Spring is in the Bag

Braided Spring Bag

8" x 12"

© 2013 Sharon V. Rotz

It's time for me to put away the drab and carry a perky new bag.

I had fun choosing fabrics for this bright and cheery bag. 

Because the colors show more than the fabric print, this is a great way to use fabrics in a different way.  Will you choose a dramatic print, a hand-dyed solid, a subtle print or a combination of all three?

The print can add a lot of variety depending on how the fabric was cut.

A combination of three green fabrics creates a softer charm.

The solid fabric became more dramatic with the addition of a green yarn braided in.

Come on Spring. Is this what you have been waiting for?  I'm ready!

Techniques for for this bag and similar braided bags can be found in my book 

"Braidcraft, Designer Bags and Totes" 

and can be purchased through Herrschners, Inc.

Little Bits Obsessed

Yes, I have to admit that I can become obsessed with little bits of "left-over fabrics" and that is exactly what happened when I trimmed my solid color log cabin blocks

into tilting freedom blocks. 

Follow the link to see further information on this: trimming log cabin blocks
If you love the results, you can find instructions and patterns for making fun-loving quilts in my book "Log Cabin Quilts with Attitude".

The narrow wedges of fabric trimmed off could, of course, be thrown away. That is what any logical person would do. But what if...................

I sewed these narrow bits together. What could pop up as a result?

These stitched bits seemed to fall in love with a background fabric that I was enhancing with fabric markers.

A bit was added here.

And a bit was added there.

 

Oh, this is so much fun. I just hope you are enjoying your day as much.

Quilter's Tile - Rainbow Rose

8" x 8"

©2013 Sharon V. Rotz

No matter which way you view it, may you find rainbows and roses in your day!

Linked to Off the Wall Friday

What's the Crowing About?

If you've been resting on your perch too long, 

then you may want to spread your wings and 

enrich your life with new artwork.

I would like to invite you to two mind-stretching exhibits.

Enjoy an original poetry reading and view the accompanying artwork 

at the Crossings in Zumbrota, MN

Poet Artist Collaboration

Friday, April 19, starting at 6:30 pm

My artwork "Was It a Murder?" was inspired by Peter Stein's poem "Living Will"

detail - "Was It a Murder?"

or put your heads together to see

what artists can do with things we normally discard

at the Riverfront Art Center in Stevens Point, WI

Re-Art, Trash Transformed

Opening Reception - Friday, April 19, 5-7 pm

My art "You've Been Wallpapered" was created for a fun challenge to re-use the wallpaper that my friend Mary was stripping from her walls when redecorating.

detail - "You've Been Wallpapered"

Tulips "Springing" Up

In the year of the un-ending winter in central Wisconsin, I feel that my only option for seeing spring flowers is to fall back to those created from fabric.

These three-dimensional tulips are made on my serger using the rolled edge stitch. The background detail is created using a flat lock serger stitch. 

This pattern "Down the Pathway" can be found in my book, Serge and Merge Quilts.

On this dark day with the prediction of yet another snowfall, I have a bright and cheery garden inside my home.

Linked to Off the Wall Friday

Fabric Strips into Colorful Braids

This week turned into Kid's Camp and we had fun braiding fabric strips into colorful braids for mug rugs, placemats or lovely hair extensions.

The real question is...

Was it more fun to rip the fabric into strips 

or 

to braid the strips?

I don't know about the kids but........... I love to hear that ripping fabric!

Spring Fever

Just dreaming.

Spring is so slow to come.

 We are still covered with snowbanks.

The only option is to look for fabric to make this sketch into a quilt.