Elephant Nature Park

An incredible day spent feeding, bathing and walking with elephants at the Nature Park. Is a sanctuary for Asian Elephants in Thailand.

Botanical Gardens, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Botanical Gardens outside Chiang Mai, Thailand

Ned Egan, Artist Tucson Arizona

If you are ever in Tucson, drive in the Sam Hugh's Neighborhood (near the University) and see Ned Egan's open air studio. He has been working with recycled metals for over 30 years and has a wonderful playful imagination.

Mary Hard at Work!

My sister Mary and I took a deconstructed silk screening class here in Green Valley.

Blooms in the Desert

The desert is blooming.

Color everywhere.

Pink, purple, white and red.

Even white.

Gem and Mineral Show, Tucson Arizona February 2012

The show celebrated Arizona's 100th year as a state with a great display of the different gems and minerals found in Arizona.  Of course we also hit the vendors selling those and much much more.  If you haven't ever experienced the annual Gem and Mineral Show you are missing out!

Gourd Festival February 2012 / Casa Grande Arizona

My sister and I took two different workshops at the Gourd Festival in Casa Grande, Arizona.

TURQUOISE MOUNTAINS

This quilt was created for Association of Pacific West Quilter's auction "Spirit of the West".  It is one in my deconstructed series.  I have posted before and after pictures so you can see what it looked like before doing the discharging, dyeing and painting.

The first picture is the quilt once it has been pieced and quilted.



The second picture is the quilt after all the surface design has been completed.



MARY'S PIN CUSHION

My sister Mary felted a baby hat that ended up being to small even for some dolls!  Well, I could not let all that hard work go to waste so I created a pin cushion for her and sent it back for her birthday.

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!