tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991773072355897412012-01-27T11:14:44.103-05:00New projects and fun finds from Maryland quilt artist tarabu - www.tarabu.etsy.comtarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.comBlogger4791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-56801847694128344452012-01-27T07:48:00.001-05:002012-01-27T07:48:00.847-05:00

Just a few finishes this week. I am in the midst of a queen-sized t-shirt quilt, Pinkie Pie still needs to be completed, but I did manage to finish two little mug rugs and a Clementine Cake:I am glad mug rugs are so popular these days - It's an excellent way to use up orphan blocks, without fiddling with crunchy Insul-bright to make potholders. It also allows extra practice with the free-motion

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-83338908779658542952012-01-23T07:51:00.000-05:002012-01-23T20:00:55.183-05:00

Welcome the year of the Black Water Dragon with a Roar!Okay, so that's a Lion Dancer, but his purpose is to banish negative energy, and I am all about that this new year! The beast above is part of the Wong People troupe - to see his red dragon brother in action, watch the video, here.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-74137073617407431902012-01-20T07:46:00.001-05:002012-01-21T15:32:32.614-05:00

I am almost surprised with what I accomplished this week - three finishes. The first was started and finished in the week, the second would have been finished last week except I needed to trim the weeds, and the third; well, it was a UFO for quite a while!This first is for a friend I went to school with, in our school colours: This is for a friend I went to college with, who doesn't want to know

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-75298116219918685362012-01-16T05:59:00.000-05:002012-01-16T05:59:00.471-05:00

It's a girl! You could probably guess that - this is what's on my design wall at the moment. My only directions were 'nine-patch' and 'pink, Pink, PINK!' If I ever meet this child I won't be able to refrain from calling her 'Pinkie-Pie'

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-35302059144683208682012-01-13T05:12:00.002-05:002012-01-15T08:58:48.144-05:00

This week's finish is brought to you courtesy of my son. He did not make this quilt, but he did design it, and has waited patiently for ever (since last summer) for it to be finished. In my defense, he only picked the fabric last month. And oh, what fabrics he picked:The center panel on the front is a nylon flag from our local low-cost imports shop. I was a little worried about using the nylon,

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-38607948133194412922012-01-10T07:02:00.005-05:002012-01-10T07:02:00.613-05:00

I mentioned that my family supports my quilting habit more than is probably appropriate (possibly because it keeps me in the house and not dragging everyone to see the worlds biggest ball of twine or lump of rock that maybe used to be a house or is maybe just a rock), and that resulted in the recent gift of an Accuquilt Go! die-cutting machine.This is the younger cousin of the Accucut Grandemark

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-90729594584978847132012-01-06T01:39:00.002-05:002012-01-06T01:39:00.221-05:00

This week's finish was completed last Sunday - I hope that's a portent for a productive year! A simple colourful critter quilt, just like this one. It is already off to it's new home and I have a new quilt on the machine - with any luck this does herald a very productive year indeed.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-60319149145551215852012-01-01T04:08:00.000-05:002012-01-01T04:08:00.101-05:00

Thanks to a wonderful family, who support my quilt habit more than is socially appropriate, I have some wonderful new bundles of cloth to work with this year: At least one of them is destined to become a nine patch, I'm not so sure about the rest of them!

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-45217047927637191352011-12-27T19:32:00.003-05:002011-12-27T19:38:24.205-05:00

I'm looking down the slippery slope of a fully scheduled January, so it was fairly important to get this autumn quilt finished before the end of the month. My initial goal of finishing in November flew by with an exhilirating rush that almost made me forget my sprained ankle, but the year-end deadline is much more ominous and imposing. Almost finished, at last: She still needs a trip through the

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-62019922085193365682011-12-13T19:54:00.003-05:002011-12-13T20:01:30.444-05:00

Look familiar? Yup, the quilting is more than half done on my current legacy quilt project. I'm very tickled with how it's turned out so far.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-46644873573482882712011-12-09T17:46:00.003-05:002011-12-09T17:56:22.925-05:00

I finally have a bona fide newly finished piece for Finish it up, Friday! Sure, I actually finished it last Saturday, be since this calls for anything finished since lasat Friday, I'm in! I apologize for the shabby pictures, but I finished this a whopping nine hours before I was due to hand it over to the recipients. Behold, a King-sized wedding quilt! The Block pattern is a Friendship star,

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-31008138780497997102011-12-08T20:58:00.003-05:002011-12-08T21:14:19.078-05:00

I'm here! Really, I am. It's just been a little, well, hectic of late. I'm back with another machine binding how-to, this one for double-fold binding applied to the front and back. This one started with 2.25" strips of coordinating fabric, sewed end to end and applied to a trimmed quilt. Sometimes my seams matched beautifully and sometimes they didn't: The picture above is the 2.25" strip folded

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-81887382491867910202011-11-19T14:08:00.004-05:002011-11-19T14:16:45.817-05:00

