Name that Towel

We've all been there before - get in the shower, jump out and reach for a towel and...wait a minute...which one is mine, I'm sure it's this one...actually it could be this one..no it's this one...oh this one will have to do!!! 

 

Well my friend Kate has come up with a soloution to stop her children's towels getting muddled up...putting their names on! 

 

So she asked me to applique her boy's names onto some gorgeous white fluffy bath towels, which I did, in bold navy with white stars...

 

 

 

 

Here are some close up's;

 

 

 

It was a bit of a challenge getting such large towels through my machine, but hopefully it was worth the effort as there will never be any towel confusion in the bathroom again.

 

 

My Dolly Quilt

So here it is, my finished dolly quilt...

Complete with hand quilting using my fabulous pearl cotton #8 threads...

And finished in under a week...phew!  I have to say I am feeling quite pleased with myself, particularly as I adapted it from a pattern in the Material Obsession book which I later noticed came under the 'advanced' category.  I think it  must be 'advanced' because of the freezer paper applique in the centre, but if there is one thing I have learnt about and improved upon with my C and G course it's applique in all its forms, so to me this was a breeze! 

Now I just need to consider what to 'do' with it.  I think I will hold on to it for safe keeping and stumble upon it in years to come and admire the lovely fabrics all over again. 

Dolly quilt, it has been a pleasure. 

But now back to studying! 

Butterflies and Bundles

This week I have managed to complete another applique sample for this module (3 down 2 to go - getting there!) and by coincidence it is more butterflies.  It is an applique technique called Broiderie Perse, which essentially means cutting out motifs from one fabric and appliquing them onto a plain one. 

This sample was relatively straight forward and I enjoyed adding the embroidery detail too.  It's a shame that the colours are so muted, but that is the requirement of this module - to work in black and white and grey tones only, so I have done my samples to match.

Which is perhaps why I am so excited about my most recent purchase, a gorgeous fat quarter bundle from ebay, that I just couldn't resist...

I am so in love with these colour combinations, aren't they gorgeous!   I have plans to use them to make a small quilt after I have finished module 4, using ideas from the Sarah Fielke book I have just bought and her previous books, Material Obsession and Material Obsession 2.  I have also just ordered 20 pearl cotton #8 threads on ebay for a mere £7.99, as these are the threads recommended for hand embroidery by Sarah Fielke, and they look absoloutely beautiful on her quilts.  Did I need 20?  Probably not.  But after all, my new year's resolution is to 'Acquire' (see previous post) and who could resist such a bargain?!

Acquisitions and Applique

I had planned to write this post last night.  I had just finished my machine bias applique sample and was very keen to share it.  But the familiar problem came up - Pete needed the laptop for work, and so I had the ipad, and while it is marvellous, it does not contain the photos of said applique, hence I was unable to post.  It was however, a great opportunity to have a little surf around other people's blogs, and within minutes I was on a wonderful little journey, getting lots of ideas, finding some great little craft projects and admiring the wealth of craft and talent that we have in this world.  There is so much creativity out there, and so many people are so keen to share their ideas and enthusiasm, I really do recommend spending an hour browsing, looking at blogs, websites, links etc. and seeing where it takes you.  I went to bed with my mind buzzing about all the things I would like to make and do and achieve one day in the future. 

One idea that I came across was the rejection of New Year's resolutions in favour of just one word for the year -  a much more succinct, realistic and memorable way to make a resolution and stick to it.  So I had a little think about what mine is going to be and I decided upon ACQUIRE.  These are the things I would like to Acquire this year, in no particular order;

knowledge -  about quilitng, past present and future

knowledge -  about art, sewing, embroidery, craftsmen and women

skills  - relating to quilting, sewing, cooking, childrearing (lol!)

friends - be they on line or in Jersey - through my blog I have already come across so many inspiring people, I wouldn't be without them now

ideas - about all of the above, including more ways to be creative with Freya, through play, games, craft etc

Supplies -  I would love to add to my small, yet treasured crafting collection - more buttons, more ribbon, more fabrics, threads, craft books, embellishments, tools - all the things that make my heart sing

It would be wonderful in the future, when I have acquired all these things for my resolution to be SHARE, but I think I need to work on the knowledge and skills bit a bit more first, before I am able to fully share!! (But I am more than happy to share what I do have already - I hope all my friends know that :-) )   

So I hope that I can work hard every day to Acquire a little bit more, mainly in the skills and knowledge sense, so that I can be the best that I can be.  And some new friends and fabrics and supplies along the way will be an added bonus. 

Back to samples, here is my machine bias celtic applique butterfly - as the title suggests, I made the bias strips on the machine, then I appliqued them on to the white fabric. 

