WIP Wednesday: I used to be an Art Quilter

Way back in 2005, I began on a textile journey, following the tiny tidbits left for me by my late Grandmother.

Prior to that year, my artistic medium of choice had been a strong mixture of collage and creative writing sprinkled with a love of traditional black and white photography. 

When I picked up fabric, I immediately had the notion of treating it like paper, collage and raw cut edges held down with using a glue stick and quilted. I fell in love. I made many smaller pieces under 24 inches square and sold all of them. I ventured into larger pieces but then switched my interest into studying the traditional sense of quilts.

 And for many years I feel like I've been in a kind of limbo between the two as a textile artist. I've been mulling over this for a little while now, pondering some questions.

Which do I love more, art quilts or traditional patchwork? Do I gravitate toward what's easiest for me? Why do I feel like art quilts are kinda out of my comfort zone yet I still don't produce traditional patchwork beyond an intermediate dabbler? Where do I really want to go with fabric? What are those big scary artistic yearnings I have that currently remain dreams? How can I develope my textile likes into a style that is true to me?

Which led me into a nice direction of focus on the art quilting book idea I had begun exploring last year. 

And with an improv art quilt session in my original style, new ideas emerge. Here's a peak at what poured out.

I've been working on mind mapping the questions rolling around in my head. It's both inspiring and motivating me to keep at it. 

Linking up today with 

Freshly Pieced

Goodbye 2014

Goodbye to 2014

On the design wall, current abstractions, 9-patch blocks and the garden moved indoors.

A decision to journal in grid books, new year excitements and tan fabric pulled for current abstractions.

Continued Tarot studies with a new book and an unexplored deck, Sodalite, and an accurate description of what's to come .

Cheers to the New Year and all that's in store!

Mammal Chupie

Joining In & Keeping Busy, Sunday Stash #1

I wanted to share my list of things I'm going to "Participate" in.
Take a look, you may want to join in the fun too!
Shall we dive in?


Globetrotting designed & hosted by Pat Sloan
This one is very interesting with the videos from Pat and history highlights behind each block. I'm making the first block (center square) in this creamsicle/gray color pallet. Flickr group can be found here.

"Fiesta de la Flores"2014 applique BOM with
Reeze of Morning Glory Designs

I just discovered this woman and her incredible applique work! Amazing details! I'm really excited to participate in this BOM and do some relaxing handstitching. My grandmother loved to do applique as do I. Here's what I've pulled for the first block, using scraps of course! *A heads up, the patterns are only available for free during the current month. If you miss a block, she sells them for a very reasonable price.*

Aurifill Designer of the Month Challenge
Each month a different designer, block and chances to win!
I have yet to sew with any Aurifill, so I am really happy to follow along and have a chance to win some thread! Plus, each month is a designer feature with really indepth interviews. I love learning about other quilters! January's block features 'Spools' and a neat tablerunner project. Here's my color pallet for this one, again using up my scraps! Flickr group can be found here.

Pantone's Color of the Year Challenge

This year's color, Radiant Orchid. Which happens to be one of my favorite haircolors! There have been some fabulous posts by Pantone on pinterest. I just might be up for the challenge!

Classic Meets Modern with Erin at Sew at Home Mummy
A wonderful quilt along featuring a classic block each month and a challenge to participants to give it a "modern" twist. The results will be inspirational! I'm making the January block in a mulberry pallet (scraps!). Flickr group can be found here.

And of course, the Finish Along 2014 hosted by Katy of The Littlest Thistle. You can read my post about that here.

This is just a small list that I'm going to work hard at following along with. I know there are more, leave a link here if you've got BOM's or QAL's to share and I'll update!


I'm also sharing some sewing supplies/fabric purchases of this last week and linking up with another newly found linky party, Sunday Stash with Molli Sparkles! The bling is so much fun!

A trip to the Salvation Army and a 50% off coupon for the whole store from my mother, I scored! Found doll hair, a scrapbook album, some amazing vintage weaving books and yes, over 20 embroidery hoops, various sizes. Those were a steal....way less than a dollar a piece!

And my sewing bounty from a trip to Joann's. Fat quarters, muslin yardage (for new dolls!) and APQ magazine for the Tone-It-Down pattern. Not pictured (but purchased!) are the batting and stuffing which was all I really needed. You know how a trip to the fabric store goes.

Off to make some blocks!

Happy Stitching!

Scrap Heaps & New Year Leaps

Hello! New Year is here! Welcoming 2014!
I wanted to share New Years goals um, days ago. But I was relaxing and procrastinating for the holidays.
Anyhow, I'm going to try a 365 project this year. I couldn't make up my mind until the other night when I realized it was time to take a break from my quilt pattern designing (which was successful, but is tideous in its fine tuning!) and dive into organizing the mountain of scraps I've been ignoring.

And this is just a wee bit!

First I had the pleasure of sorting the current mountain by colors!

( I also have many pre-sorted bags stuffed to the brims)

Followed by HOURS which has turning into DAYS of ironing. I find this to be the most relaxing activity oddly enough. Not ironing clothing, but fabrics and scraps. I get very excited to have a freshly pressed stack of color sorted scraps.

Just like doing dishes or coloring book pages, the slow methodical actions are meditative for me. I get to sort out my plans, come up with new ideas, listen to the sounds around me. Daydream. 

I'm about half way through my color bags that I assembled and in the midst of pondering my 365 day project I've been able to come up with fantastic ideas involving all these organized scraps.

I have a bit more ironing to do and some cleaning because clearing out a scrap bin is never tidy, but I'll return soon to share some creations!