Bed bug buddies

Finished the praying mantis and the grass hoppers. The bees were the hardest, I couldn't make them yellow enough, but I think their tones suit the rest of the insects. Managed to fit in a few dragonflies.

I focussed on green and brown fabrics for the contrast blocks. A very traditional quilt.
Polar fleece is on the back.

A long process but I am glad it is finished. It's his birthday next week, and he is looking forward to having his bug quilt.

Long time no post

So my life has been a little crazy, but now with the youngest out of the nest, I can get back to being creative.
Made this bargello for Gina, she picked the colour theme, and I have been looking for 2 years for the right colours to suit. It shimmers in the right light, and is quite addictive to watch.
Happy Birthday
On the back I have stenciled "Gina is Awesome" in purple and green. Just what a girl needs.
Have fun.

Ladybug for luck

I kept to something easy this time, so here is another ladybug for luck. I think I am going to need it, as I am going to start a praying mantis this week - his favourite.

Monarch Butterflies

I am not sure what I was thinking, but after creating 6 monarch butterflies, I think I will work on something a little easier this week. I have always found butterflies magical, even the white butterfly that hangs around the vegie garden. Butterflies symbolise:

· Transition
· Celebration
· Time
· Soul
· Transformation / Change
· Acceptance. Don't sweat the small stuff, be joyful and thankful for your blessings

Herein lies the deepest symbolic lesson of the butterfly. She asks us to accept the changes in our lives as casually as she does. The butterfly unquestioningly embraces the changes of her environment and her body.
This unwavering acceptance of her metamorphosis is also symbolic of faith. Here the butterfly beckons us to keep our faith as we undergo transitions in our lives. She understands that our toiling, fretting and anger are useless against the turning tides of nature – she asks us to recognize the same.
Interestingly, in many cultures the butterfly is associated with the soul – further linking our animal symbolism of faith with the butterfly.
We can look to the grace and eloquence of the butterfly and realize that our journey is our only guarantee. Our responsibility to make our way in faith, accept the change that comes, and emerge from our transitions as brilliantly as the butterfly.

Weta

I discovered recently that wetas belong to the cricket family. I don't mind crickets, so I just keep telling myself that a weta is just a large cricket.

He loves searching for wetas in the woodshed, especially in the pinecones, which he calls "Weta houses".

I couldn't find anything specific about Wetas, this is what I found about Crickets and their symbolism. I have learnt to appreciate this insect a little more, after doing some research. A symbol of Intuition, Sensitivity, Ingenuity, Resourcefulness, Faith, Trust, and Transformation. All great things I want for my boy.

Crickets are active at night, ancient myth associates the cricket with the lunar energies of intuition and sensitivity.

In Africa the tree cricket uses leaves growing on plants to make a megaphone. The cricket chews a pear shaped hole in the leaf and sticks his head through the hold, the leaf bends around his head in a bowl shape like a speaker baffle. Then the cricket presses his sound making wings against the leaf and chirps. These leaf amplifiers increase their sound by up to 10 decibels. How resouceful is that.

The crickets hind legs are modified for jumping. They leap over difficult situations effortlessly always choosing to land in a more pleasing environment and can teach us how to do the same. A powerful ally that embodies the qualities of faith and trust the cricket serves us well. All we need to do is follow its lead.

Cricket will attune to new vibrations and will aid in heightening intuition, sensitivity and awareness. Crickets can teach effective communication techniques and subconsciousness communication cues to obtain what is needed or wanted. Crickets are about resurrection and transformation from stages as in the molting process. Is it time to shed old ideas to make way for the new? Are you singing your song to be heard at this time? Is it time to rest in contemplation or jump toward your intended target whether it be at work, in relationships, or personal goal and dream?

Weevil

I think of all the beetles, he is most fascinated by the weevils. There are so many, so I hope to capture a few onto fabric.

A symbol of Intuition, Acceptance
Creation, Transformation, and Change.

Accept the changes in our lives as casually as the beetle does.

Beetles aid in transformation, metamorphosis, resurrection and rebirth - rebirth of the soul to a new spiritual ideal and renewed devotion. This animal teaches harmony in the coming changes by utilizing your intuitive abilities and teaches discernment where you need it the most.. Can you identify which stage of development are you in egg/larva/pupa/adult?. Is it time to "fly" or walk in life?

