Neighborhood Block Swap Finished

I am done with my neighborhood blocks for the swap. Now to get them stateside ASAP!

It is my first swap! I hope the group goes easy on me. This was my first time doing fused applique. My machine had 8 stitches. I am limited on thread so I just used one color. Oh I hope they extend grace to me and forgive me for any short comings.

I love them and had fun and learned a LOT! Did I mention I learned a Lot? ;) in a very good way, too!

*hugs*
Jackie

here they are, please go easy on me... (i have 3 kids 5, 3, and almost 1!!) lol

:)

Neighborhood Block Swap Progress: Applique Fused!

Yeah! I have my 9 blockes ironed with the fused applique - with Wunder Under! I have never done it before and found it easy to use. I just found it challenging on what fabric to pick for what parts with selections from my mostly donaated and won stash. It's great to have selections! (Just a year and a half ago, I might have had 2 yrds of 3 different fabrics! heehee) Praise God for generous Quilt/Sewing community! You all rock! ;-)

So, here are my 9 BEFORE being sewn as rough edge applique. Go EASY on me.. I am still learning... still learning! Self taught and learngin as I go along. So glad the ladies in my swap are generous to have me participate. Now to sew and get these in the mail asap!

*hugs*

Jackie

the house is so muted in color because i wanted to make it close to the real house... next time, i won't do that... the other blocks in the swap are so colorful! Lessons learned! :)

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The photo of the real house. Then using QuiltAssistant, I made the 'pieces'.

I, then, cut out construction paper to get an idea of my applique.

Small Stitched Work no.1

I've begun work on some small stitched pieces... little spaces where I can just play, experiment and have fun.

This piece is just 7.5' x 7.5" and features small blocks of hand quilting and bits of assorted Japanese fabric prints that were hand appliqued onto a piece of blue cross weave cotton. Shot cotton was used for the binding.

I was at complete peace while stitching this. No preconceived expectations. No cluttered mind. Joy.

I think it looks lovely displayed on a table top


or hung on the wall.


Now available in my shop.
(Update: Sold)

Work Quilt #2 - Finished!

Finally finished my 2nd "Work Quilt"! (My fingers are very relieved!)


Now, I have tried sooooo hard to get the colors accurate.... almost to the point of insanity. Proving very difficult as the shot cotton seems to constantly change and shift colors depending on the angle it is viewed and how the light hits it. Some days it looks more green to me and some days more blue. But that is one of the things I love about shot cotton!


Looking at my monitor, the red squares are showing up more bright then they actually are... in truth they are more of a brick red, actually being woven with a rust weft and a purple warp! (who-da thunk?) I believe that quiet purple warp helps this particular red fabric get along very well with the surrounding blues and greens.


This photo above seems to be the best as far as color accuracy.... of course every monitor is different. (I am working on a Mac, but just looked at these pictures on my daughter's PC and surprisingly they looked very accurate on the PC. Again... who-da-thunk? Never-the-less, I love my Mac!) ...But I digress... back to the quilt...

With a little math I have estimated that there are approximately over 15,000 hand stitches in this piece, which after washing now measures 40" x 41.5"



Not wanting to use up my shot cottons on the back side, I instead choose solid Kona fabrics, giving the back a more contemporary feel...


If you look closely at the back, you can see small patches of horizontal stitching where the patches on the front have been quilted down. I like that subtle variation.

This "Work Quilt", at least for now, is another keeper.... I want the Work quilts in my possession so I can refer back to them as I continue on this series. The next one is in the planning stages, but I also want to make some smaller, related pieces to put in the shop.... Oh my. These are a bit more labor intensive then I am use to. If only I could get by on 2 hours sleep!