Long/Short, Fat/Thin - Latest Challenge Quilt

Today was reveal day for our art quilt challenge group Art Quilts Around the World. The theme for this challenge was Opposites Attract.

After a couple of flase starts I decided to use complimentary colours, opposites on the colour wheel. I have been in an orange mood lately so the first colour I selected was orange and I found a lovely bright blue to use.

I used raw edge applique and batik fabric for this quilt.

Carnival - A challenge

Recently our group  Art Quilts Around the World published our latest challenge. The theme this time was Carnival.

Lots of bling and bright colours in all the pieces and so many different interpretations.

Our next challenge is OUT OF ASIA.

Dreaming In Colour - A Self Portrait

Our latest challenge 'A Self Portrait'  with Art Quilts Around the World was revealed on January 31st.

 I knew nearly straight away what I wanted to do, unfortunately after selecting,cutting up and sticking down what seemed like hundreds of different coloured 3/4 inch squares I didn't like the result.

The background of this picture is my design layout, I have a habit of drawing all my ideas over the previous ones, can be rather messy at times.

So with a slight design alteration here I am:

I had a brainwave (pardon the pun) and cut new 1/4 inch squares, all different fabrics (106 of them) and vliesofixed them to the silhouette.

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Methods used:

Free motion stitching, raw edge applique and a little gold paint for the stars.

 

Our next challenge is titled CARNIVAL and I've already started collecting bits and pieces of bling to use.

A Quilt for Nova

This little quilt was made at the request of 2nd daughter, a good friend to all my daughters and his wife just had their first baby, on November 27th.

A lovely little girl they named Nova.

I was pleased to be able to make a quilt for them from fabrics that were waiting in the stash for someone to have a baby girl.

The quilt measures 36 x 45 inches.

ATC Swap

 Recently I was in an ATC swap and the theme was "Circles" These are the ATCs I received:

and this is the one I made:

A happy little Caterpillar.

Another Challenge Quilt

Running late as usual, just completed the 'Out of Africa' challenge for Challenging Ourselves

I did a google search for Africa and came across the Tinga Tinga drawings and paintings.They were the inspiration for my quilt. Love the colours and naive style of paintings used.

The quilt measures approx 14.5 x 14.5 inches (37 cm square).

Time Flies

I have been keeping myself busy and doing lots of quilt top making. I now have lots of tops to be quilted. Here are some pictures of what I've been up to.

Art Quils Around the World and Challenging Ourselves challenge quilts:

Two colour challenge -

 

Doorways -

Self Portrait - I think I overdid the the lips

This was a tricky one, we had to name a colour we seldom use and then make a quilt using that colour -

 

Christmas Gifts - Emma's Trees. Made in memory of a friend's daughter who sadly passed away leaving a very young family.

Baby Quilts made as gifts, Peter Rabbit was a panel that I free motion quilted.

A Pooh Bear Quilt made for a very recent arrival.

I know that I have other completed tops but I've looked through all my photos and it looks like I will have to get busy with the camera.

The Four Elements - a challenge

September 15th was the reveal date for the Challenging Ourselves Four Elements Challenge, Earth, Air, Fire and Water.I had lots of ideas but none that included all for of the elements. In the end I made four separate postcards, they were going to be stand alone pieces but I felt they looked better as one piece.

Water

Air/Wind

Fire

 

Earth - Ploughed fields

Stone Soup Completed

My Stone Soup quilt is finally completed, thanks to Kathryn for thinking of the challenge and for being brave enough to cut up everyone's quilts.

The completed quilts that I've seen so far are fabulous, click  Art Quilts Around the World to see them.

Those who participated:

Stash Reduction

Finally managed to finish a couple of stash reduction quilts. Two tops down and about 20 to go. I'm not counting the tops until the pile is somewhat depleted.

I know compared to some I don't have a lot of UFO's or WIP's but I do like to see my projects completed.This quilt measures 80x63", machined pieced & stipple quilted with cotton batting.

Some of the fabrics I've used are over 10 years old.

A close-up of the blocks.













A smaller quilt, this one only measures 51x59"

Again made completely from the stash,machined pieced and quilted, cotton batting.












A close-up of the blocks.

Return of Stone Soup

Stone Soup has returned home, all 15 pieces of it. I couldn't resist taking a photo, don't mind the white name tag/placement pieces. I will remove them before assembling the quilt.

Thanks to Kathryn for the challenge and for being brave enough to cut up all the quilts.

A Work in Progress - Bargello

Ever since I began quilting I've been fascinated by Bargello Quilts. I love the colour and the movement.

There is now enough of  my current project to show what I have been working on.

This is the first half of the quilt top, the second part will be brighter, more of the orange and yellow.

It is coming along slowly,. I'm also working on other projects at the same time of course. Two challenges, 'Doors or Doorways' for the AW20Q and the 'Four Elements' with the Challenging Ourselves.

The Elements project is nearly completed but I've drawn a blank about the Doors. I don't think that I have ever looked at so many doors, gates, entrances and exits in all my life. I'm sure something will surface eventually.

Yesterday a friend and I went on a shopping expedition. Had a lovely day out and visited six different quilt shops. Not a lot of purchases but a great day out. I bought a few black and white fat quarters, some thread and some  fabric to use as backing on one of my quilts.

Cold winter day today, I have soup on the stove and the fire going in the family room. Time to uncover my sewing machine and finish off some postcards and work on my 'Elements' quiltlets.

