Quilting Arts Holiday!

So delighted and honored to be included in this holiday issue!

And they used my wool pieces for this page! 

Here’s the actual pin cushion that I use in my home studio. Flower Power! Look for it in your favorite store! Woot!

Zen Stitching

I love to do handwork.  On an airplane, in my studio and at night at home.  It has become my nightly ritual with a lap of wool felt, embroidery thread, a long sharp needle and a pair of scissors

This project started because I had wanted something to hand stitch on a trip.  Who knew it would grow to become these great little squares of color, stitching and beauty?  Zen Stitching.  This is very relaxing work.  A group picture of what I have made so far

Made with wool felt, bamboo felt and wool.  The flowers are made from Sizzix die cuts, as well as the hexagons. Each element adds a little something to the square

Here are two just at the start, all pinned together ready for stitching

I am loving how different each one is

Felted flowers added and love the ric rac

The polka dot hexagons are felt too, from Target's Handmade section.

Flower Power and Teaching in NYC!

I have a couple projects in this year and I am dancing on the rooftops about it, because my work hasn't been in this particular magazine in a long time.  Here is the link

and it's all about these flowers!  Cut out on a Sizzix die cutting machine - The Big Shot for the Fabi.  I have a vast collection of flower dies.  I used Weeks Dye Works Wool and they came out beautifully.  Hand sewn with #8 perle cotton thread

Here's a nice stack of Weeks Dye Works Wool in solids and heringbone

This is the start of the small scarf that is featured in this issue as well.  I used Sizzix die cuts in hexagons and hand sewed them to another layer of wool by hand. You'll have to take a look at the issue to see how the flowers were incorporated

I got a little obsessed with making these flowers. I think they add alot to these felt stitchings.  This is a class that I teach called "Zen Stitching."  I am teaching it at the Quilt Alliance event in NYC in September for Quilters Take Manhattan.  This will be a very fun and relaxing 3-hour class!  I will have kits available to purchase. Here is the link

I am using #8 Perle cotton thread to hand sew

A variety of fabrics will be in the kit besides wool blended felt - some pre-fused sheers, commercial cottons and felt hexagons for some added fun!

These have been so relaxing to create.  I hope you will join me in NYC when I teach this class at City Quilter on Friday, September 25th

Zen Stitching

Zen Stitching.  Wool, wool blended felt, Bamboo felt. Some pieces were sewn on the machine and then hand stitched, mostly at night.  It is totally relaxing.

I love all of the bright colors, shapes and textures.  I dug into my wool treasure chest, and found the small flowers and the balls.  So fun!  #8 Perle Cotton embroidery thread

They also have some cottons and a sheers

Then I added some buttons and a negative cut from the Sizzix Fabi (Big Shot) die cutting machine (lower right hand corner).  Oh the size?  About 10x10

And some hexagons that were also cut on the Fabi machine.  The big flowers are also Sizzix dies.  There is a link to Sizzix in the right column.  I will be teaching this class at City Quilter in NYC in conjunction with Quilters Take Manhattan in late September of this year.