"Silent Snowmen" from UFO to Finished

"Silent Snowmen" shown on our king-sized bed as it's too heavy for my design wall!
I have made many bed sized quilts over the years but am primarily an art quilter now and working smaller. Working on large quilts is a challenge on me physically.

 This was quilted in 3 center sections, and 4 border sections, then put together.

 The joins are virtually invisible in the areas with the same backing fabric and it allowed me to more comfortably handle the work.You can see the join above because I backed the borders with different fabric so I could use my stash.

this is a pic of the top half. Pattern source is QuiltDoodleDoodles from 2014 BOM.
I made each block on the given month.

This is the bottom half...

Snowmen have button eyes but no mouths, hence the title.
The house has words and hearts, and threadwork

laughter, happiness, gratitude

gratuitous cows, of course

and notice the different snow fabrics. I had fun with my stash of snowy blues! Many of the 2.5" squares came from scrap bins and the others from yardage.

I love that snowflake on batik fabric...

Appliqued Contra dancing snowmen

The top and bottom borders were quilted, then binding put on the section,  then sewn to the body of the quilt.

When they went on the quilt, they already had binding on them with an un-sewn tail left to join with the adjoining border.

It was so large and heavy with flannel backing that I saved myself by  binding each border, as I went. The joins are invisible!

I'll use this method again.

 I wrote about each block showing details as I made them. In case you want to look back...
One post is here...  quilted-mugs  and others are monthly posts throughout 2014 under BOM's  label
My tutorial on QAYgo is here:   two-ways-to-quilt-as-you-go-king-size

Black Poodle Cafe

Black Poodle Cafe  12"X 12" (c) LAPaylor

 This is my interpretation of Toulouse-Lautrec  for my challenge group STAT, see other quilts           CLICK HERE

I finished it early as I have several big deadlines looming. I am not satisfied with it, and considered what I would have to do to tweak it and overnight made an executive decision to-- LALAMO
Live and Learn and Move On!

(Click on picture to enlarge)

this pile of stuff went into it

It started in a very promising way. Although I don't like the art of Toulouse-Lautrec, I do like the style of the twenties and posters advertising bars. I chose a font and words to print on fabric. I thought it would be a fine size for the small piece, as words take center stage on his posters. Well, to do that, I would have had to applique individual letters or inked it over the background. As I realized AFTER it was finished.
The scale is off, and I'd basically have to remake the whole thing to correct it all, and to be honest I have too many projects in the queue to do this. I'll share what went into it:

 These pink embossed satin and black brocade shot through with gold threads were left over from another quilt I'll share later. (It is shown in my Idea lectures) I love these slippery fraying fabrics for their impact in person and deco design.

the skirt four different lace pieces. The poodle is quilted in swirls with sparkly mylar blue thread.  The nose and eye are beads and the tail is peeking thru.

The table cloth is green corduroy the table legs palm tree buttons given me by friends.
So the main problem with this piece is the advert section of words. I really should have cut out each letter separately and appliqued them on, which I have done so I didn't want to do it this time. Did I mention the whole thing is 12 inches square?
Small for me.
I thought about removing and reprinting the sign, argh! But then the poodle would be in the center anyway and that would have to be removed too.

So my friends, I share a not so perfect offering to the artist. His work is busy, mine is busy. His work is dark and a bit depressing, mine is happy and energetic. Art is made to suit the person. I'm moving on...

LeeAnna
for more poodle art visit the STAT page CLICK HERE

Experiment in Abstract

This little abstract, approx. 10" X 15" started life from scraps. I was given some tiny bargello strips less than an inch wide and one day when I didn't know what I wanted to sew, I put them together with some other donated strips less than an inch wide. See the picture on the left, that came from the initial piecing.

I sort of saw potential but mainly it's purpose was to stimulate my creativity. I wanted to try a stencil with lots of little boxes, and low contrast paint with shimmer.

You can see the shimmery paint more along the top in this picture but it is done in three low contrasting colors over the whole piece. Look for it in the following pictures. It is an integral part when you see it in person.
Yesterday I decided to just make it. Stop with thinking and start feeling. I layered it with peltex to give surface design some body. I decided on a gentle curve and couched 5 different thick threads. I love Art Deco style, so couched on the braid along the side in that feeling.
 
The quilting is done in a right angle style like Frank Lloyd Wright style. Some of the quilting is done just repeating the free form curves across the bottom of the piece. I wish you could see better quilting line in these pictures.
I opened my box of sequins and am obsessed with tissue lame' at the moment.

 There is a metal bar attached  sums up some of my vision for this piece. I need to have a reason to make an abstract, it has to have meaning or it's just cold.
I found my meaning in this piece thinking of life's journey, the people that weave in and out of our lives, the sparkle of stars and beads add excitement, there are a lot of pieces to life but they go together into the whole. Tulle is woven in and left three-d, which means the way isn't always clear but confusion can be as smoke. Keep moving.

Please click on pictures to enlarge so you can see the details that I included. There is a lot of hand beading and sequins over the piece. Gotta have glitz in life!
LeeAnna

Black and White and Confetti Finished!

enlarge picture by clicking on it!

