Calamity Kim

12x12 Quilt Group: In the Beginning

This is a peek at a 12x12 quilt I am working on.

Any minute I might set it down and go to the spinning wheel and spin some yarn.

Then after a while I might wander over to the stamp and paper area and work on a book or maybe stamp a few paper dolls.

Yes, my name is Calamity Kim and I have a problem.

I want to make everything, all the time! Let me run it back for ya-

Before I learned to spin, I was making doll quilts and doing swaps and sewing aprons and dreaming of writing a quilt book. Then the allure of art yarn wound me in it's tenacious grasp and I abandoned all thoughts of quilting and spent the next 3 1/2 years spinning and reading books about spinning, taking classes and dyeing roving and yarn. That is a recent handspun that is plied with handspun.

It makes my heart sing.

But so does sewing.

Quilting is texture beneath your fingertips... Let me tell you how it happened: a few months ago I was dog sitting for a friend and had the time to check out her art book library. I discovered a book called 12 x12: the international art quilt challenge. My eyes lit up and my fingers started to itch and I called my friend Lenore and told her about it and suggested what if we try this ?

 

After a few emails, texts and phone calls we found some women friends who had the time and desire to try their hands at quilting a 12x12' quilt every 5-6 weeks and share the results with each other. It has been fun and a challenge to make time to quilt.

The first theme was chosen by Arlene and it was Genesis.

I went home and sketched a design.

I had to wait a while because I was making work to sell at a craft show but as soon as that was finished I began appliqueing my piece.

I used my first piece of rusted, eco dyed fabric for the base and then drew the images onto freezer paper and cut them out. After ironing them to the applique fabric I cut them out, turned the edge under with the needle and carefully stitched them down.

Of course it was set aside more than a few times as I worked on knitting, spinning, cooking, cleaning and life!

I struggled with allowing myself "free time".

You know, time when you are making something for yourself- not to sell or for a show. It seems selfish. Especially when gas prices continue to rise and the cost of living increases while my husband is still looking for a job and I am trying to earn money for my work.

You know that struggle, right?

Well, this 12 x 12 group is fun and gives me an opportunity to grow and teach my friends about new techniques. I also learn from them so it is a great sharing exchange and mutal appreciation of each other's work.

It is wonderful to watch them get all excited when they do show and tell about their pieces and how they encountered difficulty along the way to their goal.

It is worth the time spent.

So, I just wanted to share this with you and say hi.

I miss blogging but it is all about time. There is simply never enough!

I am still sewing aprons, dyeing fabric, spinning yarn, felting wool, cutting and folding and stamping paper while writing ridiculous run on sentences.

I hope to get caught up with my Genesis and show it in a few days.

My idea is about how the creator made the earth, water, fire and animals of land, sea and air under a new sun and old moon.

I enjoy the slowness of hand applique and making a picture appear from blankness. The quilting is the fun (and scary) part!

I plan to hand stitch a little and maybe a small bit of machine stitching- we will see what happens.

In the mean time you may want to check out the 12 x12 Group blog and see all the coolness there.

Happy Sewing, Spinning, Knitting and Stamping ya'll!

calamity kim

Sticks and Stones 6-12" mini quilt

6-12" mini quilt, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

The Mini Quilt Swap Group on Flickr has several categories for the theme each month- either Plain Jane (I am not ) so I always choose the "other" category and this time the theme was: Words.
Of course Sticks and Stones came to mind first off and I put the background tree fabric with an embroidered piece from Lucinda and scanned that and then put it in Flickr to add the text and then printed it on fabric.
I use my HP Photosmart 8250 to print on to June Taylor Colorfast fabric that can be found at Joann's or Walmart or online.
I appliqued the stones and then stuffed them trapunto style by cutting a small slit in the back and filling with stuffing. After layering it with batting I machine stitched around the piece and finally I bound it using a wrap stitch with perle cotton.
I will probably not get to the Post Office today, but tomorrow and it will be on it's way to a gal in Canada! 

Please use the link above to check out the Group pool of pictures at Flickr- lots of wonderful, tiny quilted blocks!

