Surface Design Guild Sarasota Blog/Journal

Surface Design Display at Gulf Gate Library for the month of November 2011

Kim Sherrod — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:13:27 GMT

Lenore, Elizabeth and I got together this morning and set up the display case at the Gulf Gate Library (off Gulf Gate Dr in Sarasota) with artwork from our group.

It is so colorful and interesting to see all the members work together.
We do so many different things, don't we? Knitting, spinning, sewing, painting, collage-so diverse and so creative!
Stop by anytime during regular library hours or send your friends- we have pamphlets available with our info.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this project!
We also reserved it again-for next November 2012- so start thinking about it!

September's Rag Doll Challenge

Kim Sherrod — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:16:54 GMT

At September's meeting we provided a simple rag doll pattern for member's to use to create a doll and bring back at October's meeting. Quite a few members used the pattern to create their very first doll and what fun it was to see them all together.
Here are some pictures from the last meeting.

Kendra made hers with a felted sweater while Lenore used painted canvas for her doll. It was an interesting challenge to see what everyone did using the same pattern. Elizabeth used gingham and skulls to make her first doll, while I used some fabric that I had discharge dyed to make a voodoo type doll.

This doll incorporates a past program- book folding to make the dolls body.

Linda Bronkema used discarded product packaging to say "You are what you eat" with her collaged version.

There were sock bodies and cloth dolls too.

It was great fun and I am so pleased that the challenge gave you a chance to create something you might not have otherwise attempted and that you grew just a little because of it!
Next month's challenge is a crow pattern (originally posted on Somerset Studios website under templates) and will be due at Nov's meeting.
See you then!
Kim

Marlene Glickman's Silk Dye and Fabric Art Reach

Kim Sherrod — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:37:19 GMT

Marlene’s Art Reach Newsletter

27 June 2010

Dear Fiber Friends,

Summer is here and I am having a great time with my granddaughter while her brother and mother are in Greece for the Plato Academy’s 5th grade “field trip.” We’ve been having a great time dyeing and painting T-shirts, sewing a dress and making yummy foods. She also helped me make up kits for the classes I am teaching at the City of Clearwater's Long Center "Aging Well Center" and for the Notan (study in black and white) class I just taught for the Tampa Bay Surface Design Guild. Catching up on my Quiltart digests, I came across a woman who had been creating Thread Bowls. Now I have a Color Series in lacey looking containers. Too much fun!

It is time to announce the schedule of home studio classes for the Summer: July through September. In addition to using the Color Hue dyes, summer classes will also include other ways to add color to fabrics using Indigo, Alter-Ego Dyes, Fabric Paints with salt and more. Due to popular demand, I am also going to teach a series of Edible Art classes in my home kitchen to friends who would like to expand their culinary skills and their palates with living foods.

This Week's Special Offer
"Simple Silk Dyeing" DVD

For Newsletter Recipients Only –“Simple Silk Dyeing” DVD

1 hour of instruction for $15. Normally the DVD is $25. Just indicate in the comment section that you read about it in the newsletter. This also makes a great gift for a teacher who would like to present these techniques in class for a special project; for a friend who wants to do a fund raiser teaching people to dye silk scarves or for an artist friend looking for an easier way to dye. Often people really don’t understand how easy and instant setting these dyes are until they see them in use.

Upcoming Events and Workshops

Note: Due to the coloring agents used in the Dye classes this summer, there is more prep and drying time needed for the colors to set. Thus the classes will be from 9:30-3:30 with a 30 minute break for lunch, included in the price of the class. Cost is $30 per class and includes all supplies.

10 July Sat: DYE CLASS: Shibori Fabric Preparation and Indigo Dyeing. We will be working with a variety of silk and cotton fabrics. Scarves and silk will be available for purchase or you can bring your own prepared for dyeing fabric. Instruction on creating an Indigo color from the Color Hue dyes to use on silk will be included. Wear old clothing.

17 July Sat: Sunrise Sale outside Florida Craftsmen Gallery in St. Petersburg, 501 Central Ave from 6:45-1 pm. (727) 821-7391

21 August Sat: DYE CLASS: Fabric Painting and Dyeing using Dye-Na-Flow by Jacquard, Seta Color, Seta Silk, Liquid Pigments and Fabric Medium on Cotton and Silk. We will experiment with different effects created by each of the fabric paints, ways to apply them to the fabric, salt and sun techniques (if we have sunshine). Wear old clothing.

