Archive for February, 2015

Quilt Show News

Saturday, February 28th, 2015

Quilt show news to report–

“Snow Buddies” which is currently showing at Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival in VA has received an Honorable Mention Award.

“Splash”, which was rejected by Quilt National,  has been juried in to the AQS show in Paducah in April.Splash_40x40_full

I spent yesterday afternoon checking it over for loose threads ends and adding it’s documentation tag and re-blocking it to get rid of the facing marks so it would be ready to go when the time comes.

Then I prepared the backing fabric for the prairie fire quilt. I am using a piece of home dec fabric which I like because it has good body and should hang well. However, it is treated to repel water, which could be problem when I try to block the finished wall hanging. I soaked it and scrubbed it in really hot water but it still may be a problem. I hope to get it layered today and maybe even start on the quilting.

The snow is really coming down and we are in for significant accumulation this time so it’s good to have a project!

Happy New Year!

Friday, February 20th, 2015

Yesterday being Chinese New Year’s Day, I wish you Happy Year Of The Goat!

whatsup4hfair

Top Done

Thursday, February 19th, 2015

The top is finally finished. After putting it up on the design wall and living with it for a bit, I saw things I wanted to tweak. That second swirl especially needed to flow better, so I divided the upper reddish piece and made it join into the yellow/red heading off toward the edge. This piece has had a lot of changes from the original sketch as I work improvisationaly , making changes as needed, even if, as in this case I have to spend a day un-sewing what I have previously done!

prairiefire17

The upper right corner was getting pretty dark and I really wanted to get some of that lighter sky fabric in there to add a little sparkle to the piece, but also to set the time. Originally I had planned a night scene, but you would not see this much detail at night.

I’m anxious to get started on the quilting because I know that will only make it better!

prairiefire16Linking to “Off  The Wall Friday”

Sunday

Monday, February 16th, 2015

prairiefire15Only three major seams left to sew!

Busy Week

Saturday, February 14th, 2015

It’s been a busy busy week! I got “Snow Buddies” shipped off to MAQF and several more entries made, thank goodness the books are caught up, but I do need to finish getting everything pulled together for taxes. My two twice weekly classes (Art History and Yoga) are going well but they do cut into my time, taking me away Tuesday and Thursday afternoons!

In spite of all that, there is progress to report. The foreground is finished (I think) and I was able to use quite a bit of the special grass fabric, by sub-dividing the larger original pieces to accommodate the scraps that I found.  A few more rocks add to the composition.  I took away the dark sky I was considering and laid up a piece of lighter sky, but I’m thinking it is too light, maybe it needs something more “dusk”.  I’m not quite sure yet.  One has to listen to the fabric, the composition and the subject matter!

prariefire13 It is so fun to see it change and develop and I see some other little bits to change, and pieces to sub-divide.

prairiefire14While I usually do straight seam piecing, it has been fun to do this one in curved seam piecing which I think compliments the scene and really isn’t all that hard.  I’m liking that lighter tree and thinking ahead, will probably give it more branches in the quilting. In addition to the hand dyed main tree fabric there is a batik in the smaller branches. The success of this technique is so dependent on fabric choices!

My workshop at Hudson River Valley Art Workshops is only a couple of months away and I am getting excited to share all of this fun with my students. We will be exploring all aspects of creating a work of art that is original to them!  Want to learn about designing, color and composition as well as sewing those seams (straight or curved)?  Hope to see YOU there!

I have linked this post to Off The Wall Friday — go there to see lots of good stuff!

Going To The Dogs

Friday, February 6th, 2015

I guess it’s been about a week since I’ve posted progress, and there has been quite a bit even though I have not had much time to work. I have finished the fire, worked in some of that grass and added to the tree. Also sewed together a lot of pieces that have been up on the design wall long enough to feel comfortable. It is so important to live with the choices for a while, before sewing them, to avoid having to un-sew them!

prairiefire12

Because my bits of available grass fabrics are small, it was necessary to add a rock to fill in a void. I tried four different fabrics before settling on this one; too dark and it didn’t show, too gray and it didn’t blend. There will be more on the other side so this one will not be “lonely” Rocks are common jutting out of the ground here on the prairie. It was not in the original plan, but I work intuitively and add or take away as needed. That grass behind the tree is only laid in there right now because the dark spot on the tree blended into the background too much. I will probably sew it in.

I was working to a deadline at the end of February for this piece, but on re-reading the call for entry I discovered that it will be too big. I can’t cut it down without ruining it so I will have to find something else for that call, darn it. I might be on information overload.

News came yesterday that “Snow Buddies” has been juried in and will be going to the MidAtlantic Quilt Festival in VA. Feb 26-Mar 1.SnowBuddies

 

“Who Me?” is currently showing at the Topeka Art Guild Gallery.

WhoMeFull

I will be there tonight for the First Friday opening of this new show. Looks like Feb is going to the dogs!