The Broccodile

Here's a fun project that I did over Christmas vacation...a baby blanket for my 1-year-old nephew Brock, also know as "Brockoli" and "Brockodile". First, I made a montage using images from the internet, then printed it out in pieces...

Then I sewed several layers of jersey fabric over quilt batting and pinned the printouts to it, sewing over them to create broccoli and crocodile shapes. Then I tore away the paper, leaving the shapes stitched in thread.






The cats love to sit on anything I'm working on, especially something soft and cat-sized, like a baby blanket :)





Then I cut away layers of fabric to reveal different colored parts of the pattern.

And lastly, I throw it in the washer and the dryer to get the edges to shrink and tighten into a cohesive-looking whole. Here are pictures of both sides of the finished blanket, different due to cutting away fabric in different areas:

Clouds n Trees

After finishing the cloud quilt (it went to live with Mom), I wanted to try more shapes from nature. I LOVE this quilting technique! It takes a little planning, but I enjoy the analytical, problem-solving aspect of creativity.

Basically, I start with 3 sheets of fabric layered one on top of the other, then start sewing the pattern, cutting away portions to reveal the different colors of fabric. I wash and dry the quilt a couple times during the process to see how the edges will curl up. This Tree Quilt is about 18" x 24"—I think this technique really needs to be used on bigger pieces. The tree motif would be great on a blanket.

Clouds in Raw-Edged Linen

I started this project a few weeks ago after getting some linen fabric in an employee sale. It's wall-hanging sized. I plan to edge it with strips of the darkest blue fabric and sew a long pocket for a dowel rod on the back for hanging.

The Manatees of Manatee County

I had a blast thinking this up during our trip to Sarasota and St. Petersburg Florida a couple months ago.

Before and After

Here's another collaborative piece with my friend Ronda. I decided to send it to her without telling her anything about the people in the photo, or the handwriting...I didn't want to color her interpretation. Here it was before Ronda...

...And here it is after Ronda.

It was such a treat to receive it back in the mail. I waited until I could sit down and spend some time opening it, like a really special gift (which, of course, it is.) I love the seashells sewn into layers of mesh, and the playful materials. The children are Aunt Gail, Mom (Norma), and I think Jeannie (their cousin, Moselle's daughter.) The writing is from a really lovely letter that Grandpa sent to Grandma within a few years of the time this photo was taken.

Dancing Ideas and collaborative art through the mail

My friend, Ronda, and I collaborated on this 8x10 felt mixed media collage through the mail. She initiated this piece by sending me a cutout felt bird shape, a background of quilted fabrics, and sequined heart. She was so surprised when she opened the mail a few weeks later and saw what I did with it...and that moment is the MAGIC of collaboration! Thanks Ronda!

Aquacows of the Midwest

Ah, summer in the midwest. We drive past these cows everyday on the commute to Tonganoxie. With temperatures in the 90s, the cows have been getting in the pond with the Mallards. I told my carpool buddies next time we saw the cows and ducks together, we had to stop to take pictures. Today was the day!