On my design wall – 2014.02.19

Posted on February 19, 2014 by TerryAske

Today I’m trying out a couple of new techniques.  I made up a small sample piece about 5 x 8 inches.

The first technique is a background made from small scraps, each less than 1″ square.  I fused some Misty Fuse to batting, then laid the scraps on top.  When I had covered the batting, I fused the scraps to the batting, added a backing fabric and machine stitched them all in place.

The second technique is a sketchy style of applique and stitching.  I cut out vaguely leaf-shaped pieces of fabric and fused them to the background.  Then I free-motion stitched leaf-shapes with dark green thread.  I used the same process for a cherry blossom flower and stitched it with a fairly dark fuchsia thread.

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I very happy with how this turned out, so now I’m going to start working on a bigger piece.

 

I’m linking up with these blogs for WiP Wednesday.  Click on the buttons below to see all the creative people participating and check out the projects they’re working on.

stitch by stitch WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced     Quiltsy WiP     Esther’s Blog

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Workshop and trunk shows – 2014.02.17

Posted on February 17, 2014 by TerryAske

On Wednesday, I did a trunk show at the monthly meeting of the Vancouver Quilters’ Guild.  On Saturday, I did a workshop for the guild on Freezer Paper Piecing.

DSCN3334I provided patterns – a choice of a fairly simple Maple leaf pattern or a more complex Japanese Maple leaf pattern.  Here are the 2 class samples that I made a while ago.

Most of the participants elected to make the simpler block – and by the end of the class, several of them had completed their blocks.

Workshop with Vancouver Quilt GuildHere are some of the blocks that were finished at the workshop.  I love seeing how each person’s fabric selections change the look of the block.  [The one in the top right corner is the sample that I made.]

Some of the other participants were still working on their blocks at the end of the day, and of course those who selected the more complex pattern did not finish during the class.  Everyone said they enjoyed the class, and they now have another technique in their ‘toolkit’.

Here’s some additional information about the tips and techniques I teach at this workshop.

If you live in the metro Vancouver area, you may be interested in knowing that I’ll be doing two trunks shows at the Langley Quilters’ Guild on Wednesday, February 26th – they have a meeting at noon and another at 7pm.  [I was going to do a mini-workshop on my Mod Dogs in the afternoon, but not enough people signed up.]

 

Linking up to anything goes mondays.  Click on the button below to see all the creative people participating and check out the projects they’re working on.

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Monday afternoon finish – 2014.02.10

Posted on February 10, 2014 by TerryAske

My entry for the Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Basics challenge is finished.  It’s 36 x 36 inches.  I added several other solids to the challenge fabrics.

After drawing several sketches of circles, I settled on a design with 3 sections of concentric circles of varying diameters.  I drew the full-size pattern on freezer paper, then cut each template out and pressed it to the back of the fabric.  I used 2 techniques to join the pieces – some of the seams have raw edges covered with bias tape, and some of the seam allowances were pressed over the freezer paper template then top-stitched over the adjacent piece.

I pieced the back with 3 sections that align with the front sections.  I quilted each section with straight lines about 1 inch apart.  I used a medium gray thread on the front, and matched the bobbin thread to the back fabrics.

I love the look of solid black binding, but always forget that it’s challenging to work with.  (I guess I need a pair of those spectacles with built in lights!)  I also forget how solid black backing picks up tiny bits of batting fluff.  Anyway, I persevered, and I love the result.  (As you can see, there is no sleeve or label – yet – so it will be added to the pile of quilts that are waiting for the boring finishing touches.

TerryAske-front  TerryAske-back

 

I’m linking up to these sites.  Click on the buttons below to see all the creative people participating and check out the projects they’re working on.

stitch by stitch

 

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Almost finished – 2014.02.09

Posted on February 9, 2014 by TerryAske

I love how this one is looking.  It’s about 35 x 35 inches, and the straight line quilting is just under 1 inch apart.  All that’s left to do is the binding, which will be black.  I plan to post the completely finished quilt tomorrow, and I’ll enter it in the Modern Quilt Guild Riley Basics challenge.

DSCN3278

 

I’m linking up to these sites, where you can see many creative projects:

   Creations by Nina-Marie   Confessions of a Fabric Addict

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On my design wall – 2014.02.06

Posted on February 6, 2014 by TerryAske

My Riley Blake quilt doesn’t look a lot different than it did last week, but the piecing is almost complete.

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I’m linking up with these blogs for WiP Wednesday.  Click on the buttons below to see all the creative people participating and check out the projects they’re working on.  (I missed the deadline for WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced, but check it out anyway.)

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced     Quiltsy WiP     Esther’s Blog

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On my design wall – 2014.01.29

Posted on January 29, 2014 by TerryAske

My entry for the VMQG/Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Basics challenge is progressing nicely.  I knew I wanted to do another circle quilt, using similar techniques that I used in this quilt.  After many sketches, I settled on this design.

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I drew the pattern on freezer paper, then cut each template out and pressed it to the back of the fabric.  I used 2 techniques to join the pieces – some of the seams have raw edges that will be covered with bias tape, some of the seam allowances were pressed over the freezer paper template then top-stitched over the adjacent piece.

The right side is sewn together, except the 2 orange corner pieces.  The left side hasn’t been sewn at all yet.

