Fall Inspiration For a change of pace from deadline sewing I turned back to a scrap stash WIP. I find it very freeing to unwind with this “made fabric” project when concentration on a project becomes too tense and stressful. Heaven knows we quilters have …
One could say I have been very productive during this unusual summer.Being an introvert, it has not been a real inconvenience to stay close to home and we are fortunate to live in a rural setting so I have had lots of inspiration to parlay …
Well, August is winding down and I realized I hadn’t posted an inspiration for the month. I’ve been thinking a lot about Dresden Plate block and the many beautiful and creative variations that are available. The many doilies I accumulate inspired me to think about the possibilities in combination with fabric that resemble the traditional block. I’m sharing an idea I’m using in just one corner of a work in progress that might inspire you to consider in your next Dresden project, large or small. First I used Dresden wedges of various lengths and even angles to make a curvy corner. The lacy edging that I had dyed at the same time as the background fabric was begging to be included. It had been taken from a tattered round table cloth so already had the curve perfect to fit the curve of the plate. I first sewed it to the quarter circle then stitched (appliqued) in place over the wedges. Voila!! added texture, color and interest in the corner. A second photo shows you the whole work in progress on my design board.
I’ve been doing a lot of finishing of WiP’s and UFO’s and other things found on the floor, in totes, but mostly pulling from the piles in my sewing room. Binding has been my evening work and the only step keeping a project from being …
Inspiration for a HOT July Day!! Whether you’re looking for something to do on hot sunny days, hoping to find a new craft for kids or want to preserve those languishing linens, Cyanotype prints are an easy solution. Recently I wanted to capture some leaves …
It was a productive weekend with three days spent helping my daughter refresh her living room, bedroom and kitchen walls. In turn she helps me with my computer needs from printing on oversize fabric sheets to updating long overdue apps on phone and computer. Our internet connection in northeast Missouri is really lacking I realize even more when in Des Moines. I have explored more sites that I can’t regularly access at home. Such fun!!! I see how addictive it can be.
One of the projects she helped me with was photographing a quilt for entry in a special category at the Houston International Quilt Festival this fall called “Quarantine Quilts: Creativity in the Midst of Chaos”. Don’t know if it will be accepted but it was a fun project, not designed for this event specifically but certainly enhanced by the opportunity to dive into the stash at home and figure out how to use what is on hand. If it doesn’t get accepted for Houston there is a show at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa this fall that will also provide an opportunity for sharing as I will be vending at that show.
Flower Power Three simple shapes can help you make a fun and easy small table topper. My paisley drops are about 3 inches, the stems are 5” and the center circles are 1 ¼” What a fun way to celebrate the plethora of flowers …
One of my favorite snacks to take camping or just to have around is homemade granola. It is so simple to make and so delicious. When others taste it they comment on the flavor. I think the secret is the cardamom seasoning which can be …
The May inspiration starter, Punctuality, of course, has a back story. About six years ago I made a quilt for my daughter in favored colors of chartreuse and taupe. For months I collected fabrics as I traveled to different quilt shops and quilt shows. And, of course, I collected more than I needed and made more blocks than were needed for the finished quilt. Like vintage linens that languish in our drawers these blocks languished in a tote, moved out to a shelf so I could contemplate their use, moved to a plastic bag to keep them together and finally the idea hit. The text on the fabric and the use of or lack of punctuation in our texting mode of communication inspired me to collect my favorite punctuation marks in the various fonts on my computer. Enough leftover fabric to cut small squares in the same size as the leftover blocks from the quilt, fonts sized to fit and the plan was complete. Enough blocks to use as top and bottom “borders”. As often happens with my inspirations the idea looked fun and would work so then it sat as other projects took precedence for finishing. I know that many quilters start a project and finish it before starting another but that is not my mode of operation. So six years later I found the project in it’s last resting place, under a stack of yukata prints that are still waiting for the light bulb to come on. Punctuation marks were fused but not stitched so variegated thread and a blanket stitch completed that process. Binding was made and attached, well almost. I lacked six inches to finish the binding. Now, where is that extra fabric? I have three totes of scraps, which one did I put it in? It should be on top. Oh, that was before I started making masks and was upheaving everything to find fun, colorful fabric scraps to be combined in mix and match ways. Finally unearthed the needed piece and completed.
Now this must surely be an amazingly gorgeous project to have taken six years to bring to completion but no, it’s just a fun little wall hanging measuring less than 27” for the office cubicle. #punctuation #punctuality
Upcycled men’s suits and ties provide suitable fabric for fun collages with a more masculine impression. I use all parts of deconstructed suits and ties including the interfacing, the wrong side of fabric and sometimes even the padding. Two pieces shared here also incorporated my …