Yellow Stuff

Sometimes--like lately when I have to shovel snow every other day--I just need a visual reminder that better weather is on the (very distant) horizon. Got out my flip flops and scrubbed them till they shined like the sun. Think warm thoughts.

Orchidaceous

Orchids are such flamboyant flowers. Why not assemble a funky fabric version of a wild and wacky orchid? Here's a detail shot of an unconventional color combo. Note how the yellow fabric is fussy cut to take advantage of rather natural color shading.

Let's talk quilt backs. How about using up the leftover fabrics from the quilt top to create a unique statement on the back? Yes, it takes more time but it's therapeutic--no pattern to follow.

Yellow Stuff

This is Splash. The only connection this critter has with quilting is that she's on a shelf in my studio and she makes me smile.

If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. ~Andy Rooney

Celebration

It's another gray January day in Chicagoland. How about a splash of color? Celebration is a wildly colored quilt adapted from a softly colored stained glass window by Richard Diens (used by permission) seen at Navy Pier in Chicago.


As the flowers dance around the circle, the quilting lines continue the illusion of motion.

The central motif is more like spokes in a wheel. Here the quilting emphasizes the radial lines.

Yellow Stuff

The outdoor thermometer registered in the single digits this morning. Another good day to stay inside, have a cup of tea and attach a binding to my latest quilt.


Now to decide on my brew: strawberry passion fruit, lemon zinger, India chai spice or peach. Perhaps I'll go with lemon zinger--the box is yellow!

Little Fabric Hugs

As mentioned in the last post, I am slightly changing my focus now to smaller quilts. Smaller quilt = easier to handle = hopefully a less frustrating free motion experience. In addition to small competition quilts I started making mini quilts (about 36"square) to donate to Wheels for the World, a wheelchair recycling program which collects, restores, and distributes wheelchairs to disabled people in developing countries. The little quilts will be given to some of the wheelchair recipients. Here are a couple examples:



Just 25 (6") squares plus a border. With the self binding technique the backing is folded to the front, eliminating the time-consuming traditional binding.

The quilting is extra large and moves along quickly.


I have no lack of fabric for the tops but needed backs and batts so off I went to Joann Fabrics where they had 50% off batting and Red Dot clearance fabric, plus I had an additional 20% off coupon on top of that. What a deal. I hauled home 100 yards of fabric and a whole bolt (40 yards) of batting. That should keep me out of trouble for awhile.

What a joy to work on these fast-to-make minis. There are no juries and judges critiquing my work. My abundant stash of fabric is being put to good use and I'm getting valuable free motion practice. Best of all, someone overseas will get a little fabric hug from me in the form of a comfy, colorful quilt. It's a win win.