Enjoying the final days

After a lot of clipping, fusing, handwork, and beading I've finally completed Judy's Fabric Challenge !

For those of you who haven't yet begun, I hope this doesn't send you into a panic.

I wasn't going to reveal anything this early, but excitement got the best of me.

Sunday was actually the last day I altered the surface of this quilt. It has been hanging in my studio for 'reflection', ever since.

I do have a few reasons for getting to this, and completing it early.

At the end of this week, I am expecting company. Also, there is a local Art Challenge that I have decided to participate in. The deadlines for both Challenges were the same - May 1. So in the interest of time, knowing that I would surely loose a few weeks in April, I jumped right in.

I tried to take a good picture of my work with my point-and-shoot camera, but wasn't successful. I am going to have to enlist my husband's help for a better photo.

I'm not sure when I will share some of my thoughts, or processes. I do not want to influence anyone.

It was so much fun to participate in Karen Musgrave's newest fabric challenge!

You can read all the details about Judy's Fabric Challenge on Karen's blog:  http://connectionsbykaren.blogspot.com
She will host a final reveal of all the participant's work, May 1st - so don't forget to check back with her.

Thank you Karen, for providing this opportunity for me to challenge myself.

After all, we all know it's all about the personal growth.

 

!!!!??? What is this?

Wait. . .I think I remember!

It's the sun!

I haven't seen this for so long, I forgot what it looked like.

Wow!

Still stitching. . .

Thursday resulted in more stitching across the top of the quilt. . .

Lots more.

While working, I was reminded of one woman's comments, one day while I was still working at the quilt shop. A lady came up to me, and sternly professed that, she absolutely. . . 'hated those mattress pad quilts that some people make'.

I on the contrary, just love when, while you are quilting a piece, the quilt finally achieves that certain resilient pliancy. At this point, you have achieved total control over it's movement, and you can do anything to it!

More progress

A few days ago, I pinned up my 'Challenge' quilt and started some preliminary quilting to stabilize the surface.

Yesterday, I worked for a few hours in the morning.

With some Monopoly thread, I came across the surface of the quilt, to put more 'movement' into the overall design. (. . .As if the fabric we are using didn't have alot of movement in it already.)

Moving Forward

Last week, I started in on the 'Challenge' quilt.

The first thing I did, to get the creative juices flowing, was to choose a few other fabrics in colors that could be seen in the focus fabric print.

To get started, I began cutting strips from each of the secondary fabrics using a pair of scissors.

I remembered, that I had read rule number Five, in Karen Musgrave's instructions for this quilt, that 

"You will need to share how you stretched yourself and moved out of your comfort zone."
 

So, I just started sewing all the strips together. One on top of the other.

 And, when I was done with that. I cut each of them apart at 1 1/2" intervals.

The next step, was to begin sewing these together.

A New Challenge

The fabric for Karen Musgrave's next challenge arrived in my mailbox late yesterday.

You can read all the details on her blog: http://connectionsbykaren.blogspot.com

I'm not so sure just what to do with this fabric yet. Any ideas?

I think I will have to let ideas simmer for a few days. . .

Liebster Blog Award

I have been awarded the Liebster Blog Award by Karen Musgrave, a wonderful artist and author of ‘Quilts in the Attic’.  You can visit Karen’s blog by going to http://connectionsbykaren.blogspot.com.

This award is given to bloggers who inspire you and have less than 200 followers. The Liebster Award takes its name from the German word meaning ‘Beloved, Dearest or Favorite’. I’m so honored to receive this award.

As part of the tradition it is passed along to 5 bloggers that have motivated and inspired.

To accept the award you must:
1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value.
4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.

Five from me:
1. Gloria from: http://oldegreencupboard.blogspot.com Whose relentless sense of humor can be enjoyed every day. I swear the woman never sleeps!

2. Ann Hermes from: http://notesfromthequiltlab.blogspot.com. A chemist and a quilter who appreciates and shares beautifully old and wonderful textiles.

3.  The four women from: http://ingoodcompanytarts.blogspot.com. A new blog that I stumbled upon recently. Offering kits to inspire experimentation, while teaching new techniques each month. What a great idea!

4.  Avis and Tammy from: http://joinedatthehipgirls.blogspot.com. Whose colorful and innovative Folk Art designs have been an inspiration to everyone in the quilting Industry since 1998.

5. Lynda Hall from: http://primitivepiecesbylynda.blogspot.com Who would like to be known as a person that could get others to just relax, have fun and enjoy the process!

The Sky At Night

I had started this about a year ago. It all began when I simply sliced a batik fat quarter at a diagonal, and added another fabric. 

It reminded me of what the sky looks like at night when you're camping way out and away from the city lights. Then, you are able to see that there really is alot going on out there!

There are a few little fun details. 

Like this dark little house on the edge of what looks to be a river with one lone salmon. It all is very still and quiet down there.

But, the clamor in the heavens is quite amazing!

  It took about a week to quilt, seven thread changes and layering all the sparkly tulle. 

I think I'm going to have to take some better pictures because you only get a hint of it by looking at this.

This quilt is about 24" x 36". 

But, by the standards of my quilt group - it's only a small quilt.

Finishing up a UFO

I've been finishing up a UFO.

 

One thing I have learned (the hard way of course) is to pin thoroughly, before ever attempting to machine quilt a quilt on your domestic sewing machine. - No matter what the size of the quilt.

Once again, I am adding a favorite little detail of a 'Prairie Point'. This time, to one edge of the quilt.

I've discovered that the Quilt Police cannot really find this little 'cheat' in my technique. It gets sewn into the seam allowance of the quilt and disappears forever! 

(Nobody really looks for this type of thing on an Art Quilt anyway.)

I really love using fusible web to make everything else easier. So, why not tuck a tiny piece into your 'Prairie Point' to hold it together after pressing?

See how tidy they become? and they hold their shape while you work with them.

The only part that I do not like, is having to bury my threads at the end.

I try to justify the time spent as 'getting closure'.

And don't forget the sleeve and binding. . .

March 1, 2012

Finally. . .

We haven't had much snow this year.

But, isn't it beautiful?!