***

Last night was the Christmas party at the Surface Design Group and it was great fun! I have a few photos to share so check back later, I have to get over to Knit & Bitch for now!!!
Y'all have a great day!
love & stitches,
Calamity Kim

how does your garden grow?

how does your garden grow?, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

After my Dad retired from the Army we moved back to Black Mountain, NC, where my Mom was born and raised. My Grandfather had large gardens where he grew corn, beans, tomatoes, squash, peas and the dreaded okra.
I can remember long days hoeing and filling the wheelbarrow with rocks, weeds and other debris from the garden and how the sharp edges of the corn leaves would cut me as I went down each row, breaking off sucker plants from the base of each plant, looking for any bugs to be pinched as well.
Of course all that hard work was always rewarded with some sweet tea or a piece of my Grandma's cobbler or custard pie.
Fred and I were having breakfast at Word of Mouth the other day and he ordered grits and I suddenly remembered that's what we used to call the boys who were a bit sunburned on the neck. Grits! I giggled and told him but,  he didn't really get what was funny about it- after all he is a geek, not a true grit!
I am a long way from NC and the garden now, and sometimes I really wish that's where I was- living in Black Mountain with the 7 Sisters Mountain range all around you is like the safe arms of a Mother when you are an orphan.
Florida seems so flat to me at times because of those memories. Unless I go to the beach and then the joy of the water makes me so happy and content, I feel quite at home.

Home is where the heart is and I believe that.
My heart is with this little girl setting down her wheelbarrow filled with posies ready for the ground.
I am fairly certain that this quilt is finished. Sometimes I work on them so long that I lose all sense of perspective! Maybe Lu can add some more embroidery if she wants- I like the idea of that- she can add her own touches to make it more personal. A button from her Grandmother's jewelry box, a memento from one of her daughter's childhood days...
Doesn't everyone of us have a small box of treasured items that would be so much better on display where we can see them and allow their memories to perfume the air with the scent of days gone by?
My Grandmother smelled of rosewater and I always associate that smell with her. Even as I write this, I think about the flowers in her garden and the huge hydrangea that grew between the house and the garage my Grandfather built.
My nostalgic trip down memory lane is always during the Summertime of my youth- rarely during the winter- maybe things don't smell as much when you are so cold!

Anyway, I am taking some pictures of this whole quilt and then it will be off into the postage system to it's new home in upstate NY. It feels so good to be finished.

A sigh of relief.
There's still the other I owe her from the 4 Way Swap- I am working on it today- 

***
This weekend we have the American Craft Council Show here in Sarasota and I am going tomorrow- I can't wait! I hope there is some good stuff! I know there will be- there must be- its all Art & Handcrafted so it's bound to have something breathtaking!
I will take pictures if they allow it- you never know until you ask.
So Happy Saturday and I hope you are all having a wonderfully creative day!
If not, get that laundry done and then go entertain your muse- she is like a living thing that must be fed, watered and loved in order to produce the maximum amount of inspiration and creative juice.
Be kind to yourselves and everyone around you will benefit from that happier you!
I recently found this quote:
There are two ways of spreading light:
to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Wisely said by Edith Wharton
So, whether you are the candle or the mirror- just shine today and push the darkness back to the corners where it belongs.
Love & Stitches,
Calamity Kim

sarah made this mini quilt for lucette and I had to share it

september mini quilt for lucette, originally uploaded by krom_mama.

This was made by my friend Sarah using a pattern inspired by sonja artisania.

I am so in love with this guy.

After I get some free time I want to try making one.

I love aqua and red and then he is so sweet!

The simpleness is very elegant to me.

I can imagine his face.

so stinkin cute!

check out sonja's blog

and sarah's blog

Sarah has inspired me to make some houses...wonky, crazy, Big Fish style houses...

I will share soon.

hold your horses!

xxxooo

calamitykim

In the woods under a smiling moon

The squirrels are madly chasing each other around the ficus tree in the back and making quite a ruckus this morning.
I wish I had a real owl in my tree but the only ones around here are made from fabric.

I took the extra time to resize these photos instead of using Flickr to host them- does it make a difference on your monitor? What do you think? I am full of contentment at having finished something else and crossing it off my list. I see time when I look at my work.

Stitches wandering without a conscious effort to plan a design and then they become texture and that creates another element.

Like drawings on a buried treasure map the dotted lines travel around the patchwork until x marks the spot.

Buttons become balls bounced across the yard from child to child, the wind softly blows; leaves dance.
The colors represent water and forest. Perhaps this owl lives in the 100 acre wood with Christopher Robin?

He is kind and wise and so patient with that silly old bear and his foolishness.
The story tells itself as I stitch; quietly pushing needle through the layers of cloth.
Rust colored thread represents the nails in the owl house my Grandfather built before I was born.

Lichen growing in random patches to create a new design on the weathered gray wood. The rust bleeds down the wood like wine spilled on linen.

I stand on tip toes, searching the great oak tree for movement. Is that him? I whisper to myself.

