A Fun, Lovely, Busy, Creative Week

On Thursday evening, I attended a meeting of the Quilters Connection Quilt Guild in Watertown. From the sale table, I purchased two large bags of silk ties. I didn't really have a plan for them, but I do from time to time do some crazy quilting and the price was right at $3.00 per bag! I have an idea for a modern crazy quilt that would incorporate some of these ties. I also did a bit of searching online and found a wonderful Youtube tutorial "Using Silk Ties to Create Beautiful Scarves by Pat Statzer." It seemed like something fun to try, and I had a silk scarf from a Shibori class that I had taken at Cannizzarro Creations in Rockland. For some reason the color didn't really take, and there were just small patches of blue on it so I decided to use that scarf. After picking up a big, old pot at Goodwill, I was all set to give it a try last night. It was easy and quick and so much fun to unwrap the packet.

When I had first opened the bag of ties, I discovered  . . . good news . . . the ties had already been opened and the linings removed.  This was also the bad news as there were no labels to indicate which ties were 100% silk or not. This process only works with 100% silk, and the tutorial indicated that it sometimes doesn't even work then. 

Here is my first scarf.

I did learn a few things from this first attempt. In the tutorial on Youtube, the artist cuts thin strips from the ties; I chose to cut larger pieces for mine and I like that effect better. The artist used ties that still had the lining inside, but my pieces did not. I simple cut bigger pieces and folded them over to create a double thickness. You will see why this was necessary if you watch the tutorial. You lay silk pieces on half the scarf and then the other half of the scarf and muslin is folded back over the piece before the whole thing is rolled up. Don't worry. The process is super easy and well explained in the video.

Next time, I will not use any red pieces as red dye is so strong that it tended to overpower many of the other pieces. That was not entirely bad as it gave the background a nice, pinkish color wash.

One other tip . . . I read somewhere that you should always rinse and dry the white scarf before attempting any kind of dyeing. It is supposed to better prepare the scarf for the dyes in the ties. I'll try that next time.

Here I have placed a few pieces of the ties that I used on the scarf by the effects that they created.

It was a fun, easy, inexpensive process, and I urge you to give it a try. I can not wait to try it again!

I also attended a meeting of the Crosstown Quilters on Tuesday where my friend Edith showed off her latest quilt. She had taken a Big Island Sunset class with Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill at the Herring Run Guild. You may purchase the pattern for the Big Island Sunset quilt at Whole Circle Studio.

Besides two guild meetings, I also met friends for breakfast one day and for lunch on another day. Life is good!

I did do some quilting which I will share in an upcoming post.

Have a fun, creative, lovely week.

Storm at Sea and Crosstown Quilt Guild Meetings

On October 22nd, David Sirota presented a workshop at the Crosstown Quilters Guild in Weymouth. The subject was his "No More Tears Paper Piecing" version of the Storm at Sea quilt pattern. I can attest that there were no tears as he led us through his "easy" paper piecing method. David is a wonderful instructor.

At today's meeting, Jeanne Y. showed her completed piece.

I also showed mine. I was very happy with my choice of a deep blue batik with purple, fuchsia, and green swirls which created a sense of movement.

The show and tell section of the meeting was as always great fun. Joyce D. made this flag quilt to donate to Anne M.'s efforts. Anne collects quilts and pillowcases to be given to the children of soldiers being deployed. Back to Joyce . . . Joyce made not one, but two flag quilts for this very good cause. 

After our business meeting, show and tell, and refreshments, it was time for our speaker, Elizabeth Sylvan. Let me just say, WOW! WOW! and another WOW! What amazing quilts she showed us. As seen on the easel, she created an amazing landscape from fabric pieces right before our eyes. She took us step by step through her process, and it was fascinating. Be sure to visit her website to see her schedule and some of her work in her galleries.  Her presentation captivated everyone in attendance.

Today's Crosstown Quilters Guild Meeting

 
Harvey Leonard, chief meteorologist on Channel 5, remarked tonight that we have had significant rain on thirty-three of the last forty-one days. In fact, last night we even had a nor'easter with even more pouring rain and wind. Though today dawned cold, wet, raw, dismal, and miserable, it didn't deter sixty-two members from attending this morning's Crosstown Quilters Guild meeting. Warmth and laughter filled the hall.

After our business meeting, we voted on a quilt which will represent our guild at this summer's Lowell Quilt Museum's annual guild display. Edith's Blooming Nine Patch was selected from a field of positively lovely entries, any one of which would have represented our guild well. (I thought that I had a photo of Edith's quilt, but unfortunately it doesn't appear that I do.)

Then it was on to an awesome Show and Tell session. I'm including a few photos throughout this post for you to enjoy.

 I loved Linda's hexagon quilt with its exquisite free motion quilting.

And look . . .  Ann's quilt even had feet!!! ( I couldn't resist not cropping this one. :-)

We saw many completed versions of our guild mystery quilt that had been designed by Laurie G.  What fun it was to see the color and fabric choices that were made.

And after last month's string quilt workshop with Mary Cannizzarro of Cannizzarro Creations many brought their colorful quilts.

Pssst . . . Don't get your hopes up, but Harvey also said that the upcoming weekend might be warm and dry . . . Keep your fingers crossed.

Another Sunday Smorgasbord

 This cheerful, smiling scarecrow family greets passersby in my neighborhood.

After church this morning, I visited the old, colonial High Street Cemetery in Hingham, MA. The trees are beautiful and the early signs of the foliage changing may be viewed here.

The Whiting Chapel . . .

At the summit, across from the chapel is a memorial to the Grose family. I searched but could not find any information on the statue. This beautiful figure holds a large key. To what? I don't know.

 

So, do you have plans for next weekend?  Why not come to the Crosstown Quilters Guild Show, "Wrapped in Comfort" at the Abington Senior Center,  441 Summer Street, Abington, MA!!! The hours are 10-4:00 on Saturday and 10- 3:00  on Sunday. The admission is $5.00. There will be a hundred quilts on display. If you are a quilter, note: we will have vendors!!! If you are a not a quilter, come see some stunning quilts and bring your Christmas shopping list since there will be a wonderful boutique of handcrafted items. (Some lovely pocketbooks for the boutique were shown at the last guild meeting; come do some early holiday shopping. :-)

On the reading front, I just finished  Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schulyer Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie.  Since the phenomenal success of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway show based on Ron Chernow's biography of Hamilton, this founding father has become a household name. Though I was an American History minor in college, I'll admit my knowledge of Hamilton was limited to a few key items: his troubled youth, his founding of the treasury system, and the duel with Aaron Burr. When I saw "Dear Hamilton" offered on BookBub, I decided to give it a try. It tells the story of Alexander Hamilton from the point of view of Eliza, his wife, a truly remarkable woman in her own right. I learned so much about the early days of our country from reading this book. If you think politics is nasty today, it may well have even been worse in those times. 

I recommend this book, but if history isn't your thing, at least please take a moment to read this short Smithsonian article, "Why Elizabeth Hamilton is Deserving of a Musical of Her Own."  As I indicated above, she was a remarkable, remarkable woman.

Now if you have read this far, I am going to make it worthwhile for fellow pistachio loving fans. :-) You know how there are always a few nuts that you just can not open without risking destroying your nails? Well, I recently came across a tip which will amaze you. If you have a stubborn nut, simply put the tip of a half shell of an already cracked nut into the slit and give it a little twist. The shell will then magically open. Try it. You'll be amazed, too.  :-)  :-)  :-)