Tuesday's Tile - Twin Pines

Quilter's Tile - Twin Pines

8" x 8"

©2012 Sharon V. Rotz

No, not identical twins but the kind where each has its own serendipitous personality.

I recently enjoyed a mini class with Rene Iannarelli on different ways to piece trees. Great ideas!

Trees were on my mind as I was string piecing, so thought that I would try string piecing some pines.  I covered these two muslin foundations with bits of green.

After trimming the pieced section into a triangle, I stitched a sky fabric on the edge. 

This was trimmed into a vertical rectangle.

Soon I had sections pieced and ready to put together.  I did trim the sections larger than I thought was needed. Good thought, maybe I've learned from all those years of making blocks only to find that they were a bit too small.

I pieced my sections together

and added quilting.

  Off the cuff and totally spontaneous, what fun I had making this quilt.

I think that I spent more time picking out the fabric for the binding than I did for the rest of the tile.

More Friday Stitching

Dancing Log Cabins detail

©2012 Marlyn Butchins

I am always inspired by the quilters I meet (through the internet or in person) and the quilts that they make. Recently, Marlyn from Israel sent me a photo her quilt "Dancing Log Cabins". She mentioned that she has a new Janome 7700 with more than 240 embroidery stitches. I'm delighted that she chose to try out those stitches on the sashing of Dancing Log Cabins.

To quote Marlyn, 

"To me it is a quilt filled with taking chances, passion, and lots of cheeky statements,

excitement, vibrancy and all the things that make me feel good. This is how I want a quilt to make me feel, and this one certainly does it."

I am so happy that Marlyn used my book, Log Cabin Quilts with Attitude, for her inspiration.  

Find the freedom of using for your scrap strips in these fun-loving skewed log cabin blocks.  Feel free to disregard perfect seam allowances and forget about matching corners as you combine fabrics without fretting.

Note:  Thanks to Marlyn for sharing her quilt. Please follow the link to find out more about Marlyn and The Dizengoff Memorial Quilt.

Creative Stitching Friday

Quilt detail

©2012 Pat Gaska

Last Friday, I explored a new stitch on my sewing machine. Today I would like continue the same thought of incorporating our machine programmed stitches into our quilts.

My talented and good friend, Pat Gaska, shared her newest art quilt and I couldn't resist reaching for my camera. Pat has brought her project to life by creatively using her machine's stitches.

As we zoom in for a closer look, you can pick out several of those attention-grabbing stitches. My favorite is the cross-stitch that she has used on the roof. Immediately, my eyes went to my machine to see if I had that option. Yes! Although Pat and I have different brands of machines, I noticed they share many of the same or very similar stitches.

Pat loves the stitch she used on this roof and the perfect circle that became a door knob.  Pat has certainly opened my mind to using my machine more creatively and I can't wait to start sewing and trying new options.

In addition to being a talented art quilter, Pat Gaska is also a quilting instructor. She is the first to admit that when it comes to quilting she has a split personality. Her other quilting interest -- Civil War Quilts.

I would like to thank Pat for sharing her work with us today.

It's a New Stitch Friday

What's hiding inside your sewing machine? (I mean, besides the fuzz and lint.)

Is there a wealth of unused stitches?

I have to admit my sewing machine has so many stitches that I have never tried. Oh, perhaps, I used some of them once to make a stitch sampler but they have long since been neglected. All of that technology being wasted.

I constantly use my straight stitch. My zigzag comes in second. But then, there is a sharp drop-off.

I have used a blanket stitch to applique on my quilts. (To me, this will always be called a button-hole stitch because, believe it or not, I once learned this as a hand-stitch tailoring technique to make a button-hole.)

But beyond my small repertoire of stitches, there is a vast selection of unused choices. This week I was determined to use at least one new option in my work.

To applique this strip, I broke out stitch number 203. I used a 30 weight Madeira rayon in a bright golden yellow. It's wonderful. Why have I been waiting? It's time to break into all of those other stitches.

