Bailey Mosaic Portrait Quilt Post #4

This was my last progress report for my quilt of my dog, Bailey.

  Or should I say Princess?

I am very happy so far.

 

But as usual, I have to complicate my life. 

I didn't think the original photo that I was using as my road map, was clear enough for the bottom quarter of her face.  So I decided to draw out the bottom half of the quilt for a clearer delineation between her ears and her body.

One square of the graph paper is equal to one square of the fabric.

The values of the pencil shading are equivalent to the values of the fabric.

While working on this bottom quarter using the graph,

 I did make some adjustments, especially to the collar.

 

This is what the bottom quarter looks like before it is pieced.  Isn't it amazing how much difference a 1/4" seam allowance changes the width? 

I chain pieced each section and pressed the seams so that they all nested together.

 

And then the final steps:

 

 

 

DONE!

Finished size: 54"x54"

Quilting will be done when I get back to PA.

 

Wednesday's Wanderings Quilt

Here it is.  All the Wednesday's Wandering blocks sewed together into a quilt. I have not decided if I want to add borders or just bind it the way it is.  It needs to ruminate.  I would love your input.

I had to surf my blog to put the blocks into the correct chronological order. 

I was surprised that over the course of a year, I needed assistance for this, but it gave me the opportunity to reflect upon my activities and travels of 2012.

I was surprised at how much was squeezed into a year. Reviewing the highlights, it started with our sojourn in Key West, then a trip to Israel.  After purchasing my cute little blue convertible Beetle, my second book came out with a coinciding trip to the wholesale Quilt Market in Kansas City to promote it.  My first lakeside quilter's retreat was then followed by the unveiling of the chuppah and the wedding of my youngest son. Then I delivered a torah cover commission, visited Mark Lipinski and his radio show, and finally "Frosty Flakes" was published in the December issue of The Quilt Life. 

I don't think I could have squeezed much more into one year.  Looking at the blocks and reminiscing about all these events and the many others gives me such a warm feeling.  It was indeed a very good year and a very busy year.  I feel so fortunate that I have been able to elevate my love of quilting  and designing into more than just a hobby.  I have connected with so many people that looked forward to see where I went each week and how I depicted it.

I have been conflicted about whether I want to continue this weekly chronological fiber trip.  It has brought me so much joy to come up with an idea each week and then figure out how to share it.  Some weeks it was easy, other weeks it was hard.  But it was always fun.  But at this point I have some large quilts and projects that I want to work on that I need to devote a concentrated amount of time to design and develop.  So I am going to bid WW a fond farewell with melancholy in my heart.

I will continue to share my journeys both quilting and travels.  This brings me great joy to share what I know and have learned with others. In this vein, if you want to see how I put all of the blocks together, come back tomorrow. You may be surprised.

Wednesday's Wanderings #54 - CELEBRATE!

This is the final block for my 2012 Wednesday's Wanderings. 

It is with a sense of joy and relief that I created this block.

  I am so happy that I made it through the year without too many hiccups. 

 So ring the bells and throw the confetti!

I started with this polka dot fabric and quilted it with wavy lines.

 I used a metallic thread. 

 The bells were added using raw edge fusible applique after positioning the rick rack.

I like to use a rayon thread for the blanket stitch 

It has a bit of a shine.

The block needed a bit more of a celebratory theme, so after adding the bells

 I decided to add some streamers.

 The streamers were too thick to be created from fabric, so I chose to do thread painting. I searched high and low for my beloved blue soluble marking pen, but couldn't find it.  Instead I used a water soluble film (Solvy) and drew my streamer pattern on it.

 I thread painted the streamers by stitching over and over until I thought there was enough coverage.  I tore away the remaining Solvy.  I did not need to soak it.

And then I added some confetti!

The satin stitch was perfect for this.

THE LAST BLOCK!!

The 54th block.

One block a week plus 2 for good measure (and to make an eye pleasing layout).

A wall hanging with a year's full of wanderings and memories. 

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this journey.

Finished quilt to follow.

CELEBRATE!

 

Wednesday's Wanderings #50 - There's No Place Like Home

This was definitely a stay at home week.

  I think this is what happens to me after all the excitement and hub bub of Thanksgiving.

Company leaves and the house is quiet.

It was a perfect week to stay inside.  The temperatures dropped and it was pretty cold.

You think I would have gotten a lot of sewing done. But I didn't. I took care of all the things I have neglected.  Each day I made a "to do" list that included phone calls, errands, Dr's appointments and even cleaning my closet.  Oh boy do I have lots of clothes to donate. 

So why did my lists not include sewing? Avoidance.

I am starting a new project - a big project- and I am just afraid to start. 

Sometimes this fear is paralyzing.

The root of the fear is the one nagging question that just sits at the back of my brain.

What if it doesn't turn out the way I envision it?

 I know the answer to that question.  I will adapt and adjust and my original idea may morph into something else or it may get shelved until I come up with a solution.  But I still would prefer to clean my closet than work in my studio.  Who knew?

Does this happen to anyone else?

But I have taken the time to make my block for this week.  There's no place like home. 

I know I say this over and over, but I love blanket stitching around fusible applique.  To me it is calming and I enjoy experimenting with different types and colors of threads.  Sometimes I match my thread to the applique and other times I use a contrasting thread. 

I free cut all of the fusible applique to add to the whimsy.  And I really enjoyed using sequins to make the tree look like it was made of polka dots.

I chose to cross stitch HOME at the bottom. I wanted this to bring a homieness to the block. The X's are not perfect. I drew them by hand with a chalk pencil. The remnants of the chalk is visible but after the block is handled a bunch the chalk will wear off..  To me it adds to the folk part of the art. But what a nice contrast between the vintage lettering and the bling of sequins. 

What a nice place to be.

Wednesday's Wanderings #38 - Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!!

It's my birthday this week and I thought I would make myself the cake of my dreams!

I do LOVE cake. 

I have a couple of friends that are as crazy about cake as I am. 

When the topic of cake comes up,  all of our eyes light up as if we won the lottery.

I quilted the background with a stitch I learned from my friend Christine.  I loved this stitch and even though it has been years since the first time I saw it, this is the first time I used it.  It reminds me of confetti and that's why I thought it was perfect for the birthday block.

I used a bunch of different embellishing on the different layers. 

I decorated the bottom layer with "pearls" hanging from triangle jewels.

I separated the layers with a piece of pearl trim.

The middle layer was embellished with star sequins and beads.  I really like using a polka dot fabric.  They're lots of fun to use as the basis for embellishments.

I beaded the top layer with a variety of beads. 

You may be wondering why there are 2 candles on the top of the cake. 

 There is a very simple reason.  It's because a very special person shares this birthday with me. 

It's my husband!  An amazing coincidence.

He tells people that he had to search high and low to find someone to marry with the same birth date.

To finish the creation of the cake of my dreams, I must choose the flavors of the 3 different layers.  I have seen this on those dream wedding TV shows, so why can't I have a cake with 3 different flavors?

#1 - Vanilla cake with coconut frosting

#2 - Hazelnut cake with milk chocolate frosting

#3 -  Chocolate cake with mocha filling

(I hope one of my DILs reads this.  They are both terrific bakers.  HINT.  HINT.)

And here's The Giveaway:

I want someone to celebrate my birthday with me.  I have made a second birthday block that is finished like a mini quilt.  Leave a comment and become a follower of my blog to be eligible to win it. The best birthday present would be for me to get to 300 members. (A girl can dream.) If you're a blogger, please share the love and feel free to post my giveaway on your blog - pretty please.

 I will pick a name and reveal it on my next Wednesday's Wanderings. 

 YOU NEED TO COME BACK NEXT WEDNESDAY TO SEE IF YOU HAVE WON.

(I will name the winner at the end of next week's WW.)

Wednesday's Wanderings #36 - New York Beauty

New York Beauty

I always look forward to going to New York City. 

