My Palette Of My Hand Dyed And Shibori Fabrics

I had arranged all the fabrics a while ago on my ironing table.

That wasn’t a good idea as I need that table for ironing.

I moved them to a shelf by the window.

That meant they were 6 layers deep and in the sun.

I finally came up with a great solution which puts them right at my fingertips to design with. It is near the design wall behind the sofa and yet somewhat hidden from view  in the main part of the studio.

I put some of the plastic drawer units I was no longer using for behind the couch. I use one drawer for the larger pieces and also some I have dyed in the past in the drawer.

The lower drawers hold a variety of things that were in the way!

There are two units and I have put the majority of the recently dyed pieces on the top of the units.

This also gave me a chance to revisit pieces I had dyed some time ago.

Crazy About Color–Another Finish

I LOVE Crazy quilts. This is probably as close as I’ll ever get to making one! This was made from only two pieces of fabric.

When I finished dye painting them I had no idea what I would do with either one of them.

I used a similar palette of colors on both of them and was able to cut 4 strips from one and keep the other as a whole cloth section.

The quilting on this was minimal which gives the quilt a soft comfortable look, yet it also will hang well on a wall. It IS a wall size quilt.

I’d love something with this combination of fabric, batting and backing to use as a blankie. Only problem, I can’t remember what I used for the fabric on the front and I really don’t need another blankie!

 

I  just winged it when I painted the sections that became the borders. I had no plan and just started painting which is how I often work. The borders were angled more than a little which also created a challenge using them. When I got the borders added to the center section I was not satisfied with the quilt. I knew it needed something, but it took me some time to come up with an idea of what to do with it.

My solution was to get out some fabric paints and add some detail work and shading to the quilt. Then it languished while I figured out how I wanted to quilt it – and also found time to finish it.

I thought you might like to see a close up of the detail work on the center section of the quilt.

Quilt Show: Ten Quilts Finished In Two Months!!!!

Of course I didn’t make these start to finish in this time period.

Some were started 15 or more years ago, while others were started in this calendar year.

I’m just going to share photos of all 10 without commenting on them on this blog post. the photos are in the order they were finished.

Secret Circles

My Elusive Dream

It’s Only Make Believe

Ramblin’ Rose

Mystic Spirit

Sea And Sand

For Never Plaid 2

Sunrise Sunset

Crystal Clear

Higher Consciousness

These quilts are not a series. I tried to figure out if they have my “signature”?

Do you see anything they all have in common?

At first I didn’t, but I think I do see it now.

Triangle Quilt Finished

I needed a little time to resolve some quilting and structural issues this quilt created.

I was able to resolve them. The quilt hangs perfectly flat.

I did almost all the quilting in the ditch through the quilt and the batting only. Because it is in the ditch it is hard to see.

I stitched 1/2 inch from the edge of the quilt and removed the batting from the seam allowance. I folded the 1/2 inch under and ironed it in place.

I cut the backing fabric the same size as the front of the quilt and fused a piece of Timtex (cut 3/4 inch smaller than the backing) to the wrong side of the fabric.

I folded the edge over the Timtex and fused the edge in place.

I put the batting and Timtex together and fused everything very securely.

This is the finished back of the quilt. I hand stitched the backing to the quilt around the edge.

I made a thread loop close to the top of the quilt on the back to hang it.

This shows the seam I created in the backing 2 inches from the bottom.

I inserted a 1” finished rod pocket in the seam.

I inserted this tent pole in the casing which just happened to be the exact length I needed. It makes the bottom hang perfectly straight.

A PERFECT finish for a unique quilt!

Another Palindromic Number

I have just had 177,771 visits to my blog.
I know - who cares!
I do as I love unique number combinations!

A View Of Works In Progress In My Studio

I have some of my works in progress stored on these quilt racks. I originally used them to display antique quilts.

I do have some pictures of a few of these I can share with you.

This is from the time I was making Amish inspired quilts. It still needs a border and quilting.

Studying Amish quilts is a fantastic way to learn about using color.

