Some of the items reminded me of my childhood... remember Zody's??

Just when it couldn't possibly get better... she also mentions that they were going to throw away a huge bag of wool!! OMG... I pounced before she could even finish her sentence!! Here it is after I brought it home and felted it:

It appears that the person who brought it to the quilt store to give away had purchased most of these wool pieces from Ireland, most likely from a factory. That bottom piece alone is about 6 yards!! Hmmm... now i need to actually use them in a project.

Some days are just luckier than most!!

Hugs, Carla

Some of our more recent blog posts have dealt with issues involving ethics.  One post is about some officers who are currently active and another is about a retired officer.  The truth of the matter is that whether or not one is active or retired is one of those things that just doesn't mean squat to anyone.   Tim wrote a great paragraph describing that in this post and I want to quote it here because it is so important.

Have you been to the doctor lately? Did your doctor say, "Before we begin, I wanted to let you know that I graduated from the Univeristy of Washington Medical School. I interned at the Mayo Clinic, where I worked with Dr. Nogginkraker, the world-famous neurosurgeon. I am certified in liposuction and rhinoplasty, which I consider the most progressive form of recycling. I also hold certifications in G.H.U., A.S.S., B.S.U., and K.I.S.S." If he did, run screaming, then find a new doctor.

The people you come into contact with every day (even other officers) DO NOT CARE if you are a D.R.E., B.T.S., C.V.S., A.T.M. (ass-to-mouth, people), etc. They don't care that you are the "traffic guy" or the "narcotics guy".

The point I am trying to make here is that we're all human and unfortunately, just like anywhere else, we are sometimes guilty by association.   That is, when some dumb ass cop in B.F. Idaho does something really stupid or violates someone's civil rights; all cops everywhere else vicariously look like a bunch of flippin' idiots because of it.

My definition of integrity has always been, "Do the the right thing even when nobody is looking".  Some police officers do the right thing under any circumstance and hold themselves to a higher standard.   Cops are looked at differently because of what they do - and rightfully so.  Notice I said that this is "what we do" because there is much misconception by the public (and some officers) that this is "who we are".  It's only a job folks; it pays the bills.  Like Tim said, "We are garbage men".   When this realization hits one in the head like a brick, life in general and our place in it become crystal clear; it becomes easy for an officer to understand that they are no better than anyone else.   Yet there are some, even still, who have very "heavy badges" and think that the rest of the world owes them something because of it.    That comes under the classification of "just wrong".

Having said that, in the article I wrote about not being above the law, I said that over the past 12 years I have been able to grow a very thick skin.  There's a reason for that.   In 2002, I arrested a person for DUI and the next thing I know, I was being investigated by the F.B.I. for a criminal civil rights violation.   Yes it's true that in this job, even when you do everything right, you can still be sued.   Although that was a really extreme example, it makes a good point.  More often than not, officers get investigated internally for any complaint made against them by the public and the number one reason people complain is that they're pissed off that they got a ticket, or worse...a parking ticket!!!  An officer can arrest someone and have to use higher levels of force requiring visits to the hospital for medical clearance and they're just doing their job but don't you dare write a ticket, that's like a mortal sin against humanity.  When an officer writes a ticket and the complaint comes in, they are inevitably an embellishment or twisting of the facts;  written in such a way that one would think that the person had received forty lashes on the side of the road.

Now let me show you an example!   Below is a video from my car camera of a traffic stop I did on August 29, 2004 at 9:00 in the morning.  A regular traffic stop, I smelled alcohol, talked to the person for several minutes, issued her a speeding citation and sent her on the way.  The entire thing took about eight minutes.  (Note:  I removed 11 seconds of the video from 9:08:43 to 9:08:54 to protect the identity of the offender)

To make my point, I would now like you to read the letter that was sent to my supervisor by this person, in reference to this stop.   (The link will open to a document.  Clicking on the document will enlarge it)

...and people wonder why the police can be so detached and unemotional!!

Consider this: that perfect touch may be in your purse. It might be something you just received in the mail, or want to throw out because it's becomming clutter. Or it might be something in your pocket. Or in that shopping bag you just threw away, heck, it might even BE the shopping bag you just threw away!

I recently read a little article on www.ezinearticles.com titled Scrapbook Do's And Don'ts by Wes Waddell. It has great information on the extra things we add to our scrapbooks and whether or not they will eventually damage our photos. As I read through the list, I thought... "These are some great embellishment ideas!" Dang, all this time I've been trying to create the perfect embellishment, and they've been there all along! I just have to "see" them.

