Tuesday's Tile - Peeling Back the Layers

 

Quilter's Tile - Layers

8" x 8"

©2012 - Sharon V. Rotz

How many things can be done to a piece of fabric?  Like the layers of our lives, this fabric has been  changed as each layer has been added on. (Here paint is scraped across the fabric leaving unequal areas of paint.)

Over a commercially printed fabric, marks were made with fabric markers, designs were stamped, and paint was applied.  Each layer makes either subtle or major changes.

At the sewing machine, free-motion quilting adds another dimension. Over this, additional strips were added by fusing or stitching.

Metallic pieces were fused on. Words were added with fabric markers.

Just as we change each day by the situations in our lives, this fabric also has been changed. 

Maybe for the better, maybe not.

Layers and layers, added on.

Continuing on a New Quilt

In a previous post, I showed the beginnings of a new quilt. This quilt started with a paper drawing drawn to size. Here it is with some of the pieces cut out.

For the long curving lines, I string-pieced multiple fabrics to create an explosion of color. Now, what will happen in the circles?

Using selected colors, I paper-pieced a mariner's compass.

I dropped this onto my drawing and went on to paper-piece another compass

which filled in a side circle.

Now I am stopped. I'm debating the placement. Do I like the connection between the string-piecing and the compass?  

What do you think?  Should I leave it? Should I alter the plan?

Tuesday's Tile- It Started with a Good Plan

Improv 9 patch

Sharon V. Rotz

It all started with a good plan. I was enjoying the colors that I was working with in the previous tiles. I was enjoying piecing small cuts of fabric together in random patterns.

I thought why not try it in a 9 patch block. So far, so good. This was turning out just like I wanted. I will really like this tile

until

I laid it next to my previous Quilter's Tile and saw how much larger it was. Now what?

Should I trim it down to size?

Today, I just can't do that because too much will be cut off and I won't let that happen.

Well, if I refuse to go smaller, I can still go bigger. Today's Quilter's Tile will be expanded. I haven't run out of fabric yet. (That will be the day!!!)

Come back again and see what comes of this beginning.

It's Bittersweet Friday

The trailing vines and bright orange berries of the bittersweet caught my attention several times as I walked along the roadside.  When I was working on Forest Floor, I couldn't resist adding them into the inner border of the quilt.

Forest Floor

©Sharon V. Rotz

This quilt combines solid blocks of a leafy print with my skewed log cabin "freedom blocks".  The bittersweet vines are appliqued with rickrack trim on the berries. 

Instructions are in 

Log Cabin Quilts with Attitude available through my website.

All that Red, All those Leaves

Quilter's Tile - Red Leaves

8" x 8"

©2012 Sharon V. Rotz

As you can see, I had so much fun piecing and quilting this tile that I didn't even stop to take a photo along the way.

I do like to randomly stitch together small strings of fabric, letting my imagination run free as I create. Each fabric brings its own personality to the piece.

I like how the small dots of this fabric look like they were hand-painted on.

Leaves quilted on the surface add dimension and life.

Don't be afraid to break away from your basic quilting idea, in this case, the leafy branch. This prevents boredom, for you and the viewer.  

Experiment, experiment, experiment

and enjoy.

Where Are These Fabrics Headed?

I couldn't wait to combine these fabrics into a colorful autumn bag.

Start with one strip on each fabric, and braid them together.

After you have several braids, they can be joined together into a bag.

The top of the braids were bound with a strip of fabric in the same way that my quilt edges are finished.  Stitch to the front of the bag, fold over the edge and hand stitch on the back, in this case, the inside of the bag.

A long strap was made for the bag and two short tabs were made to attach the strap to the bag.

More ideas for braided bags can be found in my book, Designer Bags and Totes, available through Herrschners. Pictured is the Mag Bag, a great size for your favorite magazines or e-reader.

Tuesday's Tile - Songs of Autumn

Quilter's Tile - Songs of Autumn

8" x 8"

©2012 Sharon V. Rotz

As I was demonstrating at the Fiber Fair of the Fine Art Fiber exhibit at Nicolet College Art Gallery, I had fun working on this piece.  Starting with strips of fabric stitched together, I cut and restitched them for the border.

I enjoyed sharing techniques for free-motion machine quilting. On a small scale, feathers are quite easy to add to a smooth curving line. The fabric is Kaufman Radiance which catches the light and the thread is Madeira Rayon which elegantly shows off the quilting.

A bit of hand embroidery compliments the machine work and lends a finishing touch to the piece.

Don't forget to sign your artwork.

Strings and Leaves Workshop

Recently, I had the privilege of working with a wonderful group of quilters from the Woodruff/Minocqua area.  They sent me this photo display of their finished projects.

The Ladies of the Lakes and I had a fun day.

After a fabric trade, they stitched together narrow strings of green fabrics.

From these strings, blocks were cut.

Some areas of the leaves were fused.

Instead of a single green, the strings provided variety of color and pattern. 

Proudly displaying finished tops.

Autumn Leaves

Capturing the Sun

Sharon V. Rotz

Immersed in color, leaves cry out to be interpreted in fabric.

Start with a line drawing.

Add color in the form of gorgeous hand-dyed silks and cottons.

Cut and fuse. Add machine quilting details.

Captured!