Monday, February 22, 2010

Revisiting My Past in Quilting and How It Ties Into Lampworking


Last week my kids were on break from school, February school vacation week. My kids aren't babies but I still find they occupy my time and getting to my torch, in a creative frame of mind, isn't always easy for me when everyone is around. You know how it goes.....Mom, mom, MOM, Mom....and on and on it goes.

I was feeling a need to do something with my hands. For the past month I had been thinking about this gorgeous quilt top I created a number of years of ago. It has been sitting in my attic in a box of unfinished projects. I decided this week would be a good time to dig it out and see what I needed to do to finish it.

Quilting is great because it can travel easily, it doesn't require a lot of space or tools, and it can be picked up or put down at a moments notice. The perfect project to occupy my mind and my hands with a house of full of kids who may (or may not) require something from me at any moment.

I used to belong to a quilt group, the Tewksbury Piecemakers, and one year I was in charge of the block of the month. This is the quilt, each individual who participated in the monthly block, created. The pattern arrived with a picture of the finished quilt made of 1930's inspired fabric.


Although this fabric is beautiful, it is not my style. I chose to create my quilt using my absolute favorite fabrics, Bali batiks. Oh I can not tell you how much I love the batik fabrics. The colors inspire me so. In fact I often make beads based on the batik line of fabrics. So here is the quilt I am working on right now.









The flower petals are sewn as individual pieces, each one stitched by hand. A technique referred to as applique. The variety of solid colors with subtle variations I find to be pleasantly appealing.



By now you may be asking yourself and just how does all this tie in with lampworking? I am inspired by the batik fabrics and more often than not I translate a fabric I love into a glass beads.
Here is an example of some beads for sale in my Etsy shop:



A close up shot. I find it difficult to capture in a photograph the beautiful depth within these beads. And thus...quilting and lampworking combined.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

And the Winner Is

AND THE WINNER IS......

Terri Kahrs of Pringle Hill Studio. Terri has won my One World One Heart giveaway, pictured below. Congratulations Terri.


Many thanks to Lisa Swifka for organizing this fantastic blogging event. I should think it is no small effort on her part to manage all the blogs involved. This was my first year participating in OWOH and I had a fabulous time going through many of the (I couldn't get to all of the nearly 1000) participants. I am new to blogging and this was a perfect way for me to experiment a bit with my own blog and find many talented artists out there. What a great variety of talent!
I appreciate everyone's effort and am thrilled that I was able to be a part of this event.
Peace.
Ema

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The Fire Divas are having a sale to celebrate our new team status on Etsy. Individual team members will be offering a variety of discounts or free shipping from their shops. Search "Fire Divas Sale" to find items on sale in participating shops from February 11- 17. After the sale, we hope you will continue to search "Fire Divas Team" for quality lampwork beads, jewelry and accessories.

Let's go shopping!

1. LA Jewelry Designs - 20% off all items in Etsy and ArtFire
2. Lutrick - 20% off all items in Etsy and ArtFire
3. Hollys Folly Glass - 20% all items in my Etsy shop
4. Tease Beads - 15% off all lampwork in my Etsy and artfire shops (artfire shop discount will be given as a refund)
5. Janel Dudley Beads - 15% off all items on Etsy, additional 10% off to returning customers
6. Something New 4 U - 20% off all items in my Etsy shop
7. Rivers Edge Glass - 15% off beads in my Etsy and ArtFire shops
8. Vedas Beads - 15% off in my Etsy shop (excluding squares)
9. MayBeads - Free Shipping on everything in my Etsy shop
10. Giapet - 20% off loose beads in my Etsy shop (jewelry,supplies not incl.)
11. Glasstastic Treasures - 15% off all items in my Etsy shop
12. Ema Kaye - 15% off all items in my Etsy shop
13. Dorset Hill Beads - Free shipping on everything in my Etsy shop


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Fire Divas Blue Challenge

The full moon of January is called the Blue Moon. In honor of this the Fire Divas are hosting a Blues Challenge, stop by the Fire Divas blog and cast your vote. The voting will be open until February 7.

Entry #1

Entry #2

Entry #3

Entry #4

Entry #5

Entry #6

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