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....

You are invited.......

Challenge quilt finished - Opposites attract

Well yesterday was reveal day for the http://aroundtheworldin20quilts.blogspot.com.  The challenge was Opposites attract.

Here is my piece:

"Opposites Attract"

detail of quilting

detail

detail red embroidery

I have always loved zentangles and it seemed like the perfect "opposite".  This piece was designed by my daughter Celine (15).  It is machine embroidered, machine quilted, 100%cotton front and back with peltex inner.  No black and white is complete without a dash of red (hand embroidered).

AND it was finished 3 whole days before the deadline!

 Loved making this piece - now onto the next challenge - "the road less travelled".

Today I am doing some more fabric dyeing for my friend Jesse (http://whatshequilts.com) who is making this amazing rainbow colour quilt with some of my hand dyes!

This would explain the yellow and blue fingers today!

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!

Screenprinting and birthday blocks

I have been busy despite the lack of blogging:

Last Friday I sewed together the blocks that I got from my friends at the ANZA Quilters for my birthday last year.

And I have started my Quilt University course on Screen Printing with Lyric Kinard.  Here are some of my first samples:

Newspaper stencil

Hmm Don't like the bleeding!

Oh Dear!

Freezer paper stencil

More bleeding!

On Paper - even worse!

Hmm think I need to do some more practice!

Will keep you posted!

Carnival Challenge Finished! - and with time to spare!

Yes it's true!  I have finished a challenge quilt with time to spare!

This is a challenge from the art quilters around the world group and the theme for Feb/March was "Carnival"

This quilt had been up on my design wall half finished for a couple of weeks and I just wasn't getting anywhere.  On Friday a group of my quilting friends from ANZA Quilters got together to do some sewing and their advice (kick up the butt)  was great and enabled me to finally finish the piece - and with time to spare.

"Carnival 2013"

Quilting detail

quilting detail

I know that some people are well organised and plan everything months in advance and that works well for them -  but when it comes to quilting, pressure and deadlines work wonders for me!

These pieces are quite manageable at A4 size and there is a new challenge every two months.  The next challenge for April/May is "Out of Asia"  Hmm think I will have plenty of inspiration living in Singapore!

Don't forget to have a look at all the fabrics at my online store!

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!

Humming along!

This post is just to prove that I have actually been productive over the last couple of days. Friday afternoon I spent with my friends Jesse and Kate and worked on my quilt.

  I did have great intentions of doing lots today but for some reason I am feeling really sleepy and can't manage to get going. O well....Maybe tomorrow!

If you haven't done so already you can check out my new website:

www.jokamamotextiles.com

Happy Quilting!

My Website is UP Giveaway!

Yes Folks!  My new Website is up and running:

Jokamamo Textiles

Here you can find:

 beautiful Hand dyes, Shirbori Dyes, Tie Dyes,Ice Dyes, Distressed, Rusted and Discharged Fabrics

Leave me a message telling me what you think of my site

 and I will send the first 2 people to reply a fat quarter of 

one of these ice dyed fabrics!

A Huge Big Thank you to Seth from Plectrum Communications for all his hard work - It looks great!

p.s There is also a link on the side bar

Ice Dyes

Nearly all the of ice dyes I did last week have sold so yesterday I set up new batches.

I have decided to work smarter (not harder) and do one colour-way at a time rather than mixing a whole lot of colours and worrying about whether they will look ok (I actually like the "surprise" factor!)

Here are the Turquoise/Cerulean Blue and Cobalt blue:

These would be great for skies, seas, water or background. Would look great in applique too. Blue is my favourite colour so I really love these!  I have 4 meters (16 metric fat 1/4's)  so either email me or check out my new website:

 Jokamamo Textiles

The next batch is Chinese Red, Orange and Golden Yellow:

This would be great for applique,  traditional piecing or a bright coloured background. I love these warm colours!

I have 4 metres (12 metric fat 1/4's) so either email me or check out my new website:

                                                         Jokamamo Textiles

Happy Quilting!

a Sneak preview!

Here is a sneak preview of what I am currently working on:

Last Friday I spent the day at my friend Jesse's house (together with my sewing machine) and put the background of this together.

It was just the push (kick up the butt) I needed to get started on this as I had been putting it off. We have to do this more often!

Today I have been fusing the pieces on and started with the blanket stitch around the edges. (machine, of course!)

It's amazing how much you can get done if only you start!!!

Tomorrow is ANZA Quilt group and sewing classes at school.  The girls are all doing well and the new students will earn their sewing machine license this week (both Tuesday and Thursday class)

Wednesday, I think I might head to Arab Street to find some sparkly, blingy things for the next challenge of http://aroundtheworldin20quilts.blogspot.sg/.