 

I’m linking up with these blogs for WiP Wednesday.  Click on the buttons below to see all the creative people participating and check out the projects they’re working on.

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced     Quiltsy WiP     Esther’s Blog

 

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Weekend finish – 2014.01.26 – New design wall

Posted on January 26, 2014 by TerryAske

I stumbled across this wonderful design wall a few weeks ago.  It’s two-sided, it stands up straight by itself, and it’s on wheels!   It’s made from two pieces on styrofoam attached to a rolling coat rack.  I contacted Lynne to ask if it was still working for her.  She confirmed that it’s standing up well, and even gave me some construction tips.

T.Aske - portable hinged design wallThis is exactly what I need!  I have no bare walls in my quilt studio, so my existing design wall leans against a wall of cupboards.  It is moveable, but still needs to be propped against something.  Also, because it’s inconvenient to move the design wall around, I’m not using the space behind it very efficiently.

IMG_7997-001My rolling folding table fits into a cubbyhole behind the design wall.   For quite a while, the rolling table just sat in it’s cubbyhole because it was a hassle to get it out.  Then, after I made an ironing mat to fit the top of it, I moved it out into the studio.  But now it never goes back into its cubbyhole, and the shelf behind the design wall has become a dumping ground for fabric scraps.

I finally got all the materials and tools together, and assembled my new design wall this weekend.  Now that I can wheel the wall around, I’ll be able to access and utilize the shelf and cupboards currently behind the design wall.  In the photo on the left, the new design wall is standing in the usual place.  In the photo on the right, it’s standing next to the usual place.

light gray side    NOT against a wall

I decided to cover one side with light gray fabric, and the other with dark gray.  The photos above show the light gray side.  Below, you can see the dark gray side, and a close-up photo of both sides with the end of the coat rack poking out.

dark gray side  2-sided design wall

I’m planning to document my construction methods in a tutorial, but I want to wait a couple of weeks to make sure it all stays together and doesn’t require any modifications.

 

I’m linking up to these sites, where you can see many creative projects:

   Creations by Nina-Marie   Confessions of a Fabric Addict

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On my design wall – 2014.01.22

Posted on January 22, 2014 by TerryAske

My entry for this month’s Quilting Arts Magazine ‘In the Garden’ Reader Challenge is finished and has been submitted.  It was a lot of fun to recreate the effect of the sun and shadows on the clump of iris leaves, using a very limited color palette of fabric and thread.

TerryAske_IntheGarden_full

Here’s a peak at how I constructed it.  I did most of the machine stitching before I quilted the piece.  This allowed me to stitch the background leaves before fusing on the foreground leaves.  Plus, I didn’t have to bury all those thread ends!  After layering it with batting and backing, I quilted around the edges of the 4 foreground leaves.

DSCN3200 DSCN3204 DSCN3205

 

DSCN3209Next up will be my entry for the Modern Quilt Guild Riley Basics challenge.  VMQG members received a package of 6 fat eighths at our December meeting.  I’ve been debating exactly what to do for my entry, as I have several ideas and not much fabric.  At our meeting Monday night, I scored an extra bundle (some members decided not to participate, so there were leftover bundles).  Now I only have to narrow it down to two ideas, instead of just one!

 

I’m linking up with these blogs for WiP Wednesday.  Click on the buttons below to see all the creative people participating and check out the projects they’re working on.

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced     Quiltsy WiP     Esther’s Blog

 

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On my design wall – 2014.01.15

Posted on January 15, 2014 by TerryAske

IMG_1004-005For this month’s Quilting Arts Magazine ‘In the Garden’ Reader Challenge, I was initially thinking of a flower garden with bright colors – but I just wasn’t getting inspired. So I went to my image collection and found this photo I took a couple of years ago of a clump of iris leaves in the sun.  I love the light and dark patterns created by the sun and shadows.

DSCN3187Then I found this beautiful fabric in my stash – it has a gradation from dark to light green.  It’s the fabric on the top, folded so you can see all the different shades of green.   On the bottom are several coordinating solid and tone-on-tone green fabrics.  I’m excited about using this limited color palette to make an art quilt.  It’s going to be almost completely about value – ensuring there is enough difference in value so the leaves can be distinguished from each other.

I’ll enhance the foreground leaves with thread work, and I’m going to experiment with tulle over the leaves in the back, so they will fade into the background and make the scene appear more three-dimensional.

Here’s what I’ve done so far.  I like how it’s looking.

 

I’m linking up with these blogs for WiP Wednesday.  Click on the buttons below to see all the creative people participating and check out the projects they’re working on.

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced     Quiltsy WiP     Esther’s Blog

 

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Friday finish – 2014.01.10

Posted on January 10, 2014 by TerryAske

I started working on this little quilt earlier this week.  It’s finished and ready to ship to the SAQA 25th Anniversary Trunk Show.

I was originally going to finish the edges with a facing, but then I realized it will be mounted on a black background, so I used a dark gray binding instead.

TerryAske_RainyDayPeople5

 

I’m linking up to these sites, where you can see many creative projects:

   Creations by Nina-Marie   Confessions of a Fabric Addict

 

Posted in Art quilts, Friday finishes | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments