Pat Hardie - Altered Art Studio

Adventures with artquilts, fibres, neckties and 2 very fine flatcoat retrievers - Gypsy & Reo

Thursday, May 29, 2008

The official CHAMPIONSHIP photo

Today we received the official photo taken by the show photographer. An amazing $50 for one only. Guess they have to pay for the RV and trailer they drag behind that.

Graeme, the handler, has done a superb grooming job. Gypsy looked like she had just come from the beauty parlor! I have to tell you though that today I finally let her swim in the river. Both she and Leila very much enjoy diving off the dock to retrieve sticks. She's back to being a 'dog' again. Thank goodness.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Free motion couching

Free motion couching has been the current topic of discussion on the QuiltArt forum, so I decided to show my efforts in this department.

I purchased a pattern & fabric to make a patchwork jacket roughly 4 years ago. Substituted some of my own hand-dyes & other fabrics. Thus began my unhappy & reluctant journey in making what has become known as the dreaded patchwork jacket. I became quite a pro at avoiding this project as the seasonal nature of the photos will testify.
I estimate it took me at least 3 full days to cut, assemble the strips and then create the larger pieces of fabric called for in the pattern. All seams throughout the process were serged as well.
At this point I take another prolonged break as I don't like the turquoise which seems to dominate. I'm also unhappy with the patches, but ...
I find a men's fleece, v-neck sweater in a consignment shop one day. The colour seems to cut the turquoise. This is good.
At this point I am still considering changing the pattern's neckline, but keeping the set in sleeve. Perhaps couching coloured yarn will reduce the overall striped look.
Oh yes, I should mention that the pattern calls for 1/2 rows of vertical quilting which I did do and then ripped out! I won't say how many hours that took.

Here is the actual couched yarn - my first attempt. What a mess!
I try to rip out the couched yarn. Not going to happen; I give the yarn a 'hair cut' which at times leaves only the 'stitched' zigzag stitching visible. That's OK by me.
Below you see one side with no couching for comparison. I can think of nothing else, so I go ahead and do something similar on the other front. By then I am extremely tired of couching curves (somewhat painful is a good descriptor of the process). I add couched yarn to the back panel, but only stitch-in-the-ditch straight lines and only in certain areas to reduce the impact of the vertical lines. Sorry no photo.
In the end I keep the pattern's collar, chose to insert the fleece sleeves raglan style & not to include the sweater's hem at the bottom. Not obvious or probably even visible is the embroidery stitching on the raglan seams as well as the sleeve cuff area. Imagine my surprise when I realized the thread needed to be turquoise, the colour I was trying to get away from!
The tote made from leftover fabric scraps is one of the many projects I completed while diligently avoiding this project. The hem and buttons with loops are still to be sewn so I continue to avoid the dreaded ...








Sunday, May 25, 2008

Introducing CH Fieldday Bohemian Rhapsody, aka, Gypsy

It finally happened this weekend at Richmond, just south of Ottawa, Ontario with Graeme Burdon handling the last two points. The previous weekend's show in Hochelaga, Quebec chalked up the required 'major' win, meaning today she FINISHED!

For the last three shows she has been 'dogged' (sorry about the pun - well no I'm not really) by a wonderful black male, by name of Ethan who regularly achieves 'best in group' which then qualifies him for the 'best in show'. I'm told by his owner, Tina, that he is the #1 FC. Now that's stiff competition.

This is MY official portrait taken at home while she still sports her superb grooming style. The official one with judge & handler has been taken, but yet to be received.

Big thanks to Graeme for his skill in taming her 'do'. She cuts quite the figure, but I must admit that I do like her better with her 'teenager' sun bleached scraggily ears.

And now she can swim and play and roll in dead fish along with her best buddy, Leila. Well maybe not the 'roll in dead fish' part.

Oh BTW - my feelings about conformation showings???? "Let the games END" says it all.



Friday, May 16, 2008

returning home early

Unfortunately, for personal reasons, I have had to return home a week early. However, I have included some of my photographs in no particular order, either geographically or chronologically.
If you would like me to recommend places to visit, please leave a comment and I will get back to you.

































Saturday, May 10, 2008

Kelowna, BC


Well, guess what? My first disaster. In the drag & drop operation of images to the laptop hard drive I managed to select only the last image. So many times before I have always checked to see if all the images have transferred before reformatting the card, but tonight ... I have only one image to offer you, taken today part way down 97c. Since I don't have the others for reference, I cannot guess at the location. Too bad all way round.
FYI - we stayed at a most desireable place last night - Emerald Lodge, just outside Field, BC. Absolutely gorgeous and worth the decadent price. Wood burning fireplace in each room which is one of 4 in roughly 28 buildings scattered around one side of the lake. The lodge itself is the original. So peaceful and so quiet. No TV's or high speed wireless except in the main lodge. We were the only ones to use the outdoor hot tub (40 degrees C) before bed after sitting on our little porch overlooking the lake.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Judith's tie quilt arrived today

Judith in San Diego and I 'met' when I emailed her to see a photo of her quilt. Two years & many thousands of miles later she is in the process of disposing of her family's home and making difficult decisions about what should be kept. In the process she has choosen me to be the new owner. I am honoured to receive such a lovely gift. And from a woman whom I have never met, just a casual email inquiry back in 2006. I have named the quilt after her.

As to its history, Judith writes:
I had a friend here who ran a collectibles shop and really had the eye for good and unusual stuff. I bought it from him years ago ... because I loved the 40's style ties, and the color matching of blue and maroon. I probably am nostalgic for that period as my father had three brothers, and there are wonderful photos of the four of them in the early and middle thirties, wearing suits with vests and ties.

I haven't figured out as yet how many ties went into this top. Each one is featured several times so I imagine the whole tie was used. It is backed with very fine muslin and all handstitched. What a wonderful sampler of men's tie fashion of the day.


Getting ready to leave for Calgary

The dreaded patchwork jacket is almost complete - only the hem and buttons to go, complete with matching handbag. Yesterday I finished several coiled fabric bowls to take with me as hostess gifts.
I'm off to Calgary tomorrow, May 9th. My friend, Doris, and I will be driving through the Rockies to Vancouver, ferry across to the Island and to our final destination of Parksville where we will dogsit for 2 weeks. Doing so means I miss the quilt show at the RA Centre in Ottawa, Mother's Day AND seeing my youngest son, Sean, who is driving home from CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick for a week's leave.
Stay tuned for more on my latest adventure.






Puff, the Magic Dragon

It just occured to me that QA list members who indicated an interest in my journey west might like to see my latest quilt. Puff, the Magic Dragon is the second in my Crazy House series. The label on the back describes the materials, processes & inspiration