Not Afraid of Color

http://www.myquiltinfatuation.com/

https://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/

face off

finished or not

https://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Sewing Saturday... table scraps! and more...

It's been a busy week in studio! I'll just start with this month's "table scraps" mug rug. I left out one cabana when making last month's summer beach quilt... and made it into a mug rug for my friend Lane in Tampa.

She and I grew up together, starting from elementary school, through high school band trips and her family often invited me to spend their beach week with them. She and I had many adventures over the years, many of them at the beach, so of course I made a momento for her.

She is also a nurse so I used some nurse fabric to make a smaller coaster too.

Sewing wise, the blue fabric border is seashells, I did a quick envelop turn (self binding) edge treatment on both. Cabana pattern (minus hat, lady and flag) from Moda row by row book.

For other work this week I sandwiched the blue and green petals improv piece, and it's ready for quilting.

I chose a border in a lovely hoffman golden stars on cream fabric for the 9-patch neutrals piece and it's ready to quilt,

I suppose technically it's the shape of a table runner but I originally planned for it to be a bed runner accent piece. I found some more little solid color squares this size, more than I had of these, so maybe those will turn into a bed runner.

and started a Kaleidoscope quilt along in fall fabrics.

I have a drawer of cute fall fabrics but this strata based quilt needs long cuts and a lot of mine are fat quarters so I chose a few to start with, and mixed in blue, purple, red, gold, brown, green and beige fabrics to blend with them.

I made a kaleidoscope Christmas quilt one year, so this is technically "re-learning". I know when it all gets cut up and resewn the pieces often break down into colors mostly so I made sure the fall designs were cut into thicker strips and the pretty colors show up as accents like little pieces of glass in a real kaleidoscope.

double strips ready to sew into two identical strata

You start with strata, differing width strips, then after drafting angular patterns you will cut out template shapes from the dual strata sections.

four double strata, the last one not ironed yet, done out of 5 needed

This is not an improv quilt, each 1/16th of an inch matters, and you lose the effect if not precise.

The fact that I made mug rugs, a traditional style 9-patch, an improv art quilt, and now working on a precisely pieced intricate puzzle quilt shows how versatile this artform is!

It's supposed to be a leetle bit cooler today so I hope to bake my husband a birthday cake... but the studio is calling too!

I really want to make this... not today but one day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh-Wl5nB598

look at this clever EPP portable sewing tray!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UmVRrdd9A

LINKING TO

finished or not

can I get a whoop whoop Fridays

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss

https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/

design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays

patchwork Sunday
oh Scrap Sundays

https://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/2021/07/july-2021-table-scraps-runnertopper.html

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Saturday, July 24, 2021

Sewing Saturday... Summer Blues

Welcome to this week's sewing round up!

I worked on scrap challenge blocks in dark blue, made a whole new piece, and finished borders on last week's piece. Let's get this party started, shall we??

the design wall was exciting this week!

I'll start with the wine bottles in dark blue scraps... here is the mock up, supply gather...

pattern free from Hoffman Fabrics

They are a bit close in value to the "bright blue" month at rainbow scrap challenge but that's okay, at least I got the labels different.

Lesson learned

1. fabrics look different according to the proportion used...

2. cropping fabric images can really change the finished product

3. with paper pieced weird angles, pin pin pin

Next up is the blue petal scrap improv work from last week. I auditioned a lot of fabrics to finish off the edges and bring ones focus to the center... harder than one might think.

I added the bright green (more intense in real life) at the top, and it needs adjusting

Then chose a lovely green and blue vintage fabric from the stash to contrast with the busy center but hopefully bring your eye back to the petals.

I looked through my blue scrap strips til I found a print with blue and green in a flower print to remind the viewer this is a floral abstract.

I did try this one and it was a close race....

In the end I decided to use the one with a flower print, and cut some curves into it with the idea to start squaring it up on the outside edges

about 15" X 19" now

I'm satisfied. Now to block it, and get it ready to overquilt!! I plan to use some inks to make the center blossom stand out more, and this one is calling out for beading and hand stitching with thick threads.

I woke on Monday with "the blues" in my heart, and wanted to sew something mindless, as a tonic to my spirit. On a sorting expedition into studio two last week I spied a set of tiny 1.5" squares someone gave me a while back. The kind Keepsake used to send as samples. Okay I thought, let's use neutral scraps to make 9-patches.

Whee! they make unfinished 3.5" blocks. I have been wanting to use my prints on beige backgrounds in something for a while to showcase them, so I cut a bunch of 3.5" squares from those scraps. Like the Chinese food, spools, stars, donkeys..... then sewed them into a whole center...

Loved the softness of it but it wanted a border. I auditioned a lot of fabrics, then sent the pic to some friends and one said to use more 1.5" blocks in contrast to finish it off.

No, not going to cut up more of those tiny blocks but I do keep a box of 2" squares laid out in watercolor shades. I went to the next to lightest squares and created a border. No matching of seams needed and they work beautifully to give the center some room visually! Thanks Linda!

I made this in two afternoons. Lessons?

1. Even if you think it's just mindless sewing it will need design decisions

2. light shades and neutrals still have contrast and

3. low contrast is calming and still interesting

4. a traditional block and setting can feel artistic too

Time to quilt it now! Oh I tried the fabrics again, to border it and like Joy said when she saw it, they are a bit too intense or bright for it, which is why they take your eye way from the center.

lesson? Even if colors match, and pattern matches, sometimes it doesn't help the artwork

I also made two cute mug rugs for my friend in Florida... she spent the week with her family at the beach so I took the leftover cabana and fixed it up. She is a nurse, so I used some nurse fabric scraps to make a 2nd one too. I'll show those on Table scraps party next week!

I'll end with a quick watercolor sketch on my calendar page done this week while having morning coffee... just a way to see color relationships and it matches my quilting this week.

Three analogous colors of watercolor pencil... scribbled overlapping, then brushed with water to blend

To me it looks like a water scene, one I couldn't have planned but is one that looks like scenery I've observed over the years. See how similar it is in color and depth from the blue petal piece... purely serendipity. Just by playing with color pencil... Now I wish it was done on good paper!

That's the thing with art... there's always something to learn, and something to make

I plan to watch a lot of Olympics coverage this week... especially dressage, synchronized swimming if I can find it, badminton (can you believe that's an Olympic sport?) and gymnastics. The opening ceremonies were terrific especially the human interpretation of the event icons.

What about you?

Linking to

http://frombolttobeauty.blogspot.com/
finished or not
off the wall Fridays

can I get a whoop whoop Fridays

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss

https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/

design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays

blue mondays

oh Scrap Sundays

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyX-zT6bre0

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Sewing Saturday Weather extremes from beach to sweaters!

Cabanas 45" X 19"

While sewing this week, in the extreme heat of summer (100F) I finished the cabana's quilt and made my sweaters in the RSC color of the month, dark blue! From coppertone to winter gear!

Above is my finished summer quilt (pattern Moda row by row book) quilted and ready to hang.

love the beach quilting effect!

So I changed up the pattern... I made the tiny snail's trail blocks but chose to offset and double them up to resemble waves approaching a beach. I took out one cabana to make the quilt slightly less wide (made a table scraps mug rug for my friend Lane with it) added in more sky, beach and water as well as fun prints. Also the cute flags were my idea and I think I might like them best!

I've been saving this tiny bi-plane scrap for years!!! Now it's perfect for this quilt, IMHO

The flags were just little triangular scraps of my fun "candy" fabrics, fused down with zigzag stitch

wide bindings finish it off! matching fabric in binding carries the image to edge!

I looked through my stash of prints to find summer things like pails, ball, umbrellas, little girls stand in for my friend Lane who's family welcomed me to come each year to their beach week hotel Sea Resort, and our catch phrase was "sea resort where everybody's happy!" and we were. Bikini's and coppertone, swishing palm trees and soft sandy walks, lemon juice in our hair and cooling off in the gentle rocking water.

On the other hand I also used dark blue to make some sweaters for the RSC project this year, and liked both prints

so I'll just keep them both for the moment! I'd like a sweater like this!

Remember going to the drive in movies? As a kid I wore pj's even though I'd go play on the swings during intermission! Sitting in a hot car in Florida with the speaker hanging on an open window, looking through the windshield to see the movie.

My collection is growing... I have to start thinking about how to showcase these. My idea is to float them on black and white fabric, and make a cute quilt to hang in the closet maybe...

I ran across Podunk Pretties video on how to make your own block loc ruler and HST guide... enjoy

LINKING TO

http://frombolttobeauty.blogspot.com/

off the wall Fridays
tgiffriday finished or not

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss

https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/

design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays

patchwork Sunday
oh Scrap Sundays
https://apriljharris.com/ Hearth and Home

http://frombolttobeauty.blogspot.com/

Saturday, May 22, 2021

sewing saturday

for this week's sewing round up I present wine bottles made from red scraps for the RSC.

these seem a bit pink but in person they are definitely red! And the labels are silly!

One from a valentine fabric and one from my alcohol fabric collection! Seeing pink elephants???

Mostly this week I have worked on my tumbling block quilt, fine tuning colors and arrangements.

I pin them in place and carry it down to the family room to stitch in front of the tv. I made a felt covered cardboard tray to use, the pin cushion was from a youtube cathedral window free pattern.

