Happy Winter Solstice 2020!

 Hope you are having a good Holiday Season in spite of our times.

 Today is an interesting Winter Solstice because of the Saturn Jupiter conjunction viewable outside in the Southwest sky.  We were able to get a view of it outside one of our windows. Just listened to a bit about it on the Lowell Observatory website. The good news is you can still see it through the middle of January of 2021, today is the closest the 2 planets will be together when observed in the sky.

Happy Solstice! As the days get longer may times get better in our lives and in the world! We are all one and connected to each other!

Blessings,

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk

Holiday Decorations

 Today I'm sharing photos of this year's Holiday decorations. My husband trimmed evergreen branches in our backyard and we used them to decorate.

I wasn't that enthused about it at first, but once I started I enjoyed the process. I created a small wreath using a wooden embroidery hoop wrapped with batting and fabric as the base. I then wired the branches onto the hoop, using medium weight wire we had on hand.

My husband made a little tree out of 2 branches and even built a little wooden stand for it.

I used some branches for decorating on our table. I recently finished a tree skirt, table runner and placemats for the holiday (all my own designs). 

I still have Holiday fabrics left in my stash! I may have to make some more decor for next year! 

Hope you have enjoyed seeing my creations and have fun decorating and enjoy the Holiday Season.  

Blessings,

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31DayBlogChallenge2020 - What day is it? Also, project recently completed

I am having difficulty keeping up with the daily blog! I've decided to go weekly, instead of daily for my blog and commit to doing that throughout next year. 

I don't have a business to promote right now, but I do like to share my creations and enjoy writing - so I will continue the blog! 

On that note, here is a little machine embroidered quilt I created for a recent Quilting Arts Reader Challenge: Art as Inspiration Challenge. It wasn't chosen for publication this time, but it did give me an outlet for creating this little memory quilt.

The challenge was to create a Postage Stamp Quilt honoring or in the style of another artist. I chose to commemorate my Video Art Teacher and friend, Shigeko Kubota.

She was one of the first women video artists. I studied video art with her while she was a visiting artist at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1984. She mainly resided in New York City, so I was very fortunate to be able to study with her in Chicago. We wrote to each other over the years, and I still miss her very much. She passed away in 2015. I remember she liked the way her name sounded like "Chicago". So, here is my little quilt, in memory of her and those Chicago days, it is titled: "Love to Shigeko". It is 4 inches by 4 inches in size, I imagined the design and then created the embroidery in my Embird Embroidery software. It was stitched out on my Bernette B79 machine. I also used some hand stitching on the top of the quilt.

Mini Quilt created in response to Quilting Arts Reader Challenge, title: "Love to Shigeko"

Hope you enjoy seeing my little quilt!

 - Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk

Day 3 and 4 - 31 Day Blog Challenge 2020 - My Machine and Favorite Tools

 I've decided to combine Day 3 and 4 of the #31DayBlogChallenge2020. I have a new sewing machine to write about, which is currently my new favorite tool.

I do have more than one machine - some have their own purpose, so they are not used all of the time: Elna Needle felting machine, Brother Serger, Brother PQ1500 Straight Stitch machine, Qnique 14+ Mid Arm Quilting Machine, and Pfaff 2134 Sewing and Embroidery machine.

Late last year my Pfaff machine had trouble with its top tension. It is an electronic machine, so I needed to take it to an authorized dealer to repair the top tension. 

It is a bit of a drive to the nearest authorized dealer(s), and you have to drive over the mountains. We planned to go in February, but the weather was rainy, and we decided to wait. Then the pandemic came, and we are waiting longer.  In the meantime, I realized my embroidery machine software needed to transfer designs to the machine doesn't work with Windows 10. So...I decided to look for a sewing/embroidery machine that I can use now.

I decided on the Bernette B79, after looking at all the great features of the machine. It has all the features of my older Pfaff machine and my Brother PQ1500 straight stitch machine combined! Also, I found you could open the machine and clean and oil it yourself, following instructions in the manual. No need for frequent trips to maintain the machine! It also came with many added accessories, some that I had to pay extra for years ago with my older machine. 

Here are the features that are like my other machines (combined):

More space under the needle for sewing - about 9 inches
Knee lift
Built in IDT (Integrated Dual Feed Technology) - like having a built in walking foot
Included table for expanding the sewing space.

The machine also has features that are like the more expensive Bernina machines.

Different features that I noticed from the expensive machine was a top loading bobbin, rather than a bottom loading bobbin. I actually like that feature! My other machines have the bottom bobbin, which would be nice for bobbin embroidery, but the top one is nice, easy to adjust just the top tension, and I now use an 80 weight thread (Wonderfil DecoBob thread) in the bobbin, which works very nicely. It takes Class 15 bobbins, and I was able to order some pre-wound bobbins that are excellent.

A nice assortment of feet are included - I did purchase an extra set of feet, it was very economically priced compared to my older Pfaff machine. The feet are a very high quality also and work with the Dual Feed Technology (IDT).

Instead of going on about the great features - here is a link to the Sewing Machines Plus store where I bought my machine. I was able to order it on line, they also have excellent customer service. Also, a link to the Bernette site where you can read about the machine.

Bernette B79 Sewing and Embroidery Machine (sewingmachinesplus.com)

bernette 79

So that is it! My new machine, and current favorite tool!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Day 5 - 31 Day Blog Challenge 2020 - First Projects

Today's subject is first project. I've decided to share some of my first creative projects.

I'm going way back for these! 

The first one is from 1964. I guess I have always liked this little pinch pot. It is unfired clay, painted with tempera paint and shellac. Does anyone remember making these? I don't have too many early projects, but this is one I've held onto! It is even signed!

