Overlapping log cabin - part One

I saved a picture of an artful version of log cabin that was done in silk fabrics a long time ago.  In fact, it was a picture from Quilter's Newsletter Magazine in 1988.  Do you remember when Quilter's Newsletter was the only magazine for quilters and everyone saved them for their personal collection?

This is my colored in sketch:

I pulled black, gray, red, burgundy, fuchsia, purple, and blue fabrics from my stash and colored in the pattern with those colors.  I knew that I would need a guide to follow since the log cabin blocks lock into each other.  It was a project dedicated to a future quilt retreat, where it would not be so easy to focus on the sewing.  If you've ever been to a quilt retreat with 30 or more other quilters, you know what I'm talking about losing focus!  

Here is the pile of fabrics that I picked:

I made 6 blocks with 2-1/4" strips and I didn't like the look of it at all.  It doesn't look like the picture to me.  

I am going to figure out a way to use these blocks, but also start all over with narrower strips.

Double Portrait - Part Three

This is a continuation of 2 previous posts about the making of the Double Portrait of my husband.

I stitched around all of the edges with invisible thread, and then layered and quilted it.   Several colors of blue, tan, silver, and black were used in both free motion quilting and with a walking foot.  I had to bury a lot of thread starts and stops, but it was fine to have some hand work to do on Thursdays and in front of the TV.  It is faced and ended up being 38" W  48" H.

I hope you like it!

Double Portrait - Part Two

This is a continuation of the post about making the double portrait of my husband.

I picked a fabric that I had in my stash for the background and played around with a light gray organza overlay for the mirror.  I also tried using 2 layers of organza on the background in the mirror and one layer over the face and body.  Previously, I had made a reflection of my granddaughter using similar techniques.  

Its fun to try different layers to get the right effect, but it is also maddening when you have a concept in your head that doesn't translate into fabric.  I thought about using clear vinyl (like what's used in making bags) but I didn't think it would work with quilting.  In the end, I picked an entirely different fabric for the background that was a black/gray/white print from Leslie Tucker Jenison produced by Robert Kaufman, and dark brown for the border on the mirror.   I didn't have enough of a light gray organza and tried a white one.  No way.  So, I had to go out shopping for organza.  I found it on an Etsy site.  I used one layer over the background in the mirror; laid on his face and body, and added a second layer on top of it all.  I think it is just the right effect of a mirror.  Anyway, here is the piece put together on the design wall.

Both my husband and I felt that the layers on the back of his head made it look like he had a mohawk hair cut.  In fact, he is bald.  So, I had to fix the light parts and make it a true shadow.  I like it a lot better.

Next up, the quilting!  I hope you like it so far.