Eye of the Beholder

Today is the reveal of the Fiberactions "Transformation" challenge.

Again, I have chosen to do two pieces. Since so much of my work is about the quilted design and often incorporates painted elements, the word “Transformation” seemed right up my alley.  So I did two identical pieces, one white work, one with color. The same, yet different…



A few weeks ago, someone on an online list that I read occasionally made the comment that she did not think painted quilts deserved to be included in quilts shows, especially the big national shows.  Her rationale was that first of all, those who made such quilts were all professionally trained artists so they should have their own show...not with quilters like her who have spent years perfecting her piecing and appliqué skills.

Someone pointed out that not all who make painted quilts are trained artists; and that her idea of a quilt "worthy of show" also eliminates the traditional wholecloth.   The original poster then modified her stance to include traditional white work as "worthy" but maintained her stance on painted quilts.

That little exchange is what prompted me to do two pieces for this challenge of the  identical design...one white work, one with color.

So does the addition of color diminish the "worth"  of this quilt?





Not in my view, in fact my preference is the one in color.  My first thought when reading that thread for the first time was how sad it is that some would be so exclusionary.  Me...I think there is room for all of us in the quilt world.  And I love seeing all types of quilts in a show.  Even if they are not my "style"  I still can appreciate the beauty and skill it took to create them.

So, "Eye of the Beholder"; two wholecloth quilts,both began life as white PFD fabric and one identical drawing.... one painted with thickened fiber reactive dyes.   Both 16 x20 inches, two layers of batting(cotton &wool), Superior threads(metallic & So Fine) used. More photos below.











Be sure to head over to Fiberactions and see the work of the other artists.

A Little Needle Felting

I finished another scarf, nothing fancy. So I decided to embellish it a little bit.  The plain scarf...



I have tons of hand dyed wool roving (silk too) but for this wool scarf, I'm using wool roving. I'm needle felting this by hand.



I decided to do the flower directly on the scarf, so I just stitched a general outline with yarn and then started building up the layers little by little.



Needling both sides of the scarf to make sure all the fibers are firmly felted through, petal by petal.



For the leaf, I decided to form that shape on the mat first





And then felt it to the scarf and we're done.



That perks that plain scarf right up!

And the socks are coming along...almost time to start the heel flap, so cover your ears...there may be some bad words flying!

A Crafting Hoarder??

Vicki posted this query on her blog tonight.  I had to confess,lol.  She did ask what the weirdest thing you kept was, and this thing popped into my mind first.



In case you don't recognize it, it's a glade plug in air freshener.  I used to keep one in the cat box room before I found the  lava rocks.

That great leaf vine cutout in the plastic makes great printing and molding tool!  Really!!

Yeah, I know I'm sick. :)

And We Have a Cuff!

Actually two.  I got the cuff ribbing finished and have started on the legs... whew!  It has gotten much easier, and I don't feel quite as stupid or uncoordinated.  So that's a relief...I might get this done after all!



And just when everything was going so well........  I'm sure you noticed and are wondering why the sock on the right has 3 tails instead of one.



I'm knitting along, and all of a sudden the yarn ends!  I look down and find Harry with the other end in his mouth...he chewed through the strand!  I guess the dangling yarn was just too much temptation.  And this is the look I got when asking him why he did that.



And when I told him he better not do that again, he stuck his tongue out at me!



Hmmm, I wonder what he was muttering under his breath?

And on to Socks....

I finally have read and re-read, and watched videos until I decided the time was now to cast on that first pair of socks.  Well, it has only taken me 2 days and 10 times of ripping out to finally get the first round of ribbing completed!  I had a hell of a time working with the two needles...I feel so uncoordinated.

It's no where near perfect, but correct enough to be able to press on.  I sure hope it gets easier, my poor kitties are hearing too many bad words!



You'll notice I gave up trying to match the coloring of the yarn between the two socks.

Finished!

Don't you just love the shimmer of metallic thread? I sure do!  My Fiberactions November challenge piece based on the word "Transformation" is finished.



Just a few more days until the 15th and the reveal, so stay tuned!

Work Continues

I'm making good progress on both the quilt on the frame and my Fiberactions challenge piece.  Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy so if it is, I won't be turning the Gammill on.  But that will allow me to finish up the challenge top and get it ready for quilting.

The big news is a cold front coming through tomorrow (the reason for the weather forecast) that will bring nighttime temps into the 40's this weekend!! That's downright chilly for this part of the world...guess I'll be able to turn the AC off for a few days!

On the knitting front, I bought a pair of addi turbos to try.  I think I like them for the worsted weight yarns, but I still prefer the Harmony needles from KnitPicks for the fingering weight.

I finished the hat and have started the matching scarf...I haven't taken photos yet though, maybe tomorrow.

Instead I'll leave you with some more peeks of the challenge piece progress.