Melanie (Melly) Testa

The Cat Walk, Flattopper Pride and Play Out underwear

This week has been such a fantastic experience. Emily Jensen, of FlatTopper Pride, came to town to walk the cat walk wearing Play Out underwear. FlatTopper Pride is a supportive space where gender presentation and cancer intersect. If you are queer, or an ally of the queer community and you have had breast cancer and wantContinue reading “The Cat Walk, Flattopper Pride and Play Out underwear”

Wow, a whirlwind.

These last few weeks have been amazing. Hectic crazy, fun, well worth it. My creative stand still came to an end, thank goodness. I went to quilt market while visiting my Bestie. I learned a lot. And the Play Out (click this link to see a sexy, hip commercial for the undies) and Flattopper Pride underwear photoshootContinue reading “Wow, a whirlwind.”

Thermofax 101, Screen Printing Made Easy by Lyric Kinard, dvd review

I first met Lyric Kinard at a QATV taping in Ohio. I was immediately taken by her presence and we have remained friends through the years. I own a copy of Lyric’s book, Art+Quilt, which is very detailed with artistic concepts and approaches, and illustrates how these can be applied to work in the quiltContinue reading “Thermofax 101, Screen Printing Made Easy by Lyric Kinard, dvd review”

Everything in between

This chair, with its lovely patina, can be found at Rex, a coffee shop on 10th street between 56 and 57 in Manhattan. It is not the most comfortable chair. But it sure is pretty. I have a thing for chairs, if you have not noticed. Artistically speaking, chairs equate to nudes forContinue reading “Everything in between”

allow, welcome, be present

I have been sewing on the subway and beyond. It is interesting to sew in public, it is not done very often, I regularly see knitters, I know I have seen crocheters, I have seen people drawing. Of all of these activities, knitting happens most often. But even still, not as often as youContinue reading “allow, welcome, be present”

Listening to quiet.

Stitching is a quiet and soothing activity. It is meditative in nature, the world becomes each stitch. The needle emerges, gets a small tug, and then is pushed back through, again and again. It is a slow and steady activity. Expressing ideas with needle and thread is rewarding. Lines become images, small stitches becomeContinue reading “Listening to quiet. “

sewing wherever I go.

I have been preparing myself to be able to sew wherever I go. A few years back, I began to make the Gather your Sew-plies purses, in the hope of being able to keep all essentials at the ready, in a neat and tidy package. (In case you are wondering, a pattern was publishedContinue reading “sewing wherever I go.”

Plastic paint (I mean acrylic).

I am project surfing to be sure. I am doing a bit of this, some of that, and enjoying myself. As I have said previously, I don’t have a lot of experience with acrylic paint. No problem there, it just leaves the playing field open, allowing me the freedom to try new things. I amContinue reading “Plastic paint (I mean acrylic).”

That scant 1/4″

I continue to work on my Meadowlark Quilt Top. As I think back, I took my first quilting class at 19 years of age. This was 26 years ago! I recall, at that time, making a few quilts, I made one for my own bed, I made one for my parents, and a babyContinue reading “That scant 1/4″”

Gather your Sew-plies, sew where you go.

I am here at 61 Local, or at least that is what I think the name of this place is. It might be Public House 61. I am unsure. It has free wifi, an offering I will be coming to value. You see, I need to get out of the house. I have beenContinue reading “Gather your Sew-plies, sew where you go.”