Do you have a favorite stitch? How have you used it?

Tuesday's Tile - It's Not Always Hearts and Roses

Quilter's Tile - alias Tooth Fairy Pillow
8" x 8"
©2012 - Sharon V. Rotz

A Valentine filled with hearts and roses wasn't on the tile this Valentine's Day. Not when you get a phone call with important news. "Grandpa, I've got something exciting to tell you. I lost my first tooth."

Of course, this deserves an important gift. A tooth fairy pillow in which to place that treasured tooth and others to follow.

A lily pad shape was perfect for the pocket.

Nicholas' name was added with machine stitched letters. Because this is not something I do often, this step took a little time as I  had to try several times and get out my sewing machine manual. Now that I am more familiar with the technique, I'm brainstorming on other ways I can use this feature. (Do you have any ideas for me?)

When frogs are in the picture, perhaps the tooth fairy looks like a dragonfly? I made this one from two layers of sheer placed on a stabilizer. After I stitched the shape, I trimmed close to the stitching.

Here is my Quilter's Tile for the week, turned tooth fairy pillow ready and waiting to be stuffed and finished.

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day, whether there are hearts (or frogs) coming your way.

Winter's Garden

O - Water Lilies

22" x 32"

©2012 Sharon V. Rotz

You are invited to an exhibition of floral inspired art with live orchids in bloom. 

Winter's Garden

at the Riverfront Arts Center

1200 Crosby Ave.

Stevens Point, WI

I am pleased that my art quilt "O- Water Lilies" will be part of the juried exhibit. You have been watching the progress of this piece on my blog and now you will be able to see it in person.

To make the three-dimensional petals, I fused two layers of fabric together and then stitched the petals on my machine using Superior Threads Glitter metallic thread in the needle.

  

I used matching pink cotton thread in the bobbin. I then cut close to the stitching to separate the petals.

These petals were added on to the center of the flowers.

detail of water lilies

Tuesday's Tile - Wisdom or Gold

Quilter's Tile - Wisdom or Gold?

8" x 8"

©2011 Sharon V. Rotz

Today's tile combines a variety of techniques. In the background of the piece, I've used Shiva Artist's Paintstiks over texture plates and Dye-na-Flow paints to vary the color of the fabric. I then took the fabric to my machine and added some decorative stitches using metallic thread. (Some of the over 200 stitches that my machine will do and I usually never use. What great options, I need to expand on this.)

For the writing, I dropped the feed dogs and machine quilted the words.

To finish off this tile, I went green and used recycled items. The borders strips were strips from old ties  and the buttons cut from an old suit coat.

It's Been Framed

Open Sew Meets Laundry Day

15" x 19"

Sharon V. Rotz

Now that it's time to finish my quilting project, I thought it was time to try a new approach.

Instead of a traditional binding, I wanted to attempt an organic, curving edge. This could be finished off with a satin stitched edge.......... at least, it could in my head. The first step was to free motion stitch a curving line that would be my edge. I then did a open zigzag stitch over the line. The edge was trimmed as close as possible to the zigzagging. The final dense satin stitching was done over the previous stitching to complete the quilt edge.

Was I now done?

What would happen if I layered this onto another fabric, as if I was mounting my organic quilt onto a frame?

After tearing into my fabric stash, I came up with a batik that made my little quilt sing. Because my original quilt was already quilted, my border had to be quilted as well. I ended up basically making another quilt, complete with batting and quilting which would serve as my frame. The little quilt was pinned and topstitched to the center of the batik quilt. I am now finished.

Would there be another way to achieve the same effect? Of course, there is always another way. But sometimes, one step just leads to another and another. It's the fun of the adventure that lures us on.

Merry Christmas cards

I'm not really good about sending out Christmas cards, but this idea is so much fun that maybe I'll be motivated -- at least to make them. Still don't know if they will get in the mail.

