Right before dawn rains.
A westward crack in Red Rock Canyon’s parking lot.
Juniper bush in July.
Red Rock Canyon.
Light over rocks.
The moon a cat’s nose and the dawn peeping.
What have you been seeing?
Tag: colorful
Creating Creation
Exciting things have been happening and that energy spawned a new quilt design. Here is sample number one.
The idea for this quilt top happened after I’d cut out triangles from fat quarters, sewed those in to hexagons, and looked at the results. The results are a blend of the past and the present. While I was sewing it up my grandma filtered through my thoughts, and this is a quilt inspired by her.
Cut out triangles for sample quilt top two.
My supervisor stopped in to make sure all arranging was up to snuff.
Problem solving looks classic here.
What have you been making?
Weave a Bit
After reading about the Wefty needle on Mister Domestic‘s blog I ordered a set right away. The possibilities of color combinations are mesmerizing.
Making strips was easy and relaxing with the 1/2″ Clover Bias Tape Maker. There are a lot of cardboard boxes in the house right now and the bottom of one became the weaving surface. After weaving for awhile, my thumb and forefinger became a bit tender, prompting me to take a break.
What new activity are you trying?
Rocks in Round
Rain clouds stopped by last week allowing us to trek midday with the pups to Red Rock Canyon. It’s a stunning landscape with much for the eye to catch, making me itch for extra time out there to hike, think and imagine.
I sat down immediately when home and started stitching this idea. The coloring stitches aren’t finished yet, but the piece is pleasing to the eye already.
Back stitch and straight stitch are being employed here. The thread is DMC.
The photography professor I studied with encouraged shooting around 7 AM & PM for interesting lighting. Today I caught shadows.
Husband!
How was your weekend? What did you make?
Around Applique
Eighty squarish circles later and I am feeling pleased to the max with the colors: I’m still in the sea.
The pattern is Carolyn Friedlander’s Aerial Grove from her book Savor Each Stitch. Check her work out, and you will be picking up some fabric quickly.
One of the strips was appliqued by my auntie during her visit and I completed the rest.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Scraps Tote
This tote first started coming together in April, but was set aside for other projects. It caught my eye the other day. I scoped out the previous work, and found I was at the final steps of construction. The instructions are from The School of Sewing.
Free motion quilting is the best, and I love working on improving my skills.
Most of the scraps came from a baby quilt I finished in March.
The fabric scraps are mostly from Lizzy House’s line Natural History. A great line with playful fabrics that I love.
What have you been working on? Thanks for stopping by.
Applique Strips Basted
Basting after pinning applique pieces is one of my favorite parts of the craft and I like that the turned edges seem smoother when compared with my turning-on-the-line only applique. Basting may seem like it’ll away time from stitching, but trust me, it doesn’t, and I don’t worry about being stuck with needles. I love all parts of needle-turn applique.
Right before I started this I stopped myself from working on a needle-turn applique project I wasn’t enjoying. The project and I did not mesh creatively and when I realized this it was an easy decision to move on. Now I’m stitching away happily.
I recently (today) had guests, and one was my sewing auntie; she helped applique one strip and I’m finishing up the second. When I first saw this quilt pattern I was excited to start working on it. The pattern is fun, graceful, and lends itself to great amounts of color play.
Have any projects you’ve moved on from?
Summer Colors
The morning light is soft, warm, and surprising. With all of the resettling here I surprised myself by cutting out squares for applique on a quilt top. The color palette is warm with pinks and oranges highlighted by blues, greens, and purples. Looking up from under the water reminds me of summer, and for me these colors reflect the interplay between sun and sea.
Prepping to Applique
I find prepping applique pieces relaxing. After today’s beautiful sunrise, not unlike these colors, I am ready to get to work basting. A couple of quilts are in my future for the new apartment, because we moved when we were only staying for vacation: life has a natural flow and I can’t, and don’t want to, stop it.
The printed fabric is Kim Anderson’s Tidal Lace from Windham Fabrics. I picked it up at Super Buzzy last time I was in California. Both fabric and store are amazing.
What have you been making lately?
Diamond Star Baby Quilt
This is a quilt for a special person: first nephew I’ll ever meet! He comes from very bright and sweet people. When I saw Lizzy House‘s fabric line Natural History I fell in love with the playfulness of color and design. She seems pretty awesome. Check her out on Creativebug too (I am a huge fan of Creativebug, but more on that another time). I consulted School of Sewing‘s instructions for a baby-sized quilt, but then added in my own arrangement. 
Carolyn Friedlander‘s new line Caraki tones down the color and adds to a structured effect. Bones are the best. We all need bones and they are beautiful to look at. Caraki is beautiful and strong. Perfect!
I wasted no time using my favorite FM curved shape while quilting. I love this quilt, and I’m excited to meet the little guy it is for.
What have you been sewing up lately? Happy end of March to everyone!
Brambleton Threads 