Saturday, January 24, 2015

Kris- project Quilting S6- week 2

Well this week I broke my one rule..don't try to make a big quilt you don't have the time.
Reason. I have 5 kids...reason enough right :)
Well I did try to go small. Lap size. Needed. Black backing fabric and my husband was busy with work so monday I changed gears and did a mini. But after making the mini and laying them done my brain started formulating and once that happens it hard to change gears for me.
But i realized Thursday that even though it's a quilt as I go and in 4 manageable sections, I still didn't have the time to finish by noon on Sunday and I am okay with that because this quilt is just amazing.:)
So today I sat down for an hour and sewed the scraps and made a mug rug to practice the designs I won't to do on the larger quilt units and that is what I am summiting. I am calling it "The 4 Sunsets Scraps" as you can guess the larger quilt will  be named "4 sunsets"
The back is even cool  :)except for the tension issues my Singer keeps having.
I am just amazed at the ladies that can get a whole quilt done in a week but that just not my or Kaz ' s reality. I sure did try lol
can't wait to see the other pieces made this week :)
~Kris


Thursday, January 22, 2015

KAZ~Sunrise/Sunset challenge

So the second challenge has been very difficult for me. My mind could not let go of the arch of the horizon. I automatically thought 'curve' when I read about the second challenge in #pq6. So I spent over a day just searching google images, hoping for this weeks muse when I found an epic image! 

The second I layed eyes on this a new phrase replaced 'curve' and that was, "In the begining!!" Can you even imagine how our creator pulled the cosmos into motion and set off the chain reaction that we now know as one day? The sun set and rose. One day. This embodied all that I love about science, astrology and nature!!! Glorious!

My next task really threw me around. How could I convert this into a 2 dimensional piece of art? I really did try. Alas, for me, I could not quilt this. So instead I settled to interpret the curveof the  Earth in the curve of my cranium!! 

My resolution was to make a headband using what I call my starry night material I have been using as a back ground on a hexie quilt. I appliquéd one golden hexie onto it for the sun and embroidered the rays along with one word, 'Dawn'.

 
Me modeling the headband. Sadly the writing didn't photograph well. 


You can barely make out the DAW in dawn on the left portion of the headband. 

I have decided to entitle this project 'Dawn of Creation'. I hope it conveys the majesty I have in my heart. 

ThanX~ Kaz

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Project Quilting Season 6 -Challenge 1 - "723" ~Kris

"723"
This 17 x 12 Wall Hanging was created with 1.5 inch scraps I had from a previous project I over cut for. The image is a pixilated tree. The challenge was to be inspired by trees and I knew right away what I wanted to do. I attempted to improve piece and seams lining up and perfectly straight seams didn't mater to me. Nature isn't perfect, it has it beautiful imperfections,  as do we. 
The name "723" comes from the numbers on the house we rented in December of 2014. We made a big move from Houston to Northern Texas. This is the first compleated piece I have made in our new home.
I am very excited about this move. It has changed our familiy lives for the better. 
And to think this all started because I meet Kaz' Mother in a Block swap Group She Started on Facebook :)
I truly have been blessed to meet such an awesome family :)
~ Kris


KAZ~Tree Challenge

When Kris shared the first challenge of season 6 project quilting on Facebook I felt a huge thrill!!! The theme was trees and I hit the net in search of some inspiration. The main image I found my muse in was this ginko tree

So next I drew up a plan, settled on using hexies for my tree top and chose some fabrics!

I like to color my hexies and pick an arrangement before basting to insure I don't get too crazy and over cut my fabric! This worked to my advantage later when I made my binding. 
So once I basted and appliquéd the tree top to my background I settled on embroidering the trunk. I love the simplicity of a thin embroidered line! 
With the tree done I sandwiched my three layers and hand quilted by framing the tree. I feel like the teal thread made a windy feel to the background.

Now here is where the left over 2.25" strips I cut (but didn't square and baste for hexies) will come in handy! I just connected them and added this awesome matching brown print to make a scrappy binding that really puts the icing on this whimsical windy tree!

I have completed the project quilting tree challenge as a wall hanging measuring just over 9 by 7 inches. I have entitled it "A Confident Wind" as a nod to how I am currently feeling about the techniques I am learning. Thank you!
~Kaz