BLOG 524

 

Blog 524

 

I have made progress in all sorts of directions this week. There are no completed pieces of work to speak of, but they have all been advanced in one way or another!! Firstly I have completed the painterly background, trimmed it and ironed it one to the wadding for the next decorative stage … which could be anything; I just haven’t decided! It’s a very strong visual piece in its own right and I am asking myself the following questions: Does it need more? Would a silhouette enhance the look of it? Would appliqued flowers be a help or a hindrance? What I do know is that I can now add free motion decorative stitches across the surface which helps to add depth and hold the individual pieces down.

 

Painterly background

 

Because I had to bring my roll of wadding down from the loft room, it seemed like a good idea to layer up some other pieces of work which are awaiting quilting. I am certainly anxious to get the silk hanging onto wadding and a backing as it seems to be fraying before my very eyes! Someone had given me a temporary adhesive spray a while back so I thought I would try this because I didn’t want pin holes to be visible across the quilt. It seemed to hold the layers together well so I only put pins along the seam around the outer edge. I tried some free-motion quilting over the surface but when I checked the stitches on the back, the tension was all wrong! I tried all sorts of remedies (re-threading top and bottom, changing the needle, altering the tension knobs, balancing the threads etc…) but nothing seemed to make a difference which is why I decided in the end to sew a straight stitch in the ditch with a walking foot. And as I was doing this, I was processing the idea that what I had created was rather like a crazy quilt. And then I wondered what it would be like if I added some decorative stitches across the surface. This is far more work than I ever wanted to do on this wall hanging but, if the idea is in my mind, it usually means that what I have created so far isn’t satisfying me!!! Watch this space!

Layering

 

Layered

 

Straight line quilting

 

In progress

 

There are 2 other scarp quilts in stock that need quilting too and they are double bed size and are almost out-facing me as a project. I am a real advocate of the quilt-as-you-go method and I have been doing it since I made ‘My First Quilt’ back in 1984. I could have easily done these in that way but for some reason I chose to create a whole quilt top and put it to one side. Do I dismantle or do I quilt by cheque book?? Decisions, decisions!

 

Scrap 1

 

Scrap 2

 

Last week I mentioned that I had 2 blasts from the past and I wrote about the first. Now I am going to mention the second. It was about 8 years ago that I was chosen as one of the designers for a secondary school craft/design/technology CDT project. The girl was called Rosie and she is now in her final year of training to be a primary school teacher. Her mum got in touched recently when she came across Rosie’s paperwork for that project and she sent me photos. I remembered being flattered to be asked and I also remembered being generous with my visual aids and information.  Now I have seen the paperwork I realise how exalted she has made me; I am alongside such huge names in the food and textile industry and I am humbled. Thank you so much Rosie and good luck in your chosen profession!!

 

Course work

 

Assessment

 

Design wall