Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

The finished quilt: "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder"

I have finally finished this FFF challenge 27 which was due December 6. The challenge was to depict something either really really close up OR really far far away. I chose close close up. We were encouraged to follow our chosen theme as well as use a variety of values.

Although I had the center done and quilted on time, the quilt finishing was a challenge. I decided to make mitered borders. I ripped them out so many times I had to get more material. Finally I glued them in place and stitched on top. I hate to say 'never again', but it is so far down on my list of things to do I think I would have to dig down a few feet to find it. Then I did the machine work for the facing. The hand sewing was so painful that I only did a little at a time. With Mom's 93 birthday on April 16, fast approaching, I had a goal to meet. Hope to mail it tomorrow.

Background.
My dear cousin Tom had arranged for my Mom to meet her latest Great Grand child. He also took a few photos. This one caught my attention because of the look between my Mom and this toddler. Mom was tied to a wheel chair because her left side was paralyzed after a stroke almost one year ago. My sister Mary was actually holding the baby on Mom's lap. However, through the magic of 'paint' and hours and hours of work, I cut out Mary's hand. Then I faded the photo so only the 'GOOD' stuffed showed. Not the greatest editing job. However, one thing that is so rewarding about making things for my Mom, she LOVES everything I make or do for her. Can't beat that for pay back.

For the puzzle lovers, a different cut.

Catch A Falling Star 2

Catch A Falling Star 2, 8.25" x 15.5"

I'm very happy with the finished product: especially Lois Jarvis rust-tex next to the velveteen and the gold thread and gold beads. Lots of richness with the contrast. Of course, basically all I did was enhance the fabric. Thank you Lois.


After I stitched the rusted fabric to within an inch of its life and went around the stars 3 or 4 times, I added another layer of poly batting under the velveteen. I wanted the velveteen to be 'puffy' with only the gold beads holding it down.

Which way is up. This is my original design. A friend said maybe I could turn it the other way, or sideways. Hmmm. Comments appreciated.

Flipped design.

Horizontal with star down.

Horizontal with star up.

Organizing where the beads would go, was a challenge. First I marked the top with chalk. Velveteen does NOT like to be marked.

Since I was using a false back, I thought I would just marked that. Easily done. Unfortunately, unless one can put the needle absolutely straight through, the design will get off by a bunch. In the end I put a ruler on top and tied each bead on individually. Yep, I'm new to beading [this is my second try], but I do love the look.

Also, please notice how the absolutely flat, square cutting board seems to have a convex curve in the middle. I'm thinking that is my camera lens. It is also telling me why I'm having trouble making those straight tops look straight.

Because I wanted to be able to hang this quilt from any direction, I put 'fast corners' on the pillowcase backing before I turned it inside out. To make the corners, just take a square, press it to form a triangle and attached to the back. In this case, since the back is 'false', I stitched the corners onto the back making the pockets about an inch away from the edge. This makes it really easy to hide the hanging slat or dowel.

My World in Black and White entries

The last of these two quilts was finished on my birthday, September 30, 2008. That was the deadline for entries into this traveling show, "My World in Black and White". The show catalog has now been printed. I've just been given permission to show my entries.

"Mom"

Artistic Statement: Mom has been in fragile health since her 92 birthday when she suffered a crippling stroke. Knowing her time is extremely limited, I've found myself remember how she was when living on the farm, her home for over 60 years. This is a memory of her at 90 years of age.

Mom and the fruit were painted on a sheer fabric and then overlaid and quilted so that the underlying fabric comes through to add pattern and 'texture'. All of the other fabric pieces were torn. The farm scene was made by thread painting. The whole piece was framed in velvet which in person gives it a lot of depth and textural contrast to the other fabrics. Size 33" wide x 42.5" high.

"Ballet Trio"
26" high x 29" wide

Artistic statement: As a child I took ballet until the end of High School. That was my joy. I still LOVE watching wonderful ballet performances. Now because of physical limitations, I only dream of ballet. This is my dream.

The ballerina on stage was painted; ballet slippers are 3 dimensional with construction and fabrics similar to the way I remember mine were made; satin with satin ribbon ties.

Quoth the Raven

Cocky fellow that he is, this Raven is reading Poe as he struts his stuff in his orange form fitting boots.

I made this for both the FFFC [Fast Friday Fabric Challenge] and a Raven Postcard Challenge. Since I had posted it on the FFFC blog, it is not eligible for the Fiberart for a cause fundraiser.

SOOO, with that good cause in mind, I have posted it here--all 4" x 6" of it. I couldn't think of anyway to do an auction except let people leave messages with their bids; a silent auction of sorts.

The winner bidder will make out a check to the

National Breast Cancer Foundation

and mail to

National Breast Cancer Foundation

2600 Network Blvd. Suite 300

Frisco, TX 75034

In return, I will mail this one-of-a-kind Raven Post Card to you. Of course your donation is fully tax deductible. The post card will just be a gift from me to you.

I do hope there is interest in this idea.

This silent auction ends at midnight January 31, Eastern Standard Time. I will then notify the winner via email. Therefore, please email your email address to me, designerann@yahoo.com. I will get all of the mailing information from the winning bidder.

Please post your bid in the comments section so everyone can see the bids. If someone has a better way to do this, please email me the details. This is my first try at a charity fundraiser on my own.

Thanks for looking, ann

5 more Fleece Lap Quilts

Lessons learned:
If you are thinking about doing something with fleece, you should use a serger.

I purchased some fleece at Joanne, but it was only about half as thick as my bags of scraps.

Be flexible! This stuff is really difficult to work with on a regular sewing machine. If you just want something colorful and warm [as these lap quilts] AND do not have to have perfection [these quilts have lots of imperfections], then go for it. Of course I still do not know how the recipients will like these. That will come some time later. Really rather stressful for me since they have been a LOT of work. I have one more in process. But then I'll do something more usual.

I would really appreciate feedback on both the quilts and the puzzle cuts.

Hope you enjoy, ann

Lap Quilt #4 and the puzzle




Lap quilt #5 and the puzzle




Lap Quilt #6 and the puzzle




Lap Quilt #7 and the puzzle





Lap Quilt #8 and the puzzle