A Notebook with Fabric Samples on Projects

Posted on July 6, 2020July 6, 2020 by Betty Jo's Blog / Posted in Ancient manuscripts, Books, Fabrics, Food for Thought, Project Management

I have sometimes seen on tv shows about history, costumes, or fashion development books from history that hold samples of fabrics used for interesting events or proposed for historic figures. They make me want to spend some time with them pouring over the interesting or beautiful fabrics. I recently saw a show “Stitches in Time” on Britbox streaming where such books were used in research to better understand clothing from the past and recreate a costume.

This got me to thinking about how, as a fabric artist, I have also made some attempt, albeit not suffiicient, at keeping such records as I work through my more advanced projects.

Here is a couple of pages from my notebook where I kept the records of my projets over several years. I recently filled it up and started a new one. I did not use all these fabrics in this project, which was my quilt “Pendragon”, but my son had given me the fabrics for the project and I wanted to keep a record of all of them.

Pendragon, 34 x 45, this quilt was exhibited in several major shows and won some ribbons, including 3rd place in AQS Paducah (Fall) and was shown in Houston IQF

It is a delight to me to look back through these project pages, especially for those that were particularly successful. I wish I had used more pages and put larger fabric samples . Indeed, I am now adding larger samples for my current projects. Not all of them have fabric samples, but I find myself wishing I had added them. Something to enjoy in years to come and pass to my family in the end, who may decide to pass it on to the trash bin (but I won’t mind at that point), or who may find it a lovely memory. Perhaps some anthropologist centuries from now may also find this intriguing, especially if the resulting projects are still around. LOL I laugh in amusement, but the researchers from the show were looking at record books hundreds of years old with samples of fabrics trying to match them to paintings or actual aged garments. Sew it does seem likely that at least some of my work will be around long after I have gone from the earth.

1890 embroidered wool (origin unknown)

Keeping records as I make these projects is not only interesting, it is very helpful to me. In the notebook I also put a lot of information as I go, such as stitch settings and a step by step list of things I need to do. Then I can refer back to them if I put the project aside for a while and return to it or when I make a companion quilt, as I am planning to do for Pendragon. I hope to begin on Excalibur this year.

Such records are also useful for me as I am writing books and blogging about quilted and embellished fabric art. It is my hope to get one of these out this year.

Sew happy everyone! I encourage you to make a record with samples of the fabric along with information about the fabrics. It’s not a waste of time, doesn’t take very long, and can actually save you time in future projects if you make notes along the way of your project near the fabric samples.

An Organized Functional Studio…Waiting for Machine…Then What?

Posted on July 7, 2019 by Betty Jo's Blog / Posted in Food for Thought, High-Tech Studio, Machines, My Studio, Studio maintenance, Videos / 2 Comments

My computer work station in my studio with colorful bubbles. This is where I do my design work mostly.

This is an odd point in my fabric arts career. I am between projects and without a main sewing machine as I await my new Bernina 880 Plus to arrive. It will be another week or two at least. I still have my little B 350 and my wonderful Bernina Q20 sitdown longarm available, but to add to that I do not have a UFO except for my bed quilt that requires the 880 to finish the top appliques. I could do this on my B350 if I hadn’t already started some of the special touches on the 830, but it would look too different I think on the narrower width stitch area of 5mm vs 9 mm. So there you are! Between projects.

And wonder of wonders with the help of my friend Anita I finished organizing my enormous stash of fabrics, threads, and other stuff related to my fabric art work! The last time I did this was over five years ago. Here’s a link to a video walthrough of my studio, if you are interested: Walkthrough

But I do have a lot of ideas and concepts and even a few designs nearly completed for upcoming projects. And I am SOOOOOO looking forward to my new machine. Maybe I should complete those nearly finished designs, cut them out in preparation, and also work on my books. That’s a great idea, except I came down with a little cold yesterday (Sunday July 6) and am sneezing or nose blowing every few minutes. Sigh. I absolutely intend to get over it really soon and get back to work!!! Meanwhile I will look at videos on YouTube and The Quilt Show.

Sew the second half of this year looks to be really fun and maybe a little sparkly. You all KNOW how I love sparkly things. Here’s a sparkly fashion show that makes me think a black and gold and sparkly quilt would be really fun to make! Fashion Show

Sew happy everyone! Get your studio sorted out and have some FUN! You’ll be amazed what you find stashed away in the corner of that shelf.

The Waiting… Series of Quilts and Other News

Posted on February 20, 2016March 5, 2016 by Betty Jo's Blog / Posted in Design Work, My micro-business, Quilt Journal, selling quilts, Uncategorized / 4 Comments

Waiting…

I just sold Waiting… yesterday. It has been hanging in G Street Fabrics Bernina section for about a month now, along with a couple of my other quilts I have decided to sell. I love this quilt. It took me over a year to make (off and on…probably about six months full time). I sent it through several national shows, and used it a bit for my show and tell trunk shows, but the judges thought the borders were too wide and so forth. I actually agree with them now, but I will tell you that feedback to me personally from people who have seen it was the most positive of any quilt I have made before or since. Several people–even men–have actually wept over the quilt, as did the buyer.

The one-on-one responses have been so strong that I decided to make a whole series of quilts based on the heart-tugging circumstance of women (and some children) waiting at home for their men to return from war or other dangerous and totally necessary jobs down through history. The women faced difficult and sometimes dangerous lives while their husbands were gone, and many kept the home going, raised their children, and fed their families while their husbands went and came back from their important jobs. Or they did not come back! Currently, I am working on the second in the series. This will be very similar to the one above, except the borders are different, or non -existent, and the woman is a little better dressed and has her daughter with her. The ship is going to be better also, I hope, and there will be a distant light house. I have been working hard to get the sky and sea fabrics right, and I think I have finally done that, so I am constructing the top and trying to come up with a name.

It is hard for me to sell my quilts. I put a lot of myself into them. But it is also an honor when someone loves one so much that they buy it. I am so happy it is going to a couple who love it and told me personally they are planning to cherish it and pass it down to their family. I need the money, I need the space in my home for more quilts, and I need to sell more quilts for these reasons.

Day before yesterday I took down my online shop where I had my quilts for sale because it was getting no response and I had originally been told that they were going to have downloadable product capabilities by the end of last year. They have changed that apparently. So yesterday while I was investigating different ways to sell my quilts and downloadables I got the call from G Street. I’ll leave the other two quilts at G Street for a little longer and then maybe make some changes. They are beautiful, but don’t have the same emotional tug, so we’ll see what happens. They are:

Quiet Celebration, Second Place winner in Hoffman Challenge 2011 in its category and also shown in Ireland, and

The Storyteller, Hoffman Challenge 2013

Sew happy, everyone! Go make yourself some art for your walls. By the way, I haven’t forgotten the idea of a quilt work-along that I advanced some weeks back. I’m working on the pattern now. Also, I am working on samples for my first book.