Into the box and gone away to live in Oregon where he will be right at home.
All I have left are the digital images and the memory of thread through my fingers.
I hope she can hear the story it's telling through fabric, color and stitch.
The moon smiles and says yes, I'll make sure to tell her.
My hands reach out for a different cloth, with new thread on my needle and begin the dance again.

Mini Swap Quilt Treasure

I wanted to share this lovely mini doll quilt that I received from Knit One Quilt Too aka Kristen Shields.

The theme was owls and I absolutely love this charming fellow winking at me!
It blends wool, quilt fabrics and  a nubby silk in the center with tiny quilt stitches dancing all around it to give it movement and texture.

I love the red glass buttons!
The owl is appliqued and so perfectly done!

Of course she was not only on time but kept it in the 6-12" swap parameters~ unlike yours truly who still isn't finished!
And even after cutting it down, I find mine is a wee bit too large!

I am taking it with me to Knit & Bitch at Picasso Moon today and after I get pictures of Debra in her new art apron I will sit down and get it finished so that I can mail it and feel lighter and free of one more project!

My big fat stitches are clumsy compared to Kristin's~ but I try!
I like to participate in the swaps but I have gotten behind and it doesn't feel as good as it does when they are finished and mailed early!
I have my DQS4 almost finished too! I had to get those aprons done though!
I still have the other Debra's apron to finish and one for Jennifer- that sock monkey apron, and one for Smoochie, and a sock monkey for Scarlett and the list goes on and on!
 I feel buried yet its comforting to have all these projects to get finished!
The awful part is that most of these are so very close to completion that it isn't even remotely funny!
 But once completed the relief and pleasure will be great! I can't wait to get them done! Yeehaw!
Why do I do that to begin with?
I think out loud here a lot and it does help me sort out my Artistic Compulsion but I continue to do it!
It doesn't change anything!
I think I have a window of opportunity for each project and if it is completed in that time frame then it gets done. If I set it aside or hit a creative speedbump I just don't get it finished.
All I can do is say I am sorry and put the needle back down and get busy!
That's just me.
Calamity.
I have so many projects that I want to make! I write them down and look at them and can't wait for the day to get to them.
I have made a promise to myself that I will finish all my wips before the end of this year so hang on to your hats, people, cause the fabric is gonna fly around here!!!
Promises, Promises, right?
I believe it this time-
Is it crying wolf to even suggest a time frame to be finished in?
Is it the price for being so right brained that my poor neglected left brain is atrophied from disuse?
Why don't I walk with a limp with my big giant right brain head leaning to one side as if I might fall over from the weight of it at any given moment?
Good thing that I'm not a cartoon or that might indeed be how I would be drawn!
I always think I have plenty of time.
There goes another hour!
EEK!
I will start next year with a clean workspace and no unfinished projects.
If I have some I will give them away as a last resort to accomplish this mission.
There.
Help me stick to it, OK?
Maybe I can sleep less? (teehee)
Gotta get moving!
Happy Wednesday people!
Love & stitches,
Calamity Kim

Mermaids Tears

The most relaxing thing I can think of is to lay back and float in the ocean- or I guess it's the Gulf of Mexico and look up at the clouds and imagine I am on a tropical island somewhere with just a few friends, a few family members and a quilt shop that carries all the newest fabrics and books.
For me that is heaven.

We have these cool floats (that are like those gizmos for your car windows-) they fold open with wire rims and then snap back small enough to put in their holders. They have inflatable pillows and are just light weight and wonderful to float in the water while the waves gently carry you around.
So when I think about Summer I think about going to the beach and then I think about mermaids and then I get all obsessed ( like I have been for months now with making paperdoll mermaids and doll mermaids and embroidered mermaids and) quilted mermaids. It's enough to get me carried off by men in white coats I am sure sometimes...or so it would seem... to the men folk in the house!
It seems to be an almost direct result of my increasing femininity with mermaids and quilts that the boys have been shooting the air guns at targets and cans and plastic bottles and its almost like a competition to see if they can eradicate some of the estrogen with massive quantities of testosterone around here.
At first I had this center section completed and Fred and Troy both said "Oh Good! You're done!" But I didn't think I was. It needed something. Like they knew I wanted to create something that the recipient would love and was a bit nervous about doing the quilt- they know I get like that every time I make something "for someone else" and really want me to stop stressing. They were probably sick and tired of me asking "how does this look?"
I wanted to add something to the right and thought that the mermaid and flying geese made it look too centered and picturesque.
I tried to explain to the boys about the circular windows but they didn't get it.
I stamped a seahorse on tea dyed linen and then embroidered the outline with cream colored perle cotton.
The center window was filled with an old crochet piece that resembled something like a sea urchin.
The bottom window I made larger and after embroidering some yoyo's and shell buttons, pearls and beads on top of some lace tulle it started to look just
 like a day at the beach.
I used glass beads in the shape of tears to give it a story and some magic.
So this was an adventure and I taught myself some new techniques- like prairie points and flying geese and I mixed machine quilting with some large hand stitching for an almost Folk Art look.
I have some cheese cloth that I dyed with blues and greens and I had wanted to drape that below the mermaid but restrained myself because I really do want this to be washable and that would have put it into the delicate and fragile category.
The back has linen and velvet and cottons and I was sort of leaning toward what might be found on old Jack Sparrow's ship if I dared stow away
and peek in a trunk or two.
I always use coke tabs for hanger on the back and I put a nice label on it too- with another mermaid printed on silk with the date and all the info on it.
So the next time you are out near the sea shore be quiet and listen for the sirens call and perhaps you will catch a glimpse of mermaids swimming about.
If you happen to strike up a conversation with one I am sure they will tell you why they cry and sing of their sorrows- it's because they secretly love shoes and have no feet upon which to wear them.
I can't think of anything sadder than that...except maybe having to give this quilt away...goodbye little mermaid...I know your new Mama will take good care of you...
now to finish that mermaid pillow for my bed! and oh- the strawberries!