Spiders Web

Here is a small group of spiders. I intend to sew metallic silver thread over the web, to give it a dew look.

Snail

He loves snails. He pops them on his hands and arms and watches them crawl about him.

The snail, a symbol of Perseverance,
Determination, Continuity, and Eternity.

Appearing mostly at night, snails are a lunar symbol, therefore a symbol of feminine energy and the cycle of death/rebirth, ending/beginning, continuity, and fertility. Because of its shell, it is linked to the symbolism of the spiral and to self-sufficiency...... represents slow and steady progress made in the journey 'home'(towards enlightenment)
The Egyptians used the snail to symbolize eternity and the vastness of the universe. Also the tendency of life to start off broad and grand and to eventually spiral down to it's basics as we get older.

Leaf Hopper

I couldn't find anything symbolic specifically for the Leaf Hopper, but it is a winged insect, that has undergone transformation from a lavae stage.

So it is a symbol of Transition, Celebration , Transformation / Change, Acceptance. In other words, Don't sweat the small stuff, be joyful and thankful for your blessings

Accept the changes in our lives as casually as a winged insect does. The unwavering acceptance of the metamorphosis is also symbolic of faith. Here we need to keep our faith as we undergo transitions in our lives. The insect understands that our toiling, fretting and anger are useless against the turning tides of nature – she asks us to recognize the same.

Blue lady bug / ladybird

We found some blue ladybugs on thelemon tree, so of course I had to draw them.
A symbol of Luckiness.
The ladybird is probably the only insect to have been consistently viewed as an omen of good luck throughout the ages.

The word 'ladybird' itself is an evolution of 'lady beetle', which was so called because of its traditional connection with the Virgin Mary. A popular legend recalls that during the Middle Ages when invasive insects were destroying food crops, the farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary and were blessed with thousands of ladybirds who quickly ate the pests and saved the harvest. From then on, the ladybird was known as 'Our Lady's Beetle', which evolved through ladybeetle, ladybug and finally to the presently known ladybird. This religious connection is also found in the ladybirds' names around the world:
· Nyckelpiga - Our Lady's Key-Maid (Scandinavian)
· Marienkafer - Mary's Beetle (German)
· Bozhia Korovka - God's Little Cow (Russian)
· Vaquilla de Dios - Cow of God (Spanish)
(‘cow’ most likely given because of the ladybirds’ markings).
· Bete a bon Dieu - literally Animal of the Good God (France)


In Northern Europe, tradition says that one's wish granted if a ladybird lands on oneself (this tradition lives on in North America, where children capture a ladybird, make a wish, and then "blow it away" back home to make the wish come true). In Italy, it is said by some that if a ladybird flies into one's bedroom, it is considered good luck.

Katipo spider

I wanted NZ natives where possible, so a large Katipo will be a great addition to the quilt.

Spider, a symbol of Mystery,Power Growth, Cunning, Progressive, Resourceful, and Creation

When we see our decisions, choices and actions as far-reaching, effective tools in life - we can see how we weave a web that can either serve us or enslave us. The Spider symbol meaning beckons us to be mindful of our behaviours - be smart about the life we weave for ourselves.

We can derive more Spider symbol meaning when we consider certain subtle characteristics that represent ancient symbols of infinity. The infinity symbol meanings occur when we consider most Spiders have eight eyes and all have eight legs. The number eight is also a symbol of infinity or lemniscate (an eight turned on its side). Also, the vibrational frequency indicates the meaning of with Maya brings about the understanding that not all things are as they appear to be.

The Spider symbol meaning in Egypt, is akin to Neith, a complex deity usually depicted with arrows as she is associated with hunting. Along with hunting, she is also associated with the creation, specifically the process of recreation in the dawning and dusking of each day. Neith is also a weaver, and is often shown with a shuttle in her hand (a tool used for weaving). It is this activity that gains her association with the Spider.

