Before I entertain you with a story about my Fractured Zen, let me show you my beautiful Hydrangea!!! I actually remembered this year to pour on the special fertilizer this particular plant likes in order to get and keep white flowers. In past years this plant has started out white then immediately turned green. So, I'm very happy with this year's crop of WHITE hydrangea flowers! WooHOO!
So, a friend lent me her book,
Fabulous Fractures by Elizabeth Essling
er.(Thank you SVA). Mother fell in love with this particular Japanese panel. Since I have been making door hangings for her, and she was whining about needing a new one .... well, you know what happened next. You need a minimum of 2 panels, 4 are better. You take the first panel and cut it vertically into strips every 1 1/4 in. Label each strip A1, A2 etc. Then you take
the second panel, cut 1/4 in strip off the left side, DISCARD - do an Eleanor Burns thing - just throw it over yer shoulder and forget about it ;) Next, you cut the B panel into 1 1/4 " strips and label them B1, B2, etc.
Of course now you get to sew them all back together. A1 to B1, B1 to A2,
A2 to B2 ... etc. This is the tedious part, however, the effect is rather nice - not sure my pics actually show how the panel becomes fractured (I have a camera, but am still very much just a photo amateur). So, on the right is the "finished" fractured panel and my auditions for binding. Since it was going to hang on Mother's front door it needs to be a smallish size. Trouble was - just about any of those colours would have looked just fine. I ended up, as you can see below with a plain (reads as a solid) mid green fabric, which goes well .
So, summer vacation is just around the corner ( next week! YEAH!!!) and I hope to get started on my
No Squirrels Allowed project. This one is for my niece who is getting married next spring. Since I hand quilt and hand applique (I machine piece) it will take me a few months to complete. So, you can expect ongoing updates on this one for awhile!
Cheers, and HAPPY SUMMER!
So I've been promising myself I'd make a Roman blind for my bedroom while I am on vacation. I have my bed 
up against the window as it's the only 
location which allowed me to get some decent sleep - Feng Shui don't ya know ... Anyway, I get intense sunlight late in the day in this window and the cotton drapes and cafe curtain were fading fast. I lucked out last year and found some yardage of the exact - yup I said exact fabric I used to upholster my East Lake bedside chair.
I re-hung the long side curtains (red & white pinstripes) and the top panel on two new rods so the "look" is wider than before (sorry no before pic!) Anyway, that's how I've spent some of my first week off work!
