Forward motion

I have been fussing with Cloister Garden until I doubt there is room for more. There are two voices in my head, one says EDIT the other says go all the way and farther. Somewhere in the middle is the end of this design process. I'm ready to quilt it, esp before I start to lose interest. So far so good:

The quilting will bring out the cloister bldgs and help to balance the strength of the flowers. I believe. This is my second full on raw edge fussy cut quilt and I'm still teaching myself  how to do it.

I'm also working on a couple of small lap size contemporary quilts. One is utilizing some Pennsylvania Dutch fabrics I happened to pick up in my fabric ramblings:

I will want an Amish or PA Dutch style of patchwork so we'll see where this goes...probably simple...it is destined to be hand quilted in my 18" hoop. I'v gone through 3 different hand quilting projects, looking for a satisfying experience. I hope this is it or it will go in the pile of 'yet to be quilted' quilts. The idea for this quilt dawned on me while rummaging for the fabrics for this other lap sized contemporary:

This one will be a log cabin variation using those flowers each for the center of each block. This one could go either way, machine or hand quilting. Much will depend on how many seams there are. It's still just an idea but I am going to cut out those flower squares, next, no matter what. It's the best use of that 1/4 yard which is the most common size I buy.

Here is one of my earliest quilts, made for a doll bed about 2001:

I know it's not close up but it might be my first free motion machine quilting, on the border, which makes it more likely 2000. I was in love with pink and brown quilts for a while there! My mom has my Chocolate Covered Cherry quilt on her bed, along with another I'd made for my step dad. None are actually bed sized. I just dont have the patience or the room. My very first quilt was a miniature 9 patch. I'm comfortable expressing myself in smaller sizes.

Wishing you the celebration of Light!!

Love, Sue

The Solstice Approacheth

Soon it will be the solstice, and so we begin to celebrate the returning of the light. My nod to the season is my big wreath out front, wired with lights glowing. I'll leave it on 24/7 til March, or as close to spring as John can stand it. I love to celebrate the season of light in every way I can. Am thinking of paper snowflake garlands and as we get a bit closer I may indulge in making a few lengths.

The first thing I did when I came home was to make changes to Cloister Garden. It went from this:

to this:

There's more but you get the idea. I'm about to layer the sandwich with basting spray and then finish the surface design. I have lots of quilting ideas and that is hugely encouraging. It also says I'm on the right path. I feel that way with this quilt.

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I also sandwiched up a quilt I made at a Kaffe Fassett workshop in MI about 10 years ago. I started to big stitch hand quilt it but changed my mind and took it all out when we got home:

Instead I will machine quilt it. I feel confidence now that I didn't before and so it's in process. In line behind the yellow hand dyed quilt.

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I want to announce a new Quiltart challenge that I am hosting:

2015 Quiltart Challenge "Patterns in Nature"
Due: February 28 2015

An unconventional challenge with no boundaries aside from these definitons of 'art and 'quilt':

Art: the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
Quilt: Quilting "refers to the technique of joining at least two fabric layers by stitches or ties. In most cases, two fabric layers surround a middle layer of batting (cotton, polyester, silk, wool or combinations of fibers) which is a lighter, insulating layer."

Please reference this web page to peruse options to express Patterns in Nature:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patterns_in_nature

Choose your pattern(s) and use unconventional means and methods to sew it together and then quilt it.

The materials are as varied as your imagination: thread, yarn, beads, paper, feathers, lace, cardboard, metal, findings, plastic, anything goes if you can make it go. Are you telling a story or sharing a vision? Does it hang on the wall or is it free standing?

 Be thinking about why you do what you do, so that you can offer an artist statement. Be brief, add your name and location and email/webaddress and send with the finished pictures to me no later than Feb 28 2015.

Send them to me at:
Please use only your original images.
No size requirement. The only requirement is that it must meet the standard of a quilt: 2-3 layers held together with sewing/tieing. Your materials may be as varied as your imagination.

Email me if you're interested in participating.

Kind regards
Sue Kaufman
Drums PA
suzkpa@yahoo.com




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I'll be linking up to Nina Marie again, on her blog for Off the Wall Friday:


http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Wishing you light in the season of darkness.

