Seascape

I have a fabric collection for seascapes. They are not all in the same place, and when I’m inspired to attempt another seascape quilt I end up searching for that perfect fabric that must be around someplace and of course never finding it. I did, however, find a picture of the San Francisco Bay taken under unusual circumstances. The water in the photo was a brilliant coral, as was the sky. Some of the fabrics I choose for the barn quilt were more coral than pink, so I set them aside for this seascape. Somewhere in my studio I have a sparkly copper that I wanted to use for the panel on the right, but it is still hiding. Instead, I used a hand-painted cotton that was willing to make its presence known. Perhaps I should announce to the various fabrics in my studio that if they want to find their way into a quilt, they have to volunteer.

Luck and wisdom!

Stop And Smell The Lilacs

We don’t have roses in our yard. We did, but they were ungrateful. Always thirsty, never happy with the soil, prone to poke us when we pruned them for their own good – they had to go. Lilacs smell lovely too, and are a much better fit for us.

I was thinking of our unlamented roses when I took a critical eye to my fabric collection. There are some pieces that are lovely, yes, but ungrateful. They don’t play well with others, they only look good in one orientation, or they don’t sew up nicely. Some of them may have outstayed their welcome in my studio. Someone else may love them, or they might go into a donation quilt. At any rate, they are going to go away by the end of the year. I have stopped to smell the lilacs, and don’t need quite so many roses.

Luck and wisdom!

Progress and Anti-Progress

Despite my best intentions, I’ve had to buy more fabric. Of course, I bought more than I actually needed to finish a project that was made almost entirely from my scrap collection. The final border (auditioned above) was not in my stash, and I didn’t have anything that would come close to working. I didn’t even have anything I could paint to get the right color. I had hoped to find a good border at my quilt guild’s yard sale, and I did, but by accident. I found something I thought might work, and a lot of other fabrics that I bought because I liked them. When I got my treasurers home, I discovered the beigey-pink batik tucked in a roll of other batiks. It is ideal for the project, both in color and in scale. That’s the progress part. The anti-progress is I have more fabric when the plan for this year is to end up with less fabric. Oh, stop laughing.

Luck and wisdom!

I’m Only Here For The Fabric

I took a workshop recently not for the technique but for the kit. It was worth every penny. The project, an iris created collage-style from organza, isn’t anything that fits into my current list of projects but I loved the effect. I also loved not having to source organza. We’ve got some good fabric stores nearby but they rarely carry plain organza. That means I would be trapped in the glittery, shimmery aisle and my willpower would crumble. I’d come home with 7 yards of laces, and sheers with lace, and sheers with sequins, and still not the right fabric for the flower. So, I signed up for a class that I sorta kinda maybe knew how to do and bought the kit. As I said, it was worth every penny, especially when I realized I had cut my first collage pieces too large, but since I knew the basics already I could finish it quickly and do a second piece that I liked better. The moral of the story is that quilters are only here for the fabric. Admit it, sign up for the class, and buy the kit. You’ll thank me later.

Luck and wisdom!

Finding Meaning In Quilting

Every quilter has been asked about the purpose of a fabric purchase at least once. I used to wonder if the question was directed at the money I spent or was a comment on the pattern and/or color of the fabric I was clutching as if it were the holy grail. Now I think those questions were an attempt to find meaning in life. There is a certain expression on the faces of people on a mission, and quilters have that look every time they enter a quilt store. Could it be that the non-quilting world envies us our sense of purpose? Do they think we’ve found a secret source of meaning for life?

Well, yes, obviously we have, or we wouldn’t be buying the latest fabric from our favorite designer in every color way, but that’s beside the point. When someone is looking to you to be a wise woman, to guide them on their journey to becoming their best self, is it fair to say, “It’s a gold dot on a black background – why does it have to mean anything?” Would it be kinder to say the fabric will represent deep space for a series of blocks about UFOs (assuming that’s what you had in mind)? If the questioner doesn’t back away slowly and head for the nearest exit, you might have an interesting conversation. You could dissect the world’s problems over tea and come up with the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

Or, even better, you could discover a latent quilter who will cheerfully accompany you on your next fabric buying expedition.

Luck and wisdom!

