Virtual Retreat 2016

[Renata]

Thanks, Marilyn. The rows are a bit deceiving as they are not traditional quilting but boutis work--I think you call it channel quilting (?)... I put two pieces of fabric together, made the spiral up to about 20" in diameter, then from the back, with a long needle, I filled those channels with yarn so that the basket would have a bit of the roundness of a woven basket--it still counts as quilting, right?

Good seeing you on the Forum too!

[genevacarroll]

Renata, it is so good to hear from you! Your Hoffman challenge is amazing! What a great group of artists we have in our midst. I like your other quilts also.

Hope all is well with everyone. I've been working on a Jinny Beyer table runner kit. I I'll post a picture when it's done
Geneva

[Renata]

All is well, Geneva--good to see you too! :cheer: Thanks for you comment on my quilts--I admit, I am not as prolific as many of you but I really have fun just playing and experimenting...

[Renata]

Renata, those are all beautiful! And the work involved in that basket....wow!! Really stunning, and no wonder it was accepted! Best of luck in the final judging!

Jen, yes, sewing room clean-up = nesting! Have fun, and don't overdo it. Like you I always have more than one project at a time, but I've managed to create proper storage so that the one I'm currently "touching/working on" is out on my table, and the others are tucked away. Or if I'm "touching/working" two+ at once, hopefully they are in different parts of the table....only when I'm quilting a full quilt (like now....) is my table completely covered and everything else is, out of necessity, put away. I was using my ironing board as "storage' for those in progress things, but then my husband uses my ironing board for, well, ironing (???) and moves my stuff. I think I need to get a 2nd ironing board for him to use for his clothes, so he'll leave mine alone.

I am almost done quilting my son's quilt; one little (relatively so....) section of the water part to quilt yet, and then the borders. I'm still deciding what that will be....I have an idea, but need to think it through. I am hoping maybe I can finish the water part today; I have an appointment for a haircut and then grocery shopping after that, but I have a few good hours before then, and should have time after, as well. I think I lack about 2 hours yet probably. I will probably post a picture once I finish the water, and you all can help me think through (maybe?) border ideas

Have a great week, everyone!

[quilting00]

Wow! Love this quilt, Debbie!! Renata, your Hoffman challenge quilt is unique and ah. . .so wonderful!

[quilting00]

Well, it is finished (except for binding). My son vetoed my more elaborate border ideas in favor of plain, simple straight lines down the sides, so I just did that, going 1/4" in from each seam (each side of each seam). My quilt mentor says it could have used additional lines in the middles of the wider sections, and probably so, but too bad. Those lines were an absolute bear to do (Lotti, I swear, I think your bear was over here tugging on the quilt while I was doing those parts...). I realized I should have pulled out my little card table to set up alongside my quilting table, to hold the weight of the quilt to the left. I will do that before I put the binding on the front.

But, it's done, and I think it turned out well. I'll take some better photos later, but here it is -- I just did sort of a wind texture in the sky part (Helen Godden calls them "zebra flames"), straight lines inside the infinity sign, and water-ish swirls and loops in the water (like pond ripples). I think it's a little denser than I was going for, and probably I need to work on scale of quilting in the future, but I like it, he likes it, and for being the second quilt I FMQed and the first this big, on my little Janome MC 3500.....I am really, really, really pleased with how it turned out.



Totally original design, and I call it Infinite Horizons. All Cherrywood fabrics on the front. I based it off of the Toy Story quote "To Infinity and Beyond" and also Psalm 139, where it asks "where can I go from your presence?" (answer: no matter where you go, God is there). Sort of a wish and prayer for him as he heads to college and adult life beyond. No longer will I be his protector, guide, etc, but I know Who is, and so I trust him to make his own path from now on.

Now I can get back to my Rows.....I owe June & July yet.....

[Renata]

Love how you dealt with the lights, mediums and darks--beautiful quilt--and the cherrywood fabrics are so nice, I bet nice to work with too, Heather. Thanks for sharing!!

[Renata]

Oh my Renata I love your Hoffman Challenge what a beautiful piece! I'm intrigued did you applique your 'Memories of Sardegna' tray to the background after the boutis work?

