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    <title>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</title>
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    <updated>2008-07-24T11:01:20Z</updated>

    <author>
        <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
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    <id>tag:vox.com,2006:6p00cd970d82334cd5/</id>

    <subtitle>My Art Quilts, Inspirations, and More...</subtitle>


    
    <entry>
        <title>Posting From the Road</title>
    
    
    
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-07-24:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500fa968a5afb0002</id>
        <published>2008-07-24T10:50:00Z</published>
        <updated>2008-07-24T11:01:20Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
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            <p>Well, here it is.... my first post from the road. I&#39;m finally learning how to use my new laptop computer. Right now I am at Morrisville College in NYS, at Quilting By the Lake (QBL). I was honored to receive a scholarship to attend a 5 day class here. It&#39;s like being a college student again for a week. We are staying in the dorms and eating in the dining hall. Wonderful food! I&#39;m taking a class from Elizabeth Busch- Small Works. I am learning so much and having a wonderful time. I really neded to get away, and this has been just what I needed. We began on Monday, and have not used our machines yet. We have spent our time so far painting fabric. OK, anyone who keeps up with me knows that I already do a lot of paintng, but there are so many new techniques out there. More tools in the toolbox.... New ways to think about paints and fabric.<br />&#160;
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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 <div>Here are some of the pieces I have done. We are painting on a light weight canvas, which is very different from the cotton I work with. I have used a bit of cotton to catch the drips- can&#39;t waste any of the beautiful colors!<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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Here is another view, showing some other pieces, with the 2 least favorites removed. After taking this photo I did a bunch more pieces-- I hope they will be dry this morning. With rain every day, and warm temps., the humidity does not make for great drying conditions.<br /><br />Today, we begin cutting and composing some small pieces. The machine will come out, and I will see what will come from what I have produced along with what I have brought with me.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br />Here are a couple sunprints from my last painting session at home. I finally got a day that would work for printing. There have not been too many this summer with all the humidity.<br /><br /><br />Well, time for breakfast!! Did I say the food here is great?&#160; Then on to class-- more photos later of my progress.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div></p>
        
    
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            ]]>
        </content>
    
    <category term="painting" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/painting/" label="painting" />
    
    <category term="fabric" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/fabric/" label="fabric" />
    
    <category term="qbl" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/qbl/" label="qbl" />
    
    </entry>

    
    <entry>
        <title>My First Pattern Now Available</title>
    
    
    
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-07-11:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500fa968714f50003</id>
        <published>2008-07-12T15:50:04Z</published>
        <updated>2008-07-12T15:54:59Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
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            <p>It&#39;s finally ready for sale!! I have been making these cozies to dress up and control drips from my cold drinks. I developed a pattern for them that can be used by anyone with beginning to advanced sewing or quilting skills. Instructions are included for measuring any water, soda, or reusable drink bottle you use. With your own stylish cozy, you will always know which drink is yours, too.</p>
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<p><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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The photos show some of the sizes and styles of cozies I have made and use for the most standard water bottles to larger soda bottles. I use my sunprinted fabrics for my own, but you can use any surface design technique or fashion fabric you love to create your one of a kind usable work of art. Some of my sunprints are available at my new <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5644511">Etsy Store- AndrusGardensFibers.etsy.com</a></p><p>The Pattern is in PDF format, to be printed or used right from your computer. Many full color photos show the step by step process to help guide you along. The simplest method uses a single fabric, while instructions are also included for 2 other construction methods that will make use of some of those scraps that accumulate so rapidly. The possibilities are endless for embellishing and personalizing these.</p><p>I have tried to set a Paypal button here for those who would like to purchase the pattern, but no luck and my tech support son is not available. If interested in this pattern, please use the link on the left sidebar to email me, letting me know you would like my Bottle Cozy Pattern, and I will send an invoice. The price of the pattern PDF is $8.00 each, and will be sent as an email attachment.</p><p>The pattern is also available at my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16560">Etsy Store</a>-AndrusGardensQuilts.etsy.com, if you wish to use that method, but I have to re-list as each one sells, so if you don&#39;t find it, I will be adding it again.<br /></p>
        
    
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    <entry>
        <title>Fabric Painting Again, Finally!!</title>
    
    
    
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-07-07:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500fa9685e6710003</id>
        <published>2008-07-07T16:13:07Z</published>
        <updated>2008-07-07T20:12:15Z</updated>
    
