Low Volume Quilt WIP

I've been working on a bed-sized quilt using 10 inch charms from a Flickr group swap.  I've also added some fabrics from past projects--bits and pieces that I probably would not have used otherwise but work well in this scrappy project.  The pattern is Bricks and Strips which you can download at Pink Chalk Fabrics.  For my quilt, I am alternating rows of solids and prints and incorporating Kona Cornflower which coordinates with the color of the walls in our bedroom, a soothing pale blue.  I've learned that low volume projects benefit from using a variety of large and small scale patterns and lots of colors.  They really lend themselves well to a super scrappy approach and I love that I can include some fun fabrics (like the cars in the center of the picture above) that I would not ordinarily use. 

Have you been bitten by the low volume bug?  I would love to hear about what you are working on!

Wishing you creative inspiration.

allison

Xylophone Quilt is Complete!

Completed wallhanging!

I am so excited to post these photos of my completed Xylophone quilt!  This is my largest machine quilted project to date.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I took inspiration from Elizabeth Hartman's book, Modern Patchwork for the xylophone strips.  I played around with the layout from the pattern but felt that for a wallhanging, something more cohesive was needed.  I eliminated the medium and large blocks  which were not working for the size of my project.  Then, using my recently adopted technique of piece, dice and repiece, I cut the larger blocks lengthwise and started experimenting with different layouts.  Eventually, I added the horizontal strips of solid fabric.  

I used a meandering quilting stitch and scraps for the binding.

The top and bottom rows include 'diced and repieced' blocks.

I quilted it using the Handiquilter long arm quilting machine at my local quilt store.  This was my first project for the long arm and I had a lot of fun trying it out.  I kept my expectations modest and am very happy with the results.

The back of the quilt with the blocks that were leftover.

Because I prefer a 'funky' look and because I think that using up fabric scraps is a way of honoring the origins of quilting, I used all the experimental but rejected blocks on the back of the quilt.  And I made the binding out of leftover fabric.

Here you can see the very simple quilting.

I decided to quilt only the background.

I'm sure that I don't have to tell you how satisfying it is to complete a project and be able to enjoy the results.  This quilt is hanging on the wall above my computer.  It was a large blank space and now it is full of color and a source of inspiration towards future projects.  

What projects are you working on?

Process Progress!

Completed top

Backing

  
On Monday, I finished the top and backing for the Xylophone quilt.  I am very happy with the way it turned out.  I especially like the back because I incorporated a lot of the blocks that I discarded when I was working out the design for the front.  In using the leftovers for the back, I am making use of what is on hand.  I love this aspect of quilt-making and often get my best creative inspiration from trying to use up scraps or leftovers.  There's less pressure when you're using up what would otherwise be tossed out. 

Last week I did the training for the Handiquilter at my local quilt shop, A Notion to Quilt, and Xylophone will be my solo venture in using it.  Quilted in a day---unbelievable!  I will definitely post more pictures once it is quilted.

Wishing you creative inspiration.

allison

Caution! Work in process!

 I just took the 'Process Pledge' (see  Rossie's blog ) so here is a status update on what started out as Xylophone but has managed to take on it's own identity and I think now bears only a vague resemblance to its origins.  You can read more about this project in my previous entry.

Here is the fabric palette that I started out with.  I originally liked the putty solid for a background but once I started piecing, I decided on Kona Snow instead.  It is brighter and shows off the more muted prints better I think.

After I had pieced together a bunch of various sized 'xylophones', I decided that I did not want to copy the pattern verbatim and wanted to do something different.  I cut all of the xylophone strips in half lengthwise,  then I cut long strips of solid fabric.  I had an idea of something like train tracks or city scape...linear and repetitive but a bit abstract.  What I came up with was a bit too abstract.

I left the project for a couple of weeks and when I returned, I decided that I needed to make the arrangement more user friendly.  Here is what I came up with.  By grouping the colorways together and having a consistent theme of horizontal lines, I think it is more pleasing to the eye.  I still feel like the color balance is a little bit off but I definitely like this better.

I welcome your feedback!

Wishing you creative inspiration.

allison

Carving a space for fabric play time

I've been struggling with finding ways to spend more time playing with my fabrics and a bit of inspiration came from my experience with creating other new habits like exercise.  I decided to start with a very manageable goal of spending 15 minutes each day in my studio.  Logically that isn't really enough time to accomplish much but the real goal was to train myself to cross the threshold and for the measurable to be about time instead of completing a project.  It's creating a new mindset that frees me from having to do anything except be in my space.  I started out with my plan this past week and so far, so good;  I've spent at least an hour playing with fabrics that I wouldn't have done otherwise.