I got busy and finished the scrap quilt I began two weeks ago. This must be a speed record (bed size) quilt finish for me!

Our two day bee scrap a-thon was the impetus for this one. I have been wanting to dig into my black and white collection for a while now, so this pattern from Judy Simmons' blog looked like fun. (Bonnie Hunter pattern)

I had a great time looking through the bin, and I only chose fabrics that were close to the size needed, 3 1/2" by 7 1/2"
and allowed myself to cut some favorite fabrics as well. I decided all fabrics had to come from the scrap management system or from fabric that was in shreds already.




   I had a great time digging into the "cow" drawer for instance.  I love that martini glass fabric and used it in Picasso Poodle    You can see it HERE!

Let's talk about quilting.
I have a back injury that caused me to have to find a way to quilt big quilts in sections. A long time ago I had a class on 12 ways to quilt as you go. There is not one way, there are many ways to do it. I've used many methods over the years.

It takes planning in the piecing stage. I decided to make three sections this time. I planned which one to quilt edge to edge, and which section must leave the backing free to pull back when sewing the tops back together.

I mostly did straight line sewing because I wanted to set a land speed record. I actually liked doing it and the look. I used several 40 weight variegated YLI threads in the top and 50 weight in bobbin.

I sewed in the ditch, quarter inch from each side, down the middles, some free motion around giraffe and martini glasses, and did the same thing across the quilt periodically. 

  I used some star fabric that I've been hoarding for years for the binding. I feel binding fabric is wasted as so much is folded inside where you can't see it but it had to be used, it was the perfect finish.

 I have been doing experiments with paint and freezer paper stencils. I also am hand beading tonight on a small art piece that I started a few weeks ago as a total experiment. It came from scraps a friend gave me and I'll show you tomorrow.

LeeAnna

Love is a Choice

Love is a Choice (c) LAPaylor 2014

This is our 20th Valentines day. 20 years of the happiness and glee of finding a mate, of knowing that mate loves you too. We'll be married for 20 years this July as we knew within months that we'd like to go through life arm in arm. We met at a dance, and enjoy the closeness and still prefer to dance with each other.

please do not pin, copyright 2014 LAPaylor

I like to write. I want to write more and more every day. I want to express myself through words and fabric. I wrote the poem, decided on fonts and layout, printed it onto fabric then painted over it. The edges are turned, cording applied and appliqued onto the finished quilt.

I often put my quilted women in clothing I wish I could wear! I might be able to pull off this skirt. I did an underskirt of red with a lace overlay and a ribbon tie.

  Drew is wearing jeans as usual, but poetic license allowed me to do them with sparkle fabric! Shhhh! Don't tell him!
The fabric under our feet was textured yellow but not enough. I placed a stencil down and sponged gold metallic textile paint (Seta shimmer) over with almost a dry brush technique. Very effective, no? 

 More words, this time in ribbon from from the scrap booking section.

I really didn't want too much quilting. I used metallic YLI gold thread, Sulky halogram in red, Sulky rayon in blue and tan. I did a mix of echo and free-motion quilting, letting my spirit guide me as I went.

I don't like the planning of things.



When Drew saw it last night in it's  final stages, I asked what he thought.
 My engineering husband thoughtfully said, "it's good. Why crows?"
He is a man of few words.
I said, I wanted to use them, they are enjoying life dancing in red high heeled shoes! 

Of course.
love, LeeAnna

Christmas table runner

 These are  two of my favorite table runners for Christmas. I am a big believer in more is better. Yep. I am a fabric collector. I have a bin of Christmas fabrics collected over many years and wanted to use them.
You might notice these "table runners" are on the sofa. There's a reason for that. My dining room table is becoming an archeological dig at the moment, piles of life stuff, getting taller and taller, in anticipation of someone in the future using it as a tool to understand a 21st century homeowner. They are a mess.

To make these the basic design is from the tutorial on Halloween table runners. See it here Click here to see

I replaced several of the strip sets with a solid to better show off the word. There are a few appliqued stars done quickly with fusible web and a blanket stitch.

 To make the letters, I suggest going to the site DaFont   http://www.dafont.com/
They have many options downloadable for free. You look through them, choose some to download to your computer, create a new document for your chosen word (s) and try out the new font. I usually increase the letter size until it's the size for my quilt and print it out. Now I can audition it on the real quilt to make sure it has the look I want.

There are options for putting the letters on fabric. I tried two. One was to reverse the letters, draw them on paper side of fusible web, fuse to fabric and cut out individually. The other was to use Saral paper, which is like chalky carbon paper, then trace the word onto already fused rectangle of fabric. Layer the fused fabric right side up, the Saral chalk side down, the pattern right side up, trace leaving the outline of the letter showing on your fabric. Cut out and arrange on the quilt.



I used gold metallic thread, and I love YLI for durability and sparkle, and a programmed stitch on my home machine to do some sprigs of hanging branches, and some ribbons for fun. Practice on a sample first. I did simple straight line quilting for speed, the programmed stitches, a buttonhole around letters all in the quilting.
I used my quick-as-a-bunny binding, see tutorial Here.

Well, that's it for today. In the new year I am changing the Monday discussions from Overcoming Creativity Roadblocks, to hints on how to be more creative in your daily life. These are my own personal prompts and hints, so I hope you join the discussions and we can all learn from each other.
It's snowy here in MD. I had to give up the morning walks-with-poodle because of the slush factor with my sneakers. I feel like I have a free day to just play in the studio, which still needs straightening up before I can begin the exciting Christmas tote I'll share later. I have full spectrum bulbs in the studio, so it's lit up like an airport runway, and very cheerful on a gray day. Hope you are being cozy and sewing where ever you are!

LeeAnna

Gratitude

In honor of Thanksgiving week, let's resume the Creativity Roadblocks series next Monday with
"Comparing yourself your QUILTS to other's"  Please check back and make comments.

The picture above is one of my pine needle paintings cut out of the painted strip,( to see the tutorial post CLICK HERE) and appliqued onto an exchange square. I randomly couched thick threads and left edges raw, added some bugle beads and the word Gratitude embellished with some gold paint. It is in the hands of one of my bee mates now...
I have pictures of three others to share with you later.

If you are in the Thankful Give Away blog hop please scroll down for my give away.

Thanks for visiting and y'all come back again later!  I have posts in line for after the hop, such as Wine Tasting party, Trip to a BIG craft show with artist interviews, Roadblocks series continues, and another sketch-like-a-four-year-old.
LeeAnna, grateful for visitors reading my words!

Quilting Gallery ( Click here for participant list)

loving your work

 This is one my my 6-inch exchange quilts to be given away in November. I have found the whole experience to be liberating, making a quilt without the commitment!! I have done trees or birds on each, metallic thread, paintings, fused bindings, and often beadwork. They are all different and I love each one of them.

Remember...Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it. ~Buddha
I read that quote on Sonja's blog click here 

I love to create, to make things, and to write. I am a recovering social worker, now doing what I love.

I'll be off line for a few days, hope you all make wonderful stuff in my absence. Feel free to tour my labels for older posts. Some of them are pretty entertaining.       Are you doing what you love??
LeeAnna
you may also enjoy this fall post taking a walk  or the label "painting on fabric"

This is a little table runner made with halloween fabrics. I looked  for the pattern, but couldn't find it. It was a free pattern and went something like cut 36- 6 inch squares. Pair them up face to face, and sew along two opposite sides, cut halfway between the rows of stitching. When you open them you have two blocks with  two different fabs.Sew these pairs  into three long strip sets. Cut one of the long strip sets in half lengthwise, and sandwich the other two sets in the middle. It really mixes a lot of prints and makes a quick runner. Size 14 in by 46 inches

Of course our dining room table top hasn't seen the light of day for a long time, so I put the runner along the back of the sofa.
LeeAnna
linked to .liveacolorfullife.  thurs threads

My prayer flag

Prayer Flag

 This is a picture of my prayer flag being taken to trade at the Houston Show in a few weeks. It is primitive, not quite straight but neither am I. It is painted on raw silk/linen with jacquard metallic paint, machine embroidered with metallic madeira thread. The  words obviously hand written, crookedly too, in zig calligraphy pen,  hand stitched to a felt backing with ArtFabric thread and some beads. ( I have removed the butterfly button but can't get another photo as there is no sun today)

I dithered over the prayer to send. I considered "connect"  as that's my thing. But at the last minute I was drawn to "grow strong".

My prayer is that we find the strength to  persevere through hardships, grow with challenges, become stronger in our daily outlook. Strength isn't force, it's quiet, day to day choice to keep trying.

Love, Lee Anna

you might like to see    hOME AGAIN

Polynesian Poodle

POLYNESIAN POODLE (c) LAPaylor 2013

 The is my interpretation of Gauguin's work for our STAT project. This is a group of fiber artists studying the masters but in our medium, fabric, with an emphasis on texture. We previously studied Picasso and Klee. See my other pieces under the label "my art"

detail Polynesian Poodle

I made pintucks by hand with the mountain fabric, free form curve pieced the background elements including the embossed beach felt, then appliqued a woman. Shading is done with prismcolor pencils and threadwork. The skirt is cut from an upholstry sample and a scrap of cotton, with beads hand sewn for highlights. The poodle is quilted in blue rayon thread for sheen. Her hair is felt.

sketch Polynesian Poodle

When I approach this project, I do some research on the artist, google their art and quotes, info about their life and times. This time I watched a movie about Gauguin and a video on how to paint like him. I checked out library books on his art and life. It was a challenge to relate to his colors and content. Being drawn to the female figure, I finally got excited about the project when I sketched out the woman holding a poodle instead of a platter.

I'm glad to see the back of this project, but love the finished piece so once again, it's good to stretch yourself.

What are you doing to stretch yourself in art? I'd love to hear from you!
LeeAnna
For more STAT projects SEE THESE