11 September Sat: DYE CLASS: Alter Ego dyes creating two color effects on Satin Devore scarves and Devore Velvet scarves. One dye will color the silk and the other dye will color the rayon satin design but the dyes are added to the pot at the same time. Two scarves are included in the price of the class. More will be available for purchase. Very exciting. Wear old clothing.

October, November, December Home Studio dye and collage classes: To be determined. Send me your requests for what you would like to learn.

November: 2-6 Houston, Texas International Quilt Festival classes. Catalog will be released in July. To order a class catalog go to http://www.quilts.com/newHome/shows/viewer.php?page=FallFestival. Cost is $3.

Edible Art Series below will be held at my studio in Clearwater, Florida from 9:30-12 noon. Cost is $25 per class and includes all supplies. Limit is 5 students per class. You can take one or all the classes.

24 July Sat 9:30-12 noon: Living Food Basics “How to Get Started”
Breakfast and Snacks: Fruit & Green Smoothies

31 July Sat 9:30-12 noon: Living Food Basics: “Five Flavors to Excite the Palate”
Crunchy Foods: Veggie Bouquet, Non-Dairy Cashew Dip, Oriental and Ranch Dressings & Expanded Salads

7 August Sat 9:30-12 noon: Living Food Basics: “Rich Transition Foods”
Main Courses: International Veggie Pate: as Thai Spring Rolls, Green Burritos, Stuffed Portabella Mushroom

14 August Sat 9:30-12 noon: Living Food Basics: “Teasing Your Palate”
Living Desserts: Non-Dairy Ice Cream with Date Nut Bonbons & Pies

New 6 Week Series called Silk Dyed Fabrics with Marlene Glickman presented at the City of Clearwater's Long Center “Aging Well Center”, a new facility, Mondays 4-6 pm on June 28 and July 12, 19, 26. Cost is $15.00 per class with a Clearwater Recreation Center "Play Pass" or $20.00 per class with City of Clearwater "Rec card" or $25.00 per class for a non-resident of Clearwater. Call the Aging Well Center supervisor, Dawn Lewellyn, to reserve your place. Phone # 727-793-2339 x 238 for information about class or registration.

For more events you can check the new calendar section on my website http://www.SilkDyes.com.

Helpful Hint: Amounts of dye needed for larger projects
(Summer Camps or yardage projects)

20-35 scarves: 1 Ten Color dye kit if colors are medium in tone

35-60 scarves: 1 Ten Color dye kit plus 2 oz bottle of scarlet, blue, yellow

65-150 scarves: 1 Ten Color dye kit plus 2 oz bottle of scarlet (soon to be rose), blue, yellow, turquoise, green, pumpkin

100-200 scarves dyed darker colors: 1 Ten Color dye kit, 8 oz bottles of scarlet, blue, yellow and 2 oz bottles of turquoise, green and pumpkin

Recipes for color for large bottles of dye mixed with water for classroom scarf dyeing or yardage dyeing projects. I use 24 ounce sports top (pull up) water bottles. I place 2-4 pipettes of dye concentrate into each bottle of water. Squeeze the pipette a couple of times to mix the dye with the water. Test the color on white silk. Add more concentrate if needed. Rinse out the pipette in clear water and do the next color. For a large dye set up I make up Pink, Blue, Yellow, Purple (pink and blue mixed together), Pumpkin and Green, Turquoise, Black and Brown. I keep a spare bottle of water on hand for mixing special colors in 2 ounce mixing cups. If someone wants a light pink, I put water in the 2 ounce cup and add some of the large bottle of pink already mixed up to get a pastel. If they want a darker blue, I can add some of the blue from the large bottle to the little mixing cup and then add some more blue dye concentrate. This way I don’t have 20-30 bottles of assorted colors to deal with, just my basic 9 colors.

