Sneak in a Zentangle or Two

I've been working like crazy and trying to set some time aside for the stuff I like to do.  Found a slice of time on Thursday night to visit with my friend Sharla at Soft Expressions.  Seems she has been zentangling with a wonderful bunch of people from dusk till dawn.   Yep...Its a zentangle friendship group and they welcomed me with open arms.  I sat down and got back to tangling.  They meet once a month at Soft Expression and usually learn a new tangle pattern or two.  Maybe a new technique, tool or toy to play with.

This is the first one I made when I sat down.  After some direction from Sharla, I just started drawing and this is what came out.  The piece is only 3"square so not very large.

Then she passed out some more of her favorite tools, This is white on black was done with a white Gelly Roll Pen and Pastel Chalk pencil for the shading.  I am learning shading as you can see.   These two pieces were done in about 2.5 hrs

Sharla Hicks is a Certified Zentangle Instructor and owns and teaches at Soft Expressions.  Here is a list of her upcoming classess 

Zentangle Classes

If you have never taken art classes or are an accomplished artist.  This is a different way to expand your brain and learn to fill space.  It is typically done in smaller bite sized pieces so you can actually accomplish something incredible in a small amount of time.

I started zentangling in 2011.  It has really helped with my quilting by showing me how you can free form draw in a structured space.  I highly recommend taking the time out to take some classes you will amaze yourself at what you can create.  

I hope you all get a chance to sew and relax this weekend.  That's what I'm doing ;]

Love Aunti Nicole

PS - Some anonymous commenter asked about my blog design.  I created my own background and logo in Adobe Illustrator.  Thank you for the kind words.

Little Class, Big Success

Hi All,

Yesterday was my Celtic Knot class at the Orange Quilt Bee in Orange, California.  I had two people join me for this class.  I personally love a smaller class, especially when I'm instructing a technique.  The point of the class was to learn a few techniques on making bias tape and some special tips on laying it out to look nice and smooth.  We used Roxanne's glue baste to fix it to the background.  There is some under/over weaving silliness but its really fun.  Once this prep is done, then its easy-peasy to just sew the pieces down.

After discussing and demonstrating a few different ways to do bias tape we settled for my favorite method which if the Bias Tape Maker.  I have this tool in several sizes and will probably never use bias bars again.  The bias comes out nice and flat and is really easy to flex around curves.  It took everyone less than an hour to make all the strips for their design.  For a knot like the one I'm working on, 6"-18" strips work best because you are having to weave a bit, under over, etc.











But wait.... I just saw this machine on line that supposedly does up to 35' in one shot.  Don't think I would want that for this class but for long bias strips on a border it would be great!  

Barbara did a great job on this one.  Her colors were selected to match a bed quilt she is making.  I like how the subtle colors of the inserts give this a life of its own.  Also she was more partial to the symmetry in 3's giving it a more geometric look.  Another 15 min and she would have been done!  Great job Barbara!

I made Marilyn stay long and finish the last strip, I can't believe she was going to leave and not put the last little piece on there. Truth be told, I think I just wanted an excuse to yell "Whoo Hoo!" at the end..  Her color inserts focused on symmetry of 6's and gives it more of a flowery appeals.  She used a charm pack for colors, two from each.  Terrific work Marilyn!

Thank you both for a lovely Saturday afternoon and can't wait to see your completed projects.  And thank you to the ladies at Orange Quilt Bee for allowing me to teach at your shop and for being so helpful.

Have wonderful Memorial Day Weekend, I hope you find time to sew.

Aunti, Nicole

Inspiration is Everywhere

Hi All,

Summer is nuts with work and sewing...and vacations!  There is stuff going on everywhere I look.  

May 18th,  my husband and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary.  We went to Downtown Disney and ate at the Jazz Kitchen...ahh yum!  It was a wonderful date night.  Thank you honey for nine peaceful years.  Love You Baabee!

Woolies - Tomorrow my wool friendship group is meeting at my house.  Since our last little project we did as a group, I have been in the think tank on the wool projects.  I really enjoyed that embellishing and 3D type work with wool and want to pursue that more.  Here are some photos from this months Sunset Magazine, that have inspired me to make up something of my own.  So here is where I start!

My first guitar lesson in a couple of year is Weds night.  My husband's anniversary gift.  I know some of you may be thinking.  Wow another thing?  Well yeah, but I need something that is not work or sewing.  I have been singing and playing music for fun since high school, but have gotten away from it for a while.  So co-workers have recommended a great teacher and I'm looking forward to it.  Time to cut the nails and build up the callouses.  Sounds lovely when you put it that way.

Am I sewing? oh heck yeah!  I am working on a new pattern and can't wait to show you all the variations I did before picking a cover sample.  Here is one that I just love, but it is not the final design so I can share.  But it is going to be someone's high school graduation gift.  

