THE COFFEE SHOP

"THE COFFEE SHOP"

27 1/2" X 17 1/2"

This was a very fun journey for me.   There were challenges that is for sure especially with working with those very small pieces both fusing them and quilting them.  However, the results were just as I pictured it to be...fun, colorful and joyous.

I hope you too feel those emotions.

THE JOURNEY

I hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I enjoyed you following me here at my blog.

Now to start a new one....be sure to join me again.

Barbara

COFFEE ANYONE?

 Last weekend I went to the Farmers Market in nearby Elkhart Lake.  There is a great coffee shop there called "Off The Rail" because it is situated right by the Railroad Tracks.  So after getting some coffee, I took this photo and liked it so much I decided to use it as the inspiration for my next art quilt.

 Today I loosely sketched out the crowd and the building....I want this to be sort of casually done...not straight lines on the bldg or perfection here or.....

 in the people here.

I have the basic background finished and quilted it measures 30X19 inches.   So now I am ready to add what is furthest away.....which will be some trees and an attached building.   I will most likely eliminate some of the sign clutter around the scene towards the left.....and maybe add some things...but that is the joy of making it your own.  Hope you enjoy this new journey with me.

TOURNESOLS

TOURNESOLS

 19"X35"

An Original Design

Raw Edged Fused Applique

Machine Quilted

Making Sunflowers always is a joy for me.   I love all the movement you can create as well as the mood you can set.  These three a blowing in the wind but glorious in the sun.

It is available for sale in my Etsy shoppe here.

THE JOURNEY

THREE SUNFLOWERS

Still arranging these stems and sunflowers and beginning to quilt some down.   Leaves are being added as well.


Wishing all of my followers and friends a HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!! 

BEGINNING

 Of course you always begin with your fabric selection.  I chose to keep this sky more neutral but added in some blue just so it reads as a sky.

Once the fabric is selected I cut pieces of it dependent on how much I need to fill the area that is sky and then iron fusible on the back, trim it, tear off the paper on the fusible and stack them to I can cut them in strips all together.

 Now I have a pile of strips to use on my sky.

I add them in one at a time.  Since this landscape will have a hill on the right I make sure to place those strips closer together to make the happen.  I made a good start today.

 Here is my sunflower quilt where I used large chunks for the sky in order to create a stormy windy day.

I also chose to create the field these flowers are near in large furrows of plowed fired.  You can use whatever you feel to convey the message you are attempting to send.

I am happy to start again....spring brings so many new outdoor jobs that it is much more difficult to spend time in the studio until it is all finished and I am close now.   Hope you all follow me on this journey.

UNDER THE SEA

 UNDER THE SEA

35" X 20 3/4"

Available Here

Creating this quilt was a joy and an escape.  My life was a bit chaotic during the creation process but it took me away into the beautiful life beneath the surface of the ocean and in doing so was joyful to work on.  It depicts tropical fish, tropical ocean plant life, a grumpy crab and bubbles floating to the surface.  I hope you enjoy the detail shots below and the journey of this art quilt.

THE JOURNEY

It was a long journey but it was so worthwhile.  I hope you agree.............Barbara

ANGELS

Just had to add a small school of Angel Fish.

PROBLEMS

I see a few problems and thought I would post it with them in it anyway.....I will correct them in the next few days.  I did this because this is the one very good thing about photographing your work and then looking at it in the photo....sometimes what you do not see suddenly becomes apparent to you so clearly when looking at it in photo format.  Not worried...will be an easy fix.

HELP IT'S KELP!

Could not resist the title to this post!   Had the day in the studio so thought I should just post this now since with Easter coming up there will not be a lot of time in the next few days for this kind of progress in a full day.   Love the movement the Kelp added.  Lots more coming but it is starting to take shape now and I am happy with it.