JOURNALING AND MORE JOURNALING

I've been doing a lot of that lately...journaling. Cloth Journaling. For two different purposes:
1. My Cybre Fibers group
We have 12 wonderfully challenging themes this year: Underwater,Victory, Balance, Reflections, If Pigs Could Fly, Wisdom, Finally, Ritual, Faces, Intersections, The Humble Bumblebee, and Crystal Ball. Now that's a mouthful, and a full and delicious plate of journal topics to play with. Here are some I created recently. Can you figure out which themes these are????

This is a sweet little poem about TRAVELING by James Reeves.

 

I really love this little piece, along with it's message.

 

 

My sweet little birds.

 

 

The name of this one is Glacier Bay.

 

 2. and my recent Signs of Life Project: Since November, I have been journaling my travel experiences. This gypsy quilter has been on the move this year: Jacksonville, Mazatlan, Kentucky, Guatemala, Guadalajara, Colima, Seattle, and points between. I've been journaling on cloth (in the same format as my Cyber Fibres group) throughout my journeys and telling the story behind them. It's an immensely fulfilling and motivating project.

Stay tuned!

SISTERS OF THE CASTOR BEAN

The recent news of letters tainted with ricin being sent to high officials (Obama being one) is a bit problematic for our group of traveling friends. Just because ricin is an extract of castor beans, which can then be administered in very small amounts to kill someone, doesn’t mean we’re in on the sadistic side of it.

It was just a silly passing comment, perhaps aimed at an annoying woman or uncooperative spouse, that castor beans could be the solution. After a few more references to the power of the castor bean (all in fits of laughter of course!) we quickly claimed the name for our traveling partnership: Sisters of the Castor Bean!

Each year a group of eight women (with members floating in and out with life’s demands) travels to a Spanish speaking destination. Our tie that binds us is that we all spend the winter (or longer, for some) in Mazatlan. AND we really like each other and have lots of fun together. So far, we have been to Michoacan, Oaxaca, Mexico City and surrounds, Chiapas, Guatamala, and next year to Costa Rica.

Last year we were greeted at the airport in Guatemala City by our van driver (sweet Guillermo) holding up the name of our group. It was the perfect beginning to another fabulous trip.

But now this castor bean/ricin attention is not good for our group. Do we need to hide our identity just to stay on the safe side? Is it like joking about bombs and guns when you go through security at the airport?

I think Sisters of the Castor Bean should carry their name with pride! Think of it this way…if the FBI shows up at our doors, we’ll all go down together and make it another great trip!

KATHE'S MESS

This is Kathe's mess. (We thought it was a little work of art!) Yep, dyeing is messy business, but so fun. She joined us today at Christine's house for her first ever dyeing session. We made her sign a disclaimer beforehand so as not to blame us if she gets hooked. She brought over a wine-stained tablecloth (that she's rinsing below) and then went on to create eight napkins. I can't wait to eat at her house!!!!

 

It's so wonderful to have friends who love to dye AND invite me over to dye with them. My little space here in Southern Oregon is a bit confining so I'm always so appreciative AND EAGER to hang out with other dyers (Christine, Cynthia, Lene, Kathe too!). Gracias amigas!

Today I worked on a specific batch of colors for a commission and somehow the dye didn't take....argh! I think the problem is in the soda ash; I'll be checking on that one. I did come home with some nice camouflage pieces....this orange and a green one too. Here it is full of darkened printpaste.

 

Christine was busy with adding black lines to this jacket, and also another batch of parfaits. A fun day, AND really not messy at all.

 

 

 

 

CREATING ON THE ROAD

We've taken a road trip this month...three weeks in Guadalajara and a week exploring in the state of Colima. Our goals were to see more of Mexico and to study Spanish. Both objective accomplished! Tomorrow we head back to Mazatlan.

But I can't live without my fabric and needles and thread, etc. etc., so I packed along a basket of supplies to keep me going on my quilt journals and "bird signs". I brought along 10 small pieces of batting and I'm happy to say I have filled them all up. I don't have a sewing machine with me but I did complete all the raw edge applique - and now I'm just waiting for TIME at the machine.
Here are a few of my half-finished creations.

 

 

THE ECLECTIC ZENTANGLE QUILTER

 

My friend Barb Round, a member of my Cyber Fibre's quilt journaling group, is the Eclectic Zentangle Quilter. She is a multi-talented, energetic quilter who now has combined her love of quilting with a method of doodling (Zentangle.com). Last fall she traveled from her home in Campbell River, BC to Rhode Island to become a Certified Zentangle Trainer, and now is teaching throughout the west coast of BC. Check out her website at barbroundczt.weebly.com. It's great!

 

 

In perusing through Barb's website, I saw this example of student work. What a great idea...take your child's or grandchild's artwork and turn it into a quilted piece of art!

DYE DAYS 2012-13

Rosemary brought a "show and share": her quilt from last year's hand dyes.



That's it for this year...17 days. Midst my travels to and fro, I squeezed in 17 good studio days with new and old friends who wanted to have some dyeing fun. Here are a few shots from our time together this winter.





Laura and Susan dyed these
 lovely cotton shawls.



Dora Alicia created this tie dye on manta
 and then took it home and
made a very fun apron!



Barb produced this at a collage workshop.
 

 

Nat, from Comala, created this fantastic shirt.

This is Joyce's lively collage.

ONE DOZEN BIRDS

I just finished one dozen birds and they are heading to Glen Roger's gallery here in Mazatlan (Luna Gallery: http://www.lunacontempo.blogspot.mx/) for her March bird show. Here they are, in all their feathered (and quilted) glory.