April-May 2008 Newsletter

Recap of March Meeting (March 27, 2008)
Thanks to Theresa for taking the March notes…

We were a small group last month but we had a wonderful evening. Thanks to Karen for repeating the technique of Cord Wrapping. We (all 4 of us) had a productive time. Karen started and finished a "mug rug", Pat and I worked at learning the cording technique, and Marie got into some funky cording! (She had had some experience!) We shared show & tell. Karen had some real fun projects to show and some extremely neat experimental techniques to share with us.

Pat had some very pretty quilt blocks with great appliqué. She had made a very creative bookcover.

Recap of April Meeting (April 24, 2008)
Show and tell was inspiring and mind-blowing! Betty brought tons of beading—she showed us the little bauble we’ll most likely work on when she teaches in September. Katy and Julie brought the beaded jewelry that Julie made for Katy’s wedding. New member Sandy brought a jacket she’d made on a sweatshirt base—you’d truly never recognize it. The sleeves had striking double needle work and showed Rami Kim’s influence with a decorative cuff. Coincidentally, Betty was also wearing a sweatshirt jacket that she showed us.

Karen has been sticking to her “technique a week” discipline, and she had tons to show for it. Her journal cover was a big hit—that was Lumiere paint on the distressed Tyvek. She also had a mixed media dragonfly piece—it incorporated last year’s sheer inset appliqué with a Beryl Taylor technique for a mixed paper background including tea bags on a muslin base. As if that wasn’t enough, she had the latest in her Fish series, including wrapped pipe cleaners from March. She also had two books to share: Beading on Fabric by Larkin Jean Van Horn is a great book for embellishers who aren’t necessarily beaders. How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci by Michael J. Gelb incorporates some of the “right brain” elements we discussed in our program for the evening.

The evening’s program on right brain drawing was presented by guest Marilyn. The exercises were based on the 1979 book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. An updated version was published in 1999—but you can get the oldie for a penny (plus shipping!) on Amazon. We had some laughs, and some surprises at our hidden abilities as we worked through the exercises: vases/faces, upside down drawing, blind contour, and negative spaces.
Announcements and Reminders

Sad news! Fabric Fusion in Brown Deer is closing; the last day will be May 17. The address is 8669 N. Deerwood Drive in Brown Deer. Exit US 41 at Brown Deer Road and go “a long way.”
Edgewood Arts in Waupaca is recommended by members as a great place to haunt for “weird, wacky, and cool stuff.” It’s more of an embellishment shop; they don’t carry fabric.

New Member!
Sandy (See paper copy for address, phone, and email)

May Meeting (Thursday May 29, 2008)
We reshuffled our schedule a bit—our Play Night is now scheduled for May. If you’re feeling motivated to clean out your sewing room, we can have a bit of a swap meet as well. Paper Clay with Karen is rescheduled to July.

Upcoming Events
May 29, 2008: May meeting, 6:30. Play night & swap meet.
June 26, 2008: June meeting, 6:30. Journal making with Michele
July 31, 2008: July meeting, 6:30. Paper Clay with Karen
August 28, 2008: August meeting, potluck picnic at Karen’s
September 25, 2008: September meeting, 6:30. Betty’s beading bonanza

Conversations in Cloth meets the last Thursday of each month at 6:30 at the Menasha Public Library.

Newsletter March 2008

Thanks to Michele for allowing herself to be “voluntold” to take the notes in March. About the time you’re all enjoying paper coiling I’ll be flying back from an exciting trip to the toilet paper factory! Whoopee! And moving day is right afterwards.
Katy

Recap of February Meeting (February 28, 2008)
Can show and tell get any better? Karen leaned to bobbin stitch at a class with Ellen Anne Eddy, and her self portrait is outstanding. She also showed us some medallions she made with a paper clay called “Model Magic” from Crayola. Allow it to dry for 24 hours, and then it can be painted (Karen used Lumiere.) Shopko and Joann’s carry Model Magic.

We thought Michele’s first journals were amazing until we saw the latest batch. She used crumpled and flattened tissue fused to muslin to create a leather look. She used decoupage and PVA librarian’s glue to seal the tissue.

Members shared several new book resources last month. “Creative Embellishments” by Sherrill Kahn provides great ideas and lots of eye candy, and “The New Creative Artist” by Nita Leland is a guide to creative development. We also got a peek at “Mixed Media Explorations” by Beryl Taylor, which can be found at Joann’s.

We eventually settled down to “business” watching Theresa’s DVD on how to make a duct-tape fitting model. It’s very thorough and shows every step. Theresa is willing to lend the DVD if you are interested in making your own dressform.

Announcements and Reminders
Women Who Run with Scissors, including our own Karen, are holding a show at the Peninsula Art School and Gallery in Fish Creek from March 21 through April 26. More information is available at www.peninsulaartschool.com.