The Greek myth of Arachne, a mortal (although of noble stature) who was a spectacular weaver. Acclaim for her luscious lively looms spread over hill and dale and ultimately reached the immortal ears of Athena. Arachne claimed she was the best weaver, and thus prompted a challenge from Athena. And so, they played a round of “dueling looms,” but no one could confirm the victor. However, Arachne was quite smug about the whole process. So much so, that Athena smote her with a mighty blow of conscience and a dose of guilt. Arachne took the dosage hard, and could not live with the intense feelings of guilt and sorrow so she killed herself. Athena felt awful over the whole mess and decided to resurrect Arachne in the form of a spider so that she and all her offspring would forever be the best weavers of the universe.

Creepy Crawlies

I have decided to make a creepy crawly quilt for my youngest man, who is really in to bugs at the moment.

Using Jacquard Tee Juice Fabric pens, and Shiva paint sticks, I will attempt to create about 40 pictures of bugs and other creepy crawlies, and then make a Snowball quilt with them. So I am on the lookout for bug fabric at the moment. I have found some green/orange butterflies that he loves, and some blue/purple butterflies as well.

The creatures, or mini beasts are not just insects, but Snails fall into the invertebrates family, and Spiders do fit under arthropods, part of the arachnid family.
I have managed to draw 4 ants, 2 facing left and 2 facing right.

Ants are a symbol of patience,persistence, endurance, self-discipline, teamwork, strength, and stamina . All great things a boy needs to learn about in his process of becoming a man.
Ant teaches a sense of community, social structures, industriousness and sense of provision. Ant shows how to create by planning and discipline and patience with endurance. Ant also shows a promise of success through efforts and hard work and diligence.

Blooms and Leafy

I have read about using double threads, not a double needle, and so going to give it a try. Jan gave me some flower fabric with an iris outline, so I am going to machine embroider these with 2 threads in a single needle – Jean 100/16.

Started with the pink flower, pale pink and lavender thread. Had problems with the tension, so I loosed it off a little. Changed threads to flour pink, and a dark purple for another pink flower. I like this combination effect.

Dark purple and dark blue for the purple flower, but it just looks like a thicker thread, so perhaps dark/light combination would have been better. On the brown part of the flower, I used burgundy and brown. Looks good.
Other thread combinations used:
Burgundy and red on red flowers.
Orange and red on red flowers.
Lavender and dark blue on blue flowers.
Yellow and white on yellow flowers.

Love the effect and the technique, will be using this one again.

Decided to try and quilt using the two threads, and chose dark green/light green combination. Followed the outlines of the main flowers first, then randomly created stalks and leaved. Had a small issue of thread looping at the back, but changed the foot pressure and the top tension and that reduced the problem, but it didn’t disappear. Tried to zigzag the border using the double threads, but it kept snagging, so changed to a single thread.

Small yellow beads finished the yellow part of the iris, and a red dragonfly brooch I picked up at the $2 shop flies between the flowers.

I am surprised how effective the double thread technique is, and how easy it creates interest on the quilt. The plain flower fabric had been transformed and it was me who did it.
Not quilting in the ditch is still a dilemma for me, but I am getting better, it is just practice outside the comfort zone. These small A4 quilts are good to practice on.

Recycling and circles

Decided to use up some of the thread ends I had been collecting in a tissue box this year. I laid the threads out on “wash away” , chucked some red and yellow Angelina in for good measure. I had some small scraps of plastic film that I had used for dragonfly wings, so I snipped this smaller and sprinkled the snippets on top. I pinned it all around the outside. Using a grey thread first, secured by sewing around the outside, then large circles and swirls in all 4 quarters. Changed thread to a blue silk, and sewed swirls all over. Then a variegated metallic thread, that always breaks, always pulls, and I always manage to break a needle using it, and today was no different.
After soaking the “fabric” in water, I didn’t rinse it as fully, as I wanted the residual glue to hold it together when it was cut into circles. I ironed double sided Vilene to the back, and kept the paper attached.
I keep looking at the fabric, the Angelina catch the light. The small random triangles of plastic film peek through the other threads, also catching the light, so decided to call it “let there be light”.
Possibilities for the design include circles spirally from large to small, or vice versa. I like the idea of different sized circles but I guess will wait and see, depends on how the outlines of the circles sew.
I have been doing some reading on Crop Circles, so these have inspired me to gradually decrease the size of the circles.
Had a play around in “Publisher” making perfect circles, numbered them from large to small, and then printed them out. Roughly cut the circles out. and then glue stiked the circle patterns to the back of the fabric (Paper of Vilene). Violà, cut out perfect circles following the printed circle.
Decided to embroider an asymmetrical circle in a mixture of green threads using free motion zigzag. Still having difficulties with the green varigated thread, but feel I have created dimension. I even remembered to stabilize the back of the fabric before starting sewing – I am learning!

