Patchwork Book Quilt

Orange, mixed media collage quilt with old book covers

Old books that find their way into my studio are dissected and skinned. When the box labeled 'book skins' starts to fill up I piece together another patchwork quilt. Some of the skins are more brittle than others so I've found the best method is to glue them together first and then add the stitching. In the image below you can see the pre-gluestick composition of my latest quilt.

Book Quilt

Insects, hand stitched collage book 'skin' quilt

Finally got around to photographing the book quilt I shared with you last week. This patchwork of frayed book skins represents many different volumes....a French dictionary, children's primers, a physiology textbook, various science books, a guide to insects and a bible story book.

A big thanks to those of you who shopped at my Spring Sale! If you're reading this and missed it I'll plan to keep the coupon code active 'til tonight ;) Coming up this week are two 'wall doll' assemblages and a group of April art blocks.

Quilt In Progress

Working with bits of book skin's to create another quilt like the ones I patched together last year. If you follow me on Instagram these are old news ;) It's such fun to have immediate feedback there...like the sage advice to use a thimble while stitching! Check back later this week for the finished quilt.

Patchwork Bunting

What to do with a beautiful but terribly tattered 'n threadbare quilt top? Make patchwork bunting of course! Snipping, starching, punching and stringing these 'lil bunting flags together was a nice break from other household duties over the weekend. Of course I've put aside some prime pieces to stitch up into pillow shams at a later date. For now, I'm offering these patchwork-y bunting strands in the vintage shop. These look pretty sweet hanging 'round the house if I do say so myself!

Crewelwork Sampler

My favorite-est birthday gift, presented by Patrick, was this unfinished sampler of different crewelwork stitches. Does he know me well or what?! Eventually we'll have it framed up, needle and all--the growing pile of "art to be framed one day" is another story. For now, I've rearranged the inspiration boards in my studio and have hung it front and center. It's a mesmerizing muse and color palette of stitchery for the new year.

Just Relax

Bohemian Patchwork Quilt, at RobertaGrove

I've been telling myself to "just relax" quite a lot during these busy autumn days. So...I did just that and put together an Autumnal treasury of some recent Etsy favorites of mine. Enjoy!

Random Patterns

Popping in late this afternoon to share some random patterns off my iPhone. These were all taken with Instagram--a super fun photo sharing application. If you've got an iPhone I'd love you to join up and be my Instagram friend! You can find me under the user name of 'sushipot' (what else?!). Oh...and the little round thingy's below are envelope seals made from old ephemera and are new in the shop this week.

Ink Doodle Quilt

Speaking of quilts, here's a paper patchwork quilt I made out of some ink doodles years ago. It's one of the first pieces I made which incorporated hand-stitching and has been hanging on the inspiration board in my studio ever since. Now that it's been photographed, I think I'll go hang it up with the backside facing out as I'm growing kinda partial to its blotchy, haphazard quiltiness.

Crazy Quilt Pillow

Yesterday I mentioned I had one more treasure to share with you from my weekend antiquing jaunt and here 'tis! This little (10" x 15") crazy quilt pillow with the most delicate embroidery sampler is mine for keeps. I could not bear to part with it and for $3.50 it was a lucky steal. For the sake of restraint I passed up another pair of crazy quilt pillows but neither of them sported such exquisite loveliness. Now I need to decide whether to leave it in its shabby pillow form or frame up the floral sampler.

Collage Grid At Last

Elastic, collage on wood panel

Finally....this collage grid is finished and up in the shop. It was painstaking work as each of the squares were cut by hand (no punches here!). Not sure if I want to attempt another one any time soon although I'm thinking an even larger one would be stunning. I'd love to hear what you think.

Sushipot Vignette no 16

Sushipot Vignette no 16 (view of couch)

Each image in the Sushipot Vignette series is composed of a grouping of objects found in and around my home or studio. Our couch with a new patchwork quilt throw (my fav quilt find yet!) and a stuffed owl purchased way back from KungFuCowgirl when Lizzie was a toddler. Take a peek at previous images in my vignette series here.