Our Guild Summer Challenge

Landscape Fiction Inspired by Chris Doyle

Our assignment was to layer brights of some 

natural element over a deep toned wonky background

and then

outline an additional natural element over the top.

This was a lot of fun that I made another

of flowers (cone, cosmos & lavender) in my summer garden.

Bee Blocks for Judy . . . .

It's so good to back in this Bee again!!

Judy sent us the most organized package I have ever seen.

Each piece numbered and grouped together for each block.

I need to get my act together!

Hope you like the blocks Judy. ox

Lucky Bee Quilt

Pieced, quilted, bound. Thank you lucky bee members! I quilted in the ditch around the blue. Then I wasn't sure how to quilt the rest. I finally took a salad plate and outlined a circle in each of the squares and quilted the circles. I find that when I get to the quilting part I tend to hurry it. I have to keep reminding myself --slow and steady.

Quilting...

I'm slow, and not very consistent (yet?), but I'm making progress on my hand quilting of my favorite work in progress. I had some lovely sewing time at sunset yesterday:

 I'm mostly happy with how it's turning out:

I'm linking up with Jess's Monday Morning Star Count: I have quilted approximately one twentieth of the entire quilt? Probably less... it will be a great fall project!
Happy sewing, everyone~

Self-portrait block for Ellen

It seems that I am the odd man out with my bee block for Ellen.  I was inspired to try a scrappy block inspired by a classic silhouette instead of a more traditional portrait.  (It seemed like a good idea before everyone else started posting their stunningly detailed portraits.)  At least it will give the quilt a touch of variety.

Lucky Bee 13

For Ellen ...

Instead of aiming for a realistic self-portrait,

I went back to my childhood & remembered

how much fun I had designing outfits for paper dolls.

Endless play!!!

(And how about playing Mr Potato Head!)

Ellen's Block

I made this more difficult than it had to be. I should have chosen a less detailed photo. I used steam-a seam for the little pieces. Half-way through I realized I didn't have to use all  the tiny pieces…and second realization--I am NOT Rachel! (Although I wish I could be half as good as she is.) This was a fun project. Thank you Ellen.

Ellen's Block

Ellen asked us to create a "self portrait" (10 1/2 x 12 1/2) based on a photo... her parameters were very liberal... realistic, abstract, simple, complex etc.  I found this project daunting but fun ... always good to be stretched out of comfort zone, now and then.   Obviously I didn't read her caution about "reversing" one's subject... and as I got further along, I found myself "skipping" a few details (never one to take too long to do a project!)  Anyway, flattering or not, here it is, Ellen... and thank you for the challenge!

Lucky Bee 13

Progress!

Loving the blocks given to me in April!

And I've added a whole bunch more!

It was a challenge figuring out how to assemble

once the quarter blocks were put together.

My first plan which was not to sew on borders

didn't work ... just looked too chaotic.

Here are the 3 panels ready to be sandwiched & quilted separately.

When that's done I'll join them.

Can you find your blocks?

They are all in here somewhere!

Bound!

So I have finished binding my favorite work in progress:

Thanks for the wool batting, Rachael! The quilt is so light, I love the way it floats across my lap as I work on it. And thanks so much to Helen and Jess for helping me baste the pieces together, and for teaching me how to hand quilt. I am so excited to start! I will periodically post progress to Jess' Monday Morning Star Count, but I'm sure it will be quite a while until I'm done. Happy sewing, everyone~