Been working since November

on my new garden for my front yard.  The gophers has reeked havoc in my yard, so I decided to put in a drought tolerent garden with stones and boxes for the plants.  Things are a little crowded since I have been planting since November ,so I'll do a little rearranging and thinning out some plants today.  It is by no means complete.  Each stone weights 39 pounds and I'm surrounding the empty spaces that will be left open with Calico Stones.  I drew up my design and built and painted all of the boxes myself.  Yesterday I received a coupon on line from Home Depot to buy one plant and get one plant free.  Now, that's my kind of shopping, so I got two cactus for the price of one. The picture shows where I am at this time.  I will post a picture of the finished garden, hopefully before the summer arrives .  Then I'll be able to sit back and watch the fruits of my labor.  And keep in mind this garden will be maintenance free once all of the plants settle in.  I must put in a few hours today adding my new cacti and stones, then back to my studio for some sewing.

I'm inclined to "SEW NEW FASHIONS"

in 2012.  Here is my first attempt at sewing my own fashions in years.  I've started with a skirt.  The fabric was one yard and was set aside, because I could not think of what I wanted to use it for.  It was on its way to the Salvation Army when I had this bright idea about making a skirt.  Once the idea was in my head I proceeded to get anxious to make the skirt, when lo and behold the fabric is not wide enough for the one yard pattern I was going to use.  So, back to the drawing board.  I was determined to make a skirt from this some how.  I used the front of a skirt for the back and front.  There was to be only side seams, so I opened the back, serged the seam and folded it back to create a back vent (split) so I could move in it. The fabric is a type of light gabardine with lycra.  Thank God for lycra or there would be no way I could fit this _____ into it.  I folded down about an ample inch, serged the raw edges and pressed in a casing for the elastic.  Oh,yeah I even managed to sew two darts in the front and two in the back which gives it a flare where the waist cinches in.  While browsing http://www.style.com/ and the Banana Republic fashions there was a very close likeness of my skirt.  Wow.  Here I am , in my new look.  All I need is a new sweater set that is navy and white since the one I'm wearing is black and white which in the photo you'd think the skirt was  black and white,  but is a very dark navy.
I had to crop part of the top of my head because "Honey Luv" didn't notice the two hinges that sat right at the top of my head, and I was looking as though I had horns.  I know sometimes I tell him my horns are out, so he may have thought it cute.  However, I cropped them out with part of the top of my head.
Well, I'm about to start on my second look for this year.  Happy Sewing.

I'm finally in the "NEWS"!!

I'm the woman whose husband was alledgedly lost under an avalanche of fabrics in the article.  Being, this is my last post for the year 2011 I thought I'd add a little humor by posting this picture of a small wall quilt I am making for my studio. 

The newsprint fabric started it all.  The headline article tells of police reporting to a call from neighbors about this loud noise over at a certain house in the neighborhood.  Well, I'm pretending that's my house they are referring to.   

 I over printed the newsprint fabric with a photo of myself and a drawing of the lady in the red dress sitting at the sewing machine to add interest.  I'm looking forward to finishing it and hanging it.  HAPPY NEW YEAR  to all my blog followers and visitors.

Yesterday was my birthday and

I did somethings that I wanted to do, but probably shouldn't have done.
The first thing I did was buy my own "Oreo" birthday cake, and then I went to this Italian restaurant and ordered a 16" Italian sausage pizza with mushrooms and onions.  Now keep in mind I am not supposed to do wheat and glutens since I have an intolerance to them.  Oh, well, I enjoyed it all and am not sorry that I did it.  You don't live but once and sometimes you should live a little dangerously as long as you don't hurt anyone.
This is not a good thing to be telling you, but I must tell someone and I don't think that very many will read this post.  I have repented for my wrongdoings and I go on from this point in my life to my next challenge.
I'm still sorting through projects that need to be put in a proper place and I came upon this felted piece that I hand beaded and embroidered. It is one of the landscapes that I love to draw and work with.  The felt is so easy to needle and it does not ravel so I just cut out the pieces and glued them to the black felt. 
The mandala I did in the last couple of days while watching television.
Well, I must get back to my recycling of brown grocery bags.  I'm making portfolios using them as a foundation for my fabric and scraps to hold my art work and having fun at the same time.  Not to mention being "Green" at the same time.  Hopefully I will share them at my next post.

Have you ever felt alone

because people don't understand you or they just do not value the fact that you have an absolute right to your opinion regardless of how they view things?  I know that is a long sentence, but I had to get that all out in one breath.  I can breathe now. 

