Intermediate Photoshop Elements explores manipulation techniques for block composition or photographic quilt images.

The migraine haze still hasn't lifted completely, but it is better.

The sun is shining on a light dusting of snow, which dazzles the eyes. Elsie is quite alarmed at the snow and refuses to do her business outside. Once scooted out the door, she stands on the other side looking in and shivering silently. Even the little wool coat doesn't keep her warm enough to brave the cold.

The new online class session begins this Friday. What an interesting experience it has been! I've been teaching online classes since March and have found them to be extremely effective. What one misses in face-to-face exchange is far outweighed by the freedom to work through exercises at one's own pace. All your supplies are nearby and class discussion includes photos of other students' work, so there is a synergy—albeit at a little slower pace.

Liz Kettle's beading class fascinates me. I've long ago overdosed on hand beading, but her sample project is so charming, I'm tempted to take the class just to make the adorable fabric book!

My Photoshop Elements classes (beginning and intermediate PSE for quilters) have been well received and the class has grown and changed slightly with each group of participants. Each group brings new questions and challenges and I really enjoy seeing where they take the techniques.

The Joy of Rust Dyeing was added this summer and has been an absolute delight! Rust dyeing is now a part of much of my personal work and it continues to captivate me with its serendipitous effects.

If you'd like to see class descriptions, I invite you to the Quilters Keep Learning website: http://www.quilterskeeplearning.com

It's been rainy and gray all day—a perfect day to stay in and contemplate the next project.

Actually, I should have been working on a product-development presentation, but was sidelined by a migraine. Yuk!

A fire in the fireplace and a blanket with my puppy Elsie snuggled under it with me is the perfect setting for a comfort day.

I finished two projects this morning and shipped them to the magazine. After 20 years of designing for magazines and books, it feels odd to start all over again, submitting designs to editors with whom I don't yet have relationships. The joy lies in the design and execution for me, so it isn't a chore, but it does feel odd. Like a comfy shirt that suddenly doesn't fit right.

All will be well.

I just had to share a photo of a Threadography piece my studio associate Lori and I completed recently. I belong to Artlink, a contemporary gallery in Fort Wayne, Ind. and every year they sponsor Art In The Park as a fun-raising project. Artists from all over the area come to one location, create a piece on-sight, and then they are auctioned to art patrons.

Of course, we are the only fiber artists who take part in this project—but that makes it even more fun! With camera, printer, and sewing machine we certainly stand out in the crowd!

We are excited to participate in these events. We meet lots of interesting people, some of whom may become clients or workshop participants!

Yesterday was DH's and my 14 year and 11 month anniversary. Yes, we celebrate by the month! He started this when we were first married. It is so sweet, setting one day a month aside to remember what it is I love and respect about him—and why we got married.

This wedding remembrance is the class sample from the Lace Collage class I taught at Quilt Festival last week.

The class was almost full, much to my surprise. With all the attention on art quilts, I wasn't sure anyone was still interested in vintage images, old lace, and buttons. What a nice surprise!

This workshop will be part of the offerings for guilds and shops in 2009. So, if your guild is interested, please let me know.

As the 2009 and 2010 (!) calendars fill, I am grateful for the opportunity to make a living doing something I love so much!

This is a photo of a very cool large rusty thing close to the housing addition in which I live. I've probably passed it hundreds of times in the four years we've lived here, but just noticed it last week.

Although it doesn’t strictly have anything to do with threads, it certainly does have something to do with rust dyeing fabric!

Whatever it was originally, it has most recently been used as an incinerator. You can see the level at which the paint on the outside has burned off from the inside, leaving the lower trunk rusty. It almost looks like raku!

My fingers are crossed the distributors will want to pick up my line of rust-dyed fabrics and supplies and this will be called into service to rust yards of fabric at a time!!


It's been cool and overcast all day—with an occasional flurry of snowflakes. The perfect day to stay in bed with a good book! I started reading Christopher Paolini's third book in his four-book series Brisingr.

In my younger days, I was a voracious reader. These days, it's quite a treat to read for fun and can only carve out the time once or twice a year. I skipped church and felt very decadent, reading like a lady of leisure.

Tomorrow, it's back to work, but today, just for today, it really felt good to snuggle by the fireplace with a book!

What a difference a day makes!

Trish Stuart has a Youtube video, showing how to stitch with fusible thread and apply fabric foil. WAY COOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVSZGXE6fK4

Threads glorious threads! I love the texture, color, dimension, and finish they add to a fabric composition.

As a confessed thread slut, I will use any thread that gives the desired effect on fabric!

That said, I am really excited to know more about thread! Diane Harmon-Hoog on The Thread Society Yahoo discussion list has opened my eyes to new possibilities and new thread products.

One that really caught my eye is a fusible thread called Charlotte’s Web from Superior Threads. Developed by Charlotte Warr Anderson, it looks almost like fine dental floss.

In the sample above, I simply tossed a little on a scrap of rust-dyed fabric, covered it with silver holograhic fabric foil, and applied heat. When the mylar base was peeled away, the thread had melted and bonded the foil to the fabric (left). The spool is on the right. You can see the difference in the thickness before and after heat application. Pretty cool!

I really want to experiment with stitching some on rusted fabric and then applying the foil!