Bees on Flowers - painted quilts

I made a few small art pieces with bees on flowers several years ago.  A recent sale of a couple of them led me to wanting to paint a few more.  I have hundreds of pictures of bees on flowers, and it was hard to narrow it down to the ones that I thought would look good as art pieces.  Here are 2 that I landed on:

The technique that I use for this kind of art quilt is to trace the details of the picture using a light box.  I don't draw the background, though.  That part comes with the painting of the blurry details.  Here are the tracings of the photos:

Next, I took the tracings to my favorite print shop in Portland and had the tracings enlarged so that they would be 12" on the long side.  That seems to be a size that is attractive to buyers.

I hope to show you some progress on the actual pieces in the next post.  

Mod Squad Challenge 2025 - Part 3 and Final - J.A.R.

This is a continuation of 2 previous posts about the making of the Mod Squad Challenge for 2025.

I decided to quilt the piece with 4 different colors of thread - purple to match the background, yellow, peach, and sea green.  The stitches are 1/4" apart and were randomly placed to both show and highlight the threads.  Like most quilts, it looks more interesting in person than in the picture.  

I named it J.A.R. (for Joanne Adams Roth and for the colors of Jonquil, Avid Apricot, and Retro Mint).  It measures 24" W x 36" H.

I hope you like it!

Preparing fabric for applique

I prepared some fabric for my machine applique class by following a technique using Mod Podge.  This was shown on The Quilt Show by Kestrel Michaud in episode #3303.

You  mix 1 part Mod Podge with 3 parts hot water.  So, 1/4 c. mod podge with 3/4 c. hot water makes 1 cup of dilute "glue" to bind the fabric threads to each other.  What it does is to keep the tiny thread edges from fraying as you stitch them down.  For a lot of machine applique, it doesn't really matter.  But when you're make an art piece using raw edge techniques, especially the face, it looks so much better when the threads don't ravel.  

I laid the pieces out on a Teflon sheet, then mixed the Mod Podge and painted it on the pieces.  

I let it dry overnight, peeled them off the Teflon sheet, and then cleaned up the Teflon sheet with a scratch pad.  The pieces are pretty stiff, but the color doesn't change once it's dry.  (Below is a picture of the pieces when they were still wet.)

I hope you get a chance to use this technique!  And I hope my students appreciate the extra step I've taken to ensure their success. 

Bernina Stitch Regulator

I bought a Bernina 440 many years ago when they first came out with the Bernina Stitch Regulator (BSR).  At that time I was doing a lot of quilting on my domestic sewing machine and I thought that this new foot would take my quilting to the next level.  Well, it was too slow and clunky for me, so I didn't use it.  Several years ago, I got a Bernina 570 machine and it also came along with a BSR.  I never used it either.

So, this year, I decided that I would give it a try on my newer machine and if it just wasn't going to work for me, that I would sell both of the stitch regulators and get them out of my sewing room.

I watched several videos on YouTube about how to use the BSR and got myself jacked up and ready to go.  But, as luck would have it, my sewing machine broke.  The spring that operates the presser foot went SPROING!  

So, while the newer machine was in the shop, I pulled out my 440 and tried to used the BSR.  There's supposed to be two modes, one with the needle that only moves when you move the fabric, and one where the needle keeps going up and down.  I could only figure out how to find one of the modes on the 440.  In mode one, it was just as slow and clunky as I remembered it to be.    So, no way its going to be used on the 440.

I got the 570 back from the shop and tried the BSR in both modes. Nope.  Still isn't working the way that I would have hoped.  I posted them for sale on our Clark County Facebook page and if I don't get a sale there, I'll put them on Facebook Marketplace.  Wish me luck!

Mod Squad Challenge - 2025 - part two

This is a continuation of a previous post about the making of the 2025 Mod Squad Challenge.

I pulled a few pictures off the internet and landed on one for this challenge.  I used that as my idea and drafted up a couple of designs to fit the 2' wide requirement.

