Colors of Summer

As we get ready for summer, it seems that everyones energy levels improve with the weather. A good sunny day often inspires a flurry of activity and mine tends to be art related. I close my eyes and see deep rich green of a tended lawn, and the bright cerulean sky. These colors feel warm, rich and nurturing to me and I feel a compulsion to use them in a project. As the summer goes on I will see other combinations in my mind's eye, but this time of year I am drawn to these. Sometimes it gets punctuated by the warm yellow of dandelions. (Before they go white and blow all over) These are the colors and sensations that grew into my fabric book sample for Art Camp this summer. Books are a fun format to work with and I have a simple structure that allows us to make it totally out of fabric. Come on in to see it and get more information on Art Camp.

This weeks special is particularly good for the Learn to Applique workshop which begins Friday. (more on the special later) If you need to brush up your skills or haven't yet tried applique this is a great project to work. The cheery basket of flowers makes a beautiful and perfect piece for the summer season and will teach you all the skills you need to do lots of applique. The photo is a detail showing just the applique. Diane Johnson is the designer and has included several pieced borders that are optional to finish this single block into a larger piece. So many people love this applique technique for it's portability that we couldn't resist running this workshop now so you can take applique projects with you as you enjoy the colors of summer.

This weekend the special is on The Ultimate Marking Pencil for Quilters, and the refills. This .5 mm size click pencil comes stocked with a water soluble lead that is my personal favorite marking tool for applique, hand piecing, and quilting designs. I have colored refills available, and even refills in the thicker (and thus darker) .7 refills. I really love this product and am taking 20% off for this special.

This Tuesday at 10, the Art Quilters will be making dimensional dogwood blossoms. If you want to join us (all skill levels welcome) bring hand sewing tools, and pairs of fabric squares. Any size from about three inches up to about five inches will work. The bigger the square the bigger the finished blossom. You need one pair of squares per blossom and you will probably get several done. The fabric needs to be fairly thin but does not need to be cotton. (Satins and silks are stunning) You may bring beads and small embellishments for the centers if you desire. I have used these flowers for hair clips, corsages, and most recently on a small quilt for the Alzheimers Quilt Project. For more information on that project visit http://www.alzquilts.org/ I'll post a picture of my piece next week as the binding is not finished. See you all soon.