March Block Completed - indigo

Bella the helper - or the hungry hippo!

Whew, this month snuck by so fast it's almost over before I know it!

This month's block should have been easy as pie - instead I was very stuck.  I was inspired by fabrics sent with music and Paris themes; and the anniversary of a choir tour to Europe taken 20 years ago this month. Somehow the memories and nostalgia stopped me cold.  How could I put all I feel about that trip; the friends, the places, the music, in one 12 inch block?

Ultimately of course I cannot put everything in one block, but I was still in a dither.  Do I applique one of the Eiffel towers?  Should I thread sketch one?  How can I include some of the other amazing places visited?  Can I include Alaska themes from our hometown?

The dam breaker was a box of scrap fabric sent by a friend in Alaska.  She sent me a very packed box of batik scraps from her own quilting.  In it were lush greens, bright blues, moody purples and so forth.  Playing with those made me think - what if I could intersperse those Alaska colors with the monochrome music notes and Eiffel tower?

Finally I decided on 1 inch strips of 2 blocks which will turn into 1/2 inch finished strips.  1 block of pieced batiks in blues and purples - like Paris in the spring and Alaska in winter - and a set of the eiffel tower and the music notes.  I set the eiffel tower strips off center and surrounded it with the music.  Again like Paris in spring.  Then, cut and sew, and sew some more.

I wound up blocking the block as piecing that much took the block off kilter.  I am discovering the joy of blocking - mist or soak the block and then pin it out square.  The water will let the fabric stretch a bit without distorting your threads - as long as you don't go crazy.  Let it dry (and maybe help it a bit with a hot iron) and then work with your blocked piece.

Then I backed it with the Eiffel tower fabric and had to decide on quilting.  I wanted something with some curve to contrast with the straight lines of the fabrics.  What to do?  I went and explored Leah Day's site for inspiration and found sea weed flower.  A little funky, and I like how it radiates out.  I also elected to use a contrast thread in burgundy to add to the sunset colors.

I love how it turned out.  Nothing like I originally thought, and absolutely what was needed for this bit of nostalgia.  I actually would love to go back to Paris and explore those streets 20 years later!

Time to start pulling together a package for M for April.  I definitely see some batik scraps going in there, but what else...

Happy sewing!

March Inspiration - indigo

It's March already.  Every year I hear myself saying that more and more.  Its odd, with age time goes faster every day.  At least in my case.

This month's inspiration is about time passing.  Memories and joy.  It's made me quite reflective.  March is an anniversary for me at my job.  And M reminded me is an anniversary of a life changing event.

We were blessed to attend a high school with a remarkable music teacher who takes one of her choir classes on an international tour every few years.  The year after I graduated I had the chance to go with the group.  We went to Europe - starting in Spain and ending in Paris.  2 weeks of singing, touring, and generally being teens in a history ridden land.  It was March.  It was windy, and starting to bloom, and absolutely lovely thru the eyes of memory.

This is the packet I got in the mail for my inspiration to start.  Monochromatic and elegant.

I am not sure yet what fabrics I will add.  I am thinking about keeping it to a cream and shades of black landscape.  I am inspired by flying geese with all their movement, and the way they help the eye travel across the quilt.  I sketched out the below as a possible pattern, we will see.

Sadly for me all my photos from traveling various places - including Europe - have been lost in moving at various times.  I went looking for pictures online and here are a few that seem very familiar - these are the places and feelings I remember.

The streets of Barcelona.  Where siesta is lived.

St Sernin - where singing mass is a heavenly experience no matter what god you believe in.

Toulouse, France - where you can get lost in 2 minutes or less, and find a kindly shopkeeper to send you back on your way.

Paris - where if your hotel is within sight of the Eiffel tower, you can't get lost as long as you can still see the tower.  At least if you are 15-19 years old  ;)

So, don't get lost - stay in sight of the tower!

So, next to figure out some additional fabrics, and figure out if I should fussy cut a Eiffel Tower - I may not be able to resist!

happy sewing!

March Madness - Molly

I Got home today after 3 long days of chemo with my son, and my March package was waiting. A nice bright spot on a dreary rainy day. First off I had to thoroughly enjoy the assortment of stamps used to ship it:

There is a quilt in that, I just know it.

Opening the package I found a tie dye kit with blue, green and turqoise, a gorgeous card with a bowl of citrus fruits, 2 print fabrics, some white fabric, some muslin and a small container of beads in blues and greens.

