed up on line for a group working through the book and June is chapter 1. I have to chose a theme and I think I will make it about the camp's natural surroundings -- the trees, plants, the lake, the landscape. I know, not terribly original but that's what there is.
Lest anyone think that I am going up to camp to loll about, I am joining Menachem for two weeks to help him open the buildings, paint the kitchen ceiling and walls, clean and organize. I may not have the strength or inclination to do much of anything let alone create after a hard day's work.
I hope to take at least one workshop while in Perth but won't say anything further until I've actually made the arrangements.
I haven't really gotten a lot done fabric wise recently. Well that's not entirely true. I have been cutting up my scraps from previous projects into 2 inch and 1.5 inch squares. I hope to make a quilt with them. And I am working on the Pomegranate Guild "Women of the Bible" challenge for June 18th. I am making a tree, using the Hebrew words for mother, daughter, sister and wife. The tree top is fabric "paper" cutting (the Judaic art of paper cutting but done in fabric instead of paper) and the tree trunk which was supposed to be microcalligraphy on fabric is now writing on fabric. I'm not sure the letter size would qualify for micro and the lettering is in my regular handrwriting Hebrew script. I have fused the tree to a linen-like off-white background and now have to figure out what to do next. I may try to do some free motion scribbling tomorrow morning before we head out.
Which brings me to my next dilemma -- what work to take with me to camp. I am taking up a sewing machine but not my new machine so I can't do any fancy stitching. I have taken the remaining scraps with me to continue cutting into squares. If the muse strikes, I may start machine piecing.
I have also taken several books, including the Art Quilt Workbook. I have signed up on line for a group working through the book and June is chapter 1. I have to chose a theme and I think I will make it about the camp's natural surroundings -- the trees, plants, the lake, the landscape. I know, not terribly original but that's what there is.
Lest anyone think that I am going up to camp to loll about, I am joining Menachem for two weeks to help him open the buildings, paint the kitchen ceiling and walls, clean and organize. I may not have the strength or inclination to do much of anything let alone create after a hard day's work.
I hope to take at least one workshop while in Perth but won't say anything further until I've actually made the arrangements.
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