The Crabby Quilter

Like all good quilters, I try to contribute to the local economy by finding a quilt store wherever I go. This month I found The Crabby Quilter in Annapolis, Maryland. I first tried the store on the day after New Year, but they were closed for computer upgrades. Luckily, I was still in the area when they opened. The wait was worth it – but of course, you knew that. How could I not wait for a chance to see a place called The Crabby Quilter? They gave me one of their Shop Hop magnets with my purchase of blue crabs and smiling sharks. I have no idea what project will be right for these treasures, and it doesn’t matter. I’m starting the year off right with fabric that makes me happy.

Luck and wisdom!

Choices

Anyone walking into my sewing room knows I like to have choices. There are stacks of fabric everywhere, waiting to be chosen for the next project. Sometimes the stacks are organized, and sometimes they just exist.

I used to feel guilty about this need to collect fabric, until I noticed all the other choice categories around the house. Some are mine alone, like the hand cream collection.

Others are collective choices. The whole family loves tea, so I keep a variety in stock.

What brought me joy, however, was recognizing I am not alone in my desire for choice. Only one person in the house eats breakfast cereal, and here’s the shelf where the cereal lives.

It occurs to me that I will only be judged a hoarder by those who don’t appreciate what I collect. In the greater scheme of things, I am providing employment for those who make and sell the fabric that I love, I use my fabric (albeit slowly) for gifts and to make art, and I try to share when the opportunity arises. That makes for a balanced ledger in my mind.

Luck and wisdom!

Finding Focus

I’m building two quilts from the base up, letting the fabric tell me what it wants next. Turns out the fabrics I chose all have different plans, and while they are quite willing to sit next to each other they can’t agree on the direction the quilt should take. They have no focus.

This is my cityscape, which started when I made a mistake measuring. I found some other architectural fabric that I like. There is room in the white rectangles to create a focal point. I will be extremely happy when I know what that focal point should be.

This is my map quilt, which looks very different up close while beading than it does in a picture. I can see that I need to do something around the edges to tell the viewer “stop here.” I wanted the eye to travel easily over the surface, so there are several interest points. I’m not sure that qualifies as focus.

My go-to technique is always beading. There is room to add larger beads, or even make bead clusters, as soon as the piece starts talking to me.

My second favorite technique is embroidery. These trees reinforce the idea that this fabric represents hills. Perhaps the threads are too subtle if I feel the need to explain the image.

Writing on quilts is a new technique for me. This compass is also subtle, perhaps even delicate. Perhaps too cautious?

The great thing about art quilts is that there is always room to try one more thing. These quilts may be in progress for some little while, but I’m learning as I go, and that’s good news.

Luck and wisdom!

The Value of Gray

I’ve been known to binge on color. Mostly I binge on pink or purple, but a while ago I fell for gray. After accumulating a stack I could never get through alone, I packaged some of it and gave it to the Progressive Party to make backgrounds for me. Here are some of the pieces they made.

Three backgrounds, waiting for embellishment

I asked for something I could use for applique, beading, embroidery – any kind of embellishment. Here is a piece that will push my design skills to come up with something worthy.

I like this just as it is, but my bead box is overflowing, so embellished it will be

Luckily, I met a writer and painter recently whose work has given me a few ideas. Harry Freiermuth wrote and illustrated Lo! Jacaranda, the story of a gypsy woman who escapes the Spanish Inquisition and ends up in colonial California.

Harry’s book

Harry is a much better painter than I am, but I’m thinking I could try mixed media techniques to evoke the feeling of being at the coast on a foggy, misty day.

Harry’s paintings

Perhaps I’ll take a field trip to Ocean Beach in San Francisco for additional inspiration, with appropriate side trips for chocolate.

Luck and wisdom!

Where The Buffalo Roam

Since I didn’t have a plan for the embroidery on my buffalo collage, I put the threads and a couple of pattern books next to my place on the couch. When I watched TV, I also picked up my needle and thread. Hey, if buffalo can roam, so can my stitching. This is what I had by the end of the week.

Most of the stitches came from one of my crazy quilt pattern books.

The stencil is probably an auroch, but that’s close enough for me

The backing comes from leftover pieces in my collection of High Plains and Southwest fabric.

I might add more embroidery later, but for now I’m auditioning beads in my new sorting container, which is the carry-out shell from the really cool cupcake place downtown, Cake Delight. When I finally finish the piece, I’m heading back there for my celebration treat.

Luck and wisdom!