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            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
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            <p>I finally took some time for painting on fabric. The first for the year, Wow, late start for sure.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br /> <div>For some reason, I have decided to try more mixed groupings of leaves and flowers. It is a bit trickier, since this piece shown in the first 2 photos was a full yard of fabric. It takes a while to get the paint on, then add the leaves and flowers, etc. All has to be placed before the drying starts. To do full yard sizes, I put the fabric directly on my large, sunny table. I have a 4 ft. square piece of thin plywood somewhere, I need to find it, then I can paint in the shade of my new tent area. My other worry with this yard was that just as I finally got the leaves, etc. on, the sky got dark, like a storm was brewing. Not good for sunprinting. Luckily, most of the prints came out OK. I did get in a bit of a hurry, and due to high humidity, the fabric under larger leaves had not completed drying after nearly 2 hours, and have some dark centers. <br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br /></div><div><br />I played with squirting on yellow paint from a small bottle, instead of brushing it on in some areas. The effect in the lower piece, especially, made some neat effects.&#160; The next time I try this, I will have my materials ready better. I was digging through my pressed leaves in paper, while the paint was trying to start drying- lots of spraying with water to keep things wet.<br /><br /><br /><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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                <div class="enclosure-asset-name"><a href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/photo/6a00cd970d82334cd500fad6985b4b0004.html" title="Mud &amp; Rocks 1">Mud &amp; Rocks 1</a></div>
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<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The mud and rocks are back, too. I still have pictures in my mind of the rocky roadsides, and played with these two pieces. I painted the deeper colored one on the left, first then added some green and gold metallic. I then added a dry piece of fabric placed over the first, brushed the rose onto the top (back of piece #2) and pressed them together while brushing. I then scrunched and lay the pieces separately on the rock pile in our side yard that was to house a swimming pool. The lichens on the rocks helped to make some neat patterns. <br /><br /><br />I&#39;ll see what happens today, still humid, but sunny.<br /><br /></div></p>
        
    
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        </content>
    
    <category term="painting" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/painting/" label="painting" />
    
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    </entry>

    
    <entry>
        <title>I Think I&#39;m Back!!!</title>
    
    
    
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="I Think I&#39;m Back!!!" href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/i-think-im-back.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />
    
        
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-07-05:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500fa96846fbc0002</id>
        <published>2008-07-05T00:28:21Z</published>
        <updated>2008-07-06T01:45:13Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
            <uri>http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
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            <p>To those who thought I may have dropped off the face of the earth.... I really think I did!!! It has been over 2 months since my last post. I didn&#39;t even have time to keep up with much of my email or anything.</p><p>Since last checking in, I finally have found life outside the greenhouses and much prefer to keep things that way.&#160; So much for part time..... The job did help me get the money to attend QSDS a few weeks ago, and QBL next month. The month of May and first part of June were filled with just about every day at the greenhouses. Thankfully, the worst is over, and I am hoping that more of the flowers and plants will still sell there. It was super stressful, making all the purchasing decisions for someone else. Also scary was being the only one who knew what needed to be done. Good thing for fast learners, I still have a bit of teaching to do before working out of that job, but next year, I will not &quot;live&quot; in a greenhouse again.  <br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br /> <div>This is a photo of Mountain Laurel flowers I found blooming along our road. They were just opening their flowers before I left for Ohio, and a few were still left when I got back. These didn&#39;t escape the hail, but mostly just battered leaves.<br /><br />QSDS- the Quilt Surface Design Symposium, was held in Columbus, Ohio. I earned a scholarship that paid for a 1 week class that I took with Rosalie Dace from South Africa. I really enjoyed my time in the class. We were encouraged to go in our own directions, trying new techniques in our work to add textures. It was great fondling the many fabrics and fibers everyone brought and that were available for purchase. The only thing I would do differently next time, would be to rest up more before going. <br /><br />To be sure Ken had the least extra work while I was gone, I spent every daylight hour for over a week before leaving, planting all my new treasures acquired from the greenhouses. OK, really bad for me to work there- too many neat, fun plants I want to take home. On top of being tired from gardening, my plan of arriving in Columbus early, checking in at the hotel, and napping before things began, changed due to a bit of car trouble 90 miles from Columbus. Don&#39;t you just love it when you are tooling down a 6 lane highway at 65 MPH in traffic, and the car decides to die!! Roll off the road, check vital fluids, will it start again?? It restarted, but died again many times before finally getting the last 40 miles to the hotel in 1 run. So much for the nap..... At least it was &quot;just&quot; a fuel pump problem- not the first time for this car- formerly our son&#39;s. When I called him about it- he just said &quot;pull over, let it cool a bit, start again, go until it dies again&quot; and repeat until my destination. 20 year old VW Jetta- needs some work... or replacing....<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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This is what it looked like as I was ready to leave from home. The cooler was bungied to keep it from falling into my lap around corners. the trunk was full as well. You need a lot of stuff for a week of quilting. I also had a bunch of stuff to drop off at my sister&#39;s house on the way, for a garage sale she was having, so not all went all the way to Ohio. Amazing what that thing will hold.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br />This was taken at a rest area in Ohio on the way to Columbus. I always carry my camera in my purse for just these occasions. The rest areas have some pretty impressive gardens. My travel day was very nice, sunny and a bit hot, but OK with the windows down. Yea, no AC.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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My great accomplishments at QSDS. I really felt discouraged the first couple of days. I was too tired to begin with, and my fibro was trying to flare up. For some reason unknown to me, I began to work with fabrics I consider to be muddy and not so pretty. I guess I had the pictures of the Mountain Laurel on my mind. The plants looked like there were barely hanging on to the rocky, vertical roadside. The road we live on was widened to 2 lanes many years ago, and like many PA roads, is cut into the side of a mountain. I ended up with the top left rocky piece first. A little piece trimmed from that is what inspired the piece on the right with the sunflower photo in it. You never know what you will need at one of these things, so I packed everything I could think of to fit in, and had a selection of photos printed onto fabric with me. This was perfect. I added rocky looking beads, mossy yarns, and stitching to the piece, and as soon as I get a canvas covered with the fabric it is displayed on, I will have a completed piece. I&#39;ll get a better picture later. The lower piece began on the next to last evening. I actually had the energy to stay and play late one night, and this piece got well on it&#39;s way. I found the fabric for the sky and middle green piece at one of the vendors there. OK, I didn&#39;t have &quot;Everything&quot; I needed. We learned to look at our fabrics in different ways, and to consider different types of fabrics to add texture and interest to our work. I came home very tired, but very happy to have had the chance to spend time with a great teacher and great classmates. <br /><br />Upon my return home, I was discouraged to see that a severe hailstorm had shredded much of what was in my gardens. My front planters looked like someone&#39;s little kid took off all the leaves and mashed the flowers.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br />This was a photo of a Hosta and a spirea flower I took before my trip.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br /></div><div><br />The next photo shows the same Hosta plant after I got home. The leaves were in ribbons. Amazingly, the flower stalks are now starting to rise up out of the mess, so I will have flowers at least. Not sure if there will be many new leaves or not.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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The square planter was quite full of flowers and foliage when I left. Only one lonely Pansy flower looked very good.<br /><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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At least my deck planters were under a roof, and still were OK. I have some good looking plants at least.<br /><br />The great thing about coming home, was that my son and his family were home from North Dakota. I have a new baby granddaughter!!! She was 5 weeks old when I first saw her and took these photos.<br />
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</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are photos I took the first day home.&#160; My sister gave me the dress we have her in. My mom made it for one of my niece&#39;s baby dolls. My sister thought I would like to have the outfit for Jenna to use for a future baby doll. She was so tiny, we tried it on, and it fit!! Her brother is 4 1/2 yrs old, and loves his baby sister. It will be even better, now that they will be in PA instead of ND.
    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br /><br /><br />This is what Rhubarb looks like after a hail storm. They have new leaves, now. Fast growers!!<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br /><br /><br /><br />My lilies look battered, but had some flowers opening. the plants look ragged, but the flowers only have a dent or 2 in them.<br /><br /><br />I guess this gets you caught up with me. I plan to get back into regular posting again, along with re-starting my web stores, and maybe even being able to get my website updated. It&#39;s hard with my tech support in Texas on an Army base. Maybe he can figure out how to teach me long distance what I need to know.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div></p>
        