So next time you're trying to come up with that perfect item for your page, consider using the following:

Old Report Cards, Birthday Invitations, Maps from vacation or Post Cards, College Brochures and Acceptance Letters, Greeting Cards, Decorative Napkins, Name Tags or Place Cards, Receipts from the restaurant, Programs and Ticket Stubs from Plays and Concerts or Sporting Events, Old Drivers Licenses (isn't that a great idea???), CD Covers, and yes, you could even cut out the logo from a shopping bag.

Just remember that many of these things may have harmful ingredients such as lignon and acid, and the inks may not be safe... but as long as they don't actually *touch* your photos, you'll be fine! Now get out there and create! (and please feel free to add your ideas in the comments section - we can all use fresh ideas!)

Yesterday, among other projects, I worked on a simple sewing project for my eldest daughter.  Since I had been altering a bunch of t-shirts for my youngest (upon her request), I thought I should alter at least one for my oldest.

This t-shirt was just a plain ole generic white t-shirt.  The first thing I did was cut the collar off.  A ribbed collar is for an athletic shirt, not a cute everyday shirt.  I put the modified t-shirt on Betsy (my handy dandy mannequin), pulled out some ribbon and lace and started laying it around the shirt.

My oldest is block shaped on top.  I've called her my little egg on legs.  She often wears loose tops.  She thinks they hide her shape.  I think they make her look her look even more like a block.  I've been buying her tops with an empire waist and a tie in the back.  She seems to like them.  I think they add a little shape to her body. 

I decided to embellish with a ribbon between the breast and waist on the t-shirt.  The ribbon is actually red seam binding with some simple small lace sewed onto it.  I sewed a different kind of white lace around the collar.

I added a red ribbon rose pin in the center front of the shirt.  The ribbon rose has a pin back glued onto it.  If she would like to take the rose off or move it, she can.  Also, I can take it off before I wash the shirt, wash it and reshape it separately if it needs cleaning.

I think the t-shirt is very sweet...much better than the Plain Jane white t-shirt.  This is a simple sewing project to create a simply sweet t-shirt.

I thought long and hard about how to fix the quilt or make the "oops" into a design opportunity. We thought about removing the border and requilting, thought about extending the applique work. Finally, this morning the idea hit me.... why not bead some dragonfly bodies, create some fiberart wings with available materials, and, as Tim Gunn would say, "make it work?"

So that is what Jill and I did today. here's a picture to show you what the beaded dragonflies look like:

It is hard to see, but the wings are iridescent. There are 3 of them on the quilt, including the one that hides the tear fix. It looks even better in person, too!

Now all I have to do is stitch them down and sew back the hanging sleeve, and viola! It can go back on the road. I think they are the perfect complement to this Asian quilt with the moons.

Take care, Carla

I have two daughters.  We try to keep things even.  This keeps them from arguing, but it causes a couple of different problems.  The first is that they would like to look different from their sister.  The second is that it's difficult to quickly tell which clothes belong to which daughter on first glance. 

My youngest wanted to embellish her tank tops with a bit of lace at the bottom.  She's a girlie girl.  I just happend to have a huge plastic tub full of lace.  I bought about 3 tubs at an estate sale and I'm now down to just one...thank heavens!

My youngest is quite petite.  She is so petite that her clothing will not even fit on my petite dress form.  I asked her to model her new tanks.  I'm not one of those moms who likes to publish my child's face on the Internet.  I cropped her face off the photo. 

I like the vintage ribbon lace at the bottom of this (above) tank top.

She liked the brown seam tape on this blue tshirt.  She wanted the tape at the very end of the shirt.  It wouldn't be my choice.   Since I'm not the one wearing it, I thought "Why not?".

I moved this lace up a little.  I didn't like the tank's seams showing.  It still shows a little bit of the lace only at the bottom.  She was pleased.

This yellow tank with the yellow and white lace is one of her favorites.

It took me less than an hour to put the lace on her tank tops.  My daughter seems to like them.  I'm happy to get rid of a bit of lace scraps. 

Hello, my tutorial is for anyone who wants to make a inchie out of fabric, quilt style, meaning it has 3 layers like a quilt. I have really simplified this tutorial, just to teach you the basic steps. By all means, feel free to expand on my tutorial- especially when it comes to the embellishment phase.