After removing the paper backing, played around with the placement of the circles, pinned them in place, and then ironed them to the fabric. Because of the texture of the “thread” fabric, the Vilene didn’t hold very well, so I ended up glue sticking the circles down.

A metallic silver thread sewn in a curved line from the largest circle to the smallest circle, following the line of the large green circle. I have left the edges of the circles unfinished, and they have fluffed / fringed up creating an unexpected contract to the embroidered circle. Quilted around the circles using a burgundy thread, and quilted smaller circlers inside the large green one. Finished the quilt with a silver sequin and purple bead.

No dragonflies in this quilt, but uses the theme / symbolic “into the light”, and be aware how our life can be transformed when we light a candle, instead of cursing the darkness.

Adinkra Cloth

In the last Quilting Arts magazine, there was an Article on Adinkra – West African Symbolism printed onto cloth. I don’t want to make the stamps, but I am fascinated with the symbolism. I will print the symbols onto fabric using a bubble jet printer.

Using a freezer paper pattern and Shiva paint stiks a I made a dragonfly in the middle of an A4 sized cotton cloth. When dry, I removed the freezer paper.
Considering the words I used in the previous collage, I looked for symbols that reflected the dragonfly.
Using “Publisher” I made several Adinkra symbols ready for printing in a grid pattern. Symbols are from www.welltempered.net/adinkra.. Traditional Adinkra cloth usually has one symbol per grid with very close spacing.
BESE SAKA “Sack of cola nuts” (affluence, abundance, prosperity)
DWENNIMMEN “Rams horns” (humility, strength)
MMERE DANE “time changes” (change, life’s dynamics)
OSRAM NE NSOROMMA “the moon and the star” (love, faithfulness, harmony)
SESA WORMUBAN “I change or transform my life” (Transformation)
BI NKA BI “no one should bite the other” (peace, harmony) I really like this, it reminds me of Ying/Yang)

I also found a Southern Pueblo Indian symbol of the dragonfly, connected with water (purity), and renewal (transformation, change).


Had problems with the network, so had to physically put the file on the bubble jet’s home computer. Didn’t have Publisher, but Corel Photo House, so I had to convert the file, and reformat, as the margins were different to my laser printer set up. Grrrr.

Changed the printers properties to “Transparency”, and “Best”. The freezer paper backed fabric printed okay, but the ink didn’t like printing over the Shiva painted dragonfly. I left it overnight, and heat set it in the morning. Because of the printer set up, I will have to stitch extra “grid” rows on the outside, but it should be okay. I Sewed around the quilt “grid” but didn’t like it, so unpicked it.

Decided to echo quilt instead, starting around the dragonfly in orange thread. Much better result. Had to add a small border of orange fabric to bring it up to A4 size. Zigzagged around the outside with orange thread. The creative imaginings has been used as a force within me.

Texture - Dragonfly resting on tree

This time I want a dragonfly resting on a tree trunk, so need to make the tree first. Layered light and dark brown wool onto washaway, popped in some green for moss. Cut off some snips of novelty years, organza an fabric scraps.
Free motion stitching in a variety of brown and purple thread held it all together. Washed the stabilizer away and laid it flat to dry. Love the feel of it.

Found a green printed tulle, that will contrast as “forest” for the background. After laying this onto a green fabric, I sewed around the edges to baste it together. Roughly cut the tree trunk shape and sewed this to the tulle. I really like this trunk, but it needs a dragonfly.
Found a plastic film at Ajays Emporium, and sewed this as wings of a dragonfly. Auditioned several beads until found these glass ones that make a great body.
Quilting was limited to the trunk and added depth.
Felt there needed focus at the base of the tree, so created a “fern” using chenille yarn and “jazz” novelty threads. A few stone and glass beads complete the quilt. I love it.

Abstract Dragonfly

Using Photoshop, I enlarged a photograph of a dragonfly taken while camping in Pukeroa forest last year. I then cropped the picture just leaving the tail rudder.
After enlarging this to A4 size, printed and transferred the design to freezer paper.
Shiva paint stiks – green, blue, turquoise, copper, and white – coloured in the rudder onto yellow fabric. Once dried, free motion zigzag to fill in , and created a more rounded 3D effect. It looked like a green bunny!
Rummaged through my scraps and found some ugly fabric that needed to be used up, and cut 3 more rudder shapes. Also over laid the checked fabric with a plastic film found at Ajays Emporium, it totally changes the fabric – wow.
Somehow I managed to run out of double sided vilene, so just glue sticked them down onto the yellow fabric. Once dry, echo sewed with contrasting orange and green threads, down the rudder shape. They all looked like bunnies, is that abstract enough?
I just left the edges unfinished, outside my comfort zone a little, I really wanted to buttonhole them down!
Using a variegated crochet thread and Lana needles, top stitched the rudder shape diagonally across all 4 rudders, and then quilted the whole thing down with orange thread, echo quilting the diagonal and the other edge. After quilting, the raw edges lift, and add shadows unexpectedly to the quilt.
Decide not to center the piece but to cut it to size with more yellow back ground on the left, to bring out the yellow showing through on the painted rudder.
They still look like bunnies though! Albeit, upside down ones.

Collage - Dragonfly Series

After lots of research, I have learnt that the animal symbolism of the dragonfly deals with prosperity,good luck, strength, peace, harmony , and purity
As a creature of the wind, the dragonfly totem represents change. It's iridescent wings are incredibly sensitive to the slightest breeze, and so we are reminded to heed where the proverbial wind blows - lest we run into stormy weather.
Dragonflies are also creatures of the water, and any creature whose habitat is in, or around water carries symbolism relative the subconscious, or "dreaming" mind and thoughts.
Dragonflies carry messages that deal with deeper thought - and they ask that we pay attention to our deeper thoughts and desires.
Further symbolic insect meaning of dragonfly comes into play when we observe the dragonfly's mode of transportation as it skitters across the top of water surfaces. This implies that our deeper thoughts are surfacing and we must be mindful of the outcome we wish to have.
The dragonfly is a reminder that when our deeper thoughts rise to the surface we must pay attention - there are lessons to be learned, and we are also reminded that what we think is directly proportionate to what we "see on the surface." ...In short, our thoughts (even the deeper ones that we might not be as in-touch with as we are with our conscious thoughts) are responsible for what we see in our lives - in our physical surroundings.
The dragonfly gives us a very powerful meditation tool. Close your eyes, and focus on a thought - let it rise to the surface of your mind's ocean - see that thought float lightly up to the water's surface. Now upon the top of a smooth, calm glass-like surface - visualize that thought moving across that water - sliding across - smooth and fast.
This exercise is useful when we want to visualize positive outcomes in a situation. We see the thought of hope happily moving across an ocean of peace (peaceful mind) and skirting to a perfect outcome.
Lastly it should be noted that the Dragonfly lives a short life, and it knows it must live to the fullest with what it has. This suits my philosophy best, of having fun, and living in the now.

I want the A4 collage to have the words that Dragonflies symbolize, so need to print these onto fabric. Decided to use cotton that I had dyed green purple d blend of yellow through to red.
In Publisher I just typed in the words in a text box, changed the font colour and just made the font larger. The colours I will print in are purple, orange, red and green.

Prepared the fabric by soaking it in a ¼ cup of white vinegar to 1 litre of water. Let it soak for ½ hour and then drip dry on the outside line. Ironed the fabric onto freezer paper and cut to A4 size. Had to change the printer settings to “Transparency” but it printed okay onto fabric.

Spent the rest of the afternoon out in the sun, cutting up the fabric and arranging them on a fusible stabilizer. Once happy I just ironed the collage onto the stabilizer, and using metallic threads free motion zigzagged over the joins. Changed to silver thread and quilted an outline of a dragonfly wing, but I am not sure how effective this is, especially in the night light.

