Use of Lights, Mediums, & Darks

This beautiful quilt below was exhibited in the Houston Intern'l Quilt Show - 2011.  It is called, "Merryed in Wynter", by Karen Price -Oklahoma.

Techniques:  Needle turn applique, couched surface embellishment, hand embroidery, hand quilting & beading.

This quilt design is original with the birds pattern adapted from Jane Townswick's book, "Applique Takes Wing".  

When I was a little girl, my grandmother would say to me that anytime you spotted a cardinal, you would have good luck come your way!  My grandmother had a wonderful knack for embellishing her stories.   It was her way of making my childhood magical.  She is no longer with us but, I do remember this memory anytime I see cardinals & this brings a great big smile to my face.

Closeup of the couched small vine.  Stunning!!!

Looking at this quilt is just what I needed to inspire me to continue some of my hand applique work.   So I'm going to unplug from my computer for a while.  I'll be able to get at least three shapes done before dinner.   Hand applique is doable in baby steps.......a little each day.......or so......

Until next time.....

Lights Mediums & Darks

We quilters first learn about value in simpler terms called lights, mediums & darks.   Artists who have to mix paints also learn about lights, mediums & darks but refer to this as value in color.  If you are a quilter who isn't interested in learning these terms it's probably more fun to simply look at fabric by thinking of lights, mediums, & darks.  It's what makes scrappy quilts look gorgeous.

This photo below is an example of lights, mediums & darks.  In fact, these are 4 1/2" star blocks that I just finished working on for my local guild's raffle quilt for next year.

After sewing the flying geese sections of these blocks I was going to be left with the little bitty triangles.  So before I cut off the triangles from the corners, I sewed them together.  Then I cut them off & pressed them.  I couldn't bear to throw them away these perfectly cute half square triangles.  So I sewed these together & here you have a four patch that appears to be a 1 7/8" by 1 3/4" square.  

So here are the rest of the half square triangles from the star block flying geese.  So what am I going to do with them, you ask?   I don't know.  This is the beauty of it.    When I quilt, sew, or draw, it is my own creation.   No one is around to tell me to do it this way or that way or who is this quilt for?   I do know one thing for sure......these itty bitty wonky four patches will not be in any quilt show.  

I'll have another post for tomorrow.  For now good night.....

Value In Color of Fabrics

Didn't think I would be able to post this week but, fortunately here is a look into the value in the color of fabrics for this week.   I needed to step away from the subject of pansies/flowers so, I decided to look at a completely different color & subject for this week. 

Below is a quilt that was exhibited at the Houston Intern'l Quilt Show-2011 by Carol Fletcher of Washington.  It is called, "It's Risky Being A Beer Drinking Mantis".   This is an original design inspired by Carol's friend's empty beer glass.  Techniques used to make this quilt was hand beading, soft edge applique, free motion quilting, & hand dyed fabrics.  Notice Carol's careful use of lights & darks to create the illusion of an empty glass with beer foam.  

Pretty cool quilt, don't you think?

I'll post again in another couple of weeks or so.    I'm finding that I need to take some time to unplug from the computer and get back to basics.  That is, basically spending some time in my sewing studio to sketch, sew, and/or quilt.  

Try to carve out some time for happy hour in your sewing room.......

No alcoholic beverages please.  Otherwise, you may wind up with some unintentional hand-dyed fabrics.

Until next time....