losing the mind, such a great idea.

Last week I had a lot going on and I could not get myself to work on my current quilt project in the studio. So instead I lost my mind and started paper piecing 1/2" hexagons. To give you an idea to the size of these it is about the size of a nickle. I used all liberty fabric and make a patch of 12"by 20". I want to use this piece of fabric that I made to make a pillow for my bedroom. I want a really pretty pillow for a special spot in my bedroom and this seems like the perfect solution. I will say it was a little bit harder to work in this size but definetly not as bad as I thought it would be. I think working with a lawn fabric makes it easier because it bends and molds so smoothly. It was a great task that kept my hands busy and my mind clear. 

Still thinking about backs of things. 

Liberty is so amazing. 

February

This Gnome is the best image that I can find to describe how I feel about this month. In general February is just not a great time of year for me... I did meet Sandra in February, four years ago so that did help make it better, and it does make me smile to think of those days. Other than that, I really could just skip the cold, miserable month, that occasionally has a missing day. We have had a much colder winter than normal here in RVA, and while I know that we are usually spoiled we have been cold and even had some snow, sleet, rain, mess this year. I know that some sewists, and artists love days like this to sit in inside and make... I have to agree a rainy day is great, but I could live without the white stuff, not really a fan, (and that is putting it nicely)! So while I long for warmer, longer days I have been cutting up and sewing some things, and trying to gather inspiration from anywhere that I can. 

A few weeks ago I found this gorgeous vintage quilt at an antique store, I was half tempted to buy it, however I keep reminding myself, "I can not rescue all of the old textiles in all the antique stores and estate sales, because that is how hoarders are created." I did take a picture to remember the simple lines of it, the pale colors, paired with bold accents and the aged fabric, so soft. I am putting this around 1930-1940 based on the colors, the pattern and the fabric. It looked as if some of it was made from cotton shirts or even old pajamas. I love finding a textile that is as relevant the day it was made, as it is today. This quilt could be in a modern quilting magazine as easily as on a 1932 bed. It looked to be all cotton and wool batting, sewn and quilted by hand.

It is on my list to get outside and photograph some finished quilts, but in the meantime I started this... All of the hexagon "fabric" that I have been making over the past year, from my scrap bin has now been cut into squares. I am framing each square in a pale fabric and can't wait to get deeper into this project, so far pretty addicting! 

Of course there has been some reading while trying to keep warm. The Country Living, U.K. edition never seems to disappoint, with the most gorgeous covers and great articles. I could almost climb into that room! 

And finally on the book front I have been working my way through this... Wally Lamb's new book. He is such a brilliant writer that does not leave out one detail. I have read all of his books, and while they are not really "fun" reads they do spark a different feeling of depth into the characters lives. It is a bit of a slow read for me, a few pages here and there, but sometimes that is exactly what I want... a book that takes a bit of time, sort of like this winter...

January

I have decided that for this year, I want to continue using this writing platform as a way to showcase what I am making and how I bounce ideas around.... along with the things that I do in my life that I gain inspiration from, traveling, reading, exploring... I am going to use mostly instagram and photos from my phone, so that I can update more frequently. Over the past year of studio time, and part-time work I have learned that to have time to post, the editing process from my camera is very time consuming, and in the end I can convey a similar image quickly and in real-time, that is important to me. I will still photograph the finished works and other things with a real camera, I am not giving up on it completely. I am trying to get back to posting more regularly though, I hope that the more filtered photographs are still interesting to anyone that is reading. 

It has been a bitter cold start to the year with snow every week. I am not a fan of winter weather, I much prefer the regular 50-60 degree winter here in Richmond. It has definitely kept me inside sewing though, and I hope to take some quilt photos outside before the snow completely melts away. I have been working on this quilt for longer than I would have liked, with some medical stuff that came up and the holidays it was just one of those projects that has taken longer than expected. I am pleased with the way the top of the quilt turned out. I wanted a paper-collage feel to this project and I think that I have accomplished that. This week I am going to work on the back and the binding. I have decided that I want to hand tie this piece. Something about the traditional fabrics, which some are, mixed with the

un-conventional layout and the then traditional hand tying just sounds like a good mix to me. 