As much as I love the texture of a heavily quilted quilt, I also love the puffiness of a lightly quilted one. In fact, the quilt that lives on my bed all summer is one that my great-grandmother made before I was born, and which she quilted with warm wide pockets.The quilt I just finished has a similar effect. The request was for it to finish as a very warm quilt, which means minimum quilting. The

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-35543690765888608952011-11-07T06:02:00.003-05:002011-11-07T06:06:02.608-05:00

Things have been a little hectic in my world the last few weeks, and I haven't accomplished much in the way of creative output. My grandmother died the day before Hallowe'en and a few days ago I fell down the stairs and sprained my ankle. I did the right thing (for once!) and promptly spent the next day laying on the sofa with my foot up on about forty-two cushions. Hardly conducive to machine

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-51775890392014535262011-10-23T13:45:00.003-04:002011-10-23T13:53:20.894-04:00

I'm working on a big-boy character quilt for a lovely couple who's son is outgrowing his infant quilt. They're a wonderfully devout family and have asked for an emblem on the back of his quilt. Here's the two medallion options, set in a cropped field that represents the full 54" backing (although it's the bottom of my design wall): And two options for the borders on the top - the first, with two

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-73901258489621079022011-10-19T05:24:00.003-04:002011-10-27T20:09:46.334-04:00

My new-to-me quilt top is chugging right along. Some of the seam allowances were more than slightly varied, so laying flat is not really an option, but it's still coming together quite well: And here's the quilting on the back starting to come together: This last image shows a close-up of the base quilting - with stitches on either side of the muslin center blocks and along the seams where the

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-75291543996991408652011-10-15T16:30:00.006-04:002011-10-17T20:57:15.371-04:00

Amanda Jean over at Crazy Mom Quilts is making a new push to get things done - Finish it Up! Friday,* she calls it . . . . I am in the middle of so many big projects the idea of finishing anything seems a long, long way off. I have actually accomplished a good bit in the last few weeks, but my completions aren't quilt related.So here's a look at a few quilts that have been completed for a bit,

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-5868243338609772802011-10-08T06:38:00.009-04:002011-10-08T18:42:07.912-04:00

I took the Process Pledge quite a while ago, and then haven't done much with it - I've taken oodles of step-by-step shots but they never seemed to turn out quite right or I lost the energy for the process by the time I sat down to write it out. The gist of the pledge is that quilt bloggers will work to include in their blogs elements of a secondary guild meeting: not just show'n'tell, but

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-92027790062503887322011-10-06T06:41:00.002-04:002011-10-06T07:31:27.903-04:00

There's another sophisticated little girl coming into my world and pink with elephants are going to be on the way to her!

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-72886172712166974442011-09-30T04:21:00.003-04:002011-09-30T04:51:37.008-04:00

One of the really great things I get to do is finish quilts for other artists. I really enjoy the mechanics of quilting (even if it does give me vulture shoulders) and find it refreshing to work on a quilt I haven't known for weeks (or months). This latest top belongs to a man who inherited it from his mother when she passed. I love that he's having it finished for her as much as I love the

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-26155578980218230592011-09-28T04:16:00.000-04:002011-09-28T04:16:00.266-04:00

I currently have two new children's patterns available in the Windows on my World collection. The Bay Views pattern is an enlarged courthouse steps block. This features a large graphic print and two contrasting solid borders:The Colonial Traditions pattern features a smaller focal print, also with two contrasting solids: These are great ways to supplement an existing nursery theme and are

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-36823344681935724782011-09-22T05:52:00.002-04:002011-09-22T05:59:26.852-04:00

My pink elephants are on their way to a new home. As this is a wall quilt, it is lightly quilted in a diagonal across the center and the borders are unquilted. Hooray for elephants!

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-45190067909913069792011-09-19T05:10:00.000-04:002011-09-19T05:10:01.020-04:00

It's that time again! The 4th Annual Hyattsville Arts Festival is coming Saturday, September 24. Great live music and dance exhibitions and some pretty fabulous artists (if I may say so myself!)

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-71784278967599207952011-09-19T01:55:00.000-04:002011-09-19T05:03:12.668-04:00

Crafty Bastards is coming October 1st to Adams Morgan, and it's time for me to do that annoying thing where I ask you to vote for a friend of mine who's work is showcased at the event. So if you would be so kind to vote for a woman who's both an incredible teacher and quilter and friend, I would appreciate it (although given the onslaught of crafty skill, I understand if you get distracted).