New address!
Katy is moving! As of March 28, her new address is
(see paper copy)

March Meeting (Thursday March 27, 2008)
Due to Katy’s travel schedule and moving date, drawing on the right side of the brain is rescheduled to April. In March, Karen will lead us in a reprise of the paper rush technique. Come ready to make a unique art pin or brooch. Karen will provide the paper core, and you should bring

• Perle cotton, sock yarn, or similar-weight fiber
• A tapestry needle
• Beads and embellishments as desired
  

Upcoming Events
March 27, 2008: March meeting, 6:30. Paper rush art pins with Karen
April 24, 2008: April meeting, 6:30. Drawing on the right side of the brain.
May 29, 2008: May meeting, 6:30. Paper Clay with Karen
June 26, 2008: June meeting, 6:30. Journal making with Michele
July 31, 2008: July meeting, 6:30. Play night.
August 28, 2008: August meeting, potluck picnic at Karen’s
September 25, 2008: September meeting, 6:30. Betty’s beading bonanza

Conversations in Cloth meets the last Thursday of each month at 6:30 at the Menasha Public Library.

Model Magic Air dry clay

Michele asked if the model magic can be sewn through when it air drys. The answer is yes! I used a heavy duty needle, metallic thread and a wide zig zag. I just went pretty slow. I also used a stabilizer under the fabric that Isewed the medallion to.

Rooted in Fantasy

The piece reveals the manner in which I am torn between the stable, everyday life that I currently lead, firmly rooted to the ground and depicted by the tree. My flight of fantasy, imagination, and the yearning to be free is evidenced by the dragonflies which are said to be fast, beautiful, and mercurial. I plan to be able to slip my roots some day, travel, and create. The orb/moon in the arms of the tree shows my face, the features of which are hard to define (as in the real ‘man in the moon’), but I am in there and dying to get out. I tend to regularly wear dangly earrings as does this tree girl. The piece is 12 X 29 and I've also included two details. This is one of two pieces that I have entered into the Peninsula Art Show in Fish Creek, March 21 to April 23.

February 2008 Newsletter

Ohmigosh! We’re meeting this Thursday! What a month it’s been. Bring your show and tell and news and stories and we’re sure to have lots of conversation before we watch “Duct Tape Mummies!”
Katy

Recap of January Meeting (January 31, 2008)
Show and tell was fabulous, as always! Joann made a skirt from her hand dyes from two summers ago. The fabric was beautiful and the results are stunning. We had two new members join us (see the insert for this year’s membership list). We voted to officially change our name to Conversations in Cloth, both because that’s what Michele named the blog by accident, and because it’s a really cool acronym. Now we just have to decide whether to pronounce CinC as “sink” or “kink”!

Finally, we foiled! Using BoNash powder with the foil was a favorite technique for the group. We also determined that you could foil onto ribbon, and we loved the results. The best online source for foil and adhesive is probably www.lauramurraydesigns.com, and supplies are also available from www.bellanonnaquilt.com.

Announcements and Reminders
Don’t miss “A Stitch Over Time: Fiber Art” at the Appleton Art Center. The exhibit runs through March 22.

February Meeting (Thursday February 28, 2008)
We’re watching Theresa’s DVD “Clone Yourself: A Dressform Double,” fondly known and “Duct Tape Mummies.” Bring show and tell, bring a snack, and learn how to make fiber art that actually FITS.

Upcoming Events
February 28, 2008: February meeting, 6:30. “Clone Yourself A Dressform Double”
March 27, 2008: March meeting, 6:30. Drawing on the right side of the brain.

Conversations in Cloth meets the last Thursday of each month at 6:30 at the Menasha Public Library.

Foiling on Fabric

At Conversations in Cloth this past week, we got the chance to practice Foiling on Fabric.


Katy showed us how to use 007 Bonding Powder to create a starry sky.




Katy also explained how to use stamps (foam, rubber, etc.) to place adhesive glue to fabric. The glue must be completely dry before trying to foil it. Several ladies stamped and foiled satin ribbons for nice effects.


Misty Fuse or other fusible webbing can also be used to apply foil. Each product seems to offer a different effect. In this photo, the Misty Fuse is "lacey" while the Steam-a-Seam is a more solid foil transfer.

[Sorry I don't have more photos of the groups work this month. I got into a deep conversation with Marie, and when I looked up, everyone had packed up their things. So I don't have many pictures to post. THis is just a taste of what we were up to last week.]

More tutorials on Foiling at Fibre in-Form.

Also of note : Laura Murray will be the invited speaker / teacher for Darting Needles Quilt Guild in Appleton, WI, May 18 and 19th, 2008. Should be a good weekend!

Sewing Expo 2008

Fox Valley Technical College announced their program for the 2008 Sewing Expo.
March 14-15, 2008 in Oshkosh, WI.



2 days of wonderful workshops and demonstrations for a very reasonable price!

Michele is already registered to attend. Hope to see you there, too!

Quilting Arts on PBS

If you haven't caught it yet, PBS has a 13 part series produced by Quilting Arts Magazine on every Saturday at 9:30 AM. They have been doing some really fun things. Also I belivee they have a website with directions posted. If I got it rights its www.quiltingartstv.com. See you all in a couple of weeks.
Karen

Notebook Cover

Gill K. gave everyone a little kit to make a notebook cover at our CinC Christmas Party a few weeks ago. This one flips up. Thanks, Gill!

Duct Tape Dress Form Preview

Since we'll be doing duct-tape dress forms early next year, I thought you might appreciate this preview from Wild Onion Studio.

Here's another one from Threads Magazine.

Enjoy!