Saturday, January 24, 2015

Grow your Blog 2015


Good day , my name is Sheila and I have been blogging here since 2010 , welcome to my blog and welcome to Vicki's Grow your Blog for 2015 . For those of you visiting for the first time let me tell you a little about myself . I love to sew , I love to quilt and I love to create , all of these things make my heart sing but above all my family is most important . I have three wonderful sons and seven adorable grandchildren and a husband who supports my love for quilting . I live in beautiful rural Nova Scotia where I was born and raised .
 I have dabbled in most crafts over the years and started out making garments before the quilting bug struck but once I was bitten there was no turning back  . I love to do scrappy quilts , love the old fashion look of them and the fact they are so frugal and can still wrap someone in love .
 A number of years ago I read an article on making fabric postcards and I joined a yahoo group for postcard exchanges so a new addiction was born , I have had so much fun making and sending postcards for the past four or so years and often will organize a swap here on my blog infact we have one in the works right now , a Valentine swap so if you have ever had the desire to make a postcard stay tuned for future swaps . Here is a collage of some of the many projects I have done over the years ,

A challenge of any kind is also something I enjoy , I love BOM's and sampler quilts and making something using recycled fabrics . If you read my previous post you will see what I mean . My dear Dad passed away two years ago in April and my Mom gave me a few of his ties so I had been trying to come up with a plan for a while now and this week I came up with a plan . My dad loved my work so I wanted to do something I felt he would be proud of and he was intriqued with my landscape work so that became my plan . Now this was indeed a challenge in many ways , first the fabrics are difficult to work with and required me to add a fusible to stabilize them and secondly they didn't look anything like a landscape .  Here is a photo of the ties I used , I should have taken the picture before I had cut them up and used them .

I want you to take a look at the brown tie in the right hand corner , ugly huh , well beside it you will see the back side of that same tie , hmm , what can I use that for .  The tie I used for the sky for two of them is in the upper right hand corner and since you are dealing with bias and a space limitation another challenge arose , not enough to create all three but no fear I came up with a new plan , remember the ugly brown tie , that will become my sky , want to see what I created ?

 This was my first one , my Dad was born in the Highlands of Cape Breton and this what I was trying to depict in this little scene , see the ugly brown tie ? The mountain on the far right is made of the reverse of the tie used for the mountain on the far left . The gold is also the backside of a tie . I loved that greenish one I used for the water , it just naturally has movement , the brown I used next to that as the land did not work so well , when I stitched it the threads between the fabric showed through as white . New plan lets try making them tall and narrow .
Landscape #2 , still using the same tie for the sky , see the blue line at the base of the sky that is part of the fabric and worked well as water , I did have to straigten the line by stitching . Now for #3 I no longer had the width for the sky in the original tie I had used so on to plan #3 .
The ugly brown tie to the rescue , see that lovely sunset it has produced . This one is not yet stitched , I was just auditioning it in the frame to see if it had worked and I quite like it .  I must create at least one more for my Mom and I'd like to have one for myself so more work to do but it was the most fun I have had in a long time , I was really in the zone as they say . Where is your happy place ? Mine is definitely doing something like this , , I hope my sisters and brother will like what I have created with Dad's ties . Do you know what else was special while doing this ? I could smell Dad's aftershave , he was beside me all through the process and I sure hope he was smiling . 
 Thanks so much to Vicki for hosting another Grow your blog, be sure to hop on over to visit with Vicki to see who else is growing their blog , you are sure to find lots of interesting blogs to read and possibly make some new friends . I hope you will take a few minutes to look around and if you like what you see will come again often I would love to have you join me .Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit :-)
 Hugs Sheila 

48 comments:

  1. Oh, sweetie - they are just beautiful and what a lovely keepsake of someone close to the heart.

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  2. Sheila, you have done those ties proud! Even the 'ugly' tie has its own beauty........well done!

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  3. Hi Sheila, what a wonderful keep sake, you did a great job.

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  4. I love what you've done with the ties, so very clever!

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  5. The landscapes out of your Dads ties are fabulous. I am sure dad would love them.
    You've given me a good idea to frame the post card.

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  6. Love your tie landscapes especially as they make you feel so close to your dad. Happy memories of days gone past.

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  7. Sheila your tie quilts are stunning . Such beautiful memories to have, Your family will be so happy.

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  8. Sheila your tie quilts are stunning . Such beautiful memories to have, Your family will be so happy.

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  9. Knew you would cone up with something great using those ties - beautiful

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  10. Sheila, your landscapes are amazing and are such a perfect tribute to your dad. They will be loved!

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  11. What a lovely way to use your Dads old ties and how lovely that they smelt of him too - I am sure they will all be treasured. I lost my Grandma three years ago and have two old suitcases full of fabrics from her home (she wasn't a sewer so these are bed covers, tea towels and such like) that I am hoping to make something with some day - just not felt the urge to just yet! I am joining you via Grow Your Blog and will be back to visit you again soon! Have a great day. Sunshine Girl - Grow Your Blog section 24.

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  12. It was a wonderful way to make a memory of your dad! You are very creative.

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  13. Sheila, your landscapes are fabulous! What special and meaningful keepsakes you have created for your family.

