Improv quilt using ombre leftovers - part 4 - Top Complete

This is a continuation of 3 previous posts about the making of an improv quilt using leftover ombre fabric.

I sewed all of the extender pieces to the vertical rows and added the little bits of striped fabric here and there.  I added a 3" border around the the sides.  Actually, I'm not sure that I want to leave the border on the top and bottom....there seems to be too much fabric between the improv blocks and the border.   It's now 51" x 64".   Anyway, here it is:

Later - I didn't like the empty space on the top and bottom, so I shorted both ends.  It's now 58-1/2" L x 51" W.  

I like it much better and hope you do too?

Ombre leftover quilt - part 3

This is a continuation of two previous posts about the making of the improv quilt from ombre leftovers.

I got the interesting idea to insert little pieces of fabric between the rows of the background ombre fabric.  I did a sample with 3/4" wide striped fabric and cut at 1-1/2" long, 2" long, and 3" long.  I like the longer one the best.  It was a little tricky to make them but I think that the effect will be interesting in the quilt.

I ran out of the first piece of ombre fabric in the darker turquoise area and had to use my second piece of ombre fabric that went from turquoise to orange.  I cut strips to match the widths of the vertical rows, and then 3" wide pieces for a border that really enhances the ombre effect.  This was just all pinned to the design board at this point, but it's worth showing you my ideas.

And I just can't help but show you a cartoon from Pickles by Brian Crane on October 25, 2024 that I thought was SO funny.

Anyway, hope you get a few giggles and like where the quilt is going so far!

Garden Lady #9 - FINAL - Caretaker

This is a continuation of three previous posts and is the final one about the making of Garden Lady #9.

After stitching the lady to the background, I did some thread work on the hair and did some shading with colored pencil.

It was finally time to quilt the entire piece with the backing. I know that it seems strange after all of the stitching that was done already, but I really wanted to mash down the background and get the foreground to pop.  Here is the final quilt.  I named it "Caretaker".

It is 32" W x 49" H.

I hope you like it!

Granddaughter went to the Clark County Quilter's Guild Meeting

Our 11-year old granddaughter spent the night with us recently and it just so happened to be the same night as our local Clark County Quilter's Guild meeting.  She could have stayed home with Grandpa, but she decided to go with me.  

On the way, I told her that it was going to be a room full of old ladies, and she said that was fine.  We had a quilt to hold up for show and tell and I asked her to help me hold it up.  She was fine with that too.  I introduced her to a bunch of friends before we sat down.  And at one point, she introduced herself to a member sitting in front of us.  I was talking to someone to the left of me and didn't hear or see any of her conversation.  So, I was quite surprised when one of our lifetime members, Lorraine Spreadborough, posted this on our Facebook page.

And that says it all about our sweet little Granddaughter, Arielle Taylor.

Ombre leftover quilt - part 2

This is a continuation of a previous post about the making of an improv quilt with the leftover ombre fabric.

I thought it might help to show you how I do some of the steps.  I've already sewn the first 3 rungs of this piece.  So, here is how I add the last piece to "square" up the block.  I place the curved edge on top of the next piece, both face up.  I cut the curve through to match the previous one.  The new piece should overhang just a bit on the lower edge.  The pieces are separated to remove any of the cut-off pieces.

Then I match them back up and flip the top piece over the curved piece and pin about 2" from the leading edge.  I place a few more pins to match up the edges until I reach the leading end (at the top in the picture).   I don't pin the rest of the curve.

I start sewing with a narrow seam, removing the pins as I sew.

When I reach the end of the pins, I use my fingers to gently match up the edges, but only an inch or so at a time.  I'm very careful not to stretch either piece.

This is what the piece looks like after it's sewn.  I flip it over and press the seam towards the outer edge.  It wants to go that direction most of the time.  I do use a light spray starch and try again not to stretch things as I go.

The piece does need to be "squared" up after sewing and pressing because all of the bias edges move around.  I don't try to make it the final size until I know where it is going to fit into the quilt.

I placed this one up on the design wall and knew that I needed to add a strip of fabric to fit the other pieces in the row.  I cut this one oversize and sewed it to the block.

I sewed it to the previous block and then trimmed it to fit.  No measuring first...sew first, then trim!

Here it is all trimmed.

And here it is up on the design wall.

Here is the piece with all of the vertical strips sewn.  Now I have to figure out how to sew the background ombre fabric.

I hope you like it so far!

Garden Lady # 9 - Part Three

This is a continuation of 2 previous posts about the making of Garden Lady #9.

I started on the applique lady by working on the hair.  I found a good picture of a ponytail that I used for the pattern.

Here is the hair that will be used as the base before the detail stitching.  I always try to remember at this stage, that this is an art quilt and not a photograph.  

Then I made the shirt.  I used a cool little blue and white stripe and enhanced it with inking and directional cutting.

Next were the legs, wheelbarrow, skirt, and arms.  Sorry, I forgot to take pictures along the way.  When I get in the zone, I'm totally immersed

The pieces were pinned, then fused to the background, and then sewn down with an invisible zig-zag stitch.

I hope you still like it so far!

Garden Lady # 9 - Part Two

This is a continuation of a post about the making of Garden Lady #9.

I continued to cut out blobs and strips of fabric for the background of this piece.  When the top part was all covered, I added a layer of gray organza.  This was quilted loosely and trimmed.  I wanted the top to blur and fade, and a layer of organza does this perfectly.

The next step was to cover the lower half of the background.  I used some of my hand dyed material, and then did my chop and drop collage method of adding details to the garden areas.  I used some darker wool roving to make a shadow by the feet, and added threads, snippets of organza, yarn, antique trims, and thread.  This was all covered with green tulle and quilted.  Again, I did all of this without a backing.  

I copied the figure of the gardener and pinned it in place.  Here is what it looks like with the paper pattern on the background.  I know that there is something lost with all of the goodness that will get covered up.  But I've tried to only cover the areas that will show and then have discovered that not all areas were covered, and that the foreground figure is stuck in place.  I like to be able to place the garden ladies where they look best.

I hope you like it so far!