I have also provided directions for people who use standup quilting systems, as well as anyone who uses their home sewing machine. Have fun!- Carla

Carla’s Inchie Tutorial

Inchies are one inch quilts consisting of 3 primary layers- the backing, the middle layer and the top. They are fast and fun to do! You may also make Double Inchies- 2” x 2” and Inchies Plus -1.5” x 1.5” sizes for people who find the one inch size too confining.

Step 1: Gather your supplies for the following layers based on your desired color palette:

Backing: Fat Quarter sized fabric for the backing in a fabric that will go well with your chosen color palette. (If you are making multiple inchies in various color palatte, then choose a larger backing in a color that works for your particular color palette.)

Middle Layer: Chose heavy weight pellon or my favorite is 2mm Fun Foam (found at any craft store). Please note that I do not recommend Fast2Fuse, Timtex and similar products with adhesive. The adhesive layer has a tendency to attach to the sewing or quilting machine needle and “gunk it up.”

Top Layer: Will need fabric scraps, including a focal scrap fabric in your desired color, embellishments (such as buttons, beads, ribbons, lace, charms, words, heat set cystals, photo transfers, etc.), also paint or any other embellishment technique that you know. I also suggest Steam-a-Seam Light 2 for any fusible bonding needs. (this product does not gunk your machine up).

Also need basic sewing supplies such as matching thread, decorative thread, scissors, needle, sewing machine, rotary cutter, ruler, cutting mat, etc.

Step 2: Layer the bottom 2 layers to create your design surface- Lay out on your flat working surface your backing material (wrong side up), then lay over this your craft foam or heavy weight pellon (this product is a similar thickness to Timtex, Fast2Fuse without the adhesive layer). This will be your working design surface.

[Note to Mid or Longarm owners: Load your backing fabric on your bottom and top rollers, then place your middle layer on top of this. This is now your working design surface.]

Step 3: Create your visual top design in a collage fashion. You will be working in an area determined by how many inchies you need to make. (For instance, if you needed 25- 1” inchies, you would be working in a space 5 inches by 5 inches.) Keep in mind that anything placed down will need to be soft enough to stitch through. Harder embellishments such as charms, beads, etc. can be added later. Don’t forget to add some elements to your piece that are interesting.

*Helpful Hint- I used my hot iron to flatten the layers before stitching!

[for mid and longarm owners- you can also load a larger backing, then create many sets of inchies all at once! It is much easier to create your multiple designs on a longarm than on your home machine at this point.]

Step 4: Once you are happy with your design, then you can start stitching them down in place. If you find that your top layers are moving or shifting, then by all means use the lightweight fusible mentioned above for added control (following the directions on the Steam-a-Seam Lite 2) then fuse it together with your iron before the stitching step. Another alternative would be to lay a piece of fine netting or similar material over your work surface to prevent catching the small pieces with your machine foot. You could use a water soluble layer, as well, but I'm too lazy to wash it out. LOL! Now stitch everything in place, then add some more stitching for added texture and color. Remember, you can always change thread colors, too, or use specialty threads.

[For mid and longarmers, yes, you can fuse the layers while loaded if you are careful. Thus said, my sample above was created without fusing. Use your machine to stitch down all the collage and loose pieces. Then add stitching texture to your collage. Once again, it is easier to do this with your table and machine setup].

Step 5: Use your rotary cutter and ruler to cut the inchies into the desired size widths. This step is pretty self explaining no matter what machine you are using. You will have long strips at this point.

[mid and longarmers- simply unload your machine and take it to your cutting table. From here on out, you will be using your DSM or home sewing machine to complete these.]

Step 6: Satin stitch the edges on both the long sides of the strips using your home sewing machine. You can make this step go faster by completing this step “chain style.” (if your machine does not have a satin stitch, you can also use a very tight zig-zag stitch.)

Step 7: Cut these into your desired sizes back at your cutting table. Then take them over to your sewing machine to satin stitch the raw edges.

Step 8: Embellish!! This is a very fun last step! Use any embellishment or technique to complete your inchie. Don’t be shy! I have not shown you my final piece because I purposely want you to be creative and come up with your own way of embellishing these. Any technique is fair game!

Q&A: I have my completed inchies… what can I do with them?

The ideas are endless, really. Frame them as a set and hang them on your wall. Add them to your quilt or fiber project as embellishments. Add an eyelet hole and make your own fiber necklace/bracelet. Add them to other projects.

If you are taking part in a group challenge, then mail them to your group coordinator. The coordinator will provide challenge details such as size, color, mailing details, etc.