    
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    <category term="flowers" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/flowers/" label="flowers" />
    
    <category term="gardens" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/gardens/" label="gardens" />
    
    </entry>

    
    <entry>
        <title>Collage Mania is Almost Here!</title>
    
    
    
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Collage Mania is Almost Here!" href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/collage-mania-is-almost-here.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />
    
        
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-04-29:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500e398f4e0190005</id>
        <published>2008-04-29T21:23:51Z</published>
        <updated>2008-04-29T21:35:00Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
            <uri>http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
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            <p>Where has the time gone??? Time really has flown since I have been working at the greenhouses again. Grand opening is May 10th, and the new owners and I are totally frazzled. So much still to do. I am also going to ring in May in 2 different ways this year. In addition to helping with the greenhouses, I am escaping this coming weekend to vend for the first time at a quilt show. I am not sure how things will go, but it will also be an escape from the greenhouses that I need right now. (I&#39;m leaving lots of list of things to do, remember, etc.- kind of scary).</p><p>The other new way to ring in May for me, is that I am participating in Virginia Spiegel&#39;s &quot;Collage Mania&quot; to benefit cancer research. Three of my collages were accepted and will be available for sale Monday May 5th and Tuesday, May 6th. You can access the page they are on from here: <a href="http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania085.html">Link to &quot;Collage Mania&quot;</a><br />The link will take you to the page where my collages are available. Below are photos of them that I posted earlier.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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Here is &quot;D is for Digitalis&quot; Digitalis or Foxgloves are beautiful flowering plants that have been used in medicine. I just love their flowers with the wonderful speckles inside the bells.<br /> I began with the catalog photo of the flowers, washed with a light coat of iridescent paint and backed it with a piece of my handmade paper with lots of gold glitter in it. I placed these over a collaged background of fabric paper, sunprinted fabric, and colored card stock. Pastel was rubbed over the printed word foxglove that was cut apart.&#160; Eyelash yarn was stitched on, and the botanical name, Digitalis written on with dye pen. The 5&quot;x7&quot; collage was edged with a nubby, hairy yarn, and&#160; mounted to 8&quot;x10&quot; bristol, ready for framing.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br />Here is a closeup of a corner of the collage.<br />My mom loves colors in the orange and apricot ranges, so this one is dedicated to her, a 7+ year breast cancer survivor.</p>
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<p>


