Quilting and Weaving

I have finished the quilting on the Cars quilt.

Here are a couple of pictures. 

As you may have noticed in the blue sashing areas,  the quilting is different.

Each of those has a different design - just for fun. 

The rest of the body of the quilt is done in a meandering pattern. 

I can not remember if I mentioned that I dyed another warp for my loom. 

That was a few weeks ago.  At this point it is on the loom and the weaving has begun.

Above and below are photos from the back of the loom where

you can see the warp as it comes up the back of the loom.

Next up is a photo of a small sample of the fabric that has been woven. 

This is woven with black thread as it causes the colors to pop.

The Cars quilt is finished and has been washed.  I hope to get glamor shots of it in the next couple of days.  I am very happy with it. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Photos from The Exhibit

My photographer friend finally made it to the gallery to get some photos for me.  When he arrived,  what should greet him in the front windows?  Yes, in each front window is a quilt made by me.  

First up is Cabin in the Stars.  It is made entirely of Island Batik fabrics and I love the strong graphic appeal of this small quilt. 

Next up is Stepping Up.  This one is also made exclusively of Island Batik fabrics. The steps are  a variation on the classic Baby Blocks quilt pattern. 

What started as fourteen of my quilted notebooks/journals is now down to eight as seen in the next two photos. 

Wow,  did they put me on a pedestal?  Ha ha. 

I am sure that this display looked better with the other six notebooks to fill the space. 

Two of those featured an embroidered horse on the front.  This area has many people who love horses. 

Two of my mounted art quilts are also on view and for sale. 

These are each mounted on an artist canvas to allow them to hang on the wall easily

Ritmo de la Noche 
(Rhythm of the Night) 

Sunset Melody 

However in the gallery it is titled "Joyous Rhythms" 

That keeps a theme with the one above it.

The Absurd Bird is hanging on a freestanding quilt rack.

Colorful Memories  is hanging on a wall above a display of smaller art pieces. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

In the Gallery

Almost two weeks ago I mentioned having some items in a gallery in Guntersville, Alabama. I have exhibited at the Mountain Valley Arts Gallery in the past - I think it was 2017.  This time they are having a quilt exhibit.  So I took several items to show.  On the poster that is on the website and is being used on social media,  three of the photos used are my work. See if you can find them. 

 

One of them will be obvious when you see the next picture. 

Here are my notebooks displayed on a table. 

There are a couple of my quilts on the table behind them. 

That may give a clue to one of the others on the poster. 

As some of the items I took will carry over to the June exhibit in the gallery of 

Art by Men I was in touch with the gallery earlier.

 I found out that several of the notebooks have sold.

*Happy dance* 

Meanwhile,  I have started quilting the Cars baby quilt. I have one row and two of the 

across sashings quilted as well as the outside border.  Since I had ditch quilted the border, 

after basting it well, this will not be a problem. 

Hopefully,  I will have pictures of that quilting for you soon.

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Piecing a Backing

The top for Cars in Squares is finished.  I added a red border around it, but I didn't take a picture.  Then I decided to use up the rest of the Cars fabric in a pieced backing.  There were some strips of the other fabrics left also.  So I started playing with them.  After some sewing I had a plan.  Here is where the plan has taken me. 

It is straighter than it looks, but even if it is wonky that will be fine with me. The quilt will be two sided, which I think is a lot of fun.  I love a pieced backing.  It is a great way to use up the "leftovers" on a project.    This will have some red pieces added to the top and bottom to make it big enough to be the backing.  

Meanwhile, I am getting ready to celebrate my Mother's 80-something birthday. I won't tell her age, but it is "more than 80, less than 90" and that is close enough.   For the big day, it will be just the two of us as my brother has to work.  But I do plan to have a surprise from some of her grands and great-grands in a virtual meeting.  I thought it would be fun if they sing Happy Birthday to her. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Cars in Squares

Since there is a new baby in my sphere, I decided he needs a quilt from me.  I found some "Cars" fabric in my stash and thought it would be fun to fussy cut some of the cars and use them in blocks.  So I made some square in a square blocks and some framed blocks.  After making a few, I decided it would be a good idea to have an actual plan.  

Going to EQ on my computer,  I drafted an idea. I simply used fabrics that I have in the program to get the idea in place. 

This is the basic idea and layout that I wanted to follow. For baby quilts I love using primary colors. But I needed green to add with the red, yellow and blue - why?  One of the cars in the fabric is green. 

Here is my quilt top, before the red borders are added.   I haven't gotten that far yet.  I decided to show you good people first. 

The quilt is reasonably square but the photo is quite skewed. There is too much wind today for me to take it outside for a photo.  So I put it on my bed and made a "bad indoor photo" to show you. 

I hope the parents do not read my blog. I want this to be a surprise.  But if you two are reading this - then Surprise!  

