Australian Games

I finished this one this morning. For some reason it's not my favorite but I'm not sure what I would change. I have more Australian fabrics that I haven't used yet so maybe I'll try again.

Australian Games

I started a new piece using some of the Australian fabrics that Alison left here. The circle was inset using Sharon Schambler's Piecelique technique. Then I sliced them up the way I have been doing lately.
A couple of people have asked which books I am using. Here they are.

Thinking Outside the Block: Step by Step to Dynamic Quilts (Paperback)

by Sandi Cummings (Author), Karen Flamme (Author)

Quilters Playtime: Games With Fabrics (Paperback)

by Dianne S Hire (Author)


I tried to copy and paste pictures of the covers but I couldn't seem to do it but if you click on the authors names you will be directed to Amazon.

Floor Cushion

This one grew and grew until it became a LARGE pillow cover. I stuffed it with my last big bag of batting scraps. I'm so glad to get those out of my studio. Now if I just had a fireplace I could relax in front of it!
By the way, that is not lace around the outside edge. It is fabric that is printed to look like lace. I think it makes a wonderful border.

Fun and Games

Here we go again. The center three blocks are techniques from my Out of the Block book. I made them and now am trying to get them to play nice together. I've auditioned lots of different borders and sashings but I'm still not quite satisfied. The top will change for sure.

Cushion

I wanted to try some more techniques from my Out of the Block quilt book. It ended up being a cushion top and I got rid of a whole bag of batting scraps at the same time. The colors look quite faded on my screen compared to what they really are. The peachy background is my attempt at snow dyeing. I wasn't crazy about it but it does make a very nice background for these strong colors. The black is actually a very dark brown tone on tone with lighter flowery shapes.

And Another Tote

Well, here we are back at uber-bright. The back is "plain" with only the fabric with the squares. |I say this one is plain also because there are no extra pockets or beads. The inside is orange like the top band and it is closed with a bit of velcro.
The thing I like about the wall hangings over the bags is that size and shape don't matter whereas with the bags you have to think of both. This one is a bit long for me but would suit someone taller.

Subdued

I started on this one this morning. It is much more subdued than most of my recent work. I do love the peacock fabric. The back is the same except the peacock's tail is not spread out.

It's Done

It's done and a lot different from what I thought I'd make. The piece was too long to use vertically so I used it horizontally. Then I put an oval bottom instead of doing it like a regular tote. Once again I used magnetic snaps. It just didn't seem to suit a zipper.


Here is the back showing the two layered pockets.

First Step

Here is the first stage of the next bag. The middle blocks and their dividers are sewn down. The two side strips are sewn together but not attached. The colors look very faded on my screen but they are actually quite intense. The bag will probably be much the same shape as the last one but it's going to look quite different. I might put a zipper in this one instead of the magnetic snap.



While I was searching through my stash for the right border strip I couldn't resist grabbing some fabrics for the next one.

Done!

Here it is all finished. I'll try to get a picture of me holding it so you can get a better idea of the size. It's much brighter (yes that is possible) than in the picture. There are a few things I will change on the next one but all in all I'm pretty happy with this one.

New Bag

Here is my first attempt at a bag using the same techniques as on the wall hangings. I still have to figure out the handles, put on a magnetic snap and sew the lining in. The beads are just pinned on so far.


The back is very plain with the bottom dark part made into a pocket. I sewed it down the middle to make it into two pockets.

Maybe the Last One

This one is all finished except for the label. I just realized that I have a lot of them to label.




Cherie (Daughter) suggested a kimono shape when I talked to her yesterday so here we are. This is just the first layout and will change a lot I'm sure. The horizontal lines are sewn down but not the verticals. The little pom poms were another thrift shop find.
After this one is finished I am thinking that this technique would make nice bags, ultra bright and super embellished.

Enough Beads??

Today I found this guitar at the thrift shop. I don't play or want to learn so I said whoever in the family is nicest to me will get it. This should be interesting. Lol.

I also found more beads. Do I have enough beads yet?

Decision Made

I went with the darker colors and lots more rick rack. Now I have to quilt it, back it and sew on the beads. Once I get it to this stage I have to push myself to finish it before starting a new one. I don't want a big pile of them that all need backing.
I have already picked out the fabrics for the next one. Stay tuned.

Options

I have started a black and white wall hanging and so far these are the options I have.


I will probably go with the rick rack on this one. I'm not sure whether I like the darker strips or the bright ones in the previous picture. I want to leave tails of rick rack hanging down, possibly with beads or bells attached.
Any opinions out there? Come on all you lurkers!

Another One Done

At least it's almost done. I have the backing and hanging sleeve on. Then I decided it needed a few more beads so some of the bead strings still have to be attached. I used the real beading thread today and was quite impressed.
Now I feel the need to make a black and white one, perhaps with one or two colorful rosies. Stay tuned.

Still Playing

I went to Fabricland this morning to get fusible web and look what jumped into my shopping bag. It was Friday the 13th sale day. What can I say?
I also stopped at the thrift store and scored a few more beads. Soon my studio will be full of beads!



I added some of the new beads to this one. I think it's almost ready to put the backing on and call it finished.
I think I need to take a lint brush to my design wall. Too bad I dropped it and broke it in half. (The lint brush, not the design wall.)

Snow Dye

Here are the results of the first snow dye. The colors are quite pastel but I love the mottled effect. There will be more.

Snow Dye

I read online about snow dyeing and since we can expect at least three months more snow it seemed like a good thing to try, especially since others are lamenting the melting of their snow. Nobody laments the snow leaving around here! This is the snow with the dye poured on. It's still melting so I'll show the result later today or tomorrow.



I am stalled on the Rosy because I need fusible web so what's a person to do but start another? I have a lot of brown scraps from my last three quilts so I thought it would be a good thing to use some of them. I love the middle strip but I'm not so sure about the squares on the sides. They seem a bit too big and busy but you can never tell at this stage. I'll continue and see if they stay or end up in the parts drawer. This one is quite a contrast to the Rosy.

Too Much?

I found some scraps of fusible web and made some more spirals.
The rosies are sewn on but not the spirals. Are there too many? Sometimes less is more. I have looked at it so much today that I can't see it any more.
The petals on the bottom and left will stick out beyond the border. If you look closely you can see where the white background ends. That is why that part looks a bit empty. When it is on a colored wall I think it will look different.