Thinking of spaces to create

 

I was thinking today about spaces people have to work in. (ie..their studios)  These are pictures that I had in my computer that I love when thinking about art creating spaces.  (Sorry if they are of your place..I just saved them and didnt post where I found them!)  Anyway...I love each of these for different reasons.  I had more pictures but when my computer crashed I lost them.  A couple of them are actually stores...but they could be turned into studio space just as easy...in my mind!  Again, I am just dreaming here...which is fun for me to do.  I do not have a room to play with until my son moves out next fall....and his room is very tiny!  But it will be mine...and I will finally have a space all my own for creating.  Trust me I will miss my son so much that I would rather he stay forever!  But lives moves onward and I will make the best of this.  It will basically be like a large walk in closet space!   But it does have a window and I am thinking I may have my husband put in a skylight.  Isnt if fun to look at creative space people work in? There is a whole magazine devoted to art studios called STUDIOS.  

I think I may get a subscription to this or just buy each one at Barnes and Noble..I have seen them there.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Sock Monkey Quilt!

I am working on my ideas for my next quilts.  I have decided on making a quilt for my daughter Hannah for Valentines Day.  I will let her choose...but I am thinking of poppies.  I am excited to go buy the fabric for this.

I also, just for fun I am going to make a sock monkey quilt using the original sox....am having fun in my mind thinking about how I will design this.  Stay tuned for further details! 

Just Dreaming...

I found this cool site where you can get old architectural elements/materials.  It is, to me, a treasure trove! Its called Buy Altered Antiques-Architectural Salvage Online.   I want my husband to someday build me a first floor master suite.  (So, when we are older we do not have to walk up our stairs.  I dream about it having 2 walk in closets, a beautiful bathroom, and large bedroom area with a fireplace across from the bed with 2 reading chairs.  That way I would have somewhere to go when I want to read and Tim is watching TV.  We do not have a family room.  But actually, as we get older I don't necessarily need a huge family room AND living room...that would be too much.  But two chairs in front of a nice fireplace would be perfect for our needs.  Off of this new bedroom, I want him to build me an art studio--a place to quilt and create! ( HEHEHE ...might as well dream big!!)  Anyway, I found this door.  Wouldnt this be cool as the entrance to our bedroom from our dining room? We would just have to put drapes on the other side for privacy.  My husband is a home builder so he could figure it out how to place this.  I just love it.  And then the other picture of  single door I like for our front door.  We are someday going to bump our front door out a ways and create a coat closet and entryway.  Right now, you just walk right into our dining room and there is no entryway.  Keep in mind...I am just DREAMING....but thats ok...right?

My new acquisition

This looks like tapestry art to me...but it says it is a print.  I have this thing for religious/catholic iconic art...I have this collection going on.  I just loved this and had to have it for my bedroom.  I know just the place for it!  I will take a picture when it finds a home.  Kind of odd...a lamb sacrifice at the alter with 2 women?

 I have decided to paint my bedroom this color.  It is Valspar  Gypsy Teal.  Again, I will take a picture of it when I am done.  I love this color!

Changed my name! Laura's Fiber Art World

Since my blog has become more than rug hooking to me...I changed my name to reflect my love of all things Fiber Art!  Sorry for any confusion.

Lunar eclipse! Winter Solstice 2010

Once every 500 years I think!  Pretty awesome.  I did not see it myself ...the weather here was foggy but thought I would share this video clip.

I love this. In the winter months and after closing my business I have often felt alone....

My X-mas gift from my husband

How sweet he is!  When I told him I finished my quilt my husband was so proud of me he just couldnt wait.  He brought out my new sewing machine!  Its a Singer-- Simple.  I dont know anything about it but I am very excited to figure it all out and give it a spin!  The sewing machine I made my first quilt on was....really old and klunky. (An old old Kenmore)  I love me husband....he is so supportive of me.  Someday I may want the nice digital ones especially made for quilting...like a Janome Horizon or a Bernina 440QE.....but seriously we cannot afford this luxury right now.  This new Singer will take me far!  I am so in love with my hubby that he cared enough to get this for me...all on his own!  It is by far better than what I was using. Plus it so portable with a nice case...so I can take it to classes and workshops!  Who knows I may keep and use it forever...sometimes the simple machines ,once you are totally used to using them, cannot be beat!  Its kind of like my old first guitar, a simple inexpensive guitar my mom bought for me when I was 13...but it is still my favorite guitar to play and I love the sound...and I do have more expensive guitars but I still really love my old one the best.  Thank you Timmy my love--I cant wait to try it out on my 2nd quilt!  I am totally hooked on quilting now!  I would love to take some classes now as well...life is good!

I finished!

With a week to spare, I finished my mom and dad's x-mas gift quilt!  This is my very first quilt.  Its not perfect but I love it!  I think they will like it too.  They have neutral and blue colors in their house and they love trees and birds ...just like me.  I cant wait to give it to them.  It really feels good to make your own gift.  Handmade with love! (The pictures arent that good...I will take some when the piece is on the wall at its final destination.)

Yummy for Chirstmas!

Peppermint Brownies-This is from the Framed Cooks blog I follow...an awesome blog by the way!

