Melanie Testa's Blog, page 34

Long Beach, Baby!

Arrow didn't want me to go to Long Beach, so he solved the problem by tucking himself into my luggage. Pretty lil guy.

But went I did! Quilt Festival is new to me, it is like one big Partay, with the added benefit of gorgeous quilts, enthusiastic friends and the ability of being able to find most any notion or cloth available.
Above, I demonstrate machine quilting on the Bernina 440, which I am in love with. I am a Bernina Woman through and through. This machine has the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regula

Busy Bee.

I have completed the forth I2Q Vid Prompt: Soy Wax!!!

So I dyed and surface designed my peasant blouse. And, well. I don't like my results. I like the shirt better in white. That is the bummer about blogging, you have reference of before and after. My dyes aren't up to full strength, they are a little old, the batik, daisy boob motif? Ah well.

Should I keep the neckline open? It feels more comfortable that way... But does it look OK?

Aw geez, Marge.

This is the piece I am going to be working on in O

Long Beach Prep!

Using this tutorial, I created this peasant blouse for Quilt Festival in Long Beach. In the next post, I will show this same blouse, surface designed and dyed!

What's in a day.

First off, a drawing of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Promenade. David and I walked through Brooklyn Heights and enjoyed watching small sailboats compete with water taxis and barges. There were trains, planes, boats, helicopters and automobiles, bicycles and I am sure I am missing something. The page in my journal is incomplete, needs color.

Ah well. Good stuff.

I warmed the wax pot and created a few more wax and paint samples. This is the artsy view of things. Not the all-get-out-mess-of-the-liv

And then we were three.

So here is my latest I2Q VidPrompt #3: ATC's

Use techniques found in the my book Inspired to Quilt to create Artist Trading Cards to trade with me and fellow readers at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach.

I used the heart motif in 4 different ways to create these super quick Artist Trading Cards. I am going to take a buch of cards with me to the show and encourage you to do the same! I would like to meet up and trade if you want to, wanna say Saturday? I need to see when I am schedule

It's a wonderful day...

I love Mr. Rogers (present tense)

Thought I might introduce you to my neighborhood. Here is some raw footage of my neighborhood. If you haven't been reading my other blog, every-single-day, you may not know that less than two months ago I moved from Flagstaff, Arizona back to the east coast to Brooklyn, New York. I used to live in Connecticut till about three years ago. So in addition to having a book come out, I am getting used to a whole new neighborhood and a whole new way of life. This ain't

I am working on this:This is a piece that I began as a pr...

I am working on this:

This is a piece that I began as a project for my book, but that I it messed up and put it aside. Although I have been attending some knit groups, I have not felt inspired to knit. Instead, I bring sewing projects. I embroider, bead and enjoy the company of my fellows. This piece was taken out of hibernation, in order to sit and stitch at knit group.

So the thing I messed up is the word, Asperum. It is Latin for violent, fierce, rough and I like this as a sentiment, though I g

Working away.

True to Melly fashion I am working on something that has bird feathers in it. I can't really say what I am making but figure I can show a small detail shot. It won't give away the house, so to speak. The interesting thing with this piece is the use of COTTON thread. I usually use rayon exclusively, But was given some cotton thread and began to wonder.

Texture and differences in texture are a basic artistic concept. The layering technique that I use merges beautifully when quilted with rayon threa

Pretty Purse Give Away

every-single-day readers, remember I am also hosting an Author Blog on the Quilting Arts Community blog. It is a lot of work to post at both places so please forgive the grammatical tenses.

Hello All.

I know how much a give away can draw attention to a blog and as the Quilting Arts Community grows each day, more and more of you are coming to the site and finding the value in it. This is a place where we can met to exchange ideas, show each other examples of our work. ask for critiques and gain fr

Video Prompts Begin!

Hi everybody!

Today I will begin our semi-weekly I2Q Video Prompt Challenge.

Some basic yadayada.

This video challenges speaks to making marks and motifs that can be used in future projects. These marks are your personal signature and can come to be synonymous with your work and personal style.

Specifically I will ask you to make two different kinds of stamps, craft foam stamps and glue stamps, found on pages 22 through 25 of Inspired to Quilt.

During this next week, I am going to make some cloth