Misc

Just so you know...most of the background will be covered with limbs and flowers.  I'm sort of building the back layer that will support all of that and just want different textures and colors to pop through the main event on the front layer.

The roof in the background was my next project.  I could see it as a series of lines.  I chose a sort of mauve/peach print and decided to make lines by doing little pleats. 

I folded the fabric over at intervals and stitched each one across the fabric. Below you can see the side with the tucks and the back side.  I will use the back side and quilt just below the pleat hoping to have the illusion of a slanted tile look.

Eventually I cut the pleated piece to show the roofline and added a shadowed section.

I've started a new project.  I've decided to blog on step by step techniques.  If you're interested I'll try to blog a couple of times a week. I'll share a part of the inspiration photo below.  I'll be working on the background first and then overlay with lots of flowers.  It is my desire to use more traditional methods than I usually do.  We'll see how it goes. Every day is a new adventure.

So the very first thing I do is select an image and trace it - Then off the the copy place for enlargements.

I like to work on a foundation and am used to using Pellon's Quilter's grid so I will do that here as well.  It won't be a "mosaic" but this gives me a nice flat surface to build my picture upon.  (I needed to seam 2 pieces to make use of some leftovers from the last project.)Notice how I can see the sketch clearly through the Pellon.

My first element to build is the "roof" in the background.  It won't show much, but will add some texture.  You can see it in this partial picture. I'll blog about it next.

Hope you're busy sewing or meeting friends today.  Blessings to you.

There is a group dedicated to "art" quilts.  I am a member and this week I am sending a donation for their annual auction.  If you are interested you can see many of the quilts already on the site, but mine is still waiting to be mailed this morning.This is an experiment with different colors using the eye of a favorite granddaughter. (they are all my favorites)

http://www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?cat=34 

As I enter quilt shows of various types, I'm always pleased when the judges appreciate my work in some way. Recently my quilt "Wild Rhodies" was awarded "Honorable Mention" at the 2015 American Q Soc, Paducah, KY show. It's always an honor to have something recognized there.

  Then there are local shows--this one a Redwood Art Association exhibit.  My quilt "Come Sit with Me" was awarded Honorable Mention there.  A bit smaller show of course, but being in an "art" show with a quilt it's especially nice.

I received my thread order from Superior Threads and was happy with some new colors.  I'll be using them to complete my Avenue of the Giants quilt. I'm especially happy with the new varigated Fantastico colors.  (By the way Superior has honored me on their blog as a "Superior Star". Whoopie!)  Superior Stars 

I've been working on another forest scene - it's at the quilting stage.  I used a plain black backing fabric and have changed the bobbin thread some...not as much as on top, but you can see that the design shows up pretty well.Lots more to quilt but I'm hoping to have it done in a couple of weeks. Here is the sneek preview of the back...

I've been majoring on Superior Threads for some time.  When quilting a piece, I make do with what's on hand, but a couple of times a year I need to restock the quilt rack.

So I pulled out the cards from Superior to compare and see what's missing. I love the Trilobal threads because they have a nice shine which calls more attention to the embroidery and quilting. 

I use huge amounts of greens and browns each time a forest scene is in the works and a big variety is what I prefer to do.  I'll be comparing what is here and what is available to place the order. Here are some of the thread cards from Superior I have to check out. Pretty, yes!? I'll show you a picture when the new stock arrives. Have a good day!

Birthdays come and go...for mine this year we went for a walk on Dry Lagoon Beach. 

It's one of my favorite things to do.

Here are a couple of shots from the beach.

Then we had dinner at Trinidad Bay - here's the new dock area.

Very pretty, but my mind keeps going back to the old weathered and wooden dock that was there for many years.

As always, thread is a major factor in my landscape quilts.

This scene had bright lacy looking leaves, so I decided to add thread to the top before I added batting and quilted.

Here is the effect before the quilting. I used two different Rainbow threads from Superior.

I used a zigzag stitch and a random movement with my hands to achieve the look.

When I quilt the piece I'll add a bit more.

For a patio for my quilt, I decided to paint the squares instead of piecing them

So first I found a fabric that sort of had a similar color and a bit of texture.

I drew my lines onto the paper side of freezer paper...and numbered them.

Then I cut the freezer paper apart on the lines and pressed them all down onto the right side of the fabric. 

I pulled off a checkerboard pattern of the pieces; mixed paint in terra cotta and brown and dabbed the paint on with a sponge.

I let it dry and then put back those pieces and pulled off the others.  This time I mixed the colors with a bit more brown, hoping that the finished piece would show a pattern.  (I should have used a bit more).

When I quilt it I will define the lines a bit more, but I'm fairly peased with the results.