Wednesday's Wanderings #26 Oh Glorious Day & #27 "Couching"

 After the week that I have had, there is no doubt that the subject of  this week's WW would be the wedding and the chuppah. My memory isn't very good, so I am thrilled with the notion that a few years from now I'll be able to look at the quilt made from all of these blocks and be able to reminisce about 2012.

 I am getting pretty good at making these little blocks.  I started working on 'the chuppah" first thing in the morning and finished it by lunch, albeit a late lunch.  This is Block #26. 

I'm halfway there.  Woo Hoo!!

I start almost every block by quilting the background.  I just use batting and the background fabric.  There is no fabric on the back.  I will add the backing fabric when I put all the blocks together.
I quilt it. 

I had fun working with markers.  I bought this collection of Bic markers at AC Moore a few months ago.  It reminded me of when I was little and the thrill of getting that big box of Crayola crayons.  The label says permanent. 

Oh the possibilities!

Isn't this gorgeous?

Maybe they should call it semi-permanent?

I wasn't that concerned about using the Bic markers.  I used these markers to mimic the leaves and branch appliques from the chuppah.  I wasn't planning on wetting it. But I wetted a sample anyway. I did not try setting it with a hot iron.

But, I wanted to use a washable marker to mark the letters for the embroidery along the top of the block. Those colored lines would need to wash out. Speaking of Crayola, would their washable markers work?  I have used them in the past, but Test, Test, Test.

Can you see a bit of lettering left behind?  And surprisingly it's from the blue marker, not the pink.  Even after I test, I try to match the color of the marker to the color of the thread for the embroidery.  I have also used washable markers from the dollar store with success.  But I still test both the marker color with each fabric that I plan on using.

I have had a crazy busy Spring.  It has all been wonderful and fabulous.  It started with my book coming out.  Then I went to Kansas City for Quilt Market.  At the same time I had committed to a winter project for The Quilt Life which I delivered at Market.  Next on my agenda was my 3 day fabric dyeing retreat for a fabulous group of women.  Then the chuppah and the wedding. Plus my regular schedule of lectures, workshops, WW's and blogging.  I wanted to have a career as a fiber artist and I think I can say that I accomplished that. 

 I am ready for a vacation, but I don't want to go anywhere.  I just want to stay home.  So I have come up with a new pastime.  I have named it "couching".  It's not the thread kind of couching.  It's butt on the couch, feet on the coffee table kind of couching.

I used the computer for printing. 

What about that pedicure?  Marker.

 

And where did I get the image for my couching block?

Sometimes you just have to use the real deal, like a self-portrait!!

 

So this has become my 27th block.  I will need 54 blocks to make my 6 block x 9 block wallhanging at the end of the year. Since I am making one block per week and there are 52 weeks in the year, I need to make 2 extra blocks.   So at this halfway point, I thought this would be the perfect time for my plus one.

So you'll excuse me now.  I'm going to do some "couching"!