Quilting Spaces

I have not been idle in the sewing departments.... Just not able to show too much of what I was working on. But I can share now.

In April a friend dropped in and brought along a Charity Quilt top I offered to quilt. I did and it is done!!! I should have rotated the picture.... This quilt is Kaffe Fasset fabrics and a blue batik. It is really quite colorful and bright. And it goes along with the Challenge (below)... as it is also a 'String Pieced Quilt'!

One of the the guilds I belong to issued a challenge in February. "Strings" and I immediately thought of a Zebra. The rules were 50% of the quilt had to be strings, the strings had to be less than 2.5 inches in width, and it did not have to be quilted. Due in June.

I had so much fun making the Zebra that I had to do another one. The Giraffe.

I hope to do a few more of these.... because they were fun and as I was doing them they made me remember some of the things from daily living in South Africa that I had not thought about in a long while. I created a label on the reverse of the zebra that talks about many of the things I remembered about wildlife in South Africa. The Giraffe label will talk about shopping in South Africa.

Still More Later!!!  Beth

Samples

I was asked if I would share some Thread Play again this year. A few years ago I threw this Hibiscus Flower together for a class I would be taking, "The Open Threadbar" with Cindy Needham. In the class we were going to have the opportunity to play with all the Superior threads that were available at the time. I had not had my 
Janome 6600 for long and there was lots of talk about many of the newer machines did not like many of the new threads. I thought it was a great way to try all the Superior threads without having to purchase any. As it turns out the Janome.... liked them all! Most of the class played on a white/muslin sandwich... and did the stitch outs using the fancy stitches on their machines. I wanted to see how the thread would behave on an actual project.
The fabrics are batiks and backed with fusible, so there were some rather thick areas where the fabric stacked up. But I didn't have time to cut away fusible as I really did throw this together in the last hour....

I had to create a patter for the hibiscus since the original was

supposed to be a one off. I spent December working on that and then thought that after painting a hibiscus last year at the guild, we might want a different flower, and created the Echinacea. This yellow one is a test... for the pattern and is small. I will leave it unfinished for now. Although it just needs a little more quilting and the binding. I did add some beads tho. If you click on the photo you should be able to see the details.


Once I had the test all worked out, I made one that is full size, too.  The first picture is the detail, I added a few beads to give it some sparkle and dimension. The yellow and the orange are the same pattern just oriented differently on the background.











The instructions for both of them are the same, so the fabric choices and the number of pieces are different, I will let participants choose the one they want to do.

2016 Quilty Wrap UP!

In the few minutes of quiet this morning... (new Puppy, introductions coming soon), I want to share the last couple of quilts... 

I made and quilted another QOV (Quilt of Valor), very similar to the first one. I just have to put the label on it and it is done.

One of the guilds I belong to had a newsletter mystery. All the clues were delivered in the newsletter  over 8 or 9 months and we were able to work on it at our own pace. I chose to make the throw. It would look so much better if I had read the first clue correctly. It suggested to cut the scraps from medium and dark fabrics. I let some lights slip in which muddied up the look a bit. But it will make a nice top to practice longarm quilting on!

And lastly.... a Sparkly Chickens Quilt. It was pulled together from blocks we swapped in 2009. The label tells who made which block and the rules for the swap. I set the block in South Africa... and would certainly made some different choices for fabrics and the chicken arrangement. I did share with the others that they should either quilt it themselves or be prepared to loose their longarmer over the beads. Oh, my... they did pose a problem.... in some places. I won't pretend that the quilting is perfect, but from 30 paces on a galloping horse it looks fabulous!!! It is hanging over the balcony... in the family room on display.

Next up news on the puppy... name, size and color.... antics and all the particulars. A teaser picture... perhaps?

More Later-  Beth

Quitography!

Are we tired of it yet? Last post, on this I think.... Exhibit comes down in January.

I did go to the opening of the exhibit and stayed for an hour or so. Met a few of the other artists too. I promised full views of my pieces and the inspiration photos. Warning, this is picture heavy... 1st will be the inspiration photo and photographer credit, my quilt and then if I have it, a photo of it hanging with some of its counter parts. I think if you click on the image, you will get a larger size for a more detail.

Leopard photo by Charlie Zehnder, Kambaku Game Reserve, South Africa 

 ‘Wheel’ photo by  Darrell Gilbert, Barren River

‘Vineyard’ photo by  Jeff Lackey 

‘Mountain Landscape’ photo by Carol Rice Cain, Arcadia Jordon Pond 

‘Raindrops’ photo by Judith Lesnaw

‘Jeep’ photo by Marty Betts

‘Bridge’ photo by Steve Bromley, Newport Bridge

‘Red Lamps’ photo by Helen MaClatchy

So many of the others were absolutely captivating! 

If you have gotten this far, Happy Thanksgiving.

More Later- Beth

Quilt Artists of Kentucky

Today is the opening of the Quiltography Challenge in Lexington Kentucky. It is a collaborative project between the Quilt Artists of Kentucky, a sub group of the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society and the Lexington Creative Camera Club.

There will be over 100 little quilts, each one 12 inches square, along with the inspiration photograph. The Emotions Challenge Quilts are also being displayed, which I did not participate in.

This evening there will be a reception.... and hopefully many of the quilters will be in attendance along with the photographers! 

I am excited to see all the quilts hung together, to see them in person and all the different takes on the same photograph! It will be interesting!

Doing this little project has inspired me to pull out a couple of my own photographs... and turn them into small quilts.

More later -Beth

In the Creative Space #2

The due date for these has slipped a little to November 4, (but I will be taking them over next week), the Gallery Hop and Reception is slated for 11/18 5-8 pm and the exhibit will hang until January 1 at Christ Christian Church 166 market St, Lexington KY 40507.... call for hours....859-492-5168. 

I am looking forward to seeing the photographers work hung with the interpretations. It will be fun to hear/see what they think of the interpretations.... we all made.

Here are the last 4.... these are still just little snippets of the whole thing... (whole is only 12 inches square...)

I will share each quilt and the inspiration photos and the photographer info and tell you about all the other little quilts that these were displayed with. 



I have missed working on these!!! 

More later- Beth

In the Creative Space Lately #1

I have been doing some stitching, but unable to share much... 

I finished up something in June... but can't remember what it was, that gave me some free time, so I decided to take on a Challenge Project.  

I belong to the Kentucky State Guild, (KHQS) and the sub group, Quilt Artists of Kentucky (QAK). The subgroup issued a challenge called "Quiltography", in conjunction with the Lexington Photography Club. The photography club lent us 8 photos to use as the inspiration. Loose rules.... The finished size is 12 inches by 12 inches, and use a "new to you" technique and the interpretation is open.  I am only showing a small part of each little quilt, because they won't be revealed until November... at a group showing at the Christ Church in Lexington KY, along side the inspiration photograph (I think). Here are 4 of the 8.

I've had lots of fun creating these and trying to capture enough of each photo... Not much in the way of new techniques for me...  on most of these, but I did try several new things.... and will explain (if needed) once we have the reveal and I will share the inspiration picture and each quilt after the reveal. These have been so much fun!!!

More later- Beth

More Quilting

I am still busy with playing on the longarm!!! That might be.... the anthem for the year, Still Playing on the Longarm... I'm sure there is a beat for that.

I have had a couple of more finishes. Out of order....

Quilt #9 off the longarm is a quilt destined for the Veterans. It is a lap quilt. There is a Permanent Veterans Home opening in the area later this year. I have offered to quilt tops destined for a Charity for free for the 2 guilds I belong to. This was the first of many Charity Quilts.  I chose an E2E with loops and stars that is not too dense and will leave the quilt nice and soft. I used a Signature variegated top and a green Omni in the bobbin. I don't have a picture of the completed quilt. I gave it back the maker the same week for binding. She gave me another to quilt.

The other, #8 is a large quilt. The top I made in January, a Guild mystery project. I have decided to name it "Paseo Caliente" and it is 80x80. It contains a couple of firsts for me too. My first Mystery and my first Precut Project!- I used a Jelly Roll, I chose a Kaffe.... collective (it was labeled all Kaffe, but I know a couple of the prints are not his) for the low contrast which will usually ensure a project that will turn out... even if your fabric choices were not the best! Me I like it, and if I get tired of the front.... the back is just as nice!!! Quilted E2E with an orange Glide thread top and an red Omni in the bobbin.

I think I like the back nearly as much as the front.

#7 Was a Winnie the Pooh Panel.... that I picked up at a quilt shop at a clearance price. I wanted to practice with a ruler. It did not turn out bad.... but not something I really want to show. The ruler came with an accessories pack I purchased with the LA. It was not what I expected, because the description I had of the package was mostly threads, but I somehow wound up with a ruler. It has a channel in the center... but I was having some difficulty.... getting up/down the channel smoothly. I have since discovered that the foot is a bit tight and it is not just me! Why did they include this ruler? and I also discovered that the panel.... printing was not even.... why did I ever think it would be. They NEVER are!!! But it was very inexpensive.... and it only needed a scrap of batting and a backing.... It will make a small person happy. No photo.

