PLAYING!!!

After completing two large landscape pieces back to back, a whimsy smaller art quilt idea has caught my attention.....

Come back soon to see the finished results.

NATURE'S HARMONY

 With some serious 'seat time" in the studio.....it's now finished and ready to find a forever home.

NATURE'S HARMONY - 23" x 33"

Inquires welcome

Authentic Japanese cotton, hand dyed & mono printed fabric, oil pastels, dense thread blending, fused appliqué, machine quilted, faced edges, hanging sleeve attached.

SLOW BUT STEADY

Work continues........I've now cut and auditioned the bamboo leaves pinned in place using my design wall. (what did we do before we had design walls....so very helpful!!)

Next begins the machine appliqué.....I use an open toe walking foot but not FMQ.  Yes, it take more time as the quilt needs to be turned every couple of stitches but I have much more control that way.  Being a perfectionist does not mean projects go quickly!

Stay tuned for what comes next, won't you???

SLACKING OFF ON MY POSTS

 It's been awhile.......been dealing with a severe allergic reaction to a spider bite but after losing 9 days of creativity.....I'm now back in my happy place, just stitching away.

My newest landscape piece has taken a new direction after lots of time to reflect on where it was going.  So here's how it's progressed.  Stay tuned, won't you??

 

RIDICULOUS INDECISION

 My once very large stash of Asian fabrics has shrunk!  Well, meaning the type of designs I favor working with are nearly gone.  Because I do love a challenge, I've been pondering what to create with the midsize prints that don't easily coordinate with each other.

Okay I have an idea....and idea however is not necessarily a plan!  Yet again, I cut, piece, enlarge working size and almost immediately take apart to reduce it.  Gosh, lately so much indecision has me in a tizzy.

No sense providing comments for these photos illustrating the growth, shrinkage, and then enlargement of the piece.....enough to say the width and length are hopefully now established.  Hours of thread stitching is complete and I'm ready for the next step.

Not sure when that will happened because I have another mysterious rash and swelling on my ankle and 1 foot.  The foot is so swollen it looks similar to a huge glove balloon.  It's so painful I've had to retreat to my recliner with ice packs.  Naturally this gal is not a happy camper!!  Am I allergic to California??  Do check back though!

SPECIAL WNC DESIGNED FABRIC.

 The one...the only.... Georgia Bonesteel continues to inspire quilters everywhere with her creativity and designing skills.

In conjunction with Beginnings Quilt Shop https://www.beginningsquiltshop.com/

a very limited two-color way fabric design has now been printed.  The motifs bring smiles to all who know and love Western North Carolina, especially those areas around Hendersonville and Flat Rock.

Contact the shop to obtain your collectors' fabric right now.  Georgia shared some with me and I can't wait to develop just the right quilt to show off these treasures.

Georgia has selected some of her own well known quilts for sale.....visit her website for details.  

https://www.georgiabonesteel.com/

We all are aware of the Appalachian Trail.  Of course Carl Sandburg and George Masa are highlighted.  See how many other images you can recognize. 

GETTING TOGETHER

 Participating with a small quilt group has been part of my life prior to travel teaching and now after retirement.  Each meeting we all go home reinvigorated, inspired, and ready to create.  Six of us gather monthly to share our current projects, get and give advice/suggestions, and enjoy general chit chat.

This is a diverse group.....there are 2 long arm quilters, 1 heirloom quilter, 1 very enthusiastic new quilter, 1 who loves it all, and me, the art quilter.

My camera didn't come out fast enough to photograph all the work shown, however the pictures are an example of how we can learn different approaches from each other.

This is a panel (from Angela Walters) that Teddy is using to practice free motion skills.  

 Judy, our heirloom sewer is creating 3 identical lap quilts, using blocks and fabric started by a relative who has passed away.  There is an incredible amount of hand embroidery and digitized sewing utilized for the quilts that will be given to family members.

This is the center block.

Nancy is one of the long arm quilter.  A retired University professor her attention to detail and preciseness is very apparent.  She has stacks of beautiful quilts she's created.

As quilters we all love to share....so whether you do it in person or online......pass on your love of quilting!!!

NATURE'S DOORWAY

 After several months of work, the finishing touches on this major new piece were completed today.  If interested, contact me.     SOLD

NATURE’S DOORWAY - 26” x 29”

SOLD

Materials & techniques: Artist gelli printed cottons, batiks, vintage Shweshwe & Kashmel indigo prints, fused raw edge appliqué, hand embroidery, machine quilted, faced edges, ready to hang.

SEAT TIME

 The projects I designed for students who participated on my various quilt cruises and tours always factored in techniques that provided for 'seat time'.  It encouraged them to take a breather from all the activities and to sit quietly to do some hand stitching.

I'm now at that stage of this current landscape project which has turned into a big undertaking.....which I LOVE.

To provide more depth to the scene.....I'm adding hand embroidered 'grasses' to the lower flower filled sections. Closer up, bolder thicker varied Perle cotton thread, transitioning to smaller scale stitching pairing various colors of DMC embroidery thread.

I started at the top of that section....which took me an entire day and moved to the lower section the following day.....still working on it and will finish up in the middle area.  I don't remember working on a piece this long except for commissions.....yet this is the perfect project for now.

ONWARD

You all must be tired of seeing this never ending project. My art quilts are one-of-a-kind....you'll never see a duplicate. Design comes from my imagination, fabric often created with white cloth - dyed, painted, gel printed....etc. Lot's of auditioning motifs, false starts, & sometimes ripping out what I thought would work. In the end, for me it's worth the effort....every minute, every hour.....it's my happy place.

And right now that means hours of machine appliqué after all the flower images have been created. They are raw edge fused motifs, but I'll admit to being a bit of a construction snob so I prefer to finish the edges...yes each and every one which can take hours of patience.

I'll be back again soon.......hope you will be too.