Update on Work and some Older work

I have been but not very busy but not with sewing, family and other stuff however I am now back to work/play and thought I would show the work so far and also something I did some  time back. This was from one of Bonnie McCaffery's video's with Ellen Linden in Florida (I did'nt know about this lady when I lived this there!!!!!!!) I was in  a non creative dip and just went into my studio to look, think, tidy, you know how it goes, anyway I found a stretched canvas and the Golden stuff and thought why not  give it a try,( from memory) and off I went. I was surprised how fast it came together and how much I enjoyed myself.Also because I just went for it, no thinking involved, I found it very freeing and I  will try this again  I  used diluted   paint  on the white on white fabric  and just worked with whatever scraps I had to hand.

This  piece is  from another piece of work I posted some time ago, I gave up working on it because it just did nothing for me, then I read about Loch Lomond Quilt Show 2013 and I decided  to cut it up and re-make and I really like the way its working out.What do you think?
Take Care
Janette 

My Attempt At Dyeing

Its .been quite some time since I last dyed fabric and at that time I had no problem with excess dye however I now live in the middle of nowhere with a septic tank system so had to dye MY way. These are the results of my efforts.
The first batch was dyed  with transfer dyes and ice and came out pale but usable.
The second batch I used Dylon dyes and they were sdtronger in colour, I also over dyed  with red, yellow, blue and orange.I like what happened and over all I am pleased with the results.I like the "accidental" way of dyeing as I only want a small ammount to use and do not need to repeat  colours.
My next plan is to use Procion dyes and the exhaust method thus reducing the need tlike to wash away excess dye.

Please leave feedback if you can as I like to hear what others think and how I can improve.
Thank You
Janette

Recent Work

As promised here are the photos of my most recent play time, it is in a frame but only for taking this  is a jacket I am making for myself from Harris tweed.As you can see it is still a work in progress and I cannot decide what size of button would work??? What do you  think large or small??? Oooopppssss my studio is tidy!
Janette























photo I still have no idea what I will really do with it.I hve also been working on a Harris tweed jacket fo myself so here are some photos of that to comment on.

Recent Work

I'm still here!! and recent work.

Few I thought I had lost this blog somehow, with helpfrom blogger I seem to be able to once again sign in and post. My most recent work comes as a result of reading an article (ripped froom a mag. dont know which one)  by Kim Thittichai about painted bondaweb (wonder under).When doing my C&G I did paint and use this medium but not since so off I went.I had used all my bondaweb but had steam a seam so used that, not painted between two layers of sheer fabroc with bits bonded to it and then I used my heat gun to distress.Mmmmm, I like the overall look but the distressing didnt quite work out, maybe steam a seam has different properties and also I did not paint it so more play required.I have taken photos of said work and will post them soon.Comments invited.
Janette

Thoughts and Afterthoughts

I have enjoyed working on this challenge because it made me, 1) Use my stash better, colour choices etc. 2) Made me look at my threads and make decisions and discoveries regarding my thread collection. I found that I had more of one or two colours and hardly any of another colour so I can now add what I need rahter than duplicate what I like and at the same time I discovered some truely ugly threads both colour and machine friendly.Some time ago I bought on e-bay some fab.looking threads, they were from India (I had missed that info.) they arrived and are very good colours but hopeless in the machine so this  led to 3) Use threads in the bobbin that dont work on the top, I've found that most problem threads will work o.k. in the bobbin so I have not wasted time and money on something I cannot use. I also had quite a number of needles break partly due to me and due to the thick areas I asked them to quilt. I like the work of Ellen Eddie and visit her blog often, she uses thread work a lot and I find something new to learn each visit this time I found that she too breaks needles so I dont feel so bad now. I hope to do some thread work and see how it goes so watch this space.
Take Care
Janette

Ooooooppppssss

I have no idea how I managed to make the photos so big!!!!!!

Every inch quilted, Few!

Well I've done it, for the first time I have quilted a piece to withing an inch of its batting!! and here are the results.Some parts I'm more proud of than others but overall I like it I just hope its good enough.I used coloured threads in the bobbin to give the back some colour too so I've included photos of the back.I still need to make a sleeve and attatch but otherwise I'm done.As a result of all the quilting the piece has shrunk but is still within the size requirements. I don't think I will quilt anything quite as much again as it is now quite stiff but as its a wall quilt that works this time my problem now is when I ship it it will probably fold like card, Yikes!!!!  wewill just have to wait and see if the fold come out.Hope you enjoy looking, comments welcome.
Take Care

Janette

Ready Soon

 These are the photos of the front and back of my quilts I hope you can see the quilting on both sides.

Close to Ready.

