Things are happening, but still we wait.
Anticipation is hard to manage at times. We are almost ready to move, and yet not.
I've been trying to Remain Calm and manage the list of Things Needing Attention. It's not easy to remain calm when everything is both urgent and important!
I've also been waiting for a new computer (I'm using it!!!) because my old one croaked, a longarm tool to help with a challenging project (it's here and I've started the project!), and a thread order (also here, as of today!)
In the meantime, I've been finishing what I can on my quilty list of Very Important Tasks.
Finish #1
Today this little quilt went to its forever home.
It is an original design that I'd made in response to a Quilting Arts challenge some time ago. Yesterday I made the black "under quilt" to frame the image and give it more presence.
A quilted grid behind the geese provides structure so the piece will hang nicely, and random lines radiate out around the image. I think they complement the focal quilt without overwhelming it.
The focal quilt is stitched in place using invisible thread around its perimeter, just inside the zigzagged edge.
Finish #2
My guild has been invited to show Canadian-themed work at our local museum for the month of July.
I immediately pulled out some fabrics I'd previously discharged and imagined several possibilities. The piece I chose to work with has a cluster of leaves that look as if they are falling.
I extended that idea with the quilting, using a jagged stipple around the leaves - and diagonal lines in behind - to imply movement. The idea of trees played out in the quilting of the brown frame.
Not in typical Canadian colours, but in my mind the piece fits the theme perfectly - and the leaves used in the discharge process came from my daughter's tree right here in Peace River. Can't get more Canadian than that!
Finish #3
Love it when a client says, "Go nuts!". ("But not too frou frou because it's for a guy.")
Challenge accepted!
Large, white circles were a blank canvas. As always, I began by ditching and stabilizing the quilt
(I've started pin basting in combination with ditching instead of thread basting, and I love it. Just as effective, but so much faster!)
Simple, strong lines look quite handsome, I think.
I treated this like a giant nine-patch and alternated the quilting designs. The quilting in the center block is identical to the quilting in each corner, and the remaining four blocks also match each other.
I really love how the light plays off the line work - it's almost mesmerizing!
Ribbon candy in the sashing added the final touch.
Finish #4
Another client quilt - squeezed in while waiting for my new longarm tool, this was a super-fast finish.
Freehand loops and flowers filled the background, ditching and some whimsical details secured the applique, and boom! Done.
I also attached the binding so my client could get to the hand stitchery without delay. (I aim to please!)
Here is (kind of) a Before photo of the quilt:
And here is an After shot of the same section:
Love it!
Finish #5
Attached a Precise Pantograph system to my machine so I can tackle a difficult panto.
Whoo boy, it is a challenge to do long, smooth, precise lines while moving such a distance.
This is a digital design that has been printed by the designer and sold as a pantograph. I think she has a streak of evil in her! Just Kidding! (not kidding...) (Please note - this is a reference to the panto's wicked level of difficulty, and is not intended as a personal comment at all!)
Trouble is, I am not a computer. I *think* it will give a decent effect even though it will NOT be computer perfect, so I'm going for it - but I sincerely hope my client can forgive the odd bobble! I am only human, after all!
On the up side, I will be able to sit in my wheely chair to do pantographs on small-ish quilts from now on! (not large ones, though. The apparatus would get in the way, so off it will come.) Anything that reduces sore feet is a plus in my book!
Back to waiting...
We are also waiting for spring, so I brought home some tulips to make the waiting easier. Just because. :-)
Linking up with:
Whoop Whoop Friday @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Free Motion Mavericks @ Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing
TGIFF @ Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner
Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts
Show off Saturday @ Sew Can She
Try, Learn, & Grow!
Carole
Anticipation is hard to manage at times. We are almost ready to move, and yet not.
I've been trying to Remain Calm and manage the list of Things Needing Attention. It's not easy to remain calm when everything is both urgent and important!
I've also been waiting for a new computer (I'm using it!!!) because my old one croaked, a longarm tool to help with a challenging project (it's here and I've started the project!), and a thread order (also here, as of today!)
In the meantime, I've been finishing what I can on my quilty list of Very Important Tasks.
Finish #1
Today this little quilt went to its forever home.
It is an original design that I'd made in response to a Quilting Arts challenge some time ago. Yesterday I made the black "under quilt" to frame the image and give it more presence.
 |
| Canada Geese by Carole Gold FreshofftheFrame.com |
A quilted grid behind the geese provides structure so the piece will hang nicely, and random lines radiate out around the image. I think they complement the focal quilt without overwhelming it.
 |
| The back FreshofftheFrame.com |
The focal quilt is stitched in place using invisible thread around its perimeter, just inside the zigzagged edge.
 |
| 12" x 12" FreshofftheFrame.com |
Finish #2
My guild has been invited to show Canadian-themed work at our local museum for the month of July.
