and the dear offspring gave me a surprise… they have updated my website and moved my blog…

so henceforth I will blogging be at catherineredford.com/blog They haven’t shown me how to actually add anything yet so it might be a day or so before there is anything new there. The optimism of youth expecting me to learn what to do is scary but I guess I’ll cope…

Enjoy!

New business cards and such to follow… They have decided I am a fiber artist theses days?

Not terribly exciting, but it serves its purpose. Kim Schaefer designed the fabrics for Andover - Four All Seasons Winter  Here’s a close up…

Now I just need to get on with the matching coasters…

That was my one published design… I actually submitted it before we moved here and it was published in the October ’95 issue and again in a Christmas special a few years later. Here it is in the original issue, along with my stitched out sample. All designed on graph paper with colored pencils. Those were the days…

I have no idea how I concentrated on all those little squares back then. I am not tempted to go back there in the slightest!

I’m sure his friends will tell him that slouchy hats are all the rage this year!

Indeed we saw lots of slouchy hats in Chicago where a fun weekend was had by all. It included a trip to “the bean”… I took 300 pictures but you have been spared all but one…

or two…

That was Steve and Trevor and Elizabeth investigating the rocks in the walls of the Tribune building. We had a really good couple of days enjoying the culture (art and music) and food of Chicago… I was not allowed to shop (much) but that was OK…

Thanksgiving was on its way and I decided to make this Bareroots candle mat from a kit that I found languishing in a drawer in the basement. I’m never sure if pumpkins are Halloween or Thanksgiving but these ones were definitely in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday. I whipstitched them down with some Aurifil wool thread and embellished them with the new Valdani 3 ply threads I bought in Madison.

and a close up…

We enjoyed a full house for Thanksgiving but everyone had people to see and places to go so I skipped out to a more than full class for Machine Quilting 2 instead of shopping on Black Friday. Hopefully everyone went home inspired to get some quilt tops finished into quilts but I was so busy I didn’t take any pictures…

While I was out Steve and Jonathan had taken themselves to the store and bought an Apple tv which means I can now make anyone unwise enough to express the slightest interest watch all my photos in glorious hi definition … I have more than 8000 pictures saved so it could take a while… you have been warned.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving I was back at Pieceful Heart to make FabricOrigami stars. A fun time was had by all and lots of stars were constructed…

Holiday over, house back to normal it was time to get the second set of borders on my Imperial Blooms quilt…

Just waiting for the backing fabric and I am ready to start the quilting.

This Saturday we were at Pieceful Heart Fabrics again. This time it was for a Leaf Bowl class… only most people wanted to make flower bowls…

Lots of thread painting…

some beads added with Aileen’s Jewel-it…

made for some pretty flower bowls…

with a leaf bowl from the more obedient member of the class…

To be fair, we had said that flower bowls were allowed, but the class was really for the leaves… I’m nothing if not flexible…

Meanwhile my Vistaprint order for  postcards to market my skills in African Folklore Embroidery were delivered….

I have mailed the first batch to guilds around Illinois. I am hoping for a positive response (some bookings would be nice) but I’m not sure if they will get where they are intended to go? So, I’m working on some alternative ideas… I am open to suggestions!

Meanwhile I am embroidering up some more samples… Here is my stitching station (complete with tv remote and both phones…one always rings just when I’ve sat down if I don’t have them handy)

You’ve got to know that there is something strange going on when you see me outside raking leaves at 8.30 in the morning… But there I was one morning this week, raking leaves for half an hour before I went out, which turned out to be a good thing because the City of Naperville had swept them all up by the time I returned at 11.

However, when I realized that Jennifer Chiaverini was coming to Naperville for a book signing at Anderson’s Book Store I made sure to adjust my schedule and be there!

I first met Jennifer at Paducah way back in 1999 when her first book The Quilter’s Apprentice had just been published and she didn’t know whether it would go to a paperback edition. Eighteen books later she was reading from The Wedding Quilt and graciously answering questions from the 50 or so ladies in attendance on Monday evening.

I got my book signed and Jennifer’s mom took a picture to record the event for posterity,

What a lovely time!

Meanwhile I have managed to find space for all my treasures from Houston. The second set of borders for Imperial Blooms are waiting for me on my desk downstairs. With a trip to Rockford planned for tomorrow and a weekend in Chicago booked they will just have to wait a little longer…

Cheryl was all ready to go at Make It University. She did a fantastic job with her classroom of students who all went away with a working light up ATC. Meanwhile I put my name in the jars for the Sketchbook Challenge Round Robin at 1.15 and Surviving the Runway at 5.30. There was plenty of time to do some shopping before lunch and get back in time for the name drawing…

I was delighted to hear my name called and got ready to have some fun.

First up was a little water color with Jamie Fingal. My leaf needs a few more details but I was quite happy with it.

Then we moved onto monoprints on a gelatin plate with Leslie Tucker Jenison. Two papers and two fabrics in less than 15 minutes.

The third station was stacked journalling with Judi Hurwitt. It took me back to High School days, making layers of words in different colors and styles.

We finished up with Jane LaFazio and some continuous line sketches.

It took some serious concentration to stay on task but, combining the excellent faculty and a great goody bag to take home, it was a very good one hour!

I recovered with more retail therapy and a diet Coke before returning to the MIU area ready for Surviving the Runway! I hit the jackpot again when Pokey pulled my number and eagerly started on a hat fit for a Royal Wedding… or not…

Combining paper towels, fun foam, pompoms and pipe cleaners with a black plastic boater doesn’t really make for a high level of elegance or excellence but here is my effort…

I went with the theme of just my cup of tea and completed the ensemble with a fan held together with duct tape. After a few turns around the exhibition floor hiding behind that veil, my willingness to make a complete fool of myself was rewarded with first prize!!

There were four bundles of fabric from Hoffman Bali’s, DVD’s and books from Interweave, crystals and jewelry from Swarovski, a gift certificate from PRO Chemical and Dye and Heat Moldable Stamping foam … a very surfeit of riches…

Thank you everyone who voted for me… I will try and live up to your confidence in my creative and design skills…

We ended the day with barbecue and dancing at Gala on the Green, followed by drinks with Robbi Joy Eklow while people watching in the hotel bar… An excellent day indeed!

On Sunday morning I spent a few happy hours in the quilt exhibits… Beautiful quilts from talented artists, too many to mention by name. I took lots of pictures so I can continue to be inspired now I am back home.

The Super Shuttle arrived on time and took us on a scenic route back to Hobby Airport for our flight home. We manage to fit all our purchases (and other stuff) in our suitcases thanks to Cheryl’s generosity with the space in her bags…

My luggage included a small something for Benjamin (thanks to the super Super Shuttle!!),

and a new carry on for me… Thank you SouthWest Airlines for continuing to allow two checked bags free, allowing me to get my new embellisher machine home safely…

Booking for next year opens next week. Sounds like an idea!!

Cheryl picked me up at 4.00 a.m. prompt and we drove to the airport. Apparently most sensible people were still in bed because the roads were clear and we were parked and checked in before sun rise. In fact I am pretty sure we took off in the dark…

But Houston was ready and waiting for our arrival…

The Hilton even had our room ready and we were able to check in and leave our bags upstairs before venturing into the world of Festival… there was a brief hiccup while I persuaded those that make decisions I really needed a ticket to the Gala…

But hiccups over off we went to pay homage to Cheryl’s quilt Road to Home in the  Tactile Architecture exhibit…

Still looking good!

And then we set off around the shops for a while before it was time for a nap… yes, I was sound asleep (probably snoring?) when Cheryl woke me up to return to business.

She had Open Studios in the Make it University area while I had more shopping to do… then dinner with friends and a reasonably early night.

Friday morning I headed downstairs at 8 (I must be keen) to meet up with the ladies from Pieceful Heart… Six of us jumped (clambered) into the Tahoe ready for an adventure. I’m glad I wasn’t driving as we took a roundabout tour of Houston and its environs.

First stop was breakfast (complete with Texas size biscuit) and then Quilter’s Emporium in Stafford. (hand dyed wools caught my eye…)

Debbie and Celeste look happy with their purchases…

Across town our next stop was Painted Pony ‘n Quilts in La Porte..

10,000 bolts of fabric later and a lovely chat with Cynthia Williford, who teaches embroidery at the store and had some wonderful work on display, we climbed back on board. We all had treasures to show… mine included pieces of  Tina Given’s fabric from her Pernilla’s Journey collection and co-ordinating shot cottons and some beautiful threads from the Thread Gatherers that Cynthia was showing…

We now headed back across town to somewhere else… I’m not too sure where… I didn’t make any purchases at the fabric store but we all got drinks at the Starbuck’s…

And then we headed towards It’s a Stitch in Humble… And as if we hadn’t had enough fun… Deb handled the situation with grace and charm but suffice to say we went around the same u-turn 3 times… Was it going to be worth it?

I think so. I bought a pattern for an applique armadillo and fabrics to make some Christmas gifts, so I did well and Nancy looks happy talking to the store ladies…

And everyone is smiling here, outside the store ready to go home…

If we hadn’t taken any detours Google maps puts our route at 152 miles, 3 hours 12  minutes but the TomTom lady had some interesting ideas so I am sure Deb drove far more than that! I was very content in the back…

We parted ways and I rejoined Cheryl to catch up on the day’s adventures. Then it was time for dinner at the III Forks with new friends from Artistic Artifacts…

Saturday would be another day… but more of that tomorrow!!

Steve laughed at me for getting up at 6.05 this morning to check in for our 6.10 am flight tomorrow… but now I’ve got my boarding pass and I know there will be a seat for me!

