Friday, June 3, 2011

Light House Pinwheel

Memory Quilt.
I just finished this Light House Pinwheel quilt for Connie I.  
It's a twin size that she chose the fabrics to suit her needs.  It includes shirts from her father along with purchased yardage.  He also loved the coastal areas which is depicted by the Light Houses.
I like the coordinating border fabric with light houses that match with the light house blocks.
The photo shows only one half of the quilt....some day I'll have a room/wall big enough to show full quilts.
The quilting on it is a swirl wave that is loose so it is soft and drapes well.
She's happy with it!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Blue Jeans Quilt


Recycled Blue Jeans Quilt!  
This king size commission quilt was created from blue jeans the kids had out grown. 
Because of it's size, it's extremely heavy - so they decided not to have it finished the 'traditional' way with additional batting and backing. 
This leaves it with raw edge seams so it's soft and fluffy on one side and when turned over, it's smooth and still shows the large star. 
When I first started this, I really worried about having enough difference in denim colors to get the visual effect for the star. I'm relieved to say that I was able to accomplish the design with what I'd been given.
Another happy family!

Reverse side / Smooth side
Recycled Blue Jeans Quilt

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Twilight Commission Quilt


'Twilight' Commission Quilt: 
This is the first finished block (of 48) using the "Twilight" pattern from www.saginawstreetquilts.com and the Curves for Rectangles CGKA2 Ruler by Creative Grids
The pattern, fabric and ruler had been purchased prior to the customer contacting me. 
When I received this bundle, I had explicit instructions on the placement of colors and size of quilt.  
The pattern is for a 50-1/4" X 62-1/2" throw size....they wanted it enlarged to a 92" x 108"
So, after checking out the pre purchased fabric, I found that it was approximately 1/3rd yard short on 8 different colors.  I've been in contact with the owner and more fabric is on it's way!  In the mean time, I will proceed with what I can get done of the 48 blocks.
What's been interesting with this block/pattern, is that you take half of the fabric and cut from the 'right' side to get half of the needed blocks and then take the other half of the fabric and cut from the 'wrong' side so that you end up with mirror image blocks.  
My tip is to ONLY do one half of the blocks at a time - either the face up or face down ones.
You DON'T want to get them mixed up.

Here is 1/4 of the finished top for "Twilight" Quilt.  It's different looking from the pattern photo because of the color choices they used for the darks.  Where the dark brown and red point at each other, there should be darker blues so it becomes more of a square.  Yet by not using darker blues, it makes the red and brown undulate across the quilt which is rather unique.  I'm now waiting for their decision on what to use for a backing and batting so it can be totally completed.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Fractured Photo Quilt for Mary P.


This one is for Mary P.  
It's the left side portion of a vibrant stormy sea-scape.  I had to mark up the black and white copy because I kept loosing where I was at.  By marking  & coloring it, it helped keep me in the perimeters of the assorted colors -- well ok I'm close.  I think of all five of the individual Fractured Photo sections I've done here, this one seemed to be the most difficult.  Not for intricacy, but in attempting to capture the colors of the photo which are really wild!!  To me, this sliver of the photo has lost the 'depth' of the whole picture.  I've reworked this piece several times, some how trying to find that 'depth' of the picture.  I've changed color placements, color tones, etc. 
I am hoping that the assembly of this will bring back the 'whole'.
Hopefully, I'm close as I'm stopping with this one.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Fractured Photo Quilt for Nona S.

This section that I've just completed for Nona has a lot of applique!!!  
I had to keep in mind the sections that would be joining it and leave the applique pieces loose enough so they could be 'lapped' over to help make the transition easier.
Most of the fabric I've used in this piece is from my hand dyed fabric stash.
It seems to go really well with the colored photo. (not shown)  

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Renegade Horse Quilt

I ran across this Photo while sorting through my photo boxes from '05.  
Moneta W.  had decorated the room western style and color tone -
 and then she went in search of a quilt to go with it.  
She wanted blue, wine, green and gold coloring.  Horses.
This is what we came up with.  A queen size that 'tucked' into the railings.
I've never been to their home. I just have these photos of the finished quilt in it's place of honor.
Another fun & successful project!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Fractured Photo Quilt for Jackie R.


OK!  This is ready to head back to Jackie! 

After I had done the leaf borders, it took me a while to find the background fabric in the color tone of the photo that I have.  It still wasn't quite right, so I added a little red with Derwent Inktense pencils. 
According to her note, the trees & bushes in the photo will be added by Jackie with Thread painting - so I didn't bother with those.  
The bridge is not at all what I started out to do.  I was going to hand applique....but it's so miniature that all it became was a lumpy/ messy blob.  So that all came off and I redid it by machine applique with detail stitching.
Sure hope it works for her!! :)

I spent the entire day working on these miniature leaf blocks and partially assembling them to this point.  Each leaf is approximately 1 inch....I had 14 to do!  So ok, I did take breaks. :)
Along side the pieced strips is part of the black and white section that I have to do for this Fractured Photo Quilt that belongs to Jackie.  I had to stop at this point as I don't have the correct color of fabric to start the back ground with.  It's a yellow green that I don't normally work with and defiantly don't have in my stash of fabrics.
I can't decide if I want to hand dye the fabric or go shopping....hmmmm.
Stay tuned for more progress when the fabrics have been found.
Close up photo of the 1" leaves.