alone in the studio

Japanese Rice Paper Tape

Japanese Rice Paper Tape is VERY COOL STUFF.  Here's my wee collection, which can be found, among other selections of solid and colored rice paper tape, online at Uncommon Goods (thanks for this link, sent to me by Lee--thanks, sis!).  

I use this tape for all sorts of things, including frames on the inside of hand-embroidered cards (see Embroidered Flower Cards post from May 29th for more details).

  

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Three

"Prayer Flag" by April Cornell for Moda

This giveaway package is over four yards total, from a collection of great fabrics "left over" (as in, I purchased extra in order to have options and color choice while I was sewing in China) from a quilt I made earlier this year. 

  32 10" x 10" squares from two "layer cake" packs, mostly greens with teals and oranges

 One yard each (minus small corners) yellow and teal yardage from the "Prayer Flag" collection 

 Many (I didn't count) "Jelly Roll" strips from the same Moda collection.

You know the drill.  Make sure I have a way to contact you!  I still haven't heard back from the winner of Giveaway Two...  Post by noon EST on Wednesday, June 1st.

Comfort Quilts Three and Four

The Hoffman fabric comfort quilts are finished.  Some of you may remember I made these child or lap size quilt tops in January while apartment-bound in Beijing (with leg in a cast). 

When I returned to the States for a brief visit in February, I sent them off to be quilted.    

I used different colors of binding, sage and lavender, so they can be differentiated in case they're given to sisters or roommates who might care about such things. 

Phyllis Dewey of Quilter's Pantry chose the quilting design, long-arm quilted them, and sent them back to me to finish.  

Embroidered Flower Cards

 

Continued from "Embroidered Flowers," May 25

Steps to finish embroidered flower cards (see : 1. Fuse fabric backing to the embroidered linen; 2. Attach the fabric to the card with double-sided tape; and 3. Add Japanese paper tape around the edges of the inside fabric to create a functional frame. (I didn't get a photo of that last step.)

 

4. Cards are stored in clear cellophane bags for future use.

Note: This is adapted from an earlier post on the pre-China blog of the same name.

 

Giveaway Two Goes to...

Deb at Cluttered Quilter! Email your mailing address (a.t.lichtenstein@gmail.com) and I'll send this on its way.

Thanks to all who participated.  Watch for Giveaway Three, to be announced on Monday!

 

The Great Wall of China, at Badaling and Mutianyu

The view through an arch on the wall.

This is a section of the Great Wall at Badaling, about 80 kilometers outside Beijing.

Steep steps at Badaling, with my son, Eli, in the foreground.

 A view of the Badaling section of the Wall and surrounding mountains, albeit muted on this overcast, chilly March day. My daughter, Samar, and son, Eli, are in the foreground. Badaling is a popular site, and, as you can see on the Wall in the distance, even on a cold, windy, rainy day, it was well visited.

The Great Wall at Mutianyu.

Mutianyu

My daughter, Jesse, with new friends on the Wall at Mutianyu.

Embroidered Flowers

Garnering inspiration from Kristin Nicholas' Colorful Stitchery, I set out to recreate some of her on-the-wild-side type crewel flowers, using a linen tea towel (I bought a dozen at a local bargain store last year) and embroidery floss on hand.

Stock cards, with 2" x 2" opening.

I'm not sure if I'll finish these cards or use the embroidery for something else--perhaps small squares in a patchwork pillow? I didn't trace or copy patterns, I just looked at the pictures and made the designs as I went. The detailed image is a flower design from Nicholas' book; the other two designs are my adaptations. There were more than two such adaptations at the end of the night, but they were promptly deconstructed.  Stitching, like writing, sometimes works using what Peter Elbow calls the "dangerous method" (winging it without much direction at the last minute), but not always!  (Note: This is a revised post from an earlier entry last year.)

Sweeping the Studio: Spring Giveaway Two

I'm still sweeping, and I'd like to pass these "candy bars"  along to someone who will put them to good use.  This is the second of four (or more) weekly fabric giveaways. 

Full disclosure--I am like a kid with Grandma's button box when it comes to charm packs and candy bars. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is 100% intact; "Luna Notte," "Remembrance," and "Collections for a Cause-Hope" are at least 90% intact (which means I've pulled a couple bars out of each for some project); and "Clermont Farms" has about 50% or 20 pieces. This adds up to least four full "candy bars" of great Moda fabric just waiting to be put to good use.

Leave a comment on this post by noon EST on Thursday, May 26th, and I'll pick a name at random and send the fabric any where in the world.

The Winner Is...

 

Thanks to everyone who participated!  It was nice to hear from you, and remember, there are at least three more giveaways in store, so please try again!

Congratulations, Stephanie! You wrote the 17th comment, and number 17 was randomly chosen. Please send an email with your mailing address, and I'll send the "Wild and Crazy" layer cake to you. I hope you have fun with all those great colors and patterns!

Giveaway Two will be announced tomorrow, so please check back then!

 

Chinese Tigers & Cats

This summer I'll be working in Beijing as "Art Director" at a month-long enrichment camp for Chinese migrant workers' children in grades three through seven.  I've been developing art projects that have cultural and contextual value as well as major "this-is-fun" elements.  Tigers, and also cats to some degree, are powerful symbols in China. Everywhere I go I see images like these postcards I found at the National Modern Art Museum in Beijing, and the faux cloisonne cats purchased during a trip to the Summer Palace.

And yes, I've been drawing.  It's way out of my usual comfort zone--way, way, way out-- but I'm enjoying creating some images for possible 3-D stuffed creatures.  Stay tuned to see how this unfolds...I'll be as surprised as anyone!  

Also:

Some of you may remember when I made this pet kitten for the apartment in China.  Here it is again, this time with a face and red scarf. It will be a helpful prototype for making Chinese tigers this summer. Last week I passed it along to a local friend for his three year old son, who was ill with a mysterious and prolonged fever (he's better now).