Breather!

I resumed work on "Sometimes..." this morning, and when I looked up it was 12:30 p.m.  I ate something and went back to work.  When I looked up again, it was after 3 p.m.!

Time for a Breather!

The first few hours were spent attaching the 'snow' to the 'sky' -- for real! -- and preparing the entire thing for quilting.  I decided to pin it as I was concerned that spray baste (my basting "process" of choice) would be a challenge with this heavy fabric.

I chose a batik for the backing -- largely because it was one I'd bought to emulate "snow" and never used.  It occurred to me too, though, that the dense weave of a batik could support the heavy cotton of the top better than an 'ordinary' cotton.

Then came testing re: the quilting.  I wanted to do free-motion, especially for the sky.  I tried it out for a couple of hours...with no luck whatsoever.

Huh?

Well...the colour of thread I had on hand was found on a spool of Superior's "New Brytes" (a line designed in association with Caryl Bryer Fallert Gentry) that I'd received as part of one of the company's "Try Me" specials.  It's a 30-weight polyester.  

I wanted to do free-motion in the sky, a bit more densely than I usually do, following some of the dye patterns.

I put in the recommended needle (100/16).

I cleaned the bobbin case and filled a bobbin with white "Bottom Line" (also from Superior Thread).

I threaded the machine and made a sample and another sample and another sample -- several on each piece of fabric.  They looked reasonably good from the front...

But on the back, the story was quite different:

I put in another new needle, thinking there might have been a 'burr' in the first one.  No difference.

I tried lowering bottom tension. Nope.  Raising bottom tension. Nope.  Lowering top tension. Nope.  Feed dogs up?  Nope.  Feed dogs down?  Nope.

I went on to the Superior website and found that this thread needed a heavier weight in the  bobbin (Bottom Line is very fine).  I switched to the only thing I had on hand in the right colour: "Masterpiece", which is a cotton thread but of the recommended weight.  Some improvement, but not long-lasting.  I continued to end up with this:

Shredded Thread!!

And did I mention that even though the machine 'sounded' fine for the first wee bit while doing this, there would come the moment when it seemed to "choke"?

I gave up.  I think the problem lies not with the needle, thread, fabric or tension settings but with the internal workings of the machine when it tries to do free-motion.  And I have no time to drive an hour to Red Deer on snowy roads of questionable condition to take it in for a "look-see".  (Miss Pfaff doesn't do FMQ well, and I have no motivation to test her in this, so don't suggest it, okay?  😉

So.

I went to Plan B:  I put the feed dogs up, put on my walking foot, kept the "Masterpiece" in the bobbin and the "Brytes" on the top and quilted wavy lines in the sky...

And in the snow.  For the snow, I switched to King Tut in a lovely pale blue variegated thread because those of you who live where there's snow know that it's not all white (grin)...

Then I created the shoreline...the distance and the "island".  I fused it in place and decided -- ENOUGH! for today.   Tomorrow...Sabbath...calls for rest.  Worship.  Peace.  Quiet.  Knitting.  Hand stitch.

The thread-painting of the trees/shore and the figure will have to wait till Monday.

What are you up to this weekend?  I'm linking in to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday, and checking out what my colleagues are doing...

'Bye for now!

Seduced by Colour - Part I

As my head-cold worsened, my ability to think clearly about colour declined...hence several days' delay between my last post and this one.

The afternoon of that last post, I drove in to Red Deer for the Annual Central Alberta Quilters' Guild Show -- one of the largest in these parts.  This year, I was going on a mission...mainly to do with the merchants at the show.  

On arrival, I was greeted by my friend Briony, who is in charge of the Exhibits this year.  She's also a collector of antique and vintage sewing machines.  This year she collaborated with other collectors to create a special exhibit:

Log Cabin quilt - date unknown - on loan
from the Innisfail & District Historical Village

My favourite machine was this one, owned by M. Wagner:

1911 Singer Fiddle Back with inlaid mother of pearl

From there, I made my way around the circumference of the main room and down the hall, then back to take in the quilts on display.  I confess that this year there weren't many traditional quilts that took my attention.  There was one that showed a wonderful use of fabric, though, and reminded me of Bonnie Hunter's adage that no fabric is so challenging that it can't be used if cut small enough.  Once it's cut small enough, a print "just becomes another colour" -- in this case, shades of blue and turquoise.  Wonderful!

"Eureka!" - Donna Parsons, Red Deer

"Eureka!" detail 

Then there was the collection of wildly coloured pieces by my friend and colleague, Patti Morris.  Two I particularly liked:

"Bubbles #2" - Patti Morris
Made for a class she taught at Quilt Canada 2013
"Colour Play and Experiment"

and her prize-winner at the show -- Best of Show, 'Innovative Art':

"Art Camp @ Lazy M"
From an art workshop at Lazy M Lodge

Demonstrating the use of colour in a different way...my friend and SAQA colleague, Wendy Greber, who made a sample for the Guild's "candy bar challenge".  The concept?  Take the colours from a candy bar wrapper and use them in a quilt.  Made to inspire her fellow guild members, Wendy's was a show winner too:

Here's the wrapper...

And here's the quilt:

"Chocolate Bar" - Wendy Greber, 2014

My adventure with colour didn't stop at the exhibits, though.  I moved from there back to the designated shopping area.   Hamel's Fabrics was having their regular show special: 1/2 metre cuts of batiks at $4.99 each.  I bought six...in the palette I plan to use for EB's MC topic this month...

And then it was suggested I visit one of the vendors 'down the hall' -- Quilters Dream Fabrics of Vancouver (not to be confused with Quilter's Dream in Edmonton) where, apparently, there was a wonderful collection of 1 metre cuts -- more batiks...and I bought 4 more...

Here's the collection:

To go with, I treated myself to one of Jerry's books at Copperfield's Books:

Ms. Issett is someone I couldn't afford to see when she taught (teaches?) at Gail Harker's Creative Studios in La Conner, WA...now I have her in my library...another book to inspire play...

And I visited the Superior Threads vendor, Cotton Mills Threadworks, where I bought a couple of spools of King Tut (my fave for my landscapes) and a package of needles...

I left around 3 p.m., completely satisfied with my afternoon.  :-)

To find out what happens to the fabric, stay tuned for Part II...

Let's Face It!

I spent the better part of this a.m. and early afternoon quilting my piece for the "Lines" topic in my EB Master Class.

I knew I wanted to use my walking foot, so first I tuned in to my Craftsy class on the use of said foot, featuring Jacquie Gering.  It was helpful, but I was undecided...so...

Next I auditioned 3 possible threads using 2 different stitches...

Then I added a 4th thread and another stitch idea:

Sample, sample, sample...

The spools are both variegated "King Tut" cotton thread from Superior Threads, while the 'spindle' is a variegated cotton from Oliver Twist threads that I got years ago...when I bought OT embellishment packs etc.  Can't even remember where!

Stitch ideas: straight with walking foot; slightly wavery with walking foot; narrow (very narrow) satin stitch with walking foot...

Look closely to see where they stitching lines take you.

Now it's ready for facing.  Once it's faced, I'll send final photos to EB for her critique (deadline; March 31).

Prairie Spring I -  (WIP) 2015 - 23.5" square

The neat thing is, you can hang it any way you want.  I'll make sure of that when I attach the sleeve.  :-)

Like this:

Prairie Spring I - rotated 90 degrees (WIP)

Or like this;

Prairie Spring I - rotated another 90 degrees (WIP)

Problem?  Despite it's small size and deliberate design elements, someone here in Bed Quilt Central is sure to want it for a crib quilt.

Sigh.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday over at The Needle and Thread Network...Enjoy!