HAVE FUN & CREATE!!!! I would love to see pictures of your finished inchies!

Carla Barrett- Feathered Fibers

http://featheredfibers.wordpress.com

One of the jobs I have been finishing up are Amanda's wedding invitations. My "happy" friend sent her over my way. I couldn't be more thrilled. It's been so fun working with Amanda. I've looked at her invitations so many times, I think I've already imagined the whole layout and design for her entire wedding day! I'm starting to think I may fly out there and crash the party! No, not really... don't worry, Amanda! But, I am excited about her invitations.

Using the ornate initial as our base for design, I hand wrote the wording for the invitation, along with layering black, champagne, and white card stock.

To bring all of the pieces together, we used a black, grosgrain ribbon with the "G" initial clasping it together

I love the elegant and refined nature of this invitation and if it's true that the wedding invitations set the guests up for what to expect at the wedding, I truly believe it will be an elegant gathering!

Fashion Design Concepts (FDC) offers companies in the fashion industry an innovative approach to placement embroidery utilizing the latest in embroidery techniques and handwork.

FDC provides quality work in just under a week.  As a result, companies save time and shipping cost.

FDC staff works directly with designers, merchandisers & product developers to create customized embroideries for their initial prototypes and/or showroom samples.

Companies may purchase original designs or provide their own artwork.  Both remain strictly confidential.

Located in New York City’s Fashion District makes working with FDC easy and convenient.

My new etsy Store - Check it out Artful Junk Trunk

It's been a month since i visited the Gems of the Prairie Quilt Guild in Peoria. I've finally had my blogging lesson, so now I can get on with it...

First I have to say a big thank you to all those Peorian quilters who made me feel so welcome. They laughed at my jokes and said all the right things about my quilts. I got to share some of the "lessons I have learnt while quilting" and then teach an embellishment class.

Here are some pictures of the ladies hard at work...

We made yo-yos, learnt some embroidery stitches and added beaded edges to our little samplers. Three hours passed very quickly but I hope everyone learnt something new and has some fun show-and-tell next month at their guild meeting.

Sue Wozniak was a wonderful hostess. If all my trips are as enjoyable as this one I'm going to be OK...

it came as a bit of a shock to me, and i felt like i was losing a "family". i have been fortunate to work with the owner - becki speakman, dana - her design team manager as well as the other very talented members of the design team for the past year and a half.  

becki is moving on to a great opportunity and i wish her all the best! she is a VERY talented designer as can be seen in all the wonderful products that she has created and produced over the years.

it's always hard to say goodbye - sounds cliche' but it REALLY is! i'll miss the people AND the products. i loved working with one heart...one line, everything always looked so "boutique"!

but, there is a bit of good news for some - those of you in and around the Kansas City, Kansas area. one heart...one mind will be having a HUGE warehouse sale to clear out their remaining stock. the sale will be held from 9AM to 1PM on saturday, june 7th. the address is 10311 west 87th terrace in overland, kansas. if you go, please bring your own bags, and leave the kiddos at home! prices will be up to 80% off. there will be papers, embellishments, rub ons and more! for those of you not in the area, call a friend who is! sorry, but nothing is available online, just cash & carry at the warehouse the day of the sale.

so, all good things must come to an end - another cliche' but again, a fitting one.

and in honor of all the fun i had while being part of this fabulously talented team, i'll be posting a few of my favorite "unpublished" one heart...one mind projects... the ones i loved - but the editors didn't! LOL! 

AND --- here's two for father's day...

 thanks for letting me share my "faves" with you! i hope you get inspired to go create something new!

As much as I aspire to maintain an attitude like Maddy Nupp McDonald's, I want my work to be like Mimi Kirchner's.

I've been hearing Kirchner's name around the doll scene for years now, but mainly for her gourd dolls and historical reproductions. Even though neither of these genres really interest me, I love the round, stylized faces on all of her work. You can see lots of these in her Cozy.org gallery.

But what's really gotten me excited is her newer work. She's been making fabric sculptures for sale on Etsy and other places that really knock my socks off. Her pink robot, one of a whole family of soft-sculpted robots, was a finalist in the Softie Awards this spring. Who ever thought of a soft-sculpted robot? They're round and sharp at the same time, slightly reminiscent of vintage tin robot toys, but with all the warmth of fabric.

