Wednesday, January 18, 2017

IN WHICH WE BEGIN TO EMERGE FROM OUR CHRYSALIS.

No posts for one month.  I have been hibernating and as all of you who have experienced a total withdrawal from anything creative, it can be hard.


Mexican Tile
This time things were a bit different however.  Instead of the usual depression and anxiety (will it ever come back????!!), I became curious as to what was going to happen.  I guess I have been thru this grueling experience often enough to know inspiration does return.  So I peacefully sat with kitten in the recliner and played computer games (I like adventure puzzle games like the Longest Journey or Grim Fandango) and just generally chilled to wait it out.

What seems to have emerged is a new emphasis on free motion quilting and then to paint the quilted design.  I know I will never give up applique as this is my real love.  Just mixing it up a bit.  The block above is my first attempt at fabric painting which I finished yesterday.  I used Jacquard textile paint on Kona cotton which was prepared for dyeing (really just washed to remove some finisher).  The batting was 2 layers: cream warm and natural and black hobbs 2/80 with black backing.  Double batting makes a nice loft and the black absorbs any bleed thru.   Here are photos of the back and the front before it was painted.


You can see the little wobbles in the quilting but this were greatly minimized during the painting process.  I looked at Mexican tiles while thinking about this and worked on designs until I realized a continuous line pattern.

I have drawn out another piece to paint-in fact it was the original drawing I made to begin fabric painting-but I decided to start on something simpler for my first project hence the colorful Mexican tile.  I am glad I did this because I learned some pitfalls and techniques.  I had not taken a class or anything but watched a couple you-tube videos.

Here is my next piece which is based on Near Eastern design especially that of the Cairo Tentmakers. (Google this).

I am not quite finished with the design yet and am thinking of using jewel tones to paint it.  Pretty exciting!

Darn Quiltmania! I was so relieved I did not want to make this year's mystery quilt-I have enough projects in my mental list.  What did they do?  In the January issue they feature the most lovely pattern by Yoko Saito called Imaginary Garden which looks like she has tossed flowers onto the background.  It is just my style.  Maybe I can paint a version.

I have begun the process of quilting Chuck, Susan, and Me.  One of the problems with beginning this was the backing fabric was too yellow.  I overdyed it a bit to subdue it and it is usable now.  


What do you think?  I was trying to make the backing agree with the yellow in the border fabric.  The original is on the left and the overdyed is on the right.  

And finally, I have resumed work on the dreaded triangles for Sweet surrender.  I have had no choice but to take this to my sewing machine.  I form the fabric around the paper pieces and then carefully sew on the edges of the paper.  The results are not quite a pretty as when I did it by hand but there's exceptionally pretty and there is completed.  It was one or the other. And completed won out! I sewed the 6 edge triangles-all that remains is 6 big triangles.



While I was hibernating I explored being a chrysalis.  They are quite beautiful and I was proud to be a part of that. Which one would you be?





I am linking up with:
Slow Stitching Sunday, Bambi's Blog,
Patchwork Times,  Em's Scrapbag,
Esther's Wow, Let's Bee Social,
Free Motion by the River, Whoop Whoop,
and Off the Wall Friday.           


15 comments:

  1. Wow! Your painted tile block is so beautiful! What a fabulous idea...you get to practice your machine quilting style AND get to pretend to be a painted tile master! I did not know that a chrysalis could be so beautiful! I just think of the brown, non-descript cocoons that we had in our classroom when I was a very little girl. Your pictures almost look like exquisite seashells! While I wouldn't mind hiding and emerging from any of them, I guess the first two are my favorites. I just love your posts!

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  2. Welcome Back! We all need a break sometimes to either get away from the house for the day, or a nice 2 week trip, or just vegging. Have a great February!

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  3. Some months are diamonds and some are stones ( and then we make stone soup)
    whatever the heck that means to you I have to say I love the fabric painting idea and looking forward to seeing what you create. Also hearing/reading your tips to avoid problems along the way

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    1. Thanks Rebecca.....I could not respond to you personally as you are a no-reply blogger but I wanted to thank you for visiting and for your kind words. I too am looking forward to what will happen with this new (to me) fabric paint idea! I am not living in a diamond month yet but maybe soon!

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  4. That painted block is lovely! I am looking forward to seeing how your next block comes together - it's so detailed! Sweet surrender looks great too. As my family likes to remind me, perfect is the enemy of both good and done. ;)

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  5. I like your painted quilting - great idea to back it with black. Beautiful chrysalis. x

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  6. Love your coming back block..hehe. The painting looks very effective with that design. Nice to have you back again.

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  7. Super to have you back, I have found your appliqué so beautiful, I love love love to see how you change the designs, so creative of you. I like seeing someone else's design processes. Sometimes we do need a break from sewing. I like your tile block! We're all eager to see your next one :)

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    1. I too think the process is one of the most interesting parts of the creative process and even the finished work. I too am eager to see my next project. I think the creative process works better if a person abandons control-much easier said then done. Thanks so much for your encouragement and interest!

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  8. Your painting is so pretty and I love seeing all the chrysalis pictures!

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  9. I'm astounded by your designs - and jealous because I'm not able to do that kind of detailed, mirrored design.

    Art heals. When I'm far from center and have no focus, I find doodling in my sketchbook brings me back to center.

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  10. Glad to have you back, I've missed your posts but when you need a sabbatical, you need it! Your Sweet Surrender blocks are lovely as always. I till haven't started piecing mine, I want to finish the Pastor's Attic first. Your dye job was great, how did you darken the fabric? Blessing! villacrestfarm@gmail.com

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  11. Your painted applique is quite beautiful. Sometimes we just need a break and the time to wait out the tough times. Sweet Surrender is so very pretty.

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  12. How lovely to hear your journey, which so many of us have been through for different reasons. Then, when inspiration returns, it seems to be very very agressive in case we miss out on making what it wants out.

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  13. Welcome back. I'm glad you're feeling inspired again. I went through something similar a few months ago. For me, that listless lack of inspiration/motivation/creativity made me feel broken inside. So grateful when the storm clouds lift and the sun comes out again!

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