It's a bit of a challenge - painting and quilting at the same time - but I'm hanging in there! So many artists beat themselves up for not focusing on one thing, for lacking staying power, but I have the opposite of this problem. I have to give up everything else to focus on one thing even though I'd really like to be doing lots of creative things.
I forced myself away from the sewing machine when I completed the top for a little lap quilt to finish something I started a few weeks ago. It's an edible squash, called a Turk's Turban, but I didn't quite finish it before I flew off to England. (A few words about the materials used etc. on my other blog, if you are interested.) Every autumn the supermarkets here have lots of lovely decorations like these, some edible, some not, for sale. I never used to like autumn but it's definitely grown on me since I've been here! I wasn't going to make a connection between this squash and the quilting but actually autumn does seem to trigger the desire to start sewing.
I've been busy cutting and sewing the blocks for this quilt, above, (still undecided about whether to make one or two) and had lots of squares left over so I put together a simple little 'lap quilt', below, which should be keep me cosy watching TV in the winter! Well, eventually, because I still have to put it together and quilt it, which is my least favourite part of the process! I've deliberately kept it small so it won't be a chore and finishing it will hopefully give me a boost when I need to quilt the next one.
The colours actually look terrible and dull in these photos and I can't get the true colours to show on any of the camera settings. But anyway, they are lovely warm autumnals- really! The background of the larger one is a soft, warm biscuit colour. I've laid out the blocks on the floor before putting them together just so I can see how it looks and see that the colours are fairly evenly distributed. It's been so long since I've done a large quilt I've gone about it quite slowly (cutting things as I go rather than doing what is called speed piecing) so that it all comes back to me and I don't make too many mistakes trying to go faster!
Finally, I've added two new pages to this blog. You will see the tabs for them at the top of the page, under the header. So far they are just images (portraits and quilts) but I will start adding a few details underneath each later.
Finally, I've added two new pages to this blog. You will see the tabs for them at the top of the page, under the header. So far they are just images (portraits and quilts) but I will start adding a few details underneath each later.
4 comments:
First let me say it's great to see the quilts you've made - I didn't realize you'd played with such complicated piecing - they look great. And it reminds me I must add pages to my own blog for to display my quilts.
Second, you are currently working with one of my favorite traditional patterns, one that I have several patterns saved from magazines, thinking I'd make one some day, and of course, I haven't yet! But lord knows I have plenty of fabric to make a nice scrappy one...
What an interesting looking squash and beautifully rendered as always, Felicity.
As for the quilting...AWESOME! So many pieces to sew but well worth the time and effort, I'm sure.
Felicity, your squash is just amazing! What lovely work! And your quilts are a wonderful surprise! How lovely to be able to do both!
Love the squash!! And your quilts are gorgeous. I did a lot of quilting when my son was young, and it was sort of meditative to me. But they do take a lot of work--they are truly works of art as well. I don't know why I don't do that sort of thing any longer--(maybe because now I do know how much work they require!) Looking at your quilting, I am remembering that I used to bake all sorts of breads, too, and I don't do that any more (but I think that's because I know I'd eat the whole loaf and I know I shouldn't.) Anyway, your work is always so lovely.
Beautiful, Felicity!
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