starting something new

Ok I am determined to write a book.First I said I needed something to write about. Got it.It needed to be something different and interesting to me. Got itI needed a new computer so I knew it would not crash and I would lose everything. Got it

I needed time to just write. Can make it.

So what excuses do I have now?

Not enough room. In the winter my work space is limited to what I can do in a recliner in our tiny cabin.As I am writing a book on an innovative quilting technique (hey there is a bigger market than you may think.) it would be nice to have the space to actually play with the fabric more. But I can at least write up what I have tried so far and some generalities that apply. I can set up my formats and work on photos of the work I have done so far.Soon (ok this is a relative term to mean sometime in the next year) I hope to have it more or less pulled together and ready to print. I have a friend who is self publishing her science fiction novels and she has become quite the expert on the publishing thing.

Expectations: I may sell a few copies to friends and probably give away more than I sell.Hopes: it will be well received and I may be invited to teach some classesDreams: It goes really well, I can quit my job, I get to travel all over teaching my techniques and become a well known artist.

But first.... start writing.

for a few more details about the subject go to my entry about the 1/4 yard challenge in "Rouches and ruffles"

ruching and ruffles

To me quilts should tell a story. Even if the story is not obvious to the casual observer.
Some of my fabric creations are made to sell. cat toys, sleep masks...
Some pieces are made as gifts. Baby quilts, pillows, some are made for myself wall hangings and such.
My present project from the needle arts realm is a challenge piece. I got a 1/4 yard of the challenge fabric and the only criteria were that you could not get more of that fabric, and that you must use at least some of it in your piece.
I added my own challenge to myself. I wanted to use some of the 15 yards of assorted fabrics I picked up at the dumpsters that very same evening.
And so I decided to make a pillow. I have been playing with techniques to add dimension and texture to strip quilts. I have made one pillow with 3 d twists and knots that will become a gift to a friend.
This pillow is using some different ideas. ruffles and ruching with some of the strips.
My hope is that these ideas will translate into a class I can offer at the retreat to get some discounts on the cost of the weekend at the hot springs.
Thats is the best thing about this kind of project there are stories and there are hopes and there are chances to play and learn.

Watch out for Number 2

This is my self discovery of the day.
When I get an idea I usually spend some time thinking about it, rehearsing the making of it, and then putting together the bit and pieces need to make it.

But then there are times like this morning.
I have some fleece scarves I made a few years ago that did not sell. They are spiral scarves and they did not sell because there were always at least five or more vendors with scarves that year.
So I decided it might be fun the have the twirls cascading down from the top of a fleece hat. Awesome plan:
Go inventory scarves and see what color fleece I would need to get. But hey wait! look I had fleece too. So I jumped right to the sewing machine and tried my idea. Awesome! Prototype looked cool and went together quickly and smoothly. 

On to the next one.
Here I tried some short cuts, that did not save me time, I also tried changing the stitching as I did not need stretch stitching on all parts of the hat.
 Ugh what a disaster. thread breaking and just a mess as my machine refuse to deal with 6-8 layers of fleece at a time. 
OK so a rethink. it had worked the first time, right. 
So back to the zig-zag on the heavy layers for hat number three and we were back to a sweet and easy project. 
SO watch out for number two, that is where short cuts and logical changes might really mess you up.