Monday, June 23, 2008

Life, Post-Vacation

Last week was vacation time. I had a week away from my day job! I kicked it off with the trip to the State Quilt Guild of New Jersey show. The weather here was idyllic and I gardened and spent some time outside and in Center City. My ambition was to sew and finish one of my projects but that didn't happen. My work room was a mess and with more time on my hands than usual I couldn't focus on completing tasks. I got distracted by cleaning up and weeding my workspace. It needed to be done and I have no regrets - although it would have been nice to have finished something!

One fibrous thing I did get to do was splash around with with fabric dye and cotton yardage.
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These are mostly African cotton jacquard. This one started out white. I've linked the larger picture because if you look closely you can sort of see some of the woven pattern.
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This one started as a goldenrod yellow. I discharged some of the color by pouring bleach on it. The fabric was crumpled. No attempt made to pattern the discharge. Then rose brown dye was squeezed on from a squirt bottle.
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This one started as the same goldenrod. I folded it up into a little triangular package and poured crimson on it.IMG_0461v1
Again the goldenrod. This time I discharged the color with dishwashing liquid on a big foam stamp -- probably meant to stamp on a wall. Then came emerald green dye on the discharged areas, allowed to do as it wanted. I particularly like over-dyeing the colored fabric. It is a rich effect that is hard to mess up!
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White cotton broadcloth that I traced little scientific-ish illustrations onto with a sharpie. The sharpie was not fine enough to give a really fine line but I wanted to see what would happen and from that perspective it worked. The images made it through the entire fabric-punishing process. It is a technique that has some potential.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

First Place, Bed Quilt, Applique

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This is a prize winner and the simple cookie cutter applique in sort of geometric, reproduction fabric (Kaffe Fassette) includes lots of fun shapes designed by the artist.

New York Beauty-like

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Karen Stone pattern. Beaded, machine quilted. This one won first place, larger group.

First Place, Innovative

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Painted? Printed? I don't think it's pieced? Very compelling to look at and the outline and textural quilting add much.

Quilt Show

It was a beautiful day and I saw some lovely quilts.
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This won first place for Wall Quilt, Appliqué. I think the flower petals at least are raw-edge covered with satin stitch. Some of the other parts of the flower have more textural stitches around the edges. The center is outlined with chenille yard with bugle beads in the middle. Very pretty.
The wavy grid in the background may stitched down butted edge to edge? There are other bead embellishments also.

Friday, June 13, 2008

State Quilt Guild of New Jersey Show...

...started today and I'm going tomorrow! Lots of quilts, lots of fabric, lots of fun!

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Border Angst

Tonight, after attaching one of the rose print borders to my heart quilt I got feedback that the print was overwhelming the the center. That has been my secret fear all along. So it's back to the fabric store I think.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Heart Quilt

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The center portion of the quilt is finished by and large. Tomorrow night the borders go on.
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I'm not sure how I feel about the fabric for the wider borders. It is lovely but does it work with the central part of the quilt? Borders seem to be where my angst is...

Baby in a Pea Pod FSL


Baby in a Pea Pod FSL
Originally uploaded by YourWayEmbroidery

OMG so cute!