1. What am I working on?
two patterns from books,
Good Night |
Jigsaw |
Triangle Quilt |
Celtic Solstice |
They were all destined as presents and I needed to concentrate on getting those done, before working on skill-improvement projects. So now I'm making cushion covers to try my own layout ideas and to practise FMQ on something small; I've had my fill of trying to manage 2kg of quilt going through the throat of my Bernina 440QE. (Bernina call it Quilters' Edition, but in my opinion that's something of a misnomer, the space is far too small.)
I'm also trying different piecing techniques. So far I've made this sample following a "workshop" in Jean Wells' book "Intuitive Colour .." but it needs to have a border and quilting before I start on the following "workshop".
I already have Ricky Tims' "Convergence Quilts" lined up for a future challenge.
My next start, however, will probably be something for Christmas. I have a charm pack of "Midwinter Red" bought in a sale in January, and hope to start using it at the beginning of October.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
To start with, my patchwork and quilting doesn't fit into a genre yet because I only started two years ago this week! (I'm not counting my false start at patchwork when I was nine years old and vowed never again! or the quilt for my granddaughter's crib, that was started nine years ago and took 5 years to make!). I consider myself to be searching, finding my way, discovering new forms, and accepting new challenges. Just like I have rarely read the same novel more than once (exception: Pride and Prejudice: six times!) I doubt I will ever repeat a quilt. Life is too short.
8 August 2012 was a turning point in my sewing experience when I followed a workshop in my LQS, Quilters Palet, in The Hague, where I made this:
ragtime |
and another workshop, where I made this:
purple stars |
Green Sampler |
Also two quilting courses one for machine and one for hand quilting that same winter, which enabled me to quilt the green sampler in both techniques.
hand appliquéd EPP and, hand quilted |
machine pieced, machine quilted in the ditch and hand quilted in the centre unit. |
Perhaps it's because I'm a teacher that I'm nervous of autodidactic. I had to be taught the basic skills. I don't want to invent the wheel, but I do aim at modifying it!
A quilt to cover the long thin window in our front door was next on the list. I thought it should be double sided:
from the outside |
Double Vision! Friendship Stars on the inside and Flying Geese on the outside shining through |
Since last August I have been on a two day fabric-dying retreat, but haven't used any of the fabric yet. I have done workshops in thumb-quilting and FMQ and I have challenged myself severely by taking part in Bonnie Hunter's Celtic solstice mystery quilt along (photo above). Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread! I underestimated the speed at which she expected people to work. I just about managed to keep up, but almost missed Christmas in my single-minded patchworking! (Good job I didn't need to work for nearly two weeks). It may seem odd, but in the last six months I've made so many HSTs that I'm almost perfect! A hurdle overcome: now just join them all up perfectly! Compare the points in the Green Sampler with those in the Jigsaw, or Triangle Quilt and I think there's hope for me yet!
I'm also participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge hosted by Angela at SoScrappy. I was so hooked by the word "rainbow", that I overlooked the "scrappy", so jumped in with only a 2 litre box of scraps to my name. Ha ha; I've been buying "scraps" (alias fat quarters) all year! At one stage I thought of using my self-dyed fabric for this, but decided I wanted to save it for something over which I had more control.
RSC January to June line up |
OK, maybe now I've moved forward into modern traditional? Traditional blocks, modern fabrics. But genre isn't important at the moment: for me it's all about challenging myself to try new things and to perfect my existing skills. Who knows what I'll be doing a year from now?
Back to the original question: how does my work differ from others in its genre? It doesn't, except it was made by me, and I'm not others!
Back to the original question: how does my work differ from others in its genre? It doesn't, except it was made by me, and I'm not others!
3. Why do I write/create what I do?
Quilting is for me the last in a long line of handicrafts: knitting, embroidery, crochet, dressmaking, spinning, weaving, lace making (yes, really) in that order. Even though they're all different they're all textiles, and I've always wanted to create an eclectic project, combining several of the skills.
I learnt many years ago that all artists and crafts(wo)men have to learn their skills before they can branch out on their own and, in the case of artists, develop a genre. Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondriaan spring to mind. Until now I've been developing skills and pushing myself further: finding challenges, and I expect that to continue till I drop. I have been collecting patterns online from everywhere, but have the most quilting satisfaction in creating my own layout, like the window hanging or the cushions.
I don't consider myself an artist, but aim on being a good craftswoman in whatever field.
