Black and Whites

     Because this quilt was literally finished and packaged for a quilt show, I never got to take a photo of it. But now it is back. Here is the Leymoyne Star made fabric I did last year at QBL, but just quilted on the Nolting (finally).

Detail

Back

Front

     Also, a woman from my guild gave me a selection of black and whites for looking at her vintage machine and offering suggestions on how to clean it up. Just super!!

Three D bugaboos

     I am not very good at making three dimensional sewn pieces. However, my son is going to have his birthday this week (33). At Christmas, he told me he wanted a cover for his amp. So I bought a nice heavy cover on ebay.

     And then he informed me he wanted a unique cover, not like this. He thought I could do something "creative" with it. It sat in my project corner until this week. Then I remembered it. I know batiks are strong fabric and I could do made fabric pieces, but I had to be careful that it does not read cutesy or forced. He plays in a band out sometimes. 
     I pulled out my boxes of green and blue batiks. I thought I could do one side in mostly blues and morph into greens over the top and down the back. The vinyl is plenty stiff, so I am not going to add batting. So, I made a huge mess of my studio and kept sewing and slicing.

Green back

Narrow side 1

Blue Side

Using the Singer 15 attempting to sew down

First sewn down side

     I have no idea how to do this. I made the fabric, then ironed a small hem, pinned it close to the binding and used a small stitch. I was going to make a freezer paper pattern, but the cover seems wonky, not straight. 
     The other issue I have to figure out is the Fender logo. It is screen printed on the vinyl, but to cut the fabric around it looks tacky, ruins the design of the fabric. If I cut the vinyl apart to put the logo on top, I compromise the structure of the cover. I traced the logo on steam a seam, and am going to try to cut out white fused fabric and zig zag it on with black thread. Oh my, can't wait for that, yikes.

It is not a quilt until it's bound- times three!

     I don't think there is any part of the quilting process that I don't like. Oh, except ripping out. Ever since I learned glue binding, it is not an issue for me. However, specific tasks like that are better done in groups because of the necessary routine and skill. So, I had two comfort quilts and one made fabric one ready for binding. I made all the binding at one time, then glued it all on the fronts, sewed all, pressed, glued to the back and then sewed all on. I think I get better at doing binding this way.  I know I just posted one of them recently, but I thought the difference a binding makes was worth another posting.

Exploding Squares

Back

Bright HSTs

Back

 

Improv with Made Fabric

Back

Improv with made fabric done but for binding!

     Last July, I took a class at Quilting by the Lake with Victoria Findlay Wolfe on using made fabric. I finally finished the quilt, but for the binding, which is cut and ready. I quilted it on the Nolting and you can see how wobbly I am. I can do straight lines. Everything else is suspect. The back also make use of the made fabric. It is about 53 x 53. Love the process. Love to sew made fabric.

Front

Detail

Back

Detail back

Vintage fabric- Japanese style!

     One of the women in my painting class, Patty, was taking a vacation to Japan. She asked if I wanted anything and I jokingly said "fabric". Today at class, Patty had a bundle of vintage fabric scraps to give me. I opened it up at home and am amazed at all the kinds of fabrics and looks. I think I have to wash it all (some silks) somehow. Then, I am thinking how to make this into an improv type quilt so I don't have to cut the fabric much. Kind a Gee's Bend thing. I think I will have to sew the fabric to a backing, because some of the fabric is real thin. I am not a handsewer, so that idea won't work for me. Hmm.

All kinds of things here

Trying a block

     It is no secret I love scraps. I love controlled wonky. So, I found an idea to start from the center and add out and around. I don't know whether to limit the size and make a bunch, or to make giant ones. As usual, wonky takes longer.

Fading Charms in focus!

      On the rainy Sunday, I finished the last round of squares and strips on this leader and ender quilt. All of the 2 1/2" squares are childrens fabric and are scraps from others and what I have collected. Pieced on the lovely and nimble Singer 301. The pattern is free from Wedding Dress Blues. I am also working on her Film at Five quilt as a leader ender.
     Since it was raining, I spread it out in the family room. Tugger (aka Mr. Trouble) appeared from nowhere and placed himself in the middle by the time I got back with the camera. How does he know the center? My husband says it is because he thinks he is the center of the universe.

Smack in the middle

     Today, I took the quilt outside and tried to photo it although it is a wee bit too big for where I photo the quilts. Hmm, have to find another spot. Don't know what kind of backing to do.