Here is the second one- &quot;R is for Rosa&quot; (botanical name for Rose- not someone I know).&#160; Another flower photo, this time with a handmade paper I made with flecks of gold, silver glitter, and deep blue tissue paper. The background of this is also a collage of painted fabric, fabric paper, and commercial fabrics. &quot;Rosa&quot; was written with pastel, on a silver flecked fabric, and &quot;silk&quot; leaves were stitched on, accenting the veins, using yarn as the stem. Eyelash yarn, butterflies stamped with gold paint, and a dye pen accented organza butterfly, add to the composition. The blue flowers in the photo called for the addition of the ribbon border, tied in a bow, around the appx. 5&quot;x7&quot; collage that is attached to the 8&quot;x10&quot; bristol with bright blue eyelets.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br />A closeup of a corner, showing a butterfly, and some leaf detail. <br />This collage is dedicated in memory of my aunt, who was only 13 years older than me, and died of colon cancer at only 46 yrs. old- my age, now.<br /><div><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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Here is &quot;Asters in Lavender&quot;.&#160;
This computer manipulated photo of a group of aster flowers was backed with a pink handmade paper. The background is composed of painted fabrics, gold lame&#39;, card stock, and an embossed paper. Decorative machine stitches in gold metallic thread, stamped butterflies of gold paint, and white leaves printed on organza, accent the flowers. The edges of the 5&quot;x7&quot; collage are finished with a black and gold yarn couched on. It is bordered by an ivory colored linen textured paper, mounted to mat board.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br />Here is a closeup showing a gold butterfly and some of the stitching. The word Aster is also stitched along the left side.<br />This collage reminds me of, and is dedicated to my grandmother who is a 10+ year breast cancer survivor, 94 years old, and still living on her own.<br /><br /><br />Making these collages was very different from what I usually do, but I enjoyed the processes a lot. I will be making more papers, and painting more fabrics after life slows down after the spring rush. I will be selling these at my new Etsy Store- <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5644511">Andrus Gardens Fibers</a>.&#160; Here is a <a href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/paper-play-and-it-must-be-the-genes.html">Link to Original Post</a> that shows other collages I made at the same time, and some of the treasures I found while looking for items to use.<br /><br />Here is another link to the <a href="http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania085.html">&quot;Collage Mania&quot;</a> page my collages are listed on. There are many more from other artists as well, so shop for art with the proceeds going to a great cause. You can go to page one of the collage list for information about purchasing the collages.<br /></div><div><br /></div></p>
        
    
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    <category term="art" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/art/" label="art" />
    
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    </entry>

    
    <entry>
        <title>It wasn&#39;t a Rabbit Hole, It is much bigger...</title>
    
    
    
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="It wasn&#39;t a Rabbit Hole, It is much bigger..." href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/it-wasnt-a-rabbit-hole-it-is-much-bigger.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />
    
        
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-04-15:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500e398f04ed70004</id>
        <published>2008-04-15T15:48:50Z</published>
        <updated>2008-04-15T15:48:50Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
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<p>Well, here we are a month from my last post. I have felt like the greenhouse job has sucked me away from everything else. There are now plants in 3 greenhouses- all types of annuals and perennials, and even a few veggie plants (many more arriving this week). Quilt wise, I have not done too much, even after a quilt retreat. The first week of planting our new babies in the greenhouses really took it&#39;s toll on my body and brain. I had been feeling really lucky as far as the fibro goes, but that ended with a major crash last week. After spending 4 more hours than planned at the greenhouses the Monday after my retreat, I spent most of Tuesday in bed.&#160; I kind of felt like our cats- pretty lazy- here is a photo of my Baby Cat sleeping on a pillow on the couch. I thought she was going to fall off. The rest of the week was spent in the greenhouses.</p><p>I should have taken photos by now, but have not used my camera down there, yet. I do have to take it with me so I can get some shots of some of the blooming plants. There are beautiful Aquilegia (Columbine) flowers in blue, pink and white that are calling to be photographed.&#160; The photo below is of a Bog Lily in my indoor pond that bloomed a week ago. The flowers look like huge, white spiders (missing a couple legs).</p>
    
    
    
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<p>
The greenhouse startup is so different from when we owned the business. We used to start most of our own seeds, and divide and take cuttings of many other plants. This season, things are being started from basically nothing- no equipment, plants, seeds, or enough time. We are starting from rooted cuttings, pre-started plants, and seedlings in plugs. It&#39;s like Christmas, opening all the boxes- some with tiny baby plants tumbled out of their trays (I really think FedEx and UPS bowl with the boxes). Some babies come in blooming. One tray of violas were 1&quot; tall with full sized blooms- I love pansies and Violas!! Some of the plants we purchased were half grown to use in hanging baskets, and planters to be ready for Mother&#39;s day in less than a month. The other big worry is how many people will come, since the business was closed for over a year. Lots of stress!!</p><p>Back to quilts..... I did accomplish a little at my retreat, I did a piece for the FFFC Recycled challenge, and did some samples for a class I will be teaching late this month. I also got an idea for a larger piece on the last full day, and had to be sure I took photos and scribbled ideas in my notebook for when I can get back to it.<br />

    
    
    

    
    
