Buttons Buttons Everywhere!

Last week we spent the week on Grand Cayman Island for spring break. I was wondering if I would see anything textile related for a blog post and I was surprised at the inspirational work I saw and there was a theme--buttons!

If you've ever flown through Atlanta airport, you know that some of the gates are art galleries. My favorite is the art quilt gallery in terminal E that features major art quilters such as Jane Burch Cochran. It is worth visiting if you have a long layover.

Our gate this time featured these wonderful paper collages with heavy button details. Sorry for the quality of the photos with all the glare from the overhead lighting but there was no avoiding it. Unfortunately there wasn't a sign that I could see with the name of the artist or a statement.

On Grand Cayman there is a new shopping center called Camana Bay and it was the most beautifully designed center I've seen (more on that later). I went into their bookstore to get a tropical fish identification card and more button art on the walls.

These are by Mary Teeter (www.buttonwork.com) from Pennsylvania and I found them truly inspirational. I may even do some HAND embroidery soon! The framing added a charming touch.

My husband said, "I know you have enough buttons to do this." But I suspect it wasn't said in a "Congrats-you have a well-stocked studio!" manner but rather in a 'use up all that stuff you've collected" sense.

Either way he's right. I'd like to make a picture with a snappy saying and buttons incorporated in a simple design. I could use machine embroidery for the wording if I wanted.

Grand Cayman is a great vacation island. We explored all of it and every beach (almost) and found wonderful snorkeling sites where we saw loads of colorful fish in great quantity. One of the secrets is to use frozen peas to feed the fish and in some areas they respond like dogs and swarm you! I petted many fish.

Of course the best thing to do on the island is to take a catamaran to Stingray City where you can hold, pet or kiss docile stingrays. They are used to being hand fed and you're in no danger. They feel like wet velvet sponge with rough parts on their back. I loved how gracefully they swam and it was a thrill to swim with them! It's a must-do once in a lifetime activity.

Koos Mobius Spiral Scarf

by Linda Chang Teufel

 

This is an really fabulous project. It’s a unique mobius scarf in that it doesn’t have a long straight seam, rather a long spiral seam. It is ingenious construction, as you might expect from Koos. Once you make one, you’ll want to make it again out of different weights of fabrics.

The picture at the top of this post is of the two that Koos made for me. The blue one is made of 4 different widths of silks pieced together on straight grain to form the base rectangle. That is then attached to very thin batting. The black scarf is wool jersey with dotted wool jersey strips and rayon brocade strips on top. There is no batting on this version. Here’s me in one I made for a friend:

Consider the paper tube on the inside of a paper towel roll as you’re putting this together. That’s what I did when I was figuring out the construction. (Who knew cleaning your kitchen could be so useful?) I’m going to walk you through a scarf I made using using Japanese cottons on shantung with no batting.

First, let’s study a humble paper towel roll:

The inner tube is a spiral roll which when twisted becomes a mobius strip. I tried out my construction on muslin first until I figured how to piece this all together.

Width and length measurements are approximate. Use this as a rough guideline:
Width 24-30”
Length 60-70”
For my version I decided on a 25”x70” cut size.

This was another of those projects that had me digging through my stash, visiting my old fabric friends. I chose a number of coordinating fabrics:

Let’s get started!

1. Cut a base fabric of approximately 25”x70”. All seams will be either 1/4” to 1/2”. You decide.

2. Place some strips of coordinating fabric on the base fabric. My strips were 3”-5” wide. Stitch down, close to the edges.

3. Cut, then make some binding. It doesn’t have to be bias since it is a straight line. I used the Clover tape maker to make two different 1/2” bindings.

4. Sew the bindings over the raw edges of the strips, covering the stitches. This is the finished rectangular base. Here’s what you should have so far:

5. Now, place this base wrong side down. Fold up one edge 90 degrees as shown here:

6. Fold the other end (top) down at an angle so that it lines up with the first side:

7. Pin in two places to hold edges in place with cut edges matching and right sides together:

8. Start sewing from that point to the end, making sure cut ends are lined up on top of each other. Stop when you are about 3” from the end.

9.  Turn it around leaving a 5” space unsewn. This will be the “turning opening”. Sew the rest of the length, stopping a few inches from the end again.

10. Press the seam open, then pull it right side out through the ends.

11. Lay the scarf flat on the table and put one 24” end over the top of the other end with right sides together. Pin.

12. Stitch across the ends.

13. Turn this inside out through the turning opening. Resume sewing the rest of the spiral seam through those ends. Pull this right side out through the turning opening.

14. Invisibly hand stitch the opening closed. VOILA! Your own designer scarf.

A quick note: You can piece your fabrics into a base rectangle using slightly wavy lines too. Cut them into slight curves and stitch them down. If you do this you’ll need bias cut tape for the gold edge trim. Good luck!

