The Quilted Heart

I am slowly unpacking some boxes in the studio... and can you believe it??!!
I already have four new projects going at once, and the studio is not truly set up.

That's so me

The thing is, I listen to the muse, and just flit from project to project following the excitement.
I do finish projects too. I like all aspects, the start, the process, and the finish.

I am hampered by not finding my insert for the sewing table, and my machine tray was broken in the move, but I am persevering and this week quilted the V-day quilt background.
While listening to this book...

I love this series, about a group of older women who are the vigilante's. They take up "lost" causes in helping people right the wrongs of life.



I admit to milling around one afternoon in the studio just to hear the end of a disc!

Before even starting on quilting, I did an envelop turn, so I can put a row of beads along the outside of the edge later.

I don't know where my threads are, but I found a box of rayon so I used the red to free motion quilt some spirals and vines/leaves inside the heart. Not too much, I wanted some puff left to the piece. Matching the thread color made it subtle.
Not catching the embroidery in the foot made it a challenge.

Can you see, barely, that I also used the red rayon in the bobbin while I did the free motion on the heart?

Switching to the walking foot, I used the red rayon thread to go around the outside twice, again still subtle against the busy floral background, but I know it's there and it will echo the red beads.

I echo quilted around the heart, in white cotton thread, and on one side, sent radiating lines out to the edge.
I toyed with the idea of marking it, but, really... I just wanted to sew not be perfectly even or straight.

The observer's eye wants it to be even, and will see it as even, so I just relied on experience and muscle memory and it looks great! Just like I wanted it to! And the process was enjoyable.

I forgot to say, I blocked it too. After the embroidery and quilting, one side was slightly off kilter, so I laid it on the cutting table, spritzed the edges with water, mushed it into place and let it dry like that.

I am an art quilter, but I still care about construction, and a wonky quilt is distracting.

Strive for excellence not perfection, and express yourself in your art. This quilt will change yet again, when I add the beaded binding, and the embellishments. Then the sleeve, already made, and it will be done. Done is good.
Meanwhile, yesterday, after I finished this part, I worked on some abstracts, on the watercolor, and experimented with a dresden plate tool I got in a magazine. I lost track of time and almost missed Project Runway!

linking to
off the wall Fridays 
http://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays  
 Free motion by the River Tuesdays   
https://stitchallthethings.com/ to do Tuesday