Student Success Story

“I'm so glad that you sent me your newsletter... You may remember... that we met at the Sewing & Quilt Expo in Tampa. I'll be teaching adults at the YMCA camp in Lake George, New York this summer and decided that your scarf dyeing project would be perfect for my daily week long morning classes. You mentioned that you have a class curriculum that you would send to me, so I'm hoping that you can still do that. I bought one of your kits this year at the Expo (and I bought one last year too!) and I bought the DVD, so I feel prepared. You were the main reason I went to the Expo, so I was so glad when I saw you there! I love your technique, and I know that my summer students will too. Thank in advance for any help you can provide.” Sincerely, Barbara Casper

Hope you all are having a great time this Summer and make time to create, create, create.
Your Fabric Friend,

Marlene Glickman

2009/2010 Program Schedule

Kim Sherrod — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:54:08 GMT

2009/2010 Program Schedule

September 8, 2009
Artist Trading Cards (ATC), Zentangles,
Nametags

October 13, 2009
Bookmaking
Create a New Book out of an Old Book

November 10, 2009
Instant Success with Color Hue Dyes
Challenge: Creative Ways to Display your ATCs

December 8, 2009
Open House Holiday Party

January 12, 2010
Stamping with
Hardware Store Items

February 9, 2010
Technique Page Swap

March 9, 2010
Wool Gathering and Spinning with
The Wheel Wenches
Alice in Wonderland Challenge

April 13, 2010
Wearable Art Fashion Show

May 11, 2010
Thread Sandwiches by Ellen Simon

June 8, 2010
Mimi's Soldered Glass Jewelry

Do not fear the scissors...

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:30:10 GMT

Last night I finally broke out of my fear shell and cut apart some clothes I had acquired to make deconstructed clothing for the fashion show. In about 30 minutes I actually cut apart two different tops and reassembled them into a new top...adding a belt from a skirt as the tie for the empire waist. I am so excited. I finally feel like I made something that I could really wear in public. I can't wait to model it at the fashion show. I also started a skirt that I am pretty sure will be successful too. I desperately needed to feel like I had accomplished something creative, I have been such a slug lately. It's amazing how energized and happy I feel today about it, I just wish I didn't have to work so that I could have stayed home and created all day! Oh well, I am jotting down ideas and sketching out plans between meetings and emails.

Have You Ever Been To The Moon?

Kim Sherrod — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:06:24 GMT

Picasso Moon Yarns, that is. I first met Debra Lambert, the owner and knitter extraordinaire at the Atomic Holiday Bazaar Show 3 years ago. I wasn't a knitter but her booth was so full of interesting and wonderful stuff that I eventually visited her shop downtown. As you drive down Fruitville Rd, her shop is in a strip of antique stores and there is plenty of parking- you can walk to Whole Foods or one of the nearby restaurants if you want to make a day of it. Usually, once you are in there, you just don't want to leave.
It's like a fairy tale world for fiber junkies.

There's something very relaxing about having a seat in a funky chair and talking about yarn and new things to make. It's a nice way to step out of your worries and into a separate place where there is nothing to think about except knitting and crocheting and sharing that love of fiber with other women who want to be creative and make things as well. It's an escape. It's a fiber adventure. It's addicting.
Did I mention I was hooked on yarn?
Did I tell you about how I was converted to the religion of crochet, spinning and finally, Knitting?! I was so resistant! I was never going to learn! It was too difficult!
It started off slowly, as I went to the shop each week for Knit & Bitch (Wed anytime until 8pm) and brought my quilting, embroidery or handwork, I watched with amazement as the ladies knitted. Fingers flying as they created something from yarn, string essentially, much as I had when I wove baskets- just different materials. It looked hard. Way too difficult for me.
I think the first book I bought was by Nicky Epstein on crocheted flowers.

I was so proud of those little bluebells. Then I moved on to learning to knit and after a few false starts (the scarf that looked like a giant pink tongue was pretty bizarre) I finally got the hang of knitting.
I had begun spinning yarn after I saw Shawn Schoonmaker demo and teach at a knitting retreat I went on last April and was amassing baskets of handspun that was so lovely I didn't want to sell it. I knew I had to finally learn to knit and use that yarn for something.

