How to Sew a Circle

It is amazing how many different ways people have figured out to sew circles. It really isn't easy to do. But look at this way that Marla showed us. 

Iron freezer paper circle shape onto back of fabric where you want the inserted circle. Cut the hole leaving 1/2 inch extra. Cut snips in the 1/2 inch sewing allowance, up to the circles edge. Iron so the the snips are turned with fabric side showing. Glue your circle insert to the snips. Iron to set the glue. Remove freezer paper. Sew along the ironed crease. Voila. Circle insert. 

Marla's Dye Class

In order to learn more about dyeing fabric, I attended a class on dyeing by a member of the local art quilting guild, Mavericks, that I just joined. 

Marla has a very amazing space to work in. Her entire home seems to be dedicated to creating!  Her house is filled with artistic creations, she has a huge studio area and her entire back yard is a wet studio (including her pool)!

There were four of us in the class. Marla showed us the basics and then let us 'play'.  We had a blast!!

Marla mixes her dyes very concentrated in large recycled juice jugs. She only wets her fabrics in soda ash, she doesn't necessarily soak them for 30 minutes as suggested. Then she puts some dye concentrate in a bowl adds part or all of the cloth. She will add some pre-mixed soda ash water to the bowl for lighter colours. The totally soaked with dye piece of cloth then goes into a plastic bag and sits in the sun. It cures for a couple of hours and then is rinsed out. Check out where she does her rinsing!!  Then the cloth is washed in a washing machine with some Synthrapol which gets out the last of the extra dye. Voila. Your own dyed fabric. 

Preparing for Dyeing

I'm helping Madonna out at her store Mad Bs Quilt and Sew by doing some dyeing classes. I was preparing some samples this week. I was using squares of prepared for dyeing cotton fabric. 

I did three tie dyeing techniques:  spiral, accordion fold and rosettes. The last example is using a flag fold. It looks great. Almost like a mandala. 

Quilt Show Entries

I'm entering Windy Point into two quilt shows in 2016. Once in the Arizona Quilt Guild show in Mesa in March. Then in the Canadian Quilt Show in June. It will be interesting to see the judges comments. And even more interesting is to be a 'fly on the wall' and listen to viewers comments during the shows. Always fun!!

Filly's Idol Contest

I attended the finals in the Filly's Idol Contest with Chris and friends. There were three finalists. The two women we're very good. 

The view from the patio was outstanding!!  Gorgeous sunshine on the Superstition Mountains, full moon and horses tied to the hitching posts. How much more country than that could you get!!

Good food and drink, wonderful music, beautiful view and fun conversation. A great afternoon!!

Home for Sale

I drove out to see Chris in Gold Canyon. She has put her home there up for sale. It is a gorgeous remote location. She has an awesome view of South Superstition Mountain from her deck and bedroom!!  It is a three bedroom home and she has it listed for $215,900. Anyone interested give me a call and I will put you in contact with Chris. 

Vision Gallery

Just down the street from the Chandler Gallery is the Vision Gallery. They were showing a display called, Textile in Retrospect featuring artworks by Loraine Sample. I have never heard of this fibre artist before, so I will have to google about her. I really enjoyed her pieces. They are large; contain odd additions of buttons, wood, metal; deceptively simple in construction; but stunning!