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-76841505816093471692011-09-11T15:01:00.007-04:002011-09-11T15:47:54.137-04:00

So, I was perusing the old interwebz awhile ago (last week) and found a story about a Superman fan whose collection was looted by an alleged friend. You can read the story I found here. In a nutshell, the victim is a chap who was befriended by a coworker at his part-time job, who then cleaned out his lifetime collection of comics and action figures.Seriously?Fortunately the St. Louis, MO police

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-26299234412377008482011-09-06T19:38:00.003-04:002011-09-06T19:40:35.221-04:00

I am part of that generation that, thanks in large part to Molly Ringwald, grew up believing that pink and brown were the epitome of sophisticated cool. So it is with no small joy that I find myself assembling a wall quilt in pinks and browns - and featuring my favourite pachyderm! - for soon-to-be born little girl:

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-78798594988317430182011-08-29T21:37:00.003-04:002011-08-29T21:54:22.020-04:00

One of the joys of travelling with my husband is his willingness to wander about thrift, antique and junktique shops with me. On our holiday earlier this month I happend on this gem: A pin pot! I've been seeking a pin pot for a while now, although I didn't know that was precisely what I wanted. All I knew was that the little lidded cardstock box I'd been keeping my safety pins in was starting

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-64964309448101714702011-08-24T05:21:00.002-04:002011-08-24T05:29:21.256-04:00

I've been on the road a lot lately. My husband's grandfather passed away at 96 (which is a damned good run these days) aand we drove up to Pittspurgh for his funeral service. Our old man was Catholic and, true to every stereotype, the Diocese sent us a hung over Polish priest for his service. The humorous irony made the event a little more bearable. The next day it was off to Bucks County, PA for

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-45549147127333528032011-08-09T05:51:00.004-04:002011-08-11T05:30:17.270-04:00

We had the enormous pleasure of running away to Lexington, VA last weekend for a wedding at VMI. I don't have any pics of the wedding or reception to share, because I left my camera in the car - all the better to enjoy the event and not act like a fauxtog and/or not bore my table mates with photos and video of my family. Upon arrival we discovered that our hotel sported a rubber ducky in the

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-58073977558111807892011-08-05T05:52:00.005-04:002011-08-05T05:58:43.117-04:00

There's a derogatory comment in here about 'simple is as simple does', but, quite frankly, there are a lot of mornings where I need simple. The lovely frittata below was the result of six eggs and one each thinly sliced courgette, red pepper and sweet onion. If you have a silicone whisk you can whip the eggs and fold in your veg in your rice cooker bowl, flip the switch and by the time you get

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-16671580901244892832011-08-03T05:32:00.005-04:002011-08-03T05:40:51.818-04:00

Audrie over at Blue is Bleu is hosting a Go! Baby Giveaway sponsored by Accuquilt. In the realm of very cool, totally unnecessary, quilt tools that you don't really need, this has got to be at the top of the list. I can imagine if I had one I'd very shortly forget what life before Go! Baby was like. I think about all the trumpet and dresden quilts my Grandma Martha made tracing and cutting by

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-19229960821522934102011-08-02T05:42:00.003-04:002011-08-02T05:45:41.729-04:00

I go through phases where I really enjoy the non-cutesy baby quilts, in this case the colour choices below:We're still trying to work out the ideal greens for this little one, but so far I like the way this is shaping up!

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-41448033533757224962011-07-26T05:16:00.006-04:002011-07-26T05:44:42.747-04:00

My mess of hexies are coming along quite nicely. In fact, I only have ten or eleven left to make to get an even hundred:So, rather than do something sensible like trying to find ten more pieces of fabric to stitch into a hexie shape, I decided to lay them out and see if they would play with each other. I'm blessed with a drop-leaf coffee table that was a hand-me down from my grandparents. It

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-65387965700204633032011-07-21T06:21:00.003-04:002011-07-21T09:35:06.534-04:00

I received a box of awesome in the mail the other day. The brilliant Jen Athanas, who has the kind of fabric stash that would make a strong woman weep, posted me this:Buried deep in the midst of this vintage fabric was a multi-size hexi template and a handful of pre-cut papers: and a hank of vintage Irish tweed. I'll admit, I clutched it and rubbed it on my cheek like a child with a lost blanket.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-39378308241237793612011-07-10T06:13:00.002-04:002011-07-11T16:58:20.127-04:00

I read Quilter's Newsletter magazine, follow them on facebook and read their blog, which is a great way to get in trouble, quite frankly. One day I saw this post for a plastic bolt product that looked pretty cool. Then I saw the price - quite frankly my little budget doesn't permit over $1 for nifty storage for each fat quarter that already rest happily in a CD box or nearly $2 each for all those

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-425767220909082872011-07-07T21:05:00.004-04:002011-07-07T21:15:52.361-04:00

So, I have gone and gotten myself a hexie addiction. I tried to hold out for as long as possible, even after my girlfriend Namoo's workshop, but I knew sooner or later the incubation period would end and I would be infected.This is what I've achieved so far - an overexposed shot of about 50 or so 4" hexies. These are going to be a 100 dreams charm quilt (kinda like 100 Wishes, but the fabric is

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-67976669943523886232011-07-03T13:53:00.005-04:002011-07-28T11:02:52.038-04:00

A friend of mine is getting married next month and I'm working on this for her quilt: She's a very hip and modern chick, so I've taken the traditional frienship block and blown it all out of proportion - the block shown is usually set at a 12" finished block, for persective that would make the center pebbled fabric 4" square. In my case the finished block is nearly 28", with the center motif

