Seams French

My absence from the "blogisphere" does not equal idle stitching hands. Currently there are  7 or 8 boutis projects on the go, all in various stages of development. Progress (although slow) is being made on my whole cloth silk quilt, there's been a little bit of "scrap busting" happening, and even some fun summertime sewing. Updates on those in future posts. But last week, I participated in an energetic, productive, fun-filled quilting workshop in La Conner, Washington called "Curves and Compositions with Yukata cottons". La Conner, WA is a pretty little waterfront town, half way between Vancouver and Seattle. The five day workshop is organized and taught by Patricia Belyea of OKAN Arts . Patricia imports and sells vintage Japanese textiles called "yukata" cottons, around which we based the designs for our quilts. Patricia Belyea of OKAN Arts. "Yukatas" are 15" wide, hand-dyed cottons, traditionally used...

When I first started dabbling with machine quilting in the late 90's, it was a quick means to a finished quilt. The machine quilting was very basic and simple. It was utilitarian and nothing more. It was after I became acquainted with Diane Gaudynski's work, that the amazing world of free motion quilting opened up for me. Seeing her incredible quilts, with their flawless execution and elegant designs inspired me to pursue this technique with a renewed excitement. Both of her books, "Guide to Machine Quilting": American Quilter's Society, 2002 and "Quilt Savvy: Gaudynski's Machine Quilting  Guide": AQS, 2006 are still my first "go to" resources for everything related to machine quilting. "Guide to Machine Quilting" covers every possible aspect of machine quilting, from managing that great big bulk in a domestic machine, to controlling and coordinating machine speed with hand movement, to detailed descriptions on perfecting ...

I'm happy to say that the "Sanglier" placemats are done and 8 happy little piggies are nibbling their way through a sunny vineyard all the way to their new home. The eight 13 1/4" x 17" placemats were quilted on a domestic machine using only free motion.  The sanglier was machine embroidered separately first, then appliqued to the quilt top prior to sandwiching. To highlight the palm tree, I used embroidery thread for the quilting. A close-up of a corner shows where the colour of the thread changes with the colour gradations of the fabric as described in the previous post . The cross hatch grid was achieved with free motion and the use of a ruler. Even though I currently don't have a presser foot designed for ruler work, this is a much faster way to stitch straight lines than using a walking foot. I used the plastic FM quilting foot that came with my machine and it works fairly well, but I have no doubt that a presser foot desig...

Ah yes, this thread tension thing. Just thinking about it makes me break out into hives and my hair stand on end. I've read books, manuals and tutorials. I've watched tutorials. I've spent hours trying different threads and techniques, but each free motion experience requires an individual approach and many experiments. Balancing the thread is unique to each project depending on all the variables the materials present; fabric, colours of fabric, type of batting, needle make and size, thread type and weight, etc. and of course, that all important element of "zen-ness". Using an ochre thread on the top and a deep red in the bobbin for these placemats didn't make the balancing act any easier, but, the first 2 samples below show that success was eventually achieved. The top thread and bobbin thread finally balanced. Balanced on the top side ... ... and finally on the underside of the sample. The next 3 photos show the progression of the different th...

Sanglier, Palm Trees and Sunshine 9 Piggies Dancing! I used free motion embroidery for the sangliers with "Magnifico", a 40 wt. polyester thread from Superior Threads. Sangliers are wild boars that still run freely in large numbers throughout the French countryside. Symbolizing strength and invincibility, it's image has been immortalized in various art forms through the ages. Sanglier en bronze A number of years ago, I was asked to quilt a tablecloth where the sanglier motif was the focal point. The owner of this tablecloth has now requested placemats designed around the same theme. This time, the design should include sangliers and palm trees on warm terracotta coloured fabric. To this, I added a vineyard (what's more French than a vineyard?) where the sanglier might find himself very comfortable. Below, my new design is tucked into the fabrics that I am using for these placemats. The main fabric (on the bottom) is one of Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry...

Update: Scrap the Stash 2016 "Redwork Forest" assembled quilt top. ("Paper and Plums" pattern by Alexandra Ledgerwood.) Early in 2016, I had set out a few goals for myself, one being the intent of sewing a block a day using only scraps. Well, I soon discovered that a block a day was counter productive; the gathering of materials and set up takes too much time on a daily basis for only one block. The problem was resolved by making one day a week a day to focus on the scraps. This has worked out fairly well, and on December 1st the count was 345 completed blocks, in 4 different colour ways. Scrap 1: "Gone Scrappy" with warm ochres and olive greens, scraps left over from the warm, sunny "Languedoc" days. Scrap 2: "Winging It" made with bright and colourful baby quilt scraps. Scrap 3: "Flower Garden" was a project that I had started in Winnipeg in 2004 prior to our move to the west coast and Montpellier. The ...

Not really being able to focus on anything other than the inside of my eyelids during most of December, none of my projects got any attention. Having to miss my favourite little girls 2nd birthday was likely more painful than anything this flu bug could do to me. I consoled myself with some colourful yarns and knitting needles and somehow managed to get a little scarf together. Just before the big nasty virus launched it's attack in early December, I did get a few gifts in just under the wire. After hundreds of feathers were cut, stitched and turned over many months, (OK, maybe not hundreds, but lots and lots), there were finally enough for this little Owl doll. Ollie the Owl is a creation of Angela Yosten, from her book "Sew Modern Baby" published by Stash Books of C & T Publishers. With big, round googly eyes and colours galore, it has to fun! Scads of scraps from previous baby quilts were used up for the feathers. Fusible interfacing and machin...