    
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This is the Challenge quilt. Made from scraps found in our treasure pile we have at every retreat. Everyone brings scrap strips, chunks, and pieces of fabrics they won&#39;t use, and we hunt for the perfect treasures for projects in the pile. In this, there is a piece of a blanket binding, batik strip, a bit of flannel, and assorted other fabrics, including the light green fabric with the little sheep on it. I stitched the background pieces with decorative stitches, then added some sparkle tulle in blue and green (only new items- from Wal-Mart remnant bin). There are some thread and fabric snips trapped under more tulle, and then the flowers in the foreground were added. These are made from candy wrappers. Hershey Kisses, Dove eggs, and a Cadbury Egg. I love chocolate (bet you never guessed :) ), and found that it really slows down the eating process when you want to keep the wrappers intact. The flower petals and leaves are all wrappers backed with Wonder Under and fused on. The stems are from a plastic, raffia like stuff that was on a package I received. I also added some painted dryer sheets, and a brown paper towel I used to dry my hands one day. Amazing what can be done with next to nothing new. I also made 2 5&quot; square pieces, below. They also have the candy wrappers for petals and leaves, with more scraps, paper toweling and dryer sheet used.
    
    
    

    
    
    
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These were fun to put together, I even made a red flower from the red part of&#160; the egg wrapper, and used the chick, too.
    
    
    

    
    
    
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Here is a photo of what I had on my design wall before I had to pack things up. I am not sure just how it will end, but finally an idea began to gell by the end of the retreat. I really felt ripped off by my body, I had to take naps each day, and my brain still was mush most of the time. </p><p>Well, back to things greenhouse- opening day is May 1, with grand opening with all the splash is May 10. Wow, time is really flying and I am really having to tell myself not to over do, and to delegate. I just need a few more bodies to delegate to, though.</p><p>Until next time...... hopefully with greenhouse photos. <div></div></p>
        
    
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            ]]>
        </content>
    
    <category term="flowers" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/flowers/" label="flowers" />
    
    <category term="greenhouse" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/greenhouse/" label="greenhouse" />
    
    <category term="art quilts" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/art+quilts/" label="art quilts" />
    
    </entry>

    
    <entry>
        <title>Out of the Rabbit Hole For a Few Minutes</title>
    
    
    
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Out of the Rabbit Hole For a Few Minutes" href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/out-of-the-rabbit-hole-for-a-few-minutes.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />
    
        
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-03-15:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500f48ce4a4b10002</id>
        <published>2008-03-16T00:45:01Z</published>
        <updated>2008-03-19T13:58:23Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
            <uri>http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
        </author>
    
        
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            <p>It&#39;s amazing how fast 3 weeks can fly by!! Just after posting 3 weeks ago, I was hired by the new owners of our former greenhouse. They are starting things all over due to our failure over a year ago, and most of the equipment, etc. was sold off. The new owners have transformed the storage barn into a gift shop- big change, there will be a flower shop in the main garage building, and some of the greenhouses will be full of plants again. Much of my time has been spent pouring over plant catalogs and availability lists and planning what will be needed to get things going again. </p><p>Ken and I did take a couple days off to spend a day at the Philadelphia Flower Show. We live just under 4 hours from there, and Ken&#39;s daughter lives in Philly now. We were able to see all of our granddaughters, while seeing the flowers, and stayed over night before coming home. It&#39;s been a while since we&#39;ve seen the girls-&#160; the two youngest aren&#39;t very little any more. It was a very long day, with the ride down, then walking through the show till it ended that night. Here are a few pictures.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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This was a great display- I&#39;d love my back yard to look like this... A girl can dream<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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</p><p></p><p><br />
Here is a photo of a display that used a tuba for a water fountain, the rest of the brass section was used for another fountain. The theme was based on New Orleans and Jazz.</p><div><br /></div><div><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br /><br /><br />The next Photo shows a tree in bloom, possibly a cherry. Great to see spring blooms while things are so muddy and brown outdoors.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The last of these photos, shows a great garden gate with colored Heucheras at it&#39;s base and lilies blooming next to it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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I thought these chairs looked great- flowers in the yard even if the plants aren&#39;t blooming.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br />I called this Photo &quot;Marla&#39;s dress&quot;, because Marla (Ken&#39;s daughter) thought it would make a great wedding dress if she ever got married again. The skirt has a base of curly willow branches, with a moss bodice, and other foliage and flowers as decoration.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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This took a while to do- I took over 300 photos at the show, and many of them were closeups of Orchids, and other flowers. There were some really gorgeous varieties of Orchids- this is only a small number of the photos I took.<br /> 
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br /><br />The color orange might just be growing on me more. These Orchids and Rhododendrons were in real yummy shades of orange with apricot. The variety of Orchid must be fairly popular, there were a lot of these in different displays. The Rhododendron was just about the same shade as the Orchids.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<br />
    
    
    
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And Now Back to Quilts:<br />I took down the photo of the full view of the quilt, just found it is to remain secret till displayed if chosen for a showing. Left what I wrote, though. It is where a few more of the photos from the flower show ended up. I had been trying to design a quilt for a show with the theme of &quot;The Voice Within&quot;, dealing with where our artistic voice comes from. I have spent most of my life with flowers and gardens, and found an old photo of me holding what else, but a flower in my hand. It was a rose, but when I photo collaged the flowers around myself, I changed the flower to one of the Osteospermum daisies from another photo used. I got the idea for this composition after the flower show. Nothing like doing things last minute- it had to be done and photographed by the end of today.<br />