I liked the one with 3 rows the best, so that is what I used to make the foundation pattern for the triangles.  Well, first, I did a little math to make sure that 2 yards would be enough for this pattern.  And yes, I had plenty.  Did I tell you that I like to do math and drafting?  This exercise was right up my ally.

I made up a sheet of the triangle foundations and copied them onto Carol Doaks Foundation Paper.  I also made some cutting templates out of freezer paper, by adding 3/8" to all of the outside edges.    Since I had triangles going in opposite directions, I made the templates for each foundation and marked them as "A" or "B".  I also added directional arrows to be sure to cut them on the grain of the fabric.

Its hard to see in this picture, but following a method that I learned from way back, I placed a post card along the seam line and used the Add-A-Quarter ruler to trim the seam to 1/4".  This was them matched up with the next piece of fabric and sewn.

You can see the sewn seam in this picture.  

The whole piece was then pressed and trimmed.

I placed the completed foundation pieces on the design board, making sure that the color placement was just right.

The final step in piecing the top was to sew the strips together and add the outer borders.  Here is the finished top.  It measures 24" W x 38" H.

I hope you like it so far, and I will show it to you again after it gets quilted.

Nightingale quilt pattern by Brittany Lloyd

I purchased a quilt pattern called "Nightingale" by Brittany Lloyd through Lo & Behold Stitchery at QuiltCon in February.  I usually don't sew patterns, but this one was really modern and sweet.  Their booth at QuiltCon was also very modern and busy with shoppers.  I succumbed.  What can I say?

I pulled fabrics from my stash in shades of purple, orange, gray and pink.  The background was a light grunge.  It was an easy pattern to follow and used modern techniques for half square triangles and flying geese.  The pattern is written for several sizes.  I made the large throw, which is 60" x 75".

Here is the top all ready to get quilted.

I hope you like it!

Mod Squad Challenge - 2025

The Mod Squad group in Vancouver decided on their next challenge for 2025.  We originally were going to start with a purple fabric that was named as the color of the year by Kaufman Kona, which is Nocturne.  

One of our members was able to get material wholesale, but only with Moda.  So she ordered 2 bolts of a very similar color called Terrain Iris.  I can't tell from the pictures off the internet, but it sure doesn't look like the same purple to me.  Nocturne looks reddish purple, while Terrain Iris looks bluish purple.  One is warm and the other is cool.  Oh well, I'll go with what the group is doing.

The parameters of the challenge not only require the use of this purple fabric, but also require the use of 3 more fabrics that match paint chips.  Each person needs to find paint chips that match the initials of their name.  In my case, that would be J for Joanne; A for Adams; and R for Roth.  Then, we will find fabric that closely resembles those paint chips.  We decided on vertical quilts that are 2' wide and up to 60" long.  The piece must be modern and the due date is September.

I had a packet of paint chips from Sherwin Williams and picked the following colors to match my initials:

J = Jonquil, #6674

A = Avid Apricot, #6639

R = Retro Mint, #9036

I also found the paint chip that most closely matches the fabric:

Fully Purple #6983

And here are the fabrics and paint chips together:

Finally, here are the fabrics that I pulled from my stash that match those colors and some very close to them.

At this point, I have no idea what I will make, but I'm sure it will be fun and new.

Overalls - Part Four and Final

This is a continuation of 3 previous posts about the making of the Riley overalls.   While the pattern was easy to follow, the steps to make overalls is pretty complicated.  I decided that if I liked the pattern, I would make another one in a shorty style.  Anyway, the next steps were to add the hardware, which I found on Amazon. (The sales person at Modern Domestic said that this was the best place to buy the hardware, which they didn't carry).  

I can't say that I'm pleased with these particular button snaps.  There is an extra piece of hardware between the button snap and the backing screw that makes them sit loosely instead of snug up against the material.  I couldn't find any instructions on how to mount them, so I just went with the regular instructions.

