Sunday Stitching

Last week I painted, this week I stitched!  The technique for this week was to stitch a frame for needlework.  I decided to use one of the pieces I stamped last week.

After the first layer of paint had dried, I stamped the yellow pears onto the background.  Today, I fused a couple of larger pear shapes to the piece.

I did some free motion stitching, to “sketch” lines to emphasize the shapes.  Then I stitched this octagonal frame.  Here’s a close-up:

Although I like the nice, crisp edge on this frame, it seems a bit too plain.

Ah, yes . . . that’s better.  I may want to add something underneath the pears, but I’m happy with this for now.

I have the other stamped piece for a future project, and I did play around a bit with other paints.  One I thought I’d share is Tulip Puff paint.

It goes on using the tube applicator, and then you apply heat/steam after it dries.  It really does puff up!  Kind of interesting.  Now, what can I use that on, I wonder?

Wednesday WOW – July 27

Another hot day in Kansas.  Good thing I have lots of INDOOR projects!

Like the Mystery quilt from guild . . . sixty blocks to assemble.  Well, I got half done anyway.

And the last block of the Comfort & Joy Christmas quilt.  I will be ready to start working on borders pretty soon.  Kind of hard to think about Christmas when it’s 100 degrees out, but then, folks in the Southern Hemisphere celebrate the holidays in mid-summer all the time. 

Thanks goodness I was born in an era that invented air conditioning!!! 

Sassy Sunday

Here we are with another technique from the Fabric Embellishing book.  Today’s experiment was with fabric paints and rubber stamps!

I used Dye-na-Flow by Jacquard to stamp the red flowers on this.  The paint is very liquid and I had to be careful with drips and running, but overall it was easy and fun.  Once the first layer had dried, I mixed yellow and blue So Soft fabric paint by DecoArt and stamped the dragonflies.  The So Soft paints are thicker and mix really well and are the perfect consistency for stamping. 

This piece is mostly So Soft paints.  I used a background stamp of tiny flowers in rows.  I tried mixing some Tulip Colorpoint into the So Soft, but that paint is not meant to be thinned or mixed.  No success there!  I also tried some Duva powder pigments into white So Soft which gave me a very slight tint, but it would take way too much pigment to be useful.  I ended up loosely mixing the red Dye-na-Flow which gave the random tint you see here.  The leaves are using the same green mixture as the dragonflies. 

I need to let this dry thoroughly and then I will continue to add layers.  I still have some Pebeo Setacolor to try, along with some different Tulip paints. 

Oh yeah.  Before I washed my brushes, I painted excess paint onto a piece of unbleached muslin.  I’ll have to think of something to add to this.  It does have potential!

That was an interesting experience, but there’s lots of WIPs waiting my attention this week . . . some quilting, some hand stitching, etc., etc.  But next Sunday, I’ll be back to finish these pieces for sure!

Wednesday WOW – July 20

It’s been very hot around here lately.  You know this when you hear someone refer to a forecast of 92 degrees as a “cool spell.”  And they were serious!!

Well, it’s perfect weather for staying indoors and playing  working in the studio.  The theme for the August postcards is “confetti” or those snippets and threads that fabric lovers can never seem to throw away.  Oh boy – have I got a lot of that!

Since I have too much to work with on a small project, I rummaged through and pulled only the fabric that had fusible web already on it.  That’s what that pile above is. . . just from one bag!

So, I have some snippets fused down.  And, of course, I have some ideas for more “confetti” work so there’s no telling what (or how many) the final postcard will be!

The triangle piece on the left is one of the pennants I am making for another swap.  I gave those a little attention today, too.  Not sure what the next step is, though.  Guess I’ll have to let it simmer on the back burner for a bit! 

What happened to Sunday?

I can hear you asking that question.   You’re wondering what is going on . . . she promises to spend Sundays experimenting and show you what she comes up with – and then one month in and she’s a No Show?

Aaargh!  I did the experimenting and took pictures and even uploaded them.  Then, somewhere in the cerebral perambulations, the neurons assigned to actually post about it went walkabout!  Those neurons – can’t trust them these days!

Okay, okay!  That’s just a fancy way to say I Forgot!  I repeat . . . aaargh!     Now.  Moving on.