Yesterday I made some ATCs… I haven’t tried trading before but I’m ready for an adventure on my first trip to International Quilt Festival in Houston.

I made a 11 by 8 piece of fused and couched art on a piece of Fast2Fuse.  Then I printed out a sheet of my business cards onto quilt label fabric and put it on the back. I cut the cards out and satin stitched around the edges and added hot fix crystals and here they are…

Here’s a close up of one of them,

And a view of the other side…

“Quilter, teacher, speaker”… that’s me!!

I wanted to get my October blocks done for Imperial Blooms before I left. It was the top and bottom borders this month. I’m glad to report I achieved my goal and here they are, all sewn together and pressed.

Quite straightforward this month, but a lot of bullion stitches around the 12 large circles!!

All ready to go!!

Houston here I come!

Starting with the sticking…

I got up early on Sunday morning to finish a project for Pieceful Heart Fabrics. Zuri by  Debi Hobbs for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company is a delightful giraffe that will be offered as a kit in the next few weeks. Bigfork Bay always do a wonderful job on the eyes on their patterns and this one is no exception. Zuri has long eyelashes to set off her large soulful eyes…

Then it was time to go to the shop ready for a seasonal Quilter and Child class. That’s where the Santas and Snowmen showed up!

We had a full class room ready to get to work making fused fabric banners. (more sticking!)

Tracing required concentration…

so that our Wonder Under could be fused with a hot iron to the back of our fabrics,

and then lots of careful cutting, some enjoying grandma’s company!

Others worked with mom!

Then we could assemble our pictures,

ready for a final press…

and a group photograph.

Everyone used the same pattern, A Twinkling Xmas Pair by Yolanda V. Fundora but there were some original fabric choices to keep life interesting. Well done girls! I hope I will see you again soon.

My last “S” is for scissors. Good scissors make all our projects so much easier. When I was in Cincinatti I spent some time talking to the nice people on the Havel’s stand and was delighted to receive a call when I returned home asking for my mailing address so they could send me a box of goodies! There were rotary cutters, scissors and snips in all shapes and sizes in the package. I have to admit that the pink handles on the scissors are what make me smile but they do actually cut well too!!

Here are a few of this week’s favorites. The 5 1/2″ serrated embroidery scissors are great for cutting out intricate fused shapes. The snips hang around my neck at the machine. I like the curved tips to cut my ends close on embroidery and the larger scissors are a good all purpose pair. They all come with safety caps which are necessary when the scissors are sharp all the way down to the tips. Thank you Havel’s. I am enjoying your generous gift!!

A full class assembled for Machine Quilting 1 at Pieceful Heart Fabrics. We started the class by making a sample quilt top, marking seam lines…

and pressing carefully from the front.

Then there was a discussion of batting, threads and needles, all very important details to consider when finishing your quilt.

Next came pin basting, with lots of safety pins evenly spaced across the top…

and then at last we got to the quilting… a walking foot kept everything smooth and controlled.

Machine Quilting 2 follows in November. We will be dropping our feed dogs… come prepared for fun!

Meanwhile Steve’s parents were in town. Their great grandchildren were offered for inspection…

They passed!!

On Sunday afternoon we went for a quick stroll at Morton Arboretum. We admired the fall colors and the ornamental kale…

and I came home with the inspiration to make a quilt…

I am calling it Fall Afternoon. Each piece is 8″ x 11″. It’s fused batik pieces with couched yarn spirals. I needed an entry for the Fiber Art Divas shown that started on Saturday at the Naperville Art League. Sometimes a deadline is a wonderful thing!!

Linda put together a banner for the entryway using squares from individual “divas”. Mine is the spiral underneath Cheryl’s little robot sewing person.

I have  managed to be out of town during the show for the previous two years. It was fun to do demos on opening day. It’s a really nice display of quilts and fiber art. The gallery has lots of natural light during the day and excellent illumination in the evening.

And then the Imperial Blooms BOM program continues…

September’s block from Sue Spargo offered a few challenges. The double cast on stitch flowers cannot be rushed and it took a good while to finish my square.

Here is a close up of the tufted center…

That makes nine flower blocks completed. I have never spent so much time on one quilt. I laid them out ready to sew together…

Just the borders now!!

My Power Suit quilt went on display with 106 others at Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria, VA on Saturday. Looking at other blog entries mine appears quite plain and simple. I am now at liberty to reveal it in its entirety so here is Impenetrable!!

I hope my statement explains things a little more…

Impenetrable

July 2011

Pondering the challenge brought to mind the ultimate power suit, the “armor of God” of Ephesians 6, impenetrable to whatever trials the world might throw my way. 

Ancient chain mail inspired this piece of felted wool suiting discs on a pieced cotton shirting background. The circles are linked with metallic yarn threaded through steel washers from the hardware store.

The quilts will be on display through November 23 and will then travel next year. I am planning on catching up with them at Road to California. Another reason to fly west in January!