Cats and quilting

What is it with cats and quilting?  My cat has to sit anywhere I am working.  That's his favourite spot.  It doen't matter if I am sewing at the machine,  hand stitiching, painting or ironing.  He doesn't want a pat just to sit where I am.  Yesterday here was his favourite spots

On the quilt I was framing.  I pushed him off and jumped right back up.

On the sewing machine table.  Just before I took this photo he was trying to climb over the sewing machine while I was setting it up for the next project.

Then when he made himself comfortable he started to clean himself

He wasn't impressed when I moved him.

The next spot was the ironing board.  (I would have loved to know what he was thinking)  

Needless to say his next spot was out the french doors.  He found a cosy spot on the barbeque........right under my studio window.  :)

A peek into my sketchbook

Photography this week: Morning

Hanging small quilts

I love making small little art quilts.  They are quick to paint and so easy to manipulate under the sewing machine.  They are a great way to learn a new technique or experiment with a new subject matter. They are instant art quilting.

Small works can draw the viewer in to take a closer look.  When I am finished small art quilts they can unfortunately look like a beautiful pot holder, to the inexperienced eye or they can look unfinished.  I have tried a number of techniques when hanging these little pieces that take the pot holder to a beautiful little piece of fine art for your wall at home.

1. Make a quilted backing to stitch the work too

A whole quilt background

Pieced quilting background

2. Put a smaller piece of work on a larger piece of work

3. Mount work on canvas

4.  Mount on a piece of fabric stiffened with interfacing  View video of this process here

Hanging small quilts

5. When I have tried all these ways of hanging and nothing seems to work I make it into a lovely pouch.

A peek into my sketchbook

My sketchbook this week

A beautiful handmade gift

I had a lovely surprise yesterday, I received a beautiful gift.  I love getting gifts.  I feel so nice inside.  I particularly love receiving handmade gifts.  I love thinking about the time and love that has gone into making the gift so special and beautiful.  

My friend Tracey is a very talented crocheter and she made me this beautiful crochet bag in colours I just love

It is a great size for all the bits and pieces I carry around.  

My bag is always bulging with art supplies,  water, techno things,  

bits and pieces of the kids and often confiscated belongings that should not have made 

it out of the house to church or other quiet activities. So it should fit everything I need.

The detailing is lovely with these little cute flowers stitched on the end of each handle.

The colours seamlessly blend and are well made.

Even the bottom of the bag is so cute.

Thank you Tracey for making my day so sweet and creating something for me I will treasure.

Quilting with back pain

If you are like me back pain is one of the occupational hazards of quilting.  I get back pain from leaning over work,  quilting for long period of time,  Sketching/and designing on the go and painting.  It isn't pleasant to have aches and pains while I am doing something I love so much.  

Over the years I have found many things that really help me combat back pain and more importantly prevent it from happening.

Preventing back pain

• Invest in a good quality adjustable chair which adjust in height,  lumber support and mid back support.  This is the best investment I have ever made to combat back pain.  This is one area of your studio that should have plenty of budget.  (mine comes complete with cat hairs :) )

• Be concious of how you stand and sit.  It is amazing how many bad habits we pick up with out even realising. I tend to lean to one side onto the one hip that I didn't have pain in as a teenager growing.
• Use a bench that is at the correct height for sitting or standing.  Which ever is your preferred method of working. Your elbows should comfortably rest on the surface in front of you in a right angle.  My kitchen bench is just the right height for standing up work.

• Stretch daily.  I stretch when I wake up each morning.  This really helps with mobility and preventing pain.

• If you work on the couch use a foot rest and lumber support  to support your posture.  I tend not use the couch for long periods of time as my legs are too short for our couches and this makes my back pain worse.  

• If finances permit try and get a massage or visit a chiropractor every 3 months.  If you can't afford it there are some great massage tools available for a reasonable price that you can use on your self.
• Take regular breaks from working.  I have a break every 1-1/2 hours just to walk around have a stretch and a drink.
• Drink plenty of water.

Getting rid of back pain

• A good soak in a deep bath with epsom salts in it or if you haven't got a bath soak a towel in hot water with epsom salts in it and put on the sore spot. 

• Rub on a cream specific for back pain.  I love deep heat and arnica

• Get a massage or chiropractor appointment
• Stretch
• Keep moving.  The more stationary you are the more ceased up it can get
• Take natural remedies.
• Use pain killers if needed and if the pain persists see a doctor.

• And keep being creative and making art you love :)