After completing the overalls, I sprayed them with Scotch Guard.  I hope that I won't have to wash them very often and plan to wear them as inside clothes, and not as work clothes.   Anyway, here they are.... they are so CUTE!!

I hope you like them too.

Overalls - Part Three

This is a continuation of 2 previous posts about the making of the green Riley overalls.  After making all of the components, I sewed them together.  Several parts of the directions called for serging the edges.  So, I dragged out my serger and had both machines going for a while.

I do love to sew and spend time in my studio.  All of this was so much fun.  I had some creeping doubts that the overalls would fit and be comfortable when I was done.  That has happened to me several times when making clothes.  But, I kept moving forward.

The directions for this pattern are very well done with lots of pictures and easy to follow directions.  I got stuck at a few points and found a fantastic YouTube series of 7 videos from SewGnar.  If you sew this pattern, you should follow her videos as well as follow with the directions.  She and the directions DO conflict with each other in a few spots.   But her videos are super helpful.  Here is a screen shot of her making a pair of the short version of the overalls.

I had to un-sew a few seams, but otherwise, it was smooth sailing through most of the making of the overalls.  

Only one more post to go to see the finished overalls.

Teaching chop and drop applique with a test group

I signed up to teach my chop and drop applique method to Clark County Quilters.  Our Saturday workshop day is a fun day where members of our guild teach other members techniques, patterns, or garments.  I've both taught and taken classes in the past.  The teachers are volunteers, so the class costs is really low - like $10 for a half day class, and $20 for a full day class.

Two people in the guild can't take my class on that Saturday because they are either teaching themselves, or they are coordinating the entire workshops.  Since I wanted to test out the class and they were willing to be my testers, the 3 of us got together to give the class a trial.  It was so much fun to spend a day with these talented ladies!  

They both got a kit with the pattern, instructions, and a few of the smaller items needed to make the art quilt.  Here is what we were going to make.

Some progress pictures

And their work.  So great!

I can't wait to teach the class.

Overalls - Part Two

This is a continuation of the post about making green overalls with the Riley pattern.

I continued to add rows of green to gradually change the color from dark green to light green.  Making the 4 legs took a lot more time than I thought that it would.  Well, of course.  It was about the same amount of space to cover as it would be for a twin sized quilt top!  I tried to leave a single layer of fabric on the crotch areas and where the back darts would be positioned.  I had a nice sized piece of lime green batik that I used for those areas and also for the bib portions.   

I  lightly quilted the pieces, even though they were sewn to a muslin base.  I knew that the overalls would need to be washed at some point, and it would be safer to have everything stitched down securely.  I also used a different lime green batik for the facings, pockets, and backing for those pieces that didn't have the muslin piece.  And I also lightly quilted those layers together too.  Here are all the pieces ready to go.  Its a LOT of lime green.  And guess what?  I LOVE LIME GREEN!

My husband asked me where I was going to wear these overalls.  Well, certainly not in the garden, but in any quilting setting... and wherever else I want to feel special.  (And maybe somewhere that might embarrass him?)

Stay tuned to see what else I did on these overalls!

Overalls - part one

I have 2 pairs of overalls that I wear in the garden.  I love them!  This year, at QuiltCon, I noticed a lot of fun clothes and fun overalls that quilters had made or decorated up.  Not for the garden, but just to wear and enjoy something fun!  So, I bought a overalls pattern called, "Riley Overalls" by the company True Bias.  I made up the pattern in lightweight muslin, fitted it, and then tore it back to individual pieces.  I wanted to use the muslin as a base for piecing.  

I sketched up 5 different ideas for adding artistic elements and here they are:

The one on the left shows an ombre effect; the next one is plain except for piecing on the diagonal at the bottom and the pocket; the next shows wavy inserts with circle motifs on the legs and pocket and vertical piecing on the rest; next is log cabin type of piecing with rows of rick rack on the legs and pockets; and the final one show vertical inserts of circular motifs.  I liked the one with the log cabin type of piecing and pulled green fabrics to do them with the ombre effect.

