Weekly Report 2013 - 07/26

This is what Fiber Revolution Unraveled saw of Companion
Oysters. When I unveiled the composition I realized that
two oysters laying on the sand felt barren. The green fabric
in the lower left is being auditioned as the likely fabric to
use for seaweed to help fill the composition.

Companion Oysters is finally at a point where a picture is doable! Thus giving me a sense of accomplishment for the week. 

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

I had the opportunity to share phase one of Companion Oysters with the Unraveled. The Unraveled is an on-line critique group of Fiber Revolution members. Fiber Revolution is compromised of active art quilters who live in the northeast region of the US. Our purpose is to exhibit our work collectively. One of the benefits of a critique group is the ability to see your work through someone else's eyes. The two comments I received that struck me this week were, one, "I would have never guessed this was your work." Two, it would help if you use more than one green for the seaweed." I have belonged to several critique groups over the years. I highly recommend joining or forming one if you want to flourish. Think of it as adding fertilizer to the garden. Your plants will grow without it, but they will flourish with it.

This is what I accomplished:

1) Companion Oysters (Deadline 9/01/2013)

a) Stitch the pieces to the background muslin - This would have been done if my muse hadn't tapped me on the shoulder and said that some seaweed was in order.

The first of the seaweed is added to Companion Oysters.
I opted to fuse, rather than stitch the seaweed so that I could
manage the many inset curves.

b) Add a layer of batting behind the oysters for a trapunto effect - I am getting closer to this step. I need the seaweed in place first.

If you look closely (click on the image) you should be able
to see that I have layered the seaweed fronds with different
green fabrics. This helps with light and shadow. An excellent
recommendation from the Unraveled. 

2) Do whatever assignment Leah comes up with next. - Done!

I am not sure why I struggled with Little Tongues, Leah's free motion quilting motif from last week. I returned to it this week and found it fun to execute and a fascinating filler pattern. This week the motif was Saw Blades. This would be a great filler pattern for a windblown day. It reminds me of dandelion puffs blowing on the wind or pinwheels spinning.

Saw Blades is on the left and Little Tongues is on the right.

a) Finish making the blocks for Express Your Love II - Done!

This was a much bigger project than I had imagined. It measures 36" H x 48" W. At some point Leah will be sharing the steps for how to piece and then attach the goddess to the left half the quilt top. The solid black will be covered by the goddess. 

Express Your Love II - Pattern and title by Leah Day. Fabric
selection and piecing by Gwyned Trefethen.

b) Retry the FMQ motif, Little Tongues, but not as a random pattern, but in rows instead. - Done!

I thought about doing it Little Tongues in rows, but decided I liked the random pattern and stuck with it.

3) Pictorial Painting - Face "Canyon." - Not this week.

Will I accomplish as much next week? Check back and see. This is where I plan to focus my time.

1) Companion Oysters (Deadline 9/01/2013)

a) Stitch the oyster shells to the background 

b) Add a layer of batting behind the oysters for a trapunto effect

2) Do whatever assignment Leah comes up with next.

3) Pictorial Painting - Face "Canyon."

I am now linking up to two blogs on Friday's. The first is Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Project and the second is Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays.