Saturday, June 21, 2025

creatively speaking this week... spirals, painting challenge, machine choice, Spring Green, COLORS!

 

I've been progressing on each project this week. Each step teaches me, each color excites me, art is healing

Above is my rainbow scrap challenge block this year, a hexie spiral. Hand stitched with small scraps from my orange collection. So satisfying when it is done.... here are the colors completed so far
just blocks lying next to each other
The Index Card a Day challenge is on, I'm woefully behind but have now done several. We use the prompts to create something each day....
"Spring"   "Cobalt"  "Iguana" 

Love how the paints blended in the petals

drawn from an OLD photo online
when I see a prompt I wonder how I can interpret it in some unique way, so in person, her dress is brilliant cobalt blue
I could have drawn an iguana but chose to do mixed media. I printed out an image on paper, tore away what wasn't the black line drawing, glued it to index card then painted with watercolor pencils and ink
"embroidery"  "Tidal Pool" 

"Iridescent"  "Leopard" 
I did paint with iridescent inks but they don't photo well, and I thought of ways to show leopard.... 
I feel like I know this woman somehow.... the mix of animal prints, kind of chubby but reaching for fashion 
the ladies so far
Back to sewing.... I finished piecing the Spring Leaves top basted the layers together with pins, and began quilting it
first pull threads to use, think about how I want the texture, face using the tiny Gem machine to do this 
I usually don't try to match, but to accent with threads.... this one became my favorite to use for this stage of quilting
it has a bold thick texture, a lovely gentle color change, and looks so good when stitching in more leaves
A mix of straight line quilting to stabilize then some detail work here and there, keeping it flat and balanced with each addition. I don't do all one area then the next as that can distort. 

I just love the way it's coming along. As I quilt I decide what to do, where, which with treads.
so many tiny scraps, added one by one in the strip stage, inserted curves, all different tones and shades of green, different fabric prints, all come together in this... some planned, some serendipity

I called a local shop to ask prices for the Janome 6700 P machine. 

It's time (I miss the demise of my Bernina 1630) 

The salesman mentioned I should check out the pfaff expression 710 and it does come with a lot of feet I use, and the dual feed is a good thing.  

tell me what you think...bernina's are just too expensive for me at this point


Inspiration  

orange flowers brightening a yard


 decorative way to stitch on a button

https://youtube.com/shorts/ys41X2zTOXU?si=pmmbvz2-ZuBpg2Gh 


happy creating y'all

26 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Girl, that is one SASSY looking iguana! Your orange hexie spiral turned out great! And I love your WIP green scrap quilt too, it's beautiful.

Sara said...

Loving each and every one of those hexie spirals. I did one in green, but haven't come up with a plan for it yet. That little reptile just cracked me up!!! How cute!

Kathy S. said...

Love those hexie spirals.

Helen said...

There's a notecard challenge? Don't tell me! I'd want to do it, and I might be on challenge overloads!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I'm enjoying all the hexie spirals. They must be such fun to stitch. Sorry I can't help you with the machine decision though.

Barbara said...

Go for the Pfaff. The brand wasn't even on my radar until I used one in cladd last year. I left with the Pfaff Performance Icon that I used in class. I was using older Berninas and a Janome 9400 before that. I will never buy another Janome.

Tigger's Mum said...

That green is spectacular. Can't help re sewing machines - go to the shop and try out the demo models - take a variety of technical stuff with you. It's a big investment you should be allowed to try before you buy.

Duke said...

Love your hexies and the spring quilt is coming along beautifully. I have a Singer that does the basics and nothing fancy.

Miaismine said...

Loving your spirals! The middle portrait especially touched me with her eyes, her overall expression and her posture. Beautiful. On the other hand, the iguana is finding joy in the summer heat. Such confidence and joy! For the past four years, my sister has been gentle telling me not to body shame myself. It takes a while to change old thoughts. I love your phrase, “reaching for fashion”! Thank you for sharing your thought process regarding picking colors for quilting. Yes! I would mis my Bernina if it gave up the ghost! Sorry no experience with Pfaff or Janome. Happy creating!

JanineMarie said...

There are times when I lose track of a blog for a while, and then I come back and wonder how that ever happened. That’s what happened here today. I love all your varied art. I’m imagining how much fun it must be to choose the quilt design and thread each time you sit down to work on the Spring Leaves quilt. You’ve captured the season wonderfully.

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

These hexie spirals of yours are amazing! SO vibrant together too. Very green Spring Leaves is gorgeous. Always fun to see what you are creating, LeeAnna.

Melva said...

I love your spiral hexies. <3 And that little note card painted to reflect embroidery stiches is darling! Thank you for joining Sew & Tell.

grammajudyb said...

Your hexie spirals are GReat!! And your Spring Leaves is marvelous too. Sorry I've been absent. So much going on in my life, no time to be creative! Maybe soon, there will be a lull in the chaos.

Pat at Bell Creek Quilts said...

Love your hexie spirals. :)

Vivian said...

Wow, love the spirals, what a great RSC project! Also like the fun you are having with the prompts. The greens of your leaf project are so cool yet crisp, it would feel so good to have that to look at as the heat now descends upon us all!

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

Love my Janome 9400--large throat space and comes with an HP foot that delivers a perfect quarter inch. The 6700 P also comes with the same HP system. Nothing wrong with Pfaff, but my Janome delivers. Love how your Spring Leaves quilt is turning out! https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2025/06/25/wednesday-wait-loss-438

scraphappy said...

I love those hexie spirals. Seeing them all together is such a bright and happy look with layers of pattern to enjoy.

Christine said...

Nice work!

Mae Travels said...

Your green quilt and your hexes are magnificent. I love seeing them!
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

DVArtist said...

Wow! So much beautiful art. The colors are bright and brilliant. I really love your iguana. Very hip indeed. LOL Thank you for sharing with FFO and have a very nice weekend.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Great faces and that new quilt is going to be out of this world.

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for sharing your fabric and oainting art and the inspiration steeref you well
Have a good Saturday
Thanks for linkingbto AFFF

Much♡love

quiltingbydawn said...

Love those hexagon swirls! Looking good! The green leaves are looking great too! Well done!

Quilter Kathy said...

I love your spiral hexies- very creative use of scraps!

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

Love your spiral hexie RSC blocks. I agree about Bernina pricing. I would love to have the new one, but that price is something else! Thanks for sharing with us at Monday Musings!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

you always have so many fun things - I really like how your hexies is coming along!