Peppermint Brownies, inspired by Fat Witch Bakery

• 1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup unbleached flour
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pound (3 1/2 cups) sifted confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
• 3 to 4 tablespoons milk or light cream, or to make smooth and spreadable
• 1/2 cup chopped candy canes

1. Line 9x9 inch baking pan with foil and spray with Pam.  Preheat oven to 350.

2. Mlet the butter and the bittersweet chocolate together in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

3. Beat together eggs, sugar and both extracts until smooth.  Add cooled chocolate mixture and mix until well blended.  

4. Sift flour and salt together directly into the batter and stir until well-combined.  Stir in white chocolate.  Spread into pan and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with crumbs, not batter.  Cool on rack until completely cool.

5. Cream butter, salt, and vanilla, beating with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar gradually, beating after each addition. Add 3 tablespoons milk or light cream, beating until smooth. Beat in more milk until desired spreading consistency is reached and the frosting is spreadable.

6. Spread over cooled brownies and sprinkle chopped candy canes on top.  Using sides of foil, lift brownies out of pan and on to cutting surface.  Cut into small pieces.

Passion

Today I am going to make some Fiber Art Rings

This is from the book "Simple Gifts" by Jennifer Worick.  The book also has a fantastic candy recipe to make salted caramels.  I will have you get the book for that.....that way I am encouraging you to get the book!  I plan on also embroidering on these rings as well....Going to give one to all my peeps this x-mas at our Book Club x-mas party this Thursday...if I can get it done!  I will take pictures.

Giveaway today to try! From Canton Village Works-Today Only

today one lucky p.s. i quilt reader gets a very conveted prize...
A WHOLE FAT QUARTER BUNDLE OF KONA SOLIDS!!!
i know...take a deep breath...it's okay.
THIS IS NOT MY GIVAWAY>>>PLEASE GO TO PSIQUILT.COM>>>LEAVE ALL COMMENTS THERE>>>  Thanks, Laura
so here's the deal...we're giving yall five chances to win!!!
one: leave me a comment.
two: follow my blog. or tell me if you already are.
three: "like" canton village works on facebook. or tell me if you already are.
four: sign up for canton village works e-news. or tell me if you already did.
five: spread the word via twitter, facebook or your blog.
{feel free to use my p.s. i quilt giveaway pic.}

make sure to leave a comment for EACH entry.
it makes my job much, much easier.
*winner will be drawn on saturday*

8 Inches of Snow here in Wisconsin!

After I blogged about my quilt which I have been so absorbed in all day...I hadnt even really noticed the weather that every one is talking about here!  8 inches of snow..and very cold.  But it is so pretty!  My son hasnt been too happy as he is the one out there shoveling 2 times today!  We live on a corner with sidewalks so there is quite a bit to do!  Poor David!  I keep trying to tell him how I had to shovel for my folks when I was young and LOVED it!  (Actually I did!-That was before I got tired of the cold and just plain tired!) 

Starting to quilt now-12 days of Christmas left to finish!!

Oh, This is making me nervous!  I got the sky done today....tomorrow will try to finish the trees....the tree quilting is not working out as I wanted...but like I said before I need to keep going with it.  Like when I paint, sometimes if I keep on truckin it ends up looking fine...I wanted the stitches to look scraggly but not sure if just looks like I stink at quilting...(which I do still!)  I think maybe when I get it loaded with scraggles it may look better and I also may do some painting on the bark as well....with oil paints...we will see....  I have 12 days of Christmas to finish this as it is a gift to my mom and dad for x-mas.

Done with everything except the quilting!!

Well...I have it all put together!  Now for the machine quilting!  I am nervous about this!  I am hoping it is fun rather than making me want to pull my hair out!  My machine is so old...and not really made for free motion quilting...and I have never done it before...so I am fretting!  But ONWARD!

An art quilt I am making for a gift

(See the kitty peeking out from where I am TRYING to work !  He has such a hard time leaving me alone!!)

I love all things fiber remember...so now I am making a quilt for my mom and dad for their x-mas gift.  This is the first appliqued quilt I have made.  Years ago I made some pieced "country" quilts and they still sit under my bed unfinished.  I am not into country anymore..and dont feel like continuing with the massive amount of hand quilting left on each!  Because I am rather impatient and like to see results quicker and also because I like the more contemporary shapes and landscapes etc...I love the applique process!  I am actually using the fusible web on this one.  So far I love it!  Its so fast.  What will be the deciding factor for me as to whether or not I will continue with the webbing...is if I can machine quilt-free motion good enough that makes it looks good in the end. I am a little worried about my ability to be able to free motion quilt on my very old and basic machine.  We shall see! I am going to give it a try.  My parents have a very neutral palette  for colors in their home and love nature and birds so I hope they love this.  Its a nice feeling to hand make their gift.  It feels more like a gift from my heart....a part of me that I am giving.
As you can see in one of the pics....my new kitty "Sage" is really making it hard to work!  He will not leave me alone and loves to cause havoc with my work!  I am trying to be patient!  He is also digging in all my plants and tormenting my older cat to the point where I am afraid my older cat is going to have a  nervous breakdown!  I had forgotten how much work a baby pet is!  I actually have to put him in a kitty timeout here and there..which he really hates....(his desire is to be with us at all times)...I am not sure animal experts think "time outs" work for cats...but we all sometimes need it!  I also got a spray bottle and we have been spraying him....but that's sometimes hard unless you carry the spray bottle wherever you are...by the time you run and get it and if you dont catch him right in the act I feel it doesn't work.