Goldfinch

I got my household chores out of the way this morning as I often like to do and even had time for a visit with friends at the local coffee shop.
After lunch, I knew my goldfinch was waiting for borders and I was anxious to get to it. I do believe that piecing random borders made up from an assortment of fabrics and painted fabrics is my favorite thing to do. I pulled out some solids, some silk, and some of my screen and Gelli printed pieces and started cutting.
I get so absorbed in this process. Here I took a picture once I was almost finished and had started to clean up. I should have gotten one amidst the process, but of course I was too absorbed.

I managed to get the last piece on just in time for snack break. I do enjoy my tea and knitting time too!
The plain greens are silk. I'm trying to decide if the green stamped fabric on the bottom is too dark. I think it's OK but will revisit tomorrow.
Also, I managed to melt the Angelina fibre that I applied to the circle on the left. I'll have to redo that.

This is the back of a baby sweater I've just started. It's a lovely cotton yarn that was gifted to me by a friend who was cleaning house. Lucky me!

I'm linking to the Needle and Thread Network.

Binding

I've been having a quiet Monday; did some housework and went for a walk. It's a bit gloomy out but it wasn't raining.
Then, I wanted to get the binding on my garden hanging so I could take it to the shop with me on Wednesday. I did take some better pictures with my good camera but for this post I used the I Pad.

I puttered about a bit in the studio choosing fabrics to border my goldfinch with so i can get to the quilting. I'm waiting for the paint to dry on one of the fabrics so I'll get to that later.
I've got tea steeping as I write this. I'm going to go make a cup and sit with my knitting. I've just started a baby sweather which I'll post once o get going on it.
I hope your having a good Monday too!

guest posting

Today, I'm guest posting at the blog, And Then We Set It On Fire. I've written a bit of a synopsis about my Gelli printing. I hope you'll check it out.
This gold finch piece is one of the last things I posted about as I've been working on it this week. On the left is a deli paper print that I glued into my sketchbook and on the right is a fabric print that I've colored with my Neocolor II crayons.

Here it is as it sits currently, ready for sandwiching.

Today, I'm going to get some clothes washed and hung out, maybe tend to my garden or at least walk around it and then I'm going to do a few hours in the shop at the waterfront  that carries my things.

Shorebirds

I'm working on these for a friend's cottage. I feel a little outside my comfort zone as I don't do very many 'serious' watercolors. Mostly, I just play in my sketchbook..

She wants a series of three, and she will mat them and frame them, assuming I finish them to my satisfaction.

Simplicity

I finished up this little piece and decided it didn't need much in the way of a binding. I remembered a tutorial I read at marvelesartstudios for her version of a faux piping and decided to give it a try.

Do you see where there's just a little peaking out here and there? That's how it's supposed to be. I think it works great on the gentle curves of this piece which measures about 8 3/4 by 10 inches.
It's all done done except the loop hook in the back.
Now I just have to decide if I should list it on line or put it in the shop downtown.

Lilacs

I did a bit of everything today. This morning I had a short bike ride, met friends for tea, and potted up a few more plants. After lunch, I did some sewing and worked on a blog post I'm doing this Saturday as a guest blogger. I'll link up when I post.
This evening, I've been listening to the goldfinches sing while I did this quick sketch of some of my lilacs. I was aiming for loose and sketchy so I set the vase across the room.

Tulip progress

It has been a nice weekend (not weather wise). Yesterday, a friend and I took the day to do an art studio tour which we both really enjoyed.
My only purchases were a couple of notecards and this frig magnet painted on a small stone by my friend Nicole Boudreau. The color and the message suited me.

We were out visiting in laws today and then I squeezed in a bit of studio time to finish most of the stitching on the tulips. It's just about ready to sandwich and quilt.
I'm still thinking of stitching on some writing, but would only do it after the quilting. I'll see then.

Now, I'm starving! I'm going to dish myself up some baked veggie stew with the cornbread topping that I just took out of the oven.