Where To Begin?

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So much going on. Too busy to blog. Where do I begin? 
(These would make perfect hashtags for most of us, I suspect!)

This week's exercises included making contour drawings of fruit using thread instead of lead. No marking, just looking and drawing with the sewing machine. 

This was more comfortable than I'd expected - not too much different than drawing with a pencil, except there's no erasing.

FreshofftheFrame.com

There were also exercises to do with straight and curvy lines and the nine design forms (vertical, horizontal, symmetrical, asymmetrical, diagonal, circular, radiating, bordered, grid) featured in the text.

FreshofftheFrame.com

Snow Dyeing

At our January guild meeting, Sarah provided dye packets, fabric, and instructions for snow dyeing. The idea was for each of us to try it at home and bring the results to the next meeting.

Fabric is scrunched/crumpled in the colander under the snow. Dye powder is sprinkled on top.

Two days before our February meeting (ha!) I remembered our mission. I called my Mom to join me (we were to share a dye packet), and we made our "creative mess" together.

While we were at it, I wanted to try some leftover dye I'd mixed a couple of months ago. I'd read that it wouldn't work, but I wanted to see for myself, so . . .

It's a parfait!
Bucket to catch melting snow, mesh to elevate the fabric, fabric "scrumpled" on top of the mesh, snow topped off with dye.

More snow! I poured on the turquoise, brown, and yellow dyes. The worst that would happen was - - - nothing! The fabric would survive to dye another day. (sorry! I couldn't resist!)

One of many rinses/soaks.

Most of the brown and all of the yellow washed away during the rinse process, but enough turquoise stayed to make it worthwhile.

Snow dyed fabrics - I'd stitched black thread in the corners of my fabrics to identify them after they mixed with Mom's in the wash.

I think the blue fabric will make a wonderful, soft-looking sky. I'm happy I took the chance!

Quilty Goodness, Fresh off the Frame!

Tracy's beautiful batik.

Linda's Linen Lines.

Kailei's playful patchwork.

How does Ellen do it??? 

Group selfies are harder than they look!

Not everyone looks their best here (oops - creepy stalker husband alert!), but we had a good laugh trying to make it happen. My poor son is on the bottom of the pile. Ha! 

Since I happen to look FABULOUSLY YOUTHFUL here (it was kinda darkish), and since it was MY 50th BIRTHDAY, I'm posting the picture. Muaahahahaha!

My 50th birthday picture - that's me on the far right, below my "creepy stalker" hubby!
This picture also features my Mom (in green), my daughter and her children, one of my sons, and his girlfriend - you might recognize her from our recent circle-quilt cutting session. She had the ears!

I also squeezed in housekeeping, grocery shopping, three walks with my Mom, plus three more gym workouts this week. Whoop whoop!

Linking up with:
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation 
Free Motion Mavericks @ Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing
Whoop Whoop Friday @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Show off Saturday @ Sew Can She

Try, Learn, Grow!
Carole
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