took a basic introduction to New Zealand Flax workshop taught by Debbie McClelland from Nanaimo, B.C.. I made a diagonal plaited small pouch (3.25”c4.5”x1.5”) and a four corner container (4.5”x4.5”x4.5”) with a wonky braided rim. #newzealandflaxweaving #greatbasinbasketmakers

I always forget to bring my name lanyard to the workshops but I never forget my apron. This evening, I embroidered a “Hello my name is Jennifer” label onto two of my aprons to solve that problem of forgetting my name tag. #hello #machineembroidery

Completed 4”x4”x4” gourd that I wood-burned, painted with metallic inks, inlayed with colored crushed glass, and bedazzled to create more dimension. #gourdart #gourd #nevadagourdsociety

Antler basket (11”x12”x9”) made with one antler, round reed, flat reed, and sea grass, took up to season 3, episode 3 of “Emily in Paris” to make. If you have antlers that you don’t know what to do with, consider gifting to me so I can make another antler basket. #antlerbasket #basketmaker

Two weeks ago, aphids appeared in my veggie garden. Before situation got out of control, I went to the local nursery and bought a container of lady bugs since I don’t use pesticides. No more aphids. Veggies thriving and flowers blooming. #ladybugs #organicgardening

Carved out groves in this gourd so that I can inlay crushed glass later. Also woodburned design and painted gourd with metallic ink dyes. #gourd

Today I found a new zen….free-motion thread painting. Thank you @clorinda_design_studio for your fun and informative workshop this morning (and @shannonebrinkley for hosting this workshop.) #threadpainting #quilting

4/9/2025: Two projects that I completed this week:
1) Altered National Geographic pages decoupaged on 8"x8"x8" gourd.
2) 9"x9"x7.5" dyed gourd sea grass rim coiled with waxed thread; inside decoupaged with altered National Geographic magazine pages.

#gourdart #gourds #alteredpages

Cut and cleaned gourds

Carving & cleaning gourds so I have a variety of shapes and sizes to weave, wood-burn, carve, and/or paint when my creative mood strikes. I first drill a little hole that’ll fit gourd saw blade, saw open, use round ball-shaped sander to clean out inside, and use finer sand paper to smooth it out.

Save the Date July 3, 2025 for the Great Basin Basketmakers open studio @renoisartown event where you can learn to weave a plaited basket using repurposed paper taught by me and other Great Basin Basketmakers!

Save the Date July 3, 2025 for the Great Basin Basketmakers open studio Artown event where you can learn to weave a plaited basket using repurposed paper taught by me and other Great Basin Basketmakers!#greatbasinbasketmakers #artown2025 #basketweaving

So far I’ve completed 5 out of 56 blocks for the alphabet quilt challenge I set for myself

E: Evening Star Block
R: Rail Fence Block
L: Log Cabin Block
W: Wild Goose Chase Block
F: Flying Geese Block

#quiltblocks #quiltingabc

After learning how to construct and alter pants for the past month, today I shortened the length of hubby’s blue jeans and think my hem job looks great! #sewingalteration #denim

Today, I attended Nevada Gourd Society’s fun Carving Techniques workshop where three stations were set up to learn Relief carving from Bonnie Kennedy, Stippling from Kristy Dial, and Filigree from Susan Lester. On my way home, I pulled off the road to watch it snow up on the Carson Range. #gourds

2/28/2025: started my spring garden seeds… sowing indoors before moving outside or to the hydroponic stand. #victorygarden

2/28/2025: started my spring garden seeds… sowing indoors before moving outside or to the hydroponic stand. #victorygarden

For the past 4 weeks, I’ve been going to the Nevada Museum of Art’s Museum School and taking an Intro to Sewing Clothes workshop. I learned how to read patterns, fitting techniques, making a toile, sewing pants. This is my finished pant on my body form. Next 5 weeks is button shirts. #sewingclothes

Your piggy postcards are so cool!

Last July, I got a used size 6 dress form from someone moving to Hawaii. Since then, I’ve been saving my cotton quilt batting trimmings. Finished plumping up the form to my body measurements. Fitted with my clothes to test fit. #goalofthedaydone #dressform

Dress form and cotton batting

Last July, I got a used dress form from someone moving to Hawaii. Since then, I’ve been saving my cotton quilt batting trimmings and should have enough batting now to plump up the size 6 dress form to make my custom body double in size and shape. #GoalOfTheDay #dressform

Kaffe Fassett fabric arranged into Rail Fence Quilt Block.

Kumihimu braids from yarn.

Experimenting with color this morning. Arranged colorful Kaffe Fassett strips for Rail Fence quilt block pattern before sewing, and weaved two more kumihimo braids. #kaffefassett #kumihimo

Completed another 6.5” square block for my Reno Tahoe Modern Quilters Guild block challenge using purple-colored fabric. Followed ‘Garden Square’ pattern by Wendy Russell downloaded free on Patchworksquare.com #quiltblock

Today’s home-cooked meal: Bok Choy, chicken, and Chinese black mushrooms served with Thai brown jasmine rice. I followed this yummy recipe and added a layer of chicken: www.madewithlau.com/recipes/brai...

A year ago, I had pieced this quilt top together but didn’t quilt it at the time because I didn’t have the skill to quilt it, but now I do! Finished putting on the binding on this 59” x 55” quilt this evening. #valentinequilt #scrappyquilt

Garden freeze cloth has allowed me to grow veggies all winter with 15-20F temps. Cut fresh parsley for beef stroganoff (tri tip, onion, mushroom, Better than Bullion beef base, water, garlic powder, allspice, lemon juice, pepper, sour cream, parsley, peas) with spinach & cheese ravioli.

*freeze cloth….

Yesterday at our Great Basin Basketmakers meeting, I learned Kumihimo, the art of Japanese braiding, in a workshop taught by @whatabraid . First two cords in is 8-strand kongoh gumi braiding sequence with spiral pattern. Third cord is flat pattern using varigated silk yarn. #kumihimo

8.5lb bone-in pork shoulder roast was on sale for $8. Cut it in half to freeze half for later, and with the other half, made Southwestern Red Pork Pozole, recipe from the Rancho Gordo cookbook using Rancho Gordo white corn posole hominy. Yummy! #ranchogordo

I bought this pattern a couple years ago. Thanks for the reminder to make that tote as I have all the supplies to do it.

That’s cool

My Reno Tahoe Modern Quilters Guild has a challenge to use PURPLE and GREY fabric shades to make blocks (any design, maker’s choice trimmed to 12.5”, 9.5”, 6.5” or 3.5” squares). This evening, followed Tumble Quilt Block YouTube video by Teresa DownUnder and made this 12.5” block. #quiltblock