Here's what I've been working on:

Starting with inspiration from Elizabeth Hartman's new book, I am working on a wallhanging for my office that is based on her Xylophone pattern.  I'm still auditioning background fabrics--see the pics below for what I've tried so far.  I also am trying a cream background but no photos of that to post right now.  Of course, I could use a variety of backgrounds...

Kona Ash background fabric

Bottom strip has a beige background

I want the wallhanging to coordinate loosely with a lap quilt that is on a chair in our livingroom, adjacent to the office.  Here are a couple of photos I took of the lap quilt last year when I finished it.  It's another Elizabeth Hartman pattern called Mod Mosaic.

Mod Mosaic

Close up of Mod Mosaic

I am also working on a low volume quilt.  Last year I participated in a Flickr swap of  low volume 10 inch charm squares and I have been adding to that collection for a while.  The plan is for this to be our summer quilt.  I picked the Strips and Bricks pattern.

Strips and Bricks fabrics

Here's a couple of links to finished quilts that inspired me:

One by Rita at  Red Pepper Quilts

 And one by  Malka Dubrawski

So I am making a commitment to spend at least 15 minutes a day in my studio.  Starting small and expecting to continue to grow.  I want to say I am 'hoping for success' but that would imply that I am not in charge of the outcome.  Instead, I expect to have some days when things don't work out but I intend to keep trying and not to be discouraged by 'failures'.


Wishing you creative inspiration.

allison

My Work/Play Space!

My Play Space

By way of an introduction, here are some before and after photos of my sewing/design room.  I like to call it my 'Play Space'.  This room has been our spare bedroom since we moved to this house 10 years ago and it has taken that long to get around to decorating the space!  As you can see from the 'before' photos, when we moved in, it was super retro with grey plastic panelling and unique blue trim woodwork.  Suffice to say that compared to the other rooms in the house, this room as it was, was livable.  The folks we bought the house from had lived here for 40 years and whole house was definitely 70's Chic---think lots of orange shag carpet, panelling and ceiling tiles.  Basically, they simply covered over all the 1920's charm; which was good news for us because it was easy to restore that charm with our limited handy-person skills! 

Attic doorway--'before'

Last summer I gave the whole room a fresh coat of neutral paint.  It definitely brightened up the space and although it is a small room, it is perfect for my use.  The room is also the route to the attic which is why it is better used for activities than for sleeping.

Attic doorway--'after'

The paneling 'before'

After

My husband helped me hang my design wall which I made using insulation board and this  tutorial from Elizabeth Hartman's website.  In the past, I have also used a piece of white flannel pinned to the wall as well as a flannel-backed table cloth.  Both worked well but this new wall is more permanent and more stable to work on.

My storage arrangement is still a work in progress.  I am dreaming about a set up like Anne's at Play Crafts, but for now I have current projects on this little bookshelf that I re-purposed from our attic.  The rest of my fabric and supplies are stored elsewhere for now.

The project on the design wall is a slab quilt that I am making to use up scraps.  I got the idea from Sunday Morning Quilts by Cheryl Arkison at Dining Room Empire and Amanda Jean Nyberg at Crazy Mom Quilts.  I have gained a lot of inspiration from this book as well as both of Elizabeth Hartman's books and highly recommend them.

Having this past week off for school vacation gave me an opportunity to organize and take these photos.  Tomorrow it's back to work but only a few weeks till summer vacation! 

Wishing you lots of creative inspiration.

allison

Works in Progress

Since I started my new job last Fall, I have not had as much time for sewing as I would like to have had.  Between the coming up to speed with my new responsibilities and my graduate studies, my quilts have taken a back seat.  I have to keep reminding myself that whatever time I have to play with fabrics is a great way to recharge and de-stress; to build the resiliency that I need in order to balance all of the other demands on my time.  So no big projects right now, just fun little explorations that keep me feeling connected to my creative self.

The picture above is a block I made to add to the blocks I received from my 'Nubees' buddies on Flickr.  I love these colors but right now I don't have anywhere in my home that they really fit in.  I may have to redecorate a room just to give the quilt a home!  The block is suitably named Modern Sliced Scrappy Block and it is from a tutorial at dontcallmebetsy.

Another fun little project I started is a Wonky Cross mini quilt.  It was inspired by Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial at Sew Mama Sew.  I am in love with the pink and black color combination.  It reminds me of my trip to Paris some years ago when every outfit I packed fit into a black and pink theme.

Looking forward, I have been talking with my son about a comforter cover that I want to make for him.  He doesn't want a traditional quilt because he likes to use a down comforter in the winter.  He likes the block called 'Thinking Outside the Block'--a Log Cabin variation.  I also have a stash of Amanda Murphy's 'Veranda' fabric that I am itching to cut into.  Once school is out for the summer I can begin to think about getting started on those projects.

Wishing you lots of creative inspiration!

alli