"THE RIVERFRONT"

"The Riverfront"

28 1/2" X 27 1/2"

Original Design

Rawedged fused Applique

Inktense© and colored fabric pencil shading

Machine Quilted 

By

Barbara Strobel Lardon

The journey working on this piece was delightful.   I love constructing the background knowing that soon i would be able to work on all the details adding life to the piece.

I go to Sheboygan Wi. often and walk down the riverfront  seeing all the fishing boats getting ready to go out for the day.  They are a bit more modernized then these having given up the sails for a motor  but still the technique is much the same.  It is a busy time and there is excitement in the air with seagulls gathering in hopes that their catch will be good and they will get to feed on some of the bounty.

There are always some early risers such as men walking their dogs and artists or photographers out to capture  the moment .

Below are some detail shots.

I hope all of you enjoyed this journey with me and will return  to start a new one soon

This piece will be saved to enter in this years Quilt Expo in Madison Wisconsin.

Rooster

 Finally had a block of time to work on my rooster so he is no longer bare naked on my page. 

I keep adding feathers until he is completely covered.  I like to use the photo I am using in this case not only is it a photo but it is a photo from my friend Natalie Rowe.  She has wonderful birds on her farm and is generous enough to allow me to use her photos.  In this case it is her rooster, a beautiful and rare "Chanticler" named McGuinty.  

He is definitely a beauty. 

Barred Owl

 "Barred Owl"

21 inches by 15 inches

Rawedged fused applique

Couched Yarn binding

Machine Quilted

First Quilt of 2013

 I finished the binding this morning and the quilting yesterday.  Woo Hoo!   I am very happy with this owl and the piece overall.  Since I do not physically plan out my quilts other then the main character, I always hope that what is in my head transforms successfully into the piece.

 I added more quilting to the downy type white feathers and left that darker ones more simple.

 I couched yard on as my binding.  I learned this technique from my good friend, Nellie Durand.  If you are interested in learning this you can go here:  Couching Yarn
I do not use it on every quilt but on this one I like how ti added to the naturalness and texture in the piece.

Here is the back.  I am showing this just to show the amount of quilting on this one.  I am a firm believer that the art is on the front!  I am always mystified at the judging that is done on the backs of art quilts.  I get it on a bed quilt and yes I do think that your back should be neatly done without anything horrible going on with tension, loose threads, birdnests and things like that but
that is it.  I think my backs are nicely done over all .  I refuse to bury my threads and instead choose to take several very small stitches to end a line of stitching. This results in a perfect top and maybe if quilting in a thick or dense area, a tiny knot will appear, at times, on the back.   I do not think it matters.