I found some left over orange piping, from a box of scraps a friend gave me. Have never used the stuff before, so this is perfect for the border. Left over yellow fabric completes the border. I like the piping effect, so will use it again in the future. Added a few beads over the dragonfly clipart, just for texture.

Stetching the brain again

I need to stretch myself, as I have become complacent and predictable (who would have thought, maybe it’s my age) so l I have joined the Yahoo internet group dedicated to NZ and Australian art quilts. I know I will learn a lot from these talented artists, and looking forward to sharing my knowledge with them.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Aus_NZartquilters

The group has a monthly A4 sized challenge around a theme and technique, and I am going to try to do these challenges around a series of dragonflies. I have always admired these insects and their zest for life, and have always wanted to do a quilt with dragonflies – here is my chance!

My first challenge is around the theme “Seasons”, and the technique is Embellishment, so I want to try more free motion embroidery on the machine.

I think Angelina fibres will be perfect for the wings, and I feel a Summer theme with a dragonfly flying though the tall rushes and grasses towards water.

The wings were created using sliver, gold purple Angelina, and the body using yellow and red Angelina.
Water was made by collaging a dark, medium, and light blue fabrics, and then laying different novelty threads on the top. I held these down with Press n Seal, and couched the threads down in a loose grid. I used a small stitch, as I found it perforates the Press n Seal and makes it easier to rip off, instead of a longer stitch. It looks like a stormy sea or sky, I love stroking the yarns.
Found some left over “bird of paradise” fabric, and ragged cut the top to look like grass. Sewed the fabric to the sky, and reinforced with small stitches, where the dragonfly would be cut out of the sky. A sharp knife around a freezer paper pattern of a dragon fly made quick work of the sky and grass.
After a bit of fiddling laid a scrap of yellow fabric under the body of the dragonfly, and gluestik the wings and body into place under the sky and grass, sort of a reverse appliqué, but cut out the dragonfly shape first, then laid the Angelina underneath. I am not sure if white fabric was a good choice under the wings, maybe grey or red would have been better?
Dark purple thread zigzagged outlined the dragonfly, and variegated orange / brown topstitched the grass. Only a small amount of quilting around the wings and where the sky/grass met.
Decided the dragonfly needed a bit more “oomph”, so zigzagged freely with mustard thread to create depth in the body and rudder, and then brown around the outside.
Perhaps I need to put some beads to give the body more definition?

Japanese Inspired

At club night we randomly pulled out of a bag, 2 x 5 inch squares, and one 3 inch strip the width of fabric.
The challenge, make something with these, using our own fat quarter of fabric, plus batting, plus backing.
The fabrics I pulled had an Asian feel to them. So I felt I had to have a go at some Japanese inspired patchwork.
After auditioning several fabrics, I found a terracotta that echoes the colours of the 5 inch squares and the 3 inch strip.
Using Japanese stylized patters on Ramon symbols, of the Gong, Clouds, and Commas, and the plum blossom.

After tracing the patterns onto freezer paper, used a craft knife to cut out the patterns, and then ironed the freezer paper onto the right side of the fabric and cut around the Ramon shapes.

The plum blossoms were cut from the 3 inch strip, and then the left over fabric ripped into strips for nine patch squares,. 2 strips were ripped from the fat quarter for the nine patch contrast, which I just kept joining together into one long strip.

Machine appliquéd the Comma, Gong and Plum to the remaining fabric of the fat quarter. The nine patch strip was sewn to the side of this remaining fabric, and voila, the piece was finished.
It needed more, so made a reverse stencil of the Ramon symbols and painting them onto the backing fabric (same terracotta colour as the front).

Using Shiva paint sticks, I frottaged over a left rubbing plate for texture, then shaded the outside of the patterns.

I choose blue and cream, to fit with the colours of the fabric.

Also with masking tape, created a nine patch pattern and frottaged cream paint stik as well.

Once, dried, ironed to heat set, and outlined each symbol in matching thread. Popped a zipper into the two halves, and sewed up the cushion.

My very own Japanese patchwork.