Winter Sewing

Is it cold where you are? Here in Ohio it is cold. (Can you tell from my picture that I am cold?) Cold, cold, cold. There’s snow. And cold. Did I mention the cold? Going anywhere is a chore. Will it ever be warm again?

I got so excited after our Jane Sassaman giveway that I decided to get creative Jane-style about protecting myself against the cold. A quick dig in my stash turned up some of her fabulous fabrics and some cozy polar fleece. I set to work on her Cozy Cowl Scarf pattern.

Not only does this scarf look great and keep my poor neck warm, but it took maybe only 2 hours to make. I have a beloved special Bernina foot that sews on buttons. Not only does this save time and sew on the button more securely, but it saves my cold fingers from having to touch a cold hand-sewing needle. Here are a few pictures of my work:

How about making a few of these for Christmas gifts next year? The possible fabric combinations are endless. I think I could come up with several hundred from my stash alone!

How about you? What about some ideas for gift sewing? Send me your ideas! I’ll post them in time to get started on your holiday sewing next year. Put ideas in the comment box below or email me at linda@dragonthreads.com.

Jane Sassaman Giveaway

I met Jane Sassaman in 1996 her when she won Best of Show at IQA in Houston. She was standing by her huge, amazing, gorgeous "Willow" quilt with white gloves on, answering questions. My question was the stupidest: "How long did it take you to make this?" Gracious Jane answered the question. Over the years we’ve become friends.

From the second I laid eyes on her work I’ve been a fan. It’s almost impossible not to be! Her trademark design sense, distinctive applique technique and use of machine decorative stitches are inspirational. If you get a chance, take a class. They’re informative and invaluable in terms of developing and opening up your own technique. Soak up some of Jane’s spirit and creativity in person. I've taken classes from her twice and I promise you will love working with her.

Lovely Jane is helping Dragon Threads get readers off to a creative start this year. She generously donated this nifty set to one lucky reader. Here’s what’s included:

Pretty Perfect Pocket Purse Pattern

and a piece of the main purse fabric from the front cover

and a piece of the blue fabric from the back:

Now, this bag is perfect. I love it. It’s been road tested: Jane uses it every day! Look at the fun details. Note the shisha mirrors in the daffodil centers. Who can resist the fun felt ball fringe? This is a happy bag, perfect for chasing away the winter doldrums.

Jane featured fabrics from her new Garden Divas collection for Free Spirit fabrics. This line is so luscious. I want every pattern in every colorway! I'm planning to make a shirt mixing 6 different prints. Looking for your own ideas? (After you’ve made the bag, that is…) There are some beautiful FREE quilt patterns for this new fabric on Jane's blog.

I am always inspired to see what is new with Jane on her blog, which she obviously lavishes with attention. She seamlessly weaves fabrics, travel, stories about life on the prairie, and her own terrific photos in the most compelling, almost painterly way. Her posts are as exotic, colorful, creative, and interesting as she is.

But back to the giveaway!

Post a comment below by Sunday evening, January 16th about Jane's work for one chance to win. For a second chance, sign up for our newsletter and say "Jane sent me" in the “How can we help you" box. Lucky winners get the Pretty Pocket Purse pattern plus two fabric swatches directly from Jane. Two runners up are going to get something special. I’m digging into my stash for two coveted special Jane Sassaman fabric pieces. You’ll each get two samples, half of each piece. Enter now, then start planning your next project a la Jane.

PS: Jane is having a Noriko giveaway this courtesy of Dragon Threads over at her blog. Don’t miss it! If you can’t wait to get your hands on Noriko’s book yourself (here comes a plug) head on over to my shop and buy one!

Susan Lenz Makes My New Year Happy

I'm new to the blogging world. So far, I really enjoy both reading blogs and writing for my own. One of the blogs I enjoy is Subversive Stitchers by Dawn Goldsmith. Recently she had an intriguing review of the work of Susan Lenz. One blog leads to another on the world wide web, so off I went to Susan's blog:

I mean blogs. She has several. I jumped around from one to another, but I was immediately taken by her In Box and Stained Glass series of small quilts. I lingered over the tutorial on her In Box technique. I was so impressed by the number of steps involved, the stitching, and especially by the melting of fabrics with her soldering iron. Check out this picture of her at work (all pictures courtesy of Susan Lenz).

 

Look at the detail on this In Box:

I really wanted to buy one. I mean, look at the amazing completed pieces below:

Detail from Stained Glass XVII

 

Stained Glass XXII:

In Box LXXI:

And a detail from In Box LXXVI

A great thing about the internet is that you’re only one email away from making a new friend or buying something awesome. I contacted Susan (who is quite friendly), who hooked me up with photos of her new pieces.  Her work is for sale at the the Grovewood Gallery, next to the historic Grovewood Inn in Asheville, NC.