Stone Soup Challenge Revealed

Today is the reveal for the latest challenge from the AW20Q group. This is a 2 part challenge, firstly we were sent a still life photo to interpret into a 20 x 15" quilt.  The completed tops were to be sent to Kathryn and she will cut them into 15 pieces and then return a selection of pieces to each participant. The second part of the challenge to be completed by the end of October (I think) is to re-constitute the pieces of the different quilts. 

We will then each have a very original artwork, similar but not the same as anyone else.

This challenge wasn't as easy as it sounds and I had a lot of trouble initially. I was very pleased to get the top finished and in the mail.

Another Challenge Completed.

Sometimes I don't think I have enough to do and I like a little extra quilting to occupy my day. With this in mind I joined the new group Challenge Ourselves. May 15th is the unveiling of our first group challenge, 'Hidden Treasures.'

I like to think of bulbs as hidden treasures. I love all types of bulbs, each year they emerge to fill the garden with their bright colours and perfumes.

I photographed a bulb and used the picture as the basis for this first challenge.

This is my interpretation of the daffodil bulb, it was drawn free hand. I have used free motion quilting and satin stitch.

The back ground is pieced from various creams and light browns.

The quilt measure 15.5 x 18 inches (approx 39 x 46 cm).

All cotton fabrics with cotton wadding.

March Challenge - Flora

Today was the unveiling of our first  AQAW  challenge for this year, the subject was 'Flora.'

I decided to use the 'discharge dying' method for this challenge.  A single piece of black home spun was cut, dyed, stamped and used for the front of the quilt and the binding.

I picked some different sized leaves from the ficifolia  tree (flowering gum)  in our garden and made stencils from freezer paper.

Using a spray bottle and bleach solution I discharge dyed  around the leaf templates. The pieces on the bottom left and right hand side were pleated, tied with string and then dropped into the left over bleach solution. 

The leaves have been outlined in gold thread.

The circle shapes are stamped in gold fabric paint using a gum nut as a stamp.

Black and White Quilts

At the beginning of March 2008 I decided to make a black and white hexagon quilt. It has taken me 2 years to complete. It took ages to decide what colour to use as a background, finally decide on the yellow/mustard colour and I'm pleased I did.

The quilt is hand pieced, machined quilted and measures 74.5 x 63 inches (189 x 160 cm).

The second quilt in the B & W series is this QAYG (quilt as you go). The pattern is by  Monica Poole I do like her designs, the instructions were clear and easy to follow (even if I did change them slightly).

I used bright fat quarters to piece the backing.

The completed quilt measures 60 x 80  inches (152 x 203 cm).

This quilt and the next one are my current projects (along with the quilt from the previous post).  All 3 are in need of borders. 

I have a red, white, black and grey stripe for the borders on this quilt. I bought the fabric for another B & W quilt (haven't taken a picture of that one yet) then decided the red was the wrong colour.






My challenge quilt that is due at the end of the month is completed but you will have to wait until the 31 March before I can post a picture. The challenge was 'Flora' not flowers. I wonder what everyone has come up with this time???

Failed Resolutions

On January 1st I made a New Years resolution, I was going to make a blog entry every week.  As you can see I've failed miserably. Life just seems to throw  a spanner in the works.

I have been busy quilting and will post some pictures shortly of the quilts I've finished this year. Until then I will show you the quilt hanging on my design wall at present.

Below is the original fabric that I used.

We had a massive hail storm recently and I couldn't believe the size of the hail stones, fortunately we didn't suffer any damage to the house or cars but the garden took a beating.

Latest Challenge - Mandala

Our latest challenge from Art Quilts Around theWorld was to make a Mandala. Still being in my black and white mood and because all my B&W fabrics were easily accessible I decided to use them again. I did start another mandala but wasn't happy with the design or colour.


This is my completed design, very simple but I am pleased with it.

Where the Earth Meets the Sea

The past couple of months have been a little hectic for me. My father passed away, my husband has been unwell and has had a trip to the hospital. Daughter 1 has recently moved house and is now in the Northern Territory for 5 weeks holiday, our youngest daughter has moved all her things home (including the cat) and has now gone overseas for 3 months. Middle daughter is planning on moving house at the end of this month. We already have her cat, I'm just hoping that no more furniture comes home or our house might just burst at the seams.

"Where the Earth Meets the Sea" was the title of our recently finished challenge with Art Quilts Around the World .

I'm having trouble uploading the pictures, will try again later or you can see them and the other quilts on the above link.I've managed to upload these 2 photos, I've given up counting how many time I've attempted to do this.


I've called my quilt Earth/Sea, blues for the ocean, then cream/tan for the sand and finally the browns and greens represent the earth. The glass beads are different shapes and sizes and follow the colours of the fabrics.

August Happenings

August has been a busy month. I've been working on various quilts, finishing existing projects and starting new ones.

These 2 tops are new projects. The brown quilt is a partial stash reduction quilt, I'd bought a couple of the fabrics because they caught my eye.









The baby quilt is one I'm making for my daughter to give to a friend.

I hope to have it completed this week or next. The baby isn't due until November so there isn't any rush.











This Scrappy Autumn Quilt is totally stash reduction, can you tell that I'm rather fond of autumn colours? I do seem to have lots of browns and greens.









Photos of the completed Blue Scrappy Quilt. The backing was pieced from the stash.

It's hard to see but all the fabrics are blue. I've had most of them since I began quilting and this is one way to use them up.