New Direction

Here it is - "New Direction". 

New Direction - 7" x 10.5"

The quilting was done on my Featherweight, Dot, with a regular quilting foot.  I'll be hanging it in my sewing area where I can see it all the time to remind me to always continue to try new things, seek more information and boldly go forward - whether it's a traditional, modern, original or art quilt on the table.

I am thrilled with the performance of the Wonder Under - loving those clean edges!  There are already a few sketches in the new sketchbook that are for fused quilts.  They have to sit there for a bit as I have to get back to the French Braid Quilt today.  Need to get the separator band braids constructed and then determine if I have enough fabric to whip up a second one.

 

 

Progress - Finally!

The Plan worked  -  things actually got accomplished in the Sewing Area and its about darn time!  I've noticed a distinct lack of output over the past few weeks and that is so not acceptable.

 

Yesterday, I popped in Season 1 of Eureka into the dvd player which I watched often enough that I don't need to watch it just listen so it becomes background sound not a 'watch me' distraction. Learned the hard way a long time ago that if sewing progress is to be made, never and I mean never, put in a dvd that has never been watched before.  Chain stitching made short work of the accent squares and braid logs. 

 

 

Press, stich, rinse and repeat and the main braids are done!

2 of the 4 Main Braid sections

 

Unless I decide on one more deep dark color to add.  I can't make the separator braids until I make that decision because most likely I will reverse the color runs - dark in the middle to light at the ends. Fortunately, I am headed to Lolly's Fabrics in Shipshewana, IN on Friday & will take one of the braids with me to see if there is anything in the 13,000 bolts that just *needs* to be added to this quilt.

 

Since this Road Trip is to close down the Michigan House for the Winter, I won't be dragging a sewing machine along. BUT the fusing project fit tidily into one bag so I will be taking that along.  I'll have over a whole day alone and time in between loads of laundry to concentrate on my art.  After yesterday's session at the ironing board, I have 29 more colors fused and ready to be used. 29 - who knew I had that much hand dyed fabric in the stash?!  And there are still more colors that need to be fused. YAY!

 

The light colors on the right are pale pinks not white

 

I'm gonna need more Wonder Under...

 

 

 

 

 

First Fused Base!

Got back from the Road Trip late Saturday and spent most of Sunday enjoying  the 'Fall Back' day of the end of daylight savings time by not doing much of anything.  I did make a small (8.5 x 11) fused background Friday night but haven't done anything else to it since.  So far I am liking it.

 

 

Rather than using the release paper from the Wonder Under as a working base, I found a great tip on Melody Johnson's blog archives Fibermania to use an Oven Liner.  I got mine at Wal-Mart for about $10. 

 

 

I did put in some time at the cutting table on a French Braid quilt I am making for the Amish/Mennonite Haiti Relief Auction next Spring.  I've added two new fabrics that I picked up at Lolly's Fabrics in Shipshewana on Saturday, so the fabric run for the braid looks like this. I am working on this quilt as it is just straight forward piecing while two other quilt designs percolate for awhile.  Need to keep moving forward!!

 

 

 I posted a selection of some of my quilts on my Quilt Gallery page, in no particular order - take a peek.  Doing this made me realize that I often have just working pictures of my quilts not shots of the finished project. AACK!!  I'll be dragging them out to the clothesline and updating my files and the gallery as soon as I can get some decent weather without the gusty breezes of late.

All Fused Up and Some Place To Go

I had a little help packing for this Road Trip - I think someone was trying to go along for the ride and for once it wasn't the dogs 'helping' me pack.

Zena in my red duffle bag

Here are the Blue Lagoon strips all pressed and ready for their fusing debut.

the spots are just water

All the hand dyes laid out and ready to roll.  This isn't everything in my hand dye stash but rather a pretty good jumping off point. Sometimes there is value in limiting choices.

I wasn't going to bring any sewing projects with me on this trip - too much stuff to drag and too many things to do out there. BUT the fusing all fits into 1 bag and there's an iron and board at the Michigan House sooooooo it's all packed and ready to go.

Light the Fuse!!

While I've done some fused quilts over the years, I've never been entirely happy with the results.  So imagine how happy I was to discover Melody Johnson's blog Fibermania. As one of the founding member of the Chicago School of Fusing, her blog is packed with information on making successful fused quilts, as well as knitting, gardening, cooking and life in Tennessee.  Check it out - it's AMAZING!!

And how does that affect me - since I have a few pieced quilts incubating in the design stage, I am going to play with some small fused art quilts.  Starting at the very beginning and following Melody's process step by step - not deviating, not thinking I know better (cause I DON'T) and not trying to reinvent the wheel.  It starts with hand dyed fabric. Hmmm, I have Cherrywood FQs and oh yeah, I almost forgot about the 6" squares of HD fabric that I bought back in September at the Northwest Suburban Quilters Guild show.  For the life of me, I can't remember the gal I bought these from but as soon as it comes to me, I'll share. I'll start with these.

 

 

Great bright colors that will go well with the Cherrywoods I have in mind - Blue Lagoon group.

 

 

Fusible on back

 To begin, all the squares are fused to regular Wonder Under 805.  I got mine at Wal-Mart, 3 yards @ $1.66/yd. = $4.98.  I'll do some of the Blue Lagoon fabrics later today. This will be an exercise in letting go of control and playing with color, so stay tuned.

Also on today's agenda is the baking of SCONES!! I'm getting ready for another Road Trip...