<br />I left the closeup shot of the quilt. Whole quilt is 27 1/2&quot;x32&quot; in size. I was really glad I found the fabric I used for the border in my stash...... It is just the right combo of blues to go with the flower photos I took with blue sky as the background. The deep rose, deep blue, and pink corner squares are batiks from a square exchange with my quilt guild. The timing was great. The photos on this quilt are printed on cotton fabric.<br /><br />I figure my artistic voice began when I was very young, helping my mother in the gardens. Flowers have been such a big part of my life, that it is no wonder most of my quilts are inspired by them.<br /><br />Now back to my hole.... More planning, ordering, etc. to do for the greenhouses. Hanging out with more flowers means more inspiration!!<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div>
        
    
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        </content>
    
    <category term="flowers" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/flowers/" label="flowers" />
    
    <category term="gardens" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/gardens/" label="gardens" />
    
    <category term="art quilt" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/art+quilt/" label="art quilt" />
    
    </entry>

    
    <entry>
        <title>Announcing My New Store Opening</title>
    
    
    
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Announcing My New Store Opening" href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/announcing-my-new-store-opening.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />
    
        
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-02-23:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500f48cddfd620003</id>
        <published>2008-02-23T20:10:09Z</published>
        <updated>2008-03-02T16:44:06Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
            <uri>http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
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            <p>This week has really passed quickly! I began early in the week, trying to reclaim my wet studio space in our greenhouse, to get back to painting, while still having room for more plants and seedlings. It turned into a much bigger job, and I also ended up doing more unplanned work in my studio. </p><p>Here in PA, we have nearly 3 months before much can be done outdoors. I successfully grew zucchini indoors when we had our greenhouses. I just got seed for the one variety that will set fruit without pollination- Perfect Pick. It is very productive, so I planted only 3 seeds in a very large pot, along with some sweet peas around the edges for some flowers too. My big challenge was to empty my germination chamber, so I can start my flowers and herbs, plant my zucchini, and still have room for my painting supplies and paint table. After doing some major purging of a storage cabinet, I now have places to store my gardening supplies and painting supplies, neatly, my table is now up on quart paint cans for a better work height, and am ready to start flower and herb seeds in the chamber. A huge accomplishment.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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Here is what it looks like, now.&#160; Still a bit crowded, but I&#39;ll be able to play with my fabric painting, and still have room for plants. I ended up turning the storage cabinet on the right, so I can put my table up against it, and still access the doors. The germination chamber is on the left, past the pond with it&#39;s blooming Water Iris. My Zucchini pot is on the back plant table. Hopefully in a week, I will have some baby plants coming up to watch. Everything else thinks spring really is here, too. The sweet potato vines in the large green pot are really growing fast, I cut back to the top of the pot a week ago. The new height of my table is much better for working on. Now if I just had a sink..... </p><p>If this had been my only project, I would have actually painted some fabric, but while looking for something in my studio, I found puddles of water on the floor under my cutting table. I had to run a lot of fabric that was in a pile there through the wash (doesn&#39;t everyone store things in piles on the floor?). We think that the water from melting snow and rain earlier in the week, started wicking up through the floor. The room is pretty much sitting on the ground, now that so much gravel and silt from the driveway has washed down around that end of the trailer. The water level outside was higher than the floor level inside. </p><p>After finding the water, and while cleaning up, I went through some tubs stored in the studio, and decided it is time to part with a lot of things I will never use. Years ago, I was dressing and decorating muslin dolls to sell, as well as making lots of stuffed toys for my boys and for sale. Many muslin doll bodies, packages of eyes and noses for stuffed animals, and other goodies were found, and are now listed for sale at my new Etsy Store. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5644511">AndrusGardensFibers.Etsy.com</a>&#160; was born to sell off my extra craft supplies along with giving me a better place to sell my fabrics, sunprints, and handmade papers from, and even some of my extra yarns and fibers, some that I have painted. This way, my first store- <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16560">AndrusGardensQuilts.Etsy.com</a> can be just for finished pieces, so things don&#39;t get so jumbled there. So far my new store has the extra craft supplies listed, and some cut sunprint fabrics that I had one project or another, but not used yet. I grouped similar prints together to sell as sets of sunprint cuts. I will soon be adding full printed fat quarters, as well as some of my fun textured and patterned pieces.</p><p>Oh, and the other news of the week... I have been hired as a part time consultant for the new owners of the greenhouse we lost. It was purchased last winter from the finance company, and will be re-opened looking quite a bit differently from when we had it. I guess I can still keep a finger or two in the greenhouse industry to keep up with what&#39;s new and fun to grow out there. More inspiration for quilts, too. Now to keep my promise to myself to teach and delegate, not end up doing everything. I enjoyed being just an employee much more than being the owner/ manager/ problem solver, etc.&#160; </p><p>Lots of changes!</p>
        