Ok so it's not completely perfect, but you find me a butterfly in nature that is completely symmetrical!  Overall, I enjoyed doing it and it was not as hard as I though it was going to be because I was only sewing through one layer of fabric - much easier on the fingers. 

Today I have a full day of peace - Freya is at the childminder all day for the first time, so I need to crack on, I have lots of skills and knowledge to Aquire and need to make the most of the time!

Five Samples Finally Finished

Oh happy days, I have finally, finally completed all five of my applique samples for module 3. So here it is, the experimental reverse applique sample, based on an Aztec mask design I came up with that looks uncannily like a lot of little pac men...

It's quite hard to tell from the photo but I have used reverse applique for the eyes and mouth and the band at the top has been appliqued on and then all the masks appliqued on to a black cotton fabric.  The brief was to use a fabric that did not need to be turned under, so that's why I used felt, and I think the colours look really bold against the black background.  It is one of those pieces that looks so much better in real life, the photo doesn't seem to capture it somehow.  But there we are, the limitations of distance learning and blogging!  So just one or two tweeks to my portfolio and presentation and then it's on to module 4...

Some sewing at last

I haven't had the chance to blog over the last week or so. I thought it best that I use my time to work really hard on my samples and then blog when I actually had something interesting to post. I have now completed 3 out of 5 samples for this module, so getting there! All the samples are based on different applique techniques, which literally means 'applying' motifs to a base fabric.  Reverse applique is where you cut away part of a fabric to reveal a design. So here are my first two samples, and I have included the designs that they are based on, otherwise they look a bit weird on their own and out of context.

Collage based on the double-headed serpent

Basic applique sample

Another design

Reverse applique sample

I also have to do some experimental samples, using unconventional materials such as sweet wrappers, felt, organza, etc.  So below is my most recent and time consuming but fun piece, based on a ceremonial headdress...

Detail on a ceremonial headdress

My experimental applique interpretation

Spot the chocolate coin wrappers - all in the name of art!

So now it's back to the drawing board planning and creating my next two samples, which are an experimental reverse applique sample and a free choice experimental sample.  I want to attempt something called 'stained glass applique' which as the title suggests, is applique that looks like a stained glass window.  I have a few ideas but I need to put them into action!  

Applique Technique File

Well I am pleased to report that after a good many hours, I have finally finished my Applique Technique File.  It has taken me ages and ages but I think it looks quite smart and I am particularly pleased with the front cover.  Here are some pictures, in no particular order.

Close up of felt flower

After all the writing about different applique methods, I was really enthusiastic to give it a go but unfortunately I don't yet have any designs from my coursework to base my applique on.  (That is my own fault for doing things in the wrong order - it just seemed a good place to start after the move as it didn't envolve anything too complicated). 

So anyway, now I am working on mounting all my colour theory work nicely (slightly delayed because our printer is out of ink - so frustrating!) and as I can no longer get to the Bristish Museum in London to look at Aztec artifacts (this module is based on a historical theme and I have chosen the Aztecs) I have just ordered lots of postcards of Aztec artifacts from the internet.  There is a great website called Zazzle which supplies postcards of just about anything, I have used them loads.   So until they arrive I can't do any design work.  But... I have managed to find some funky Aztec pattern/style cotton fabric on ebay, which will look great with some bold, plain cotton fabrics for my applique samples when I finally get around to them! 

Next posting, I'll show you my colour theory work, and again I am playing around with the presentation, just to be a bit different.  I have come up with the idea of an oversized leaflet, that you have to open out.  I will have one for 'colour theory' and one for 'colour in art' looking at how different artists use colour in their work.  Won't take long to put together once I finally get it all printed.  Can't wait to get going. 

Moving to Jersey and back in the swing of things

I can hardly believe it, a month or more has passed by and I haven't posted a single thing.  But this time I really do have a good excuse, as my family and I have re-located to Jersey.  Permanently.  And we LOVE it.  Here are a few pictures of some of the fun we have been having so far: 

Freya being buried in the sand

St Ouen's Bay - and yes it's as beautiful as it looks

Back home for a BBQ

Pete and Freya getting stuck in!

So as you can see, there are a lot of distractions, (so many beautiful places to visit and explore) but I am pleased to report that I have resumed working on my coursework and have put in a fair few hours this week.  I am currently working on a little file all about the techniques of applique, as part of module 3, and I thought it would be fun and slightly different to do the whole file by hand.  I have really enjoyed doing the research, and I am even a member of St Helier Library, and they have a wonderful selection of books on all different crafts, which is very exciting.    Anyway, here are a few pictures, in no particular order, of some of my work:



And even Freya has found time to tear herself away from the beach and get creative;

So the next few days are going to be carrying on with my applique techniques file and making the most of the bank holiday!