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The last of the three quilts we worked on for the Ventura California quilt guild group was loaded on the longarm, with the other gorgeous wide backing from Backside Fabrics. This time I decided to use a golden polyester thread, the same one I used on the Japanese Art Quilt. I used the panto Fascination …
Continue reading California Fire Quilt – Finishing the last quilt
Silk dupioni patches with tapestry and heavier upholstery patches are not the best compatible pair for a heavily used quilt. As this shredded seam on the silk dupioni shows, the lighter weight fabric always takes the brunt of the stress, and dupioni tends to ravel. When a lady brought this to me for repair, I …
This is the last post on the Asian inspired ideas, and I want to share a way of thinking that has really captured my interest. One of the things that really inspires me is the Japanese way of showing gratitude and an appreciation of beauty in everything, down to the smallest thing, the tiniest detail. …
Like many cooks, I am always looking for ways to have flavorful and interesting meals while saving money wherever possible. A few months ago, our local grocery put ground chicken on sale for a ridiculously low price, so I bought 5 pounds, not knowing what I could possibly do with it. That made an opportunity …
The Japanese inspired art quilt was loaded on the longarm for quilting, and I knew before I put it on how I wanted to quilt it. There are some fan shapes in the print, and one of my new pantographs has the same feel. I have a lovely golden brown polyester thread that is very …
Ikebana is the art of arranging natural elements in a display. The art is over 500 years old, beginning around the time of the advent of formal gardens in Japan. Bringing the natural world inside is something we all do, picking flowers from the garden to display in a vase on a table, or bringing …
Warmer days are coming, and temperatures here will be in the high 60s all week this week. I know there will be a freeze before the real spring is here, but for now it is great weather for hiking and being outside. For a lighter meal perfect for warmer days, I have a new salad …
Gift giving is something I really enjoy. Seeing someone's face as they receive a little remembrance as a surprise is fun. In the Japanese tradition of Omiyage, in past times, gifts were given to the lords of the lands for protection with many rules on the gift itself down to how it was wrapped and …
Last fall, the NC Arboretum hosted a gathering of fifteen Bonsai Societies in a marvelous exhibition of this ancient art. Entries for judging came primarily from associations in North Carolina, along with Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. The bonsai trees ranged from the amazingly tiny to huge. I took almost 100 photographs of these interesting …
Stamping in this Valentine month naturally centers on hearts and love, and I am so lucky to still have my sweetheart. But, for many, Valentine's day isn't a day to celebrate, particularly those who have been betrayed by one they loved. Perhaps, though, if I could make something small and inspirational, the day might be …
From My Carolina Home 