Week in Review 2014 - 02/28

A scrap left over from making the keyboard is sewn between
two pieces of black fabric so that I can test what threads
and quilting motifs will work best before committing them
to the actual quilt. 

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Last week I asked the question "How would you quilt Tickling the Ivories?" A big thank you to everyone who responded. You gave me some new directions to contemplate. Ultimately, I decided there is nothing like test driving ideas to see what both looks and feels right. What is the difference between looking and feeling right? For me the difference is not just mind (judging the work using the principles of art) and my personal intuitive sense, but how the it feels as I lay down the quilting. Is my body relaxed? Does the motif flow naturally? Is the thread giving me conniptions, breaking repeatedly? If there is any tension or thread malfunction, then I take the hint and look for a new solution. What I am looking for is a marrying of aesthetics and the energy that comes from a natural flow. 

A close up of the wiggly lines and notes
used to quilt the background. 

Although it is difficult to tell from a picture on a blog, I did test multiple gray and variegated threads that included gray. The threads varied in weight and the length between color changes. I used the black and white square (second from the left) to test out an idea I had to string notes along wavy lines. It was a surprisingly easy motif to execute. I liked the fact that by using a black and white variegated thread the motif was only visible close up and so did not distract from the larger composition. It also repeated the pattern of the appliquéd notes.

A close up to show the difference between satin
stitching and stitch in the ditch between the keys.

I started by stitching in the ditch with a variegated gray thread between the piano keys and extending the line out into the background. This worked, BUT I just knew it needed more. I could build up thread by retracing the stitch line over and over, but why not use the same satin stitch I used for appliquéing down the notes? I test drove that theory on my sample. It worked! If you look closely (and for some right clicking on an image will give you a larger view) you can see that the upper keys are divided by satin stitch and the lower three just have the stitch in the ditch stitching.


1) Tickling the Ivories - Due March 15th





Work on quilting the remainder of the piece - Done! 

If you look closely at the upper right section of the
keyboard you can see the difference the satin stitch
makes there. The keys are more distinct and there is
a hint of a shadow.

2) Leah Day projects.

a) Baste the face, torso and arms to Express Your Love II. - On hold until the quilts with deadlines are completed.

b) Do Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting lesson. - Done!

This week's motif was Wiggly Pasta. What can I say? My pasta isn't that wiggly. It is more of a matrix with horseshoe ends. I was thinking that this motif would be fun to embellish with beads either at the crossings or in the openings. It could be used for hairnets, fishnets, or even fishnet stockings. :)

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments. - Done!

I have nothing to show, because this week the only assignment was to watch a 45 minute video of an interview with Claudine Hellmuth. The takeaway for me from this interview is that the best way to develop your voice is to understand what you are passionate about and what YOU (emphasis on the you) find aesthetically pleasing. 

4) Tumbling Blocks I (Due April 30) - Continue piecing the quilt - On hold until Tickling the Ivories is at the hand stitching/finishing phase.

5) Little Lake Butte des Morts in Fall (Due August 3) - a commissioned quilt - On hold until quilts with earlier deadlines are completed. 

Start piecing the quilt.


Tomorrow is the first day of March and Tickling the Ivories must have its finished, formal portrait done by March 15th. Guess we all know where I will be focusing next week. :)

1) Tickling the Ivories - Due March 15th


a) Finish the quilting.
b) Wash, block and square up the quilt.
c) Make the binding and sleeve.
d) Attach the binding.
e) Photograph the quilt.
f) Make the label
g) Attach the sleeve and label.

2) Leah Day projects.

a) Baste the face, torso and arms to Express Your Love II. - On hold until the quilts with deadlines are completed.

b) Do Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting lesson.

3) LifeBook 2014 - Do the assignments.

4) Tumbling Blocks I (Due April 30) - Continue piecing the quilt - On hold until Tickling the Ivories is at the hand stitching/finishing phase.

5) Little Lake Butte des Morts in Fall (Due August 3) - a commissioned quilt - On hold until quilts with earlier deadlines are completed. 

Start piecing the quilt.


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.