But even more charming are her "Church Ladies" and "Tattooed Gentlemen." What I think sets her apart from so many other fiber artists is her original use of trims, prints and embroidery to create the parts of her robots and dolls. I really want to learn to make felt flowers like the ones that adorn her Church Ladies' dresses, and I love the use of toile to represent tattoos on her Gentlemen.

It's almost like she's camouflaging her embellishments as something they're not. Check out the bugs in this picture. At first glance, they just look like they're made of crazy fabric prints, but as you look closer, you start to see that they're made of perfectly ordinary sewing notions, like ric rac trim, beads, and dress hooks.

I really hope my work can be this creative someday. Be sure to check out Kirchner's blog, Doll, and her Flickr Account. Also, browse her Etsy shop to see if your favorite is for sale. Have a great weekend!

The first step after you prepare your canvas is to color wash it . Next add some collage elements:

Then you add the first layer of dimension and texture using paint:

That is my homework until Class 2. I need to pick up more paint colors and more canvases so I can try this using several color palettes. Stay tuned for next week's show & tell!

----------------

Carla Note: I am in the midst of revamping my sidebar a bit. Some of the old links are outdated, so I am in the process of re-doing them. Please leave a comment or email me if you wish to be linked to this blog. Thanks!

Regards, Carla

Eines Tages wollte ich einen Anhänger-zum-selber-verzieren haben und beschloss, ihn selbst zu machen.
Auf dem Foto sieht man beide Seiten eines Armband-Anhängers von ca. 1,5 cm, den ich mit selbstgefärbtem Stoff und etwas Metallicfaden-Stickerei verziert habe.
Die Verzierung ist nicht so geworden, wie ich wollte, aber der Anhänger selbst war prima.

This is how I did it:
You need:

• some cardboard (the thickness of the middle piece must be about the same as the wire)
• some wire
• glue

So habe ich es gemacht:
Material:

img 1: Cut 3 equal pieces of your cardboard.
Bild 1: 3 gleiche Stücke aus der Pappe schneiden.

 

 

img 2: Wrap the wire round a dowel to form the eye. Then turn a couple of times to form the peg and then form a bigger eye which will be hidden in the pendant.
Note: I prefer the hidden part of the wire to be an eye because then the wire can't be dragged out by accident.
Bild 2: Den Draht um einen Stock winden, um eine Öse zu formen. Dann ein paarmal verdrehen, um den Steg zu formen und dann eine größere Öse machen, die in dem Anhänger verstekct sein wird.
Anmerkung: Ich ziehe es vor, den versteckten Teil des Drahtes als Öse zu arbeiten, weil der Draht dann nicht versehentlich herausgezerrt werden kann.

img 3: Take the cardboard piece which will sit in the middle and trace your hanger.
Bild 3: Auf das mittlere Pappstück den Hänger legen und mit einem Stift nachziehen.

 

 

img 4: Cut out the place you will need for the hanger.
Bild 4: Den Platz für den Hänger ausschneiden.

 

 

 

img 5: Glue the hanger and the middle cardboard pieces onto one outer cardboard piece.
Note: I glue on also the cardboard piece in the eye to prevent having a hollow.
Bild 5: Den Hänger und die mittleren Pappstücke auf eines der äußeren Pappstücke kleben.
Anmerkung: Ich klebe auch das Pappstück aus der Öse ein, um zu vermeiden, dass dort ein Hohlraum entsteht.

img 6: Glue the other outer cardboard piece onto. Your pendant-to-be-embellished is finished and you may begin with the embellishments.
Bild 6: Das andere äußere Pappstück aufkleben. Der Anhänger-zum-selber-verzieren ist fertig und kann verziert werden.

img 7 & 8: This is a solution for a 2-eyed pendant.
Bild 7 & 8: Dies ist eine Lösung für einen Anhänger mit 2 Ösen.

There are so many ways to embellish your self-made pendant (mini collages, painted, beaded, stamped etc), I'd love to see them.
Please feel free to comment here to show your trinkets.
Es gibt so viele Möglichkeiten den selbstgefertigten Anhänger zu verzieren (Mini-Collagen, bemalt, be-perlt, gestempelt), ich würde sie gerne sehen.
Vielleicht möchten Sie hier kommentieren und ihre Schmuckstücke zeigen.

Have fun!
Viel Spass!

I love this book by Susanna Oroyan titled Anatomy of a Doll.  The book was published by C&T Publishing in 1997.  I bought the book around 2000 when I was working on a doll house for a toy design class.  Over the years I've attempted to make several human-like fiber art dolls.  I've usually given up way before I finished.  I had forgotten about this book until I recently decided to make an altered fabric doll using a Rummikub® game piece.

