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!

Linking up with:

                                     


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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: