Favorite Fabrics

Articles about my favorite fabrics

Bubbles, AP # 38

| Cindy Anderson

Random Order

I’ve been meandering through my inventory of finished, original art pieces choosing and revealing them in random order. I’m normally a very organized, methodical person so this flies against my normal behavior. Perhaps it’s my way of stretching my boundaries.

Let’s get started with today’s reveal.

Another One Is Finished!

Throughout the adventure of creating blocks for my Mystery QAL art piece I created 40 different units.

  • Thirty-two of them found a home in my largest original art piece Neighbors, AP # 37,
  • Six of them make up Disjointed, AP # 36
  • One was used in At An Angle, AP # 34 and the remaining block has been called
  • Bubbles, AP # 38

Let’s Take A Look

Bubbles, AP # 38
Bubbles, AP # 38

Measuring 13 1/4” x 13 3/4” this piece is fairly small in size. I chose to single it out to be used as an individual art piece because I thought it had enough character to stand on its own. The angular lines of the center section contrast nicely with the circular movement in many of the other fabrics.

The center of the wonky log cabin block was a leftover scrap from one of my earlier art pieces. I’m glad that I saved the remnant because it makes a great addition to this one. While you wouldn’t be as familiar with the other fabrics as I am, I can identify many other connections. In a way this tiny original art piece takes me on a trip down memory lane.

Making the original art piece much larger are the surrounding two borders. The first is a shade of magenta and the second is one of the Grunge Basics fabrics named Faded Denim. I’m a big fan of the Grunge fabric line. Their mottled appearance adds so much texture to everything its added to.

The Name

I bet you can figure out why I named this piece Bubbles. That’s right; you guessed it! The circles repeated throughout many of the fabrics were the inspiration for the name. They were the first identifying trait that drew my attention.

The little bubbles brought back memories of the summers I spent with my children. I could visualize them actively blowing soap bubbles through those little plastic wands so many of us are familiar with. I know it’s probably a cheesy name but it’s the first thing that popped into my head and typically that’s usually the name I go with. There is no sense in spending too much time over-thinking it.

The Back Side

Bubbles, AP # 38 Backing
Bubbles, AP # 38 Backing

To wrap this tour up let me share a few final details. This original art piece was quilted with a straight-line motif using a variegated King Tut thread. The edges of my art piece are protected by facings fashioned from the same fabric as the backing. Also attached is a hanging sleeve and a label.

Thank YOU!

We made it through another successful original art piece reveal. I hope that you enjoyed reading the history behind Bubbles! I certainly appreciated your attention and your willingness to stick with me until the end. Thank YOU for sharing in this experience. I look forward to our next visit. 🙂

Talk with you soon!

logo_101417_2

A QAL Project For Me, Day 13

| Cindy Anderson

My Luck Day

Some may think of 13 as being an unlucky number but I think Day 13 is my lucky day! On January 1, 2018, I set out on a journey to create one Mystery QAL original art piece. Not only did I smash that goal but I surpassed it by three. Using the Fluffer Nutter You Be You fabric as my starting point I was able to harvest four new original art pieces. The main and largest piece is this one.

Mystery-QAL-Day-12-Design-Wall-2
Neighbors, AP # 37

This piece has been named Neighbors, AP # 37. The blocks of this original art piece have been stitched together. Left to achieve is the quilting, binding, etc. When I have finished these tasks I will share an update.

The other three original art pieces haven’t received as much attention. Neighbors was the main topic of the last 12 entries in this journal. Being the largest piece certainly meant it deserved the most focus. The other three projects are far smaller yet just as interesting. Their process of evolution took place much more quietly.

So, on this lucky Day # 13 let me introduce you to it’s neighbors.

My Entry

The first original art piece has been titled At an Angle, AP # 34.

At An Angle, AQ # 34-Ready for Hand Stitching
At an Angle, AP # 34-Ready for Hand Stitching

At An Angle, AQ # 34-Closeup
At An Angle, AP # 34-Closeup

At an Angle is my official entry into the Mystery QAL. A quick focus in the center section, will reveal the required fabric, Fluffer Nutter You Be You.

Next Up

Disjointed, AQ # 36-Ready for Hand Stitching
Disjointed, AP # 36-Ready for Hand Stitching

The next original art piece to be identified is the item above called Disjointed, AP # 36. This one does not meet the requirements for the Mystery QAL because it doesn’t contain the Fluffer Nutter You Be You fabric.

Disjointed, AQ # 36-A Closeup
Disjointed, AQ # 36-Closeup

Last But Not Least

The last of my three smaller pieces is this one.

Bubbles, AQ # 38, Ready for Hand Stitching
Bubbles, AP # 38-Ready for Hand Stitching

Bubbles, AQ # 38, A Closeup
Bubbles, AP # 38-A Closeup

Bubbles, AP # 38, could have very easily qualified for the Mystery QAL because it too has the Fluffer Nutter You Be You fabric. I didn’t want to complicate my entry into the QAL by declaring two projects. While this one carries the chosen fabric, it will remain as an independent item.

All Three

All three of the above original art pieces have had their facings added. Left to complete is the attachment of the hanging sleeve and label, as well as hand stitching. I will share updates for each of them when I have these tasks completed.

Thank You!

Thank YOU so much for faithfully following along on this adventure! I’m grateful for the dedication that you have shown through your continued visits and the sharing of your comments.

Talk with you soon!

logo_101417_2

A QAL Project For Me, Day 12

| Cindy Anderson

Mystery-QAL-Day-12-Agenda.jpg

To paraphrase my thought above…Woohoo! 🙂

If you didn’t or don’t want to read it, let me just say that the efforts of the last 12 days finally produced an original art piece that I was satisfied with. This meant it was time to start piecing my jigsaw together! Although I didn’t share it in my last post, before ending my day I did start strategically stitching blocks together. Not too much progress was made though.

Mystery-QAL-Day-11-Block-Mishap
Mystery-QAL Day 11, Upside-down Blocks

 

Day 12

Before starting today’s activities I took time to evaluate the photos from yesterday. As I let my eyes drift across the stitched-together blocks I discovered an issue. Two of my blocks had been sewn together upside down.

Mystery-QAL-Day-12-Oops
Mystery QAL Day 12, Block Adjustments

The above photo shows the three blocks that had been stitched to one-another. If I hadn’t found this problems it wouldn’t have been the end of the world. I’m sure, with time, I would have eventually forgotten about the mishap. Since I saw the mistake I just had to fix it.

Mystery-QAL-Day-12-Operation-Assembly

A Jigsaw Puzzle

One-by-one I stitched the remaining blocks together. The experience of  joining the pieces was unlike anything I’ve done before. I didn’t have blocks in straight rows that all had the same measurement. Each block was different in size; just like with a jigsaw puzzle. It would have been nice to be able to start at the top and move across or down a row but that just wasn’t going to work.

Some of the blocks had to be temporarily assembled with partial seams. Once the neighboring blocks were ready to be added with those I could close the seams. A few areas filler strips. I used a solid light blue fabric to fill them in. The light blue fabric makes some of the blocks look like they are floating.

Mystery-QAL-Day-12-Design-Wall-2
Mystery QAL Day 12, All Stitched Together

The above photo shows my original art piece all stitched together.

Simply Amazing!

Watching my original art piece come together was so exciting. I had been so accustomed to seeing the blocks as individual units. As they were brought together into one cohesive piece I could hardly contain my approval. To say that I was over-the-moon excited would be putting it mildly!

Assembling my jigsaw puzzle took all day to complete. With this step finally finished it was time to contemplate quilting. That decision was better left for another day.

Thank You!

You have been so faithful at following along on this journey! I’m grateful for the dedication that you have shown through your continued visits and the sharing of your comments. For your continued support I say Thank YOU!

Talk with you soon!

logo_101417_2