I started out this doll with several drawings.  I became frustrated early on in the process, before I had even put in the head or clothed my doll.  Things were not going my way. Then I remembered that I had a few doll books collecting dust on my bookshelves.  I pulled out Susanna Oroyan's book and browsed through the pages. 

"AHA!", I thought.  I hadn't started out as I should, but all was not lost.  I decided that this was one doll that needed to be finished.  I figure the key to getting better at fabric sculpture, or anything new for that matter, is to keep at it. 

I kept working on the doll.  I added a hat, clothing, ribbons, shoes, puka bead trim and shell and bead buttons.   After all that embellishing, I decided my doll was finished.

Above is the back view of my doll.   Although I'm not happy with the doll in every way, I'm very proud of myself for finishing.  I think I learned a few new techniques.  Also, I have a few new needle sculpting techniques I'd like to try.  Most of all I gained some confidence in my ability to create a human-like doll. 

YES!  It was definitely worth the time!

Note: The ISBN number for the book is 1-57120-024-X

Download a 30 day trial of it here - its only 7.5mb (its a .exe file)

One of the features I liked are the 'Nozzles'. They're basically full colour image stamps, and you can either spray them in a line, or stamp them individually. So.. looking at the program files nozzles folder I found that each Nozzle set is just a PNG with the images evenly spaced in a strip. Same witht he brush sets. So.. i had to have a go at making my own. Here are the results to check out. Right-click the image and 'save as' to download, then put them into your photofiltre Nozzles folder. There are 3 Nozzle sets in the zip pack, and each image is about 175pixels across. The limitation is lack of control of the size when using the nozzles, you can change it but only by setting them at 25%, 50% and so on.

Alternatively, you can just use these PNGs in any other graphics program.

Now onto my writing...  In talking with a few friends recently, I was the recipient of "embellished" stories and in one particular case it was not embellished stories, but isolationism that left me feeling angry and helpless.

Here is one scenario.  Why is it when we talk to people about 'our church' we have the tendency to make it about numbers, a charismatic leader, or programs rather than Jesus Christ or lives being impacted? 

When I asked a friend of mine recently about their 'church' they told me that they were having "30-40 new visitors every week" and small groups ended for the summer?  Kinda seems stupid don't it?  Not once in that conversation did I hear about conversions, discipleship, or evangelism, or engaging the community.  He did mention that there was still no visitor follow up process.  Connie was talking to a friend and was told that the "membership is growing" but yet we still see no community impact.  Is tithing growing too?  How about the benevolence fund?  How many orphans and widows are you taking care of? 

In another scenario, a friend of mine recently had a family member go into the hospital.  I tried to find out which hospital and when I could come and minister and the response I got was..." not having any visitors. We're keeping it to ourselves out of respect for her privacy and have only told close family when we **have to**. Otherwise no one else knows and hopefully that will make it easier for her to cope when she comes back home" and I was blown away...

Week after week this person talks about struggling, requesting prayer for struggling, and yet when you try to reach out to them, they shut you down.  Do they really want community?  I mean, that is what you told me when we get together and the emails you send me...  Then why won't you let me do life with you?  Why do I have to beg and cajole to find out what is going on?

This quote from a Discipleship Journel article hit it right on the head I think....  a reminder...

Transforming Relationships

Not everyone is led to live in an intentional community as I do. Yet if Christ is truly alive, if His body is to have real form here on earth, then the relational dimension of our lives will need transforming. Taking Christ seriously is costly; it exacts an effort to intertwine our lives with others. For this to happen we must risk and make the kinds of choices that free us to share our lives in concrete ways. We must help each other deconstruct our individualistic lives. Such an endeavor cannot be reduced to a formula or a set of principles that spell out specific plans of action. To become church with others demands that we take stock of our lives to uncover the many ways we try to go it alone.

You may want to ask yourself, as I continue to ask myself, the following kinds of questions.

• How much of my mental energy is expended on my own life and personal well-being?

• Whose kingdom am I building? Would anyone conclude I was building my own kingdom rather than God’s? Why?

• Does how I use my free time draw me closer to others?

• Who has easy access to my home, my thoughts, my prayers?

• What connections am I forging that help to create a common life with others? Does such a life stand out from those around me?

These are challenging questions and not easy to answer. One way to focus a bit is to take a relational inventory.

