Uniquely Yours Creations

Merry Christmas!

2016-12-25T14:30:00.002-05:00

2016-12-15T16:42:00.000-05:00

I've been taking a break from quilting and dyeing fabric for awhile.

Taking lots of photos

Enjoying nature

Taking walks

trying to see things with new eyes

discovering

exploring new roads

Sitting in the park watching children feed the ducks

Moon gazing - that was one great
super moon!

Sometimes you have to just stop look and listen

Feedsacks Dresden Plates

2016-09-21T10:32:00.002-04:00

Vintage Feed sacks - Dresden Plate

1930s to 1940s - Lot - 9 pieces and more

Measures about - 17" round
Some are hand sewn and some are machine stitched.
Various vintage fabrics and feed sacks
No stains or holes
Not hemmed

Some of the plates do not lay flat and would have to be adjusted.

SOLD

Dyed Sun Prints

2016-07-05T20:11:00.002-04:00

I saw these baby deer in my

neighbor's back yard.

They were eyeing his enclosed garden.

They're so cute!

I was dyeing some sun prints on

my deck when I spotted them.

Sun prints are trumpet vine leaves.

Aqua Shibori with some sun prints

with leaves.

Greeting Card with Fabric insert

of Sun Print of small maple leaves.

Have to take advantage of the warm

weather.

Happy Quilting!

Dyeing Naturally - Hibiscus Part 2

2016-06-24T18:31:00.002-04:00

In my previous post; I talked about

Natural dyeing with Hibiscus flowers.

The results that I found after doing a

google search; always shows the results

as pink color.

This is my second attempt.

I soaked my fabric in distilled water

and alum. Did a quick Tie dye method

of wrapping the fabric and put it into

the pretty dark pink dye water ( after

extracting the dye from dried hibiscus

flowers)

I just heated the dye water and left

the fabric in over night.

This is what it looked like in the morning.

(I took the photo on my deck; so the bright

spots are from the sun)

It's a very pretty pink!

Dried and Ironed it.

Filled the sink with distilled water.....

gone is the pink and it's back to the grey again.

It's just not working.

If anyone knows of a way to retain the pink

color after washing - please let me know.

Otherwise, my conclusion is that hibscuis

flowers does not make a pretty pink but a

grey.

Dyeing Naturally - Hibiscus

2016-06-21T21:44:00.000-04:00

I have been reading a couple of blogs

that have dyed fabric with Hibiscus (dried)

flowers.

I loved the results that they were getting with

the pink to rose colors.

I googled to find other web sites that told

you what colors you can achieve with certain

plants, flowers et. Hibiscus was always

listed as a pink.

I followed one blog's instruction using

vinegar to soak the fabric.

I first placed the flower heads in a

nylon stocking secured with a rubber band

at one end. This way I won't have to strain it.

I also used my tap water.

I lightly boil my Hibiscus flowers in a stainless

steel pot (only used for this purpose) and

I start to see a nice beautiful almost red

color. Now I'm excited and place my fabric;

which I just did a quick shibori tie in

4 places.

I had the heat on low for about 2 hours,

shut off and left over night.

Took out the fabric and let it dry completely

and gave it a light iron.

Here's what it looked like

It's pretty and pink!

I then put it in water with a light detergent

and then my heart sunk. It had turned a bluish

grey!

It's still pretty but not pink!

I belong to an eco dyeing group on FB and showed

the group what had happened and to ask if there

was something that I missed....??

Someone suggested that I use distilled water instead

of my tap water. (good idea)

My next test to follow.

My point in putting this on my blog is that you

can't believe everything you read on the internet.

(including me) LOL

So the blogs that I saw with the pretty pink from

the hibiscus flowers probably didn't wash their

fabric. When they finally did I bet they got a

big surprise!

Back later on this week with the results of my next test.

Shibori and Beyond

2016-05-26T14:34:00.001-04:00

Shibori - there are traditional ways to

dye and manipulate the fabric. Some

patterns are more complex than others.

Traditionally, Indigo dyes are used more

often than not.

What I enjoy doing is going beyond the traditional

and experiment with bold bright colors.

Playing with a technique and reinterpreting

the design; giving it a whole new look.

I played around with this one - is it a Red moon

or a Blooming Flower Burst?