Chicken Dreams

I believe that now, more than any other time in History, your Dreams can Become Reality.

With a little networking and a lot of hard work and determination you can do what your parents or grandparents never could.

The most difficult part is to overcome your own insecurities and self-doubts and JUST DO IT!

I get a lot of emails from reader's of this Blog who tell me I am wonderful and talented and while that makes me feel really great, it sometimes makes me feel like they don't think that they have as much talent or their work isn't as good. I don't believe that. I think we all have a talent. It may not be Art but you don't know that unless you try.
Follow your heart.
Listen to the song it sings.
***

I admit that there is a lot of Bad Crafting going on out there.

But there is a LOT of ART too, being created by very talented people without the  self confidence necessary to overcome  the  criticism or doubt in their own abilities.

I am constantly asking myself if my work is any good.
Will someone fall in love with it?
Will it enhance someone's life?
How much should I charge for it?
Should I quit?
Should I get a real job?

This doubt is corrosive and eats away at my productivity.
It has to stop!
I have to believe in myself and my work.

I get disheartened by the sheer number of other artists out there creating and selling and think that I don't have anything to contribute.

It's like the  cereal isle at the grocery store.  Who needs another choice?  Already  one flavor of Cukoo for Cukoo Puffs. But wait, now there's strawberry, vanilla and rootin tootin raspberry.

When you access your right brain and allow yourself to look at everyday objects in your life you can view them artistically. Like seeing faces in the shower curtain or cracks in the sidewalk.
I see faces everywhere.
Try it. Like looking for shapes in the clouds.
It isn't crazy, it's fun!
Make it a game.
Use your innate ability to create and  genetic programing to recognize  human faces  in things.
Then get your pencil and start drawing the line.
Not the  whole shape, just the line.
Feel that line flow through your arm and into the pencil.
The more you practice the better you will become.
The more you show your work and get mixed reactions, the stronger you will become.
Don't take it personal.
Sometimes people are sarcastic or critical if they don't get it.
It makes them feel dumb.
Like, you know something that they don't or maybe it should "mean something".

(Well, get used to it.
I am growing a thicker skin.)

Sometimes,  if you just make what you want, and  drop all your preconceived notions of good/bad and right/wrong,  you come up with something totally new and different and excellent.

So, people, please, TRY.
Just ask yourself: What Am I Afraid  Of?

Answer yourself HONESTLY.

Then just  give yourself permission to try.  If you fail, only you will know. Only you will  criticize yourself.  You can always throw it away.
Burn it.
Start over.
Reinvent yourself.
Become who you dream to be.
Try.
You Can Do IT!

