Four Yellow Blocks

Since I was tagged on Facebook by Susan Leslie Lumsden to show some of my work every day for five days, it’s made me work. Good show Susan. Caroline S. Daley is the tag for today. Her work is such fun.

Yesterday I showed an old piece. Today I’ll show what I’m currently working on – a yellow quilt which will be a gift for someone who likes yellow. Here are the first four blocks, untrimmed. There will be a total of 16. Yes, it’s certainly YELLOW.  The squares that are off center in each block are from a vintage butterfly fabric. Each butterfly in the fabric is about 8″ square. Much too large so I’ve cut 6″ square out of it getting pieces of butterflies. Looking at them I think they are almost flower like. I’m not overly fond of yellow but I think it’s going to work. I keep trying to tone it down and I can see that one lighter yellow strip it too big so I’ll trim it down. This is a Quilt As You Go project and will have a narrow sashing of a darker, gray-ish color.

Art Challenge Day Two “The Gift”

I’ve been challenged on FaceBook by Susan Leslie Lumsden to show a piece of my work every day for five days. This is day two and I decided to post it on my blog as this is an old favorite that I want to share.  Titled: “The Gift.” When it was made there were advertisements every Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Valentine’s day for this mixmaster which stated: “Don’t give her just one gift, give her five,” meaning it was a multi-task mixer. Remembering a Christmas when I was newly married, and I didn’t like to cook and didn’t do it well, I received nothing but KITCHEN gifts. What a disappointment. This art piece enshrines the damned thing with a party aporn made of hankies, a shiny metallic halo, and a velvet red roof. Along the bottom are images of a circa 1950’s housewife with her “beloved” mixmaster. Before I forget it, I challenge Ellen Eiford White.

Yellow Challenge

My latest challenge is to make a yellow quilt. I’m not overly fond of yellow and have been dragging my heels but a day or so ago I ran across this yellow retro butterfly print in my stash and began to wonder if I could do something with it. The butterflies are huge, like –  8″ x 11″.

Yesterday, while at the Quilt Sampler shop in Springfield, MO I saw this batik and said to myself, “YES” and bought it.

Then came home and started pulling out other fabrics. I think I can make this all work together. and it just might be fun. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Stay tuned.

BASTE

this  title could also be titled”Determination” or “Hard-Headedness.” I have been trying to sew a piece of silk to a strip of velvet for a art quilt. The silk crawls and the velvet slithers. After two ripping outs I finally got it. Baste, baste, baste.

YES. And, yes, I will clean it up and remove the basting and the little stray threads. The black thread is not basting. It’s decorative.

Wild and Crazy is finally fishished

The last couple of weeks have been more than frustrating. I finished the Wild and Crazy quilt and was very proud of it. Laid it out on the bed and thought it looked super; pillows excluded.

Then I washed and dried it to get rid of the cat hair and to puff it up. Oh Woe. The hand dyed red fabric (which had been previously washed) faded on to the narrow white strips making them a dull pinkish-grey.

There is no contrast between the “white” strips and the grey pieces. What I thought was going to be a great quilt was now a disappointing quilt. I tried to get over the disappointment but it was always in the back of my mind. A few days ago, I wondered if the strips could be painted. Not practical. Then I woke up two days ago and said, “Dots.”

So – by dipping a half inch wooden dowel into white fabric paint and touching it to the strip the quilt turned into this.

Detail:

Now, I think I’m happier with the quilt than I was in the beginning.

 

Wild & Crazy, 3 & 4

I’m at it again. Another Quilt As You Go quilt. This one is bigger than the last. Hopefully it will be about 74″ x 74″. I want to keep it and use it on a blond mid-century bed that used to be my Mom’s.  These are numbers 3 & 4 of four made. Five more to go but the rain has finally stopped and I’ve GOT to get out into the garden. Yes, I can sleep under it. The room will be dark and my eyes will be closed.

Winter’s work

You saw each of these block individually as each was finished. Now you see them all together as one. I’m not even going to bother cleaning up this photo ’cause Spring has sprung and there’s too much to be done.  Glad this got finished before work began outside. I should mention that this was made of all scraps, a little cotton, a few silks, and lots of polys. 44″ x 44″. You see some of the stuff that either inspires me or is awaiting use.

And here is what I’m proudest of:  a Jack in the Pulpit that was gifted and planted last fall. Larger than life!

Blocks 8 & 9 and One To Grow On

The original concept of this project only needs nine blocks, but when someone asked if I was going to finish each block individually I thought, “Hummm.” So I’ve made 10 blocks and I’ll experiment with one and make a decision.

Brown Blocks 4 and 5

The weather has kept me in the house for the whole week. Although being house bound makes me grumpy : ) I’ve accomplisted a fair amount of work. This week there are two brown blocks. For work that appears so simple, I seem to spend an incredible amount of time mulling and rearranging pieces. Block Five was sewn together, ripped apart, and re-sewn into another arrangement. I like how the “shiny” shows in Block Four. My goal is “Elegant Simplicity.” The fabrics are mostly silks and polyesters.

Brown Block 4

Brown Block 5

Brown Block #3

Two days behind but I will catch up. It’s snowing outside and I can’t go anywhere. The skinny strip is twisted and sewn down flat.  I love the frayed, feathery edges of the larger strip.

Hey Nancy, will a little red purple do?