practice in machine quilting...

The stitches don't show up well on some of the colors of silk,

but I am using the strips for practice on various machine quilting patterns.

My friend Emma told me that Frieda Anderson's blog has some good tips on machine quilting, and I also have my notes from a class I took several years ago, along with several magazine articles that had good tips and examples...

The secret is no secret at all: PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!

With 72 strips on this quilt, plus an extra square, I will be able to try a number of different designs. Some colors will photograph better than others, so I may post a few more pictures in a day or two...

The beginning of a series?

I recently came across a very old, dusty wash board, and since no one seemed to want it anymore, I claimed it.

I cleaned it off, and decided it would be the perfect frame for a miniature quilt I have been wanting to make.

I found some tiny clothespins at Hobby Lobby, and got busy fusing and cutting a little wardrobe of laundry. I love making quilts using scraps, and this entire quilt (only 8" x 8") was made using scraps...

I now have acquired several more washboards, so I am gathering fabrics and ideas for additional miniature quilts, to be framed by the wash boards. It gives me a chance to practice thread painting, and most of all, to have fun!

I took it to my Monday night group last night, and it got a few oohs and aahs...

Silk Nine Patch

Things seen to be happening in slow motion on this blog. I do have several pieces finished, finally.

But first, here is a pieced, but not quilted, experiment in silk.

I have been working a lot in silk lately, and I find the colors and texture and appearance absolutely delicious. I cut strips from all the colors I have, and randomly sewed them into 12" x 12" squares. (I did not repeat a color in any square.) I had a few scraps of beautiful marbled silk that I had bought at a workshop given by Marlene Glickman. I sewed the scraps into strips, and they add a nice dimension to the piece.

I then sewed the squares into a nine-patch, and am trying to decide how much to quilt them. I don't want to lose the sheen of the silk, but it could be a good practice piece for free-motion quilting...

Most of the silk is dupioni silk, purchased from Waechter's in Asheville. The dupioni has such a wonderful texture and substance. I fused the pieces onto pellon backing, but still had some ravelling.

Once I decide how to quilt it and finish it, I will post another picture.

Happy New Year 2011!

It is good, that we have a time to "start over" or regroup, make plans, make changes.

Happy New Year, everyone!

I long ago learned that making resolutions doesn't work for me.

But my hope for this new year is that I can continue to do well what I do well, and learn to do better those things that need improvement.

Last year was a good year for me. I completed some good projects. I made some new friends, and reconnected with some established friends.

I traveled, and I enjoyed my home. I started a new job, which has been really good for me.

I am beginning this new year with the hope that I can finish some projects I started earlier, and that I can begin some new ones that will give me satisfaction, and help me learn new skills and explore new ideas.

One project, already in the beginning stages, is a collaborative project with Robert, a very talented artist whom I met in my Monday night group.

This year, in our group, the program each month will be planned by one or two group members. Robert and I offered to be responsible for April, and we will do a demo, and then give the group a challenge for May. I will say more about the theme of the project later, but for now, I am showing the fabrics for my "half" of the collaboration.

Back to my "goals" for 2011. I hope to get back to more regular postings on this blog. I always enjoy posting. But around last August, when my new job started, I entered a period of sewing less, and therefore I didn't have as much to write about. I feel it makes a blog more interesting if there are photos included, and I didn't really have much to show. So, here goes!

Selvage Quilt Won a prize!

Several months ago, I posted pictures of this quilt that I made entirely from selvages.

It was for a show to be held in Burnsville, NC. I was fortunate enough to be in Burnsville in early August, when the show was held, so I got to see the show. There were several quilt shows around the Asheville, NC area at the same time.

(It was also the same week as the quilt shows in Berea, KY, where I did a demonstration at the Kentucky Artisan Center.)

I am happy to report that my selvage quilt won the selvage category of the show.

I have to confess that there were just a few pieces in the selvage category, and they were very traditional, as were most of the pieces in the entire show.

I have seen many quilts made with selvages, and virtually all of them were very linear, with lots of right angles and straight lines.

So I wanted to do something different, and made the water quilt with lots of curves. I also embellished it with beads.

I am still saving selvages, so maybe someday, I will get an inspiration to do another quilt with them.

Here I am again!

The last time I wrote, several months ago, I lamented that I hadn't been doing much sewing...

In October, I went to my Monday night group at the Forget-Me-Knot quilt shop, and when they had show-and-tell, I had to say "I got nuthin." It was very difficult, because I almost always have something that I have been working on.

But after that night, I was determined to have something for the next meeting. Our challenge was to make a quilt based on a photo. The photo was a still life taken by Robert, one of our most talented members.

I did a very literal translation of the photo. I found some perfect blue and

white fabric for the teapot, and I enjoyed doing some thread painting on the lemons.

I was also pleased with the way the shadows turned out. I showed it to the group, and they made a few polite comments.

THEN, Robert showed his interpretation of the same photo, (photo shown below) and he got applause and practically got a standing ovation. But that is what is nice about our group. It is a very supportive and friendly group, and there are people in it at all levels of experience and accomplishment.

However, I was glad I showed mine first; his would have been a hard act to follow. A very masterful use of fabric, and wonderfully embellished.

I am still working, and have less time to sew than I did, but that is a reason I am sewing less, not an excuse. I am working on several Christmas gifts, and then I hope to get back to some of the other unfinished pieces I have, as well as several I have planned. If there is still anyone out there reading this, stay tuned.....

Sewing again!

It has been over a month since I have done any sewing, and it has probably been even longer since I posted anything on the blog.

Is anyone still out there???

I had a vacation in early August, and of course, bought lots of fabric, but just haven't gotten back in gear.

I ordered some beautiful Japanese fabric from Waechter's in Asheville. It is one of the most gorgeous prints I have seen in a long time. When I ordered it, I wasn't sure if I would make a garment or a quilt.

I decided to make a vest. Even though I only had a yard, I was able to center the koi on the back, and get some good images on the front as well. This is as far as I have gotten, but it's a simple vest, and I will keep it simple and just highlight the print.

When I get a little more finished, I will post another picture.

I hope this is the beginning of more sewing. I have just been lazy. I have some unfinished projects, and some ideas for some new ones.

And I certainly have enough fabric!

Hope to have something to show soon!