Chicken Dreams

This is the background for the Doll Quilt for the third round of swapping.
I chose fabrics that helped set the scene.
Blue sky fabric is in a little bit of all my work.
It represents carefree happy days.
The flowers on the upper left look like they were drawn with black outlines.
I used to paint murals like that.
It represents the flowers near the lake.
The corn fabric- I have a large selection of food fabrics and the corn is what chickens eat plus I used to feed it to the ducks all the time.
There are no real chickens on our lake, only Ducks.
funny, right?
Anyway, the brown roses was kind of blah and as I put the sections of fabric together, I kept thinking it needed something there instead but it was just not coming to me.
No time to rip seams!
I rarely do- I just keep moving forward!
So as I was working on this the other night I decided to cut slits in the blah brown section and weave in some more color.
Maybe it was Jude who inspired me, I think it was, or the loom weaving,
but I just went with it.
I am still thinking about the loose ends.
Might just sew them down with the machine.
I am trying to loosen it up a little.
Not be so rigid.
I can hear you laughing at that.
I am very loose compared to traditional quilters, I know.
Ain't nuthing traditional about any of this, right?
No squares- just fabrics in big slabs. I knew I wanted to add some appliqué that would cover up the quilting anyway. What's a girl to do?
So, this guy wasn't standing out from the background enough, so I machined some black stitches around him.
It mimics the other chicken on the quilt.
The dream chicken represented by quilted black lines.
The directions for this procedure are on the inside of the Sulky packaging.
I just wanted to try it after seeing a similar technique done on T-shirts on Martha Stewart's Show.
I printed out a picture of a chicken and traced over the outlines with a sharpie fine point on to the sulky and then pinned it to the quilt top.
I pinned it on the "drawn" flower fabric.
Some of the lines made the finished chicken image seem whacked, so I went over them several times with the machine stitching.
Use a 2-2.5 stitch length.
See? It looks drawn too!
Pretty cool, eh?
Ghost Chicken, Dream Chicken...that's all I will probably ever have!
But I do have plenty of chicken wire!
I stamped this on the Sulky, because it was easier than any other method.
If I hadn't had the chicken wire stamp I would have probably rolled black ink on the actual wire and pressed it on- it probably would have been a Calamity!
So, I am glad I did it this way and after stitching it and
removing the Sulky I had nice results.

I didn't get too much done on it last night. I had my neighbor girl over for a long time and we played with stamps and she made a "book" and we rode bikes and chased down the ice cream man. I was good- I got one for Super Fred but not me. I have been doing well- no coffee for 4 days, no sugar, only Stevia and fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch and lots and lots of water. I did do the yoyo's and leaves while we watched a movie.So there ya go...I am going to go work on it some more. I am happy with it so far. We'll see how it turns out!Happy Tuesday! Cloverfield comes out today! I might ride my bike over to Blockbuster and get me one! Love & Stitches, Calamity Kim

Happy little chickens

OK,  So I couldn't hold out until Monday!
I won't tell you how Fred and I loaded the bikes in the car and went to the Start of the Legacy Trail and rode for 10 miles yesterday.
Or how it was such a beautiful day and I couldn't keep the BIG GIANT SMILE off my face because I love to ride my bike!
We rode all the way to Oscar Scherer Park and it was great!
We are going to find a bike rack for the car though- they are just too big and something is going to get hurt if we keep putting them in the back- the headliner, the bikes or one of our backs!
I got a little bit of sun on my arms, face and shoulders and felt really good getting fresh air and using my muscles!
I just am sitting way too much lately and it shows! ( yes, my but does look like a big sack of quilt scraps, thank you!)
So, I wasn't going to tell you all about The Legacy Trail that is part of the rails to trails program and how they bought 12 miles of train track and removed the rails and paved it and added trash bins and benches along the way.
Its very nice to have a place to ride, roll or walk without worrying about getting hit by a car.
I wasn't going to tell you because I wanted to show you my Doll Quilt for the 3rd round of the swap.

I am doing my first appliqué chicken! YeeHaw!!! It 's working title is Chicken By The Lake for now, until I get finished.

I love the way the tail turned out! I added several that I sewed on the machine and turned inside out with the other needle
turned appliqué to give it a more dimensional look.
I have some nice fabrics to choose from for the wings and comb.
Of course, now that I look at the roses as applique , they would make better lips! But Chickens don't have lips!!
Well, the doorbell just rang!
My little neighbor is here for a visit! She wants to make a quilt!
Who doesn't?!!!
Oh, boy!

Doll Quilt Swap III

Remember this? From the first Doll Quilt Swap?

And this one from the second swap?
Well, I thought I had missed it, but then I emailed Tanaya, hostess for the Doll Quilt Swap III and I am in the 3rd round! Yippee!
I enjoyed doing it the first two times,  and was feeling sad and left out about not even knowing the 3rd round was happening!
So, in the next few weeks I will be showing my new quilt- which is just germinating in my fertile mind at this stage of things.  Yoyo? Appliqué? Something traditional?  Log Cabin????
I had hoped to someday  do a book  about doll quilts with  some  of my talented friends but that idea  is on the back burner until I get caught up with projects .   Sometimes I feel like it is all too much and I need a  break, but I do it to myself and  so I have no one to blame.  I just want to make so many things  and  I guess I will always be that way.
***
So, today I am off with a friend to view the Grandma Moses Exhibit at The Ringling Museum and then we are having lunch and I am so excited! This will be the 2nd time in maybe 15 years that I have been to the museum and on display are 25 of Grandma Moses paintings as well as some of her personal belongings like her rocking chair and pincushion. I doubt I can take pictures but will try to bring back some postcards or something to share.

