It is approaching noon on a Thursday morning, and I have been vacillating about whether to keep my weekly blog-writing date. I could just sit here and admire this view of our garden which has turned green after the recent rains…
The point is that I am working on five projects at once, and this became too much. So, yesterday I decided to concentrate on one of the pieces and stitched it to the point where I could bind it. I have used this trick before when I am feeling overwhelmed by a work that doesn’t want to gel.
Now I am going to use my second trick, which is to allow it to lie fallow for a while, until I know what to do next. I suspect that the answer may be to add more close stitching (oh no, she cried). Meanwhile, I have four other projects to keep me busy while I ponder about the next step!
A while ago I confessed to keeping all the short threads that are generated during my stitching adventures (https://marissthequilter.wordpress.com/2019/08/15/more-on-scraps/). I used these threads to create the solid parts of the flower. First I made thread fabric by sandwiching the bits between two layers of washaway and then machine stitching a grid over the layer to stabilise the threads into a woven mat. Then I cut out the shapes for the flower, and used a template for the circle in the centre and then cut the crescents freehand. I hand appliqued the shapes onto the backing cloth and from there it seemed right to fill in the blanks with kantha stitching.
Next step was to delve into the treasure trove of fabrics that my generous friend Laura Bruno Lilly sent to me, across the oceans from the United States. I boldly cut out an embossed gold flower and some leaves from a piece of reproduction fabric. This beautiful gold foliage was carefully appliqued onto the flower. The fourth step was to start shadow quilting around the flower. Deciding on the fabric for the binding took a while and I am not entirely happy with the choice I made.
And that’s the story behind one of the five projects. Don’t worry, I am not going to tell you about the other four! But, to end off, here’s an account of some machine sewing I did this week.
On her blog Night Quilter, Kitty Wiblin posted photographs of a delightful skinny fabric bin she had made and wrote of how she uses a range of these bins to store small fabric scraps of different colours. It’s a very clever idea, to colour coordinate one’s tiny scraps. Then she generously provided a clear and detailed tutorial on how to make the fabric bin. Here’s a photograh of the skinny bin I made for fun and for a break from hand stitching. It is 9 inches (23 cm) tall. (I must say I do feel a little sorry for that duck that looks as if it has a crick in its neck from having to look upwards!)
The link for the post is https://nightquilter.com/2020/01/24/fabric-skinny-bin-tutorial/
Love the fragmented flower – it just pops out and begs to be touched! All those saved threads being woven into something new is such a lovely idea. Charming skinny bin too. That curious duck craning and straining to be part of the action, is hilarious!
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I always love your detailed comments Leela. Thank you
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Your flower is both creative and beautiful! I like to let things lie for a while, too–often I’m too critical of something I’ve been so involved in for so long.
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Thank you Mary for the affirmation. I appreciate this. It is also nice to know that I am in good company about letting the quilt lie fallow
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I **knew** you’d do something spectacular with that frustrating-to-me fabric scrap!
I’m with you & Zippy above…sometimes it’s best to walk away from a project for awhile, tho more easily said than done.
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Spectacular? Careful you will give me a swollen head!
Yes, it is hard to step back.
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I love the stories behind your projects, and I am looking forward to hearing about the other four.
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Thank you for your kind words and the encouragement to finish the other four
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As a non-quilter I find the window you provide into your craft fascinating! The detail in the textured flower is remarkable.
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Thank you for being fascinated Carol. I have wondered whether the technical descriptions are boring to non-quilters, so was glad to read your comment
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I love the thread fabric you’ve used in this piece! It looks amazing, and it’s great that you’re able to put those those cut scraps to use. Now I’m looking forward to seeing how those other four projects come together!
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Why thank you admiring the thread fabric flower.
And thank you too for the prompt. I am right now writing about finishing project number 2.
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Incredible attention to detail, Mariss. So great to get “behind and into ” the quilting process- how much goes into it when all most people see is just
the finished product.
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Thanks for following me and for reading my blog. Ah yes, the process. Same goes for pottery I am sure
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5 projects at once? I can understand the temptation to just set everything down, relax and look at your lovely garden! Fragmented flower is amazing! That Laura Bruno Lilly is very generous! How wonderful she sent you delightful fabrics!
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Thanks for understanding my feeling of being overwhelmed and for liking Fragmented Flower. Yes Laura is most generous — thanks for introducing us through your mention of my poems in your blog
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Oh that makes me happy you two connected through my blog!
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