 I grew up on Long Island and often took the train into "the city" to hang out, meet boys and shop.  It's too far for me to drive now and quite frankly, I think you need your head examined to compete with the taxi cabs.  I'm not sure they have brakes and I know they don't have turn signals.  LOL

A few years ago, I discovered the Bolt Bus.  It is a wonderful way to travel from Philly to Manhattan for not a lot of money.  Do you remember the slogan - something like "leave the driving to us"? That's what I do.  Plus there's Wifi on the bus.  I either sew or read or do Internet stuff.

Yesterday I met my friend Angela in NYC.  I met her a few years ago at a Pro Chem fabric dyeing workshop and we have kept in touch.  She lives in CT and she knows how to get around, especially on the subway.  I just follow her like a little puppy dog.  The 911 Memorial and a little shopping and good eats were on our agenda.

The Chrysler building is one of the more famous and identifiable buildings.  If you are a quilter, does the architecture on the upper levels of the building remind you of anything?

They remind me of the New York Beauty quilt block.  Was this block designed based on this New York skyscraper?  I thought maybe.

I did a little research.  The Chrysler Building opened for business in 1930 and was the tallest structure in NYC until the Empire State Building opened 11 months later.  The NY Beauty block was previously called "Rocky Mountain" and  first showed up in quilts in 1850.  Mountain Mist then renamed it as New York Beauty and published it in 1930.  Coincidence? or not?

If you want to give it a try Ivory Spring, has a pattern on her blog called "Sausalito" and a link for some really great directions using this new fabric from Timeless Treasures, with lots of photos for easy to follow how to's.

Or does it remind you of the crown on the Statue of Liberty?

Not the real one, LOL!!

We did manage to squeeze in a little bit of shopping.  I steered clear of buying fabric, but  when it came to the bead shops, and there are many.  Here are a few of my treasures including this little tool I bought for measuring the size of beads :

"Made with Love" charms- I can't wait to put one of these on one of my embellished beauties

This is the first time I have seen sequins with a pattern.  Had to buy some.

And these charms would look great hanging off the bottom of something.

This is the charm I bought that I attached to my block.

I decided to turn my New York Beauty block into a little gift for Angela - a pincushion. 

 Surprise! (She's camera shy.)

Sometimes you see quilt patterns in the strangest places.

 

Wednesday's Wanderings #35 - Quietude

I received an e-mail from a reader a few months ago about my Wednesday's Wanderings. I don't want to share her name, but I hope she is reading this, because she really touched me.  She is a faithful follower of my WWs and  she made me stop and think about the simple things in life that we often take for granted, by sharing some of her thoughts.

She wrote about how she was housebound taking care of her ill husband. She was not complaining but she wanted to let me know that she did not get out much and hasn't done any traveling for a while.  Although she enjoys reading about all the wonderful places that I have recreated with these small blocks that are sometimes vignettes, her travels are limited.  So she decided to think about the places she can go and loves.  One of her favorite places to visit is her comfy chair. She will head there with a good book for a bit of escape.  Another is a view of her majestic oak tree in her yard. This made me think about stopping along the way in my hurried life to breathe in the small pleasures.

We are spending the week at our lake house in the mountains.  It is a wonderful place to slow down and take pleasure from the simple things.  I wish we got here more often but it always seems like such a chore to pack everything up, including sewing projects and leave regular life behind.  

We have a dock that sits right on the water at the edge of our yard.  In the morning, I love to go down to the lake and be with the quietude.  I have to take a towel with me to wipe the dew off of the chair that has condensed overnight but that is part of the ritual.  I sit down with my early morning beverage and my buddy, Bailey, and survey our small piece of happiness.  The lake is like a sheet of glass in the early morning and there is no sound except for the occasional splash of a jumping fish.  I can't help but think about the majesty of nature and how lucky I am to have this special place in my life.



I love the blanket stitch. 

Check out Bailey's 3-D ear and the curly fabric for her fur.



There are no rules that say you can't use the wrong side of a fabric. 
The reverse side has a more weathered look which I thought was better for the dock.

 

So, sometimes I think about why I blog.  Initially I think it is because I want to share my creations and techniques, but perhaps the interaction with others is really what is more important - how I touch them and they in turn touch me.

So, thank you, my faithful readers for inspiring and sharing bits of your lives with me . 

Do you have a special place?