I made a few more blocks to bring more color into the predominantly black and white ones, and added a row on the left side. I am sewing the blocks together in pinned sections at night while listening to tv.

I also spent some time on my red scrap wall quilt, or table runner, or banner. (time will tell which)

I added in a purple scrap on one side, and the beloved red with gold circles vintage scrap next to it and chose a binding fabric of gold with red circles.I almost put a black strip on the right but last minute I decided to keep it somewhat symetrical, thinking if I did that your eye would be drawn to the center to see the fun piecing instead of looking at all the different borders.

I'm not sure I like it but figure red thread quilted in the purple scrap strip, or beads will mitigate the color pop.

here's a video I found this week:

some interesting ideas in this video, free and useful in quilt making

Linking to

off the wall Fridays
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays

finished or not

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss

design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts

lovelaughquilt.mondays

oh Scrap Sundays
slow stitching Sundays

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Sewing Saturday from blocks to birds to abstract

see the sun peeking out at top right?

This is Saturday's weekly sewing round-up for the week, welcome!

I have been obsessed with the tumbling blocks. I found this project after I'd done about half the blocks that you see here

it was an english paper piecing project I could do in front of the tv, in colors of the month at RSC. I added in some red blocks for this month and thought I have quite a few, what would they look like laid out? Since I couldn't place them on the vertical design wall (paper makes 'em slippery) I pulled out my portable design board and started to organize them.

As you can imagine, I've been moving them around all week, and when a section seemed right to put together, I pinned them to each other so they could be done in front of the tv. That's why you see small sections missing now and then.

what did I learn?

group colors for focus else it will look like confetti

colors will blend, like the cool section that is really made of green, turquoise, blues and purple

I automatically set the size because of the size of my design board.

that is big, y'all. I limited myself to this size, then wondered where to put the few excess blocks. Now understand I never had a size in mind, nor how many blocks I'd need, so why do I feel the need to use all the blocks?

Should I ignore the size of the design space when laying out a design?

So this may actually gain another row going up and down on the left.

Anyway it has kept me busy and off the streets this week.

This is the finished bird spring piece I finished last week, hanging in the family room! That means it has a sleeve sewn on the back too!

I am photo impaired for some reason this week... something about the changing light here lately

but this pic shows how I add branches then sew them in with texturing threads, how I painted the birds right onto a finished top of watercolor squares that finish at 1.5", and some quilting.

This shows two birds, and the binding choice I made to use my precious Caryl Bryer Fallert hand dye print on top and bottom, and my precious no long made pointillist gradation fabric on the sides.

leaves and sun rays quilted in add texture

what I learned...

first there are all the decisions about placement of squares, then piecing them in order

then where to paint the birds, and what colors to use on them (I used gelato sticks to paint with)

next the border decisions, then quilting decisions including thread, then binding... I learned to use my good fabrics even on small binding strips because small details matter.

such as the hand embroidery added to the trunk, years ago when this was started. Those tiny white flowers and thin green vines are not the first thing you see but I know they are there.

You can see a bit of how the tiny squares come together to give a spring flower garden feel.

I learned that some projects need resting time, and come out better than if you pushed to finish them all at once.

The color of the month at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is red, and I like red in all it's variations. Last week I showed you a red scrap project started a year ago

and how I added to it with strips of tiny triangles sewn into flying geese. I am making a video of that for later... stay tuned. Anyway... I wanted to keep this in the red zone even though I like it on gray for the joining section area... it's a decision.

I learned you just have to make a choice and move on, it can always be done many ways but it I let myself dither too long it will go back in the UFO pile.

so I got busy and inserted that pinkish red fabric to join the sections...

see on the bottom of this picture. Then I just needed that precious hoarded striped fabric to go in it somewhere, so free form curves were used to stitch it on too.

The pics do not do it justice, but trust me it's really pretty in person and the geese stand out.

as one does, I auditioned many fabrics, and decided this is a good layout, with the vintage hoffman red with wild metallic circles for the outside strips... then....

I wondered if it needed an accent of DARK red before that strip, or maybe an accent...

maybe not this shade of purple but a jolt of purple might make all the reds stand up and pay attention!

so it's all excitement and color in studio 1 this week. I have not neglected my watercolors just used my coloring calendar to play with blended colors this week. I realized I often put every color in!!

which led me to pull out my inktense pencils and color on fabric again. Once you dab on water and heat press it fades, boo!!! But this will become something betcha! Maybe a small machine side pin cushion to give away.

Linking with

http://frombolttobeauty.blogspot.com/

off the wall Fridays
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays
tgiffriday finished or not

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss

smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays