Weekly Report 2015 - 02/06

Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci
Everything but the yellow square
is finished. I still have small section
of feather swirls to quilt. Then I will
fill in the background with some McTavishing

Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:

Have you ever noticed how as soon as you clear a counter, closet or chest it becomes cluttered and disordered again? Life can be like that, too. I thrive on a well defined life that I carefully order with the projects, jobs, groups and commitments that fulfill me until I am overfull once more. I have spent the past few months paring down and simplifying. Then bam! This week I said yes to an opportunity that is guaranteed to turn my life upside down for a few months and quite possibly, several years. Why throw myself into this? There are many rational, self serving answers. The truth is, that after several years of being content, I suddenly felt energized, enthusiastic, engaged and eager to face whatever demands would be foisted on me. So, clear those closets, let go of groups and projects that hold you down. It will allow you to say yes to that opportunity that seems to come at just the right moment. With the clutter cleared away you have the time to dig in and embrace the new life you have just gifted to yourself.

I was worried that using a blending thread might make
quilting feathers more difficult. Fortunately that hasn't
proven to be the case. The blue/green marking lines are
from a water soluble pen. They will be washed out.

I was fortunate enough to have two full studio days before the phone rang with the above referenced opportunity. I even managed to squeeze in another hour and a half later in the week. Here is what I accomplished with that time:

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

a) Add the label - On hold.

2) Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci - (Due May 1, 2015)

This is the backside of
Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci.
This time I opted to use a thread
in the bobbin that would blend with
the top thread.

a) Start the quilting - Done! 

Remember all those feathers I quilted last week? It was so, so worth it as I spent my studio time quilting even more feathers, but this time on Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci.

3) Free motion quilting practice. - Done! I'm double dipping again this week by allowing my work on Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci to count as FMQ practice.

4) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015 - 14.5/126

I lost a full studio day this week as I dealt with my new opportunity. It will probably take me a few weeks of getting up to speed with this opportunity before I can manage three studio days a week. It is definitely going to be close as to whether I reach this goal or not.

5) Perform a random act of kindness - Done!

My ability to free hand draw curves, especially keeping
them a uniform size is non existent. I traced around
my cat's food bowl (clean and empty of course) in order
to lay out the guidelines for my swirling feathers.

Whether I manage one, two or three days in the studio next week at least I know what I will do with the time I am gifted. 

1) Night Vision - (Due January 31, 2015)

a) Add the label - On hold.

2) Mondrian Tackles Fibonacci - (Due May 1, 2015)

a) Finish the quilting
b) Remove the markings
c) Square up the quilt
d) Decide whether to bind or face it.

3) Free motion quilting practice.

4) Post the number of days I have worked in my studio in 2015

5) Perform a random act of kindness

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

Week in Review 2013 - 08/16

 Tips, Techniques and Thoughts:

Detail of this week's quilting of Companion Oysters.

This week my mind is turning to my sewing machines. My very first machine was a Viking with cams. It was an unsolicited gift from my mother-in-law. She was an avid seamstress, adept at making her own clothes and stunning clothes for all the Barbies owned by her granddaughters. She also made my wedding dress. I rarely took the Viking out of its case for the first 10 years I owned it. I made a few clothes for myself and my daughter. Then in 1988 I started quilting. That Viking was heavy a machine, a real pain to bring to classes. I looked longingly at other people's feather weights, but also at their Bernina's. The more quilts I made the more I knew I needed a sewing machine with its own cabinet. I test drove a Bernina 1260 and it just followed me home. It worked really well for piecing and just as well for free motion quilting, so long as the quilt never exceeded crib size. I know Leah Day and others assure us that even king size quilts can be free motion quilted on a home sewing machine. I just knew that it would be so much easier on an industrial machine with a large throat. The more I read about the George, the more I sensed it was what I was looking for. So, when we moved to Wisconsin and that move included in a new, large studio with room for a George, I bought the George. My George has yet to feel like an extension of my body the way the Bernina does. It tends to be a tad fussier. However, when I manage to wind the bobbin not quite to capacity, lock it into place and all key parts are lint free and well lubricated - what a workhorse that  machine is. Companion Oysters, at 42" square is being quilted on the George. I could do it on the Bernina, but I can see so much more of the quilt as I am quilting and no scrunching is necessary no matter how I turn the quilt.

You can judge for yourself how the quilting is coming, since I spent 100% of this week free motion quilting.

The backside of Companion Oysters.
Click on the image to enlarge it.

1) Companion Oysters (due August 27, 2013)

I spent some time studying how different sections of an
open oyster shell have different textures. Then, with
a heavy dose of artistic license I interpreted the textures
with my free motion quilting.

Start the free motion quilting on Companion Oysters. - Done!

I am particularly pleased with texture achieved
on the outer deep plum rim. 

2) Leah Day's weekly assignments:

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

Free motion quilting feathers does not come naturally to me. It looks so simple when I watch others swoop and return around the curves, yet I get lost. So, I was grateful Leah assigned us a feather to work on this week. I added it beside the smiling faces from last week. I wanted the added challenge of coping with other motifs to work around.

Feather with pebble stem.

3) Pictorial Painting - Face Canyon - Continues to be wishful thinking.

My plans for next week are:


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

a) Finish quilting Companion Oysters.

b) Square up the quilt in preparation of facing it.

2) Leah Day's weekly assignments


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.