This is an update on my Foundation of Colour Quilt.I have now added BLUE so all three primary colours are representd, I also added fill in pieces in any colour as most colours have the three primaries in them and therefor they would all fit. Next came the backing and wadding/batting, the wadding was fine quite easy to cut the backing however took a little thought and I decided to cut backing fabric (black) on the BIAS for the curves to make them stand alone, as it were, then I used the pillow method to back the main body of the work.This worked out well and I hand stitched the backing fabric where the straight met the curved piece, this also helped when it came to quilting.I decided to use F.M.Q. all over this quilt and have never quilted a piece quite so much, another first, and have found it has become quite stiff.I also decided to use the colour of the fabric in the bobbin thread to add colour to the back, another first, and it also shows the curves of each colour.I still have a way to go but can now "see" it  all coming together. I still have a stash mountain and have enjoyed using the rulers and may do another quilt in another size, thinking cap firmly on! Hope you enjoylooking and please leave a comment I do not take offence as often others "see" things I have missed.
Take Care
Janette

Work in Progress

I am part of an on line group Stretching Art and each year there is a new "theme", the theme this time is Foundation of............The group show the quilts in a quilt show not a virtual show so there is a  of work done behind the scenes by the two quilters who organise and co-ordinate  they also choose the theme.There are no rules in that you can interpret the theme in your own way the only restrictions are size and deadlines so the variety of work is exciting to see (for me, on line)The show is in the U.S.A. so I have to thank the others for the photos they post.As I said this years theme is Foundation of..... and I have chosen  Colour.This is something we as quilters use all the time and we see, think and even dream in colour however my problem was how to interpret this in fabric.Some years ago on a wonderful visit to Quilt Show in Houston I bought Marilyn Doheny's wedge rulers (a must have after  seeing the demo!) but I had never used them, UNTIL NOW.Another problem for me is where I live, on the Mull of Kintyre, very beautiful but also very remote so no quilt shops or even fabric shops close by the result is I jumped into my stash and used what I found, the photos are the work so far Please leave a comment as the eyes of other quilters often help me "see" things I had no idea was there.
Take Care
Janette

Hello 2012

I have not had much time to sew in the last few months but dicided to just stitch stirps, any size, and stick to blue's and green's mainly because I have rather a lot of blue in my stash but also because I like green and I think these two colours work together. I work quite small these days, no more bed size quilts, usually within the min. size for shows and I am trying to use what I have in my stash. I also want to broaden my work but stay within "tadition"ish as here in the UK tradition still rules more or less anyway thats part of my reasoning. I will enter a few shows this year and plan to work work work as for the past tow years I have not really had a work ethic re sewing but now feel I need a more organized approach.I will post photos of the work in progress.
Take Care
Janette

What I'm Working On

When my entry into a quilt show arived back enclosed was an entry form for next year!!!! now I'm not usually planning that far ahead but something clicked and off I went. Not with just one idea but with two wnich is another new field for me, but they both have the same "theme" spirals and as I said I have a year to work on them.However life has got in the way a bit and so I decided to post the work in progress photos and look for input, ideas etc.I should say they are two sizes, the smaller one has only one spiral while the larger one has two, they have free cut shapes appliqued to the background fabric ( plain calico) and the larger one I intend using couching, vibrabt thread, and also black thead, at present I still have to dicide what, how to quilt the smallr one. Thank you for looking.
Take Care,

Janette

Hello it's Been a While.

Well Fishy Fantasea has been away to a show and is now safely back home.When it came back it had an entry form enclosed for next year this time the theme is Spirals (I think) anyway I put my thinking cap on and have started two quilts with this theme (loosely) One large and one small, both applique both free cutting the fabris but the smaller much more restraint in design.I will take some photos of work in progress and have even thought about the quilting thread colour I will use on the larger quilt which is a first as that is more like an afterthought then part of the "plan"  design.I have also recently made a bag from Harris tweed fabric and now Kathleen and Robert have it to sell, if it does not sell I will be happy to have it back as I like it a lot however I forgot to take a photo before I gave them it.I,m glad I have been able to post as the last time I tried there was a problem.Thank you for visiting.
Janette

Fishy Fantasea is Ready.

This is my entry into the themed category of  The Great Northern Quilt Show, Harrowgate, England. The theme is Beside the Seaside and my entry is Fishy Fantasea. The inspiration came from a trip to Barbados and going underwater to sea the marine life in all ita colourful beauty however I am not good at realism so my tropical fish went funky and I had lots of fun making this quilt.
Tha background is pieces, the "fish" are appliqued, as is the seaweed, the eyes are vintage buttons  and the shells are real shells from Turkey (another trip) held in place with beading.The quilting is machine quilting FMQ and there is a little hand embroydery on the seaweed.

I would really appreciate any comments and I will not be offended by anything said. The photos are not very good but then I am not a hphographer I just hope you  enjoy looking.
Thak You For Looking
Janette

Random Thoughts and Other Finds.

