Another one bites the dust

About a year ago I went to a class with Barb Mortell who taught about Gees Bend housetop quilts. I worked all day, make my top and hated it. It has been rolled up in a bin until last week when I pulled it out and started cutting it up into pieces.Then putting them on the design wall

Next idea was to sew yarn circles which I saw in a video by  Carol Taylor .  So far so good. Then I figured, lets add some black

 

After adding the black yarn and looking at it, I don't like it, maybe it needs more circles? Or the black are just not put in the right places? I'm tired of looking at it, so into the bin it goes with the first leaf blocks. Hmm, now what can I try??

I did learn something important, when you are couching yarns, the fabric tends to buckle and bubble, so a good spray with water, and steaming then pinning down ( I also weighed it down with an old fortrel quilt my mom in law made which probably weighs 15 pounds)

After relooking at the leaf quilt from yesterday, I have decided to rip out the zigzag applique stitching. I forgot this is an art quilt that won't get washed and doesn't need the leaves to be sewn down, I can just fmq to my hearts content. A frogging I will go (rip it rip it)

Playing around

Seriously, figuring out how to blog takes lots of brain power!

Today I played on two projects that I have on the go. The first was the placemat leaves that turned out to be more like very large pot holders! Put them on the design wall and thought, it needs a background. So into the stash and I pulled brown, rust and cream. Pieced it all together and voila. So far I have done a zigzag stitch around the appliqued leaves but I don't think I like it, I think I should have tried a fm zigzag on the diagonal to give it some texture. Hmm, thinking......

Starting Out

So, here it is the beginning of a new year and I have decided to bite the bullet and start blogging. This will take some getting used to as I figure my way around, and how to do things.

Today I start my art quilt journal. This is where I will put my ideas, thoughts, desires, wants, successes and failures. I have a paper journal that I will keep with ideas that I can quickly jot down but this is where I will keep photos of my progress and things I want to accomplish.

There is an artist inside, I can feel her crying to get out, but she’s a little afraid of the big old world. I picture a small little fairy/sprite type creature peeking around a doorway into a huge forest, that’s kind of how it feels, scary to take the step, not sure of what she’ll find, but excited to go, yet hanging back wanting a map, a knapsack, all the things she is going to need to succeed on this journey, but she really doesn’t have a clue as to how this journey is going to proceed much less end.

I’ve been researching different artists, and techniques, been frustrated with my first attempts at painting fabric but wanting to try again. My first attempt at the leaf placemats turned into a disaster, sorry Helen, they were meant for you. I started again!

 

 I have watched numerous DVD’s, read blogs, watched YouTube videos, it’s time to get at it. Please Lord, keep DH out of my hair for a few hours!! Oh well, maybe tomorrow as I am now on vacay for a week!!

 

laura