    
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        </content>
    
    <category term="greenhouse" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/greenhouse/" label="greenhouse" />
    
    <category term="wet studio" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/wet+studio/" label="wet studio" />
    
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    </entry>

    
    <entry>
        <title>My Newest Project and Giveaway</title>
    
    
    
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="My Newest Project and Giveaway" href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/my-newest-project-and-giveaway.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />
    
        
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-02-13:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500e398dc48650003</id>
        <published>2008-02-13T16:29:10Z</published>
        <updated>2008-03-01T21:33:10Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
            <uri>http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
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            <p>Last week brought with it many &quot;Bad Attitude&quot; fibro flare days. I call them Bad Attitude days, because I feel horrible, but then think of others out there who must feel worse. That helps me to get up and at least try to do something. Amazingly, if I can get my brain really busy with something, I don&#39;t feel the pain or fatigue as much (extra naps also help).</p><p>It was a perfect time to begin something I had been thinking about, but not followed through with yet. Can you say PROCRASTINATION? I had an idea for a pattern to sell. Sitting propped up on the couch with pencil and notebook in hand, I began scribbling out a rough draft.</p><p>
I am bad about not drinking enough fluids throughout the day. I know I feel better when I drink more water, but need it icy cold, and near me to remember to drink it. I was drinking a lot of Diet Pepsi for the caffeine, maybe it would help me feel more awake? (I know, not the best thing to drink) Buying water in the summer, I was using a lot individual bottles of water for travel. That led to my recycling water and soda bottles by washing them in the dishwasher, filling half full of water, laying them at an angle in the freezer, and Presto, ice for my water or whatever I&#39;m drinking. My Pepsi would dilute a bit while chilling, and I got used to it this way, now if I drink it straight, it is too sweet. Now that it is winter, I stay with water, sometimes with lemon. Our well has wonderful tasting water (when it&#39;s not dry). 


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<p>



My problem- when I used my bottles with ice, I left puddles everywhere. I used a coaster, but when I moved from room to room, carrying it was a pain. The wheels started turning, and my fashionable bottle cozy was created . I made it to fit the bottles I had the most of- 16 oz. Diet Pepsi. (OK, I had some 24 oz. too, they stick out the top a bit) I used a bunch of my little quilt sandwich scraps, and the first one was born. This slides on the bottle and stays on it where ever I go. (Newly added.... I found a photo of the original cozy, this first photo. It has been washed many times, has some cola stains, and has spent time on my paint table- the speckles add to it&#39;s character.)</p><p>&#160;I&#39;ve used my first one everywhere, took it to shows (it helped keep drinks cooler, longer in hot weather), and when traveling in the car. It received many comments, and I had some requests to make them for others. I didn&#39;t think the work involved would pay off, the price would have to be pretty high, but a pattern for people to make their own might work.</p>
    
    
    

    
    
    
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<p>
The second photo shows 2 of my new cozies, made while I was writing and taking photos, as I did each step of construction.</p><p>I made 6 cozies in this size while writing. My original is similar to the one on the left in the photo, satin stitching quilt sandwiches together. I know not everyone has these just lying around, so I made others more simply, with a single outer fabric, or fabrics fused to batting. I also found a few things that don&#39;t work, while playing (I show what to avoid doing), and have one I&#39;m keeping so now I have 2 to use (keeping the bad one).</p><p>The pattern is almost ready for testing. It has instructions for 3 main methods of construction, beginning with the easiest. There are patterns to cover the 16 oz. bottles (the size shown), and the narrower water bottles, along with information for any other bottle size you wish to dress up with it&#39;s own cozy. Once you learn the basics, the sky is the limit as far as sizes or looks. I haven&#39;t used beading on mine, but that would really make one special, though maybe a little bumpy for holding.</p>
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    
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<p>



The three cozies pictured in this last photo are available for purchase at my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16560">Etsy Store</a>. </p><p>If you are someone who likes to play, and do it yourself, I will be giving away a number of these patterns in PDF format. With the free patterns, I would like you to each fill out a questionnaire that would help me find out what changes I may need, to make things more understandable, or better for someone who may not play like this a lot. Other eyes looking at it may find things that need clarification, or typos that spell-check or I didn&#39;t find. The instructions are filled with many step by step photos. I know I do better by seeing than just by reading.</p><p>If you are interested in being one of my &quot;guinea pigs&quot;, or testers, please email me (sue at andrusgardensquilts dot com or use email link on left sidebar), with &quot;Cozy Pattern&quot; in the subject line, and I will get the file to you as soon as it is ready. It will be in a PDF format, so you will need a reader like Adobe Reader, to use it. I would appreciate only those who will use the pattern right away to request it, so I can get the feedback I need before making it available to the general public for purchase.</p><p>Now back to work with the finishing touches.&#160; <br /> </p>
        
    
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        </content>
    
    <category term="process" scheme="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/tags/process/" label="process" />
    
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    </entry>

    
    <entry>
        <title>Some Old, One New</title>
    
    
    
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Some Old, One New" href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/some-old-one-new.html?_c=feed-atom-full" />
    
