Dawdling and Gearing Up . . .

My Unruly Quilt Artists have set some challenges for this year.  I have sketched and started on one, two different times.  The time was not yet ripe.  I did get inspired and complete a challenge from 2024, just a couple weeks ago.  Meanwhile, I have dawdled making some rag dolls, that I really love!

                            I am making more cut layers pieces [aka ghetto reverse applique]

On with the Unruly project that needs an entry form, with photograph, by August 20, but the actual piece does not have to be completed for physical entry until September 20, I started from scratch yesterday.  I am not inspired by my first two starts; those will have to be something else. So, I am gearing up!  I have the back and batting basted to each other, and pieces are starting to make their way in that direction.  The above piece is one of five, cut layer pieces that I am incorporating in the quilt art.

Here is my most recent rag doll:

I have been experimenting with how and what to sew into the head seams to make the hair.  This one, I was certain I had gone too far, but when I turned it right-side out, I was pleasantly surprised!  I do love how she turned out.  The nice thing about rag dolls is you can hand sew all the fastener points instead of adding buttons, snaps, or Velcro.  It is quicker and it looks just perfect. [she is sitting on my Sew-steady while leaning against my sewing machine].

La Mona

I admit, I have been engrossed in art quilting.  I have been making fewer regular quilts.  Since I learned about Kawandi style in 2023, I have made quite a few.  The method inspires creativity.  I have completed my twentieth Kawandi style quilt. 

I made it specially to be displayed on the quilt shelf I made, which hangs in the entry way of my home.  I have always had only a few small quilts that fit on this rack.  I felt like I needed to make another, and now I have!  This Kawandi style quilt is 30" X 38" and has only fabrics that are not new to me.  The fabrics are reg quilting cotton, given to me or inherited from quilters who have passed away, flour sacks given me be my cousin, a piece of fabric of my mother's that she used to make herself a dress and to make a dress for my Tammy doll.  She made the Tammy dress in 1962 from the scraps.  Also in this quilt are scraps from other quilts I have made, repurposed silk Sari fabric, more scraps from clothing making, drapery fabric, and pieces of saved lace bits.  I used #8 Pearl cotton for the hand-quilting, which includes some different stitches and Sashiko stitching.  The Sashiko is a tribute to my aunt Shige.  The whole piece is a tribute to the people and things of the past that we do not want to let go of.

Finally, a Photo of the Black Quilt!

I found a nice white barn near Eagle, Idaho, to photograph my 'black' quilt on.  

All the backgrounds in these fabrics are black.  I really like the effect caused by using just those types of fabrics in the quilt.  This is a great quilt for using all your fabric scraps that have black backgrounds.  You could start a bin that you throw those scraps in, so you can have a head start when you finally begin one of your own.

Cut Layers Class

On March 13, I taught a "cut layers" class, to some of the new art quilters in Treasure Valley.  I call it 'ghetto reverse applique'.  The class is a way for them to learn a new technique that they can incorporate in their own art.   It was a fun class.  Following are photos of some of the completed projects.  

                                        Karen's

 

                                        Christine's        

                                        Elaine's

                                        Elaine's second one!

                                        Peggy's

                                        Shelley's

                                        Shelley's second one!

                                           Kimberley's

                                        Shannan's

Ghetto Reverse Applique

I have taught two art quilt classes this year.  In January, I taught Kawandi style.  In March, I taught a cut-layers technique, that I call ghetto reverse applique. The fun thing about it is, you can create simple, yet eye catching, art quilts using this technique.  Simplicity is the key.  

For the class I prepared a piece with two layers of fabric beneath the top layer.  The top layer becomes the background, to the parts you decide to "cut out".  This was a gold square of fabric, which I stitched my design on top of, then I cut out parts of the design revealing colors from beneath.  I used this piece to show attendees how to use a pin to lift the top fabric, then snip a little hole in it, so as to start removing some fabric to reveal the next layer down.

