Project: Using Batiks

-

Just Completed a Flower Garden

 


Last September I started doodling the beginnings of this quilt in my idea journal; this project has been fermenting in my imagination for quite a while. On November first, I finally plucked up the courage to put the idea to fabric using the batiks in my fabric stash. It was finished the day before Thanksgiving. 

This quilt was paper pieced by hand. In this process the shape is cut from freezer paper, ironed on to the fabric, and cut with 1/4 inch extra on all edges so the seam allowance can be folded over the paper. The shape is placed over another prepared piece with right sides together and seamed with a whip stitch. Then the seam of the joined pieces is pressed flat and ready for the next addition. Before a quilt is sandwiched with batting and the backing, the freezer paper templates are easily removed and can even be reused.

This is a detail of the wrong side of the quilt showing pieces joined together with paper templates intact:

The paper template has been removed from the top green piece on the right. 


The modest size of this quilt can be credited for its faster than usual turn around time. Measuring 25x35, it is the right size for a wall hanging,- it wouldn't keep anybody warm at night. 

I still have lots of batiks left, so I consider this the prototype for future quilts.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

The Huntington- Galleries (3 of 3)

-
Image
If you're not into gardens, or there's just so much sun you can tolerate, there are plenty of indoor galleries to visit at our destination spot. After all we're talking about The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. ( https://huntington.org/ ) The gallery exhibits cover a wide range of art movements, styles, and periods. (In fact this would be a great place to study millinery designs for women's hats. LOL)  This vast collection is not exclusively one of painting.  Many art forms and disciplines are represented. And it's really interesting to have divergent styles to compare and contrast in one visit. We happily stumbled on the American Art Galleries. Walking into this room felt like coming home, with it's nod to American quilts and textiles.   This yarn sewn rug attributed to Hannah Rosina Maynard Phillips stood out to me. Loved the rich colors and the intricate floral design.  Contrast Hannah's piece with this one by artist Cai Guo-Qiang a
Read more
-
Ability to be Creative Ability , ( noun )- aptitude, intelligence, innate qualities, powers, potency, talent, capability, competence, proficiency, knowledge, technique, craft, skill, dexterity, artistry, facility, mastery, experience,understanding, faculty This is a partial listing of the synonyms for the word "ability" in Webster's New World Thesaurus . It seems to me that these words can be divided into two categories. The first category would be nouns which people generally think of as qualities that come naturally to the individual-  "innate qualities" . I propose that everyone has intelligence, capability, dexterity, even artistry, though some might say people possess them in varying degrees, and in different combinations. But isn't that called "individuality"? Now consider the second group of words. These are nouns that can be acquired: knowledge, experience, technique, skills, mastery . These are things you have with practice !
Read more

The Huntington- Textures & Colors (2 of 3)

-
Image
  There is so much to visually take in when you're surrounded by the natural beauty at The Huntington! Whether you soak in the vibrant colors and incredible textures of the many floral species, . . .  Or you pull back to absorb the magnificent collective textures created in the various themed gardens like the bamboo forest: or the cactus garden: There are also subtle color palettes created in garden displays that include a variety of plants: And then there are the man made textures that are thoughtfully scattered throughout the gardens: Plenty of inspiration for, say, quilt textures, and color choices; even shapes and design elements to borrow for future projects.
Read more