This is my first hat. Deb helped me finish the top and eventually I will learn how to manage 3 sticks at once, someday, but until then she generously will teach you anything and there is never a charge. You just come in and say I want to make______ and she helps you pick out yarn, the proper sized needle and you are off on a new fiber adventure!

To not only learn to spin yarn but, to be able to use it for knitting is something I never thought I would ever accomplish and in less than a year I have met a challenge and grown so much. Currently I am working on a lining for a bag that Deb knit and felted and am incorporating hand spun and embroidery and love the look of it. Gnarly and funky art yarn makes me so happy.

Here is some photos I recently took at Picasso Moon. I hope to see you there someday.

Noro Yarn~ hurry before it's all gone!

cotton in many colors

Sinning wheels and batts and roving for spinning are available as well as once a month spinning classes by Shawn Schoonmaker.

Antiques and yarn hang from old fashioned ladders and bedsprings. There are scarves, hats, gloves, bags and sweaters everywhere!

This lovely flower filled shawl was knit by one of our members, Barb Callahan, who also learned to spin last year. I think it's like sitting in a garden with flowers and moss everywhere.

You may even see a wild thing or two!

fiber to spin or needle felt- some of it is natural, organic fibers like bamboo and silk, and sea cel and then there's handpainted wool roving and locks...its like heaven.

Come on in and meet Deb and ask her to teach you to knit. It'll only take a second and maybe like me, you'll wonder why you waited so long!

and maybe fill up a bag with some yarn. See more pictures here on Flickr and join Deb at Facebook and Ravelry.
Be sure to check out the Picasso Moon Website for more info and mark your calenders for March 9th to come to a meeting and see Deb, Shawn, Kim Perkins and a few more creative ladies spin and discuss different fibers and their properties.

A Story About Folding Paper Flowers

Kim Sherrod — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:10:17 GMT

Recently I found an article at Folding Trees about how to make Kusudama Flowers and was struck with the sudden and overwhelming need to try it. Now, I don't usually do a lot of Origami and cutting paper into precise shapes is usually boring and I become disenchanted long before the project ever gets finished.
This time it was different.
I chose to use paper from an old Atlas that I had purchased at the Goodwill Bookstore (on the South West corner of Bee Ridge Rd and Cattleman Rd) and enjoyed cutting the 4x4" squares.
Each flower requires 6 petals and 12 flowers make up one large ball shaped flower.

I cut and folded and glued and was quite content to make each petal. Then I began to glue each one together to make a flower. They were lovely and I was filled with a small sense of pride and accomplishment. Look at me, hey, I origami'd- did ya see this? Pretty good for a girl who doesn't do origami.

When the glue was all dry and the time came to then glue all the flowers together into a big ball I was stumped! I kept going back to the original Blog where I had first seen this and scratching my head I used clothespins to hold them together while I worked it out in my non-mathematical brain. That's right, I get a brain freeze when I try to do algebra, geometry, angles and corners. What was I thinking? No wonder I didn't enjoy origami before- all these fractals and fractions and cogents and whatever- this wasn't fun anymore.

I waited until my husband got home, cause he has more brains than a zombie Thanksgiving and can do anything! He looked at the directions and started gluing and after 4 were together he said, "I'm not sure this is right, you'll have to work on it". He placed it gently on the table and walked away.
There it sat for two weeks, taunting me as I walked by.
Finally, I could stand it no more and I sat down with the flowers and glue and clothespins and just did it!

I am so glad to have finished it and so what if it isn't perfect! It's for my friend Cheryl and she will remember me each time she sees it and know that I thought of her with each fold. The paper represents that she means the world to me. She loves origami and is so patient and zen as she sits and folds peace cranes and hearts and I often think of her this way. Sitting, humming, smiling, seeking bliss as the bone folder makes a crease.

It's worth the time and torture to learn a new technique especially when the person you give it to will appreciate the time and effort it took. Not all the petals meet up quite perfectly, but that's OK. She loves me anyway. So often we strive for perfection and disregard our art as not worth anything unless it is perfect. Well, that just isn't right. It's the process of creating and learning that should fill us with joy. The end result is all the more beautiful when you can see the fingerprint of the person whose hands crafted it.
This project started out as a Christmas ornament but became a symbol of my love.
When you love someone you need to show them by your actions and take the time to make them a token of your affection.
Not just for a holiday, but any time.
Life is short.
Make art while you still can.
xo,
kim sherrod

For more examples of things made from Folding Trees Tutorials check out the Flickr Group.

