This mornng I quilted the background.
Pine needles
Later will quilt the chickadee. Have to decide on the thread though. Detailed fusible lighter fabrics especially really shows up the needle holes. I suppose I should take the time to change the thread color to match every little piece which would mean white, black and grey. 3 color changes for one little bird BUT I don't think I'll be happy unless I do it.
Anyone have any tips on how to avoid needle holes showing for a lazy quilter?
;-)
I'm not that great at piecing as you can see my points aren't that great. (Notice the flower button strategically placed over where the points meet) lol! But perfect points are not the point here. (Pun intended)
I used the template method in this one from Judy Matheisons book that my mom gave to me back in 1987. I've kept it all these years because it not only taught me how to make my first compass. It is a great book even though it is now considered a “classic” - kind of like me ;-)
The forget me nots were added with inktense pencils. The blue matches the island batik scraps perfectly! I really like how the white on white quilting looks. I happened to be watching Leah Days sampler craftsy class while quilting this and she showed how to do echo paisley which worked great in these corners.
I need a name for this quilt though - any ideas?
This was inspired by a morning walk at sunrise this past summer. It's been on my design wall for months almost finished. I had a hard time with the light and shadows. You can check out the early stages of Ausable Point here. I've changed it up a lot but I am done looking at it. This morning I added the "real" shell and am calling it done and putting it in my Etsy shop.
Here is a closeup of the rocks and seaweed. Sometimes I like to keep a quilt on my design wall after it's done or almost done before I do a final iron and lint roll, just so I can look at it and enjoy it. After all. Am making these first for my enjoyment and when I m done they get listed on etsy and put away on a hanger under plastic to stay clean.
I'm ready to let this one go ;-)
Now as for the Nepal quilt - it's on the wall in the enjoying and still need to add a couple things but not sure what yet stage. I've added this fence / stairs
And a couple of beads next to the house.
Do you leave your quilts hanging up for awhile?
How do you decide when ""it's done"?
Linking up to Nina's off the wall blog
I hope everyone had a happy Christmas and can continue that Christmas joy into the new year and beyond.
Mine was quiet just how I like it with a long walk with a friend and a prime rib dinner after.
(I was in bed sleeping by 8:00) woot! Woot! - the perfect day:-)
So today - Still working my Nepal quilt
This past week I worked on the hillside. It went from this
To this
Then this
And here is where I am now. I added single crochet yarn to the green grass areas and started sewing them down to the top of the green areas, then realized it looked better on the bottom :-/
Not sure if it's worth ripping out to have them all the same or not sure I even can. It's sewn on by machine very securely with backtracking etc. so probablly will leave it. What do you think? Should I channel my inner anal perfectionist tendencies that barely exist or just let the yarns lie where they may?
A quiet Moment between friends (this is a pic of one already made and sold)
It's going on the design wall for a few days to ponder over while I work on a quiet moment between friends that a friend requested. Perfect timing since I need to walk away from Nepal and go to the mountains with the dogs.
Have gotten this far and will play more today.
A fun quilt to make ;-)
Happy Sewing Boxing Day!
iF you are on twitter at all there are usually others tweeting quilty stuff and showing what they are doing on Boxing Day so check out
#BDSI
September 21-27 is banned books week where book lovers celebrate the freedom to read whatever book we want to read. Go here to read about the quilt challenge involving banned books.
"Never look over your left shoulder at The new moon"
The book I picked was written in 1885 and is considered a classic. I had never read it so got it on audio to listen to. It's available free on Libravox. I enjoyed listening to it because you get the "southern dialect" of that time. Now beware, this also includes a lot of the "N word" but back in those days this was just what African Americans were called. I didn't find it distracting to the story at all. I did enjoy seeing a friendship form between a white boy and a slave. The commradery of the two main characters is the most important part of this book. Thus the two sitting on the raft together looking at the moon. Times were so different and this book gives you a glimpse into what it may have been like in the south back in the late 1800's.
Back to the quilt - this was my basic design. I then quilted words from the book that I thought were ....... Well just cool words. Into the sky and river.
But I used a dark blue thread and you could hardly see the words. I want them to be subtle but still want the viewer to see them :-/
So I blended some blue and white fabric paint together and used my fancy blending shading applicator (an old sock) and highlighted some of the words to look like part of a reflection from the moon. It's soft and subtle but does help you see the words.
This was wet, it's even lighter now
Granted my text quilting skills are not great but it came out pretty good I think.
I learned when quilting text without marking, give yourself a lot of room because you will need more room than you think. I ran over the side more than once and had to pick it out. Yes, I could have marked it but then would feel the need to stay perfectly in those lines and what fun is that?
Can you guess what the book is?
Amy is having a McTavishing linky party and if you like the free motion quilting method then it's definately worth a look. The project she is working on is gorgeous and gives me much inspiration. She drew me in with the circle and here is what I am practicing.
This is one of many circle doodles
I had this small sun print / painted fabric in my stash so practiced on it- looks moonish
Then on to finish off this art quilt that was all quilted except the moon. I know a bold move since if I screwed it up I could ruin the whole thing but just went for it.
I like it ;-)
Have you ever tried McTavishing?
I've never been comfortable with the raw edge of using sheers for shadows so tried this to get a nice clean turned under edge. This will only work for something that has a mildly curved or straight edge though and you do get that double thickness where it is folded under. Not sure if I like it but for the water it might be ok.
So then the next one is turned under by applying spray starch and ironing
Then pin it it the top at both ends and sew as you would any two curved pieces.
Take off the freezer paper and sew. Then iron flat. Leaving the bottom water layer the base fabric.
I then layered the batting and backing and quilted it.
So far so good, now I have to figure out what to use to make the moonlight reflection on the water.
Any suggestions? I've got the dock going in later at the bottom. Has anyone ever tried paint over sheers?
This is where I'm at right now
Update - after I posted this I went to my ironing board and lo and behold there is a dryer sheet that I had ironed flat. It is the perfect size and see thru - ness color wise. So on goes the fusible, cut it to moon shimmer likeness, ironed it down.
BOOM!
I like it :-)
I would still love any feedback or experience any of you have had with sheers though. They usually do not play nice with me but do love the effects that make.
Thank you for stopping by :-)
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