Shot Cotton Deliciousness....

Not sure what this is yet - other than a mosaic of frayed edge shot cottons on a linen ground.   What is shot cotton?  It's fabric that is woven with two different colored threads - one for the warp and one for the weft, creating beautiful movement when the light hits it and when the edges are frayed.  I adore frayed edges and the organic feel they give to textiles.

Next, some type of hand stitching will be applied  to the squares and then perhaps "pebble" machine stitching in the negative white space.  Still pondering and enjoying the process

Any ideas??

Indian Summer - Quilted

I thoroughly enjoyed working on this little quilt.  It started off as an "experiment" in response to my own desire to try a Mod quilt.  I am absolutely enamored by the tension created between stark white and bold vivid colors.  And what better combination that the colors I visualize as representing a delicious Indian Summer and bright, crisp, winter white!!

I made a bunch of improv log cabin blocks with utilizing a stack of warm orange, red, magenta and yellow blended hand dyes, batiks and homespuns I had lying around. After playing with designs, I decided to make those into four patches spaced with 6 inch solid white blocks within which I quilted a tribal sun. Spending alot of time in Arizona and New Mexico I have come to understand the symbolism of the sun as an icon and sincerely appreciate the beauty in that thought. I really enjoyed quilting the suns free form.  They look so great!

 Something I find interesting about many   modern quilts is the backing.  Oftentimes there some kind of visual "pop" on the back.  For  Indian Summer, I   pieced together a long strip of the fabrics I used in the log cabins and sewed it down the middle.  I also randomly placed a color block here and there in the binding. 

This week I'm going to focus on the new  Spirit Cloth workshop I'm participating in  "Cloth to Cloth." I'm looking forward to learning Jude's technique for creating a base layer cloth by weaving it myself. I am excited  to pick up a needle and thread again after spending so much time with the machine lately. Should be a delicious reprieve

Modern Quilt Monday!!!

My Janome has been in the shop for the past week.  I've had it for over two years and have never had it serviced.
I clean it all the time - but it was starting to squeak, and act silly so off it went to Quilts Like Crazy (a Janome certified service center and quilt shop extraordinaire) in Wake Forest for a little pampering and R&R.

To get me by - I dusted  off my not so old standby - a little Brother machine that works like a peach  for piecing and garment sewing.  A cute little machine that eventually will be going off to college with Sabrina in a few years. 

Modern Quilt Monday(s) - begin TODAY. First order of business - I added to my stash to incorporate some bold, bright colors and prints.  Everything got washed, pressed and neatly folded ready to be incorporated into the already existing stash.

Second order of business - I joined a local guild that focuses on modern color schemes and technique.  I am so happy I found this group.  The Modern Quilt Movement (incorporating  Improvisational Quilting) is taking the quilting industry by storm.  Fabric lines, patterns and techniques specifically adapted to this bold and colorful  art form are popping up all over.

Tonight - I've got to figure out my color scheme for my first mod quilt.  I can't decide if I want to do white with blues, greens and purples, or white with reds/pinks, oranges and yellows.

For now  - I'm just really happy sitting here sipping my St. Ives Tea,  looking at all of these beautiful colors, contemplating design - and enjoying the fact that Gizmo has taken it upon himself to keep my feet warm!!

What a guy!

Groovy Baby! Mod Quilts....

I've discovered something new (at least new to me)  - Mod Quilts and Paintbox Quilts.  It was love at first site.

In my travels across the internet I stumbled upon Oh Frasson! and there -- before my very eyes were quilts created from the the most striking  color pallettes I've ever seen.  Using black and white, white or Kona solids, this gal mixes color and hue like a master.  And the way she finishes the backs of her quilts - perfection. 

I'm not gonna lie -  I've always  loved old fashioned quilts - applique, traditional piecing, Amish, etc. but I love them even more when the old meets the new -- traditional piecing or applique that uses uses bold, contemporary prints and bright colored fabrics.  Double that with contemporary design piecing AND the wild color schemes -  and THAT is something that gets my attention.

I want to make a color + white quilt  myself.  So I  bought two gorgeous selections of fabric - one of Kona classic solids, by Kafman, and one called "Gallery" by Kaufman. Both of which I think will compliment the batiks and prints I have on hand.  Oh Yeah - I love these intense colors! 

There's a  Fresh Modern Quilts flickr group if you're interested in seeing some really amazing eye candy.  And Oh Frasson's! website has some great patterns and tutorials utilizing really cool color combinations for bold "out of the ordinary" results.  I just love looking at them.

Today and tomorrow I'm finishing up some WIPs and upon the arrival of my new purchases - I will be starting my own version of a Mod Quilt. 

Oh the possibilities!