Sue

This has been an exciting week! Our Quiltart challenge, Dia de los Muertos 2014, has been published this week, and can be seen here:

www.quiltart.com/dia

My own piece, 'My Ofrenda' along with my statement about my inspiration and methods can be seen along with the 15 other artists who responded to the theme of the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, celebrated Oct 31 - Nov 2, particularly Nov 2, or All Souls Day:

    
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Here are a few pictures of my kitchen work spaces:

I love my kitchen/studio/nursery/workspace. It's small. We live in a smallish cottage and even so I really think I have the best of all worlds except a dedicated eating table. We are casual here. It's all good until the cats want to bask under the lights on top of whatever I'm working on.

What I'm working on:

Cloister Garden is almost there. It is very fluid til its quilted down.  I already see a change that will happen. This part is fun for me, but somehow, as usual, I feel like I'm doing the process backwards. I've cut large background rectangles which means unpinning most of it, but I shouldn't complain because I am happy while doing it. Then the sandwiching, and then the quilting begins. It's moving right along. I have the Sacred Threads deadline in mind.

Here is Fritzy, one of our cats. She and Smokie drink from the glass pitcher on the window sill and pretty much no where else. They are fascinated with running water but not fans of being wet:

They will be nine years old next month. They'd been abandoned in the street out front and we found them and they moved in.

I'm linking to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday, where there are lots of current blogs to peruse!
 
http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

In the season of giving thanks, I wish you peace.

Sue

New work this week

Hello friends! I thought I would give you a look at what Im working on this week. It is so helpful, objectively, to look at photos of progress.

We went to the storage unit for some books and hand dyes that I knew were there, somewhere. It's amazing how a 5X10 unit can still take forever to search through! Its mostly all my books and bookcases, because of remodeling the cottage. There in the far corner, at the very bottom of the last milk crate, was 'We the Living', by Ayn Rand. It is my favorite of her work, and the inspiration for a white on white minimalist kind of art quilt that has been in the back of my mind for over a decade. I am closer to starting it, but not yet. The book I will read for the 3rd time starting this week.

I also wanted some hand dyes, tie dyes really, that I thought might be good for big stitch hand quilting, and found 3, although not the one I wanted. Here is the one I chose for the project:

I use a spray basting method that works like a charm, for machine or hand quilting. My favorite spray is Alene's Crystal Clear Tacky Spray. I can't always find it, but over the past few years there has been a burst of similar products on the market so I dont have trouble finding one for my purpose without too much trouble. Here are the steps I take: Iron top and backing and lay out backing on a surface that is protected and washable. I use my bed and then wash the top blanket. Spray the backing thoroughly and lay the batting on top, smoothing it nicely. Then I iron it, backing side up. I rarely iron batting although I sometimes will hit it with steam from my iron and hover over it (only cotton, never poly or wool). Take the ironed back and batt back to the bed, batting side up. Spray the batting thoroughly. Lay the top carefully over the batt, smoothing again. You can reposition once or twice without messing up the batting. Then a thorough ironing, both sides, til it is crispy smooth and neat all around. I let it cure for a while, some hours to a full day, then sew away! I have made a number of small to lap sized quilts this way and I love it.

The other piece I'm working on this week is a tapestry of broderie perse, or fussy cut appliques. I want to try for Sacred Threads, and so the inspiration is a cloister garden. I've added some of my Spoonflower prints, and have been alternately delighted and despairing all week as I attempt to put the puzzle together. I intend to cover the entire surface with cut pieces of fabrics and then quilt the whole thing down once I complete the surface. I used a similar method for my Dia de los Muertos and was so happy with the outcome, it made me wish I'd been working with that method for longer. Here is a picture of the progress:

I want to fill the open spaces with greenery and flowery fabrics. I refuse to despair, even though I doubt myself pretty regularly. If I ignore it for a day or two usually an idea or two will occur to me, and I try again. Having finished the day of the dead piece has really encouraged me to continue moving forward with this idea.

Speaking of Dia de los Muertos 2014, we should be seeing the full results of our challenge uploaded quite soon, maybe even by the end of the night tonight. I know it is in good hands! Thanks again to all who participated! Can't wait to see them.