This is what I made.  It’s related to last week’s crazy quilting, but the book calls it “deconstructed crazy quilting.”   I tried to find out what “deconstructed” means, but it’s one of those terms borrowed from philosophy and trying to understand that left me in the dust!  So, to my mind, it means to take apart a traditional art form and reassemble it in a more contemporary manner.  At least that fits in this instance, sort of.

In this piece, I took small pieces of fabric and laid them down on fusible interfacing.  I chose red, because I have a small collection of various red fabrics:  taffeta, silk, satin, velvet, and of course, cotton.  The edges are all left raw (mostly cut with pinking shears) and after a light press, I stitched them down using my sewing machine.

These little bead flowers have a center motif stitched with silver thread.

This style of flower (sorry for the lousy photo) took some practice as I selected a leaf motif and stitched one repeat, then rotated the fabric and stitched a single repeat, moving around until I had a semi-circle. 

Next week, the technique is stamping on fabric.  Oooh!  Doesn’t that sound like fun??

The Postcard Chronicles

After a vacation from trading postcards last year, I have been joining in once again.  However, I haven’t been very good about sharing them with you.  So, time (and beyond) to catch up.

The theme for the first swap was “Girly”.  Now that sounded like fun!  So this is what I made for Teresa:

And I received this one from MaryLou:

For the next swap, the group decided on a seasonal theme.  For most of us, it was Spring, but since some of our swappers are from Down Under, it could also be Autumn.

This is what I sent Michele in the UK.

And I received this one from Linda in UK:

That brings us to June where the theme was “Sundae.”  My goodness, that sounded yummy!  In fact, that is what I stitched all over the background of this card.  It went to Linda in UK:

And I received this from Cat in Canada.  Doesn’t that look good enough to eat?

 

July’s theme is “Fairy Tales.”  Got to get my thinking cap on!

Wednesday WOW – July 13

Lots going on this week outside my studio.  But I am getting a few things closer to done.

For instance, this rainbow piece that will become background for a swap.  More on that to come. 

Sunday Smash

Here we are with another “smashing” Sunday project!  Actually, I did not get as much accomplished today as I had planned.  But it was a successful day because I have a BIG FINISH!

A couple of close-ups for you:

Although this page took quite a few days to finish, I really enjoyed the process.  I did some reflecting on the whole crazy quilt thing and came up with some things to consider in the future.   I am sharing these – not because I think you need the information or even care (!) – but so that I will know where to find it when I venture into crazy quilting again!  And I’m pretty sure I will be doing some of this again.

1. By embellishing the seams in the order in which they were stitched, cross over places should be easier to stitch.
2. Keep reference materials nearby.  Stopping to go look for more ideas just doesn’t do it for me!
3. Be sure to keep these tools handy:  ruler, erasable marker, circle template, add-a-quarter guide. 
4. Stabilize the ends of loose trims by wrapping tape around the end before cutting.  Cut long, so that the taped end will be cut off after a border (or whatever) is sewn.
5. Mark outside seam allowance so that I’m not stitching over beads when finishing.
6. See if I can come up with some way to contain all the mess! 

Well, that’s it.  Next Sunday I’ll be ready to move to the next technique – Deconstructed Crazy Quilting.  Doesn’t that sound interesting?

I Found It!!!

I really do like to give credit when I –um, borrow – an idea from someone. 

Last week I told you that somewhere I had the blog name where I found these corn blocks.  Tonight I finally found the post on Kim’ Big Quilting Adventure!  If you like this block, tell Kim, not me!

Wednesday WOW – July 6

Another Wednesday spent at the quilt shop.  I’m still working on a Kansas themed set of blocks.

This block is called “Kansas Troubles” . . . and trouble is what it gave me!  But at the end of the day I have two of them, plus one Kansas Star.

Earlier this week, I made a second ear of corn and the first Kansas Star.

I think I’m ready to start working on the applique blocks.  Oh my!  This could get interesting!

Sunday Special – Part Two

As I promised last week, I spent today embellishing my crazy quilt block.  

It sure is a messy process!  This picture does not do justice to the array of threads and beads and lace strewn willy nilly all over my workspace.  Who’s going to clean that up?  Oh.  Yeah, that would be me!

This is how the piece looks as of this afternoon.  There are some seams still bare and I have lots of ideas to build on the stitching I’ve done so far.  In fact, I don’t think it’s possible to over embellish a crazy patch, is it?

This is so much fun!  I can see why so many people love this style.  I just have one question . . . how do you stop????