Blog Renew 30: Studio Peeks

I bought a new sewing machine! Very exciting.

It's the Janome 2013.  (Very basic machine that they re-release every year with a different accent color.) I bought my last machine in 2001 for about $990. I spent weeks researching and agonizing over such a huge purchase. It was a great machine and I am surely a Janome user for life. I didn't bother considering other brands this time around.

Since my last purchase, I'm much clearer about exactly what kind of sewing I do and what bells and whistles I actually use. Since I am no longer interested in more than a few decorative stitches and have no need for a teeny tiny embroidered alphabet, I was able to look at machines in a lower price range. Yeah!

You may remember that my old machine was in the shop. The whole repair/shopping/purchase saga was pretty awful. I'm thrilled with my new machine, but everything that happened before I purchased it mostly sucked.

Synopsis

• Machine making ugly noise and not working.
• I chose to take my machine to Thomas Sewing Center to be repaired because they are a Janome dealer and had a nice website that made me think they were a professional, organized business.
• Drove 40 minutes to drop off machine. (Then 40 minutes home.)
• Got a call that repair costs would be around $200. 
• Approved repairs.
• Drove 40 minutes to pick up machine. (Then 40 minutes home.)
• Unwrapped machine at home and heard same ugly noise and still not working.
• It was working at the repair shop as I could see from the fabric and stitching on the sample left under the needle.
• Called repair man.
• Went through some diagnostics on the phone. We're both perplexed.
• Drove 40 minutes back to repair shop to drop off machine again. (Then 40 minutes home.)
• Get a call that additional repairs will cost about $100.
• I ask if I could get a store credit for the money I paid on the first "repair" and put it toward a new machine.
• Nope.
• Are you sure? May I talk with the manager?
• Nope. I can give you $50 off the current price. That's it. Plus, you need to bring in all the accessories on your (broken) machine as trade in.
• Drove 40 minutes to pick up broken machine. (Then 40 minutes home.)
• Called several other Janome dealers in the area.
• Loved talking with Clint at Sewing World of Grapevine.
• Drove 20 minutes to buy a machine from Clint.
• He gave me a pretty good deal. $479 with no trade in. 
• (I can keep my broken machine for parts. The lightbulb alone is worth $20, so I'm happy to have it.)
• Plus, Clint threw in the cutest little pin cushion ever! It's designed to fit in the hole for the upright spool.

I wouldn't say this is a clear cut case as far as customer service. They believed they fixed the machine and I got what a paid for even though it broke while in my trunk on they way home from the shop. I was willing to compromise and come to some arrangement where they got paid and I got a working machine. They were not open to discussion.

Anyway, let's not end my 30 day Blog Renew on that distastefulness.

Instead, let me share one more little studio renew.

Here's my old paint storage system.

And here is my new paint storage system! Awesome, right?!

Just three photo storage boxes from Michaels which were on sale for only $1.66 each! My husband noted that if I was really organized, I would have sorted the paint by color. Maybe I'll give that task to one of the kids.

Blog Renew: 29 -- What Does the Fox Say? Costumes!

Have you seen the What Does the Fox Say music video? It's been viewed over 140 million times. Several at my house. The musicians have been on Ellen and Jimmy Fallon. It's the latest viral video... which makes it good inspiration for a Halloween costume, right?

I think we nailed it!

Brown sweat shirt from Goodwill, cheap red mask, brown and red fun foam, brown knit hat from Target, white felt and various items from our closet. Easy!

Here we are practicing some of our dance moves.

I wore the mask up most of the night.

 We won "Funniest Costume!"

Only about half of the party-goers knew who we were, but the one's that did are clearly the coolest.

Blog Renew: 28 -- Sewing Expo Outing

So... I lapsed. Did you notice? I was doing ok on my plan of blogging every day (except weekends) for 30 days then I totally skipped three days. Sorry. Part of what I've learned during this "blog renew" is that I don't ever want to waste time apologizing for being a bad blogger. Who wants to read that anyway? So, enough of that.

I had a great time at the Sewing and Quilt Expo with a bunch of friends in Fort Worth on Friday.

We were especially excited to see the SAQA special exhibit Deux.

Actually, it's just a portion of the exhibit. There are 50 quilts in the full exhibit. Eighteen are traveling with the Sewing Expo and the rest (including mine) are traveling to venues in Europe.

The show was hung in one stunning long line. Those are Frida Anderson's quilts in the foreground.

My arty friends!

There were several small special exhibits at the Expo. I really liked Marlene Glickman's Doorway Series.

Especially this luscious orange close up.

Michelle and I catching snapshots of each other through one of the "doors."

SAQA had a booth staffed by Heather Pregger and Jan -- so sorry I can't remember Jan's last name.

We walked from the convention center to lunch...

... at the Rodeo Goat where I had a burger with grilled peaches! It was perfection.

Actually, the whole day was pretty perfect.

Blog Renew: 27 -- Weekend Snap Shots

Claire competed in the Bands of America regional contest on Saturday at Eagle Stadium. It's the new 60 million dollar high school football stadium opened last year. (Yes, 60 million. Yes, high school. It was beautiful and a great location for this big competition.)

I watched 14 bands perform. It was so entertaining! Here is Claire's band.

I wore my dorky button with Claire's picture on it! Proud band mom! Especially since her band won the whole thing!

They have never won at this level before and never beat the other favorite local band -- which ended up finishing second. It was very exciting!

I loved this ad from the competition program. It's true! The band performances are amazing!

I caught this shot on the way home from the band event.

I whipped up some tasty caprese bites for a party we went to on Saturday night. It seems like a summer appetizer, but it was in the 90s on Saturday, so even if we wish it felt like Fall, it doesn't.

I also brought pigs-in-blanket. Always a sure hit.

Today I spent some time picking out fabrics and playing around with composition for a new quilt.

Blog Renew: 23 *Online Workshop*

I am so excited to announce my new online workshop: Branches, Buds and Blossoms Fabric Collage.

(It's not entirely new. It was part of a collection of online workshops called STITCHED in 2012.) 

But, this is a new format and it does include one super cool new feature...

Each student will have an opportunity to schedule a creative consult with me. We'll use FaceTime on iPhones or iPads or Skype or some other program that will allow us to talk and see each other and the student's artwork in real life in real time!

Students will be able to see my smiling and waving at them like this.

I'm also excited to say that the workshop is only $25! All the info including the format, accessibility, lesson plans, content and more pictures are right here. I hope you'll check it out.

Blog Renew: 22

I'm working on something completely new and it's so fun!

My kids take taekwondo at an awesome local studio. This year they are having a "board break-a-thon" fundraiser to support some local charities. The amount of money each student raises gives them an opportunity to break a certain number of boards. (They love to break boards!) In fact, here are some great shots from the 2010 board-break-a-thon.

An additional component this year is an art auction of sorts. Mr. Anderson, the tkd studio owner, has asked several local artists to paint boards. The boards will be displayed at the event and anyone can bid on the boards -- and then break them! 

Here is my board in progress.

I started by painting the board white, then sketching a mandala/flower/doodle and then outlining it with Sharpie.

It's nice to work with paint and markers... especially since my sewing machine is still in the shop.

Blog Renew: 21 --- My Family Quilt Blog Hop!

I'm part of a fun little project this week called My Family Quilt Blog Hop! It was organized by Cheryl Sleboda so we can share and celebrate quilts made by other members of our family.

I am lucky to have a stack of vintage quilts given to me by my husband's aunt. She knew I would appreciate them. And I do!

I chose this one to share with you today.

I'm a bit ashamed to say that I'm not exactly sure who made it. I really need to talk with Aunt Nancy and make note of the providence of these quilts. Whoever it was, she fussy cut these awesome green bits.

Same funky circle print in blue... but apparently she didn't have as much. It's used here in a smaller border block.

Of course I love love love this shot since it's all about the green and the purple! (I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to the green and the purple.) We can assume that middle row of hexies may have been the same color years and years ago, but apparently they were different fabrics because one has almost faded away. I love the assymetrical design we're left with.

Several of the blocks are not only faded, but completely worn away.

Another fussy cut block. (That means she carefully placed her hexagon template over the fabric to choose just that blue flower for each shape.)

 I especially love the diamond sashing between each block. So dainty and elegant.

I am really struck by how much I like this quilt even though it is so very different from the quilts I create. There is just something about fabric and stitching that transcends style. I think it's pretty amazing that we continue to be draw to create with these same materials through the generations.

Check out the rest of the blog hop with these super fun quilters!

The "My Family Quilt" Blog Hop! 
Oct 1. - Sylvia Lewis 
Oct 2. – Judi Hurwitt
Oct 3. - Deborah Massie Boschert 
Oct 4. - Sheila Frampton-Cooper  
Oct 5. - Pokey Bolton 
Oct 6. - Frieda Anderson  
Oct 7. - Lisa Chin  
Oct 8. - Cheryl Sleboda 

Blog Renew: 20

I think it's Fall! My very favorite season. 

I put up some decorations yesterday. Just simple. Actually, that apple got eaten for dinner last night. I'll have to buy extra next time I go to the grocery store so we have some to eat and some to display.

Mostly fall items... and a black raven for Halloween. My dad made that lamp with rocks from the shore of Lake Ontario. Isn't it fantastic?!

Last year, I put silhouettes up in all our windows. I might do that again this year.

Blog Renew: 18

I finished the skirt! It was fun to make and I like it.

It's made entirely from recycled t-shirts... I suppose that's obvious.

There are four panels and each has two layers. I cut the front layers shorter than the back layers so there are different colors and prints along the hem.

That tree print is from a t-shirt that I got at the Magritte Museum in Brussels. It's inspired by his painting The 16th of September. I love the image, but the shirt just didn't fit quite right.

I hand sewed the entire skirt. I also chose the turn the seam allowances out for interest and texture. 

For the waist, I folded the top over a strip of elastic and sewed through all the layers using the cretan stitch.

I especially like the weight of the skirt. It lays nicely since it's two layers of knit. Plus, it's super soft. But, it's not perfect. The fit isn't quite right and I almost wish I'd mixed in more prints or patterns. Also, I set aside the tag from the Magritte t-shirt which includes a logo with the artist's signature. I was going to add to one of the side seams as a subtle embellishment, but I forgot.

I was inspired very much by Jupiter Girl's skirts. I'm setting aside more t-shirt for future skirts...

Blog Renew: 17

Just a bit of catch up today.

First JB is the winner of Sarah's amazing dvd workshop "Art Quilt Design From Photo to Threadwork."

Thanks to all of you who commented!

Hey, speaking of commenting... thanks also to all of you who commented on my video that was part of the Sketchbook Challenge blog hop. I am just thrilled that you enjoyed it so much. I added some links in the side bar to past videos I've created. You'll see them on the right below our 12x12 book. One is about writing on fabric and the other is a stop-motion video of me painting, stamping and stenciling on fabric.

Also, speaking of commenting... many of the comments came through with "no reply" emails. That means I can't contact you if you've asked a question or entered a give-away. I suspect this has to do with your google profile. If you want me (or any blogger) to be able to get in touch with you, be sure to  include your email address in your profile. I've heard that users with a Google+ profile just have to adjust some settings.

Sketchbook Challenge Video and Give Away! (plus blog renew: 16)

I am really excited to share this video with you today. It goes through my whole step-by-step process for creating a small art quilt or fabric collage. (If you're reading my blog by email or through a feed, you'll need to go to my blog directly to view the video.)

Deborah Boschert: Fabric Collage Process from Deborah Boschert on Vimeo.

Thanks so much for watching. I hope you are inspired! (If you're interested in a bit more about some of these techniques, check out my Quilting Arts dvd workshop.)

By the way, that catchy music in my video is by my cousin Ben Salisbury. Check out his Facebook page Salisbury Streets.

Today's posts on both my blog right here and on The Sketchbook Challenge blog are part of a massive blog hop full of great stuff from a bunch of inspiring artists. Check out the whole schedule here.

Here's the give-away! Want to know exactly what's included? Check out the supply list I included on The Sketchbook Challenge. I will say it includes bits of the four different background fabrics I created for the house series you saw in the video. Can you see them folded up and tucked in there?

Just leave a comment here on my blog. Tell me about your favorite tip, technique or supply. Comment by Tuesday, October 1.

Updated: Thanks so much for commenting. The winner has been selected and notified!

Thanks again for reading -- and watching! I just love that you're stopping by!

Blog Renew: 15

Isn't this a gorgeous cover? (It's the work of Beth Carney.)

It's the catalog for the Studio Art Quilt Associates special exhibit, Deux. I am so thrilled to be one of 25 artists included.

I was even more thrilled to see my quilt mentioned in the Juror's essay. Katie Pasquini Masopust wrote that my quilt and Lorie McCown's quilt were examples of using "storytelling to draw the viewer into the visual narrative."

Such a lovely and generous comment. I was really quite thrilled to read it!

The catalog is beautifully designed. Each artist has two quilts in the exhibit and four pages in the catalog with great full shots and details. Here are peeks of my two quilts: Shelter and Stream and Spontaneity and Stability.

The Deux exhibit is traveling with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo to several locations throughout the US. I am very excited to see the exhibit in Fort Worth next month!