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.

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.

 

Hankie Art #1

In addition to the 80 plus napkins that I found hidden away, I probably have that many handkerchiefs. Most are floral prints but there are a few white ones. Why not play with them?

I’m also playing with mounting small work on stretcher bars.

Two Projects at the Same Time

Two Projects at the same time is fun, but the studio is a mess.

Note the two sewing machines. I’m trying to use both of them. The little ripped, worn out ironing board and my chair have to trade places depending on which machine I’m using at the moment. There’s an old Pfaff on the right and a big Singer commercial machine on the left; it has a wider needle swing and I’ve spent two days off and on trying to correct it’s tension. Almost there.

Here are the two projects:

Cover Lovers Askew is now pinned and ready to embellish.

Flower Patch blocks – there are 14 so far, not enough room on the design wall to display them all and there will be more.

This is how they will go together using the QAYG  (quilt as you go) technique.

Marianne at The Quilting Edge blog has excellent “how to” tutorials on the technique.

Back in the Groove

 

There has been an unfinished art quilt on my design wall all summer. Finally, I am trying to finish it.  The machine embellishment is almost done. Whether you recognize it or not, this is a dandelion.

And this is a grackle.

I love grackles. Some folks think they are a nuisance, but I think they are comedians. This may become my signature bird!

 

Another Apron Possibility

These strips were in a “jelly roll” that was a Christmas gift two years ago. I sewed them all together and then thought, “Now what?”

The chemise and apron were laid upon it, then all was folded up and put away. One day, I opened it up and this is what I saw:

Hummmmm.  Definite possibilities. I love the motion.

As Time Goes By

It’s been a long winter but real signs of Spring have arrived; crocus, daffodils, budding trees, greening grass. There’s a powdering of snow on the ground this morning but the weatherman has promised warmer temperatures all the forthcoming week.

So – here’s my winter project finally finished and I’m ready for Spring.

You’ve seen me struggle with the bird and the script at the bottom. The garment was found in a thrift store and even though it is too small for me, it was too beautiful to pass by. Perhaps too pretty to cut up you might suggest, but I’ve cut up beautiful fabric that was much more precious and expensive than this blouse!

In addition to the blouse, the rest of the piece consists of:

Three different pieces of silk dyed in a natural dying workshop. cotton fabric, and decorative fabric.     Techniques consisted of piecing, fusing, hand applique, machine applique, silk screening, direct drawing, decorative machine stitching, hand quilting, and machine quilting. Sounds like a sampler doesn’t it?

Carrots at the Pool

The Uncommon Threads exhibit “Threads of Memory” has opened and is a great show. You may go to the UT blog to see pictures of almost all the pieces that were exhibited and read Merrilee’s lively descriptions. Here are the members present at the opening standing behind our Good Grief quilt. I wish all members could have been there.

Front Row: Maureen Ashlock, Roberta Ranney, Donna Olson, Dianna Calahan                      Second Row: Cathy Jeffery, Merrilee Tieche, Carol Bormann, Emmie Seaman

I exhibited the three carrots pieces that I finished this summer. They were fun to make and everyone seemed to get a chuckle out of them.

Emergence

Anticipation

Jubilation

An Audition for Spoonflower Fabric

Here’s an old photo of a poppy from my garden a few years ago. It’s always been a favorite. After I discovered Spoonflower, thank you Jane Dunnewold, I had a sample of it printed on fabric in a mirror image.

Pretty cool, don’t you think? Recently it was tossed onto the ironing board, later another fabric got tossed beside it, then one thing led to another, and I started pulling out fabrics that might compliment it.

Who knows where this will lead but there just might be something here. Has anyone noticed that I have a “thing” for flowers?

More Progress With Carrots

Why am I having so much fun with Carrots?