A QAL Project For Me, Day 4

Day 4

Mystery-QAL-Day-Four-Things-To-Do.jpg

My mapped-out outline for Day 4, as shown above, was to continue the process of creating additional building blocks. Yet to be explored was the construction of curved pieces. I originally learned how to make these while studying Rayna Gillman’s book Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts: A Stress-Free Journey to Original Design. With the mindset that we should strive to continually learn new things, I decided to explore Cindy’s techniques for curved strips.

Beginning on page 56 she walks her reader through the six easy steps. Each time I have attempted to make these I have grown to better understand the method.

Mystery-QAL-Day-Four-Curved-Pieces-Before-Sewing
Mystery QAL Day 4, Curved Pieces Before Sewing

Here are four strips waiting to be sewn together. Its hard to imagine how they can be be stitched but it really works.

Mystery-QAL-Day-Four-Stitched-Curved Strips
Mystery QAL Day 4, Stitched Curved Strips

This is how the strips looked after they were sewn together and the photo below shows how they looked after being pressed.

Mystery-QAL-Day-Four-Pressed-Curved-Strips
Mystery QAL Day 4, Pressed Curved Strips

Using four different color combinations I was able to end up with eight brand new curved strips.

With the curved strips finally tackled it was time to make a commitment on some of the auditioned fabrics. Shown below are two of the blocks that received new borders.

One More Project

Mystery-QAL-Day-Four-Pieced-Strips
Mystery QAL Day Four, Pieced Strips
Mystery_QAL_Fabrics
Fabrics Selected for My Mystery QAL Piece

Before calling it quits for the day I decided to stitch together one very long strip of pieced fabrics to be used as a building block for future units. When choosing the colors I tried to make certain I used as many of my previously selected fabrics as possible.

Let’s Compare

The two photos above show a comparison of Day 3 and Day 4’s progress. Day 4 definitely looks more crowded and shows a lot more activity.

Here’s a recap of Day 4 as per my notes.

Mystery-QAL-Day-4-Recap.jpg

Did you see the comment labeled #11? I think it’s funny that I thought it was pertinent to include it. Who makes a note about cleaning their iron??? LOL!

Well, that’s it for today! Time to ponder my next moves.

Thank You

Thank you so much for sharing your time with me! I love receiving your comments and interacting with you. Your participation makes this journey more interesting than you could ever imagine. I look forward to each of our visits. 🙂

Talk with you soon!

logo_101417_2

A QAL Project For Me, Day 3

Mystery-QAL-Day-Three-Progress.jpg

I’m so excited to share more of my Mystery QAL adventures. I’m using Cindy Grisdela’s book  titled Artful Improv: Explore Color Recipes, Building Blocks & Free-Motion Quilting as a reference. This is Day 3!

A Diary

As you can see from the photo above, by the time Day 3 rolled around I had started keeping notes on my progress. I don’t always immediately share my projects on my blog; without notes and photos I would have a hard time remembering what I did on any given day. Writing about my progress gives me a wonderful opportunity to document my art pieces; to record part of my own history.

These posts are a great place for me to refer back to. I can revisit them at anytime to analyze my outcomes and learn from my disappointments; one could say this is my public diary.

I chose to write my notes on recycled paper. I buy my batting by the roll. As the material unfurls a continuous feed of brown paper accumulates. Rather than toss the paper into a re-cycle bin I roll it up and save it for future use.

When I decided to begin taking notes I thought it would be fun to use the saved paper. So, that’s why you will be seeing most of my notes written on the brown paper. Now back to Day 3.

Mystery-QAL-Day-Three-Design-Wall
Day 3 of my Mystery QAL Project

Day 3

Shared above is a photo of my design wall at the end of Day 3. The board saw many, many versions before I called it a day. The most noticeable changes are the eight filler fabrics I decided to audition. There is one in the top left corner. Just to the right of that is a lime green piece under one of my angled blocks and there is another bright green fabric resting beneath a severed strip from one my angled pieces blocks. I’ll let you find the other five. Also new on the board is three additional improv circle blocks, and a few new angled strip blocks.

Each one of the new additions helped to reinvent my evolving art piece. I was very happy with my progress and so thrilled with the color combinations.

Before we continue lets talk a little bit about the improv circle blocks. The improv circle blocks have turned out to be one of my new-found favorite techniques. I’m so amazed at how four squares of differently colored fabrics can be turned into such interesting designs.

