Thursday, February 9, 2017

Mystery Block #2


You can always count on me being late to the party!  I've
missed Mystery block #1-- but luckily, 
Sherri, A Quilting Life has left the tutorial up for us late comers.
I like the way she is designing these blocks--as she is playing
around with colors and design elements--we can also play with
our stash 
She even gives an outline if you wish to make the blocks smaller

February: Scrappy Star
6” Block
12” Block
Fabric 1 (green in block)
(2) 2” x 2” Squares
(2) 4” x 4” Squares
Fabric 2 – 7 (shades of pink)
(1) 2” x 2” Squares (6 total)
(1) 4” x 4” Square (6 total)
Background
(8) 2” x 2” Squares
(8) 4” x 4” Squares

Now, if only I can keep up each month, I'll have a completed quilt by
year's end!  
Happy stitching!





Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Houston Art Exhibits

Every few months, I take time to visit the wonderful museums and art galleries
around Houston area.  It's a time to take stock of what is going on in the
art world.

Contemporary Art Museum:  ANGEL OTERO: EVERYTHING AND NOTHING
On View: December 10, 2016 – March 19, 2017
Angel Otero: Everything and Nothing is Otero’s first survey exhibition and encompasses nearly a decade of his painting and sculpture.

Two Centuries of American Still-Life Painting: The Frank and Michelle Hevrdejs Collection 
Through 


Holy Barbarians: Beat Culture on the West Coast:  This exhibition brings together a selection of California artists who emerged following the Second World War and took advantage of the region’s permissive atmosphere to help create a thriving new art scene. Artists like John Altoon, Wallace Berman, Bruce Conner, Jay DeFeo, George Herms, and Edward Kienholz were part of a “Beat” generation, whose social critiques would eventually be incorporated into the counterculture and social protest movements that shaped the second half of the 20th century.

Nov 18, 2016 – Mar 12, 2017

UNITED BY HAND: WORK AND SERVICE BY DREW CAMERON, ALICIA DIETZ, AND EHREN TOOL 

FEBRUARY 3, 2017 — MAY 28, 2017
IN THE MAIN GALLERY At Houston Center For Contemporary Crafts





Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Contemporary Handweavers of Texas Conference


Here it is!  The bi-annual state conference for weavers, spinners, dyers!
Registration opened February for members of CHT
Registration for non-members will begin March 1:
There will be pre-conference workshops and during conference
weekend there will be seminars, 1/2 day workshops, fashion show
and members exhibits.
Keynote Speaker – Deborah Chandler
Closing Speaker:  Michael Rohde
Special Event Speaker:  Mary Zicafoose
Preconference Workshops
Conference teachers
mziocfooseexample


Monday, February 6, 2017

It's Not Your Granny Square Anymore!

Labyrinth Mandala was inspired by black and white vector graphics. The Designer's idea was to imitate brioche knitting stitch and create a very clear and graphical pattern which can be worked with only two (or more) colors. Using this pattern you can make a reversible pillow throw with different palette for each side. You can also use this mandala as an appliqué or wall hanging decoration.
Read more about this design on the blog HERE.
Labyrinth Mandala is made in Overlay Crochet technique. This easy to follow pattern (15 pages) is written for one size. It contains step by step full written instructions in English using standard crochet abbreviations and US terms (stitch guide is given in the pattern). It also contains lots of pictures explaining all the tricky and difficult places.
Crochet level: Intermediate (front post stitches and crochet in 3rd loop - everything is explained in the pattern).
I'm so pleased with crocheting techniques now!  
Not your typical Granny Square, for sure!

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Science In Paper!


I am blown away!  Paper! Science turns into art with 
paper cuts! 


Artist Rogan Brown just completed work on his latest paper artwork titled Outbreak, a piece he describes as an exploration “of the microbiological sublime.” Over four months in the making, the work depicts an array of interconnected sculptures—entirely hand cut from paper—based on the smallest structures found within the human body: cells, microbes, pathogens, and neurons. Outbreak represents nearly four months of tedious planning, cutting and assembly. ew installation of 8 hand cut paper sculptures!

Read more at: 123 Inspirations

Saturday, February 4, 2017

I'm So Confused!

I'm so confused!  Well, it doesn't take much for me to be confused at this point!
Anyway, brown headed daughter and I watched the "The Gilmore Girls Revival"
on Netflix over Christmas.
Of course, she fell in love with one of the scarves that Paris was wearing........
"Gee, that's a great scarf," she said.  "Could you make that for me?"
Being the wonderful mother I am, I answered, "Of course!"
Then, I found the pattern and saw that it was 
double knit...................................oh, gee whiz--could I have
been more mistaken!
Not only, do I have not one, but two classes saved on Craftsy
on double knitting!  And, in true fashion, I've only watched lesson one on each
of the classes--


I'm willing to try this technique--glad to learn something new and different
in my warehouse of knitting.  I did understand the stripes--easy peazy!
But, then it has come to the chart part of the Dots and Dashes 


That's when I got so confused!  Okay, it's going to take at least lesson two or
three to conquer this part of the pattern.  I've got to wrap my mind around this
double knitting chart reading.  

Friday, February 3, 2017

"When Calls The Heart"

This kit came with two circle needles, stitch markers and a lovely
hand dyed yarn, along with accent yarn.  

Oh My Gosh!  I'm a sucker for sappy movies and warm hearted shows--I love watching
And I was hooked when Knitty Stash offered their specialty dyed yarn, I was
there-- They have created a lovely color way that's called Hope Valley Skies and using sock yarn the mystery project project. 
Kits are now available!!
Join group on Ravelry When Calls the Heart MKAL 2017 to receive the links to the pattern and all the information you will need.

Noah’s ARC

870 acres!!  You can not imagine how this impacts your life.   On our journey to this destination, we read the story of Noah and the buildin...