People have been very kind to me in the last few weeks and I find that very hearwarming given life in todays world.I can still look forward to my SAQA journal as I have received help with my subscription, I thought I would have to stop this wonderful,  infomative, and inspiring publication but thanks to the european rep. and her kindness I am still a memeber.
Other finds, well I am still unpacking my studio stuff, I know, I can hear you say"Just how much stuff did/do you have?" and the truth is LOADS some of which I had forgotten about.These forgotten finds are now new again and I hope to have fun USEING the where as before they were "must haves" that I really did need, and were not really  must haves at all however now that we are broke my over stashing has come to the fore.One of the forgottens were a set of  Tsukineko inks, I had never even opened the little bottles. so have tried them out, I'm not a painter so need to practice with them but I did try them by really wetting cotton the useing the ink very much diluted, leave it to dry and it gave a lovely frilly edge.I also discovered that once the ink is on and dry you cannot dilute it its permanent, someting else to take note of. I also found class samples and the hand out from a class I took with Evelyn Ramsay, she uses transfere paints, layers sheers, and the end result is/arepopies, when I took this class I was happy to continue afterward and have made a small wall quilt.It hangs at the top of our stairway.So another avenue to visit but with paint this time.
I miss my friend Linda lots, we talked textile all the time, bounced ideas off each other, gave and asked for advice on textile stuff and were just best friends, something that cannot be replaced.I cannot use the enbellisher she gave me at present because it reminds me of her and my mind goes blank and I cant do anything at all.
These were random thoughts etc.nice talking to you and do call again.
Janette

Sad Post Etc.

My best friend Linda Cooper has died, she lost her battle with cancer in April and I am very sad she has gone. Linda and I went to college to gain our City and Guilds parts 1 and 2 in Patchwork and Quilting, Linda went on to do the embroidery City and Guilds,We started out teaching patchwork together just keeping ahead of our students but loving every minute and that love of all things textile grew over the years. I moved house the same day as she was diagnosed as in- operable and I felt really bed that I could not give my friend my support, its been a very hard year for llots of reasons.Linda was positive right to the end and a great example to all of us who new her, she is sadly missed.

Today I mailed my quilts off to Loch Lomond Quilt Show, just hope they arrive in time as our little post office is only part time four days and we have had public holidays galore recently. I have found working quite hard since Linda died my friend Susi felt the same way affter her friend died so hope soon to be back on track.To-day I finished a canvas I started a year or more ago, it was from the Adventure quitls lady (forget her name!!!!) anyway it was an interview with Bonny McAfrey (?spelling) and it looked fun and easy,now a year later I can say it was fun and fairly easy but I did it a little different to her (the quilter) method. When the thing dries I will post a photo, I will also have to charge the battery in the camera so watch this space.

Bye for now,
Janette

Jelly rolls and other matters.

On a quilt list I am on one quilter asked us to visit her blog to "see" her latest quilt a jelly roll style quilt.It was very good and she had spacers of black and white fabric which lifted the quilt and made it zing.Now this was not sewn from a jelly roll but strips the same size as those in a roll and for me it made me feel that I am correct in thinking these jelly rolls are really for peole just begining on the quilt road.They take away the need to look at colour, size, (they are all pre cut to the same width and length) and have never excited me however it did make me think that cutting strips of perhaps not so attractive fabric and using them in a strippy quilt it would reduce my stash and give me another quilt.How do you feel about jelly rolls???
Today I tried to contact the local craft association via e-mail and still have not received a reply so at present I have put Etsy on hold one reason is I would rather do something local the other is the tax man has been in touch again after telling me everything was o.k. Once these two things have been sorted I will decide what I want to do, DH tells people that I will not sell my work so he will get a surprise one way or the other.
I have made some "Wee Works" for sale, taken photos and priced them (in my head) so now I have a small stock to begin with.Its been a while since I earned money from my quilting skills and I'm looking forward to earning a little to keep me in crafty stuff.Hope you enjoyed our chat.
Take Care
Janette

We Have a Name

The fish quilt is now ready for a sleeve and I have given it a name, Fishy Fantasea, the theme is By the Seaside thats why I have use fantaSEA. The shells are from Turkey, I drilles holes myself, now I wand my own drill!!!! and beaded arround them with green, blue and peal beads.I do'nt do beading much but I like the results here and will try beading in other work now.Another thing I need to do is find the book the fish shapes are from to give credit to the quilter however since we moved house things have been, how can I put this, wild! cluttered! very disorganised! and thats just my studio!!!!! if I do'nt find it soon I will ask on a list I am on for the collective help and someone is sure to know perhaps the author herself.Please feel free to comment as I always find it helpful.Thank you for looking.
Take Care

Janette

What's going Where and When

I have made ready the two quilts for The Loch lomond Quilt Show so here they are. The top one is for  D.H. in his football team colours and is called, Away The Pars.    The second one is one I made as a sample for a class I teach called Wibbly Wobbly 9 Patch and this quilt is called Baby Love. These two quilts are made using two of my favourite blocks but with a twist which is what was asked for, traditional  but with a twist. I think I have thats worked out o.k. all I need to do now is learn how  to take better photos, with that in mind I would like to hear you're take on these quilts.
Thank you  for taking time to look and comment.
Take Care
Janette