It looked like there was about 8 shade families in this pile.  I measured and drew lines on the muslin to end up with 8 sections that would gradually blend from dark at the bottom to light at the top.  Then, I started making the log cabin blocks within each of the 8 shade families.  Here is the bottom row in place.

The next picture shows that the log cabin blocks are placed to fill the space, then they are sewn together with the bottom of the row trimmed to be even.

The final step in attaching each row was to sew a strip at the top to meet the pre-drawn line.  It's a lot of work to "make" the fabric, but so far, I was liking the effect.

I hope you like it so far too!

Improv Spotted Graffiti - part Four

This is a continuation 3 previous posts about the of the making of Spotted Graffiti.

I did go ahead and remake two of the squares before I added the outside borders.  Here is what it looked like with the fixes.  It is SO much better.

I needed to add some length to the borders so that they would fit after sewn into place.  I also had to be a lot more diligent about the shape and width of the borders.  Since they were pieced, I starched them and sewed around all of the outside edges to keep from popping seams and ending up with floppy edges.  I also had to take a few tucks here and there.  I have to say that it is not my favorite improv quilt, but at least I stuck with it to get it done.  For sure, working with solids is a whole lot easier than with pieced fabric.  It was donated to our charity group and measured 56" x 58".

Improv Spotted Graffiti - Part Three

This is a continuation of 2 previous posts about the making of Improv Spotted Graffiti.  I continued to make pieced blocks for the wonky border.  Some were made as triangles; some were made as squares.  They were fitted onto the sides as I went to make sure I was filling the space.  

When I needed to join the pieces, I lined then up on one of the lines on my cutting mat.  After overlapping the ends, I trimmed one of the sides so that the angle was the same.  These were then sewn together and the other side was trimmed to be somewhat even, but still sloped.  

One thing that bothered me (besides the unbalanced center) was that the piece might need to have a small dividing dark border between the busy background and the wonky border.  (That was a decision that I made when I made the improv blocks.)  It seemed like that reasoning needed to be carried through to the edge.  Well, here is the top with the improv border pinned in place.  I decided not to add that first interior border.  But I thought that I wanted to applique some of the darker curved pieces out into the border after it gets sewn.  However, the interior pieces still bothered me a lot.  I seriously considered tearing it apart and trying to remake one of the interior squares and one of the exterior squares.  I wasn't that sure how much matching material I had left after making all of the outside borders.  (Sigh).

I let it sit for a couple of weeks, while I pondered my next step.

Class on Chop and Drop Applique

I combined several techniques when making the Garden Lady series and was asked several times to teach a class on my chop and drop applique method.  So, I agreed to teach the class during the CCQ Saturday workshop day.  The thing I had to keep in mind was the time limit and how complicated the class could be.  I started by grabbing some photos from Pinterest and narrowed the selection down to an images from a clothing manufacturer.

I traced the picture and changed a few of the details before I had it blown up to a manageable size for the class.  I'm showing only a few steps that are needed to complete this class piece.  If you want more, you have to sign up for the class during the Saturday workshops, or schedule it with your group or guild.

I hope to see you in my class!

Clark County Quilters Show - 2025

Clark County Quilters held their annual Quiltfest in March 2025 at the Clark County Event Center.  So many beautiful quilts.  It is always fun for me to volunteer at the show to help set it up, sell tickets, do other jobs during the show, meet with friends, and talk to the public.  Here are some of the highlights:

Featured artists Gerrie Thompson and Carol Hatton

BEST OF SHOW - Large quilts  by Carol Hattan

BEST OF SHOW - WALL QUILTS by Lynn Czaban

Me and my friends Kathy Eriksen and Lynn Patterson.

It was a lovely show!