4. How does my writing/creating process work?
Toadstool mini quilt, workshop project. Planned, but not by me. After nearly a year: not a priority. Is it a WIP or is it a UFO? |
However, looking back over the past few months I see a development away from the planned and into the experimental influenced by what I see online, especially Victoria Finlay-Wolfe's "playing", and LeeAnna's use of colour.
I'm moving away too from civil war reproduction fabrics and traditional layouts, and towards modern fabrics, again influenced by all the fabulously creative people out there in the wide world of blogland.
to two quilting bloggers who will be continuing the hop next week.
Firstly to Ruth of Charly's and Ben's Crafty Corner who is an active member of the Irish Modern Quilt Guild, but not only creative with needle and thread, but also with lenses and shutter speeds, and probably much more besides.
Secondly to Gina, The Occasional Quilter, who lives in Wales and whom I met through the RSC. She is a real planner: she decided in January exactly how she would tackle the rainbow quilt and so far has stuck to her plan. I expect she will reach her goal by 1 January 2015, but I'll let her tell you about that and much more, next week.
Happy Sewing
Marly.
I would like to introduce you
Firstly to Ruth of Charly's and Ben's Crafty Corner who is an active member of the Irish Modern Quilt Guild, but not only creative with needle and thread, but also with lenses and shutter speeds, and probably much more besides.
Secondly to Gina, The Occasional Quilter, who lives in Wales and whom I met through the RSC. She is a real planner: she decided in January exactly how she would tackle the rainbow quilt and so far has stuck to her plan. I expect she will reach her goal by 1 January 2015, but I'll let her tell you about that and much more, next week.
I'm linking up to
So head over there now to see what else is happening among quilters and other needle and thread addicts.
Happy Sewing
Marly.
16 comments:
Marly, I just love your post! Your drive to attain mastery over your craft shines through in everything you do! I am always in awe of your perfect points :) Reading more about your process was very interesting. It's very cool to see the difference in the styles you are creating now compared to those you made in the beginning. So fun to see the progression! Judy
Hi Marly, just popped over from Anything Goes. This is a great post. I like your quilts and you give us a real taste of who you are and of your growth as a quilter. Thanks for sharing.
I love what you've written. I've really enjoyed seeing your work from before we came blog friends. THank you for tagging me xxx
Hello Marly,
How nice to meet you and read about your quilting adventures!!!
I also have not been quilting very long, just about 3 years. I love it too bits!
Greetings from Hoensbroek, Limburg.
Esther
All that lovely eye candy!! I'm in love with your pillow cushions....wonderful!
Hi Marly! So much fun to learn more about you through this post. Like I didn't realize you were a teacher!!! What grade? I too am begininng to play more with my quilter so can see why we follow each others blogs (smiles!) I also didn't realize you've only been quilting for two years....your work is so awesome!!! Thanks for sharing so much about yourself:)V
Thanks for the tag Marly! Love the door decoration - I really like the double vision effect - I'd love to try that with curtains for the patio doors. Love the cushions too!
Thanks! I really enjoyed getting to know you a little better. Your work is wonderful and I was surprised to find out that you`ve only been quilting two years. You`re obviously a natural.
What a lovely projects in progress. Those cushions are looking fab already! I also like your flying geese cover, what an idea! Well done.
Wow. What a great post. I have complete my triangle along quilt but my Celtic Solstice quilt is still waiting to be quilted, so you are ahead of me there. I look forward to seeing more of your quilting journey.
How nice to have this opportunity to get to know you a little more, Marly! Your work is lovely - beautiful cushions! It is wonderful to see your progression as a quilter. You are an inspiration!
hello and nice to meet you! I love that door window hanging, I like the stained glass effect. I know what you mean about QALs, it's why I don't join in. I think they're mainly aimed at SAHMs or retired quilters who can make blocks each day, i only get time at the weekends and not always even then.
Thanks for reading this enormously long post, Cynthia. I intend to continue blogging about my quilting challenges.
Your patchwork and quilting is really good. You are very adventurous in what you do! Thanks for sharing a great post I've enjoyed learning about your journey!
Those flying geese are just the ticket for your door window! Love the cushions as well as your other in progress projects.
What a great introduction. You have made some beautiful things. I, too, am currently practising new skills, but in knitting, not quilting. I, too, do not like to read the same book twice (or make the same project twice). I sometimes consider how I could improve the look of my first quilt if I ever made it again, but I have no desire to make it again :) I love the window cover you made, including the stained glass effect. I will have to keep that idea in mind for future reference. It was nice to meet you :)
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