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-42431969011453016652011-06-30T05:27:00.006-04:002011-07-07T14:33:36.485-04:00

I finally have a picture of a quilt I've finished in it's new home.This is lr's quilt, complete with hand-embroidered patches made by her and most of the women in her family. I'm so tickled. Close-ups of a few of the dresses are below: and my absolute favourite (that toadstool is so stinkin' cute!):You can find out more about this top from the artist, Jenni of Lana Bella, here.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-13489617374050336662011-06-28T20:13:00.002-04:002011-06-28T20:20:28.120-04:00

I've been thinking about submitting this quilt in the 54" size (shown below) and the 26" size (not yet photographed) to The Daily Grommet. A friend turned me on to them when they contacted her about a feature of her work, but I'm a little nervous about the prospect of submitting. I mean, what if they like them? Then I'd have to make five hundred by December 1st or February 1st or someother

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-2417873390831519592011-06-21T05:15:00.002-04:002011-06-21T05:21:51.661-04:00

I'm working on a fairly awesome heirloom quilt right now. The top was finished a little later than expected and my Spring Greens wedding quilt was in progress so my spring timetable was a little askew. She's nearly finished and it's kinda killing me to keep the final step a surprise. You see, the gift recipient - along with almost every member of her family - have worked on embroidery and pieced

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-1213517332950956022011-06-07T16:48:00.004-04:002011-06-09T05:51:32.112-04:00

My husband's kind of in love with this quilt. Everytime he looks at it he has to comment on the colours. This pic is sideways, with the foot of the bed on the left, those two bright green squares will be the bit that bells out at each corner of the bed.Edited to add the photo below. This is for a double, and my bed's a queen, but you get the idea.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-5076029947451610202011-06-04T21:10:00.004-04:002011-06-04T21:21:52.164-04:00

I assure you these are not the gore-stained hands of a particularly tidy zombie who's just taken down another don - they are the hands of a woman who has just hulled twenty pounds of strawberries. The sidebar tally is not up this year - we gave up weighing after the first 130 pounds of strawberries harvested. By volume we're up to about 200. All I need to know is that I will be set with bright

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-12632844281419206352011-05-21T19:20:00.004-04:002011-05-21T19:29:12.535-04:00

Remember that awesome pile of spring blues and greens? They are well on they're way to becoming a double-size quilt for a couple getting married this summer:

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-34776068503275505032011-05-18T20:27:00.001-04:002011-05-18T20:28:43.689-04:00

I try to avoid ranting here, particularly about the greater issues that we almost all seek relief from in the blogosphere, but Wow, how we have failed to learn the lessons from the past. The man could be talking about the last five years for all he knew:

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-80400067183513236162011-05-04T20:05:00.004-04:002011-05-04T20:12:08.568-04:00

I really have been doing more than making piles of boxed lunches and dinners these last few weeks. One of my bigger projects has been this: . . measuring in at 54" square, quilted with a stipple effect, this is just the right size for your Fourth of July beach picnic or Memorial day break. With a white backing, I wouldn't recommend it for the park! . . and because I'm a dork and really do make

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-21698533267695013392011-05-03T20:45:00.001-04:002011-05-03T20:47:22.513-04:00

Greenbelt Greenman Festival - about forty-five minutes southwest of Baltimore in Greenbelt Maryland, this is a celebration of the earthy, the natural and the fun (with free music!):

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-90766237100567279312011-04-11T05:12:00.003-04:002011-04-11T05:25:20.249-04:00

By Saturday afternoon my fridge looks a lot like this: Pretty barren, huh? Outside of some leftover Strawberry-Blueberry treat and a box of emergency almond bark there's not a lot besides sauces (and some onions and potatoes below). By Sunday evening, however, it looks like this: While it's true that I could do something else with those two hours on Sunday evening, besides making salads,

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-24759414080225822422011-04-08T06:32:00.005-04:002011-04-12T20:24:05.101-04:00

Another spring quilt finished. I thought this was unisex, but the minute my mother saw it she said it was perfect for a little boy - blue, brown, and frogs and turtles and slimy things. The backing is a solid, complementary print. And, yes, that's my skully camera envelope sneaking into the shot. Measures 28" x 38" and available for sale here.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-2186583570440350442011-04-06T05:59:00.003-04:002011-04-06T06:04:25.192-04:00

I wish I could say those gorgeous leaf greens and Caribbean splash were for an Earth day quilt, but they are for a wedding quilt that won't be quite ready in time. We're still playing with the colour combinations, but I think the base will be definitely green, green, green! I also went to Namoo's quilt workshop last night, pics to come soon!

