Journal Quilts 2017

I didn't take part in last year's Journal Quilt Challenge with Contemporary Quilts as I was worried that I would not be able to keep up with the deadlines while we moved.  I really missed it so I'm really pleased to have signed up for this year's challenge.

The size this year is 11" x 11" which my mathematical mind is having trouble with as it doesn't divide easily but, after all, it is a challenge.  We have to set our own theme which can be a challenge in itself.   I decided to hold fire with deciding on a theme as we were going to Gran Canaria for two weeks and wondered if I would find inspiration while we were away.

We have had several holidays there and each time the flowers and plants have always grabbed my attention and this visit was no exception.   I've come home with photos and sketches of my initial ideas and I'm raring to go.

I'm going to be super organised this year and taking a tip from another member of CQ I'm going to cut all the backings and wadding at the start of the year as well as preparing the binding.  I always like to use the same binding for each quilt as I feel it gives some cohesion to the set.

Better get started......here are some of the inspiration so watch out for the quilts.

Pink Quilt for Linus

Please to say my second project of the year is complete!

This time I have used the pink fabric from my stash, together with a couple of fat quarters I bought to match, to make a quilt for Project Linus.   It's a simple design of 6" squares but I appliqued some hearts on the plain fabric using some left over bits of the other fabric.   

I'm never sure how to quilt and usually end up quilting in the ditch.  This time I did some free hand random swirls, avoiding the squares with the hearts.  Can't say I'm ecstatic about the results and will no doubt resort to 'in the ditch' for the next quilt but it looks good and hopefully will eventually bring some joy and comfort for the child that receives it.

Apologies for the photo but I'm struggling to find a good place to photograph larger items in my new house.  Any suggestions would be welcome.

Canvaswork Seascape

First project of the new year is completed!

The first piece of canvas work I have done for many, many years.  When I was doing City and Guilds Creative Embroidery in the 1980s I often worked on canvas and while I was sorting out before our move, I discovered just how much I had done which inspired me to do some more.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I coloured the canvas with painted bondaweb before I started and I found this gave me some direction while still maintaining the "free" look I wanted.

I started by couching down the curved lines which were cotton tubing with thick threads through the centre.  I then pretty much made it up as I went, using stitches at first that I liked the look of and then those that fitted in with the rest.   I mainly used the threads that came with the pack but several of them were not suitable for this size of canvas (10 ct.) so I supplemented with cotton perle and stranded cotton.  I also added beads to come areas.

Really pleased with the result which now sits on the window ledge in my bedroom.

  

  

New Year - New Me?

I'm not even going to review the targets I made for 2016 as it will be far too negative!

My only target for 2017 will be to create more consistently, however small.

I have begun this by looking at what fabric I already have and how I can use it up.   I spent some productive time yesterday, ably assisted by my grand daughter Hope, cutting squares of some pink and blue fabric left from some quilts I made for some new arrivals.  I now have a list of a few extra FQs I need to turn these squares into quilts that will be destined for Project Linus.  I also found some log cabin blocks made from some Tim Holtz fabric I bought (I think in Hobbycraft) and which didn't get any further.  I will also get some more fabric to go with the blocks to create yet another quilt for Project Linus.

Last week I got myself organised to start a piece of canvaswork which had been buzzing around in my head for some time.   A birthday gift of a collection of different threads begged to be used for canvaswork, so I began by colouring a canvas with some painted bondaweb which I tore into shapes that were laid down in a sort of landscape. The pack was called Pastel Seas so I suppose it's more of a Seascape.  I added some additional perle cottons from my own thread stash.   Work is underway but here it what it looked like when ready to start.

I also have another pack called Moorland that I think will become Freeform Crochet.  But I must get all the above finished first!

Happy New Year to everyone.