I have been staying busy making some tops as well!!! I was the president of a guild a long time ago .... way back in 1989.... could have been 1990. The guild membership back then was at about a 100 consistently and I served for 2 years and before that I was the VP. The guild would most often purchase a gift for the out going president, but we had a small quilt show that year and the show committee decided to have a block challenge, little did I know... that it was to make blocks to give to me. I was stunned. I am just now getting them into a top. Well several tops!!! The pile of blocks numbered more than 40! So far I have 2 tops done.... and number 3 is on the wall. It has proved a bit challenging, to find fabrics to blend. All I have found are solids.... so that is what I am using to set the tops. This is a photo of most of the blocks on the wall for sorting.... Of course they are various sizes.... around 12.5 inches square and 95% are hand pieced with various levels of expertise. I think I  have done all of those ladies a disservice by not making these into a top... sooner. Many of the makers are gone, although the guild is still around.

I am off to sew something!

More Later- Beth

Time Flies

Its March!!! and now almost April!!! and even with an extra day in February... the month was all too short. I think the groundhog was right and that we will have an early spring, at least on my block in KY!!!! There is a maple in the front blooming. I don't know the variety... and the one in the back has the bark changing color, but the buds are slow to swell. In wandering around the yard I can see swelling buds on the flowering cherries, the birch and the Knockout roses are just a few days away from leaves!!! We spend a Sunday cutting them back.

So how has all this time gone by so quickly... well I am still playing and making more quilts than I ever thought I could. Granted none of them are show stoppers!!! But I am making some progress and presented below in the order completed and their fate!!!


While I was waiting for the longarm to arrive, I found a pile of blocks I acquired in Virginia at the annual Guild auction, (a quilters garage sale of sorts). I bid on a box of stuff... and really just stuff. In the box were 18 blocks, 12 sampler type and 9 of the baskets. These were made  by several quilters and of course were many different sizes. So the first was this one. I really just threw it together, thinking my quilting would not be great.... so it would become a dog blanket. So once it was quilted and bound I tossed it into the washer... and oh my it had a fabulous texture... and scrunched up so nicely. I posted it on the previous blog and called it Axels blanket before I bound it. It was backed in flannel. My brother and family just recently moved from southern California to Wyoming and are suffering from the difference in temperatures. I sent the quilt to them as a warming gift! Quilted E2E in YLI Gold Cotton top and King Tut Variegated Orange in the bobbin. I called it Monkey Tails, because the design reminded me of money tails, and their new place has monkey in the name! A very happy coincidence!

Next up was the other pile of acquired blocks- the baskets. I set them on point and filled in with plain blocks. Remember this was a practice piece and was going to become Linzis dog blanket. But it also turned out nice and now lives draped over the railing looking from the second floor to the family room. Also quilted E2E with white Omni top and bobbin and flannel backed too.

My sister has dabbled in quilt making and had a pile of blocks and a completed top, along with a couple of smaller projects. So I took a pile of her swap blocks added some similar fabrics as sashing and put the whole thing together. Some of those swap blocks were way out of size!!! One I even had to add some fabric to get it up to size on one edge. I quilted the top E2E in Omni natural on top and in the bobbin, bound it, added a label and sent it back to her. She liked it!!!

Next up was a top she completed, all I did was press it to death and then quilted it. I am happy to say, it quilted up great. I was afraid it would have a couple of tucks in it from some billowy areas. I also backed in a brown flannel. I matched the bobbin to the back Essential Cotton Thread and quilted the top in a dark blue YLI cotton. She liked this one as well. Still on the frame! I forgot to take a picture of the finished quilt.... oh well. The brown flannel had the look of quilted leather.

I quilted one other for a baby. I foundation pieced the top from all my black and white scraps and the color was all from scraps as well. I only purchased fabric for the border and a flannel backing. I quilted the top E2E in black Omni and in the bobbin was a white Omni.

Overall I have had some fun.... quilting and E2E is a nice way to make nice quilt very quickly. I have a new found appreciation for hand guided quilting and the skill it takes. I am not anywhere near quilting from the front... but I long to get there, as the panto is fun, but very boring!

More to tell, but I hate using blogger to write in.... and the MS Live program no longer works on old laptop.... so I will have to find a new program or get used to blogger again- YUCK!!!


More Later-  Beth