Miles of Garage Sale Weekend

September 15, 2013 | JP Dawes Artist

Miles of garage sales started Friday..I went by myself but Ron went with me on Saturday. After a Saturday breakfast buffet at the Village Wheel we were off on the hunt.

My best finds:
A 15 In Magnavox flat panel tv for $5. It is installed in my new studio.
An 18K gold cameo pin/pendant for $2. I could sell it to pay for my addiction to fiber, but I think I will keep it around for awhile.
A vintage French silver watch band for 5 cents.
A Black Hills Gold tie bar for 75 cents.
About 5 yds of 3 different Kaufman fabrics $1.50
and a large-ish box of vintage gimp for $5.

I saw a Hinterberg long arm frame for $300, but she was taking offers….hard to pass up but I need to concentrate on using what I have. It nearly killed me not to go back on Saturday to see if they sold it.

As we were heading home for lunch we stopped at one last sale. I purchased vintage quilt tops 3 for $10, a sack of 5 skeins Caron cotton yarn for $1 and 2 great quilt books at $2 each.

I haven’t taken any photos yet but I’ll post them through out the week. So much fun!!!

Rusting Photos

September 12, 2013December 19, 2014 | JP Dawes Artist

The American Craft Council offered photographs from their archives to any artist who would submit a proposal and agree to use them in a contemporary art work. I thought it sounded intriguing so I asked for photos and sent them my proposal to use them in a fiber piece, aka: art quilt. I sat and looked at the photos for a long time, photocopied them, cut them apart, arranged and re-arranged them. Nothing was really getting my juices flowing. Finally I decided I would treat them as a piece of fabric. Suddenly a vision was in my head. The first step to using what I was given was to rust them. I wasn’t sure how they would turn out but I was pleased. Here is the pile out of the rust pan and dried ready for use. Stay tuned for more on this project. Check out the other quilt artists on http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Home crafted Bobbin Winder

September 10, 2013January 2, 2014 | JP Dawes Artist

I needed a bobbin winder for my mid-arm since it didn’t come with one. I asked for recommendations and got mixed reviews on the Sidewinder and the Deluxe model. Then I was told to look at the long arm bobbin winders that ranged from $89 up to $129. I looked at them, ready to bite the bullet and buy one. But anyone who knows me, knows if I can figure out how to make it myself by using recycled items that I will make it.

This was one of those times. It looked to me like it was simply a motor and foot control with that odd looking thingy for the bobbin to wind on. I have a vintage White machine I keep for parts…one of my 90 year old father’s cast offs. I stripped off the motor and motor mount, along with the electrical set up. Then a search on Ebay for industrial machine bobbin winders came up with the thingy for a total of $15 with shipping. !!!! A little measuring for placement and screwing it to the board and Ta-DAAA! It may not be pretty and I can add some paint later but it does the job wonderfully.

Placed next to the mid-arm I don’t even need to have a thread stand. If I want to use it somewhere else, I just put in the arm for the thread. The best thing about this is that it is adjustable to fit any size bobbin so I can wind all my bobbins on it.

New Studio up and running

September 4, 2013September 8, 2013 | JP Dawes Artist

I love it. Everything is within easy reach, the fur kids can come in without getting lost in the clutter.

The new to me Singer 431G is at counter height so I can sit on the stool or stand up to stitch. It may be easier on my arthritic hips and knees.

The Sunshine 16 mid-arm has a new adjustable stool seat with back support. The mid-century modern table was purchased at a thrift sale and is also adjustable height. The new goose neck lamps on either side of the machine are wonderful mid-century pieces I found at the Salvation Army. Ron mounted them on the back so I have perfect lighting.

My Koala cutting table and design walls are across from the mid-arm. I am using my portable design wall I made out of a projection screen for now. We are planning on using ceiling tiles covered with flannel, mounted to the bi-fold closet doors as the permanent wall.

Let me know how you like it!

Art Book Class

August 28, 2013August 28, 2013 | JP Dawes Artist

My friend Liz House and I took a class on book making at the Hill Country Art Gallery in Mountain Home yesterday. It was a great day out without our hubs. Here are the 2 books I made. They were a lot of fun and I plan to do more. Because our trading card group is small, I plan on making one of these for each month to organize my treasures in an artistic way. These two are for sale in my ETSY shop .