I've always had my own opinion about a lot of things and find that because I do people misunderstand me or do not even wish to have me breathe my thoughts if they are different from the way they think.  I'm at a loss for what to say to most people these days.  But, one thing for sure,I will always voice my opinion and let the chips fall where they may.  It seems as though there's a controversy as to whether it's TOMATO OR TOMOTO with some people and if you have any opinion that differs from theirs they are offended and do not wish to continue the conversation. 

I think sometimes people should step back and evaluate themselves instead of always thinking the other person has a problem.  Especially when they are always having some kind of relationship problem.  If you enteract with a person on a regular basis and it seems that you are always causing the problem because you voice your opinion that is different from theirs I'd have to say that the problem is not with you, but with the receiver.  If I can receive your opinions and explain why I see it differently then we should be able to move on and still keep the love in the relationship.  What happened to freedom of speech?  Do I have to change to fit into your circle?

African Mask Inspired Doodle

I made it back again today.  I don't know how long this blogging spell will last, but I'm intending to share some of my zentangle pieces for a change of pace from my quilts.  Hope you enjoy and or are inspired to boost up your zentangling.  This is a piece done in 2010 as you see in the lower right-hand corner of the scan.  Black and white is always fascinating to me, but I'm in love with color also.  The drawings have a soothing affect on you while you are doing them.  You can relax and forget about almost anything.  I love the serenity that comes along with most art.  Be inspired.

There is a time and a place

for everything.  I know, I've been away for quite sometime now, but I haven't left the blogspot yet.  Nor do I plan to.  I'll try to post more often than I've done in the past, but I cannot guarantee anything.  I must go with the flow of things I have to do according to priority.  The blog is not a high priority on my list at this time, but I love blogging and following other blogs.  Maybe if I spent less time reading other blogs and looky-luing I would have more time for my space.  Enough said about that.

I 've been organizing and cataloging my art work, quilt designs, craft, sewing, and art supplies. 

During the process I ran across some zentangles that I would like to share with you and hope you can get some inspiration from some of the drawings that I will try and post over the next several days.
This piece is called "Zen Lady".

I'm finally getting back to Handpainting, Collage, and

cloth journal covers.  I'm surely not finished with all of the other projects I'm working on. But it is time to move on because I have customers that will be expecting journal cover for their gift giving, and I must not dissappoint them.  The journal covers are all one of a kind, which makes them especially unique.

If anyone knows the software that will allow me to point and click to fill the different areas in my designs without using a paint brush please let me know its name. 

I have two more body warmers

ready to be bound and wrapped around somebody.  This quilt was really a challenge to me to quilt  because there are so many small pieces.  The squares in each block is one and one half inches before sewn into the block.  Quilting it was a challenge because I was by no means going to stitch in the ditch of anything here.  I decided to do a diagonal wavy line across the entire quilt and am satisfied with it.  This quilt is made to keep your lower body wrapped as you sit and watch that mystery or scary movie.  There is one more I hope to bind today as well.  Will post a pictue of it next time.
I'm painting some fabrics for my journal covers I sell at this time of the year.  Some will be hand painted, some pieced, some fused, you name it.  This is the time I experiment with different techniques since no two are alike.
Happy Quilting Friends.



Close-up



Sold, Sold, Sold

I just sold three of my latest quilts made in 2010 and 2011.  Three of my quilts, "Mary Magdalene","Psalm 8", and" African Ladies" went to live in Brooklyn, NY just a few weeks ago.

Beginning this month on my website http://www.pettifordjonesquiltdesigns.com/ I will be featuring Debra Freeman McDowell, doll maker and clothing designer.  Debra's dolls are custom made, one of a kind, original design cloth dolls called "Dolls With Attitude".  The doll page is now under construction.  Please check my site and view the beautiful dolls that have been made and sold.  Since all dolls are different the dolls you see are only representative of the quality of workmanship you can expect in your doll.  Debra will be glad to make the doll of your dream. 

African Ladies

Mary Magdalene



Psalm 8



Getting Back Into The Swing of Things

I'm finally seeing a light at the end of my long tunnel of home repairs and upgrades.

Since my last post my computer crashed and I had to get a new one.  The new furnace has been installed, the patio floor in back is completed, and a myriad of other things has been done.  WHEW!!!!!

While I was away from blogging I did get to go to Balboa Park for the "Bold Expressions" show of quilts collected by an African American collector .  Her name is Corrine Riley.  It was an awesome display of quilts.  I wanted to take pictures because they were allowing you to do so, but I did not want to try and figure out how to turn the flash off.  (Can you imagine?)

I did, however take pictures of some of the buildings around the Mingei International Museum.  I plan to do an art quilt depicting one or two of the buildings.  You know, my interpretation of them.

My patio grout painting out back took a little over a week, since I had to seal the concrete.  Here are pictures of the trip to the museum and the patio.

HELP!!! Has anyone out there

 ever lost your ENTHUSIASM?  Well, I've lost my ENTHUSIASM.  I seem to have lost interest in a lot of things lately, but I'm doing better since I am taking the time to talk about it.

Has any one out there in BLOG LAND ever been in HERE before????

There has been so much going on since my last post that I have no intention of going in to it all.


View of my kitchen window display completed



I have been under a lot of stress in trying to complete a lot of things that I started or trying to get things done on my  to-do list.  I have accomplished a great deal and am grateful to God for enabling me to have done so. 

I have now completed seven of my BW quilts.  These are at least full to king size.  I have about five more I would like to complete.  It is getting warmer each day and the cool mornings are good for having a big quilt about your lap doing the hand sewing, but it soon will be too hot for me to do any more with them until a cold spell comes through.  So, this summer I'm looking forward to getting back to my art quilts and to continue my writings and assembling of the book I hope to publish one day.
I'm praying that there will never be such a long gap between postings or I may just have to give up on the blog thing and concentrate on doing all the task that are set before me.

Bird Quilts are still on my mind,

and thought that I would share with you all one of my latest creations.  This has been done for a while, but I'm just getting around to sharing the bird and the process. 

The bird is hand painted on muslin with luminere fabric paints, and then machine quilted with embroider thread by sewing very close to each row of stitches in the painted colors.  The beak is machine embroidered.  The background fabric has also been hand painted.  I used batiks to frame the bird on the diagonal.  I used a traditional border with orange as the perfect contrast for the other colors used in the quilt. Machine quilting completes the piece.  Let  me know how you like my way of interpreting this little bird.

AND THE WINNER IS--------

Karoda, who guessed 100 spools.  There is actually 113 spools in the container.  No one guessed within 5 over or within 5 under , so the closest guess without going over was 100.  Congratulations, Karoda and keep watching for the next contest or giveaway.  Please e-mail me with your mailing address and you should receive the card within 2 weeks or less.
I'm sorry in the the last post I said buttons, I meant spools.  You know I'm not about to count a whole jar of buttons.  I did mean "spools".

The Winner of " Count the Spools" contest

will be announced March 1st .  Remember the count must be no more than 5 over or no less than 5 under.  However, if no one comes within this range,  to insure a  winner I will award the prize to the person guessing the closest amount without going over the total as the winner.  Good Luck, and remember you still have time to guess all day today.  One chance per person please.

You Can Win This Beautiful One Of A Kind Cloth Card

by guessing how many spools are inside the container.   The card can be set on your desk or mantle,or used to send a message using the space provided on the inside.

Just be the first to guess how many spools are in the container within five (5) over or  five (5) under the total amount or the person guessing the closest without going over total.  This is the first of other contest I plan to have this year.  It is a way for me to share some of the many small projects I have on hand and would like to share, so put your thinking cap on and get busy counting.

In the Studio 2011

                                                                                     

The top picture is my main fabric storage area.  The long table is raised with bed risers to accomodate my 5 feet 9 inch frame, and to keep from me breaking my back when I'm doing something that requires a lot of standing.  I have added a drop down side on the front of the table that has been padded and covered with flannel.  I use this as a small design wall and flannel board to critique some of my small pieces. 

 On the shelves in the corner are my magazines.  The Quilting Arts magazines I have cataloged in note books in the order of their edition.

The bottom photo depicts my recently made design wall.  I did not know if I were going to put this wall up or not until one day I needed to photograph a large piece.  I'm really glad I did put it up now.  The long cabinet next to it is where I store paints, brushes, clay, fabric marking pens and the like.

I'm currently working on finishing some large utility quilts that have been around for a while.  I just finished the quilt that my guild members gave me blocks for years ago.  I'm now finding borders and backing for a two and one half inch light and dark square quilt.  I have about five or six large quilts that I plan to finish by the grace of God.  Well, I must be getting back to work and away from this computer.

HAPPY QUILTING

Black Film Festival 2011

This year the Black Film Festival was held here in San Diego and my cousin Chanel Narcissus a budding young actress and muscian had a role in one of the films.  That's her in the center front as "Ebonica".  The film was "Three Weekends in June".  The film was written and produced by  Martina Evans and directed by Stefan LaToure.  You can order a DVD by e-mailing : E4Productions@aol.com.  The film was hilarious.  There was a fashion show, red carpet, awards and many other events.
Chanel and her mother Beverly were able to spend five glorious days here with us and the laughing and fun was on. Weeks before the event I was here as busy as I could be trying to finish some quilts that were made years ago.  Some of them were block exchanges and I still have a couple to put together of blocks that were given to me as a gifts.  Just wanted to touch bases with all my blogging friends and to let you all know I'm not off the scene yet, but busy as a bee.  I'm hoping to be painting some fabrics and doing a little low scale batiking.  I will post as I progress a long.
Until next time, PEACE and LOVE.