Hopefully I will get the borders on soon and can start quilting this quilt.  I will likely use a cream colored thread to quilt it. That is a simple choice and I have lots of cream thread. (grin)

I haven't decided on a binding...but there is time for that later.   

Sending you warm wishes for a great time with your own creativity.  

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Mail Call

Y'all may remember when I had my "fame moment" and got "cancelled."  I posted about it here.  You  should know that I was not really cancelled.   Oh no!  Jeanne Robertson just saw an opportunity to be funny - and took it.  Her philosophy is "Always Look for the Humor."  I think that is great advice.  And I try to follow it. 

Fast forward to May 8th: 

That is right!   She finally pulled my name for a prize.  I have been watching for over a year and steadily sending in questions for the guests.   I have had a great time doing it.  (I hope the video works for you.)

Then on Thursday afternoon, this arrived in my mailbox:

Now you may be wondering why I didn't cover her address - simple, it is on her website so it is public information already. 

And inside the envelope was this book - 

And inside the book was this:

Interestingly it is on a label that isn't attached to the book - YET.  I love to have autographed copies of books.  So I will be affixing the label inside the book.   

Oh yes,  if you want a copy of the book for your very own - you can order it at Jeanne's Website. She will even autograph yours also if you request it. 

Thanks for stopping by.  I will try to get a new post up pretty soon.  I am hoping for photos from the gallery opening where my quilted notebooks and some quilts are being shown.  If you are near Guntersville Alabama, you can go in and see my work along with the work of some other quilters.  

The gallery is The Mountain Valley Art Gallery at 440 Gunter Avenue in Guntersville, Alabama.  

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Another Project Finished

The notebook cover for the commission is finished.  I did the quilting Friday morning and the construction Friday afternoon.   I decided to quilt in the red initial panel with red thread.  Then I used that red thread a few more places before switching to a variegated blue thread.   I was truly just having fun while I quilted it.  There is one section that I think "could'a done better" but I don't think any non-quilters would notice it. 

Front - Initials Covered

Back

Pocket with Label

So, now I am on to other projects - or not as the mood strikes. Ha ha. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Another Project

Once I had developed a plan for the notebook commission,  I got started.  The very first part you don't get to see.  Why you ask?  You see, the request was for initials on the front.  I opted to do a nice embroidery of the initials with a swirly embroidery underneath it.  As the colors requested were "red, white, and blue" added to the fact that she also loved the hand dyed fabric in the notebook that she saw, I did the embroidery in blue and white on a red background.   Then, I started piecing some of the "quilt top" for the notebook cover. 

Photos were sent for fabric approval, and I was ready to roll.  Once I started, I could not stop until I was finished.  I think she will LOVE this. 

For the sake of privacy,  I have covered the initials with a pad of sticky notes.  But you can see some of the white swirly design peeking out from the bottom of it.  The hand dyed fabrics look more blue than they are in the photo although the other blue and red are very accurate. 

This gets trimmed down a little after it is quilted so I will try to do another photo when it is finished. 

The question now is: What color will I quilt it with? Blue? Red? White?  I am sure I will quilt the part around the initials with red.  But as for the rest,  I am undecided.  White seems like the simplest choice.  I could switch colors a few times ---but--- the piano key bit would make me crazy switching that much. We will just have to wait and see what happens.  

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Some Fun/Useful Quilting Time

Now that I have delivered my things to the art gallery,  I have some time for fun sewing and quilting.  

My sister-in-law was admiring a table mat that I had given mom.  It is great for putting a hot casserole or other dish on the table or sideboard for a family style meal.  The mat protects the top from heat and/or scratches.  

Of course that gave me the idea to make one or two more.   She will get one of these and possibly both. 

The first one is made of a few leftover strips from some batiks.   I think these were some I won in a giveaway, but I am not sure. 

I did some pretty simple quilting on it and added a machine sewn binding. 

The other one is made of scraps of all kinds.  I sewed the pieces together randomly and just played.  It was already pieced and just waiting for me to decide what to do with it.  Since I was "in the mood" for making table mats, the decision was easy.  

This one is all "straight line" quilted with a few places where there are "maze" areas. 

I really just had fun with it. It was no stress.  It also got a machine sewn binding. 

I see fabrics in this one that go back for years.  I really do save all those scraps because, they will eventually get used if I live long enough. 

I gave a "nephew-by-choice" a quilted notebook for his birthday.  Since we were all

vaccinated, we were able to have a get-together and enjoy a meal and some time together.

One of his relatives, that doesn't know me quite so well,  saw it and fell in love. 

So now I have a commission to make one for her.  I need to choose the right fabrics from my stash as I don't want to buy any more fabric for a while.  For some reason, I think I have enough to last me a few years. Ha ha. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.