I immediately pulled out some fabrics I'd previously discharged and imagined several possibilities. The piece I chose to work with has a cluster of leaves that look as if they are falling.
 |
| Oh Canada, by Carole Gold FreshofftheFrame.com |
I extended that idea with the quilting, using a jagged stipple around the leaves - and diagonal lines in behind - to imply movement. The idea of trees played out in the quilting of the brown frame.
 |
| Quilting close-up FreshofftheFrame.com |
Not in typical Canadian colours, but in my mind the piece fits the theme perfectly - and the leaves used in the discharge process came from my daughter's tree right here in Peace River. Can't get more Canadian than that!
Finish #3
Love it when a client says, "Go nuts!". ("But not too frou frou because it's for a guy.")
Challenge accepted!
 |
| Client quilt FreshofftheFrame.com |
Large, white circles were a blank canvas. As always, I began by ditching and stabilizing the quilt
(I've started pin basting in combination with ditching instead of thread basting, and I love it. Just as effective, but so much faster!)
 |
| Basting and ditching FreshofftheFrame.com |
Simple, strong lines look quite handsome, I think.
I treated this like a giant nine-patch and alternated the quilting designs. The quilting in the center block is identical to the quilting in each corner, and the remaining four blocks also match each other.
 |
| Client quilt FreshofftheFrame.com |
I really love how the light plays off the line work - it's almost mesmerizing!
 |
| FreshofftheFrame.com |
Ribbon candy in the sashing added the final touch.
 |
| FreshofftheFrame.com |
Finish #4
Another client quilt - squeezed in while waiting for my new longarm tool, this was a super-fast finish.
 |
| Sweet details in the applique add interest FreshofftheFrame.com |
Freehand loops and flowers filled the background, ditching and some whimsical details secured the applique, and boom! Done.
I also attached the binding so my client could get to the hand stitchery without delay. (I aim to please!)
 |
| Binding attached, ready for client to hand stitch FreshofftheFrame.com |
Here is (kind of) a Before photo of the quilt:
 |
| Before quilting FreshofftheFrame.com |
And here is an After shot of the same section:
 |
| After quilting! FreshofftheFrame.com |
Finish #5
Attached a Precise Pantograph system to my machine so I can tackle a difficult panto.
Whoo boy, it is a challenge to do long, smooth, precise lines while moving such a distance.
This is a digital design that has been printed by the designer and sold as a pantograph. I think she has a streak of evil in her! Just Kidding! (not kidding...) (Please note - this is a reference to the panto's wicked level of difficulty, and is not intended as a personal comment at all!)
Trouble is, I am not a computer. I *think* it will give a decent effect even though it will NOT be computer perfect, so I'm going for it - but I sincerely hope my client can forgive the odd bobble! I am only human, after all!
 |
| Some of the lines are a quarter inch apart - gulp. FreshofftheFrame.com |
On the up side, I will be able to sit in my wheely chair to do pantographs on small-ish quilts from now on! (not large ones, though. The apparatus would get in the way, so off it will come.) Anything that reduces sore feet is a plus in my book!
Back to waiting...
We are also waiting for spring, so I brought home some tulips to make the waiting easier. Just because. :-)
 |
| FreshofftheFrame.com |
Linking up with:
Whoop Whoop Friday @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Free Motion Mavericks @ Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing
TGIFF @ Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner
Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts
Show off Saturday @ Sew Can She
Try, Learn, & Grow!
Carole
Beautiful finishes, all of them! I was immediately drawn to the geese, as we have a lot of Canadian geese spending winter in our park (in Dublin), I think they are heading back to Canada any day now. I love how the simple quilting design adds the depth to the piece. The client quilts quilting perfectly suits the character of each of them and creates beautiful texture. Good luck with the wavy lines, looks fiendishly difficult to me :))
ReplyDeleteSuper fun projects you have been working on! I LOVE your leaf(finish #2) hanging!! I too had to buy some spring flowers to have inside a few weeks ago to have some pretties to look at while I waited for the outside to get pretty:)
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely! I like the leaf effect, love the guy's quilting and the flowers and birdies came out cute!
ReplyDeleteWow, I love the work on the black, white, and red client quilt. I hope that you can find some peace in the waiting between the urgent and important tasks that need to be completed!
ReplyDeleteSuch a variety in your post - I remember the geese and glad to see they are winging their way onward. That panto looks like it will be a cool effect and hand done is better than robot perfect in my book!
ReplyDeleteAll gorgeous finishes but of course, yours are my favourite.
ReplyDeleteFirst time visiting. You made me wish I had a long arm.....but it would not help with my eternal indecision on what to quilt where. Thank you all of those are absolutely perfect
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful work!!!
ReplyDeleteYou've had a busy week. Maybe it helps some with the 'waiting'? All your projects, of course, are lovely! I especially like the red/black/white quilting.
ReplyDeleteHello Carole,
ReplyDeleteI love the flying geese, such a beautiful image, and the angular quilting is perfect for the background to the maple leaves.
Thank you for linking up with Free Motion Mavericks!
Love, Muv
Beautiful work!
ReplyDelete