• List believers with whom you feel a bond. Now chose one or two people or couples on your list whom you think God might want you to grow closer to. How do you currently spend your time with them?

• Do these people hold you accountable for the way you spend your time or your money? Do they have permission to challenge you in your character or make demands of your time?

• What kinds of changes would you like to see in order to make these relationships stronger?

• Consider what keeps these changes from happening. Perhaps your schedule is already maxed out. What will have to give before more time can be freed up? Leisure activities? Work time?

• You might consider with your spouse and children how your family can better intersect with others. For example, instead of doing lone-ranger family activities, you could enjoy a combined family night once a week, paint each other’s houses, or go on a missions trip together.

As you draw closer to others, it will be important to specify mutual expectations. Because relationships take work and because conflict is inevitable, remember that it is Christ’s body—not your own fulfillment or happiness—that is at stake. This means sacrifice, and it means going beyond the usual social expectations and proprieties. Take finances, for example. We keep our wallets and bank accounts to ourselves; money matters are private. But in the body of Christ, our goods are not our own. Consider laying everything out on the table (checkbook, statements, bills, investments) with another person or couple and discussing ways you can become more radical in your giving and simpler in your living. Share where you find it difficult to cut back or where you overspend. Accept honest feedback on how you are spending resources. Discuss ways you and your friends could consolidate some resources. In this way, the “common life” gets real.

Laying everything on the table includes other “private possessions” such as our sins or burdens, both of which we are commanded to share with one another (Gal. 6:2, Jas. 5:16). Being church together is unlike a gathering or meeting. The wounds of Christ can be touched and felt in a special way because those who join together reveal the scars and hurts that weigh them down. Of course, this includes far more than unloading one’s problems on others. The purpose of baring one’s soul is not just personal edification but building up the body of Christ. Mutual accountability with the aim of undergoing change is essential. The important thing to remember is that to be knitted together in Christ demands the interweaving of hearts and souls.

Whatever changes you make, sharing life with others will never happen if you are hanging on to your own life or if your schedule only allows for a couple of church meetings a week. New lifestyle habits will have to form. Sacrifices of convenience, private spaces, and personal preferences will have to be made. Sharing lives will involve making concerted choices so that others can more naturally and easily be in—and not just around—your life. Only in this way will the world begin to know the difference Christ’s love can make in the nitty-gritty of life.

By being the church with others, one proclaims that discipleship is a common journey—an ongoing, identifiable togetherness that attempts to realize the power of Jesus in the concrete here and now. God has so much more in store for us than what we are experiencing. He wants to give us the spirit of joy and love to such an extent that, in the words of Eberhard Arnold, we have “the urge to reach out to others in such a way so as to be united with them for always” (Why We Live in Community).

As we do so, worship that goes beyond the sounds that echo within the four walls of a sanctuary will resound in the daily life of those of us who sing His praises. Such worship will reflect the reality of God’s church in heaven—the everlasting community of love that is permanently in session.

Publisher Paul Westervelt, Discipleship Journal, Issue 144 (November/December 2004) (NavPress, 2004; 2006).

This is just the background, a foreground will be forthcoming. I thought I would take a moment to share how easy it was (and fast) to create, with some directions for how I will finish it!

Above is step 1- I selected my fabrics, ironed fusible on the back of the fabrics, selected a base (such as fun foam, pellon, timtex, etc). I will then just put some inspiring music on and just started cutting and laying it down on the base until I'm happy. You iron it in place on the base and trim the edges.

As I mentioned above, you can change the "feel" of the piece by how you cut the fabric. The top example is more flowing, and the bottom is more choppy.

Next step will be to load some fabric onto my longarm machine- which will be the back side of the finished piece. (If I were to use my sewing machine, I would fuse a back side, then quilt it.) I would free motion quilt it, then unload. To finish the edges, you can bind it, or just satin stitch around the edges. Add embellishments such as beads, yarn, charms, ribbon, and fibers as desired. Paint to further enhance. Viola! You are finished and now have a mini quilt- larger than a postcard, but smaller than a typical quilt.

Keep watching to see how I finish the above small quilts.

Notice how I like to work on about 3 different projects all at once? I try to work on all 3 projects each day. This keeps me from getting bored- think artsy ADD. Occasionally, I will do one project, then stick with it until it is completely finished.

Enjoy your day! Regards, Carla

PS: A reminder that 4 days are left for my blog contest.  Check out my post on May 5th for more details.