Susan, as it turns out, is a fellow “Buckeye”. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Medieval and Renaissance Studies with a concentration in History of Art. Her fascination with Gothic and Romanesque architecture is obvious in her work.

I sat down with my husband and studied the Stained Glass gallery, then decided which of her fabulous pieces I needed for my Christmas present. (He got a Zeus mask made of iron parts.) I finally decided on an asymmetric piece. Today it arrived. Oh, how wonderful it is! So many little details and interesting textures of the melted fabric etc.  I’m going to look for a nice warm, rich wood frame. This piece is going in my studio, where it will inspire me daily. Thanks, Sue. Happy New Year from Dragon Threads! m

Window XIV

For more information about Susan and her amazingly diverse work, be sure to check out her site: susanlenz.com

Dragon Threads Gift Workshop

For the second year in a row, my friend Vicki and I made Christmas presents for our dear friends. It feels GREAT! Of course, I couldn't post what I was doing before or our friends would know what they were getting.

Our projects didn’t take much time. We started organizing what we needed this fall, completing out our lovely gifts little by little. We didn’t feel pressured at all. In fact, these projects are a great way to use up some of that fabric you have in your stash. Believe me, that feels good, too.

We used a terrific (and free!) pattern from Beth Wheeler, changing just a little.  I made about 20 of these "padfolios". They honestly they don't take more than an hour or so to make. I had so much fun coordinating fabrics from my huge stash. It was surprising how many things went together perfectly. Here is the link to the project:

Padfolio by Beth Wheeler from the C&T Publishing Blog (a great source of neat project ideas). Here’s hers:

 

Here’s mine:

I made the following changes:

1. I cut a 4" sq of fabric,pressed it on the diagonal and tucked it in the corner for a business card holder.  That is also where I attached my label.
2. To cover the top of the pad of paper, I pressed a piece of steam-a-seam 2 about the size of 2.5" x 5.5" to the back of fabric, then cut it down to 2" x 5" and peeled off the paper backing and pressed it over the paper top of the notepad and folded it over to the back. I didn't like seeing the store brand name when I opened up the book.
3. Also the zigzag were length of  0.4 and width of 3.0 for the first pass and then 3.7 for the second pass.

Here is the inside of mine (Sorry! The label is blurry):

Vicki and I had such a good time these past two years that we’ve already started planning next year’s gifts, made and delivered of course with love. I

Last year’s project was a bag from an Indygo Junction pattern.

If you can’t recall from yesterday, here’s how they turned out:

Later this month I’m going to post a couple of good ideas to use as inspiration for next year.

Merry Christmas from the Dragon Threads Elves

To all my wonderful readers, friends, quilters, and everybody in between, happiest of holidays!

I was a very busy elf this year, making lovely little portfolios and bags. I’ve been a busy elf this week delivering them.

More details to come in a blog post coming up but for now, back to the cookies.

Houston Quilt Market Part I

I got back early this past week from the Houston International Quilt Market. I think it’s the 18^th one for me. Market is for store owners only, not generally to the public. I had a booth there to sell our new book by Noriko Endo called, Confetti Naturescapes : Quilting Impressionist Landscapes.

It was fun to see all my old friends and make new ones as I wandered through hundreds of booths. I mean hundreds. No exaggeration! Many of the largest booths are fabric vendors. My favorite was Free Spirit and the new Jane Sassaman line called Garden Divas! I can’t wait to get my hands on some of this yardage with the bold graphics and beautiful colors. Jane is a master at fabric design. I’ve recommended it before, but her blog is always a great place to go for ideas:

Lots of people from around the globe stopped by the booth to say hello to either Noriko or me. It was terrific to see our new distributor from Barcelona. Our distributors from New Zealand spent some time telling me about their beautiful country. I was ready to get on a plane and go, but I’ll wait for another day!

Author, Susan Brubaker Knapp was by to tell us about her new DVD coming out soon called Master Machine Stitching: Thread Stitching Beyond the Basics that will be available next month. It is a follow up to her first DVD on Machine Stitching. (Watch this blog! Susan and I are doing a trade. I’ll have a copy of her DVD to give away and she’ll have a copy of the Confetti Naturescapes to give away on her blog.) Susan, by the way, has a fantastic blog, where she’s already put up a couple posts about the Quilt Market. Go take a look!

A big trend from fashion was seen at Market….zippers! Like you’ve never seen before! Lecien from Japan had invisible ones with printed tape…prints of trucks and lace and floral. Across from me was a Chinese manufacturer that had zippers with rhinestone teeth, multi-color metallic teeth on one zipper and striped grosgrain tape that was beautiful! People were wearing open zippers around their necks as badge holders!