Friday 30 March 2012

Colour My World Black

This month's colour was quite the challenge...at least, I thought so. The low expectations are probably why I'm so happy with the result. ;)

For the black challenge, I thought I'd use solid black fabric and focus on texture. I decided to try two new-to-me techniques for adding texture -- trapunto and fabric folding.


On Wednesday, I showed you my progress on the trapunto. This motif is called Biotribe Logo 1 from Alex Sherman's Contemporary Celtic Motifs book and CD. I really wanted to do a circular celtic knot, but I thought it was probably too complex for my second try at trapunto (the first unsuccessful attempt was on the dots on the red challenge). Wednesday's photo still has the water soluble thread and white clover pen marks. The trapunto technique I used this time is the one taught by Phillipa Naylor on The Quilt Show, when it was free a couple of weekends ago. It worked a LOT better this time.

I saw also saw the fabric folding technique from Rami Kim on The Quilt Show and knew I had to give that a try too. Clearly it was an illuminating weekend!

Here is my finished black challenge.
Front - Black Velvet Band
It kind of reminds of the song, Black Velvet Band. Well, except for the velvet part. I don't think there's a version of the song that I don't like, but I especially love this punk/indie version by the Dropkick Murphys:






Fabric folding - "Her eyes that shone like diamonds"
Trapunto
Back - Black Velvet Band
As with my other challenge pieces, this one is 14.5" by 14.5" unfinished. Part of why I'm so thrilled that the trapunto worked is because I want to do trapunto on another project that's been on hold for a couple of years now. Now I can do it and maybe even finish that project.

I'm linking up with TGIFF!, which is being hosted by the fabulous Fiona at Finding Fifth. She's got a yummy Gelato Log Cabin to share today so check it out when you get a chance. As always, you are also welcome to link up a recent finish of your own.

To see some of the ways other people have used this colour in their quilts, I put together a board on Pinterest. There's quite a variety of styles, which shows black's versatility.

Now it's your turn! I can't wait to see what you did with this colour!

The colour for April is yellow. I'll do a post about this vibrant colour in the next few days.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Works in Progress Wednesday - March 29, 2012

Back to winter around here! It didn't feel like I got much accomplished this week, but when I was doing up my WIP report, I found it was still pretty good. Yay!

New Projects: None

Completed Projects: 
Wee Spy Quilt - For my friend's new baby. I also made a coordinating bag to carry it in.




Current Projects:
Modern Jelly Roll 1600 - No progress because I'd run out of black for the backing. I stocked up at the Fabricland sale so I'm hoping to work on this quilt this week. 

Cream and black modern minis - No progress, but now I have basting spray so we're good to go.

Trapunto of a Celtic motif
(motif is from Contemporary
Celtic Motifs by Alex Sherman)
Fabric folding technique
taught by Rami Kim
Colour My World Black - The fabric folding worked! The trapunto worked! I'm almost done this month's challenge...and it was a challenge! Here are a couple of bad photos of the challenge in progress. For those involved in the Colour My World challenge, the linky party for Colour My World Black will go up on Friday. I can't wait to see what you did with this tough colour!











Modern Block Monday Sampler - No block this week. :(

FMQQAYGQAL/QAYGFMQQAL - The next three blocks are done! Yay! 





Chop Suey - Trimmed up the rest of the blocks and started playing with it on the design wall. It's a bit of a disappointment right now, but I'll keep playing with it.



On Hold/UFO Mash-up:
Wee Spy quilt
Red and Tan Amish Wedding Ring
Spiral/Spring seta colour
Wedding quilt
Nine patch colourwash

WIP Wednesday Recap:
New projects: 0
Completed projects: 1
Current projects: 7
On Hold/UFO: 15


I'm linking in to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network and to W.i.P. Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. Thanks wonderful women for hosting such great parties!

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced
Right Click to Save Image



Have a great Wednesday, everyone!

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Tagged - I'm it!

I've been tagged twice this week and not by my kids! Once was by the magnificent Marjorie and once by the loveable Lucy.

Since this is a pretty text heavy post, I thought I'd pop in a photo of the progress on my scrappy Chop Suey quilt. Most of the blocks are up on the design board and I must say it's looking like quite a mess at the moment. I'll be adding more light squares to the middle and dark squares around the edge. I'm hoping that will help. Any other ideas?

So here are my answers to Marjorie and Lucy's fun questions.

From Marjorie:

1. What got you started sewing/quilting? 
I made my bed in university and decided that I should make a quilt to go on the bed.

2. How long have you been crafting? 
All my life. My poor family received so many odd crafts from me over the years as Christmas gifts. They love me. :)

3. Where did you travel to this year?
Nova Scotia, Canada

4. What is your favorite foreign food?
Hmm, probably butter chicken. Yum!

5. Have you ever been to New Brunswick, Canada?
Yes, a few times and I'm going to St. Andrews by the Sea this summer for our vacation. Very excited!