This is a section of a mystery quilt I did at a Jinny Beyer Seminar. I don’t “ever” do mystery quilts (by others) but this one intrigued me. I was extremely pleased with the outcome. The quilting will take a lot of time when I figure out what I am going to do!

This quilt was the prototype for a design class I taught. It needs borders and possibly something else.

One of the reasons I have 57 works in progress to finish is because after I designed and taught something in a class there was not time to finish it. It was time to prepare for the next class as well as other things in my life that had priority.

Of course I also have some other lists of work I started called Rework Or Abandon, Not Real Important and Questionable To Finish. I do not have to count the work from those lists.

I am making great progress on the Works In Progress list. One year ago today  there were 84 WIP’s on the list and today there are only 57!

I have finished 12 quilts in 2012 and started 7 more.

If the math doesn’t work out it may be because I can move anything I want to one of those other lists at any time I choose!!!

Secret Circles

 

Almost all the fabrics I used in this quilt are ones I hand painted. There are a few hand dyes which were needed to give the quilt some colors and values it needed.

Each of the circles was inset into a background square.

How many circles can you find? Look very closely as some of them are hard to see.

This quilt was done for almost a year except for the hand sewing required to finish the facings and rod pocket .

I even had about 8 hand sewing needles threaded. Then why did I put it off?

I was dreading sewing on the black background fabric I used on the back. I did find myself moving to a spot nearer the windows to see better. I also find when I am having difficulty seeing something I can actually work by feel, rather than sight if extreme accuracy is not necessary.

I like to use pretty fabrics on the back of my quilts that have some relationship to the front of the quilt. I also choose fabrics that have a lot going on so if the quilting is “less than perfect” it won’t be obvious when you look at the back of the quilt.

I know you have thought I have forgot about including puzzles in my blog. Unfortunately I just haven't had time to do it until today. So enjoy "Secret Ovals" with a "Circle" cut!

Triangle Quilt

I pieced this quilt about 5 years ago.

I added the borders today.

The fabrics were ones I dyed over an extended period of time. The border is that cotton/linen damask I love so well. It dyes up beautifully and adds so much texture to my work. Some of the fabrics were discharged. There is even some of the fabric that my son called the ugliest piece of fabric I’d ever created. Fabrics that are ugly as a whole can be fantastic when cut up and used in a composition.

It is about 37 inches high.

It will probably be the next quilt I quilt as I have the correct color bobbins wound!

This one will be a challenge to figure out how to finish it and hang it.

I Won!

I don’t enter blog give-aways so imagine my surprise when I got a message from Judy Laquidara that I won.

I shared my quilt on Judy’s June color Palette – not even realizing there was a giveaway connected with this.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2012/07/01/july-color-palette-challenge/

I just love to share my work when it fits the subject.

She and Vicki Welsh have teamed up for a monthly color challenge.

My prize was a fat quarter pack from:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickiwelsh?section_id=7607555

I love both these blogs and was thrilled to win my choice of a fat quarter pack.

This is the pack I chose. It is quite different than anything I have dyed and will work nicely with some of the hand dyes I have done myself.

Thank you Judy and Vicki. I read both your blogs ever day.

Quilts For Sale

I have had several questions/requests asking if my quilts are for sale.

Most of them are.

I don’t want to make my blog a commercial for selling quilts.

I am wondering if I should just add a separate blog listing quilts for sale?

Does anyone have a better idea – other than a website which I really can’t take the time for right now?

I’d appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Surface Design Quilt Quilted

I created these fabrics and pieced this top a little over 2 years ago. It often takes me that long (or more) to decide how I am going to quilt something. The gold fabric was created with flour paste resist and then paint was added. The black and navy fabrics were painted.

I’m pleased with the quilting and will be finishing this very soon.

This is a closeup of the quilting.

This quilt is more subtle than my normal work and I like it very much.

Still Having A Ball!

When I gave Blake a yarn ball for his birthday Nicholas tried juggling it. I asked him how many balls he could juggle and he said three. TO celebrate his birthday HE received 3 yarn balls. He had fun unwinding and rewinding them and juggling them and liked the surprise inside! I had hoped the surprise would be in the last ball he unwound. I calculated it right so it did happen that way.