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  14. Shelia,
    First I would like to officially welcome you to the party Vicki and I are delighted you are a part of the fun!
    I love your blog and really felt as though I was meeting a soul sister, kindred spirit...just someone I would love to have living next door! I am into crazy quilting so when I saw your father's ties I was thinking of all the CQ blocks they could be used in. Then I saw your lovely landscape pieces...WOW the are fantastic! What a great way to create a family treasure and honor your Dad. I look forward to reading more of your blog and getting to know you better.
    Deb

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  15. Fantastic landscapes, Sheila!!!! they would not be easy to deal with...lol. I just love them.

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  16. Sheila, I am speechless! These are beyond amazing!

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  17. What a caring gift you have created for your family and I love the idea that you could feel your father's presence. You did have me intrigued when you set out your goal the other day.

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  18. Popping by from the Grow Your Blog event. I love the landscapes you've created!

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  19. What a great way to use the ties. Your landscapes are gorgeous.

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  20. Great use of the ties Sheila, very effective. xx

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  21. How awesome Sheila!!! You are so creative with those ties - I would never have dreamed of making something so amazing from them. And, yes, I'm sure your dad was right there, smiling and beaming, so darn proud of you :)

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  22. Wow. Love what you did with the ties. Fabulous idea. Hugs.xx

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  23. So nice to meet you and thank you for visiting my own blog! Love the scrap landscapes! what a great use for old ties.

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  24. Wow Sheila. What an awesome project!

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  25. What a wonderful keepsake you have created for your family and yourself Sheila...hugs xx

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  26. its always fun to read more about bloggy friends... I do love the work you do...
    Hugz

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  27. What a lovely tribute to your Dad. Your idea for the ties is very original indeed. I hope you attract lots of new readers to follow your super blog. Lynne.

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  28. Dear Sheila,
    your landscapes are amazing and are such a perfect tribute to your dad.
    Hugs
    Deborah

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  29. Hello Sheila and I hope that your blog grows! I like what you did with your Dad's ties, so creative. And every time you look at the landscapes you'll think of him. Don't you just love quilting :-)

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  30. How wonderful that you have created something tangible to give to your siblings and your mother as a memento of your Dad.
    Love your photo in your header - so serene and beautiful.

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  31. Hello Sheila! Thank you for visiting my blog and I have so enjoyed returning the visit here! What a great way to use your Dad's ties! Hope you have had lots of GYB visitors! :) xx

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  32. What you have made with your father's ties is gorgeous and such a great gift to your family members as a reminder of your Dad.

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  33. You are so clever, your tie landscapes are gorgeous and such unique reminders of your Dad! Just lovely :) hugs Wendy

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  34. you have created such beautiful scenes with the ties. A very clever use of the limited designs of the ties.
    Such beautiful reminders of your dad. Amazing how a scent can give us such precious memories.
    well done.

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  35. Love your landscapes! Hope you enjoy the party! I am a new follower!

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  36. Hi Sheila! One never knows what fabric is going to be just he perfect one! It looks great!

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  37. Beautiful use of your Dad's ties. Your created something truly beautiful.

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  38. You throw a great party. Thank you for inviting me!

    So that you know, I've become a Follower and when time permits, I'll be back to see what other beautiful things were made by your hands!

    What this party is all about is to GROW your blog and I'm hoping to do the same. When you get to Section One, check out A Country Chic Retreat and SuZeQ Creations, my personal blog, in Section Fifteen I'd love for you to follow and subscribe to.

    Happy crafting!
    SuZeQ

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  39. Oh boy those landscapes are super amazing. Such a wonderful idea.

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  40. Hi Sheila! Stopping in from the GYB event and am sure glad I did!! Love how creative you are! I added myself as a GFC follower and look forward to following! Stop by: val from myplvl.blogspot.com...and if ya like what ya see, I'll hope you'll follow too! With smiles! V:)

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  41. Wow! Popping in from GYB - your creativity is amazing. I've become a follower. Best wishes
    Kim at WisdomwithNeedleandThread.blogspot.com

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  42. Hi Sheila, popping in on GYB. I'm already a follower; always nice to see what you're up to. I think you've done a fabulous job with your Dad's ties. I still have all my father's ties- he's been gone 22 years, but I know if I was working with them, I'd smell his Old Spice (actual or imagined...) We got over a foot of snow in last storm, and now 2 more on the way...Hope you're having fun with GYB!!

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  43. Congratulations! You have created wonders with ties! Of course, your brothers will love! It is a beautiful and cheerful his father's memory.
    Big hug!

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  44. I love your landscapes Sheila and I am sure your family members will cry when they receive them. Your dad is definitely smiling!!!

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  45. What a wonderful way to remember your dad and to use his ties to create something special for your family. I'm sure your Dad is very happy. Thank you so much for inviting us over to have a visit with you.

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  46. Hi, I came across your beautiful Valentine's postcards on Carolyn's blog so decided to check out your blog. Then I found you were in the GYB 2015 party, like me. I really enjoyed reading a few of your posts and especially the posts about your father's ties. This will be so special for your family. I'll be following your blog from now on.
    Catherine (in South Wales, UK)

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  47. Visiting from GYB hop, lovely look at your recent projects! Thanks for being a part of the hop. Adding you to my Bloglovin list, we share a lot of the same crafty interests.

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  48. Visiting from GYB party. Love the idea for using your dad's ties. So creative.

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