There are so many possibilities!

Change the colors and it becomes a Sunburst.

I discovered this design by just manipulating

the fabric in different positions.

The possibilities are endless and surprising!

The smaller pieces that I do I'm putting them in

greeting cards. The fabric can be removed and used

or just left the way it is in the card to be displayed.

All these are available in my Etsy shop.

Happy Quilting!

More Hand dye Fabric

2016-04-06T15:18:00.000-04:00

It's supposed to be spring and

it's still freezing cold out.

Look who I saw in my backyard

I couldn't get a better photo; I was

still in my PJ's. He was probably

looking for fish in the creek. It

was breakfast time.

Working to build up more inventory

in my shop. Here's the latest

This is one of my favorite techniques
that I developed. I love this!
All of the ones that I had listed
sold out! More to come.

Brown and beige shibori - good
for trees or landscape fabric.

Sunset and sky fabric.

More Sky fabric - done shibori pole
wrap technique.

More Sky Fabric - I really love
the way this one came out!

I also added a couple of scrap
packs with shibori and textures.

If you're interested in any of these;
head on over to my etsy shop - See
side bar.

Happy Quilting!

Hand Dyed Fabric

2016-03-22T13:22:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year!

When I start to dye fabrics! YAY!

And I love experimenting with new

ideas and techniques!

One of my favorites - Tree Bark!

And Sky Fabric in different colors!

All are available in my Etsy Shop.

Happy Quilting!

Patriotic Table Runner - UFO finish

2016-03-20T14:38:00.000-04:00

Going through my fabric bins and

closet to find more UFO's - I can't

believe that I have so many! But I

don't feel so bad after a quilter on Facebook

admitted that she had over 100! Oh My!

A Patriotic Table Runner

Measures 14" x 33" A nice size to use

on your tables - Kitchen, dinning, or coffee.

For Sale in my Etsy shop.

I don't know which UFO will be next....? LOL

Happy Quilting!

UFO Finish - Improv Quilt

2016-03-08T15:40:00.003-05:00

Well I finally finished another UFO

that has been patiently waiting it's turn.

I used all the left over fabrics from other

projects that I had made and just improvised.

What is an Improv Quilt?

Taking Fabrics, cutting pieces and sewing them

in an artistic manner through a creative impulse.

Exploring new designs without a written or visual

pattern to follow.

I hand quilted in the big stitch style

using different color threads in circles.

I also cut out some flowers and circles with

steam a seam and fused them on.

I love the wonkiness to it and also the bright

colors! I think it would fit in nicely in a nursery

or child's room.

I do have several more UFO's to finish!

Happy Quilting!

Decorative Stitches

2016-03-02T19:55:00.001-05:00

I have been using the decorative stitches

on my sewing machine more and more.

Instead of using free motion or straight line

quilting on a quilt; I'm finding that the use

of decorative stitches gives the piece a very

different but pretty finish.

On this batik table runner; I used a leaf design

with green variegated thread all along the

sashing lines. (in the ditch)

I really like the way that it came out!

On this crazy quilt; I used the decorative

stitches right in the middle of the sashing and

also on the pieced crazy blocks.

I also used the letters on the machine to

write the animal's names on this Kid's snack

mat.

Another great idea is to use this decorative stitch

instead of trying to free motion some wavy lines!

I love this stitch!

Happy Quilting!

Winter and a Memory Pillow

2016-02-21T21:52:00.001-05:00

I'm one of those people who really really

don't like winter.

I don't think birds like it either - no food.

I try to throw some seeds on the frozen snow.
The stupid squirrel broke my hanging feeder.

Trying to find my steps and walk way.

But I'm happy now that it all melted - well

almost. And yesterday I saw some life! The

crocus is starting to make it's way up through

the soil! YAY Only one more month and it's

spring!

I did some baking; which I love to do in the winter

months.

Banana Walnut Cake - one of my favorites and

easy to make besides being delicious.

I was rummaging through my closet the other

day (I was supposed to be cleaning) and found

a couple of my husband's cotton shirts that I

had kept. (he passed away 5 years ago)

I had saved the shirts thinking that some day

I would make a quilt out of them but then I saw

on Facebook that someone had made a memory

pillow out of one. So, I washed the shirt and

Ironed it and looked for a tutorial. I found a

couple to get a general idea and then did it my

way in the end.