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-56551203087785615512011-04-03T15:21:00.003-04:002011-04-03T17:44:34.595-04:00

I finally finished Evelyn's Bento Box quilt. I was supposed to deliver it last weekend, but my Boo was not well, and I was not about to take a sickie out in public with an awesome little one and wind up with her having a head cold, too. Sadly, that means I only got to talk to her on the phone, which about broke my heart because she's adorable, but happily, I got an etra day in the sun to take a

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-45396576702547917042011-03-31T05:48:00.011-04:002011-03-31T07:02:31.438-04:00

I really have been committing acts of fiber art lately, in between watching the news, my day job and planning elementary science experiments. My latest finished piece (we're going to ignore the pile of flimsies glaring at me from the corner) is a simple solid block top, featuring cartoon sub-Saharan wildlife. I used a topstitched binding, which I think works well with the straight-line grid

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-33012114388834770932011-03-19T19:48:00.002-04:002011-03-19T19:55:03.504-04:00

My little Bento Buddies, pictured above, are included in the auction to support Global Giving's Japan relief fund here. These were custom made for the auction. I chose the 2.25" square Bento Box patch because it's such a simple, yet widely recognizable pattern associated with the basic comforts of a good meal. The fabrics were chosen because they were subtle, and the grey floral has a

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-15150246945962289462011-03-17T07:00:00.004-04:002011-03-17T07:20:47.728-04:00

I've been in a bit of a stupor the last few days, watching the current environmental tragedy unfold across northern and eastern Japan - or at least the bits of it that news helicopters can get to with their crewsI have been exceptionally lucky my whole life to live on the outer fringes of disasters. I have never lived ona fault zone, but I have spent a great deal of my life in hurricane-prone

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-76392494779374614102011-03-06T12:59:00.002-05:002011-03-06T13:05:26.754-05:00

Actually, just stay. Let's get these few inches of rainfall and flash flooding over with and move on with our March, okay? It's really ridiculously rainy, but not cold enough for a fire. So, instead of sitting in front of the fire sewing, I'm in my pit, tidying. Oh, all the ways this sucks, but a more organized sewing room is a more efficient sewing room, and as any truck driver will tell you

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-76862189927289112942011-03-02T18:10:00.003-05:002011-03-02T18:30:38.878-05:00

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-86372301828875897942011-02-26T05:45:00.004-05:002011-02-26T05:45:00.139-05:00

I'm working on a Bento Box quilt for my friend's little girl. I originally thought I was going to make something simple, bold and full of screaming pinks. Then I saw the cupcake fabric and all reason went out the window.This is one half of the block, well technically one-fourth, however it's going to be two of these and two of the cherries-and-sprinkles* in each block. It did not occur to me

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-9385784078332573812011-02-25T05:33:00.003-05:002011-02-25T05:39:09.310-05:00

The ACC is in Baltimore this weekend, and tonight is your chance to check out the show for a discounted price ($6 after 6pm) and meet members of the Baltimore Etsy Street Team, Etsy corporate (the people behind the site) and MICA. Tonight's events include a bookbinding workshop and polymer clay with BEST's own Yummy and Company.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-60253712965818035042011-02-24T06:24:00.006-05:002011-02-24T06:53:18.789-05:00

It's officially nearing the end of winter - less than four weeks to go and we can trumpet the horns to welcome spring! Here's some of the lovelies that made it to the Woman's Industrial Exchange in Baltimore this week: Roman Road - hardly original, and not very true, considering those aren't actually roman squares on either side of the median, but that's what this one's called, anyway.this one's

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-4333727048369834592011-02-22T10:15:00.000-05:002011-02-22T10:15:00.934-05:00

I haven't done a tube Tuesday in ages - but here's one I can't get enough of : the facial expressions of the actor are priceless - you don't even need the sound on to enjoy this one:

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-50784929789608264152011-02-18T09:15:00.005-05:002011-02-18T17:29:51.651-05:00

I got a new hat. I really, really like hats. I spend a good bit of my life being cold and nothing helps that condition like a hat. A hat purchased on clearance for less than $5 makes that even better:This is me in my new hat, hiding behind a quilt. With the exception of a salmon-coloured blouse and a couple of black tunics with coloured embroidery, my entire wardrobe is grey and black. I think

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-47329911668275594042011-02-14T05:50:00.006-05:002011-02-14T06:01:11.341-05:00

These two quilts are for spring babies due at the end of March. I can't tell you wat a pleasure it was to work on these through the bitter grey January and into the windy wicked February. These photos were taken before the labels were applied. The sweet auntie chose two quotes from Winnie the Pooh for the labels on these. For this one: "If ever there's a time we can't be together; keep me in

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-44407125696370313442011-02-03T16:19:00.005-05:002011-02-03T16:36:46.894-05:00

I have to say it's a good thing that blasted groundhog didn't see his shadow, because I'm about done with winter. These three beauties have kept me company all winter - the photos were taken last fall and they're almost ready for binding:and as I get ready to finish this one I think "Oh please, let there be blue skies"

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-89991703263104833342011-01-27T11:29:00.002-05:002011-01-27T11:34:23.453-05:00

