Year 4 in review

My quilting year runs from October - September.  This year was filled with many medical challenges.  Sometimes the only thing I wanted to do was just sew something small and easy.  Luckily my local guild has a Block of the Month [BOM] challenge.  I found these just the right size to complete when I wasn't feeling totally up to par.  Another plus is that because I came to quilting from an art background, I never had done the traditional blocks.  I am enjoying these very much.  Of course the guild group is making all 12" squares.  I am going to make something small so my blocks are a smaller size.  It will be interesting to see how these odd BOM's make a quilt.

 

Pink Friendship Star = 3" square

Purple Friendship Star = 3" square

Umbrella = 3" square

Sail Boat = 6" square

Pin Wheel = 6" square

Basket = 8" square

Pink Apple = 3"x4"

Purple Apple = 3"x4"

Basket = 6" square

I was attracted to Zentangles; here are a few of my many attempts.

ATC front and back

Tangled Tulips = FFFC, 10" square

Tangled  = FFFC, 10"x12"

This started as an Fast Friday Fabric Challenge [FFFC].  Not happy with the original response, I am happy with the pieces made from the divided parts.

Tiny Quilt for my kitchen

[aka potholder I am proud to have hanging out]

Quilt Show Purse

This is one of the most FUN, favorite things I made during this year.  There is a how-to on this blog. I wish I had it when I went to Houston.  Next show = READY TO GO!

Houston 2010

The fall was the most fun for me because I was able to attend the Quilt Festival in Houston. It was my first time; of course I want to go again. I was thrilled to see my quilt in a special exhibit of quilts from the book, "500 Art Quilts".

I was also a part of an ATC exchange. Fun to receive, but the deadlines got overwhelming when I was struggling with medical stuff.  I no longer am part of a group with strict deadlines.  Luckily, my favorite group, FFFC, is very flexible with due dates.  Works really well for me.

Love ATC - paper, fabric, lace, ribbon, tiny pearls

Water Color ATC

Letter ATC - painted and heavily stitched

Letter ATC's - I made a letter for each person

I even managed to make and/or finish a few art quilts and a few other 'arty' things.

Sunlight and Shadows - 48"x60"

This is my first quilt. I pieced the top during the winter of 1995-96; quilted it this past year.  It still needs the edges finished.  Hopefully that will happen before another 15 years pass.  I didn't have a clue what I was doing.  I used uphostery fabric from books I picked up for $1 or less.  It is really heavy.

Sunlight and Shadows, detail 1

Sunlight and Shadows, detail 2

A Taste of Summer 2 - 16"x20"

Red Rhythms - FFFC, baby quilt sent to Japan

Water Lily - FFFC, 17" square, [edges not finished]

2 Ferns - 11"x16" [edges not finished]

3 Ferns - 11"x16" [edges not finished]

Throne Cover  - FFFC

This is becoming one of my favorite items in the house.   It makes me smile every time I see it, which is often.  I encourage you to make some practical items to add art in a FUN way.

Spinal Dance - 18"x29", FFFC, [edges not finished]

Shibori Dyed Cape - my original design

Wedding Cape

Photos and story are on page 72, "Machine Quiting Unlimited", Nov/Dec 2011 issue.  My dye steps and more are on this blog.

Strip Pieced Tote/Purse

How to is on this blog.

 

Emblished PJ Top = FFFC expressing a mood

Step by step is on this blog

Sunlight on a Cloudy Day - 5.5"x6"

This was made for a book to cheer a person in need.  I applied paint to a piece of prepared canvas glued to chip board, then used sheer fabric to finish the design.  Although not my usual style, I really liked it.

Dream Rocket Panel - 24" square

My dream is for world peace.  This was so much fun to make and now really exciting to watch where it is being exhibited.  If you haven't yet made a panel, I encourage you to do so.  Here is a link to the project  http://www.thedreamrocket.com/

Totally practical.  Both of these have long tutorials on this blog.  Both are an answer to a specific need.

Folding Coxic Cushion - wonderful for plane travel

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder  = it really works!

My quilt donations for Karey's museum

Fast Friday Fabric Challenges to the rescue of Karey's museum.  Since it takes me much longer than most to create even a little quilt, I looked in my 'saved quilt' stash and came up with three I hope are good enough for this venue.