It felt kind of weird to be cutting the shirt; I

can't explain it. I felt like I was committing a sin.

I know that probably sounds silly.

My husband worked for Verizon for over 27 years and

I found an anniversary pin, what year I don't know

but it was when Verizon was called N.Y. Tel.

I put it on the pocket. It felt so sad and happy at

the same time.

I then packed it up and as a surprise; mailed it to

my daughter who lives on Long Island. She was

so overjoyed and surprised!

I have some pieces left from that shirt and am

thinking of some some items to make with them.

I also have two more shirts left. I might make

another pillow for myself.

I'm so happy that I saved them. I only wish that

I had saved more but I donated them.

Happy Quilting!

Natural Dyes - Leaf Dye

2016-01-16T16:06:00.001-05:00

Oak Leaf Print

Below is one of my photographs
that I transferred onto one
of my eco dyed pieces

I extracted dye from leaves that
I picked up in my backyard. Most
of the leaves are from the fall
2 years ago. The colors are still
vibrant!

Even the cotton doily, thread and
lace came out very good.

Oak bark with some printed leaves.
The other print picked up the string
marks that I wrapped around the bark.

I made some sample packs -
these are all for sale in my
Etsy shop here
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaterialisticVisions?section_id=16846026&ref=shopsection_leftnav_5

There are also more sets available.

@ Materialistic Visions.

Thanks for visiting!

Vintage Quilt

2016-01-13T18:35:00.000-05:00

Today I went to my Quilt History

study group where we were shown

some wonderful vintage quilts!

One of my favorites! A crazy quilt

made about 1850 in Philadelphia.

The stitching is beautifully done!

Almost every square was done with

the Broderie Perse technique using

beautiful chintz fabrics.

I can image all of the time, work

and effort put into this treasure!

Naturally Dyed - Eco Dye

2016-01-11T20:43:00.000-05:00

A couple of years ago I started

to dye fabric with plant material.

Many of them were dyed with fallen

leaves or leaves that I took off

some of the trees in my backyard.

It's very addicting! So I decided

to destash and sell some pieces

in my Etsy shop.

The plum colors were dyed with the

fallen leaves and the deep beige color

is from Oak. The doily came out great!

Crochet doily 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"
other pieces measure
9" x 12", 11 1/2" x 13", 8" x 10 1/2"

Great pieces for your fiber art, slow cloth,

Boro cloth or art quilt.

I made a needle case with some of

the fabric.

And a zippered pouch.

Have fun creating!

Image Transfer - easy!

2016-01-05T21:07:00.001-05:00

A couple of years ago; I got this idea
in my head after reading some image
transfer techniques. I'm lazy; I wanted
something easy and not have to go out
to get an image printed somewhere else.
And using what I had in my house.

I searched google to see if anyone had
this idea before but I found nothing.

So I started experimenting.

This is a photo that I did back in March 2010. It's a black and white photograph of my Aunt from the 1940s. This was one of my first experiments that I did with Shout Stain
remover. Yes, it works!

And another from the same years - of the dragon - both using my hand dyed fabrics.
They are still in great shape as the day
I transferred them.

I made a tutorial in case you would
like to try this technique for your
projects.

Ready?

I suggest making a few samples pieces first just to get the hang of it and experiment.

Supplies needed
Background fabric (I suggest a light color)
Burnishing tool (old credit card)
Freezer paper
Regular printing paper
Paper or plastic cup
Paint Brush (or I even tried Q-tips)
Shout (stain remover)
A black and white image - if you don't have your own image; you can get one from http://thegraphicsfairy.com/

A printer that uses dyed-based inks. If you have a printer with pigmented inks; this method will not work.
For example: I use my old HP PSC 1400 series - my Epson has pigmented inks

1 - Print the image on white printing paper
Cut around the images leaving a space all around.
I suggest using a small sized image to practice.
I printed my images 3" x 5" on regular printing paper

2 - Cut 2 pieces of freezer paper at least 2" larger than your image. (the bottom piece
can be larger)
Lay down the freezer paper shiny side down. This is done to ensure that the dye doesn't stain your table or whatever surface you are working on.

