I have been working away in the studio as usual this past week.  One of the things that I was finishing up was the commission- Twinkling Tracings.  The last step in the studio when I am doing something as large as this one  is, becomes the flattening step.  I do the ironing thing of course, then while it is still a bit damp, I lay it out on the floor on top of a sheet.  I put a second piece of fabric on top and then place my big cutting matt or 3 matts in this case, on top of that.  The final bit is book stacks that cover the  whole area of the quilt.    I had almost all the books from my studio shelves on top of the quilts.    It was quite a sight- but I did not think to take a photo….next time.  Anyway, when I started pulling the books off the quilt and re-shelving them, I realized I had not looked in some of the books in years.  So I paused, spread the covers of ” Design &Sew it Yourself” by Louis Ericson  and Diane Frode, a book I purchased in 1988, and  my mind was off and running.  This book is directed at clothing embellishment- but the same ideas can be applied to fiber work.    I decided that I would be adventurous and  try to use these ideas in some of my new works for this year.   I am in a different place then I was when I got this book- so it will now be used in a different fashion.  The Adventure Challenge will be to pull a technique from the old books( I saved five as I was re-shelving)  and combine it with a concept or idea that I am thinking about using in my art over the next year.    Now I love books and have a big collection-I got five new fiber and art related books for Christmas.  So I am not sure how much of a commitment I am making, but  the adventure will be stimulating!

Progress Report

 Paper Quilt-A Few Fishers

A Few Fishers is the name of this new paper quilt.  This first shot is a close up of the center area were you can see the painted  paper and fabric as well as the sequin waste.  You can also see the cut paper  circle- pale purple- that was added  and  two of the reflective circles.   The two openings have painted ground cloth behind them so you do not see the wall behind the quilt.  The second shot is a full view of the final work.  I need to add a hanging bar to this for total  completion.

 

Scrap Happy-

Red and White 

I am always working on what I call my Scrap Happy quilts.  These are all full sized quilts that are made up of scraps from other works some of them are failed experiments.     I just save the scraps and such in a box and when it is full I will assemble all the scarps into big sections that I then cut into 2.5 inch strips.  The strips are then applied to both sides of  a 4.5 inch  strip that is cut into 8.5 inch blocks.  A Roman Strip of sorts.  The blocks are them arranged and built into a quilt.    I build these to give away as fundraisers for organizations that I support and to give as gifts when I think someone needs a cozy wrap.

 

 

 

DMC Challenge- Circling Galaxies- Amended Squares-Limber Loss

This is the one going project were the limits were set by the three participants.

1.Each of us chose a color-Crimson, dark Turquoise and I chose blue green.

2.Size limit 18″X24″- with at least one irregular edge.

3.If you want to do it – then do it.

We each purchased material to fit the color choices in amounts to make three tops.  We selected the location of the parts and pinned them to the selected back ground color.  Then shipped our selection off to the other two.   Extra fabric was shipped as well.

Circling Galaxies

This one is my fabric selection so I started with it.   I liked using lots of texture.   I do feel that there is a lot going on in

this piece so I will try it again and try to be simpler with the presentation.   There is always more than one solution and I am pron to try to put too much into a piece if I am not careful.     I learned a lot about the irrugler shape challenge with this project.

1. Keep it simple

2. Make the protrusions at least an inch long

3. Press the corners and cut the binding at a 45 degrees

 

Amended Squares

Because I had a lot of fabric left over I tackled the problem a second time.  I was going for a much simpler solution with this effort.   I also wanted to use some unique metal candle floats that my friend Dorla had given me earlier this year.  I liked the shape and thought they would work well with the triangle  metal sequins that I had.

 

 

 

This is a shot of the metal candle floats.   They are sharp and I hope that they do not tear up the material.

 

Limber Loss

This is the layout of Marty’s fabrics for the DMC projects.     I am trying to stay in the same feel as I did with Amended Squares for this one as well and so I have cut  and assembled it in this fashion.

I am ready to trim this and start embellishing.    I think I will use the metal candle floaters again- but see if I can change the shape a bit by trimming off the edges.

Capture

This is a quilt  I am amending.  The 3-D additions are  plastic units that have big purple beads in the centers, and all of this is trapped under pale purple nylon net.  

The close up shows better how the beads are under the nylon netting.  But I am still not sure this is how it will remain.

 

 

 

I seam to have lots of stuff in process at the moment and that is true.  I may not get back to some of the problems quickly but I am sure that with time I will do so.

Keep Creating

Hugs

Carol