Catch a Falling Star

This was a no brain-er.  I started with a gorgeous piece of Lois Jarvis' 'Rust Tex' fabric. [Check it out, it will make the quilt.]  Basically I framed it in this wonderful hand dyed velveteen, stitched it in gold, and then added some gold colored metal beads.  This is actually one of my favorite pieces.  Hope it finds a home that loves it.

Mermaid Study

I believe mermaids are related to dolphins and whales. They do not have scales, but thick skin. If you look closely, this mermaid is working hard to get off the beach. She was visiting land for the night, but obviously didn't make it back before she changed, once again, from a human to a sea mammal. As the sun is only a thread on the horizon, no shadows exist. It is that special time between moon glow and sun shine. Although the mermaid seems in peril, the tide is rising. Do not fear, she will be OK.

Geode

I discharged some fabric, stitched it to within an inch of it's life with many types of thread, including metallic.  Then I added glass beads to reflect the glow of the inner space.  I mounted it between a small wooden frame which I covered with jute string to reflect the tough, dull outside of a geode.

Art Deco?

Done

I usually title my designs.  This one took me soo long, I call it 'Done'.

I started this little piece last spring.  Then I had a series of medical interruptions.  It was started for a Fast Friday Fabric Challenge titled, Art Deco.  I think my original design hit the mark.  All I intended to do was stitch in the ditch so the design popped. 

Pieced Design

However, I could NOT get the tension adjusted on my machine. The more I stitched, the more out of whack it got. I had lost a LOT of my incentive for finishing this. Yet, it was something practical I really wanted to use.

After marking a bunch of circles flowing across the design, I stitched those several times around using white thread until I felt they stood out enough to make the design show.  It was rather subtle.  Next, I picked out a thread color that is in my wall.  Then I really stitched it within an inch of its' life.  Now the real FUN began.  I took out my buttons.  No real whites, so I used these small off white ones.  I really wanted gray and purple.  I had bought a set of purple buttons and also some tiny gray ones.  I needed something that would POP.  Like any good Artist, I looked in my closet for buttons that would work for this quilt.  I absolutely love the steel gray ones.  I rarely wore the wool jacket.  Now I have more wool for wool stash.  I found a few more purple ones on a sweater I never wear.  That will be re-purposed later. 

I laid my buttons out on my design; then I fiddled for hours.  I held them in place with the yellow headed pins.  I liked the accent, so decided to use white embroidery floss on all of the buttons.  I actually only had to take off one button that didn't work out.  That amazed me.  This is my first time using buttons as a design element.  Attaching them took 2 days because I had to pull the large needle through with pliers.  The tiny gray ones required a small needle, so I just went through several times. 

Am I hooked on buttons?  Not sure.  I think each quilt will have to speak to me and tell me what to do, just as this one did.

Finished Art Quilt in Situ

FFFC = day 4

Wet Painting 8-8-2011

My day started really well.  Before Breakfast I painted some on the above.  After breakfast, I hung out my sheets, towels, socks and all the 'heavy stuff'.  Because it was almost 80, my earlier work was almost dry.  Happily, I am able to do some more painting.  That is when I heard a pounding rain hit the skylight.  No time to rescue my laundry.  Just kept painting.  This is the result.

Now I will order paints, as we have no local hobby shop.  I love living in a small town, but shopping can be challenging.  I've only got a smidgen of purple left.  While waiting, I have a long 'to do' list.

FFFC 59 = days 2 and 3

August 6, 2011 Wet Painting

August 6, 2011 Dry Painting

August 7, 2011 Wet Painting

I painted this in the morning.  Hoped that it would dry and I could add more paint later in the day.  No, it is still wet.  Not sure when this will dry as it has been raining all day and more tomorrow.  Not sure how much I'm progressing.  However, I find I get a real HIGH from painting.  Even though it is not exactly the vision in my mind, I am noticing how much I enjoy the process.  After all, it is the Journey that is most important, not the end.

I need to order more paints.  I'm still looking at what is available.  Will definitely order tomorrow.  Need the paint!  Having too much fun not to continue.  Any suggestion about where to order fabric paints is very much appreciated.