I wish you love

Sue

Hello quilting friends!

Now that Dia de los Muertos is finished and on its way in the world I turned my attention to my work space. I hit a blank wall with the purple and orange 'winged square' quilt after I added the 1/2" dk purple border, so I hung it on the wall where I can study it for a while:

Once I hung it up I saw exactly how I could quilt the large lavendar areas. That made me really happy. Beside it is the peach begonia that put on such a sumptuous show this summer.

In order to make room for winged square to hang on the wall I had to take down :

The fabric its lying on is the backing I pulled for it. First I will do more surface design contrast work, and then it gets the sandwich treatment. Then I'll add a border cut from the lighter backing material. I think I'll use 2 shades of purple and a grey for the quilting. For starters!

I cleaned and oiled my sturdy old Bernina, she is strong and tough and ready to continue quilting this personal favorite quilt that is also all hand dye and tie dye:

Above, the yellow tie dye quilt is lying on top of the third quilt I ever made. I was/am in love with Kaffe Fassett and it is one of his patterns. It was my first machine made quilt and the only bed size quilt I've made but its been on the bed at one layer or another since we were married, April 8, 2000.

I enjoy quilting this yellow quilt, it's happy yellow is a favorite and lifts my spirits. I feel peaceful while I'm working on it. It is called "New Native American".

I moved my cacti indoors for the winter and they are keeping me company across the back of the countertop. Under the ironing board/table el are begonia and geranium that I'll over winter in the cool kitchen with us. The sun shines on them every afternoon for a while and they seem very happy. Some are in bloom and have been for weeks. A few are gifts given years ago. They are good working companions:

If thats not enough, I have the front and back of a 36 X 36 white wholecloth to be handquilted waiting at the back of my ironing board for a good jumping off point for the center. Art makes life good. I think once January gets here I will mix some dyes and see what happens. Hopefully nothing to the white wholecloth! I have a pile of different cottons and linens and the sugar feedsacks and maybe there will be batik involved. Mulling.

I wish you peace!

Sue

Making an art quilt for the Outside My Window challege

The Quiltart list is talking blogs at the moment. Perfect reason for a new post! 

I thought I would show a little of my inspiration for a challenge I participated in on the Quiltart list last spring. The challenge is called  'Outside my Window'.

 This is the view I see from my kitchen window. Just the lowest shrubs have leaves so this is mid April, still chilly out, and late afternoon, perhaps 5:00 pm. There is an evergreen ground cover growing back there that was planted decades ago and has naturalized since then. It is center left, mid ground.

 I had trouble with the angled trees, although they are plentiful, because for some reason they detracted from what I perceived was the beauty of the view. This was an early version:

Boring! Looks a bit like a Grecian temple =:o I knew there were good bones there so I didn't give up!

Here is the finished version:

I woke up one morning with the plan for the rolled blind at the top all settled in my head. All the pieces came together easily and it was a joy to work on.

Thanks, Quiltart list, for the encouragement to be involved! I had a good time!

Quiltart

It always feels good when everything comes together, like an open door, or window, letting the flow move unimpeded. I know retirement has freed up something vital in me and I'm grateful for that feeling...a certain lack of anxiety...because I'm enjoying artmaking so much more than ever before!

I wish you freedom

Sue
suzkpa@yahoo.com

 https://www.facebook.com/suzkpa

 Welcome, everyone!

 I've created this new blog with an idea of hosting online quilt shows. Our first challenge is Dia de los Muertos 2014, and is being followed by the artists on the listgroup over at Quiltart.com. I'm very excited about this challenge and am having great fun as  my piece comes together! I'm going to share some random pictures to test the ability of the blog to handle multiple photos and text, so bear with me. Here is a sample of recent work, newest (tonight) to oldest (started last winter)

All of these are going on in my kitchen, where I do most of my work. I finished 2 baby quilts in July and now its time to wrap some of these up too! It takes me much longer to decide how to quilt a quilt than any other thing. After years of hesitation and procrastination Ive realized....just do it. If I can work on two things in the same day I feel like I'm staying ahead of it. Who am I kidding? I love to be surrounded by so many of my babies in progress.

Thanks for taking a minute with me, helping me to break in the new blog!

Sue