Garden 2014

The last steps of my process ...... after getting the basics together I had to decide how to finish the quilting. I chose a shiny black thread to outline the petals and then filled in with a gold metallic thread.

 Then how to finish the outer border..... I cut and placed fuzzy yarns which almost made the final cut...

 or how about adding a clay snake or worm? and do I add the black and white dotted fabric as binding or a yellow binding?

 No, I chose to face the quilt and keep it simple with the clay wiggle and four simple beads.

 I'm wondering if I added too much and should remove the clay pieces and go for even simpler. But for now it stays.

 Some close ups ... I did get some raw edges with the green strips as hoped for and I love the leaf prints in Lisa's sun-prints!

Thanks Vicki for another fun challenge!

Process Showing Progress

This week I moved along quickly with my Process.

 I laid out the fabrics I would start with and selected the threads that I thought would work best for the quilting. I decided to stitch my fabrics together onto my batting as I went and do some of the quilting as I went along, so chose a backing fabric and ironed it onto my batting. I'm using a polyester batting with glue on one side.

Playing with various options for the corners, thinking some black and white fabric would suggest the butterflies who visit the garden.

 Always thinking of adding some clay pieces....

 With no raw edges it didn't feel right as my garden is not nearly so perfect to suggest no raw edges so I decided to tear some strips of green fabric, twist it as I stitched it on and hope for some raw edges showing hap-haphazardly.

 I had some gold jump rings laying on my table so laid them in the center over the mad quilting I had done with variegated thread.

 I decided to leave that idea behind but may add some had stitching in metallic thread later.

Next is the gold metallic stitching through the petals...... and how to finish .... I'm feeling confident it will be ready for the 24th. Now back to the garden for more inspiration......

Progress Beyond the Sketchbook

Several weeks back I got out my machine and did some stitching with my friend Jackie. I was just randomly cutting and stitching, hoping to get inspired for my pocket quilt. Later I played with these two pieces but it didn't lead me anywhere but out to the garden. With the new reveal date I have renewed hope of revealing on time. So this week I made a few more sketches of ideas thinking that I needed to incorporate or refer to what has been one of my major time consumers in the past couple months. THE GARDEN seemed to surface. So instead of continuing with my pockets idea I switched to the garden. I also decided to incorporate photography as that is one of my passions when I'm out in the garden. So I found this on my shelf ..... I cut up some fabric and soaked it in the Bubble 200, ironed on some freezer paper, cut to size and ready to print.

I decided to alter a few photos in Photoshop and headed to the printer only to find it out of colored ink. So to the store ..... no ink for our old printer, too old and no time to wait for mail order so back to the store. New printer ....

 Only one of four test pages jammed so the printer is a keeper.

 I've chosen one photo of a Sand Dune Sun Flower... and I'll combine it with a sun-print of leaves from Lisa. I've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use Lisa's fabric and this seems perfect, thanks Lisa!

 So I think I'm on a roll now.....

First Step ...

.... in the process is brainstorming and there has been a storm going on in my head and I've put a few ideas from the storm into a sketchbook. I may not go with any of these as I'm still brainstorming and considering quilt ideas I've wanted to make in the past but here's where I'm at right now....

 ...a patchwork of pockets. I like pockets and the idea of creating a little quilt of pockets, seems like fun!

 I need to practice free motion stitching so a series of free motions would be good for me!

 Creating a scene from one of my many photos could be fun.

 Or using one of my photos of the many stone sculptures found on the beaches and trails I've visited.

Or another way to combine clay with fabric and here I thought of course using a teapot, one of my favorite forms.

Oh decisions, decisions....... I'm sure I'll add many more quick ideas to my sketchbook before I decide on a direction.

No title, Just had Fun

I don't have a name for my quilt but I had fun making it! When I first saw Lisa's beautifully dyed fabric I thought it would be great in a Ricky Tim's Convergence quilt. I had made a couple of them a few years ago and have been wanting to make another for some time now. So I gathered other hand dyed fabrics that might work with Lisa's fabric. However as I hummed and haa'd I decided I would rather go with a crazy-like build as I go. However I couldn't get tear myself away from making a few sketches first.....

I started with creating a flap that would be the center-of-interest and where I planned to display the yarns and charms that Lisa included with our packets.....

 Then it was make a round, look, study, change, redraw and start the next round.....

 As I approached the 16" size I laid out several options for audition and took photos....

 I chose one and started quilting.......

 And finally came to the end with this.....

 And under the flap is the tissue paper that Lisa had wrapped our fabric and goodies in.....

 Thanks Lisa for a fun challenge!!!! And for all your work in preparing and getting supplies to us!

I've Started!!!

That piece shaped like an iron, laying on Lisa's beautifully dyed fabric, is the start of our challenge. Right now I'm not going with my original plans and where I think I'm headed may change yet but I'm pleased to have a start underway. I need to have this finished early as the week of reveal I'll be visiting with Home Ec friends from university days and this being my summer vacation I really shouldn't have an excuse not to be finished on time. How is everyone else doing? Hope you're having a wonderful summer or winter!

The Monarch

Inspiration:

Concept: A single egg laid on a pesticide-free milkweed leaf can help save the Monarchs.

The Plan: Depict a milkweed leaf with a single Monarch egg. Use the colors of the caterpillar to represent the Monarch. I started looking closely at the plants in our yard, then searched the internet for close-up photos of the milkweed leaf. Then I did a rustic sketch of my idea and did a color version on my Asus tablet. 

The Making: I wanted to use hand dyed fabric for the main body of the leaf as I didn't want a totally solid piece of green. I was glad that I had kept some samples and actually labeled them from the last time I did some dyeing. 

 Luckily I found a piece large enough and with enough variegation that I was totally happy to use it rather than dye a new piece.

 I laid out the basic leaf adding some darker green for shadow effect and possibly a red piece down the center vein. (later I chose to use thread instead of the red fabric)

I did a few sample pieces of painting in yellow veins but opted to keep it simple and clean, choosing the 'less is more' idea. 

The Monarch: created with Artistic License.....

I used gold metallic thread to stitch around the white egg to represent the importance of these tiny little pieces of nature. They are fragile and need our help.

Thank you Judy for "Artistic License". I was very inspired!

Music - On Stage, Singing and Dancing

Music began in my sketchbook .... dangling notes, dancing ....

....perhaps the notes shouldn't dangle .....

 .... was winter on my mind?

 .....I kept thinking of "every good boy deserves fudge" .... did you learn your music lines with those words?

 ...and finally getting close to my final plan .... five notes .....

I did make a final sketch but didn't take a photo of it .... just started digging into my fabric stash .....

 I was thrilled to find that I didn't have to create "rhythm" background, as I already have this dyed piece in the colors I wanted.... but I did dye the yellow/orange and red strips to match .....

Decisions.... how to add the notes .... machine zig-zag, machine stitch cord, or ..... I finally decided to hand stitch the cording in place......

 ....it was lacking something. I wanted the treble clef to be dancing and singing with the backup of notes, but this wasn't it ... so I added the dance trail of the treble clef as it had entered the stage .... seemed to tie the piece together and ground the treble clef......

 ....but those notes were too stiff so I ripped parts out and tried to make them a little more graceful.....and I added another cord next to the original cord of each of the white notes. I'm hoping the music show is ready to go!

 Thanks Janet for a fun challenge!