I didn't make terribly much for the holidays last year - even my mother got a store-bought gift! I did manage to whip up a pair of soft monkey blocks for my niece born last October: .. . and a quilt in team colors for my niece born last September who is a Philadelphia Flyers fan-in-training:

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-81814594678171966432010-12-13T06:44:00.004-05:002010-12-13T07:03:23.169-05:00

I read, a lot - it's a good way to keep me out of trouble and give my brain a different kind of exercise than quilt math or trying to mix colours. I read new works on a fairly regular basis, but I have dozens of old standbys to get me through the year. Some of which I read when the moment strikes - I just finished Monica Sheridan's 'The ARt of Irish Cooking' because, well, it's winter and I

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-85473448773398069832010-12-10T10:35:00.000-05:002010-12-10T10:35:00.567-05:00

Apparently this is what basting a Queen-sized quilt looks like: I'm not gonna lie - I ran out of pins.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-41802282102110737052010-12-09T21:57:00.004-05:002010-12-11T10:33:13.291-05:00

Driving home quite a bit after sunset this evening I noticed a house whose front windows were lit with a warm cozy glow. It ocurred to me as I was cruising along listening to Chuck Berry's version of 'Route 66' that the reason it was a cozy glow was because it was from an old-fashioned (energy-sucking) incandescent bulb in a fabric shade.I'm serious.The light coming from the front window of this

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-24408199169943327302010-12-08T06:02:00.005-05:002010-12-08T18:13:33.343-05:00

One of my favourite pastimes is creating made-to-order quilts. It's kind of like being paid for being an architect. Sure, there are the occasionally enldess hours of producing layout after layout that are rejected, but then there's the grand time when you complete a project and know it's going to make someone very happy. This time, it's Nikolai's monkey quilt. The early layout options are here,

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-11469499690678493502010-11-27T07:09:00.002-05:002010-11-27T07:13:13.270-05:00

I find it kind of ridiculous that I haven't posted in over a month. Everyone who gets this on the RSS feed may well have forgotten who I am by now! It's been a very busy autumn and I'm still in the thick of things as it were. I've been working on a queensized quilt that is royally kicking my butt. I have underestimated every aspect of this beast except the amount of thread needed - from the

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-48062706244706103142010-10-10T07:31:00.002-04:002010-10-10T07:38:09.061-04:00

It's been ridiculously busy in tarabuland the last few weeks - and none of it has to do with creating the kind of art that makes me, or anyone else, smile. It has mostly to do with a torrential downpour, leaking water heater, black mold remediation and a failed transmission.Under the guise of internet-based art therapy, I made a treasury of water-related art, just to remind me that water is not

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-8917284140948460582010-09-16T20:24:00.002-04:002010-09-16T20:31:51.297-04:00

It's raining here - not a great big Hannah -esque downpour, but a stead precip since about three this afternoon. I invariably forget my brolly and rarely have the forethought for a raincoat, so I wind up always running from building to car. I'm usually grinning from ear to ear (occasionally giggling if I'm with anyone of an equally sophomoric bent) by the time I reach my destination. I always

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-67559502647657306482010-09-16T06:17:00.003-04:002010-09-16T06:25:17.939-04:00

It's time for the Annual StoneFence Gardens Fall Festival! The unofficial beginning for the fall show season in my world, this is an event I always look forward to attending.In addition to me and Iggy, you'll find some other fabulous artists (yes, I did just call myself fabulous!), live music and pony rides for the kids. The address is 6610 Mountaindale Rd, Thurmond, MD 21788 and the festival is

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-40737931630408725422010-09-16T01:00:00.000-04:002010-09-16T21:06:23.897-04:00

Armchair Adventurers is a loosely organised virtual book club. Essentially it's a place to post recommendations and reviews of non-fiction books. My first suggestion to the group: The Lost City of Z by David Grann. I own this and print and am seriously going to break down and get it in audio for long car rides. So if I continue to be lax about the BoTD, perhaps you can hit Armchair Adventurers

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-42222646019932036292010-09-08T21:24:00.004-04:002010-09-08T21:28:06.914-04:00

This post is mostly about putting some color up - it's getting darker earlier and brighter later, so there's going to be way more loud colors coming up!

