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Archive for the ‘12X12 challenge’ Category

I Love Surface Design

Monday, April 11th, 2011

It has been some time since I have had a block of time to create in my studio. I mean to create new surface on cloth. I had fun today creating fabric that can be used to build a cityscape.

I used a vinyl sink mat for a stencil. I think I forgot to take a photo of the fabric.

I used the side of a plastic berry basket for a grid with mustard(?) deColourant on a rust fabric.

It did not work really well – too much seepage. This is heat set, but not washed so it will tone down a bit. Has some possibilities.

I was searching around for something else to use as a grid and remembered masking tape! I have it in lots of sizes.

 

Here is the result, unwashed. I like it.

This was done with masking tape. I have heat set part of this so you can see how nicely the heat gun removes the color.

Here it is all heat set, but not washed.

I used a plain deColourant on this gray fabric and used a small square sponge to make the grid.

I like the brown cotton with gold metallic deColourant which is up at the top of this post..

I have to get my chartreuse quilts up on the Twelve by Twelve blog. Tomorrow is reveal day. Can’t wait to see what every one did.

Sunshine and Quilts

Friday, April 8th, 2011

Sunshine and blue skies and an afternoon at a quilt show — could the day be any better? As Terry and I drove north and over the Columbia to Vancouver, there was not a cloud in the sky. We definitely needed our shades.

The women of the Clark County Quilters treated us royally, a delicious lunch and a prime spot to sign our books and show our colorplay quilts. Here is Terry:

That beautiful large poster was provided by Lark — very impressive.

The quilt show chair, Vonda, who is a little dynamo, gifted us with a cute brooch which she created with the help of Elinor Peace Bailey. Every vendor received one.

I bought the beautiful roving up there in the first photo. I think my next Twelve by Twelve quilt will be felted with these beauties.

The sun was still shining when we went out to dinner at 6:30 tonight. Imagine that, I needed sunglasses all day long.

Making Progress

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

I finished Klee’s Castles and I just need to add a label and a sleeve and send it off for the SAQA auction. I had a lot of fun adding the details to this. Here is a detail shot.

I finally got the latest fabric frenzy cleaned up and stored. I have a bag of large fused silk scraps and a bag of smaller pieces.

I can’t bear to throw out the smallest of scraps. They are great for making small works like fabric postcards. I am happy that the studio is neatened and I can start my cityscape this week-end.

We have had some half way decent weather today. It was chilly but mostly sunny and no rain. It is amazing what some sunshine can do to lift your spirits.

Tomorrow, Terry Grant and I are going to the Clark County Quilter’s show in Vancouver, WA. We will be selling and signing the Twelve by Twelve book and showing the colorplay quilts that we have revealed on the blog, so far. I am looking forward to the meet and greet and to see some quilts and maybe spend some money at some of the vendors.

Now What?

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bridge piece that took over my life did not get juried into The Space Between show. I am not at all surprised and maybe a bit relieved. I was not happy with it. Value is such an important part of design for me and this one was too medium value. The bridges were the biggest problem.

When I conceived of this quilt, I was in the winter doldrums and I wanted to portray Portland in a happy, colorful way. It just didn’t work.

Last week, Mr C and I had dinner at The Urban Farmer in downtown Portland. It is a really cool new restaurant in the Nines Hotel. They had a display of digital art on the wall. It was scenes of bridges and highways around Portland. The bridges were black silhouettes with very colorful backgrounds.


I got the idea that my bridges should have been black, but by then, it was too late. But, not now. This afternoon, I went down and attacked the bridges with black paint. It may take a couple of coats to cover the batik. Then I will edge them with black satin stitch. I am really enjoying painting the bridges. At least it is not like painting the Golden Gate Bridge!

High Fiber Diet has the theme of North West Vibes and I think I will enter this in that. It fits the theme. We shall see.

I should mention that the list of those who got into the Space Between show is filled with wonderful art quilters. I am honored that I even got invited to submit a piece.

Tonight I finished quilting the second piece that I did for the chartreuse colorplay theme. It is such a simple design, but very visually pleasing to me.

Tomorrow, I am going to take Steph out to lunch. I really enjoy having special time with her without the kiddos and the guys.

 

 

 

 

 

Color Play

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

I decided I needed a bit more color in my life. These are the trimmings from the silk that I was using today. I am making a second more colorful piece for the chartreuse colorplay. This one will showcase how great a neutral chartreuse can be. It was a tedious fusing process, but I prevailed. It  is ready for quilting tomorrow. I am still mulling over how to quilt the Klee castles. I think I might have to try out the free motion foot on my new Janome. I am thinking of doing an all over spiral design.

I am feeling almost back to normal today. I went to visit the vampire early this morning. So far my blood work results have been very good. I am always happy for that.

Tomorrow is Steph’s birthday. I was hoping to take her out to lunch, but she is doing library duty at M & M’s school. I feel the need to get out of the house and do something social. Maybe I will go shopping for some much needed new walking shoes. My Keen’s are starting to show the wear and tear of daily walking.

My Indigo Moons sold on E-bay for $102.50. I was a bit disappointed. I was hoping to donate more than that. The buyer is a Quilt Art List friend. I am happy that it is going to someone who will appreciate it.