When I told Jared he could wind all my yarn for me he quoted me an astronomical price to do the job! We talked about the cost of winding a BIG ball of yarn.. So he received a very BIG ball of yarn with knitting needles and the gift tag said it was a Do It Yourself Scarf Kit! He unwound and rewound it. He then decided he’d like to start knitting. I tried teaching him, but we didn’t have enough time. His sister knows how to knit so she will be his knitting tutor!

Jared received a ukulele for his birthday so he no longer has to share the Family ukulele. The whole family is musical and gets their talents from Julie’s side of the family.

Sunrise Sunset Potato Chip Quilt–Finished

This quilt was started in 2011 so it only took a little over a year to finish it!

I straightened up the edges and put a dark multicolor batik binding on it that blended with all the fabrics.

I also added a casing to the top edge on the back. I am not sure I will need the casing as I am thinking of adopting this as my new blankie!

I don’t think this is a quilt I want to sell.

If I want to take a nap I find if I cover myself with a blankie and sit in a lounging chair I am out in a few minutes!

I have previously posted the directions and more information on this quilt on my blog.

You can find the directions here:

http://quiltspluscolor.blogspot.com/2011/04/sunrise-sunset-quilt-tutorial.html

I can not begin to count the people who have used these directions and made some really great quilts. I hope you will make one too.

July 4th

I am sharing an old post card from my post card album with you today.

It has a 2 cent stamp on it!

I purchased an album of post cards at the Shipshewana flea market almost 20 years ago.

There are some beauties in there. As I find time to scan others you’ll get to see some of them.

I also have another post card album that belonged to my father in law.

Almost all of these post cards were actually sent through the mail and have messages on them.

They are so much fun to read.

For Never Plaid 2

It only took 3 years and this is done.

The blocks for this quilt spent 3 years on my design wall. I was not looking forward to putting them together as they were different sizes and shapes with no straight edges.

Even after they were joined and quilted there were still a few problem areas. I did some serious trimming and blocking to make this lay relatively flat. The quilting also helps flatten some of the surface irregularity.

The facings control the fullness on the edges.

 

I will have to say I did not really like the quilt before it was joined, quilted and finished.

Now I love it. It is quite amazing what quilting does for a quilt.

I think it also is successful because even though you may not be able to figure out my plan, there was a definite plan (formula) to the quilt.

If you can figure out the plan then the work is not as successful. Sometimes when a piece is completed I can’t even figure out what my plan was!

 

Yes, there was a For Never Plaid 1! It was started and finished 3 years ago.

Woven Gradation Quilt

I have no clever name for this quilt yet so I am just describing it!

This is one of the quilts I found as I was going through my works in progress. I really love it.

It is on my design wall and will hang there while I decide how I want to quilt it.

I used gradations of 3 colors horizontally and three different gradations vertically.

The background is a large print that reminds me of a jungle with tiger lilies!

Even using a large very busy print for the background the woven effect created with the hand dyes is not lost.

I am sure I did like this one when I pieced it but I had to go on to other things at the time and didn’t have time to finish it.

I always say though, if you don’t like something when you finish it put it away for 6 months and you will probably be very pleasantly surprised when you look at it again.

I would guess this one was pieced 15-20 years ago.

I’ve Got Some Neat “Young” Relatives

I’ve had so many quilt posts to share that somehow I didn’t get to post about my visit with my newest great niece.

 

She is such a pretty baby.

She has a beautiful Mom, handsome Dad and Awesome older brother.

Since she spends so much of her time sleeping and eating I’m going to share a few pictures of her awesome big brother who is a perpetual motion machine.

Here is 2 1/2 year old Sean washing the Morris Minor. Hope Dad doesn’t decide to sell it as Sean thinks it is his.

Sean is interested in any type of vehicle! I wonder if Dad has a little influence here!

He’s even ready to take off in flight with this small airplane.

I’ll be seeing them again, along with the rest of the family the end of the week.