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-15484434266719382782010-09-03T06:17:00.002-04:002010-09-03T06:22:27.075-04:00

I live in Maryland. As you may remember from elementary geography classes, Maryland is located just west of the Chesapeake Bay, gave up a bit of it's marshland for the creation of Washington, D.C. and is possibly one of the most schizophrenic states in the union when it comes to weather. In the winter of 2009 - 2010 we had roughly six feet of snow that did not finally clear off until April and

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-17586435907398952292010-09-02T20:52:00.003-04:002010-09-02T21:23:11.266-04:00

Ever since her book was first released, the story of Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love fame has gotten my dander up. I can't help but bristle at the self-indulgence of someone who has to run away like a petulant child to truly experience life. Especially since she comes home to all her old problems - the same men, the same life - and still can't find life's little pleasures. The recent

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-91945580880940346622010-08-19T19:15:00.002-04:002010-08-19T19:16:59.168-04:00

create & buy custom products at ZazzleIt had to happen sooner or later - and the better the day, the better the deed as granny used to say - so here's your chance to start getting some choice tarabu photography, my favourite quotes and a good dash of sarcasm in your daily life.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-10878756254987157562010-07-28T21:08:00.005-04:002010-07-28T21:18:51.296-04:00

Well, first I had to clean my kitchen and lay out the spongy floor squares. Yes, I have playmats. They are incredibly usefuly for all manner of applications and I think everyone should get a packet or three the next time you happen to wander in to the toddler/baby section of your local toystore. They are great for standing on for long periods and an excellent surface for doing yoga or other

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-84372608870131610782010-07-26T19:45:00.002-04:002010-08-24T19:47:47.346-04:00

As seen in the latest installment of Urbanite Baltimore's Green Shopping Guide:

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-84858732842539534582010-07-19T20:36:00.005-04:002010-07-20T05:51:34.369-04:00

You know, when human adolescents have babies it is not exciting. When four-month-old hens make itty bitty eggs, it's pretty cool!On the left is one of our standard round-ish eggs. In the middle is a store egg we borrowed from a neighbour and on the right is an itty bitty hen's egg!Also, we hit artscape this weekend - I got Boy a new piece of pottery from PinkKiss (I was all cool and did not gush

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-26129622842976484862010-07-17T05:50:00.002-04:002010-07-17T05:55:52.941-04:00

If a woman with three feet of hair comes in to your salon and asks to make a 10" donation to Locks of Love with a 2" trim that does not give you license to hack of 17", leaving said woman with hair that is unacceptably short.You do not live in my universe, you are a visitor - I'm the one who has to live with your incompetence, with hair that is now too short to braid, too short to tie up without

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-61560210254747705872010-07-14T20:29:00.004-04:002010-07-14T21:44:22.081-04:00

I've had more than a few requests lately for a tutorial for pieces from the Well-Versed Purse collection. I'm not going to make one at this time for a couple of reasons - one, because it takes so much time to prep a tute with good pictures. The other is because my style has evolved over years of practice based on my needs and feedback from the men and women who have purchased WVP Accessories.I

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-16530778831216054762010-07-05T21:06:00.006-04:002010-07-05T21:12:16.813-04:00

At six feet square this quilt is perfect for two cuddled up on the sofa. I've used these same fabrics (or nearly the same - the darkest blue and green were different) in two other projects - a disappearing log cabin and a random pattern - and every time I do they just make me smile.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-45288654851228522382010-06-27T13:29:00.005-04:002010-06-27T13:42:17.107-04:00

A few weeks ago we moved the hens from their winter pen (high sun, near the house) to their summer pen (deep down in the fir trees) and just got around to taking down the old fence. There was a good bit of grass sprouted since the hens left, so my husband pulled out the lawn tractor and to hack it all down. And ran over a nest of bunnies. Fortunately, my husband has always been of the opinion

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-57805099755598249382010-06-25T15:07:00.001-04:002010-06-25T15:08:27.517-04:00

A quick note to a link up a great article - brief and effective - about the values of creation.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-12205062863017975582010-06-24T21:26:00.005-04:002010-06-24T21:34:12.029-04:00

I popped out to get the camera out of my purse and inadvertantly left open the door to the pit.This is what I came back to:Seriously, I was out of the room for two-minutes - tops!Fortunately the quilt squares she's sitting on are going to a friend who has multiple cats. In fact when I asked if grey would be alright for the quilting, he answered that that would be fine as the primary colour in his

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-3827803653337923162010-06-23T05:26:00.004-04:002010-06-23T05:49:07.653-04:00

I enjoy not being pressed for a show - although I'm already looking at a few neighbourhood shows for July - because apparently looking at an empty calendar makes my heart race. Here are a few of my Welcome Home quilts - the photo's linked to the ones that are listed, more to come later. I've also got a couple of new pieces in the Well-Versed Purse collection up:I've been working on a wedding

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-53686606510308973992010-06-17T21:19:00.004-04:002010-06-21T21:02:51.495-04:00

Last weekend's show was a snooze customer-wise, but I had a good time - lost two pounds sweating (and gained four eating chips and guac as I fell asleep) - and I got a new painting:My photo skills leave a lot to be desired, as evidenced by the glare - but I really like him (even if he's got a very large violin/possibly cello on his shoulder). I traded my WTC handbag for him. On the one hand I

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-43359809028521268082010-06-15T06:54:00.001-04:002010-06-15T06:56:46.097-04:00

wellies? checkearly morning stomping in the dew? checkbreakfast? check

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-71790967195737543622010-06-08T18:19:00.005-04:002010-06-08T18:27:21.172-04:00

