What, Me Quilting?

It's 6 am, and I'm ironing.
What is wrong with that sentence? EVERYTHING.

Let me back up. Why am I ironing? There's no point trying to hide it anymore. I was...I was...quilting. Oh, the shame of it! I have strategically avoided everything near quilting for years. It's my mother-in-law's chosen craft, for starters, and I don't want to step on any toes. (Don't I have enough crafts?) There's the problem of straight lines and me being the least perfect match since Sid and Nancy. And the not insignificant fact that I know nothing of quilting.
It all started with a blanket. (doesn't it always?) We had one of those machine knitted blankets on our bed, the kind you can purchase at any Target for 14.99. It's our summer blanket. However, this summer it had become a mess. Something to do with pugs jumping up on it, and jumping off of it, and their little curly crochet hook claws dragging huge holes in it.
It was time for a new summer blanket. Of course, a new knitted one was right out. So was microfleece. (Dan hates the texture.) Regular fleece was a possibility, but I work with fleece all the live long day. I longed for something different.
Enter the idea of the thin quilted blanket. Of course, I wasn't calling it a quilt then. I was still in denial. My thoughts were: I had fabric. I like to use what I've got. Why NOT make a giant quilt? (I'm four and a half months pregnant. This is as much thought as I've put into anything lately.)
Everything went really well for awhile. Hundreds of little squares were carefully cut, and then carefully stitched into long strips. I even used the seam guide things on the sewing machine! And there was ironing. Lots of ironing. I was doing everything right. As far as I knew, anyway.
Things started to go awry when those long strips needed to be attached together. Not a single one lined up with another. Despite the hours of careful, painstaking cutting and piecing, it appeared that every "perfect" square was a slightly different size. Sometimes a very different size. I still don't know how this happened. Clearly, there was to be no reconciliation between me and straight lines.
What could I do but continue? I hate unfinished projects, so I plowed on. Many hours later, the finished quilt top, while hardly perfect, was actually sort of charming. (I have a huge tolerance for imperfection.) But now what?

Stay tuned for part two...the finishing.

It's going to be a busy month...

Here are some sneak peeks of one of the creatures I'm working on for the Tangent Gallery show...

She's about 4 feet tall.

And my foot, while making a foot. IRONY!


And here's a pile of feet...
I've been meaning to post about these shows for a long time! But, working to make creatures for these shows (coupled with the onset of gardening, followed by EXCRUCIATING NECK PAIN!) has kept me from mentioning them. So, here we go:
Upcoming shows you can catch me at:

* Tangent Gallery, Sacramento, CA "In Between" -Opens 4/12

This is going to be a really cool show. It's me and two other female artists, and as we speak I am working on 4 foot tall plush just for this show. Also, astroturf will be involved.

* Sideshow Studios, Sacramento, CA "Taking Textiles Seriously"- Opens 4/11

* Kismet Gallery, Troy, NY "Kismart" - Opens 4/25

Not exactly a show, but it will have an opening. It's basically an art vending machine, and yours truly is working on some pieces for it.

* Bazaar Bizarre, San Mateo, CA- May 3 & 4

* One-of-a-Kind Handmade Craft and Vendor Fair, Folsom, CA- May 4th

Wips and Finks

Daily Photo 11.28.07
Originally uploaded by absolutely small

I have so many half finished projects on my desk right now. Which is actually how I like it. I like being able to dive in and start working without having to think something up first. I always think up more to work on once I get started working, so you see how this works.
The Wips above are a couple of Aranzai Aronzo softies for my nieces. They saw them on the cover of CRAFT last time they visited and seemed to like them very much. I highly doubt they'll remember them, but hopefully they'll like them. Underneath is a pile of Poppets, yet to be popped full of polyfill.
Those are the Wips, now on to the Finks:

Finks is the sort of creature who inhabits a woodland glade populated by talking squirrels and unicorns. You'd catch just a glimpse of her, peeking around the trunk of a cotton candy tree, and then she'd steal your backpack.


But it's ok, because you would find your backpack later. Except all the candy bars would be eaten. And she would laugh at you. And you'd be peeved, and throw a stick, but you'd miss. Then you might feel a little bad about throwing a stick at a creature. She'd still be laughing at you, though.


Catch her if you can!

Not at all symbolic of how I feel right now

Brace yourself for linky linky goodness! Prepare your clicking finger...annnnnnnd...go!


Daily photo 7.12.07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

The softie in progress above is for a Plush Team project- plush self portraits! I'll keep you posted on that- they should all be up on the 18th.
Also, the darling Marmee Craft has featured one of my paintings. But you shouldn't go to her blog for that; no, you should go because her banner features a rabbit and a squirrel holding hands. I should also mention that she has some truly wonderful things in her shop.
Also also: The ever fascinating Amy of Made in Mississippi has opened an Etsy shop! Please go visit and show her some love- she's got amazing prints there.