Two days ago, at a rather absurd and expensive party on the NorthSide, I was talking with catering chef Greg 'bout guac. I've always had it in my little head that avocados require beaucoup fric ($$$) to acquire, which is why I don't buy them. In most cases this holds true: the devil Whole Foods, the wonderful but misguided East End Food Co-op, the pedestrian Giant Eagle, etc. are all about swindling - à la Rumpelstiltskin - the everyday shopper. According to Greg, the ever-pragmatic ShurSave - a local supermarket chain with a location within spitting distance of my humble abode - has them for cheap. He was right! On 4 May 2008 I got four for less than four dollars... holler!

This here recipe is "adapted" from Heidi Swanson's Indian Curry & Cumin Guacamole. I say adapted in quotes because after stripping down Swanson's recipe, I find that it served only as a very loose base for my own. (However, be sure to read her recipe for tips on recognizing ripe v. overripe avocados. I found it very useful, and was delighted by the condition of my purchase.)

:: Guacamole ::

1 small white onion
1 clove garlic, minced
4 avocados
2 large, firm tomatoes
1 lime
cilantro to taste
salt to taste

1. Chop the onion. Scoop out the avocado flesh, trying to keep it as intact as possible. Throw them, with the garlic, in a bowl.
2. Cut the tomatoes into quarters and remove the central part (the stem's axis) like you would when cutting apples. Scoop the tomatoes' pulpy interior out, then chop. (Removing the sloppy interior keeps the guacamole from becoming too wet and salsa-y.)
3. Chop the cilantro. I like to use about 1/2 cup (unpacked).
4. Squeeze the lime and splash the ingredients with its juice. Sprinkle a bit of salt on top.
5. Stir, but be sure not to purée the mixture (unless you prefer it that way).
6. Give it a taste. If it needs more lime juice or salt, add it in now and finish it off with a final stir.
7. Serve, at room temperature or chilled, with tortilla chips.

The resulting guacamole was stellar--easily some of the freshest and best I've had. (Although I used pre-minced jar garlic. Lazy!) I whipped up another batch for a photo shoot. I used a red instead of white onion, lemon juice instead of lime, and unfortunately had no more cilantro to toss in. (I'd stick with the original recipe, in terms of taste.) So much guac; what to do with it all?!

:: Bibliography ::

• Swanson, Heidi. A Twist on Guacamole Recipe. 101 Cookbooks. http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/a-twist-on-guacamole-recipe.html (5 May 2008).

I already own the American School of Needlework's "Encyclopedia of Ribbon Embroidery Borders" and it is a wonderful resource book to have on hand. On my library venture yesterday, I found "Slendid Silk Ribbon Embroidery - Embellishing Clothing, Linens & Accessories" by Chris Rankin. I like to study a book first before I invest in it as a reference for my own book collection. This one is a must have I have to say! Beautiful projects with wonderful embroidery work and photography.

I also checked out an older book with many embroidery stitches to try and a new title I've seen recently called "200 Braids to twist, knot, loop, or weave" by Jacqui Carey. This is a comprehensive book on cords and braids, well put together with detailed and easily explained instructions. I might try my hand at some of the cords to add to a quilt block. That might be fun and I quite possibly may get my kids involved in this activity as well. They have both made friendship bracelets and liked that activity, so a step up might intrigue them.

Medeiros Needlecraft Design

Technorati Tags: ribbon embroidery, embellishment, crazy quilt, needlework
 

Paulette Insall is an artist whose work I stumbled across one day and instantly loved! Here, see for yourself in this series of painting/mixed media videos:

Part One: The Background:

Part Two: Mixed Media Elements added

Part Three: The Face is added:

I want to learn how Paulette paints her backgrounds and her faces, so I am taking both her classes to learn these techniques from her.

Also, I am signed up for a class with the Pixeladies, whose work I also admire and LOVE! I love visiting their work studio, Deb and Kris are kindred spirits! Go check out their website, they do fabulous work and I especially love their purse patterns. Anyway, they are teaching a crazy piecing class. Shhh.... I already know how to piece this, but I am taking the class to just have fun, laugh, and soak up their creativity!! LOL!

The last class I am taking is another beading class- a crochet beaded rope. Check out the class picture:

I never would have guessed the rope pictured was not beaded with a peyote or other stitch... instead it was crocheted using a technique that hides the thread you are using. Anyway, I am looking forward to learning how to make the rope.

Hugs, Carla