Venice Fibre Arts Exhibit 2010

Kim Sherrod — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:34:15 GMT

Below are results of the judging for the Fibre Arts Exhibit 2010.

Bead Society, Surface Design and MWG, please share/forward this info to your members.

Just a reminder that the Reception for the exhibit is Friday, January 15th, 5-7, at the Venice Art Center.

The show is exquisite and we look forward to seeing you!!!

Best in Show: Maureen Scaravaglione - Nantucket Basketry

Elizabeth Geisler: Karen Lahey - Nantucket Basketry

Basketry

Round Reed

1^st ~ Grace Guidice

2^nd ~ Grace Guidice

3^rd~ Sue Davis

Flat Reed

1^st ~ Donna Naylor

2^nd ~ Donna Naylor

Coiled

1^st ~ Marie Scott

2^nd ~ Elaine Cunningham

3^rd~ Marie Scott

Coiled Pineneedle

1^st ~ Carl R. Watson

1^st ~ Karin Melhorn

2^nd ~ Frances Vanecek

3^rd ~ Karin Melhorn

HM ~ Ingrid Towles

HM ~Carl R. Watson

HM ~Karin Melhorn

HM ~Joan Watmough

Miniature

1^st ~ Carol Anderson

2^nd ~ Carol Anderson

3^rd ~ Ingrid Towles

Nantucket

1^st ~ Barbara Boulton

1^st ~ Maureen Scaravaglione

2^nd ~ Diane Houston

2^nd ~ Marge Schemanski

3^rd~ Marge Schemanski

HM~ Misty McDuffie

HM~ Karen Lahey

HM~ Marge Schemanski

Rib

1^st ~ Martha Williams

2^nd ~ Martha Williams

3^rd ~ Martha Williams

Art Piece

1^st ~ Kathryn Erickson

1^st ~ Ingrid Towles

2^nd ~ Marge Schemanski

3^rd ~ Marge Schemanski

HM~ Karen Lahey

New Weaver

1^st ~Teri Salomoni

2^nd~ Teri Salomoni

3^rd ~ Teri Salomoni

Twined

1^st~ Sharon Schneider

Naturals

1^st~ Linda Sharp

2^nd~ Mary Catello

3^rd ~ Donna Naylor

Related Arts

Gourds

1^st ~ Kathryn Erickson

2^nd~ Cindy Hupper-Jacobo

3^rd ~ Jeanette Johnson

Mixed Media: 3 techniques

1^st ~ Sandra Frick

2^nd~ Sandra Frick

3^rd~ Linda Sharp

Non Woven

Wearable Art

1^st ~ Betsy Meyer

2^nd ~ Clora Hamilton

3^rd~ Betsy Myer

3^rd ~ Jackie Peters Cully

Wearable Accessories

1^st ~ Mary Jane Lappin

2^nd~ Mary Jane Lappin

3^rd ~ Mary Jane Lappin

Felting/Silk Fusion

1^st ~ Gerry Swarmstedt

Surface Design

Assemblage

1^st ~ Linda Sharp

Accessories for the Home

1^st ~ Mara Taylor

2^nd ~ Jackie Peters Cully

3^rd ~ Jackie Peters Cully

Beadwork-Interlacement

Loom Woven

1^st ~ Kathie Hayes

Off Loom Woven

1^st ~ Karen Johnson

2^nd~ Sharon Schneider

3^rd ~ Karen Johnson

Interlaced Beaded Art Piece

1^st ~ Martha Montigue

Woven Wired Jewelry

1^st ~ Karen Johnson

Hand Woven

Wearable Accessories

1^st ~ Nancy Faris

Functional

1^st ~ Edie Sanders

2^nd~ Mimi Smith

3^rd ~ Edie Sanders

Decorative

1^st ~ Nancy Faris

2^nd~ Nancy Faris

Tapestry

1^st ~ Becky Stevens

Yardage

1^st ~ Edie Sanders

1^st ~ Mini Smith

The International Fiber Collaborative Tree Project

Kim Sherrod — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:42:39 GMT

Last year a few of our members participated in a very unique project that was initiated by The International Fiber Collaborative. Their 2008–2009 project, named Interdependence was completed under the direction of Jennifer Marsh. Participants created a full-sized tree for display in April 2009 at Big Springs International Park in Huntsville, Alabama. "Much like a live tree is interdependent on its leaves and roots for survival, societies are interdependent on the greater whole, family units, communities, and countries". Contributions from 23 Countries & 39 States made up the thousands of leaves attached to the metal sculpted tree.

photo by John Perry

The International Fiber Collaborative Website is very easy to navigate and they have listed everyone who participated as well as posted photos of all the leaves created for this incredible project. Be sure to check out the photos of the construction of the tree itself- it is amazing!

Here are leaves made by some of the SDG Members who participated:

Betsy Meyer

Bettie Coulter

Eileen Dystra

Lori Stone

patsy monk

Kim Sherrod

photo by John Perry