Hope it doesn't rain! Can't wait to go to my favourite Lebanese restaurant for lunch!  Yum!

Time now though, for a cup of tea and some tiger balm - am feeling like I am 90 years old today!

Happy Quilting!

Ice dyeing

This week was the Chinese Lunar New Year and so we had a couple of days off. This was a much needed break in our house as we have had sick kids all of last week!  Thankfully they are all well again and are off to school today.

This weekend I finally started cutting up the 400+ yards of fabric that I got in January and got stuck into some dyeing.

First up - Ice dyeing

I love the textures in these - they would be great for applique, backgrounds or piecing.

Most people do these with snow during winter but living in Singapore means you just have to adapt and use ice cubes instead.  At least I don't have to wait long for the ice to melt!

Next up:  12 meters of fabric dyed into 12 dark muted colours.  Today's job is ironing and cutting them into fat quarters.

Thankfully it was not so hot yesterday and with the fan on I managed to keep the temperature in the kitchen to a balmy 28 deg. celsius!  Great for the weight loss!

so dyeing 60 fat quarters in a weekend.....not too shabby!

Happy Quilting

Winner of 200th Post Giveaway

Thank you everyone that replied to my 200th Post Giveaway.

I had great fun looking up all the Art Quilters that have inspired you -

Laura and Linda Kenstall
Wendy Butler Berns
Valori Wells
Pat Pauly
Elaine Quehl
Elizabeth Barton
Hollis Chatelain
Caryl Fallert

Every now and again it is good to see what others are doing (and how) to get the creative juices flowing.  My head is now crammed with cool ideas!  Thank you

The winners of the 200th Post Giveaway are:

12 Light coloured fat quarters - Hueisei

4 ice dyed fat quarters - Laura

Congratulations! and I will email you both to get your postal address.

Also this week I completed my challenge quilt for the group - art quilts around the world: http://aroundtheworldin20quilts.blogspot.sg/

The challenge was to make a portrait and make it no bigger than A3 size.
Check out the other cool portraits too......

The combination of Christmas, going home to NZ and guests meant that I procrastinated over this project until the 30th of Jan (due the 31st) but I did get it done on time.  Funny how working to a deadline is usually a good incentive!

Fusible applique, machine embroidery, machine quilted.  It has peltex inside rather than batting to make it stiffer.  Loved using the New Zealand fabric to represent my "kiwi" ness!

Here is a sneak preview of my next project......

Happy Quilting everyone!

My 200th Post Giveaway!

Yes Folks this is my 200th post and so I thought I would add a little giveaway.

Here is what you can win:

1st prize:12 x (Metric) fat quarters of Light hand dyes

or:

2nd prize:Set of 4 (Metric) fat quarters of Ice dyes (various colours)

All you need to do to be in to win is:

leave a message telling me which art quilter has inspired you most and why.

I will draw 2 lucky winners next Friday 8 February and these fabrics will magically "wing" their way to your letterbox!

All the fabrics are hand dyed by me on high quality pimatex cotton fabric and are colourfast.  All fat quarters are metric size which are slightly larger than a standard US fat quarter.

I look forward to hearing from you all! (if you are having trouble leaving a comment please email me on:
mareb@clear.net.nz)

Happy Quilting

Marianne

Cool bag for a hot iron

I love teaching sewing classes at school but one of the issues I have at the end of the lesson is what to do with a hot iron.

My friend Kate had this cool bag that when unfolded is an ironing mat and folded is a holder for a hot iron.

I borrowed it from her and made my own one:

Kate's bag is the red one and mine is the black one

Unfolded, it's an ironing mat

sides held closed with velcro

I had a quick look at Spotlight for the heat resistant fabric but it was quite pricey so I bought a cheap ironing mat from Daiso ($2 shop) and that did the trick too!

Thanks for the great idea Kate!

p.s I have my 200th blog post coming up so watch this space for something special!

Happy Quilting!

Birthday blocks!

My last post was about the British Club Challenge - and for those that would like to see photos of the quilts, check out the ANZA Quilters.

This Sunday it is my birthday and the ladies from the ANZA Quilt group surprised me on Tuesday with Birthday blocks that they had made in my favourite colours.

LOVE the black white and red!

Thank you all for the lovely blocks - can't wait to put them together!

Last Saturday we had our school carnival and my friend Jesse made this gorgeous quilt for the raffles.....

and Guess Who won the raffle!!!!!!!

Isn't this fabulous!

The last couple of weeks I had been trying to do some more fabric bleaching with a clorox bleach pen without much success.  I have done this before and it worked great but this time the bleach just dried on the fabric and nothing else.

I went and bought a new bleach pen and it worked wonderfully.  Maybe the bleach was just too old?

I will do a few more and then overdye them next time I do some dyeing.

Happy Quilting!