I was inspired by a post on the Quilting Arts blog. Every card will have its own personality as you cut and stitch. You can use up scraps and creative bits from your studio. Each one becomes a miniature work of art.

Now that I've reread the instructions, I've found that I followed them, could you say, rather "creatively". It was the idea that started me going, yes, going off in my own direction as usual. But, of course, it doesn't matter where our creativity, our art leads, we are here for the excitement of the experience.

Combining Hand and Machine Embroidery

Sunday Morning Garden

8" x 8"

Sharon V. Rotz

Embroidery can do so much to enhance our fabric art. Many quilters now have sewing machines with amazing capabilities for doing embroidery. I have never felt the need to have a machine with extended embroidery features, but almost every machine has some simpler embroidery stitches. The machine I have now as well as every one of my past machines had decorative stitches I never made use of. Well, until now. Who says you can't teach an old dog a new trick?

I tried a few stitches and they were lovely, very even and precise. Then, my imagination took over and I cut up my lovely embroidery and combined it with piecing on this small quilted tile.

I couldn't resist adding a little hand embroidery. I learned embroidery from my mother when I was a young girl and I love the relaxing moments when I slowly add small hand stitches.

What do you think of the combination?

It all about the Light

After considering how much I use my sewing machine for both piecing and quilting and how much I count on my iron for pressing those seams flat and for fusing those appliques, I pushed those things aside as the most important thing I need.

For without the light to see, I cannot work. This was so evident when the power went off. The storm clouds and the canopy of trees over my house closed out the light. I couldn't even do all those hand stitching jobs that I thought of. As I get older, I realize even more the importance of good lighting.

As I walk into my studio today, I am again thankful for the wonder of that switch on the wall that illuminates my stitching world.

The Nest

Maybe I've been influenced by the birds that have nested on an outdoor light fixture. Each day we check "our" babies, since we can now see little heads sticking up. The adult Phoebes are perched nearby and keep a watchful eye as I go in and out of the door.

The Nest

8" x 8"

Sharon V. Rotz

The more I thought about how to use my fabric beads, I kept seeing them in a nest. Resisting this idea, I tried to come up with other options. Why do we always fight that first thought? How often do we circle back to it, finally realizing it was the best idea after all? Do you have a project that you are resisting, or looking at multiple options?

I finally gave in to my first impulse and here the fabric beads are settled in a nest of wool. For the background, I used heavy coat weight wool scraps, overlaying and stitching them to form a circular shape. Because of the thickness of the wool, I didn't have to add batting or even a backing to this small art work. I can make more fabric beads and create more projects, but today I am happy that I've "nested".

What's Important? What You See or Don't See.

Today, it's what you don't see that's important. Although, I have to admit my mind is racing with ideas about that which I do see. The remainder of my fat quarter (minus the center circle) jumps out as a fabulous border for a future project.

But back to what I have removed - that center circle. As I worked on my pickle dish project, it was shouting for some glue, some fabric to draw it all together. Searching through "the stash", I found what could serve as that glue. The center of this fat quarter combined the green and the coral.

I cut the circle into wedges, backed them with lining, stitched and flipped them to use on the quilt. Check back tomorrow to see how I will place these. Can you guess?

The Perfect Quilt

Passion, not Perfection

8" x 8"

Sharon V. Rotz

Ah, to make the perfect quilt. The one where every corner matches, every applique stitch is hidden, there are no knots in the back of the quilting and the binding has perfect corners.

Are you working so hard to achieve perfection that you are losing your passion? Do you love selecting fabrics, playing with color combinations, stitching pieces together, and selecting quilting designs to hold the whole piece together?

In this little quilt,, I had so much fun just playing. Putting fabrics together in a creative, no holds barred fashion. I love the fabrics, and the colors and I love the fact that the piecing is free and improvisational. The edges aren't even and I didn't want them to be. Take that, oh judge of perfection! For me, this quilt is full of my passion for quilting.

Today, don't forget to have fun!

Machine Stitched Applique

As I am working on ideas for using my pickle dish blocks in a quilt, I was playing with appliqued stems. In a continued effort to make use of more stitches on my sewing machine, I tried this stitch. It certainly gave a new dimension to the applique. I couldn't see it repeated on both sides of the appliqued stem so I finished it off with two rows of straight stitching on the second side. The thread is a variegated Sulky rayon.

I think I have a winner here. Ah, it feels so good to stretch myself out. I must be up to ten stitches now. Way more than the number of sewing machines I've had. (refer back to to 6/19 - Looking at Stitching Options)

Have you tried a new stitch today or have you found a favorite stitch on your machine? Please, share your thoughts.

With Dad in Mind

Mowing Around the Violet Patch

8" x 8"

Sharon V. Rotz

With my small sample of machine feather stitching in hand, I thought of using it for inspiration and finishing it into another "tile" quilt. My thoughts came back to my dad mowing around the violets. (previous post 6/17/10 - field work)

Since we are all thinking of our fathers this weekend, I decided to re-create that wild violet patch that he so lovingly mowed around because he couldn't destroy the beauty of it.

Silk ribbon embroidery became the skill of the day. Boy, I haven't done this is so long. I do enjoy hand work but found myself a little rusty. Guess that would be expected (the rusty part), since I'm older now! (Sorry about that, my mind often wanders into the world of corny humor.)

I had a peaceful and soothing afternoon making little violets using silk ribbons and adding 'grass' from silk thread. Thinking of you, Dad!

Looking at Stitching Options

In my lifetime, I've sewed on six sewing machines and I've probably only used about six different stitches and that includes buttonholes and stretch stitches that I used for garment construction, not quilting. On my present machine there are over three hundred stitches to choose from and I go back to the same few stitches. Of course, the workhorse is the straight stitch, followed by the zigzag. But, what about some of those other options?

As I am preparing to work on my 'pickle dish' quilt, I'm motivated to find ways to incorporate new stitches. As I was preparing to try some applique ideas, instead of the satin stitch or the blanket stitch, I tried stitching a sample with the feather stitch.

Hmmm, could this be that stem that isn't smooth, but full of little pokies? What do you think? Do you have a favorite stitch that lends a different look to your quilts?

Going from sketchbook to quilt involves trying techniques which may be new. It seems like I never get over the learning curve. I'm always attempting something a little different than I've done before.

I had a sketch of a dragonfly that I wanted to create in fabric and thread. I chose a wonderful silver metallic thread that would add sparkle to the dragonfly. I traced the dragonfly unto the water-soluble stabilizer with a Sharpie permanent marker. I tried thread painting (or free motion stitching) on the stabilizer but obviously this was the wrong plan. It just shriveled up and chewed up the stabilizer.

Second plan: I found a sheer blue left from my daughter's wedding (the bridesmaids looked lovely in blue). I re-sandwiched with the blue sheer over the stabilizer and am trying again.

Let's see if this works.

Any suggestions?

Trying stitches

What can my sewing machine really do? I know that I use my sewing machine at its very minimum. Even though I don't have the embroidery features that many of you have on your machines, I do have a multitude of stitches that I never use. (And this goes back to every machine that I owned, well, except for my first machine that only did a straight stitch and a zigzag.)

Why do I have all these features if I never explore them? I could go back to my first machine, HA!

In an attempt to overcome my deficiencies, I tried some new stitches. This could be fun. Why would you want to use it right out of the box (that is, as it was designed to be used) when you have the option of making changes? After trying a few stitches at their default settings, I found one I could use at a free motion setting and make lovely swirls. This stitch has some possibilities. Maybe I could combine it with those left over color explosion bits and pieces.

I'll let the ideas swirl around in my head and see what flies out. Have you successfully (or not successfully) tried new stitches? What works for you?