        
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                        <id>tag:vox.com,2008-02-05:asset-6a00cd970d82334cd500e398d9bc7d0004</id>
        <published>2008-02-05T23:22:02Z</published>
        <updated>2008-02-06T22:40:34Z</updated>
    
        <author>
            <name>Sue&#39;s Quilted Gardens</name>
            <uri>http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full</uri>
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            <p>I&#39;m not great with words, better with pictures, so here are some photos all in one group of small quilts mounted to fabric covered gallery wrapped artist canvases, along with other ways I display my art quilts. That way of displaying quilts has been mentioned again on the Quiltart list.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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Here is a photo of part of my display from my last show of last season. This photo shows most of the ways I display my work. On the right, there are two postcard size pieces mounted on fabric covered artist canvases. On the table toward the left, there is the organizer thing for mail that I display postcards that are unmounted. Mini quilts for framing are displayed in clear bags, standing in the green boxes. The larger pieces all have hanging sleeves on the back for slats or rods. The narrow sunprint piece in green, has a bamboo skewer hot glued to the back to use to hang it on a thumbtack or hook. There is also one piece shown here that is in a regular frame. A little of everything here.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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</p><p></p><p><br />Here is a piece that was shown in a previous post that I have mounted to a plain white canvas. Colors seemed to take away from the fairly busy piece. The quilt is 12&quot; square, mounted on a 16&quot;x20&quot; canvas. <a href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/my-dream-house.html">&quot;My Dream House&quot;</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Here are some older pieces that I mounted on fabric covered canvases.
<a href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/mini-wall-garden-art-quilts.html">&quot;Mini Garden Walls&quot;</a> on a multicolored fabric I painted.  <a href="http://andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/library/post/new-quilts-and-more-snow.html">&quot;Beside the Door&quot;</a> on black cotton.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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I have purchased a couple canvases that are the right size to mount some of my wider long sunprint pieces like these. I&#39;m not sure if I will mount something I already have, or come up with something new.<br /><span style="font-size: 1.25em;"><br /><strong>My Newest Project Finished</strong></span><br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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I have been admiring all the ideas for journal and book wraps and covers in &quot;Quilting Arts&quot; and other places. I really needed to do something for myself. I purchased a new Bible this summer that is a paperback. (I needed one with bigger print so I could read it easier, but it is big to carry.) My previous one is also a paperback, and the cover and pages really are showing wear from use. I finally stopped the procrastination, and got this one made this yesterday. I had cut the Peltex base for this many weeks ago, but was not sure just what I wanted to use for fabric. I wanted something cheerful, but something that would not show dirt, etc. from handling. I also needed a handle to carry it easier, and pockets inside to hold papers, and a pen. Here you can see the handle at the spine of the book. I used a strip of fabric with fusible on it, folded and fused it, the used a decorative stitch to add some interest and add some strength. I then stitched it on before doing any of the inside work. The stitching lines showing are from stitching the pockets to hold the book covers.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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The inside is a piece of painted fabric in blue and green with salt patterning, with some imperfect sunprints for the pockets. I used 2 pieces of experimental gelatin prints for the pockets I made to hold the book in place. I stamped these with a pearl white paint for subtle interest. The book cover pockets have a fusible medium weight interfacing in them to make them sturdier. If this was for a hard cover book, that probably would not have been needed.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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This shows the other end of the inside, with the other gelatin print. the pocket for this side is from the fabric the front sunprint was taken from. The pocket for the pen is placed where the edges of the pages are when the cover is closed. The flower on the right is covering up the &quot;cheater&quot; method of holding the button on the other side. The shank was quite large, and I cut a tiny hole for it to go all the way through, then threaded narrow strips of fabric through the shank and fused them down. I then added the flower that was black like the one under the handle covering where the ribbons were stitched on. This flower is now pink, after a coat of nail polish- it added some zip and shine to this flower.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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This photo shows the outside opened up. I began doing stitching with clear bobbin thread to lessen the look of the stitching, then I switched to the gold both top and bobbin. The outside of the cover is what was left of one of my blue, green and shimmer fabrics. A Maidenhair fern sunprint was used on what became the front when closed, and strips from another sunprinted piece fill out the edges. I couched black yarn over the seams with a decorative stitch, and couched it on the edges all with gold metallic thread. When deciding how to hold it closed, I decided to use the gold dogwood button, and was going to make a loop of the black ribbon, but ended up playing with the ribbon, and button and ended up being able to just wrap the ribbon cord around the button a couple times, then tuck the heart shaped bead under to hold more securely. Now I should be able to avoid those embarrassing moments when all the papers that have gathered in the book fall out during a service.</p><p>I may be doing a modified version of this to cover boring old spiral notebooks. That&#39;s what I use for my idea books.</p><p>Last but not least, here are a few photos I took while walking to the mailbox Saturday to get an application for a show out. There was no driving..... I had to walk in the field and grass, and still slipped a lot. The driveway is a rutty, 1/4 mile from the trailer to the mailbox, Ken almost didn&#39;t get out with 4WD.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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There is beauty even in a cement block frosted with ice and sprinkled with sleet.<br />
    
    
    

    
    
    
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