Something About Nothing

Sung to the tune of "Whip It" by Devo When a problem comes along, you must rip-it! Before the quilting goes too long, you must rip-it! When the stitchings goin' wrong, you must rip-it! Now rip-it into shape Stitches out Get it straight Go forward Move ahead Try to correct it It's not too late To rip-it Rip-it good! I bet you never knew that was a song about sewing, did you!   And for those who don't know what I'm talking about watch this: I first heard of Devo while sitting in a high school class after they made an appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1978. They were so different, out there and weird. Funny how they seem so tame now! Anyway, I'm off to do more ripping. Rip-it Good! And now, you need to run off and see what everyone else has been up to at Off the Wall Friday !

I decided to make a few pieces for the Amazing Alphabet   Readers Challenge  in  Cloth Paper Scissors  magazine.  The rules are to create an original 4"x 6" mixed media piece of lettering. I broke out my 6"x6" Gelli Plate .  I have used my larger plate a LOT, but haven't had a reason to use my smaller one yet and this seemed like the perfect project for it.  I added some acrylic paints to the plate, some homemade and store bought stencils and printed onto  Strathmore Mixed Media 100 lb paper .   I really should have cut more paper!   The pieces print up so quickly and I really enjoy adding extra layers.   I find mono-printing so relaxing. I don't have any photos of the process because I was having too much fun and forgot to pull out the camera. Some of the lettering was written directly onto the mono-printed pages and some were written on to white tissue paper and then applied to the mono-print...

*Shakes Head* I did it AGAIN. Forgot to wear gloves when dyeing. Can you guess what color dye I was using? This is my hand AFTER scrubbing. The bad thing about getting dye on your hands, other than spending hours scrubbing your hands, is that it shows just how dye and cracked your hands are. *sigh*

The Utah Surface Design Group has a show every year at the Michael Barry Gallery .  I will have 3 pieces in the show, which I will post about once they are hung later in the month.  The group always puts together something as a group for the show.  Last year we all made artist trading cards, the year before it was aprons (or maybe it was the other way around) and this year we are doing prayer flags. I used setacolor paints on silk hankies and then stenciled over the words faith, love and live.  The flags I saw turned in were just outstanding!  I can't wait to see them all hung across the gallery together.  I think they will be breathtaking!

One of my family's traditions is to make a lamb shaped pound cake for Easter. There was a time when we bought these cakes from the local bakery but then one year Grandma bought a mold and a new tradition was born! When my first child was born I inherited the mold and began a quest for the perfect Lamb Cake.  The pound cake recipe I had never quite worked - either too dry or didn't rise enough or fell apart.  Always something!  I have tried umpteen different recipes but every year I have had a different problem. NOT THIS YEAR! This year the only thing we have had to deal with is UGLY. I can deal with ugly! This years cake is moist, it stayed upright and tastes absolutely delicious! I also found a fabulous frosting recipe - not too heavy, not too sweet.  Just YUM. I've posted the recipes for the cake and frosting over on The Lewis Family Recipe Club blog.

Look what came in my mailbox yesterday! I've been busy with a visual feast ever since. Martha Sielman's  Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits: Profiles of Major Artists, Galleries of Inspiring Works is a collection of beautiful art quilts depicting, what else, people and portraits! The collection of quilts in this book is just amazing.  You will be able to spend hundreds of hours studying the details in each and every quilt.  The only thing better would be to have each quilt in your hot little hands.   Each designer creates their pieces in a unique way.  Some by using "traditional" piecing,  appliqué  as well as whole cloth paintings and some very unusual methods such as the portraits created by Mary Pal with cheesecloth!  Yes, you read that right - CHEESECLOTH.  Visit the link, you WILL be amazed! Once you get through the eye candy there is a lot of information to read and explore as well.  Martha prov...

I LOVE learning new skills and techniques. When I read on Facebook or a blog about a retreat or conference I will wish I lived in that area so I could attend without the added expense of flying and a hotel and meals out, not to mention the time away from the kids and hubby.  So until I have endless funds and time I have been learning via the internet.   There are so many wonderful classes available without the need to leave my home. I have really come to like the classes that Craftsy has to offer! I don't always complete the project along with the class but I love to watch and learn!   I've taken Annette Kennedy's Painted Pictorial Quilts Class.   Very interesting and she is so good about answering your questions! I've also taken Ann Peterson's Beyond Basic Machine Quilting.   Great tips and ideas to apply to my free motion quilting. Right now I'm in the middle of watching Jane Dunnewold's The Art of Cloth Dyeing.   I've dyed ...