seventeen circles

Last fall I started a project that I left "simmering" while I thought about what to do about the center applique. I had decided that my original choice was too jarring so I put it aside and now I'm happy with my selection of a more subdued fabric. I'm wondering why I made 17 of them. Maybe the intent was to use 16 squares (4 x 4) and I made a spare? Now I'm actually thinking of using 9 of them and experimenting with the stitching so the end result will probably not be as traditional as it now appears. By the way, the blocks are all different.

vintage sparks

Mostly vintage, I think I originally copied this pattern from a magazine I checked out of the library, long before I ever worked there. I returned the magazine before I quilted this small top so now I have no memory of my original intention. But that might be fun! I'll make something up, reckless embellishment maybe?

really experimental

Something about this fabric inspired me to try something totally different. Since it isn't yet finished I'm not sure how it's going to work out. This is really kind of like using cheater fabric for me because in most of my work, the sections I'm working with are actually handpieced or appliqued in tiny increments.

a new swiss one

Inspired by jude, I wove a few strips of fabric into the fringe I had already added to the white sampler. We brought in a few of the last of the roses and my husband added a new nutcracker to his collection.

finding their place

The five rectangular beads were from a strand I purchased from a vendor at a bead show a couple of years ago. I made the mistake of storing this strand as well as a couple of others in the glass tube spice racks (mentioned in an earlier post) in my studio in direct sun. All of them bleached out to a light color that bore little resemblance to the beads I purchased. (So now I am very careful about the types of beads I store in these containers.) I was particularly disappointed about this strand because when I purchased them they had lovely layers of purple and green. But I saved them and now at least some of them finally have a place, on this white sample little quilt wip.

the art of waiting

or white sampler 2.

lines and stripes

I removed the block that I'm planning to tone down by dyeing and cut apart a couple of other blocks and sewed them together in a different way. I used red and black embroidery thread (separately) for stitching.

white sampler

I've been thinking of a project in whites but the snow finally inspired me to start it. So far I have 25 small squares sewn onto a fabric foundation. I purposefully used different shades and textures, and included fringed edges. For me it was an exercise in accepting, possibly embracing, imperfection, and becoming more comfortable with raw edges. I also thought that working with whites would be soothing. Well, I was wrong about that. Maybe I will change my mind when embellishing, but I think I prefer working with strong colors and contrasts.

toning it down

At one point this is how these pieces were coming together. However, I may remove the block with multi-colored diagonal stripes from this grouping, and try to tone it down with a coffee or tea bath.

squares in the middle

Some tiny squares in the middle. With a helper.

less than we think

Sometimes it takes less than we think to sustain us.

jumble audition

I'm considering adding this strip (at the top) to the jumble quilt. I may also add a similar one to the other side.

and now there are nine

Finally! This is a process I did not enjoy nor am I particularly impressed with the results. So I'm glad I planned to make only nine blocks. I think I got a better result with simply appliquing another circle on top of the existing circle, the technique I used for "Bohemeian Circles." Each of these background squares are 4" and I do like the colors. Now, on to the fun part, the embellishments.

in the middle

These started out as a series of circles for a project that a friend and I were working on together. My friend changed her mind but I was glad that we had started because otherwise this would have been fabric that I was reluctant to cut. These are evolving into circles with the centers cut out in freehand style and then appliqued on blue backgrounds with little snippets of other fabrics slipped in to cover the holes in the middle. I have several circles to work with but my plans are to use nine for this small project.

a small group

You've seen a couple of these before and two of them are still under construction but sometimes I like to look at them grouped together.

a closer look

A couple of closer looks at reckless embellishing that is saving this little piece from becoming a permanently neglected wip. Some of the Japanese yarn, beads, and embellishments are secured underneath the netting and some are on top. Some of the embellishments are upside down tulle yo-yo's.

Last night's MLBS's meeting featured a program on photography by jewelry designer Kristen Colvell. She shared tips and techniques and provided a couple of light boxes for us to practice using to take pictures of our jewelry pieces. I love to play with beads but mostly they end up on quilts and not in jewelry pieces. I did, however, recently make a couple of bracelets, one for a friend's birthday, and one in the first photo. As in my quiltmaking, I used both vintage and contemporary beads and crystals.

sunset revisiting

Last night's sunset inspired me to revisit this small pinwheel wip.

All this time I've been spelling her name incorrectly.

She was my daughter's cat and Laura named her Princess Amidala, from Star Wars. (I just looked up the correct spelling.) We usually call her Pretty Kitty Dalla or Dalla.

moving on

Often when working with blocks I will set them out and experiment with placing them.I'll arrange them and rearrange them, sometimes soliciting opinions from other family members. These small blocks were carefully organized, studied and were almost ready to be sewn. I left them, purposely not looking at them for awhile in order to check my perspective. But as is sometimes the case, while not caught in the act this time, my furry assistant did her own rearranging and this time I just decided to go with it and not agonize over trying to replicate whatever placement I had at one time had in mind. Sometimes it's better to just get on with it and move on. Now I'm ready to add a border, backing, and quilting.

adding to the joy

These are a few of the pieces I'm working on incorporating into what I'm currently thinking of as the Joyful Jumble. Often I'm unaware of the makers of the fabric that I use because I generally use small snippets gathered from a variety of sources but I do know that some of the snippets here are from Mary Engelbreit's line of fabric.

joyful jumble

This is my current project. Instead of completing them as individual small quiltlets, I decided to start sewing the whole joyful jumble together. This is my progress so far.