Heather your sons graduation looks wonderful!
Barb

[Renata]

Hi Barb, thank you so much! Yes, I did do the boutis work first and then appliqued it to the background. I think it might have been too difficult to do it as a pieced quilt because when you do boutis work, it stretches and you end up with something that is far from a perfect circle, so you have to block the boutis piece into a circle first, then you can applique it to the background.

[Renata]

Hi Barb, thank you so much! I did do the boutis work first and then appliqued it to the background. I think it might have been too difficult to do it as a pieced quilt because when you do boutis work, it stretches and you end up with something that is far from a perfect circle, so you have to block the boutis piece into a circle first, then you can applique it to the background.

The first photo is with just before blocking (I cut the excess fabric around the circle). The second is the back so you can see where the needle went in to do the boutis--I did it with a piece of muslin on the back. The center circle there was pieced in and then I cut several layers of excess fabric in the circle to window it and put two circles of batting to fill the inner circle nicely. After windowing those several layers in the center, I had to tack down all those 1/4" seams around the circle so that they would lay flat. I used a tailor's tack down stitch (looks like an "X"). The third photo is the circle being blocked.

[Renata]

Thanks Renata for the explanation on how you proceeded. Don't know if I'll ever try boutis but I might! Your pictures are very helpful.

Again Thanks for the explanation.
Barb :-)

[Pemela]

Renata, your quilt is absolutely beautiful, what a work of art - it's so original and different.
Warm wishes Pam (in Scotland)

[idaho]

July was quite a month ! Busy and hot here. :evil: Can't say I got a lot of sewing done either ! :whistle: Did have a wonderful
visit with two very old friends from high school days...one I had not seen in fifty (yes! I said 50) years. I tell you ...it was like
yesterday and no time at all had past !! Go figure ! :lol: Worked on the next row due out....then changed the plan and started over.
It'll be along soon Lotti :blush: Couldn't resist a new addition to the machine collection at a sale this weekend. Such a bad habit !!
But I love how it sews ! Singer 301's are so nice to use ! Then some company and DH is off hunting huckleberrys this afternoon.
Here are some pictures to enjoy ...I hope !

Mocha 301 in original cabinet with bench and loads of attachments !
about 1954 by the serial number and in terrific shape.



DH's handy-work ! hand carved wood...now with it's owner in California.
And a bowl in the next picture...these are a new "thing" since winter. He sold a few.

[idaho]

I'm back again !
The plant in the attachment is our tallest trumpet vine... and for gardeners out there a question :
We don't know the name of the plant in the next picture...2 yrs old and 8 feet tall...loaded with blooms.
Anybody know what it is??





That's all for now....On to August ....fall is on the way !!

[genevacarroll]

It's been a busy time for us also.

Marilyn, I don't know what plant that I, but it sure is pretty! Your husband's wood working is awesome!

Renata, love your Hoffman Challenge. I appreciate all the work and how clever to make something so different. I love all the Hoffman Challenges we've seen. It would be fun if they were all chosen and traveled together as the "TQS bunch of excellent sewists!"

I'm slowly getting back my mojo. I took the advice from Nancy and bought a kit on sale to make and get sewing again. It is a great idea. I did buy a sale kit of a table runner from Jinny Beyer. I've always loved her work, fabrics and patterns. I made her "Turning Point" table runner. It wasn't exactly easy.... But I persevered and am proud to say a completed item has come out of my sewing room! I took the table runner/wallhanging to the framing/art store near me where I hang my quilts for sale. I hope someone buys it.




I made a cute tooth fairy holder for my granddaughter. When the grands turn 5 I make one for them.



We had lovely weather until last week when it turned very hot. Then this past weekend the fires started. Last night Rattlesnake Mountain which is right in front of us burned from the west side to the east side. We see the east side. We spent all night checking on things to make sure we would be safe. We are fine, but our view is now of a black mountain. This is the view from my sewing room this morning around 1am.




All in all life is good. Smoky, but good!

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. Take care,

geneva