6. What is your favorite on line fabric shop?

I haven't purchased anything online yet (I know, gasp!), but I regularly ogle Mad About Patchwork's site and know that it's only a matter of time. :)

7. What TV show do you like; if any?

Ha ha, I'm a big TV junkie. Right now, it's Castle, Rizzoli and Isles, Supernatural, The Amazing Race, The View, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Alcatraz. And I've actually cut down since I started my blog. 


8. Who has been a big influence in your crafting life?
Hmm, not anyone for crafting really. No one in my family crafted or quilted. For quilting though, I've taken a number of classes from Elaine Quehl and Mary Pal and they've helped me improve my techniques tremendously. Not to mention that they are just really awesome women. 


9. Do you like working outside/gardening?
Um, no. I tried for a while, but it's clear that I have a black thumb and now all I want to do is quilt anyway. A neighbour is going to help me this week figure out what to do with my garden. I'm thinking lots and lots of perennials. ;)



10. What is your favorite season and why?
Winter. I'm a winter kind of woman. I love to play ringette and ski. Our area is absolutely gorgeous blanketed in snow. And the snow stays in Ottawa and it stays white most of the winter. Seeing the snow fall onto the trees outside our windows is one of my favourite views. It's just so peaceful and beautiful. Love it!

11. What is the one crafty item you really want to make one day?

Okay, you can totally laugh at this, but I want to make a Quiltgie. I asked for a Snuggie one year and got it. It's huge and electric blue though. I want to fit it better and cover it with quilt blocks so it's a Quiltgie. Awesome, right? Oh come on, you know you want one too. ;)


From Lucy:


1. What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?
The short version: I went to Florence, Italy with some other exchange students when we were 16. A gypsy girl stole my wallet. A wonderful Italian lady let me know right away and so I chased down the girl and demanded my wallet and money back. I created a huge scene and the police came. I got it all back. The long version: Is filled with big hand gestures and way more silly details. ;) 


Me with the warning sign we found the day AFTER
the pickpocket incident! 
2. What is your favourite time of day?
Naptime. :)


3. Which colour of fabric do you use the most?
Probably black.


4. Did you have a toy/blanket that you took to bed when you were little?
Not really. I read a lot so that's what I took to bed.


5. What song always gets stuck in your head?
We Are Young by Fueled by Ramen. I just love that song!


6. What's the best concert you've ever been to?
Barenaked Ladies or U2.


7. What did you want to be when you grew up?
Ha ha, when? I changed my future professions like I changed clothes! Here's a sampling of the ones that stuck around longer - Princess Leia, police officer, forest ranger, commercial artist, lawyer.


8. Camping or a hotel?
Hmmm, probably a hotel. I like camping, but the hubster does not. 


9. Do you have a nickname?

M-R, but my sister (who is the only one who is allowed to call me this) calls me Michie. 

10. Can you play any instruments?
No, I am musically challenged. I took piano lessons for a year and flute lessons in school and it wasn't pretty.


11. Would you rather call/text/email or write a letter?

I'm an in-person kind of chatter. Of those options though, I'd say call. 


Now for my questions:


1. What is your favourite book?
2. If you could have dinner with one person, living or dead, who would it be?
3. When you free motion quilt, do you drop the feed dogs or quilt with them up?
4. What is your proudest quilting moment?
5. When did you know you were hooked on quilting?
6. What is your favourite place in the world? Why?
7. What is a little known fact about you?
8. If you were given $1,000 that you could spend on anything for YOU, what would you spend it on -- clothes, shoes, fabric? Something else?
9. What is your favourite quilt that you made?
10. What is your favourite quilt that someone else made?
11. If you could be any character in a book, which one would it by and why?


To these rocking' people:


Tabatha @ Bending Pins
Kit @ Kit Lang Fiber Art
Ginette @ The Quilting Princess
KristyLou @ KristyLou Creations
Amanda @ Don't Tell Quilts
Flo @ Butterfly Quilting
Monika @ My Sweet Prairie
Erin @ Missy Mac Creations
Shanna @ Sparrow In Flight
Pat @ Colour Me Quilty
Melinda @ Tilda's Twisted Life


You're it! :)

Monday 26 March 2012

What the FMQAYGQAL? Part 4

It was a bit of a rough weekend here (stomach bug/food poisoning which reinjured my back) so I don't have a Modern Block today. I did, however, finish the next three blocks of the FMQAL with Quokka Quilts before I got sick so I'll share those with you instead.

Rose: I'm very pleased with how this one turned out. I did a lot of roses in my Tangled Garden quilt so I'm pretty familiar with this design. I decided to continue the leaves all the way out though instead of adding a third element. I know, I'm such a rebel, but I like the look of the rose in a bunch of leaves.
Front
Back

McTavishing: I'm pretty happy with how this turned out too, especially since the McTavishing movement still feels so odd to me. I also love that the photo of the back doesn't show that there are some little spaces between some of the stitching that it supposed to travel right over another line. I think that will resolve itself when the quilt is washed. 
Front
Back

Spiral Tree: I really love this design! I added spirals in the white border.
Front

Back
http://www.quokkaquilts.blogspot.com
Linking up with Laura and the FMQAL gang at Quokka Quilts!





Happy Monday all!
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