Monday, March 1, 2010

(log) cabin fever and kumihimo

I've been working my way through a basket of small wips. This was a piece that started out with tiny log cabin blocks and then grew a little bit from there. Then it got smaller as I kept trimming it to make it more even. It now has a backing and has been quilted, and the finished size is about half a sheet of paper.

 With all the snow, my cure for cabin fever was to visit a bead shop I had never been in before. I ended up in a workshop for kumihimo and this is my progress so far. As I am learning, kumihimo is Japanese braiding with a tremendous historical background.  My progress is a little slow because as you can imagine this looks like a very appealing cat toy.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love the little strip of floral in your log cabin piece. It shouts Spring! All Japanese crafting is tremendous, every time I see something that is Japanese inspired, I am in awe...

Anonymous said...

These little works of art of yours are going to get me into minis yet! I can just feel it. Love this one too!

Anonymous said...

OMG! Am I just now seeing what I may have missed before????? I just enlarged and took a closer look -- are these little masterpieces done entirely by hand????? Please e-mail me with the answer so I don't miss it: bmooj125@comcast.net

Deborah said...

Everything is made by hand. I don't even have a sewing machine except for a treadle that is in storage.

Kris said...

Wow! Now this is impressive! Please make sure to post your finished work!

Mary Welsh Hubbard said...

I love the little log cabins. That is one of my favorite blocks when sewn small like that. and that beading looks cool - I've never heard of it before.

Bea said...

That's beading piece is really interesting. Will it all hang like you are holding it? That center bead looks like it was a lot of work. Amazing.
I love the log cabin block. I love all the variations too. Nice work. :)Bea

Deborah said...

Thanks. Once all the beads from the bobbins that are dangling down have been braided, there is supposed to be one long, necklace size, braided bead piece. Then bead caps and clasps can be added. I've never done this before so well see what happens.

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

I (still) cannot believe how small your pieces are. Amazing!
Like your cat, I love your Japanese bead work in progress.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful mental image I have of you trying to make braid and your cat trying to play with it! Fabulous work.

Morna Crites-Moore said...

Oooh! Sweet little log cabin quilt!

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

I do love your patchwork piece ... it is obvious it has so much love sewn up into it. I shall look forward to the progress of the piece

Tangled Stitch said...

I love the log cabin piece and the other looks very interesting and like you'll end up with something wonderful.