May 12, 2015

Tomorrow is my 41st birthday. I'm seeing all those crow's feet and age spots and gray hairs. I'm dreaming of the summer I was 22 and was able to wear a bikini with a pierced navel in public.

With these thoughts I created "Fleeting Beauty."

The root system is based on a human spinal column. It is made from couched thread and embroidery.

I used huge pieces of gorgeous hand-dyed fabric from Carol Eaton. This piece really looked like a rose garden to me the moment I saw it. I mixed in some commercial fabrics.

The quote comes from the Rubaiyat, Verse XXVIII.

Oh, come with old Khayyam, and leave the Wise

To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies; 

One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies; 

The Flower that once has blown forever dies. 

I really liked the zig zag edges when I had finished piecing the diagonal rows so I decided to try and keep them. I thought facing them would be too difficult. So I sewed the quilt together like a pillowcase and flipped it right side out, pushed out all the corners as best I could, then quilted it.

Yes, I am painting the finished quilt. I thought those white roots needed a little extra strength to show up better, so I went over them with some pearly white Tsukineko ink using a fantastik.

Here's to 41, and another trip around the sun.

October 9, 2014

It's been a week of lots of finishes. I'm a deadline motivated type of gal.

Two quilts done and relinquished to the Quilt Bingo committee.

Amalia quilted and bound this one for me. I just had a label to slap on the back.

I quilted this one myself, and made some fun binding out of feedsack that I just love.

I call it "Catching Fire", and added a Mockingjay symbol. (from the Hunger Games trilogy if you are not familiar.)

I finished up a small series I started in a class several years ago.They started with a panel of nursery rhymes. They are fused collage and a bit of paint.

I embellished each one with some buttons and a hanging ribbon.

I finished up a hanging for my door. It only needed binding and a few embellishments.

And, lastly, I whipped up a wall hanging from an old Nancy Crow panel. It will be a bonus prize at Quilt Bingo.

April 24, 2014

Shoes! I made three shoe blocks for a block exhange at guild today.

A fun little Mary Jane. I cut the pre-fused black with pinking shears to create easy ridges, and added white French knots.

Next is a funky platform, dedicated to Alexander McQueen.

And lastly, a classic from the 70's: the platform with a goldfish in the heel.

I won two additional blocks.  Here's Terri's fabulous cowboy boot:

And Margy's very original birkenstock (birkenblock?).

This block is three dimensional, with working straps and buckles. How amazing is that!

April 6, 2014

Working on Pat Sloan's Little Blue Bird Pattern.

The pattern called for the half square triangles  to go this direction...

But I decided I like them this way.

I'm auditioning other fabrics for more borders.

April 5, 2014

Machine applique class with Pat Sloan today!

The background I prepped before class:

I learned a lot, despite having done quite a bit of machine applique. Pat's a great teacher and such a sweet person.

March 20, 2014

commission complete!

March 20, 2014

Prepping a "quilt-as-you-go" demonstration for my guild's quilt show this weekend.

February 20, 2014

A drum bag repair.  I replaced a zipper, and added some appliques to cover a rip.

I added blanket stitching around the applique edges to hold it down. 

February 8, 2014

 Finished all but berries.

My pile of berries (made with Karen Kay Buckley circles and Magic Sizing)

I have been working on block E1 Natalie's Nasturtiums in the meantime, until I could get my circles made.

My faithful quilting companion, Mike the Tiger. 

February 1, 2014

Made a leek and cheese tart and my first kale salad. Really delish!

I also made a portfolio for holding my completed hand applique blocks. I  used a sample I made a few years ago as the main design for the front.

I pieced the inside from scraps.  The inside is foam core. I added some ribbons for carrying handles. 

The back:

January 30, 2014

I fixed it. It took much less time than I thought it would, maybe 20 minutes.

January 26, 2014

I'm working on block B1 George's Cherry Tree of the Baltimore Garden Quilt. It is a very tricky block! There are many layers of leaves, stems and birds and it is challenging to figure out which layer to apply first.

I realized after my first bird was done that I mistakenly placed its tail over a stem. I'm not sure I want to rip it out and do it over.

This is the point in these hand applique blocks where I get most frustrated. I've put in hours of work, sewing down these tiny legs and stems, but not enough is finished for the block to really come together yet. I try to trust the design and the process, and I just keep working and it all ends up balanced.

I'm liking my decision to make the birds into cardinals. It required a few changes to the pattern. I added a crest to the birds' heads, and I drew a black "mask" for each face.  I found some Christmas fabric with pears on it that make truly excellent beaks for my cardinals. The pears are just the right scale.

here's the original fabric