I did this one a week or so later, as I had used these fabrics in class just to show how contrasting fabrics work best and that you can get away with using a non-bleed-through Sharpie marker to draw your letters on.  When you sew around your letters, twice, with black thread, you do not see the marker marks.  I decided I needed a cat under my words, so I found apiece of fabric I had purchased in Germany with big cats on it.  It was perfect!  These simplistic, but graphic art quilts are fun and easy to create.  So, get off the computer and go make one!

Quilt for Foster Boys

My friend, A, and I pieced a larger than average quilt top together.  As she likes to say, some of the teenagers are rather big boys.  We want to make sure they get a quilt big enough to cover them, which is also nice to look at and cherishable.  My quilt group experience has been that most of the quilters are women.  Some of them do have sons and grandsons and sons-in-law, so masculine quilts show up occasionally.  Many quilters, like myself, just love quilting and do not require someone to give the quilt to as a reason to make one.   I had to pay special attention to the fabrics, so they would not be deemed too feminine.  Most of these fabrics were donated, by Phyllis O., to our quilt group for donation quilts.

We did use one of those three-yard quilt patterns, which was provided by our quilt group.  I doubled it up, so as to make it bigger; big enough to fit a twin-size bed at least.  I apologize for the darkness of the photo.  I did not notice until after the quilt was donated.  Too late!  It is a fun quilt, made with some care, and with good fabrics. 

Quilting As Art

I took a rather lengthy trip that started in January and ended in March.  I did not take my laptop, so I did not update my blog while I was on the road.  I flew to Destin, FL, then stayed with my daughter in FWB for about three weeks, before we hit the road and traveled across the south.  While waiting for the road trip to begin, I created a Kawandi style art quilt.  For the backing I used a pink tablecloth, I got for $2 at a local thrift shop.  The rest is made with scraps I found in my daughters sewing area.

One of our destinations was Laurel, MS.  The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art is a top-notch art museum.  It is rather larger than we expected, so we were able to enjoy it for a good length of time.  They had a number of excellent exhibits.  We actually went there to see the Art Evolved: Intertwined exhibit.  Part of that exhibit consist of art quilts on tour by SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates), of which I am a member.  It is always a treat to see the amazing works of quilt artists. 

Laurel Izard, Condor.

Do click on the photos, they will enlarge.  I made sure the information tags were captured in my photos of each individual piece.

Clara Nartey, It's A Balancing Act.

Our room, at the bed and breakfast we stayed at, had a family heirloom quilt on the wall.  It was made by a family member and handed down to our host.  It is very much a work of art. (below)

Seeing the Laren Rogers Museum of Art was really the only quilt related planned-stop on our trip.  It just so happens, we were laid over in Deming, NM, unexpectedly.  While visiting their amazing historical museum, we found out that the Deming Art Council, was exhibiting art quilts into April.  We took advantage of the time we had and went to the exhibit.  They were quilts by local area artists and they were truly wonderful.  

This piece, by N. Costa, draws you in.  I am trying to not put a ton of photos in my post, but it seems inevitable.

This is the close-up, and you can see just how much work she put into this.  I love it!

This piece is by Desert Art Turtle (whose name, I think, is Jody).  It has three-dimensional aspects to it, including the salamander clinging to the lower part of the cactus.

This piece is by Paula Fluder.  She used her own hand-dyed fabrics to make this astonishing artwork.

Paula Fluder, hand-quilted.

Val Irish, Graffiti in Purple.

Val Irish, Graffiti in Orange.

Val Irish, Graffiti in Pink.  I like her series, especially the words in gold lettering and the little details.

N. Costa, Storm Clouds.

More from Desert Art Turtle.

By Cathleen Norma, log cabins. 

 

I got to talk with N. Costa at length about art quilts and particularly the artists represented in this exhibit.  I had a delightful experience, and I recommend you stop by the Deming Arts Council if ever you are in the area.  I think whatever the art they are featuring, it will be worthwhile.   Tip: Use the parking behind their building and walk around, to avoid having to back into heavy traffic on the main street.