Selvage Quilt Finished!

I just finished sewing the beads and binding on the selvage quilt.

I am really happy with it; it is so different from anything I've done, although the fish motif has been one of my favorites for a few years.

It is a combination of fusing and machine embroidery and thread painting, done completely using selvages.

I was determined not to make it a traditional log cabin, like many selvage quilts, and I wanted some curves instead of all right angles... 

I had been saving selvages for years, with nothing particular in mind, and

 when the Needle Me This Quilt Shop in Burnsville, NC announced a Selvage Challenge, that was all I needed!  Some friends also gave me some of their selvages, and they can play "Where's Waldo" looking for theirs in the piece.

Burnsville is very close to Asheville, one of my favorite places. It is a combination of artsy and craftsy, and in an area with a wealth of outdoor activities. We get there as often as possible, and hope to go this August, when there are several quilt shows going on simultaneously in Asheville and Burnsville. 

I had enough selvages in different colors to do the background (33 inches wide by 28 inches tall) in shades of  blue. 

Then I chose red, orange, pink and yellow for the fish, so they would contrast and show up well against the background.

I sewed lots of beads on the blue  background, and a few sequins on the fish.

Quilt Show in Bowling Green KY

I headed to Bowling Green, KY this morning to see the quilt show at the Kentucky Museum and Library. It is a Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society, and this year the theme is "Quilts Based on Books."

Unfortunately, there was a fiery accident on I-65, and the highway was closed for many hours. So we turned around and went to Glendale for lunch and a gallery visit to True Kentucky gallery.

Since I didn't get to take photos at the show, I will post the photos from their website. (My quilt is the puffin quilt, actually a little fabric book based on the book "There Once Was a Puffin", by Florence Page Jaques.

http://www.wku.edu/Library/kylm/exhibits/inhouse/changing/khqs.html

The Fractured Sunflower is finished!

My Monday night Group met this past Monday night, and everyone brought their finished quadrants for the sunflower.

We had agreed on each quadrant being 10" x 10", and the finished quilt was to be based on this photo (notice the bee in the lower right hand quarter.)

This is my part, and I really enjoyed sewing the beads in the center, and using fusible on my green leaves, and machine embroidery.

My petals are hand-dyed fabric fused to some other yellow fabric, with wire in between to give them some dimension.

Here is the finished product, mounted on a black  background. It was such fun seeing the pieces going together.

The whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts.

I really enjoyed this project, and can't wait until fall, when we will talk about another collaborative project.

More Black and White....

After doing my two snow crane pieces in black and white, I was still in "black and white" mode, and decided to reduce my extensive black and white stash. I picked 12 fabrics from light to dark, and started cutting and sewing strips for a bargello. (There are 13 in the picture, but I eliminated the one on the left.)

I had done a bargello a couple of years ago that resembled an Oriental rug, and I wanted to do that again with some changes...

I really like the way it turned out. I added two columns on each side, so the white diamond shape that starts in the center of the top would be completed all the way around...

I took it to my Monday night group last night for Show and Tell.

Outdoor shot of Copper Pheasant

Here's a better shot of my latest bird.

After I finish some other unfinished pieces, I'm going to try another 3-D bird. 

I have some beautiful silver bird legs purchased from a craftsman in Venice Florida, and I'm eager to use what I learned on this one to try to do a better one next time! 

Long-legged Pheasant

On April 25, I posted a few picturres of the beginning of the construction of this bird.

I finished it yesterday, and it turned out pretty cute! It's too windy out today to get a good picture, but I will post another one when I can. 

This was for the challenge for my Monday night group. The challenge was to create something "structural" or three-dimensional. 

The legs are copper rod,  wound with copper wire. I stuck with copper colored fabrics. The tail is made of feathers from a cheesy Thanksgiving decoration, and the feathers on the head are real. It was a lot of fun, and a real challenge to get it to stand up reliably. (Thanks, Bob, for your engineering help.)

Cranes Deja Vu

Back on April 4, I commented how nice it was to have my Japanese Snow Cranes piece in a show at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. The show runs from April 3 until around August 21.

A few days later I was notified that my piece had sold already, which is good news for me and for the Center.

What I didn't know was that the piece was taken away by the buyer. I know that is unusual, but the Artisan Center is about selling, not being primarily a gallery.

I was asked by the director if I had another black and white piece available to replace it in the show. Well, I didn't, but I got busy immediately and started another very similar piece, using my leftover silks that I had bought for the first piece.

One thing I wanted to try was to include a little patch of color on the second piece, and also to add some authenticity to the cranes.

However, I was told that other applicants for the show had been rejected if they had any color other than black and white.

So, the red caps on their heads was replaced with black ones, and I finished the piece several days ago and delivered it. I actually like this one better, particularly the moon and the branch at the top.

The third picture here is the new one.....

She said a number of pieces had sold, and the artists had also replaced them. Some were photographs and prints, which are relatively easy to replicate.

I am glad the show is doing well. I have already optimistically started another black and white piece, this time a bargello, to replace this piece in case it sells, too.