Bad, bad blog…

 

Ok, I have not been up to power lately on this blog thing.  I have been hard at work though!  Lots of things to get done before christmas.  A few shows to participate in. Gifts for family.  You know the routine.  Christmas is the busiest time of the year.   I second that.  Its not that there isn’t a lot to blog about .   I made a list of things that will go into eternity.   I’m not going to stick around that long!  Hopefully my daughter will pick up where I leave off since the list will be hers by then.  Don’t get me wrong I’m not rushing out of here.  Just planning you could say!    I am a very busy person as I’m sure others are too.  So I figure a pic and/or a line or two is not that bad.  I’m trying, so we’ll see how it goes.  This is one of my journal quilts – my dream garden quilt.  It was so much fun to create these small pieces.  My first journal quilt project.  I’ll post pics of  all my 2009 journal quilts and a summary of my experience  sometime  early next year.  Exhale…

 

 

 

Is it over…?

Well I guess summer is over and I enjoyed it.  I didn’t go on a big vacation anywhere.  I stay close to home and we enjoyed some mini weekend trips.   We found  there was lots of things to do right in our own back yard.  We took the boys to the  zoo, the aquarium, lots of festivals and the Nature Center.   My goal was to stay within 150 mile radius.   We did that.   It was educational and we had lots of fun too. We didn’t make it to the water park this year.  The boys enjoyed lots of water fights  in the the back yard !  The bonus was – savings ($) and we were not drained like you can  sometimes be when you return from a long trip.   I worked on lots of projects by staying home…added bonus for me.  Now, with  school back in and the evenings turning cooler, my  mind immediately switchs to Autumn.  The quilt in the picture is the result.  This piece could be  a  nice memory/art quilt to add your own touchs with pins, mementos, photos, etc.  I  used Autumn colors  for this piece – thus came the name Autumn Jewels.  This quilt is for sale in my Etsy shop www.rainstudio.etsy.com . Over the summer most of my exploration projects were color studies using strips of fabrics.  I’ll be posting some of those pieces in the coming weeks.  Well I’m off to check on a piece I’ve got out back.  I hope it hasn’t blown away…exhale.

sq on squares bag

 

originally uploaded by Rains Studio.

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love my zipper bags. I use these bags for organizing everything from make up to sewing threads and tools. The are great for travel too because all your small bottles of shampoo etc. fit easily which is all you are allowed  with airport restrictions. I used a design I like to call square on square collage technique. Simply cut different size squares and sew them down to a fabric base. Continue the theme by stitching each one with the square design working from inside each indiviual square and stitching outward. Look for this and other zipper bags in both of my Etsy shops.. Fill these bags with some sample products such as handmade soaps, lotions and sugar scrubs. I gave these bags filled with these goodies as graduation gifts this year and everyone loved them. Just another gift idea from me to you.

Small Quilt 1

 

originally uploaded by Rains Studio.

This little collage quilt was fun to make. I friend gave me this piece of fabric and I was unsure what to do with it for a long time.  Then I decide to cut it up and use the fruit for small quilts.  So this is one in a series that I did.  I wanted an embroidery look so I did free motion stitching with thread to match. Then I used the stipple stitch to quilt around the fruit. This technique makes the subject really pop. Perfect piece to hang in a small nook area. This one will be listed in my Etsy shop, www.rainstudio.com

I’m back…

Exhale…Its been a long time since I last blogged.  I thought I would get back by labor day, but that didn’t happen.  Summer flew by me so fast my head is still spinning.  My summer was filled to the brim with graduations, a wedding and our family reunion. Now I need to start  preparing my Etsy Shop, since this will be my first holiday season as an Etsy seller.  I have been invited to do a few local shows, but I may not have the time to do them! I am already debating about doing a local art show which I participate in every year. Most of my time will be spent preparing for the opening of a new shop on Etsy which will be showcasing my love for vintage and vintage inspired accessories with a urban vibe. There will be some unique clutches, totes, scarves and lots of things for a bride-to-be.  All this and more to debut after the holidays  and well into spring 2009.  And if all goes smoothly I hope to debut a lovely bridal gown designed by me…  All this and more at www.MagnolianLace.  My plans are to debut a few special things  . I will also be accepting custom orders on certain items.  My other shop www.rainstudio  will remain open for business.  So,  I will most definitely  be up to my neck in fabrics. 

Blog break….

Exhale!… I have been sooo… busy lately…doing some product development for my new shop on Etsy.  I hope to have it open in July.  I have completed several samples which have received a good response from friends and family.  I still have quite a ways to go and will be in production phase for all of June and July.  This is why I will be taking a break from blogging for a little while. It was good that my planned move has been delayed for a while.  So I have been able to focus on my new shop and production.  If time permits I will stop by for an occasional progress report.  By September blogging will resume on a regular basic.  I am planning to write about Christmas events, traditions and holiday gift ideas, etc.  You won’t want to miss this. There will be lots of projects and maybe you will be inspired to get cracking on that gift list that is .  So….I’ll be back and have a safe and healthy summer.  Exhale…….