I don’t know why I haven’t thought about using this method to create such interesting circles. Maybe it’s because my focus typically is directed toward angular lines rather than curves. Both, meaning circles and curved lines, if not repeated adequately throughout an original art piece could demand all of the eye’s attention. Typically that is not an artist’s desired outcome. But oh how much impact they can have when used properly.

In the quilt pattern world there are many beautiful quilt blocks. Some of the blocks are labor intensive. In contrast, with the wonky circles it takes relatively very little time to turn squares of fabric into an abstract design. This abstract design adds just as much punch, in my eyes. 🙂 Of course you could say my opinion is ever so slightly slanted toward the abstract direction. 🙂 Don’t get me wrong…I think quilts created from patterns, with specific intended dimensions demand just as much praise as my wonky creations. I just happen to prefer abstract art. Moving on!

Well, that’s it for today! Time to ponder my next moves.

Thank You

Thank you so much for sharing your time with me! I love receiving your comments and interacting with you. Your participation makes this journey more interesting than you could ever imagine. I look forward to each of our visits. 🙂

Talk with you soon!

logo_101417_2

AQ # 5: Sunrise (An Update)

One of My Favorites

Sunrise, Art Quilt # 5has always been one of my favorites. While small in stature, measuring only 11 7/8″ x 8″, it’s visual impact makes it appear much larger. This piece has a prominent place in my home where I can see and enjoy it every day.

Beading Class

I participated in a beading class in early June at the QSDS held in Ohio at the Columbus College of Arts. This was not my first art quilt beading class. In fact it was the third time I took a class with this teacher. The instructor was Lisa Binkley.

Sunrise
Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise
What to Pack?

Before packing for my trip I was supposed to decide which quilt I wanted to embellish. I found the decision difficult to make because I had so many wonderful available options. Rather than make the selection on my own I chose to take along several small pieces. I figured the instructor, with her many years of experience, would help be decide. Through a process of elimination I chose Sunrise (pictured above) as my candidate for embellishment.

Bead Box
Beads galore from various vendors
Also traveling with me was this box of beads. I have been collecting them for the sole purpose of enhancing art quilts. I have absolutely no intention of making jewelry.

A Tour

Now let’s take a tour of the textures and adornments added to my mini art quilt.

Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise (view of right side)
Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise with added seed stitch
I added a variety of beads as well as stitching to my Sunrise quilt. First to be incorporated was a seed stitch. Using a variegated thread I filled in the yellow areas of the white dotted fabric.

Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise (side view of top left corner)
Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise with lime green and teal beads
In the multi-colored strip along the left edge I added stacks of lime green and teal beads.

Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise (upper left corner)
Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise with chili pepper dangles
Traveling a little further to the right, in the vertical yellow strip with white dots, I added three groupings containing a shiny, square, blue bead connected to an orange carrot or chili pepper.

Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise (view of middle right section)
Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise with two stacks containing a teal, and orange and a teeny-tiny green bead
Just up and slightly to the right of the dangling chili pepper is a stack consisting of a teal, an orange and a teeny-tiny, lime green bead. Below that are two teal beads embossed with a copper colored bird.

Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise (view of top right corner)
Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise with three tiny teal beads
Slightly higher that those stacks are these three tiny teal beads.

Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise (view of bottom right corner)
Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise with iridescent face grouping
In the very bottom right corner is a medallion created from an iridescent blue face, five orange chili peppers linked together with teal and lime green beads.

Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise (view of bottom edge)
Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise with dangling bird beads
Along the bottom edge of the art quilt I stitched seven groupings of bird beads.

Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise, The Quilt
Art Quilt # 5: Sunrise with its many embellishments
Here’s a photo of the entire piece.

One of a Kind

With the addition of numerous embellishments this tiny, but stylish, quilt dances to the beat of its own drummer. Nowhere else on earth is there a quilt quite like this. Sunrise truly is a one-of-a-kind art piece.

Even though the process was lengthy I had a great time dressing up my Sunrise quilt. However, I don’t intend to give each of my quilts the same attention. Only the chosen few will experience this special treatment.

Did I Loose You?

I have a hunch that the guided tour we just took may have lost a few of you somewhere along the way. Sometimes my attempts at pointing out details go a bit overboard. While my ramblings make total sense to me they may sound like white noise to you. If you are one of the readers that found the excursion to be confusing don’t feel bad. I often confuse myself!  🙂 Hopefully the last photo speaks for itself.

Thank you for your visit! I look forward to hearing your comments and reactions.

Cindy Anderson