Oh, What Treasures

I came home from a sale today with these three fabrics. I think they would work together into a wonderful project. It is interesting that they are all from different fabric manufacturers. One is a Kaffe Fasset by Rowan, the second from Free Spirit and the third is a Radiance fabric from Robert Kaufman.

Even though manufacturers are selecting better and better groups of designs in their fabric lines, I like  to create my own cross-the-line combinations. I'm also excited about the working with a large scale print, a stripe and a solid, always a dynamic blend. My mind is churning ideas even as I write this.

Now to my closet to add bits and pieces from my stash.

Linked to Off The Wall Friday

Growing Golden Roses

Today there are roses growing in my studio. Golden Roses, of course.

Yes, these are fabric roses, made from a folded strip of satin weave, capturing-the-light, Radiance silk blend (by Kaufman Fabrics).

I turned in the raw edges of the fabric ends and hand-stitched the edge with large stitches.

Turning and shaping, a rose grows before my eyes.  These roses will be added unto the golden scarf that flows over my wallhanging. 

Soon they will be climbing to the top shimmering all the way.

If you are looking for a unique Christmas gift for someone on your Christmas list, I invite you to visit my Gift Shop.

Snow and Orange? Oh, my!

As they say "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" and indeed it is after a snowfall that blanketed our little corner of the world. Nothing can rival God's beauty.

But, inside I am still thinking orange as I work to finish my Nine Patch Quad (as you can see the name stuck).

I searched through my fabric and came up with this option for the borders. The dark color sets off the quilt top and makes the darker colors in the center pop up. The border also helps to control the brilliance of all that beautiful orange.

I squared off the top and was surprised at how little needed to be trimmed considering the unevenness of the blocks.

After sandwiching the top, batting and backing, I dove into quilting. At this point, I think all the quilting will be vertical. Will that work? I quilted some pod shapes. I don't know, are they good or bad?

Even with all my questions unanswered, I do love the way that the satin weave of the Kaufman Radiance picks up the light and emphasizes the hills and valleys created by the quilting.

Continuing on................

Linked to: Off the Wall Fridays

Tuesday's Tile

 What could I do? There it was.

After I finished putting together my nine patch blocks that I showed you last Friday, there was one extra piece. It was a colorful, fun piece that called to me. Over and over again.....

I mean, could you resist this piece?

Well, actually, it was accompanied by a second piece.

My project top was completed. Shouldn't I just throw these remnants away and be done?

The piece that I am fighting with grew too large for my nine patch, but...

when I measured it, it was just the right size for a Quilter's Tile.

OK, Little Scrap, you win!

You will become a Quilter's Tile.

A bit more piecing was needed to enlarge the solid piece of Kaufman Radiance fabric to the needed 8" size.

Another scrap would provide the width to make a tile 8" x 8".

After stitching the sections together I realized there was bubbling along one seam line. On more forgiving cotton patterned fabrics, this may not be a problem. On the Radiance that catches the light so beautifully, this area will always stand out as a mistake. There would be no camouflaging it with my quilting stitches. 

So the stitching came out.

And was restitched.

Now, how will I quilt this?

Moving Straight From A to B?

Do you move straight from A to B? Do you continue from start to finish on one project at a time? There are moments when I do. There are times when the task needs to be done in a certain time frame and there can be no deviations.

More often, I wander. I wander from one project to another. It could be due to a creative stumbling block. It could be due to a lack of a certain material needed to complete the project. Or it could be the project simply got crowded out by another more pressing job.

This week, I wandered back to my improv nine patch.

It was time to add to this project by making more 9 patch blocks. This was such a fun project, why did I leave it? What pulled me away?

No worry, I am back again. Back at making fun little squares to alternate with my pumpkin Radiance fabric.

Another mate to the first.

Then a block with opposite placement

and a second.

Then put them all together into a Nine Patch Quad.  

Oh, I think it just named itself. We'll see if the name sticks.

Now back to the corner for you. I have some Christmas shopping to do.

Linked to: Off the Wall Fridays

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.

Tuesday's Tile - Looking at a New Age

Quilter's Tile - "Looking at a New Age"

8" x 8"

©2012 - Sharon V. Rotz

Some Quilter's Tiles happen quickly. An idea may come and I jump on it and it is finished before I know it. Other Quilter's Tiles are the product of several adventures with different techniques.

The background of this tile was painted with Dye-Na-Flow paints some time ago. Later, I bought some Lumiere Metallic paints and another bit was added.

The borders are added using Kaufman Radiance silk fabric. They have a wonderful reflective quality that adds highlights to your quilt. The fabric blended beautifully with the shine of the metallic paint. 

I especially liked the contrast of the olive borders with the hand-dyed turquoise (lovely fabric dyed by Frieda Anderson). 

I machine quilted some areas of the quilt and then had quiet moments while I relaxed and added hand embroidery stitches. Love making those cute little french knots.

Not all finished in a flash, but a slow process as I meandered from technique to technique. 

Details

Whether the details are made up of piecing, applique, or quilted lines, they will draw the viewer in for that all important second look. In this case, I have chosen curvy lines that fill in an invisible circle. The fabric used in this piece is Robert Kaufman Radiance silk/cotton blend. The sheen of the fabric is enlivened by the rise and fall of the fabric due to the quilting stitches.

The completed piece is a another of my art quilts that combine abstract and realistic elements from nature. The simple design leaves room to add depth through the quilting. "Standing on the North Shore" is currently on exhibit at the Wisconsin Visual Artists' Guild Cattails and Flowers show at the Reaching New Heights Gallery, Marshfield Clinic-Weston Center.

Standing on the North Shore

25" x 25"

Sharon V. Rotz

Too Good to Cut?

If you are inspired by fabric, then you will certainly connect to these fabulous fabric collections. These are Radiance silks by Robert Kaufman Fabric Co.

Aren't they irresistible? I am definitely attracted to the rich, earthy colors. So often, fabrics in these colorways are toned down and muddy, muddy, muddy. Not my taste. I love these because of their pure, rich color.

The next question is "Will I be able to cut into them, or will I be caught in a web just touching them, "petting them", and admiring the colors?"

How many fabrics do you own that you have not cut into yet because you love them too much? If you use them today, you may find a better idea tomorrow and your fabric will be gone. Tell me you haven't been caught in this trap.