Loving it all so much! The image on the card is really sticking in my brain and I'm enjoying the circle shapes and how that can be created with tie dye. I have been wanting to dry some fabric dying and here is my chance. May have to wait for a nice warm day (wait, this is Oregon in March), a nice not as rainy day with little wind, and play with the dyes out in the back yard...I can see my self dying anything that isn't glued down....

I'm hoping to get my package for Indigo to the mail tomorrow...will depend on if I can be awake enough tonight to package it up.

Finished February - Molly

Completed my February block today. I must say, I like it. I had a vision in my head and out it came. 

Think of it as a surreal walk through the woods.

I cut the fabrics into random sized strips and folded under approximately 1/2" on each side. I then topstitched with the varigated thread a 1/4" on each side. Using a 12.5"x12.5" piece of muslin as a base, I arranged the strips, weaving them randomly, until I was happy. Again with the varigated thread I zigzagged down the vertical lines. 

Connor helped me with the topstitching

February Block Completed - indigo

Well, this was challenging on several fronts.  I played with fabric paint for the first time.  I played with adding piping to a design.  And I created my own paper piecing design.

I don't have a name for it, kinda thinking Mariner's Log Cabin

Whew, no wonder I am tired!

I wanted to take the mandala mirror imaging design aesthetic while keeping it something I could accomplish on a machine - no Y-seams.  I knew I did not want a true star block, But I also liked the movement of the star or starburst pattern.  Very freeing.  So, after some sketches, an 8 piece paper pieced design with a star and log cabin styling unfolded.

8 paper piecing sections to make the center block

While working with fabrics I kept wanting to add this silky white and black polka fabric.  But I don't like combining cottons and non-cotton fabrics in the same layers of sewing a quilt.  For some reason I kept wanting to turn it into a piping.  So ok, pulled out a medium yarn and created some simple piping.  I decided to use it to outline the star.

Piping in quilting is definitely a challenge!  I learned a lot.  It creates a lot of fabric thickness at points and corners - be aware of that.  Its also a little unruly during the piecing and quilting process - plan your stitching around it!  All that learning aside - I love the effect.  I am a fan of anything that adds textures.

Piping adds a lot of depth!

Once I got the block together, I didn't like how the dark blue star seems to get lost in itself.  Voila - there is where the gold paint can go!  Highlighting the edges gives it a gilded look I really like.  That choice also determined the thread for quilting - a yellow variegated embroidery thread.  Once it was all together the center of the star just cried out for the star bead I had on hand.

Star bead accent and gold paint and thread gilding.

February down!  I am in the process of putting together the March inspiration pack.  Waiting for the snow to melt and spring to show up, maybe that will make it into the next series.  Happy sewing!

February Inspiration - Molly

I've been dreadfully remiss in posting my ideas and inspiration from my February bundle of goodies sent by the amazing Indigo. From the moment I opened the package and looked through I have had an image in my head of what I wanted to create. 

In the package were three incredible and very different fabrics, a lovely variegated thread and some wool yarn. Along with were several clippings with a lot of woven and mosaic images. 

One of my favorite things is the juxtaposition of the realistic/earthy fabric and wool to the crazy/bright fantastical fabrics and thread. 

Can't wait to finish creating this image in my head.

February Inspiration - indigo

I just realized we are already more than 1/2 way thru the month and I have yet to put much work into my February block!  When I got the package from M I opened it up to be amazed by a coloring book of mandala's and some gorgeous origami papers.  Oh my - a mandala block?  M sent it as a gift only, but it still got me thinking.

Along with the book and papers came striking pink and a bright patterned fold of fabrics.  Then a larger fold of rich flat black. A bright orange stretch lace and gold fabric paint completed the supplies sent.   Hmmmmm, what to do...

Materials sent - such potential!

So as I was organizing I percolated on these ideas.  I was drawn to the grey scale fabrics in my stash along with a silky white with black dots fabric.  All that black, white and grey would make colors really pop.  Tonight I added the dark blue from M's January send to the mix.

Supplies together, what a lovely mix!

I looked at the mandala book again and quickly decided there was no way i was going to try y-seams or a pattern with 100+ pieces and cuts.  But I still want the movement and energy of a mandala.  Out came the ruler and pencil and I started sketching some thoughts.

Potential paper piecing design

For the base I am thinking of some paper piecing and a border once that part is completed.  It will be a star with a log cabin style.  I made some of the silky fabric into some piping - I am looking at adding some interesting texture with that and the lace.  I am also inspired by some beautiful thread quilting in simple but very energetic designs by a fabulous quilter.

by; Living Water Quilter

It reminds me of a craft I find endlessly fascinating - Temari.

by; Homewood Embroiderer's Guild

So, we will see what happens next, its usually a surprise to me as well as anyone else!