Tree #2 is finished!

Well, I just managed to finish this up at the tail end of 2013.  Overall, I'm pleased with the results.

 

I challenged myself to use more solid fabrics, and fewer prints, than I have in previous work. I like how machine quilting in almost-matching thread looks on the solids.  Here's a closeup:

 

And another:

 

 

 

I tried a facing, rather than binding for the first time.  I used Kathy Loomis's facing tutorial-it was very clear and detailed, but might not be the best technique for very heavily quilted pieces.  I do like the finished result, though, so I will keep experimenting with facing methods.

 

How do you like to finish the edges of quilts?  Have you found a good method for applying a facing? 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

5K- I did it!

Not related to quilting, I know. But, I accomplished a major goal today- I completed a 5K. 
Here I am crossing the finish line-

And a few seconds later...

My mom and my sister joined me.  My sister has more running experience- she's already done a half-marathon.

 

Here' my mom on the home stretch:

 

This is extra-special because two years ago today she was one-day post-op from a hip replacement.  Go Mom!

We're planning to make this an annual tradition.  Next time I hope to do a little more running and a little less walking :)

Why finish one quilt when you can start another?

Designing and starting new projects is my favorite part of quilting, so I tend to have a backlog of unfinished projects (hmm...I guess that is not unusual among quilters, though!)  I'm enjoying Tree #3 so much that I decided to do something very similar for Tree #4. This time I'm experimenting with using some bigger pieces of fabric.  I fussy-cut motifs from some large scale prints to get started.

Here's how it looks after filling in some pieces. 

It's been challenging to use larger pieces, because its harder to blend the colors together smoothly without one piece jumping out and being too obvious.  Also, it is harder to judge the value of a motif from a large print, because they usually have a range of values.  So I'm filling in the areas around big motifs with little snippets to help them blend together.




I did find one spot where the shadow I wanted under a branch was about the same shape as a darker area in a leaf motif I'd cut from an Amy Butler (?) print.

 

See the triangle with the D and the half circle marked DD?  These are areas I plan dark and very dark values (hence the D's, to help me remember). By placing dark values there I will hopefully make it look like a shadow under the tree branch. Well, this leaf shape continued the shapes in the fabric above it, and even though it is not the exact same shape as the shadow I originally planned, I think it works well.

 

To help the large leaf motif blend with the fabrics around it, I trimmed the black off the edges.  Here it is after filling in some more pieces.

 

So for now, Tree #1 is the only one in the series completed.  I'm still quilting Tree #2, need to finish the edge and do a sleeve on Tree #3, and Tree #4 is underway.

 

 

Tree #3 is underway

Early this spring I took many photos of trees.  Big and little, closeup and far away, and lots of different textures of bark.  After looking through these photos, I realized that depicting sunlight and shadow on the trees is what interests me the most. Here is one of my favorite pictures with highlights and shadows:

 

Here is what I came up with.  It's an interpretation of the photo, not an exact replication.

 I used Susan Carlson's technique, explained in her book Serendipity Quilts.  Basically you glue snippets of fabric down, and then quilt over it.  I haven't done the quilting yet, but the gluing was really fun!  Here's a close-up view:

 

 

This is a really fun technique!

Teatime mug rug

As a little break from bigger projects, I whipped up this mug rug.

I paper-pieced the teacup from this free pattern at Piece by Number.  The pattern includes 4 variations; this one is Teacup #2.  I had originally made the block back in October when I did a paper-piecing demo at the Columbus Modern Quilt Guild.  I had planned to use 4 blocks and make a table runner or wall quilt, but the idea of a mug on a mug rug just seemed too perfect. Plus, this block was already done!

 

The quilting is a fun combination of Pebbling and Swirling Water.

And I added some steam coming from the cup.

 

I'm linking up to Free-Motion Friday.  Check it out!

 

Learn to Free Motion Quilt

Come join me for a fun start in Free Motion Quilting.  I will be teaching Intro to FMQ at Sew to Speak in Columbus, Ohio, on August 7 from 6-9 pm. 

 

Here's the class description:

In this fun and relaxed introduction to freemotion quilting, we will de-mystify stippling, a great design to finish any project.  Learn about supplies, including batting, threads, and needles.  Try using some specialty products that make freemotion quilting easier.  Gain confidence in adjusting the tension on your machine and solve common beginner’s problems.  We will have lots of hands-on practice time.  This is a technique class, so you will make practice stitch samples, rather than a completed project.  Free-motion quilting definitely improves with practice.  Let us help you get off on the right foot and make machine quilting fun.   Sewing machine with free-motion foot required (also called darning foot or hopping foot).

If you'd like to join us, contact Sew to Speak to sign up.

Now I'm on Bloglovin'

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