Thursday, February 20, 2014

A Winter Snow Story, and some 12 x 12 quilts

    1. It snowed, snowed, and rained. There was more snow and the tree branches held the snow. Again, more snow, bigger snow, more layers. Finally, the biggest snowdrops of all. I re-read Rayna Gillman's book, but this quilt should not reflect on her. These are my first strips, a story which I sewed while listening to NPR. I painted snowdrops on the trees with Jacquard Super Opague White 220 OP. French knots may have been more appropriate. Black fleece doubles as batting and backing. I quilted in the ditch and on some of the branches. Snuggly, but how to show the snow cone tops on all the bushes.


   2.  The birds in the front of the house were making such a mess, like a copy of a Pollack painting;  so we moved the feeder to the back yard. It was not easy for the feathered ones to find their way west. I quilted an arrow. This was definitely a journal quilt...a memory of a special event. I could still paint some shading or use netting to shadow a side of the bird feeder. Beeds are the seeds flying everywhere.
 
     3. Trying to use up my stash, I had earlier tried a blue quilt that almost made me give up quilting. Jo Diggs uses dots so much better. I learned that it is probably good to join pop or graphic fabrics with each other and realistic prints together, but not to mix the two. I read that one should think about what one likes in a quilt to know what to do to yours. I like hand stitching, but it didn't save this piece.

     4. and 5.  Then there are the two quilts that really needed help. Winter Palette with padded paints needs a brush as well as a photographer; and Erika's 8th soft birthday card needs a redo. But both are ok and were part of the process. You win some and lose some. Click to enlarge photos.



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8 comments:

  1. I like the bird feeder complete with birds. They love finding food with all of the snow on the ground. And, I like the black/gray/white depiction of snow with the strips looking as though they contain the varied crystals that can make up the flakes. Out here, I haven't even seen snow on the mountains, and this is the first time since we've been out here that that has happened! Such odd weather!!!

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  2. Love the snow. Hope we have more before winter ends.
    Ur quilt this week was stunning. Also, liked the Birds in JPollack. jss

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  3. I admire the black and white strips - beautiful in its simplicity and yet not so easy to put together, I imagine! The bird feeder is a real winner too!

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  4. Love the snow and your stories that go along with each quilt. The black and white stripes are so beautiful together and really depict our weather pattern. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Love the birds and feeder complete with directions.

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  6. These quilts all together are fun to look at and to read about! If I had to choose my favorite, I think I'd pick the one with the birds. But the last two are so clever! Until I clicked to enlarge, I thought you'd strip pieced Erika's. What neat fabric that is! You have a real gift and eye for finding great fabric.

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  7. I love all your quilts, but #3 is my favorite. Also Erika's birthday card is wonderful.
    NM

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  8. Your varied thoughts/ideas are so very interesting, as are the colors and ways you exhibit them. I particularly love the yellow birds in #3 and love everything about Erika's bday quilt. All - such fun!

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