3 - Lay down your fabric - right side up - on top of the freezer paper. (I'm using fabric that I dyed naturally with Oak leaves
and oak bark)

4 - Now lay down your image - right side down on top of the fabric. (make sure it's centered where you want it.

5 - Spray the Shout into a plastic cup - make sure that you have enough to cover the image.

6 - Dip the paintbrush into the shout but not too much as to make it puddle. (this will tear the paper and smudge if it's too much)
Now with slightly hard dabs, cover the image with the paintbrush making sure that the whole image is covered. You might have to dip the brush back into the Shout again.

7 - Put the other piece of freezer paper on top of the image (shiny side down) I do this because it lessens the chance of the image paper tearing.

8 - This is the part that takes patience and practice. Use an old credit card (or AAA) as a burnishing tool and pressing
down hard but gently - go back and forth over the image making sure that you burnish
the entire image. Tip - hold down the
paper with one hand so that nothing
slides around. I start at the right side
and work my way across.

9 - Then lift the paper off of the fabric

Please don't get upset or lose heart
if the first one doesn't work.
Like mine here---

You can see on the left side of the bottom wing - I missed a part!

Like I said before; it takes patience and practice but it does work.

Let the fabric dry and then with a warm
to hot iron (no steam) go over the printed fabric on the wrong side. This is heat
setting the dye.

And it's ready for your project!

Imagine and create something beautiful!

Art Quilting Studio

2015-12-01T18:33:00.002-05:00

I am so excited - I am in Art Quilting

Studio magazine - Winter 2016 issue!

There are so many beautiful quilts

in this issue and I can't believe

that I'm a part of it.

Here I Am!

In this article I explain how I

discovered an easy way to do image

transfer onto you fabric using your

home printer.

When I first discovered this method;

I searched and searched the internet

to see if anyone had done it this way.

Nope

It's so easy and you use your home

printer but it has to have dye-based

inks not pigment based inks. It won't

work with pigment based inks but you'll

have to buy the magazine to find out

how I did it.

I experimented with this method for

a couple of years and the images are

still very good!

One of the first images I used was

on this zippered pouch.

Hope that you will buy the magazine

and try it for yourself - it's fun!

Happy Quilting!

2015-11-05T15:56:00.001-05:00

I'm a member of a local Quilt History Study

Group; so Antique quilts inspire me.

I made this little doll quilt with

a matching tote. It's styled after

an Antique Medallion doll quilt

It measures 14" x 14" and I hand

quilted it only in the ditch. Doing

that gives the quilt a nice puffy look.

I love the fabric in this quilt; the

only problem is that I bought it as

a remnant and the selvage was cut off.

I'm in love with such treasures from the

past!

This would make such a cute gift for

a girl of any age.

Living here in Lancaster county; I'm

always inspired by Amish, Mennonite and

Vintage quilts.

I made this small wall hanging which

measures 21" x 21".

Pinwheel is the center design which has

printed fabric; unlike the Amish that use

mostly solids - it is machine quilted with

a more modern quilting design - Amish quilts

are hand quilted with feathers, flowers or

other motifs.

Both are for sale in my Etsy shop.
(see side bar)

Happy Quilting!

2015-10-22T18:50:00.000-04:00

I haven't made anything for Christmas

in a long time.

I decided to make a Christmas tree

Table topper.

I didn't have a pattern and decided just

to design it as I went.

This is what I came up with.

It's Modern and the quilting is geometric

designs. Also, it has lots of gold thread

running through. I'm happy with the way

it came out.

I'm also having fun designing Kids snack

mats; The mini totes can be used for

a Gift card holder or Utensils holder

for the mat.

This fabric is out of print; I think its

so adorable! Wish I had more of it.

And this Scotty dog fabric is just so

cute! Also out of print.

All available at my Etsy shop.

Happy Quilting!

2015-09-12T14:31:00.002-04:00

2015-08-20T20:32:00.000-04:00

My front garden is starting to

look like a jungle! Wild morning

glories are growing everywhere. They

wrap themselves around my rose bushes

and other plants and can choke them out.

So they had to go!

I saw this unusual plant growing which

I suspected was a weed. It's growing

along side my Cleome but I decided to

allow it to grow, just to see what it

was.