I love how the pieces are all meeting. 

Quilt top... I love how it keeps the eye moving around like a paper collage does. 

Also on my mind lately, the underside of textiles... how they show the structure and the shape of the piece.  

Especially loving the back of this quilt top... almost makes me not want to cover it... 

November

I feel as if life is moving so quickly lately, and I am standing still watching.. waiting... thinking... trying to grasp every moment. I hear and feel everything that is happening, but my subconcious seems so far away that it is almost like living in a dream-like state. I turned 30 this month on the 7th, anyone that knows me, knows that my birthday is my favorite holiday of the year. I had a wonderful time with  family and my closest friends. I am happy to be in this new decade. Happy to finally be at the "grown-up" table, considering that I have never really felt as if I belonged to the children's table. Turning 30, went along with some strange things happening in my body... the reason that I feel as if I am standing still watching... waiting... 

I have had a less that good year when it comes to my health, having been the kid that never missed school for being sick. ever. makes it hard to accept that things are not as they have always been. Before this year I can not remember the last time that I had a even a slight cold. At the moment I am waiting on further results, before they can pro-ceed to the next step to know what is going on. All that I really know is that when I went in with my fourth cold/flu this summer and they took my blood and things were off... my levels are not where they should be... and have continued to get worst. Some things have been ruled out but they are still doing more tests, and waiting for results... that is the hardest part of all this... the waiting. I can barely sit still on a normal day, this is making me want to crawl out of my skin. I do not often go into detail on my personal life on this blog, however, this experience has made me think so much about what I want, that I feel it is important to put here. It is so much a part of what my story is at this moment, and honestly it is definitely being reflected in my work. Hopefully soon I will know more, and I am hopeful that whatever the outcome that it is a fixable problem. Until then I sit and think and think and move my hands quickly to sew tiny pieces of fabric together, because that is what keeps my mind from going to deep, dark places. 

The hexagons in these photos are made from my scrap bin, a nice grouping of all of the work that I am doing. It is nice to have this project to work on, on the couch or wherever. One day soon I hope to make a large piece out of these small pieces, as a reminder that sometimes taking it all in, moving slower, and having stitches to keep my mind going is what will keep me moving, during all of the waiting... 

hexagon

My scrap bin was starting to look like an overflowing mess! So I have decided to use my scraps and turn them into "hexagon" fabric. I have been creating combinations and making pieces out of the hexagons that can either be combined later to make a blanket or turned into other small projects. I love the quiet that comes with putting these together and the thinking that comes from hand-stitching. It is a good way to use time in-between projects.

september

These Dahlia's are from my garden, they are lovely, big fluffy and just the right amount of yellow. They seem to be thriving at the moment. 

This month seems to have snuck up on me, it seems as if the summer just began, and here we are September upon us. It is still warm out, of course, it is Richmond it will not get really cold until December. I love this time of year, when fall is so close, because that means that fall will soon be here. I have been spending quiet mornings in the studio, making, thinking, being. I feel an accomplishment from this summer... I have been making, mostly quilting, piecing, and such, pattern based design. A few years ago I would have not been proud of this work, but I turned a leaf and am happy to be making and using my hands just about everyday. Sometimes it is not always about conceptual making, sometimes the making is just as important, and perhaps the other things will come out of it.... well there I go rambling again, I guess that is partly why people have blogs, so that they can ramble their thoughts, experiences, findings.... It is a good way to catalogue the times that pass, and how we get from point A to point B. 

My mother had a birthday yesterday, and what does one give the woman who has everything, including a bee hive and some chickens.... Well how about a bee-hive inspired pin cushion or two. Along with a couple of other little gifts, I gave her this pincushion. I must admit it is my favorite I have made so far. The hexagons just lend themselves to this kind of thing, and the fabrics worked out well. I included a tiny one too, because my mom usually has a couple of projects going and a bag full of tools and a little place on her side of the sofa. So now she has one no matter where she is working. It was about time she got a new one,  considering she was using the one's we made her when we were in grade school. 