2nd project I'm sharing is my hand stitched pin cushion. I made it in Brownies. My mom was the Brownie leader, and later our Girl Scout leader. I was a shy kid, so having your mom for a leader was comforting.

The last project is an embroidered pillow case. I believe I was about 9 or 10 when I made this. My stitching skills had improved and I was careful to follow the lines! 

We all start somewhere when we create. I know my skills have improved quite a bit since these projects! Though the embroidery may have been more carefully executed than what I create now! It is fun to look back at creations from the past, they always seem to provide comfort to me in my life.

Hope you appreciate your past creations!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Day 2 - 31 Day Blog Challenge 2020 - Sewing Space

Hi!

Today's Blog subject in the #31DayBlogChallenge2020 is Sewing Space. I am very happy to have a wonderful Studio space, which I use for sewing, quilting, and also designing and other creative endeavors. I also spend time designing on the computer a bit in our home office. (Then there is knitting in front of the TV at night!)

I haven't always had a big space to create in. Though, I've always made room for creating. As a teenager I would sew on my mom's older machine, and draw and paint in our basement space (putting away materials between creating). 

When I lived alone I would create anywhere in my living space. Usually a small table in the living room, and one time in my kitchen. After marrying, my husband made sure I always had a room to create in. 

Any space will do to create in, and if you have to you can always have a portable space. It is wonderful to have a room or space to call your own, but don't let limitations of space limit your creativity! Find a portable project you can work on - perhaps a small hand sewing project, a drawing journal, a lap desk to set your project on while working. A small basket for holding supplies is nice when your space is portable. I often hand sew at night in the living room, keeping my supplies in a small container or basket.

Enjoy your space (however big or small) and create!

Happy Creating!

- Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk

You can visit my Instagram page at @dblosczyk, to see additional photos of my creations, and some of my studio space, if you like!

Day 1 - 31 Day Blog Challenge 2020, Introductions

 Hi Everyone!

Hope you are all doing well and staying safe this past year. I haven't blogged much this year, though I have been posting on Instagram every once in a while.

I've decided to participate this December in the 31 Day Blog Challenge with Cheryl Sleboda of www.Muppin.com.

I participated back in 2018 and it was a fun challenge. This time I will most likely post some of the days, but maybe not all! I need to get back to using my blog space. It is good writing practice, and fun to share our creations!

My photo with Tumbler Quilt on my Design wall

I'm Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk, I am a fiber artist, I love making art quilts, and sometimes traditional quilts all that I design myself. (Occasionally I will sew a fun pattern someone else has designed!) Other interests are embroidery, needle-felting, drawing, painting, photography, knitting, crochet, tatting, tunisian crochet and a little weaving (on mini looms). I love exploring with fiber. 

There is a lot to explore and discover. Growing up, I was always creating something, and embroidery and fiber were interests then, too. Family quilts and craft creations inspired me to create my own quilt designs.

I have an art background working in many different media, and I use those experiences in the art I create now.

When I'm not creating art, I'm busy with my husband, caring for our garden and our small orchard, and practicing my violin. 

Use the hashtag #31dayblogchallenge2020 to check out the other bloggers too!

You can also view my Instagram page at @dblosczyk

Have a Happy December!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

 

2020 Projects in my Studio

Happy 2020! It has been a strange year so far. I was busy teaching a Beginning Quilting Class for ages 10 - adult, with a quilting friend at our local library, then in March we had to stop the classes, due to our current global pandemic. These are days I am sure none of us have imagined. (I usually try to think of pleasant things, and share positive thoughts with my friends and family as much as possible. I am not a fan of horror movies!)

Hope you are all staying safe and using this time to find the positive in your life as much as possible. 

Here are a few projects I have been working on in my studio.

This is a pillow case I made as part of the quilting class we were teaching. It was made using a video tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Company. It was a lot of fun to make, you might want to try making one at home! Just search for Missouri Star Quilt Co pillowcase tutorial, and you will find the YouTube video. 

Pillow case made using material
in my fabric stash.

Close up of pillow case edge.

I also have some other projects in the works, and have been learning a few new techniques.

I had gotten a new Tumbler cutting die from www.AccuQuilt.com for my Go Fabric cutter. I used 5 inch charm packs and cut the Tumbler shapes from them, and laid them out in an improvisational design on my design wall. The idea was to play with hot and cool colors, using older batiks I have had, some new Tula Pink solids, and new Benartex Batiks I had. I also used fabrics from Connecting Threads. I like the charm packs, since you get a wide assortment of fabrics to work with. I used a larger blue batik fabric from my stash for the border. The cutting was fun with the die, since it goes very quickly.

Close up Improvisational
Tumbler Quilt

Improvisational Tumbler Quilt in process.

The only difficult part of making the Tumbler quilt, is getting your points to match perfectly! I am going to resew a few, just in case I decide to enter a show with my quilt. I may add some applique design on top. I have been working on several quilt tops so I can practice quilting them, also. The more you do the better you get at doing it! Most important is to enjoy the process and be yourself!

Last for now, I have also been learning how to weave using a Pin loom. I had wanted to do this for a while, then I found some supplies at some sales we went to. Finally getting to it, since we are going out less often now. It was easier to learn than I thought, and it is very relaxing. Here are some pictures of my supplies and my first woven square. 

Vintage Weave-it
loom instructions.

Vintage Weave-It looms and weaving needles.

Newer Weavettes looms in box and small plastic Weave-it loom.

There are more projects I have in the works! Will save those to share later. I hope you will use some time now to find things you enjoy doing, and don't be afraid to try new things and learn new skills. As I get older I am learning to be braver about life.

Wishing all good things to you in this strange, new life and world in which we are living!

Blessings,

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk