Contemplating Backgrounds

How much time do you spend contemplating the background fabric for your projects? 

Setting the stage for showing off your designs and quilting, 

the background can become a major player in your quilt.

I auditioned many backgrounds for my project. 

Should I go dark? 

Dark is always dramatic.

What about a totally white background? 

That would certainly show off my quilting.

 What about a neutral?

  A neutral grey, certainly not my first choice, became my best choice. 

Another instance that proves to me that I shouldn't be shortsighted 

and try even the "wrong" fabrics. 

This blue/grey batik shows off my design fabrics without competing with them. 

It seems to suit better than the stark contrast of a black or white fabric.

But, now I am questioning...

Is it a bit too boring?

Should I do something to make this background become a bit more interesting?

I pieced together strips of similar fabrics and 

placed them over my batik.

Will this up the look of my background

without becoming overpowering?

Should I cut my background and 

insert the pieced sections?

Time for a bit of contemplating..........

Linked to Off the Wall Friday

Another Day in the Land of Rickrack

Although I enjoyed the time spent soothing my softer side, 

I'm again back to the world of bright  and bold.

Picking fun colors from my rickrack box, 

I went on a stash search and found fabrics that will liven up this project. 

After cutting the melon shapes,

it was fun choosing the rickrack to add to the curved edge.

So many choices and interesting color combinations.

Should I match or contrast?

I pressed the under the curved edge of the melon and with it half of the rickrack.

The "rickracked" edges were then stitched to the background strips.

Yes! 

After laying out a few blocks, 

my heart sings

 as my day is joyfully filled with color and pattern.

Yes, I Want to Sew But.....

Yes, I want to sew but, 

I have walked into a magical world and I am enchanted.

I am pulled in by the brilliance of the colors.

Were they really hiding there all summer covered by a mask of green?

Yes, I would love to attempt to duplicate this beauty in an artwork

 but I can't draw myself away from this feast for my eyes.

I do have ideas to share with you. 

Believe me, I tried.

 But until the leaves fall, the ground turns brown and the skies are gray, 

each day will be an ongoing struggle to face my sewing machine.

Today, may you soak up the beauty 

and rejoice in the world God created.

My Obsession Continues

My Softer Side

©2014 Sharon V. Rotz

Yes, my rickrack box is not empty 

and I am dreaming up more projects to incorporate my bountiful supply.

Feeling my softer side, 

(usually I pick the brightest fabrics)

I've selected a collection of delicate pinks and greens for this quilt.

The blocks are very traditional quarter square triangle blocks made up on a variety of pink prints. These blocks are set off by a sashing of a soft green stripe. 

On the two-part sashing, the rickrack shines as it outlines the melon shapes.

To make the rickrack trimmed shapes, 

I cut the half melon and stitched the rickrack on the outer edge of the right side of the fabric.

The seam allowance was pressed to the back along with the outer half of the rickrack. This left a finished edge that was easy to appliqué to the sashing by stitching in the ditch 

(the line formed by the folded fabric edge and the rickrack).

A melon shape was appliquéd to each sashing half-strip.

 The two sashing strips were then stitched together and added between the blocks. 

Now that my softer side was had a go, 

my bright side wants to give it a try. 

Will I hold back

 or will the next project be knock your socks off bright? 

ZigZagging All Over

String Breeze

Sharon V. Rotz

As you can see I am on a Rick rack roll. 

There are so many places that I've found to incorporate it into my work.

From Flower edges

  to flower stems

to tucking it into the binding edge.

The pattern for "String Breeze" is 

available here.

One Lizard, Then Two, Three, Oh My!

Linda bought a new piece of jewelry, a charming lizard pin. 

Her friend saw it and bought her a second lizard 

and the ball started rolling. 

Now there are lizards on Linda's walls and framing her door. 

She even has a new lizard nightgown.

It seems everyone has a collection. 

Mine seems to be rickrack. 

I started like so many others with a package or two in my sewing studio. 

Then my mother cleaned out her sewing area and gave me a good supply. 

Hoping to use it and not store it, I incorporated it into some projects.

There it is, 

the suggestion that I love rickrack. 

I'm not saying that I don't. 

It has a certain appeal to me.

 But, the ball is now rolling. 

My sister, knowing that I found uses for rickrack gave me a box full.  

Maybe I shouldn't have used any of it, but I did

 and now received a bag full from a friend. 

 It is growing on me. 

Perhaps soon they will be calling me the Queen of Rickrack.

Linked to Off the Wall Friday

Sharing Ideas at Quilt Expo

I would like to invite you to join me 

at Quilt Expo in Madison, WI

September 5, 2014

 I will be sharing ideas for highlighting your quilts 

with fabric bits and pieces. 

If your studio is filled with smaller scraps of fabric, 

rejoice in your good fortune.   

Learn creative paths for using these small treasures in your next quilting masterpiece.  

Ideas for both traditional and art quilts will be discussed.

Linked to Off the Wall Friday

Designing New Purses

This week I had the fun of working with an upcoming designer, 

young Miss E.... 

We have been working together for several years now 

(actually since before her foot reached the pedal). 

Now she is on her own behind a sewing machine

 and developing quite a talent for putting fabrics together.

She is quite proud of the purse she just finished.

The bag is machine quilted to give it body 

and a serger was used to stitch and finish the seams.

It features a button closure and

an inside pocket.

(Is it a hint that the pocket is just the right size for a cell phone?)

And, here is our designer and busy stitcher modeling her creation.

Linked to Off the Wall Friday

Why are You Cutting Strips?

Have you been busy cutting strips? 

Are you getting ready to sew an amazing new quilt top?  

I, too, have been cutting fabric strips. 

Strips and more strips. 

But these strips were not for another quilting project

 but for braiding a fun and colorful purse. 

The pink and blue vivid, graphic fabric is a diva in itself

 but comes in second to the chunky pink yarn I have incorporated in this bag.

A little bling on the center and strap provides a finishing touch.

And on I went........

For this second bag, I've used a eye-catching purple print 

with a never-shy chartreuse print.

I've also added a chunky yarn in this bag.

In the detail, you can see the braided strap attached with a bold button.

This bags are showy and are certain to take center stage.

Linked to Off the Wall Friday

Today's Quilting Bee

Things haven't changed through the years. Women have always been diligent caretakers. Not only caretakers of their families but they stretch their arms out to help others as well.

One way that quilters help others is by sharing their talents and create wonderful cuddly covers full of love to give to those in need. Each quilt wraps the recipient with hugs and warm wishes.

I am so happy that I am part of a group of women who meet regularly to put together some of these quilts.

Karen, Cathy and Mary are busy at work tying quilts, never idle, 

as they share the latest gossip.

Linda is always entertaining us with the silliest stories as she sews.

Today, Barb and Ruth are finishing up the quilts and adding labels.

"Stitched with love

by Undercover Quilters"

We are so thankful for the many who provide us 

with some of their extra fabrics and notions, 

and

our prayers are with those who couldn't get to the meeting 

because of health and family concerns.

With our hearts filled with happiness 

and our tummies filled with oh, so, delicious food from our pot-luck lunch, 

we will meet again next month.  

Going In vs. Coming Out of My Brain

Apparently the information that goes into my brain does not translate into my projects. 

After enjoying the beauty of the lilies and thinking about nothing but lilies, 

I end up with purple shapes. 

PURPLE! 

No way do these even remotely look like my orange lilies. 

I did start with a muslin foundation cut into a shape. 

After stitching on a multitude of different fabrics, I trimmed the edges adding my seam allowance. 

I used an "Add-a-Quarter" ruler and moved it along the edge 

continually turning it to follow the shape.

The trimmed piece is now ready to piece to another section.

I did get into my orange fabric and combined several pieces on this piece.

Into my brain go lilies, out come pod shapes. 

We'll see where these lead. 

Sketching Lilies

I can't get those brilliant lilies out of my mind.

I find myself sketching them in various "poses".

Surely, I am captivated by their beauty.

Do I really need to transfer these ideas to fabric

 or am I satisfied with just drawing them?

But, I do have those perfect fabrics all ready to cut and sew.

Onward!

Linked to Off the Wall Friday