***
Also the quilt from the next post isn't mine- I should have been clear on that.
I just was sharing a photo from my Flickr Group Doll Quilt Challenge.
The title under the photo says who uploaded it and unless it says calamity kim then it is someone else's.
Sorry to be tricky...I am not always clear, I know...in my overt  enthusiasm, I just blurt it out! Or throw images up and expect you to get it.
I don't even do the challenges- I just can't keep up! teehee! I know, such a loser! whatever! sheesch!
Love & Stitches,
Calamity Kim

A Walk In The Woods or Moth Quilt Story

The past few days have been gray and cloudy. We need the rain. I wish it was snow.

But that won't happen. I just go get lost in other people's yards on Flickr. I saw two gorgeous, giant spider webs under the trellis but am not sure how to take a good picture. I will try. They are magnificent! I was outside to take pictures of this doll quilt...the moth quilt...I used fabrics that reminded me of the texture of moths.Burn-out velvet tea-dyed, linen, lace, striped ticking, piping.selvages and raw edges, frayed and worn, like a walk through the woods. Old, dead leaves under foot. The smell of moss and decay. Dormant. Still. Sleeping woods. Here and there a ray of sunshine. Holding hands. Skipping down hill. Stopping to look at something there on the ground.Quiet! You'll scare the gnomes!How did I get the raw edges and still have a neat seam? Well...first rip your fabric into a strip.Then iron down about 1/2 inch. Facing right side.Then line up along edge of quilt. Stitch with 1/4" seamThen iron open. You can insert a row of lace or piping in there or yarns or anything- tulle would be great.

Abandon your notions of what it's supposed to look like and go with it. Shut your eyes and imagine a walk in the woods. Gather your fabrics that tell the story.There would be twigs, leaves, ferns, rocks, birds, squirrels, maybe a rabbit. Look up- can you glimpse the sky? Is there lichen on the trees?

Texture is interesting. Use it to your advantage. Don't be afraid. Use embroidered Japanese Satins and duponi silks. They add shine. Do your eyes move smoothly around the quilt? Do they find lovely places to linger and feel content?Do you want to reach out and touch it? That's when you know it might be a good piece. Next comes the quilting. Will I do some embroidery first? Sew on some buttons? Ruching with some organza or tulle?  Quilt with machine or by hand? So many choices... none of them wrong as long as my quilt tells a story and sings a song.

Bad Bird Embroidery Patterns for free from Andrea

I just wanted to mention this - in case you are somewhere snowed in to your eyeballs and getting bored...Andrea Zuill at BadBird with her Bad Ass Illustration and Painting and Quilting and Embroidery SKILLZ has given us another delightful free embroidery pattern:
and bless my hearts and stars and garters- its a gnome! whoohooo!!!!!! yeehaw!!!!
I  couldn't be more tickled! Check out her ETSY
I am also going to post these links in the Doll Quilt Crazy Group on Flickr (that I have been sorely neglecting).
We are going to be doing a landscape theme for Jan/Feb for the Doll Quilt Challenge...Come see some inspiration here. I think that it would be really cool to use photos transfered onto fabric for the landscape theme, but I know everyone doesn't have that capability. So, landscapes- of any description or composition. Whether it is a landscape of the heart or a view from your kitchen window, landscape will be the Doll Quilt Challenge Theme for Jan/ Feb. I will post a theme for March/April halfway into Feb so that those of you who want to make one can get started.

Witch Wash Day

, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

This is the other side of Arsenic & Old Lace.
I had originally planned to sew down a doll dress to the center so that the doll could be put into the sleeves and "dressed" and then wrapped up in the quilt. I later changed it to a "clothesline" in the pumpkin patch because it just didn't tell a story hanging in the center of the quilt for no apparent reason.

Here's Hazel in her dress- still "hanging on the line"She can still get all wrapped up in her quilt and cuddled.

I am listing the doll & quilt on Etsy right now. I have to sell her before I decide to keep her, she's so stinkin cute! (sorry, she is sold,)Today was a bit windy for pictures, but I tried my best. I strung up a vintage sheet and had to put cement stones on it to hold it down. Photographing my stuff can be the biggest challenge sometimes! It is so nice and cool though- I might have to get on my bike and ride!

fresh traditions quilt

fresh_traditions_quilt, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

This is the Challenge for September for the Doll Quilt Challenge Group on Flickr. Click on picture to get to the Flickr Group in a flash! Here is a link to the pattern.