It's now six feet tall!

I thought that all those little

buds would bloom into something pretty

but it doesn't seem to be doing that.

So, I uploaded a photo on the FB Plant

Idents page to ask what it was. One

person said it was Amaranthus - so

I googled images and saw that some had

pretty purple blooms but then another

person answered and said that it was

common Pigweed - not to let it grow

because once the seed pods fall it will

be all over the garden next year. NO!

So out it comes!

On the other side of the garden as I'm

weeding I find this

Looks like some kind of scary mushroom

fungi??? One person said it was "Dead

Man's fingers" common when you mulch

with composted bark. who knew?

Another person said it was Pisolithus

tinctoris aka dog turd fungus - but

I did an image google search and found

that the color was too brown. I've never

came across this in my garden before -

it's a first.

The garden continually teaches me new

things every year.

I was on my back deck dyeing some fabric

and had a visitor....

A Silver Spotted Skipper.

It wouldn't get off of the fabric; I

kept trying to shoo it away but it

would only come back. Must have been

the color! LOL

Fabric that I created last week

https://www.etsy.com/listing/244243261/hand-dyed-floral-fabric-various-colors?ref=shop_home_active_12

The techniques that I used were fabric

manipulation and some sun print of leaves.

I Love the way it came out!

I also a wild grape vine growing in the back

yard; so I printed some of the leaves.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/244616345/hand-dyed-fabric-heliographic-print-lawn?ref=shop_home_active_9

These two fabrics look pretty together

They are one yard cuts and are available

in my Etsy shop.

Have a great week!

2015-08-10T22:05:00.001-04:00

I have written before about a couple of the farms in

my area that were sold and the buildings and

barns being torn down to make way for housing.

It breaks my heart every time that I see it.

This was the back of the farm where I spotted the

Rainbow.

The road is now closed that passed the farm but

the cross road is now opened after 2 months of

doing what ever they're doing.

This is what it looks like now

The old road is on the left side and the new curved

road is on the right side. I find it interesting to watch

the progress of each stage.

Now I'm wondering - do they have to move all of those

telephone poles to the new road? Only time will tell

or we lose our electric ugh!

The landscape is changing dramatically.

-----

I have been dyeing more shibori fabric which

I feel more passionately each time I make a

new piece.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/243030970/shibori-fabric-hand-dyed-blues-and?ref=shop_home_active_6

Blue and Violet - soothing colors and lines.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/242536714/shibori-fabric-hand-dyed-mustard-yellow?ref=shop_home_active_8

This piece was over dyed (dyed twice) using Arashi Shibori

(pole wrapped) technique resulting in the beautiful

colors that you see.

Colors - Mustard Yellows, Shades of green and an Indigo Blue color

The fun part is experimenting with colors and the

size of the lines.

Have a great week!

And

Make something beautiful!

2015-07-26T18:28:00.002-04:00

The garden is very happy after a nice

soaking rain.

I have been experimenting with more

fabric manipulation before dyeing.

Including some sun prints - I love the

results of this piece.

I used 100% Kona Cotton The thread count for kona cotton is 60 by 60
a tighter weave and a heavier weight

I do not buy PDF(prepared for dyeing) fabric - I wash all of my fabric in very
hot water and washing soda to remove sizing and chemicals - at this point the fabric also shrinks. What this means to you is that you should not have any significant shrinkage after washing my (pre-treated) fabrics.

I used two different technique in this piece

- stitch resist and pole wrapped Arashi

Shibori -- Colors are Aqua and black with

some greys - very striking!

Have a great week!

2015-07-19T18:30:00.000-04:00

Summer is my dyeing time and it gives

me an opportunity to try new techniques

or just try to improve some old ones.

I love the ghost like images in the

background of this shibori piece!

This piece came out a little lighter

and I was using the same colors - always

a surprise.

I think either piece would make nice

background fabric for a quilt or use

in an art quilt as Tree Bark.

I used Greys, Blacks, Browns and Raw Sienna.

This piece has fine wavy lines of greys with

a light hue of pinks.

Heavier on the pinks here and I didn't

push the fabric down as tight.

All are Pole wrapped - Arashi Shibori,

which I am hooked on right now.

Happy Quilting and Dyeing!