This Tree is 28' Tall x 25' wide (canopy)
With over 7,000 Leaves!
The tree will be permanently installed at Earlyworks Children’s Museum in Huntsville, Al.

I can only imagine the hours that were spent creating this beautiful tree. I am so pleased that we were able to take a small part in this amazing collaborative effort.

Felt United- The International Day of Felt

Kim Sherrod — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:05:12 GMT

In the Sept/Oct 2009 Issue of Fiberarts magazine published by Interweave there is an article where I learned that "Oct 3 will mark the first International Feltmakers Day. Inspired by the designation of 2009 as the United nation's International Year of Natural Fibers, artists elis Vermeulen (of the Netherlands) and Cynthia Reynold (of Norway) have created Felt United. They ask that felt artists around the globe join in displaying their felt. The theme for this year is a slice of the color wheel, yellow through red."
On the website they invite everyone to:

Send photographs (submissions page will be available in October) of your work as it is displayed in October to be included in an exhibit that will be available online, as well as in a multimedia presentation with www.feltunited.com. (good quality - detailed and overall images - along with contact information for credit purposes - more details and a release form available closer to the event date).

So, what do you think Surface Design Members?

Wanna hang a felt flag on your door? Perch a felted bird on a tree in the park? Wear your felted garments to work? If you do participate please take a good digital image and send it to them. Next year we can always plan to do a collaborative project that could be displayed at a gallery or local art center.

Want to know more about the International Year of Natural Fibers and which fibers the United Nations has chosen? Click here to read about it on the gorgeously informative UN site. On the home page click on the English text to get to the index and then spend some time reading and watching videos about fiber. I think the website is beautifully done and worth bookmarking for future reference. There are lots of free downloadable promotional materials to help spread the word as well.

Read more articles about the topic International Year of Natural Fibers by clicking this link to Blog Catalog and scrolling down to Blog Posts and choosing from the search results there.

Art Everyday at 3(6)5

Kim Sherrod — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 09:56:25 GMT

Someone sent me a link to this blog where a woman named Somsara Rielly explains her 3(6)5 Blog in these words:
"In an effort to mark my 35th birthday with something meaningful and explore myself as a designer and artist – I am creating a collage a day for 3[6]5 consecutive days and documenting it here.
I have always collected ephemera, kept a visual journal for many years, and have long been a sticker fanatic with an extensive collection that I am excited to finally give a purpose to. It is my intent to include at least one sticker in each collage."
I admire her courage in consistency and know that I would get to the 3rd week and run out of steam!
Her canvas is 4x4 and they all have a sticker as well as a one or two word title. She uses things like labels, old paper ephemera and torn images to tell a short story. I don't know if she has the title first and then creates the collage or if the collage is made and then it suggests the title to her.
It would be interesting to try this but I could probably never make it through the year!
Of course if you don't have time for a 4x4 you could always do an inchie a day!
Have a Surface Design Day!
Kim Sherrod

What is at the End of the Rainbow?

Kim Sherrod — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:29:37 GMT

Why, the Rainbow's End, of course!
Located just North of St Petersburg, in Dunedin is a little pink quilt shop called The Rainbow's End.