Saturday May 28th - Celtic Knot wall hanging - If anyone wants to attend there are a couple more seats available.  Class is at 10:30-4pm at the Orange Quilt Bee in Orange, California.  Here is a link to their site.  http://www.orangequiltbee.com/module/class.htm?classId=7681

Hope you all have a wonderful week.
Love
Aunti,
Nicole

Soft Expressions: Explore Zentangle May 24th and 30th in Anaheim

This month, my friend Jamie Namanny and I have signed up to take a Zentangle class in Anaheim from Sharla Hicks.  Sharla is a textile artist and long time friend of Jamie and my mum.  I am so looking forward to this class, if you are in the area sign up!

Here is a link for the details
http://www.softexpressions.com/1/Class.php

Zentangle® Classesby Sharla R. Hicks CZT Certified Zentangle Teacher

Even if you can't attend, check out her samples at the bottom of the link, they are amazing.

Hope you all get to quilt this weekend!

Love Aunti Nicole

Celtic Knot

A couple of weeks ago the gang at Orange Quilt Bee in Orange, CA invited me to do another class this summer.  I chose the Celtic Knot.  About 8 years ago my sister taught this class in Mt Shasta at Sew Unique.  My sister is one of my favorite quilters and is an excellent teacher, mother, nurse.

And here is a wedding gift that she did for me.   Little 12" square, but its one of the only quilts that hangs on a wall in my house.  Its hand quilted to boot!















 I have resurrected the class with her permission and added some new things I have learned along the way.   I did this  last Sunday after noon, after my workshop and after a nap.  took me about 3 hrs.

As you will see in the blowup, it is not yet sewn down, but that part is a piece-o-cake.











I had so much fun making this piece I may make a border for it ;]  I can't wait for the class.

The class is scheduled for May 28th and will be on their calendar soon.  So you if you want to signup just email them and they'll take care of you or just let me know.

Hope you get to sew today!
Aunti
Nicole

Mystery Present

I'm back from a business trip in Las Vegas.  Every year I speak at Autodesk University in Las Vegas.  This year, Autodesk University was at Mandalay Bay.  I think I walked about 5 miles a day from the hotel to the convention center.  But the food is fantastic and the people always a pleasure.  Autodesk University is a 3 day training event for Autodesk software users to come and gather as much knowledge as possible in a short time, just like a quilt show.  Always fun and exciting, but am glad to be back and get a chance to sew this weekend.

Yesterday I took a class at the Orange Quilt Bee.  I can't share with you the end result yet, because I made a Christmas gift for someone who watches my blog.  You'll have to check back after Christmas to see the end result.  But I can share the supply pile with you.

Oooo.....is that a zipper in that pile?

I don't know.......

Class was a ball and mostly made up of other instructors from OQB.  They are loads of fun and it was great getting to know everyone in class.  Everyone in the class managed to finish their project and had a great time doing it.  Lisa was amazing and has a lot of patience.  Everyone was sewing at difference speeds, me being the slow poke in the crowd.  But Lisa, was willing to do each step 12 times, once for each quilter.  Good grief!

What are you all making for the Holidays?  Would love to hear from you.  You can post a link to your blog, or send me a picture and I'll post on my blog.

Hope you all get to sew this weekend.  

Love 

Aunti

Nicole

Reverse Appliqué Class - Done

 Hi All,  Hope you had a wonderful Holiday weekend!  I got to see my cousin Matt and his daughter Brigid who lives up north in Washington.  We had a great time and great food and brought my guitar over to hear what Matt has been creating.  (A budding coffee house guitar star).   Gramma made my husband Pete a pie care package to go.  One whole pie pan with pieces of apple, chocolate cream, and pumpkin.  He was in heaven.

Thanks Uncle Joe and Aunt Debbie for having all of us over (about 18 in Southern California).   I love my family, we are truly blessed.


So Saturday, I taught a reverse appliqué class at Orange Quilt Bee in Orange California.














I had three lovely people in my class and we had great fun.  Ok, maybe not so much fun as they worked really hard.  Everyone did great and I think they all got the hang of the technique.

My neighbor Betty even joined us, I put her in the corner, see.  But not because she is bad.

I brought samples and tools and suggestions, my quilt bag of requirement was packed full, you can't see but I have a pile on the floor as well. ;]



I did not get a picture of the finished results, but we are meeting later in Dec to show and tell and I can't wait to see what they have completed.





So right next to where we are working my sample quilt for the Tic-Tac...Oh!  pattern is display in the store front window.  Very excited about that.





Off to Vegas for my annual Autodesk University jaunt.  I am only teaching one class there this year and am looking forward to it.



Have a great week and hope you get time to sew.

Love Aunti Nicole