There's going to be wine, cheese and gourmet treats in addition to a curated arts festival where I shall be this weekend. Which makes it highly likely that my husband will spend all of my profits by 3pm on Saturday.Of course, it's not just me:Leslie will be there, with her collection of recycled Wino creations - for those unaware, these are accessories crafted from recycled wine bottles. There

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-70974823296223561932010-06-01T20:57:00.006-04:002010-06-01T21:07:47.299-04:00

when I'm not quilting:I'm picking and eating green things: and when I'm standing in the field eating raw peas I think I'll put up with the weeds for the joy of eating organic vegetables with the dirt still on them.Then there's this little guy - who I found in the yard this morning. He wasn't there this evening, so I'm hoping he found his way back up to the nest:And for my sewing friends, I have

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-32441660177883754832010-05-27T06:26:00.003-04:002010-05-27T06:29:26.506-04:00

This is a top in progress that is getting ready to be a wedding present:It's still waiting on another row of border - green and blue to mirror the inside border. This link may work, to go to my facebook album where the starting fabrics and planning blocks are pictured.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-65179627082289113352010-05-26T05:57:00.007-04:002010-05-28T22:36:34.910-04:00

These aren't all up for sale yet, but I couldn't resist posting snaps - I'm particularly pleased with the pinwheels (my first effort at triangles) that were made from scraps from an old duvet. I also adore the colors in the nine-patch - I'm seriously tempted to make a rectangular one to hang over my bed. 'cause, you know, the wall might get cold.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-56736791664577155012010-05-25T07:02:00.003-04:002010-05-25T07:06:22.871-04:00

I've been a bad hand at carrying my camera everywhere and documenting the steps of life - but it's a goal I hope to maintain in fits and starts throughout my days. I studied history in my youth (and by 'studied' I mean, I wallowed in the deep end of the past and got a degree historical research, which led to a day job analyzing statistical patterns of travel for a hotel management company. And

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-22853271610298983512010-05-19T05:44:00.003-04:002010-05-19T05:53:37.673-04:00

with organic whipped creamThis recipe is from The Two Fat Ladies. I recently discovered that my day coworkers didn't know who the Two Fat Ladies were. Obviously I have to work harder share the joys of eating what the earth gave us.The cake:Preheat oven to 450 Fsift together7 oz self-raising flour1 oz ground almonds1/4 tsp salt1/2 tsp cinnamonrub in6tblsp buttermix in3 oz sugarstir inone large

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-12646659566392542162010-05-16T17:57:00.002-04:002010-05-16T18:00:01.963-04:00

I picked 10 pounds of strawberries this afternoon. From my garden.Yes, I had another bucket, but this one was clear, which is why it got it's picture on the scale. And yes, I am gloating.

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-78209613996849340042010-05-15T07:11:00.002-04:002010-05-15T07:15:21.424-04:00

Methinks the habit of carrying your critters everywhere has gone too far. I get it with dogs - they're pack animas who like to go on the hunt with you, even if that hunt is just to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. But, seriously? It's flopsy - she doesn't care about what's going on outside of the occasional wheat germ treat and carrot tops. And how far does a house-rabbit get on a leash

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-39882567566410422452010-05-07T06:21:00.006-04:002010-05-07T06:29:45.926-04:00

This is a particularly busy weekend, down Baltimore way, so let's just get started shall we?First up, the Maryland film festival - started yesterday, ongoing through Sunday. Oooodles of free screenings:Then there's the 10th squidfire artmart - all sorts of fabulous people will be there, including the incredible Bette of Bette's Bags and the indomitable Katie Jean of See Katie Sew: And, last but

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-35413292453044246302010-05-05T06:44:00.002-04:002010-05-05T06:56:01.796-04:00

Specifically, what is it about red that weakens textiles? I remember reading off and on over the years about how, when preserving textiles, the greatest care needed to be taken with pinks and reds because they deteriorated fastest, but what is it about the chemicals that reflect red that makes it so dastardly?I ask because I was quilting last night with some variegated thread and every time I

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-69951716195993010472010-05-02T17:45:00.003-04:002010-05-02T17:49:17.595-04:00

I'm a little more tickled with these than I ought to be - particularly since I don't have a Kindle, nook or Sony eReader.But, hey, it's the simple things, right?Here's one (of many!) recycled books that have found new life as protective covers for the modern e-reader.This particular piece is made with cotton fabrics and a tight elastic loop that circles the book to hold your nook (or Kindle) safe

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-699177307235589741.post-41371915152600366902010-04-28T20:37:00.005-04:002010-04-28T20:50:47.549-04:00

I had a minor meltdown this evening. I have accepted a donation request on a fairly short deadline for a custom piece. The piece involves reproducing custom art in a wall quilt. Unfortunately my stock did not include enough of my drop-dead favourite cotton poplin for use in my home printer.Being on a short deadline and having a fairly large project - twenty pieces to print, piece and ultimately

tarabuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08271012102138956776noreply@blogger.com3