Doll Quilt Swap II

Doll Quilt Swap II, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

Remember this?  My Doll Quilt Swap II Quilt partner was happy with her quilt! Yee Haw!!! I am so glad that she likes it! She does beautiful and traditional quilting and this was perfect because she doesn't make stuff like this but wanted something arty- well, I'm all about arty farty!!!
*teehee*

Her name is Laura and this is her blog: Pine Ridge Quilter- go check her out!

I named this "Through The Picket Fence" Because it has just wedges and glimpses of flowers and birds on branches. I used the slice and dice method- oh, no, maybe it's stack and whack....each pair of squares had a lime square...and then another color- like some of Heather Bailey's stuff- then you whack it with the rotary cutter and then swap one or two of the pieces to change it up. Easy peasey! There are more pictures of it here at Flickr. View my Doll Quilt Slide Show
The Doll Quilt CrAzY!! Group now has 156 members and 420 photos of lovely Doll Quilts!
The Doll Quilt Challenge  Group has  104 members with 82 photos. I am so happy that the doll quilt love is spreading and people are taking the quilt challenges and learning new techniques! It's all about the quilts, baby! Look at this one by Wendy  It's so beautiful! She took August's Challenge by Storm!!! I loved this tutorial by Jenny at All Sorts. Even if you don't quilt or are just a beginner you can still join the Groups and then you will have a link to them to view these beauties anytime you want a little pick-me-up!!!! I know it sure brightens my day! Happy Happy!!!! Joy Joy!!!!!! Doll Quilts!! Oh, boy!!!!! I love the colors in this "Crazy Nine Patch!" Awesome, simply awesome!

Another quilt from the recent Doll Quilt Swap II is this one from Lululollylegs at Flickr from Melbourne, Australia. It has two of my favorite things doll quilt and aprons!! Yee haw! Nice, huh? Like little masterpieces!  Here's a link to her Blog

oh, the calamity...

OK, so I couldn't decide if I should add this on to the first post I wrote today (see below, it's a doozy) Or if I should start a new one. So I started a new one. This way you have some pictures and happy talk before you go any further.
I was contemplating mowing the yard as I went to the mailbox.

Because the grass has grown 3 inches over-night!that smile is for you, Troy!

Actually these are from the back yard Jungle. I really, really need to go out and mow and then trim and then give Sadie a bath.But first I have to tell you about what was in my mailbox. A box.  I am expecting something from Cher, but this is from Melissa. Melissa Allen. The name seems somehow familiar, but having the CRS Disease has impaired and degraded my memory to the smallest amount of gigabytes possible so I am curious and curiouser as I head for the kitchen knife to open this up!

Hot Damn!!!! My Mood Alters Again! (hang on dearies!!!) I am up and elated and tearing open the lovely pink tissue and BAM!!!!!!! There in my hands is the lovliest doll quilt. In my favorite color combo!!!! I am crying now because I can feel the love and kindness emanating from the stitches. It says:I am so thrilled! The Blues are banished and I am filled with happiness. Fred walks in the door for lunch and sees me clutching my new treasure and wiping the tears from my eyes. The kindness of cyber friends.

The knot in my heart from earlier (see below) has worked it's way up to my throat and I race to the computer to see if this is from who I think it is.

Yes, she bought my Alice Shadowbox I don't have her Blog address- or know if she has one. I get confused by the Etsy name, the Flickr name, the Blog name and the email name.

I thanked her in an email.

I am thanking her again here!

I was really surprised!

I was really overwhelmed!

I am moving up the plans to paint my sewing room! Just so I can hang this up in the room where I spend the most time. So I can feel loved.

Melissa, you are sweet and kind and generous and have restored my faith in the world and its humanity for one more day.
Thank you.
Now, I have to go mow.

*** and one last random thought.
I kept hearing this old song by Styx when I was driving to and from Tallahassee.
Too much time on my hands....oh, the calamity....
hope that isn't stuck in your head all day....
and now:

Doll Quilt Swap II Finally Finished!

I just wanted to give you a peek at my finally finished Doll Quilt Swap II quiltie before it gets mailed. It turned out 21 1/2" x 17 1/2" and I washed and dried it and the edges frayed nicely and it is so textural!! I am in love with it! The lime green isn't really my favorite color but it is shocking and speaks of new growth in the garden. I still need to make the label and attach my coke tab hangers and then it's off!

The name of it is: "Through the Picket Fence". I hope she likes it. My swap person is a real quilter- very traditional. She lives in a house built in 1890 and loves words on her quilts. I use symbolism a lot and leave you to read your own words into it. Hopefully she will enjoy this bit of bright flowered sunshine! I always worry about swaps- that my poor offerings will end up in the back of the closet. There are more pictures over at Flickr. I need to get going! Hopefully it won't be crazy on hwy 75!! Y'all have a nice weekend! That's the back. The label will go next to the Frog. I will reveal all after she gets it!

a shot in the dark

I think the red dot is smashing! Thank you all for your input! I simply couldn't decide!
I am very happy with it. Except that wonky bit up on the left where the pieced together pieces made the dots bounce around. It is very square, even though it doesn't look it. I couldn't resist taking a picture in the dark to show- after seeing the quality, perhaps I should have used some impulse control. Anyway, I finished it! Whoopee!
That is a relief!
I have a pile growing and as I finish and stack them it feels really great!  I  am almost finished with a collaged purse too! It will be great to have new stuff in the Etsy shop and then I plan on getting my boxes together to ship this week! Yes! Finally there will be joy in the mailbox for those of you waiting, so patiently! Then I may have to take a day and go to the beach and swim in that crystal clear Gulf of Mexico!
We watched some really bad movies this weekend! You can always count on that at my house- good food, bad movies! I won't mention the ones that were horrible ( Like Blood & Chocolate) but I did finally get to see Howl's Moving Castle and I loved the animation. It was beautiful and looked like it was painted Old School style.
Looking forward to Transformers and Harry Potter and Ratatouille coming soon. And this:  La Vie En Rose. There isn't anything better than slipping into the dark and cool theater on a hot day to go far away on an adventure.
Hope you all had a great weekend! Better pictures tomorrow. goodnight!

July's Doll Quilt Challenge Theme

Finished Miniature Quilt for Whiplash, originally uploaded by The Harvatines.

This is going to be the Challenge theme for July.

Here is the link.

Go check out her tutorial on "How To" and get started early! Originally written for Whiplash, Liz has graciously allowed me to use her quilt design for our group. I can't wait to get started!

 

I am not finished with June's yet, but that doesn't mean I can't daydream!

Finished Miniature Quilt for Whiplash By Liz

Finished Miniature Quilt for Whiplash, originally uploaded by The Harvatines.

And what about this Crafty Chick ( Liz Harvatine ) who is so awesome with the Whiplash Tut!!! Check her out and take notes..this is going to be the Doll Quilt Challenge for July

please pass the biscuits

wip, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

I just wanted to show my  progress on the red & aqua Doll Challenge quilt.  I need to pick out a border and then the binding...and I am wondering about embroidering a quote from the book on the roses above the main image...yesterday was consumed by dishes, laundry, vacuuming and swiffering the floors. I didn't get to sew until late.

I worked on piecing the squares together from 7:30 till about 10:00pm. I am hoping to quilt it with tea cups...like, I guess I will have to make a template and then use my new blue disappearing ink pen...I can see it in my head...so that's half the battle...

At 10pm we  watched that new Will Traveler show....not sure if it's going to hold our interest.

I can't believe we have to wait until Feb of 2008 for a new Lost.

Is that possible? Sadness....just sadness...guess I will be very productive on Wed nights from now on...tee hee...

I am going to spend the day with my Brother-at the furniture warehouse for European Traditions, where he works. He is the warehouse manager and refinishes a lot of the furniture. They have two locations- the real showroom is located on S. Tamiami Trail and my Brother's warehouse is located off Clark Rd. This picture is from the show room on the trail. Click on the link to see more pictures.

The furniture is made in Turkey from salvaged houses that are 200-300 years old. The wood has lots of great character- worm holes, etc and is gorgeous when used to construct desks, armoire's and tables. Most of the furniture is huge- like giant size. Like for castles or mansions.  The armoire's remind me of the Wardrobe in Narnia....

I am vacuuming and mopping the new tile installed in one section of the ware house "show-room". The owners closed in a huge area and have installed air-conditioning, dry wall and created offices and a lovely tiled showroom where it was air plane hanger style corrugated tin before.

It is amazing! I will try to get some pictures , although there won't be any furniture moved in until I clean the floors...

I am hoping to have earned enough money to fill up the gas tank (:o) and possibly get this much anticipated book from Mary Jane Butters- the stitching room.....went by Books-a-million yesterday and they didn't have it. Looks like Amazon is my new best friend....

Y'all have a nice day now...I'll be back later...probably with sore shoulders...everything!!!!  My blisters have blisters....how will I ever quilt? My poor aching back....I only finished half- tomorrow I return to mop.....I am off to find the Doan's...