My view out of the studio, I love the light in this room, it is just perfect and this time of the year it seems that every yellow flower is blooming out there. 

sewing frenzy

 

I have been on a sewing frenzy the past week, well all summer actually... Here is the latest pin-cushion, I love these fabrics together, it is vintage Venice fabric, and one of my favorite Japanese fabrics of Paris. 

I pieced these scraps together years ago, and have had the piece of fabric laying around for a while now. Finally made some use of it and made a pillow for my studio. I had some awful pillows in here, for my chairs and decided to donate them and make myself one that suits my space. I love the tiny pieces of some of my favorite fabrics, its a good way to hang onto a little memory. 

Hexagon addictions have continued... This is an 18 inch by 18 inch pillow that I made using Aneela Hoey fabric. I love the sweetness of the prints and wanted to use a technique that would not take away from that. The hexagons capture the tiny stories in their small frames. 

Just added some things to etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/anaslayers

hexagons unite!

I finally stopped making hexagons, long enough to actually piece some together.

There is something about the process of the paper piecing that is calming, soothing, and allows me to think. Its my version of therapy, I have always found that working with my hands is more soothing anyhow. 

I am in love with the Liberty prints and the un-organized appearance of the hexagons above. 

The bright remnants of Anna Marie Horner fabric I had laying in my scrap bin.

And of course the best use of the small Japanese prints that I have fallen in love with lately. This "Paris" fabric is one of those Japanese fabrics I have fallen for. Between organic cotton and the Japanese prints I have been acquiring a nice collection of them to make small projects like this. They also lend themselves to projects for children and small pieces to a larger whole. 

Two of these pin cushions are for sale on etsy, http://www.etsy.com/shop/anaslayers

Enjoy!

addicted...

 It is official...

 I have a problem... it's called paper piecing, hexagons...

In one week I have made almost 400, 3/4 inch... and just cut more out this morning... 

I justify this behavior, by telling myself it is how one works out OCD tendencies, way better than therapy! I have been wanting to do this for years, and have put it off because the circle quilt I made a couple years ago was such a consuming huge project. I think these go a lot faster though, the paper helps keep it going. It is also a great use for leftover scraps, and I love the way Liberty fabrics and the cute Japanese prints look on these. 

So enough justifying on the hexagons, what am I going to make now, that I have a couple hundred of mis-matched hexagon shapes... Well for starters a gift for a friend of mine, I will show a finished project. I also have plans for 3 other small projects, where I will break up all the fabric choices that I used for these. Can't wait to share the progress report... back to hexagon making, while watching the Olympics! 

wait... If I use Liberty fabrics while watching the Olympics, that is sort of like supporting the Olympics themselves, it is London after all! Feeling much better now that I made that justification. 

six sided addictions

Hexa go-go by Tacha Bruecher 

Ever since my circle days I have stayed away from projects that involve hours and hours of tiny little pieces to make a whole... However my compulsive nature usually brings me back to projects like this, especially because it is something that I can work on and then put down if need-be. It is also nice to have a project I can take with me, when I go places. 

So here I am again making tiny little shapes, hexagons this time I really want to make a story line with them, and perhaps some geometric pillows and such. Not sure on the exact project yet but I did go get this book for inspiration the other day and fell even more in love with the idea! It is by Tacha Bruecher, the images are gorgeous and inspiring. I usually do not copy a project from a book, I am very bad at following other people's patterns, however I love books like this for inspiration, and to draw ideas from. 

Page from Hexa go-go 

Page from Hexa go-go

Today I finally pulled out my little hexagon paper pieces that have been collecting dust on my shelf for some time now, and started to make these... 

I think I am in love, I may never use a square again... well... I do love squares too, but I am really excited about these and can't wait to piece them all together.

The fabric I used for these is by Aneela Hoey, I used her fabric once before, without really paying attention to it. Recently I have really fallen for it though and have amassed a nice size collection of it. Her innocent, sweet designs lend themselves to projects like this. Small little tid-bits of a larger story. 

Must go now lots more hexagons to sew up while I watch the Olympics. Did you guys see the opening ceremonies, loved the field-turned industrial revolution!