Picking up the Pieces....finally finished

I finally finished Picking up the Pieces last week and we went for a photo shoot, along the ocean. Since I'm back to Alberta tomorrow, I wanted to take the opportunity....alas, no ocean in Alberta.

I have yet to put together any QAYG tutorials regarding this quilt, as there were several QAYG experiments involved in putting it together. There was a rather wild moment involving a rotary cutter and an already quilted work in progress, resulting in several already quilted pieces (in very odd shapes). And what does one do with that??? Way to complex to go into today.......but someday!!

 

Quilt Back.....yup, pretty much reversible, don't you think!!

 

All part of that crazy QAYG experimenting.

 

Reminder: Give Away on yesterday's post.

 

 



I had an Epiphany

Sometimes we dream......
We dream of all the quilts we would create if only REAL LIFE......yes, if only REAL LIFE wouldn't get in the way!!! 

I'm not going to have a lot quilts to show for 2014 when I sit down to write my New Year's blog post this year. REAL LIFE just kept getting the way. Pondering this thought is when I had my epiphany......

It's out of life that quilts flow.

Lots of tears flowed as I created "Shifting Impressions".

There was rage in my grief, as I slashed a quilt and then started "Picking up the Pieces".

But in the midst of one's difficulties there is usually some sunshine. 

My four, precious rays of sunshine were very involved in the Christmas Cookie Bake....after the house was clean and ready for Christmas (you think I would know better!!!!).

After layer upon layer of icing....

Would you look at that spectacular batch of cookies!!! (gingerbread monsters...according to my grandson)

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!

Simple Techniques / Complex Results

I thought I would give you a little update on my "Picking up the Pieces" quilt.

 Sometimes a combination of simple techniques can result in fairly complex results......or am I just kidding myself and it looks like a complicated mess. I'm not sure yet.

 I have one more row of blocks to add...

 Here is a detail shot.....

 Even the back looks a little....well, I'm not sure what it looks like.

 Joining the rows...

Another quick shot of the quilt back.

I'm off to the coast tomorrow so finishing this one will have to wait until I get back. I'm so looking forward some walks along the water!!

Super Sized Bobbins

Would you look at the size of those Bobbins.....I

 believe they hold about 80% more thread than a regular bobbin, of course I can't find exactly where it says that, but trust me it's wonderful.

 I've been playing with my New Bernina 710.....truly a dream machine!!!!!

 Meanwhile, I'm making pretty good head way on my "Picking Up the Pieces" Quilt.

 Nine blocks quilted......

Three to go.....

I just threw these up on the design wall randomly.....lets see where they take me.

I did rather slip that new machine part in, didn't I. Did I really neeeed a new machine....well, not really.

I saw this machine at a Quilt Show in Victoria, in May and had been obsessing dreaming about it ever since. I took a little of my, still to come, inheritance money and there you have it. My Mom had a Bernina when I was growing up....I can't help but think of her when I'm sewing with it.  

So, thanks, Mom.

Putting the Pieces Back Together

It's one thing to pick up the pieces ......but then what????? How to fit them back together, that's the million dollar question. 

 Joining, more slicing and then.....it's perfect...NOT!!!   I so wish that were the case. Instead, RIPPING OUT and MORE RIPPING OUT!  But, when one way doesn't work, it inevitably leads to another solution, and if that doesn't work something else has a way of presenting itself.

I'm insetting pieces that are already quilted....that is a dilemma all of it's own.

Block One

The striped piece in the lower right-hand corner was already quilted. In the first block the back of the block is just one plain piece of fabric.

Block Two

Again the striped triangle was already quilted, but this time I figured out how to expose the quilted back, of the previously quilted triangle as well......

Block Two (back)

Block Three

Block Three (back)

Block Four

I used a different method for exposing the previously quilted triangle here....this one works, but is a little more convoluted. 

Block Four (back)

Block Five

I just have a plain back here.....this was before I figured out how to expose the back, of the previously inset quilted piece.

Block Six.... still in process

Again the back is plain.

The slicing and ripping out, multiple times, can be a painful experience.....but the resulting solutions are often gold. 

That's something I have to keep reminding myself of, throughout the process.

One Step Forward.....Two Steps Back

Sometimes....quite often actually, it's one step forward then two steps (or maybe even several) steps back, when working improv. Well, that was the way of it, for me today. It all started on Saturday.....

 I was in a mood....rotary cutters and moods just might be a lethal combination!!!! You guessed it, I started slicing!!! 

And slicing some more....with gusto, I might add!!

 And then it was over.....my project was in pieces!!! Later that day I read a beautiful post by Diane of O'Quilts and thought yes, there is anger in grief. 

In a much calmer state, two days later.....I naively thought, I will just pick up these beautiful pieces and put them in a nice calm background and that will be the end of it. The pieces will be picked up and put back together, hopefully creating something beautiful.

I'm testing out or trying to develop some ways to set quilted pieces into backgrounds.....more on that later.

Here's me calmly playing....

 Things are working out rather well....

Along the way, I modified the method slightly, making things simpler and faster.....and then, I hated it. Oh, Oh, me and my rotary cutter.....well, I imagine you know the rest. 

Yup, everything in pieces on the ground. 

Then it came to me....when something is cut or broken in pieces, whether it be your quilt or something else, it's just not a matter of putting it back on a calm background....things might just be a little more complex than that....and not all that calm.

Hmm....with that thought in mind, I'll be trying something else. 

P.S. All was not lost, my QAYG method development is coming along nicely. 

Where Do Your Quilts Come From?

Do you ever ask yourself that question? Where do my quilts come from??

 For me, they come from many places. Sometimes I create a quilt out of necessity....a baby quilt for example. I need a gift and I make one. Other times a piece of fabric sets my creative juices in motion. But lately, some of my quilts have been coming from a deeper place.....from an emotional place if you will.

All these pieces are leftover from another project I started a few years ago. 

As you can see, that particular project is still a Work In Progress....but no matter, I try to keep my studio a guilt free zone. 

I'm also working on a few other Quilt As You Go techniques......sometimes just playing with different techniques brings some of my quilts into being.

It's rare for me to have a name for a quilt so early on but this quilt is called....PICKING UP THE PIECES.

Not all that original, but oh so relevant......