Wednesday, June 9, 2010

What I should be working on....

These are a couple small pieces that I am working on...part of the time. It is a process that was shown on Simply Quilts--a show about quilting that used to be on HGTV. It was hosted by Alex Anderson, and she had various guests on...showing all kinds of projects. This particular episode had Ricky Tims, teaching how to make this Chantelle Tulip in his caveman style of quilting.
I have never really made an art quilt, and Mary and I got to talking via email and both decided to do something different compared to what we normally do. This is what I decided for my project. It is a two for one deal. Two pieces of contrasting fabric are layered together--one set for the top part with the flower and two more pieces for the leaves and the background. Then the flowers and leaves are cut free-hand with the rotary cutter. Notice that the colors are switched opposite on the two above....when you cut one you automatically cut the second one.

These are just small, and will be smaller still when I trim the sides and ends. Just a bit over two feet 'tall' and maybe 15 inches wide. I will probably make little wall hangings from them, though Roger would like for me to make a whole quilt. If it weren't that the seams are so scant I would think serious about it. But with this caveman quilting, the 1/4 inch seam allowance is not figured in. When sewing, one only takes just enough to hold the two pieces together....in my case I probably have a 1/8 inch or less seam allowance.

I would not want to make a quilt with that allowance because I don't think it would hold up to wear. So this is all I am going to make with this method.

In doing it, I think I have come to the conclusion that I like to make quilts that are to be used. I was not happy with these at all at first...but I have come to the conclusion that I can live with them. But I have to force myself to work on them.
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I have spent the entire evening playing music at My Playlist...I have not done that in soooo long. Almost all music was from the pop/rock category with about half a dozen country and a couple bluegrass thrown in. I would have listened to more bluegrass, but the music is not divided into categories....and when I say bluegrass, I generally mean newer songs done with bluegrass instruments. I always just browse the category to find music I like...

I often wonder what makes us like the music we like...I almost always like some of all types, though to be honest I cannot listen to rap long enough to discover anything. Although I think I heard one or two that included bits of 'real' songs that made them bearable, I guess I am showing my age here...

Music is another of those things that really bring back images, feelings, and dreams. There is a big, big playlist that will forever be associated with the orchard. Sometime I need to sit and make a playlist of my favorites that I listened to over and over there....it would be a long, long one and some I could never find anywhere on the web. They were songs I taped from the college radio station.

Well, I here a storm rolling in...I should just post this and head to bed. I always sleep so much better when it is raining or storming.

11 comments:

  1. Lovely pieces, nice pattern.

    :-D

    Thanks for the information about the Polyphemous Moth! :-D

    I wish I could quilt.

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  2. Wow Rose that is cool, I like that look. I need to make another quilt.

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  3. Bravo! You are ahead of me on trying something new! I'm still stalling and distracted by other things. I think they look interesting and that you did them exactly the way they did in the show! I can see why this would not appeal as something to do all the time, but now you could take that technique and try it on some other type blocks....free cut some pieces and sew them back together. I like listening to music while I quilt, too.

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  4. I like the 'picture' style of these pieces.

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  5. It seems that all that talk about seams left me agog. But then I know nothing from quilting or any other kind of sewing, so that makes sense, seemingly!

    You do nice work, whether it's a quilt or wall hanging. Be proud!

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  6. These are very pretty Rose!
    I'm trying to get an idea of how small they are. Could you use something like this for placemats?

    Sometimes I pop out the playlist on my blog and just sit and listen.

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  7. I like your little tulip quilt... Maybe it would look good as a wall hanging if you don't want to do a full quilt. The colors are so pretty.

    We are funny people when it comes to our music, aren't we? I never liked country music until I met George. Now --I love it (the modern country). I still don't like the twangy hillbilly music--although I love bluegrass.

    We had rain and storms all day here.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  8. I like that you like to make quilts that can be used, although these two pieces are very pretty.
    I also like your thoughts about music. I have many songs on my iPod, and I have many types of music. Like you I also like almost every type of music.

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  9. I love that style of quilting. I actually did a couple of blocks yesterday for my block of the month club. However that is all I am getting doen at the moment, as I don't have the time with the garden and the recipe book.

    Gill in Canada

    P.S. I love the colour combinations as well

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  10. The quilt pieces are quite pretty, Rose, but I have to admit that I LOVE your functional quilts, which are very beautiful, I think!

    Music is very powerful. It reaches us at a level that speech does not. I don't know why. Music is very important for our souls, I 'm sure. That's why most churches include it in their services.

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  11. You've got to be right about the quilt needing to be used! But I like the look of that tulip. I am drawn to things like that, but too practical to think that it should only be looked at since it's a quilt and all!

    I also often wonder what makes music so central to our lives. Our moods, our tastes...it seems really complex.

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