Three Dimensional Art Quilts

I enjoy looking at quilt magazines. I purchase older issues (from the year 2000 and above, because they're cheaper!) when I can find them. I especially enjoy the Quilting Arts Magazine.

In the December 2013/January 2014 issue, I found "fabric houses with an art-quilt flare" by Jacqueline deRuyter that I knew I'd enjoy making sometime in the future. For the last two weeks, I've been making progress:

I like the little random thread ends "flying" at the peak of the roofs.

Whimsical and perfect for winter

                  

These are constructed with layers of fabric scraps that I've been saving, including ones that measure barely an 1/8"! They are placed on a panel of firm stabilizer (I used Peltex 71X by Pellon) and quitled well with an Aurofil cotton thread. I used Rit dye for the first 2 darker houses per her suggestion. I suppose this causes the melange of fabrics to share an overall color theme. I decided to skip the dying process on the next 2 houses, and changed the dimensions slightly on another to make it shorter and a bit wider. Once they were decorated with more bits of fabric scraps, beads, buttons and ribbons, I sewed their sides together and stuffed them with polyester, sewing the closing flap at the bottom with hand embroidery. As you can imagine, these can be further embellished in more or other ways: paints, stencils, inks, stamps, threads, yarn, etc.

Each measures about 2.5-3" wide, about 8-10" tall,.

They're fun! I hope to keep adding to this village and make them one feature at the Holiday Art Faire in December (see my previous post on November 14).

I'm also quilting and binding more table runners and trying to decide what to do with some blocks that haven't been assigned to anything yet. I may also complete a handbag or two before Dec. 5.

HAPPY CREATING!

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AN UPDATE FROM HOLIDAY ART FAIRE

I only had time to complete these 4 housese shown before the Faire. I am thrilled that all 4 sold! I look forward to making more cuz I JUST LIKE THEM :) All 5 of my market bags sold, as well as some of my homespun tree ornaments. Holiday themed coasters were winners. A woman purchased my County Fair 1st place winning table runner and told me it would immediately replace the Christmas runner on her table at home. Several other items sold as well. I am glad some of my creations found new homes. 

Holiday Art Faire invitation!

I'm excited! I received an invitation to be the only Quilter featured at this event, and if you'll be in the area, you're invited!

My table runner is on the right with a felted cap upon it (I didn't mock-up this postcard, ha! ha!)

Here's how to find it:


By all means, please let me know if you'll be coming. I won't be present during the entire event, but if I am there, I'd love to meet you!

Items I'll be featuring:

• Table runners, table toppers
• Placemats
• Tea Cozies
• Gift bags for wine bottles
• Gift tags
• Recycled Rice bags-turned-shopping-bags
• Oven mitts
• Shopping or Market bags
• Coasters & Mug Rugs
• String bags
• And more!

Paper Piecing Miniatures

I like paper-piecing blocks, even though it's challenging. I do appreciate that it helps to make miniatures or small parts of blocks in particular more accurate. Take these that I've done, for example:

The blocks look a bit wonky, not because they're just a "wonky" pattern. It's because they're challenging! In spite of the imperfections, I love the little star points. Each individual block of the 4 patch measures about 4.5". Together the block measures 9.5". Paper-piecing allows one to use scraps of fabric for projects, or specific fabrics for a more carefully designed work. I wanted to make a panel for a handbag with this 4-patch, but it's too big for the pattern I planned to use. 

Instead, I chose this set:

I surrounded each 4.5" patch with my hand-dyed fabric, purple/orange/pink/blue.

I quilted the panel with a simple grid pattern in pink cotton thread. Now the panel will be cut into 4 individual blocks for the handbag pattern. Those open squares are tempting me to do something else in them...machine embroidery? appliques? Will those overtake the star blocks? Hmmm....

These paper-pieced patterns come from the book Down in the Valley by Derksen and Harder. The book includes other very cute & very detailed patterns for paper-piecing. Has anyone else tried this particular book and made anything?? I'd love to see!

Happy quilting! Joining creative friends at:

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and a new link site:

Committed Hexagons

I thought you might enjoy seeing how I've used 6 of the hexies I recently created.

Christmas Coasters

Coaster Backs

I thought they needed to be dressed up, so I made this "bowl" or "pouch holder" thing.

They fit just right when stacked on top of one another. 

Perfect presentation for the holidays.

Now go have that luscious cup of tea or coffee :)

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Hexie Crazed? Hexie Nuts? Hexie, why??

Have I been hex-ed??

There are times when I just like to sit and sew by hand. Sometimes I’m tired of sitting at the machine, computer or table. Even if I “relax” by watching a program on TV or a movie, I feel like I’m doing nothing. So I placate that drive to be productive by hand sewing. I think I actually get more out of the sewing than I do out of watching the program. (So why did I "watch" it??)

 In July I received a “freebie” at the Sisters (Oregon) Quilt Show: 1” hexagon papers for English paper piecing and precut sample fabrics (2” x 2” squares). I read the instructions to make my first flower:

I love chickens…how did they know that?? Had they read my blog?? I wish I had cut the fabrics myself so that I could have centered the chicken heads in each piece.

Since this beginning foray into the Hexie-World, I’ve been adding to my collection using scraps left over from other projects. I also bought a new packet of 1.75” hexie papers. What will become of them???

Ideas:

• Use them singly or in combination with other flowers or other hexie shapes.
• Applique onto other items, such as quilts, handbags, pillows, etc.  
• Dare to cut one in half for another effect.

       They can be scrappy like I’ve made these, or planned out for specific effects and designs… “sew” many possibilities.

I enjoyed watching techniques for making hexies, including Sue Daley of BusyFingers. I guess these can be addicting!

HAPPY HEX-ING!

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Portland Street Fair

I have been busy for the past few weeks preparing for a street fair in a major northwest city where I'll be selling some of my wares. I almost have my banner done:

I used fabric that I hand dyed in July for the background and dug out the red fabric from my stash. I'm getting excited!!

Here's one of the projects I'm still working on. I am auditioning fabrics for the binding:


A sampling of other items I've completed for the show:

A tablerunner

A tea cozy

Placemats

Stuffed carrots

An autumn tablerunner

...and much more!

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HALLOWEEN ALREADY??

TOO EARLY FOR HALLOWEEN??

I don’t think so, especially with a street fair coming up on September 6!! I’ve got oodles of items to make or complete. So far I’ve completed:

• 3 table runners
• 1 potholder
• 10 stuffed items for home décor
• 1 wall hanging (home décor)
• 1 apron
• 1 tea cozy
• 4 crocheted washcloths
• 2 gift bags
• 1 large lined & quilted shopping/marketbag
• 30 Fabric Gift-tags

I am currently working on a reversible Halloween table runner. I have a little more machine quilting to do with orange Floriani polyester thread. Then I'll make the binding. 

I have so many more items for that street fair in my head and covering my cutting mats!! When my husband walks into my "studio," he must wonder how I can stand the "mess," LOL :-)  Happy creating!

English Paper Piecing

Wait! Thanks to Audrey at Glory Be Quilter for the reminder that I did make my first English Paper-Pieced (EPP) block this past week:

Perhaps you know this already, but I'm partial to cute chickens, which are also featured in this fabric. The outer edges of this block are still unfinished because I haven't committed them to anything yet. 

Speaking of chickens...

I bought 3 new hens in April (pullets actually, which means they're at the pimply teenager stage). I'm proud to say that one of them is now laying cute little eggs everyday!! She's so proud :-)  I'll post photos of the bunch of 5 that I have now in the future for your enjoyment.

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A lucky find at local Quilt Show!

A friend asked me to volunteer for the set up of a local quilt show. I have to admit that I didn't really want to, but I showed up. Shame on me, cuz I made some good contacts in the quilting and art world! I look forward to developing these contacts and relationships in the future.

Local groups set up booths on the actual day of the event, including my Eugene Modern Quilt Guild. I stopped by the booth and found a baggie full of cut half-square triangles in 1930s types of fabrics for 25 cents!!! I snatched those up and have sewn them together, making them one of my most recent "works-in-progress":

A pile of lovelies!

Close up shot of the actual fabrics

I can't wait to play around with them some more to find out what they'll become! I know that there will probably be stars involved, and I believe it needs some red added to it, don't you think?

1st Place at the Local County Fair!

Unbelievable! I've never entered anything in the county fair in my life. I had a few items sitting around and thought, What the heck! Here's the winner in the "Quilted Tableware" Category:

   

Bright Reds & Whites

Friendship Star centers

Reversible back

Another New Project

I'm starting to make some cute aprons, and this is just the beginning:

I love the birdcage fabric. This will have 4 scalloped pockets when complete. (Pattern by Vanilla House Designs, "Pocket Aprons" #P115)

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