Time Flies....when you are busy

Time sure does fly past when you are busy - or should I say swamped!  But that is a good thing!

The last couple of months have been hectic with the kids sewing classes both after school and during the summer holidays.  July was frantically busy with parents looking for activities for the  kids at the end of the school holiday season.  I met some really lovely families and had a great time teaching!

Ella's camo skirt

Lara's Owl Pj's

We have also been busy making more commissioned t-shirt quilts and even got to self deliver one in Sydney while visiting my daughter who is studying there!

Jamie's t-shirt quilt

The ANZA Quilters in Singapore went to meet up with the  MANZA Quilters in Kuala Lumpur for a few days at the beginning of September and we had a fantastic time!  We did a jelly roll race quilt, fabric postcards and fabric baskets.

Jelly Roll quilts

Fabric postcards

Fabric Baskets

Thanks ladies for a great couple of days! We hope you will come down and visit us in Singapore soon!

Tomorrow I will be at the Scandinavian Fair which is being held at the Danish Seamans Church.  This is a beautiful building in Mount Faber here in Singapore.  My husband and I would often walk past this church and I am looking forward to spending the day there.

Lastly, my daughter has made a brand new website for me and it looks fantastic!  All my fabrics are now on there ready to go out the door.  Now to find some time to do some dyeing as well.....

Check it out at:
www.jokamamotextiles.com

Well thats all from me folks!  till next time....

Art Quilts around the world challenge -Bollywood

Bollywood - Marianne Bos - 'Appu goes to Bollywood!'

Bollywood.....this makes me think of bright bold colours, lots of gold and bling, Indian movies,  Incredible India and the  brightly coloured decorations of the temple elephants.

Appu the elephant was used as a symbol of the Asian games that was held in India and has the meaning (among many) of little boy.  My elephant is called Appu and he all blinged up and  off to Bollywood!

Made using my own hand dyed fabrics, stamped using traditional indian wood blocks, Fused and machine appliqué and machine quilted on peltex.

This was a fun project to do and am looking forward to seeing everyone else's interpretation as well.  

Marianne

You are invited.......

Shibori Results

Here are some of the results from the shibori that I dyed on Saturday:

The stripes are not bold enough

Love the results with the beads

Loving the texture the pegs give!

 I also folded some more ready to be dyed another colour:

Stitching the triangles

The triangles pulled and bound

Aren't these just sooo cute!!!! These were gifts from two of my quilting buddies - Thanks Alison and Jesse.

Went to Arab street today with Jesse to shop for fabric eat at our favourite Lebanese restaurant and saw a large rat in the restaurant!!  They certainly look much cuter in liberty fabrics!

Happy Quilting!

Ombre and shibori dyeing

I have been trying my hand at some ombre dyeing but with mixed results:

Dip dyeing

The dip Dyeing method was not very successful (above) and it was very time consuming.  I might have to create some sort of pulley system as holding the fabric for 20-30 minutes at each gradient was hard on the arms.
Next I tried laying the fabric out on a piece of black cardboard and sprayed the colour from dark to light on. Unfortunately the black cardboard bled into the fabric.  Hmm I think that is a piece that will have to be overdyed!

Shibori Ombre 1

 Next up was the shibori (pole wrapping) using  fuchsia and diluting the dye as we worked down the fabric.  Very happy with the results and the colours blend nicely without leaving a distinctive line.

Shibori Ombre 2

Shibori Cobalt/Golden Yellow

 Next up: Shibori (pole wrapping) using cobalt and golden yellow.  Still one of my favourites and a best seller! I have 3 of these for sale and will be posting them on etsy soon, or email me if you can't wait that long!

Cobalt gradient

 Lastly the cobalt gradients - I haven't done a set like this in ages but its a good way to build up the stash.

I have also been working on my challenge quilt for the art quilts around the world and will post at the end of the month (don't want to let the cat out of the bag!!!!)

The re-organisation of the sewing room is on going and have finally got the comic book backing boards that I will be folding the fabric on - acid free of course!

Happy Quilting!

Back to work!!!

The last few weeks have been busy as I have had visitors since the end of May for my daughters high school graduation.
Now that calm has been restored, its time to get back to work and do some dyeing!

Devore cut silk rayon scarf

Shibori - Turquiose and Fushia

jokamamotextiles.etsy.com

I also converted the bedroom back into a sewing room and reorganised it with a lot of help from my friend Jesse:

Thanks Jesse!!!  I hope I can keep it looking this good!!!!

I have been doing more sewing lessons over the holidays and have some really lovely students, sadly one of them is moving back to Australia.  I will miss her and I  hope she will continue sewing.

Well that's it from me - time for ANZA Quilt group.....

The "Kia Kaha" Quilt- a special quilt for a special person

Kia kaha is a Māori phrase used by both the Māori and Pākehā (European) people of New Zealand meaning stay strong, used as an affirmation. The phrase has significant meaning for both the Māori and Pākehā people.

The "Kia Kaha" quilt is finally finished!  This quilt was made for someone very near and dear to me that has just recently come out of a long and painful relationship.

 Although not physically violent (that I know of) the emotional scars are clear to see.

Years of being put down have whittled away any self esteem that she had. Slowly she was  isolated from those that loved her and were concerned for her. It was so hard to stand by and see what was happening but feel powerless to help.

I am sorry for the things I could have done, should have done, and didn't.  I am sorry for being angry with her for not understanding why she chose to stay. You deserved so much better!

The cost of leaving has been high -  losing everything including her children that have chosen to stay with their father.  I pray that one day they will understand what you endured and all that you did  for them.

I am thankful that she is now safe!  Today is a new day and a new beginning!  The road ahead will not be an easy one but I know that we will find the beautiful and courageous woman we thought we had lost.  She will come out of this stronger and wiser.

Back of quilt

My hope is that this quilt will not only keep her warm in the upcoming winter but that the words on it will build her up and encourage her to "stand strong".

She is: Beautiful, Strong, Mother, Sister, Daughter, Comforter,

Gorgeous, Loving, Sexy, Awesome, Smart, Confident!

Kia kaha! not just to my loved one but to all those who are still suffering and I pray will one day find the courage to demand better for themselves and their children.

Dyeing Frenzy!

I have been busy doing more dyeing this week and it's been lot of fun!

Shibori Folding technique

Shibori pole technique

Shibori folding/sewing technique

Shibori pole technique

Shibori pole technique

 These next four pieces are part of a meter that I dyed and then divided into 4.  Isn't it interesting how different they all are?!

Ice Dyed Onesie with police car 9-12 months

Ice dyed Onesie 24-36 months

All these items are available for sale in my etsy shop:

http://www.jokamamotextiles.etsy.com

I have dyed some more of the scarves as well but will post photos of these later
p.s a big thanks to my husband for taking the photos!

Happy Quilting!

Basting disaster!

Yesterday I spent the day working on my quilt.  I had been to Spotlight last Friday and bought a can of basting spray.

I have used basting spray for many years and think it is a great product - JUST NOT THIS ONE!

Lots of smell and mess and not a lot of sticking!

This will have to go in the "rubbish" pile right next to the birch sewing machine needles!  Lesson learnt!

But there is an up side - I put the quilt on the table, aircon on full blast and basted by hand.  Much better!

Then up to the sewing room and started machine quilting:

Sneak preview

I felt GREAT at the end of the day with how much I had done!

Today is a "rest" day e.g ibuprofen and tiger balm.  Oh the things we endure for the love of quilting!

And.....this morning I woke up to a message that I had sold more of my yummy ice dyes online.

Yeah!

Jokamamo Textiles

Happy Quilting!