Well, it looks little until you walk in and realize that it goes on for miles and does certainly contain more than 18,000 bolts of fabric. Making it the largest quilt shop in Florida.

Even I was overwhelmed (that's pretty hard to do) with the selection of novelty, batik, Kaffee Fasset, Amy Butler, Moda, and fabrics organized by colors and themes alike.

I have never seen so many books, patterns, gadgets and gizmos all in one place!

It was like going to a quilt show where all the booths were in one place.

They carry a huge selection of wool felt, silk ribbon, gorgeous woven ribbons, fabric glitter that is permanent and washable.

They have all the Christmas fabric in one giant room in the back and a wall of 50% off fabric too.

I wanted to stay forever.

I never wanted to leave.

This shows the Accuquilt Fabric Die Cutting machine. It's just like the Cuttlebug except for fabric. It cuts precise triangles, circles, hexagons, rectangles, you name- it they have a die for that shape!

I am going back on Sunday to their annual Christmas open house 10am to 3pm.

It only took about an hour to get there.

STORE HOURS:

MON 10:00am to 5pm

TUES 10:00am to 5:00pm

WED 10:00am to 8:00pm

THUR 10:00am to 5:00pm

FRI 10:00am to 5:00pm

SAT 10:00am to 5:00pm

Rainbows End Quilt Shoppe

941 Broadway St. (ALT. 19)

Dunedin FL. 34698

727-733-8572

Check out their website for more pictures of their lovely shop and maybe someday we can all take a field trip there if you want!

Just in case you never see me again, though, it might be because I never returned from the heaven I found at Rainbow's End!

Happy Sewing,
Kim Sherrod

Felting Your Imagination

Kim Sherrod — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:56:30 GMT

As I was searching for more felt related websites to add to the Links & Resources area on our sidebar I found this enchanting video over at Craft (the blog for Make magazine) and wanted to share it here with you.
Andrew and Melissa Frueh made this animation with handmade environmental elements and a needle-felted elephant. It's called Wellington Dreams. Click here to watch

After that come check out the sugar plum fairies or maybe they're just fireflies here.

Making Cloth and Clay Dolls

Kim Sherrod — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:43:00 GMT

Sometime last year I found an amazing painter named Jane DesRosier who also makes dolls. This is her Blog titled Gritty Arts Studio.
Go ahead and click on her link so you have an idea of what I am talking about.
I am "borrowing" a few of her pictures to show you her dolls.

Isn't she lovely?
Well, I just recently joined Jane's Ning Group called Cloth and Clay Dolls
I have joined several other Ning Groups (Social Networks) about Aprons and Fairies and Dolls but this one is unique.
Jane has a video tutorial available ($40) and she teaches you her technique for making her primitive dolls. The members also have a place to upload their pictures of their own dolls and Blog about what they are making and doing.
The interesting thing to me is that Jane has begun a challenge for making dolls with an Upcycled theme to be sent to her (by Aug 15th) and then she is submitting them to Somerset Studio's Art Doll Publication by the Sept 15th deadline.
Upcycled is just the new way of saying Re-Cycled except it's taking something and using it to totally make something new and unrelated. Like making a doll from an old coat or dress.
I guess I wanted to share it here because I am not sure if I can Blog it- the Publishers want everything "fresh" so that means no blabbing on the blog!
I like Primitive style dolls and have made a few rag dolls and cloth dolls with paper clay heads and shoes.
Here is my doll in progress after watching Jane's video and downloading her pattern.

It has two coats of gesso and next comes the paper clay and then paint.
Somerset Studios always have a call for submissions with deadlines listed for each issue. I think I could just make stuff and submit it all year long and never be finished!

So for those of you who like to make dolls- why don't you bring one that you have made to the next meeting?
It would be wonderful to see what you make.
Happy Creating,
Kim

May Meeting has a Challenge

Wed, 06 May 2009 16:10:56 GMT

I just realized that our second challenge is at the meeting next Tuesday...uh oh...I didn't even start anything. THere was such a great response to the first challenge, I hope everyone else is working hard on their piece.

Sample blog post

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:31:27 GMT

Hello world !

My first blog post text.