THE RAMP / WHERE WE EAT LUNCH

With all this magnificent weather here in San Franciso we have been eating at this resturant because of the great outdoor dining.  It's called The Ramp and is right on the water across from the drydock.

OLD DOCK

While walking to the ship I saw this old dock and thought it was a pretty interesting jumble of wood.  I love weathered wood and metals and this shipyard by the bay has plenty of both.

SAN FRANCISCO VIEWS

This view of the skyline is from the end of the drydock. I want all my northwest friends to notice the SUNSHINE!

MORE SHIP PICTURES

These pictures were taken as the water was being drained from the drydock and the ship is resting on blocks.

MORE FROM THE GEM STATE

I have had some requests for more pictures of the drydocking. Here are some photos of the Gem State as it moves to its drydock in San Francisco. This is where ship repairs will happen for the next few weeks. I'll post more pictures as I can.

GEM STATE DRYDOCK

While this may not be art or quilt related..... I am currently working on a drydocking project for Tsuru Maritime Inc. (my husband's company). This is a picture of the ship "Gem State" making its way into the drydock.  The ship is in position and the water is being drained from the dock.

BABY JACKSON'S QUILT

My sister Mary and I made this quilt for our niece's baby. I bought the initial fabric sent it off to Tucson (where Mary lives) she added some more fabric and pieced the top.  She then shipped it back to me (in Puyallup) and I machine quilted it and put the binding on. I then packed it in my suitcase for the trip to Sacramento (where Melissa's mom and grandma live) for the baby-shower.  Melissa lives in North Carolina so eventually this quilt will make its way there.

EASY SEWIN' SUNDAY

The second in our Easy Sewin' Sunday series will be a "snack and sew bag".  Ok, so maybe it's a lunch bag but we had to relate it to sewing some how!  This bag is insulated with handy pockets inside and out. It's a quick and easy project with lots of creative possibilities.

The class will be July 11th, from 1pm-4pm at The Creative Hand Studio. Contact Debi at itsdebi@hotmail.com for more information or to reserve your spot.

INNOVATIVE DYE TECHNIQUES WITH JUDY ROBERTSON

INNOVATIVE DYEING TECHNIQUES
5-DAY WORKSHOP W/ JUDY ROBERTSON (JUST IMAGINATION) IN PUYALLUP, WA
SEPTEMBER 14-18, 2011 OR SEPTEMBER 21-25, 2001
WORKSHOP FEE $400 / CLASS SUPPLY FEE

Judy Robertson, owner of Just Imagination, will be teaching techniques that she has developed over the past 16 years making and selling hand-dyed fabrics.

This workshop will focus on the following:

1. Dyeing at least six different types of cotton fabrics for variety of results
2. How to create your own dyeing palette
3. Producing saturated colors
4. Making several values of the same color combinations in a very simple way
5. Using a low water method to dye many different styles of fabric

The goal of this class will be how to play and experiment with colors while dyeing beautiful and usable fabric. This is a five-day workshop designed for all skill levels from beginners to the experienced dyer.

Examples of fabric dye techniques can be seen at http://www.justimagination.com/

For more information about this workshop and to get a registration form contact Debi at itsdebi@hotmail.com

EASY SEWIN' SUNDAYS / 2ND SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH

Come and join Trina and Debi on the second Sunday of each month for some Easy Sewin’. Each month we will have a different easy project for you. We will be making items for your  kitchen, sewing room and more. These fun and easy projects make great gifts for your special friends too.

June 13th from 1pm-4pm is our first easy project. We will be making a thread holder for the sewing room. This 4”x4” holder is great for all those loose threads we accumulate in our sewing rooms. The added beaded “picot lace” embellishment makes it truly unique. Contact Debi at itsdebi@hotmail.com for more information, class registration and directions to The Creative Hand Studio.

New Class with Trina / Travel Case / May 8th

I've been requested to offer a class making the "Travel Case." It holds a small 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" cutting mat, and small rulers, cutters, and marking tools. It is handy to hold paper piecing tools together or appliqué tools together so you just need to grab the bag and go for a class or a project. It also makes a great gift for another quilter. It uses the pattern "Travel Case" by P3Designs (item #P3-116). If you can't find it locally, you can order it at www.p3designs.com. The class will be offered on Saturday, May 8th, from 1 - 4pm. The cost is $15.00. A kit that has precut batiks or floral fabric is available for $10.00. Let me know which you would like. If you are interested, please contact Trina Rounds, 253-268-0429 or e-mail at cooksandquilts@hotmail.com. If you would be interested in this class at another time please let me know and we can offer it again. Thanks and happy sewing!

BEADED EMBROIDERY

Create a wonderful sampler of traditional embroidery stitches that are embellished with beads. After learning a few basic embroidery stitches we will then set about embellishing them with beads and buttons. Use the sampler you have created as a reference guide for embellishing quilts, wearable art and even home décor.

This class is scheduled for April 11th, Sunday, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The cost is $30.00. Kits are available for an additional charge, just let us know when you register for the class if you would like a kit.

Send class fee to The Creative Hand Studio, 9918 162nd St Ct E #5, Puyallup, WA 98375 (this is class location)

Contact Debi at itsdebi@hotmail.com if you have any questions or would like further information about this class.

LEARN HOW TO PAPER PIECE

Learn the basics of paper piecing with Trina.  Her tips and techniques will make paper piecing easy. The "cupcake" block will make a great potholder (kits available) or the center for a table topper.  If you can't stop at just one, make more and design your own quilt.  Kits will be available for the potholder, just let us know when you sign up for the class that you would like one.

This class is scheduled for March 13th, Saturday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  The cost of this class is $25.00, this does not include the kit.

If you have any questions or would like further information about this class contact Trina at cooksandquilts@hotmail.com.

Send class fee to The Creative Hand Studio, 9918 162nd St Ct E #5, Puyallup, WA 98375. (This is class location).

NEW WORK - "A THIN GREEN LINE"

This is a detail of "A Thin Green Line", the beading was done by hand. The full picture of the quilt below is a truer representation of colors.

"A Thin Green Line" consists of hand-dyed and shibori discharged fabrics and beading. Quilting on this piece was done by machine. All fabrics were created by me. (By clicking on the image you can get a larger view of the quilt.)

NEW WORK - A SISTER'S CHALLENGE

Well, this first one may not be so new....... My sister Mary and I challenged ourselves with a piece of fabric picked up in Sacramento, California in November 2008. The one element that needed to be in the piece was curves. The challenge fabric is the multi-colored one. I took my work in progress to Tucson in March of 2009. I only had about an inch left to quilt but took it anyway to show Mary (who lives in Tucson).

Needless to say the piece has been hanging on my design wall for almost a year with only about an inch of quilting left...... I finally finished that last bit yesterday. There is no binding as I am debating on continuing with this quilt or calling it done. I am thinking about washing it and doing a little surface design after the washing (see previous works). Haven't made up my mind but thought I'd show "A Sister's Challenge".

BEYOND CONVENTION EXHIBITION

The CQA exhibition "BEYOND CONVENTION" is currently on display at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle (800 Convention Place). The exhibition runs January 16th through April 5th. I have two quilts in this exhibition. (pictures below)

BLOCKS (Full View)

BLOCKS (Detail View)

DOTS (Full View)

DOTS (Detail View)

WE'RE BACK AND READY TO GO

Yes, finally. Debi's surgery went well but recuperation took longer than expected. We will beginning a new series of classes in February. Look for some old favorites and some new exciting ones. Here is a schedule of events. Full descriptions and pictures (except of course the Mystery Class) will be posted shortly.

FEBRUARY
Finish It Up Friday, Feb 5th, 6pm-10pm, $10
Fine Tune Your Skills, Feb 7th Sunday, 1pm-3pm $20, Binding

MARCH
Finish It Up Friday, March 5th, 6pm-10pm, $10
Learn How to Paper Piece, March 13th Saturday, 1pm-4pm $25
A Scrappy Mystery, March 27th Saturday, 11am-5pm, $55

APRIL
Finish It Up Friday, April 9th, 6pm-10pm, $10
Beaded Embroidery, April 11th Sunday, 1pm-5pm, $30