Making Art Every Day (Weeks 9-17)

I am making art every day. 

But I have gotten behind on the posting and blogging. Sometimes something has to give!

 So, in this lightening round let me bring you up to speed on some of the things I have been doing.

Stamping fabric paint on my artwork using a found object. (Maybe it needs a little more.)

Making a hat (a modified MaggiKnits pattern and yarn)

Presenting the hat to a friend!

Stamping and fusing and painting on linen just because

Knitting a topper for a sleeveless dress from scraps!

Trying my hand at carving stamps from Artsy printing blocks

Playing with food 

Playing with food and paint and cloth

Words to Inspire

Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, 

just remember how far you have come.

Remember eveything you faced, 

all the battles you have won, 

and all the fears you have overcome.

     ~Unknown

Creative in the Kitchen

During the week my DH makes dinner. (Yes I do realize how fortunate I am!)

But if we make plans with friends on the weekend I do the shopping and cooking. Last Saturday was such a day.

And since it is said that the only thing guests remember about a meal is the dessert, I decided to try something new with ingredients I had on hand.

This is the Apple Cake I made using a recipe from The New York Times (link below). I did not have apple brandy, but since only a 1/4 tsp was needed, I substituted rum flavoring.

Here is a link to the recipe:      Babette Friedman's Apple Cake 

You can also sign up for a free New York Times Recipe app and save your favorite recipes to your mobile device!

I hope you try it!

Live a Splendid Creative Life

~Mary

Follow me on Facebook:    Mary Lachman Design and Moth at the Window

Website http://www.MaryLachman.com

Author Website http://www.MothAtTheWindow.com

Link to order the book on Amazon: Moth at the Window: Poetry of Grover W. Clayton and Recollections of Indiana 

Quilting the Farmington River

This is my completed "Canal Pool - Section 2 of 25" for the Farmington River Quilt Project that will be on display this spring in Winchester, Connecticut. Along with 24 other quilted sections it will become the property of the Farmington River Coordination Committee to promote conservation.

Canal Pool by Mary Lachman
All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2016

You may remember I started this project during the summer. The project specified parameters for the width of the river at the left and right edges. The fabrics for the river were provided.

I developed my section as a fabric collage, using small sections of fabric that were initially glued in place and then stitched.

Beginning the river layout on muslin background.

Here it is as progress continued. 

All 25 pieces (made by 25 Connecticut fabric artists) will be on display for the first time at the

Winchester Center Congregation Church
9th Annual Quilt and Needle Arts Show
Winchester Center, Connecticut
Saturday, April 23, 2016  10:00-5:00
Sunday, April 24, 2016  12:00-5:00

All 25 pieces are being donated to the Farmington River Coordination Committee, the headquarters of which are the Squire's Tavern in Barkhamsted, CT. The RIVER will to be used to raise awareness for the environmental protection of the Farmington River.

Live a Splendid Creative Life

~Mary

Follow me on Facebook:    Mary Lachman Design

Website http://www.MaryLachman.com

Author Website http://www.MothAtTheWindow.com

Simplify Your Studio (and Life) in 2016

My creative urges go in many different directions. Anyone who has sat beside me a quilting retreat knows this because I typically wheel in several large bins of fabric strips and blocks to play with over a weekend. I enjoy this devil-may-care, wildly productive approach, but this year I want to focus on simplifying. I want more quality than quantity in my artwork and life.

My DH and I spent New Year’s Eve at the very large home of friends who chose to upsize rather than downsize as their children left home. I don’t want to do that, EVER.

I want to create a smaller carbon footprint. I want to use what I have, donate to others what I cannot use, and live with the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle. To that end, on New Year’s Day I donated a trunk-load of clothes and shoes to a local thrift shop.  

By working on the MAED Project (Make Art Every Day) I am exploring (and discovering) just what I like to do and use in my art. I know I love vintage linens and wool, tags and ephemera of all types. Even so there are items I no longer have a use for. I will share those things with my art group over the next few months.

Candy Shop by Mary Lachman
All rights reserved. Copyright 2016.

And later this month I am going to a quilt retreat and my plan today is to just bring two projects. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Live a Splendid Creative Life

~Mary

Follow me on Facebook:    Mary Lachman Design

Website http://www.MaryLachman.com

Author Website http://www.MothAtTheWindow.com

Make Art Every Day (MAED Project) - New Blocks

MAED Project - by Mary Lachman 

MAED Project - by Mary Lachman 

MAED Project - by Mary Lachman 

Add MAED Project. By Mary Lachman caption

Why Not Replace the Worn-Out Cuffs on a Sweater that You Love?

Sweaters are not knit like they used to be. And since it is difficult (and costly) to find a hand-knit 100% wool sweater that will keep you warm when the north wind blows, why not save you r old one and knit new cuffs for that vintage Norwegian!

This is the step-by-step process to do precisely that. This is my friend Ann Marie's sweater. You may recall that I replaced cuffs on a red sweater of hers a few weeks ago but that is the only other time I have done this. My point is that this is not rocket science.  If you understand how knit garments are made and have been knitting a little while you can do this. Remember it is not rocket science.

Take a good look at the old sweater cuff.
Count the stitches and write this number down on a piece of paper.
You will want to have the same number of stitches on the cuffs you knit.
Knit a swatch with the yarn you plan to use to replace the old cuffs. If the gauge does not match try a different size needle.  I used size 2 U.S. double-point knitting needles.
by Mary Lachman 

Pick a spot about 2 rows above the point where the cuff ribbing meets the arm of the sweater and the stockinette stitching begins. Cut off the old ribbing completely around. If needed hand-sew a guideline in for yourself and then cut.
by Mary Lachman 

Note that my cut edge is about 2 rows above the point where the ribbing ends and the stockinette stitch begins for the sleeve.
by Mary Lachman 

Pick up stitches with a crochet hook and the new yarn you will be using for the cuffs. I used a size 3/D U.S. hook.
(If you have never done this before there are many good videos on You Tube. Just search 'knitting pick up stitches'
by Mary Lachman 

Transfer the stitches from crochet hook to double-pointed needles. I used a size 2 U.S.
 by Mary Lachman 

Continue picking up and transferring stitches from crochet hook to double-pointed needles.
by Mary Lachman 

Knit 1 round. If you need to decrease stitches because you picked up more stitches than were in the old cuff just knit 2 stitches together on that round as needed.
Continue knitting ribbing (knit 1- purl 1 in this case) until the cuffs reach the proper length.
Bind off in a knit 1- purl 1 pattern all around. (This prevents the bind-off from flaring out.)Weave in the ends and you are done!
All Rights Reserved
Photos by Mary Lachman