Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Fifth in a series...







This bargello (and a detail shown) is the fifth and final in a series of five bargellos made with 18 of my favorite fabrics.

As I remarked in an earlier post about two years ago, using 18 fabrics changes the way one can design a bargello, and can result in a long skinny piece...

With just a few remaining strips I found in my UFO pile, I designed this one with only one repeat, but with the design symmetrical from top to bottom...

I put a fused applique of two Japanese ladies, and it fit well in the central "frame"







I never get tired of designing and making bargellos.

I am finishing another one now, with lime and black fabrics. Searching for and choosing the fabrics is a fun part of the process, and I have been collecting the lime green and black fabrics for over a year.

I will post pictures soon...


























Saturday, September 10, 2011

Monarchs in Profusion








Although it has been an unusually hot summer, my sewing room is comfortable, and I have had a wonderful show , provided by the visitors to my butterfly bush, right outside the window by my sewing machine,

In addition to the beautiful monarch butterflies, there have been frequent visits from hummingbirds. I don't have any photos yet, and I don't know when they will leave, on their way to Costa Rica, or wherever they go when they leave here...



I do have three quilt projects almost finished, and will be posting photos soon...

I have enjoyed both my Monday night "Art Quilt" group, and the more traditional guild I joined last winter. I learn so much at both, and in addition, I have wonderful friends, with whom I have a lot in common...

The challenges at my Monday night group have pushed me to try new techniques, and have been an impetus to finish pieces, instead of adding them to my UFO pile.

That pile is dwindling, and the piece I am working on now is the last of a series of five bargellos made with 18 of my most favorite fabrics. Picture coming soon!