BeeArtful

I recently saw a photo of Gini’s free-motion quilting on a Featherweight, and it really resonated with me. Watching her hesitate and then fully embrace a new skill with such focus and speed brought to mind the importance of being brave enough to try something new.

While I like to think of myself as brave, I am often reminded of the fabric dyeing supplies still languishing in my basement. I have lost track of how many times I have told myself that "tomorrow" would be the day I finally dive in. I have realized I need to make a formal date with myself to actually get started.

I’ve been reflecting on the advice that we don't need to clear an entire sewing room to begin a project; we just need to make enough space to start. Perhaps "start" isn't even the right word, as it can feel so loaded. Maybe "continue" should be the word of the day (a la Sesame Street), perhaps we should simply continue to do what is interesting to us, put on some background music, and just continue.

How about you? Is there anything that has been nagging at you or tugging at your heart lately?

Keep on, keeping on.

Janice

Mar 10 Geri will teach us about over dyeing

April 12-17 Spring retreat/fabric weaving with Bev

May 12 Carol will lead us in Trapunto

June 9 Kathy and Melinda will lead a program on self-portraits

July 14 Gini will lead a show and tell for table toppers

Aug 11-14 Summer retreat with Jan leading us in making Artful Birds

Sept 8 Caroline and Bev will lead a program on vintage design

Oct 13 Open sew

Nov 10 Bev will lead 12x12 refrigerator quilt

Dec 8 Christmas party and KISS it goodbye

Bring lunch
Presentation by Geri on over dyeing (see description below)
April retreat planning
Work on project of your choice

Do you have some ugly fabric that needs to be salvaged? How about some tired pieces of clothing you'd like to spice up? Did you inherit some nice clothing but it just isn't your color? Are you trying to match some fabric you ran out of but don't want to buy any new fabric?

Over dyeing may be the answer to these questions. Knowing what kind of fabric and a little color theory you can accomplish a lot. It is easier than you think and using a microwave makes it quick and permanent.

In a little over a hour lecture, Geri will show you what over dyeing is, what you need and how to do it.

Bee Artfuls taking a turn at hand quilting

Pat showing us how!

Closeup of the master at work (Pat)

After giving hand quilting a try, the group decided it would be best for someone to machine quilt this top as no one in the group felt like this skill was in our wheelhouse.

Laura's piece entitled "Mountain View" and was accepted in Lyndon House Juried Exhibition (see notables section below)

Melinda's latest wool appliqué block on black lace

Bev's example for a group project done by Bee Artful's in the past

Kathy's example of fabric weaving done by Bee Artfuls in 2019

A new fabric weaving by Bev in preparation for workshop at retreat

Another view of Alice Purse (see below)

She is ready for retreat! Alice Purse is her name

She has some bolts and lots of other stuff too

See link below for Emma Parrish's Etsy shop

It’s official! Please review the information we received yesterday from Piedmont University.
I encourage you to look through your artwork, as we will share more details during our upcoming BeeArtful meetings and retreats. We hope you will consider participating.

Left at Janice's house in February

Mountain View

Thomas Preserve I

Private Cove

Geri's printer is the Canon PIXMA G6020 All-in-One Supertank Wireless (Megatank) Printer, Copier and Scan with Mobile Printing, Black. Can find it at a similar price at Staples, Office Depot, etc. Sometimes goes even cheaper holiday sales. Originally $324. Link on Amazon ($214):

https://a.co/d/0ejeXYNT

Ink refills:

https://a.co/d/0iHYJZao

Pressing Matters (fused applique, cotton)

Have you noticed the changes in fusible web over the years? The consistency of the glue changes, the paper changes, and companies go out of business. For 20 years or more, I recommended using Pellon Wonder Under #805. This recommendation for a dry glue transferred to fabric with the heat of an iron is in my books and online classes.

But now I have my reservations.

Recently, the glue formula for #805 has changed, as has the paper backing the web. The glue is thicker, and the paper only has silicone on one side.

So I’m recommending Misty Fuse for fusing my fabrics. It’s lightweight and easy to hand-stitch through. There is also a new product called Gentle Fuse that closely resembles the old #805 and Soft Fuse that I loved. Both Misty Fuse and Gentle Fuse are available online, and I’ll be purchasing them from now on.

Get Gently Fuse here: https://www.equilter.com/search?p_filter_keyword=Gentle+fuse&p_search_type=all&p_func=live

Another idea for hanging : metal furring strip from Home Depot attached to wall with Command strips - then either magnets in sleeves or as shown magnets on furring strip then metal pole in sleeve.

https://nancysnotions.com/add-hand-embroidery-to-clothes-and-shoes-its-easy/

How to Have More Meaning Conversations About Quilts

By Frances O’Roark Dowell

https://www.quiltingdaily.com/talking-about-quilts-how-to-have-more-meaningful-conversations-about-quilts/

Quilting Arts (Where We Work):

https://www.quiltingdaily.com/where-we-work-quilting-arts-podcast

New Haptic & Hue podcast link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/haptic-hue/id1530400722?i=1000682370590

Podcast with local flair:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-thread-podcast/id1508572777?i=1000663499933

Her upcoming book is: Marking Your Time by Tommye McClure Scanlin

Marking Time with Fabric and Thread: Calendars, Diaries, and Journals within Your Fiber Craft https://a.co/d/71Q7u8N

Podcast on Tales of Textiles:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/haptic-hue/id1530400722

http://www.mountainartquilters.com/?m=0

Need the password for member section for the guild (www.mlqg.org) website? Contact Kathy Wasden (kathy99@wasden.net).

Silke uses Superior thread 100 weight (micro quilter)-blends in well.

Kathy I. uses 100 weight silk thread by Yli (order from Amazon or another vendor online).

https://www.janedunnewold.com/resources/critiques

One is a checklist that can be used as a guideline when looking at a quilt - this is published on her website as part of her creative strength training class.

The second is a detailed essay she wrote concerning the process.

I hope that these documents will help the Bee Artful group conduct critique sessions that are productive.

As it usually happens, February came to a close and I was caught "not ready"! Our February meeting was well-attended even though some of the Bee Artfuls were at a Bee Sharps retreat in Hinton, NC. We met at Janice's house in Gainesville for a cozy meeting where we learned we are not hand quilters in the Pat Statler tradition (tiny stitches). Our March meeting will be back at the VFW hall and will have Geri giving us a presentation on over dyeing as well as planning for our retreat in April. I am looking forward to seeing you all next week. Enjoy your newsletter!

I am happy to convey all of these wonderful "goings on" via this newsletter. Try to get things to me in advance of the end of the month via email (mandmoliver@gmail.com) or text. If you put the word "newsletter" somewhere in the message line I will be able to find it easier (if using email). See you soon.

Melinda

BeeArtful