Goal Reached

Hey, I was about to move from my computer and try to get something constructive done when it dawned on me that I had failed to post the results of my little resolution that I made to myself a couple of posts ago . Well, I finally finished the last of the quilts I had resolved to finish for 2010. Now I must look through my projects and see what are the next I'm striving to complete while I'm painting fabrics in between sewing. These two quilts have been in the making for a while now and I'm thrilled that I am finished except for some hand embroidery and maybe some beads and other embellishments.  Now I'm going to make some peanut brittle.  I bought some a few weeks ago that was more "BRITTLE" than peanuts.  I found a recipe in a magazine, and now I'm going to make some that is more "PEANUTS" than "BRITTLE".  Like I need to be eating Peanut Brittle of any kind.  LOL

The Dawning of a New Day

This is the dawning of a new day!!!

Thanks to Kyra who brings us all of the latest news and events. This post is presented with compliments to Kyra Hicks who knows how to get all the latest information.  I have truly enjoyed the video and do hope all who visit my site will also. Happy New Year and Happy Quilting. Just click on the Black Threads link to view the video and enjoy.

Love to all

http://blackthreads.blogspot.com/2010/12/white-house-quilting-bee-on-larry-king.html?spref=bl

New Year /Old Year Resolutions

San Diego Sunrise

I'm not one for making New Years resolutions, and the reason why is because it is something that is never kept by most people, myself included.  It is vain to do this.  I resolve everyday to do what I need to do and what is expected of me, so I rarely build up the need to resolve that I am going to do something.  Well, I'm at a time when I need to make a resolve to finish the last two UFO's that are on my work table.  I reluctantly a while back was completing at least one project a day, and guess what I did good for a while and then I fell off the wagon.  Another good reason not to make these resolutions.

Today is Thanksgiving

Yeah, I know yesterday was Thanksgiving, but everyday for me is Thanksgiving.  One thing that I am thankful for is another finished project.  Yes, I finished the last to the journal covers that I was making this year.  I also got some terrific pictures of crows from my yard.  I'm hoping to do another series with the crows since they are so beautiful and photogenic.  The crows, to me are sort of savory characters, and their personality always have been of an interest to me.  I love to see them strut around the yard and that awesome takeoff they do when departing an area where they have been scrounging for food. Here's a few of the photos I took from their last visit and the last batch of journal covers.

"To Everything There is a Season"

This is one of my new pieces that I have included for sale on my website. It is hand painted with luminere metallic paints. The fabrics used are commercial batiks. The flower in the upper left-hand corner was appliqued on by machine. The piece was gently curved and a black and white abstract border was added.  The Scripture for this piece is from:  Ecclestiastes 3:1

 

Jezebel, Queen Esther and finally

I have gotten Mary of Bethany with her alabaster jar almost done.  After a few beads and the binding sewn into place she is done. 

I made some changes to the queen.  She was just not right.  I thought that one of her eyes were larger than the other.  Can you tell what I did?  I'm still not satisfied with the queen.  I think I will bring her hair somewhat over her left cheek as I have done on the right side.   I am a perfectionist and this does not help when designing.  I am very critical of my work.  This trait is sometimes debilitating, and sometimes helpful. 

I finally found an art supply store that is in the same district where my doctor is and went in to browse yesterday after getting my husband his flu shot.  The store is very nice and they have EVERYTHING.  I finally got the shiva paintsticks I had wanted to purchase.  The problem now is finding the time to experiment with them. I'm looking forward to setting aside some time for this. 

I'm also almost finished with a personal quilt I'm making for myself.  I'ts next to the queen on the table.  Now back to all my unfinished projects that need to be done.

Jezebel and Queen Esther

quilts are soon to be finished.  I've been working on these two ladies for a while.  Jezebel is hand painted on fabric that has a small print.  I used luminere paints and hand drew the brick wall and did a faux finish on it.  She is looking out of the palace window just before she is thrown to her death and eaten by dogs as the prophet Elijah prophesied.  She was a very wicked woman.

Queen Esther on the other hand was just the opposite of Jezebel even though they were both queens.  Esther is still in the design stage.   This quilt will depict her just as she goes in to her husband king Ahaserus to plead for the lives of her people. 

The fabric for her skin will be run through the printer to copy her face and the parts of her body that will be shown in the quilt.  Her clothing will be hand painted, then the quilt will have borders added and the quilting begins and who know what else will be done to it.

Mary of Bethany is not shown here, but she is almost done except for the hand quilting and embroidery and maybe some beads.  I will show the finished Mary in my next post.