QUILTING BEGINS

I have been spending as much time as I can quilting these two horses and their harnesses.  Am starting with the black thread as so much of the harness is black and I like to outline a lot in black.
It is good to have many of those smaller pieces sewn down so they do not begin to come off with all the handling that goes on during the sewing process.   Coming along though....lots to do yet.

Beginning The Construction

 I finished quilting the entire background so today I began the beginnings of all the details starting with what is the furthest in the distance which in this case is a line of leafless trees or large shrubs and a line of evergreens.    The evergreens will have a birch tree with yellow leaves on it in front of them so I do not worry about making them perfect as much of them will be hidden.

Here is how it looks in its full view.

Then I sketched  the ducks on tissue.  For those who are new to my blog, I do that so I can lay the sketch on both the quilt background to be sure of proportion and placement and also I use it as a guide when constructing the object on my teflon sheet .

I always make my building some what perfectly in the sketch but when I construct it out of fabric I free cut it so it is just a bit off making it not only look more real but to add some movement and interest to the structure.

Here they both are pinned on the background and I am happy with the size of them as well  as how nicely they fit the space.  The ducks will be moved apart a big but you can still see they will work out well in the foreground, giving the piece the depth it needs.

So the part I enjoy the most is beginning...stay tuned for changes to keep coming each day.  Well hopefully each day....it is the weekend so may get distracted with a few other things.

"On The Farm With Natalie"

       "On The Farm With Natalie"

34" X 20"

Rawedged Fused Applique, Machine Quilted

An Original Design by Barbara Strobel Lardon Interpreted

From Photograph by Natalie Rowe

This quilt was a pleasure to work on.  I enjoyed all of it and it is going home to Natalie, the woman who owns and raises these chckens.  Thank you Natalie for sharing your photo with me and permitting me to create this art quilt for you.

Beginning Again

 When I was at Quilt Expo in Madison, I stopped by Marcia Derse's booth.  I love her fabric line and have purchased quilt a few yards of her fabric in the past and now she came out with this line of these striped fabrics that are wonderful so had to stock up.  Check her line out here:  Marcia Derse

 I am using one of the stripes in my new piece.  I began quilting the background a few days ago.
Sometimes you have to almost wear the quilt to keep it from hanging up while it is being quilted.

So now the basic background is finished being quilted and I will begin adding my "figures".

It has been cold and rainy for the last two days here.  Actually had to turn on the furnace for the first time just to get the dampness and some warmth into the house.  We are in that time of year where it will be going back and forth between fallish weather and summer weather.  Today is definitely fall!   It is nice to  snuggle under a quilt again while watching tv and sipping on tea.  Sort of a cozy homey feeling you get when it gets like this. 

New Fabric

 I purchased some new greys this week at SeaWatch Fabrics.  I have a quilt in mind and hope to start working on it soon.

 I also bought some lights to go with it but they actually look darker here.  No so...nice and light.

Then I had to have this one for no reason at all except I love it and am sure some day will find a use for it.

 And this hand dye for the same reason.

Needed some thread.  When I am close to running out of a color I write it down and then when there is enough to order I go to Red Rock Threads and place an order for my inventory and usually find a few extras.

The thread is laying on top of these denim like fabrics purchased at "The Sewing Basket" our local shoppe.  I want to use them in a pieced background, so they are sitting on my cutting table waiting.

All of this sure helps the creative juices start to flow.  I am excited for what I will be doing in the future weeks and months. 

Fabric Shopping

The best thing about selling a couple of quilts is being able to go shopping for some new fabric!

I love Seawatch Fabrics for their great selection of batiks.

I found some really nice darks and lights this time.

Fabric

 I like to continue to hunt for great fabric.  Just recently someone told me about a site I have never gone to.  So I paid them a visit and found four fabrics I just had to buy.

Aren't they fabulous!  I have no idea what I will use them in but just loved them all.

The one that stood out the most was this one.  It is Japanese.  Just so exciting.

The site I went to is:

Glorious Color

just in case you are interested!

In the meantime we had lots going on at home.  My washer broke down and we had the repair man over.  Then we had new carpet put in on out steps going upstairs and down stairs, so they came over yesterday.  My job when this happens is taking the dogs either for a walk or into my studio so they do not have a need to bother the workman.  

This turn out to be a bonus for me when the carpet people came. I got two hours uninterupted to

work on my "IT" piece.  Made some great progress.

Plus....nice newly carpeted steps!

There is nothing to perk up your creative juices than a trip to the quilt shop! Bob gave me a gift certificate there for my birthday. Today I finally had some spare time to get over there.
Check out this line of fabric at the top of this picture. Love the colors and the subtle textures.
It is Jinny Beyers Necessary Neutrals. Had to have some Sulky cotton thread.

Then it was over to the batiks and handdyes.
Love the blue stripe one...it has a lot of different tones in it.

Then some colors I needed in my stash.
Oh I feel so much better now!