Connections by Karen S Musgrave: 1950 Challenge Fabric Reveal

Connections by Karen S Musgrave: 1950 Challenge Fabric Reveal: It all began with this 1950s fabric and a group of wonderful people who joined in the fun. The rules were simple. 1. The challenge fabri...

The 4th Option of Karen's Challenge

Remember when I said I was sticking a fork in it and calling this done? I asked for opinions on orientation and I took to heart comments people made. The one I really was surprised at was some of you liked the one that looked more like a 'window'. I'm always fascinated at what others 'see' in a non-representational piece. 


It was really those comments that spurred on the 4th option...which was that the piece WASN'T done afterall. It is difficult to balance a piece with only 2 areas, or for the traditional quilters reading this, 2 blocks.

To counter act this idea of a window, I turned the piece the 4th orientation and added the bottom 1/4 to the pieced area.  I think this is a more balanced art quilt. The addition of a smaller pieced area on the left balances out the busy area on the right. The simple strips added on the right, balances and relates to the left and carries through the hot pink and lemon yellow areas. This in effect frames the piece, contains the pieced elements into a cohesive piece. It also carries the viewers eye around the piece.

This won't be quilted for awhile. I have discovered that the severe shoulder pain I've been experiencing  is caused not only by my Rheumatoid Arthritis but by damaged rotator cuff tendons. Seems a little known thing about RA is that it weakens tendons around the affected joints. This allows the tendons to tear, rip or rupture from  daily use. Needless to say, I am not very happy about this.  I have no idea how long I will be working at less than the 1/2 activity I am already at from the RA. Seems I may be doing a lot fewer pieces at a much slower pace. 

Margarita-ville

Check out our new group blog http://artsinthecardsrevisioned.blogspot.com/. I just posted my piece for the Rebirth challenge. Here is a photo, but the commentary is on the other blog. This is a journal sized quilt. 8.5 x 11 inches.

Karen's Challenge - Sticking a Fork in it...Which orientation do you prefer?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Apx. finished size is 18 x 24 inches. It seems off the wall to have an even number of blocks with apx. equal spacing in a quilt. I think it is balanced by one block being very busy and the other with larger spaces.  I will leave the wonky edges. I like to let an art quilt find its own space.

Samplers

 I adore vintage samplers. I'm not sure how vintage this one is but I LOVE it. It will be pressed and framed for my studio. The photo with my hand is for size reference.

I am a feminist from way back and have always tried to live this motto. It was also something I instilled in my daughter. You can be pink and feminine like the flowers here but sometimes you have to be hard as wood like the brown in the lettering.

Arts In The Cards: The scarlet letters

Arts In The Cards: The scarlet letters: I was really at a loss for an inspiration and then I thought of the "Scarlet Letter". I was going to do a big "A" for everyone for 'a...

karen's Challenge #2

Here is some of the cutting and stitching I accomplished yesterday. I see similar elements coming forward in the work that has been done so far.

I used my favorite Inktense pencils on the ugly fabric, picking up some of the hues from the scraps. "Well, I never really thought it was ugly, but I like how this looks with the added colors." I'm not sure how it will be used but the raw fabric is in small pieces in the other blocks, too.

I've worked this way before so it isn't really anything new for me. Those who know me, know that I don't follow rules well and usually work serendipitously.  Maybe I shouldn't have joined Karen's challenge since even following any of the non-rules in the book seems like rules to me.  It did get me back to the sewing machine and design wall, so its a good thing.

Karen's Challenge

 I am imposing a rule on myself that wasn't one of Karen's for the challenge. I will only use bits and bobs that have been stashed in the basket by the cutting table. Here are some of the fabrics I've pulled out to start cutting and stitching. I LOVE scrap quilts and if you look closely at antique ones, you will see no reason or color wheel rules. I'm hoping that with Rayna's techniques, I can have a similar result from this mish mash.

I've had a tough day. I purchased an expensive lot of weaving items on Ebay, paid for them and now the seller is trying to hold me hostage for more shipping so she can avoid paying Ebay's fees on the shipping charges. Completely against Ebay's rules so I have had to ask for my money back and reported her to Ebay. I hope I can get my money back in a reasonable amount of time. So to relieve my frustrations, I plan on sitting in front of the design wall and stitching sets and blocks.  Stay tuned for more in a few day.

The gauntlet is thrown

Karen Musgrave offered a challenge on her blog using Rayna Gillman's New Book Create Your Own Free Form Quilts.  Rayna says it is a stress free way to work and Karen has been having a lot of fun with the technique on her blog. She is really making some wonderful pieces.

This is the fabric I received from Karen today to work with for the challenge. This should be fun and I can always do with some stress free activities.  I'm sure I can come up with a scrap or two, maybe a UFO and some hand dyed that I can throw in the mix.

Stay tuned for photos and progress!

Organized and standing at the Ready

 What a great way to start the new year. I am not an organized person at heart and out of sight means out of mind. This was a pantry between the kitchen and sitting room so we took the door off to make open shelving. I may come back later with a glass pantry door just to protect the warping threads and yarns from dust but still be able to see inside.  But I love, love, love seeing these colors all together. They are happy colors, I think.

I have details of my economically challenged purchases on my other blog Quilting on the Cheap and Weaving, Too! if you are interested. I couldn't possibly afford any of this on a retail budget.

 The loom is cleaned and polished, the apron has been made and attached and it is ready to weave.  We will use the warp on the loom for practice before starting a 'real' project.

The spinning wheel has been oiled, the wood has been finished and it is ready to spin away.

I have some wonderful ideas for incorporating some of these fibery things into art quilts. I am giving myself a year to master these new skills and just play without too much pressure on myself.  So don't go away, check back often and I will keep this updated with my progress.

Oh, and I will be posting about quilts and art, too!