Quilts in Progress

These are some of the quilts I have been working on. 

This wall hanging is being hand quilted.  When that is finished, the flower stems will be embroidered in navy blue.  Once that is done, it will be offered for sale on my etsy.com shop, Robbin's Feathered Nest.

As many vivid hues as I could make play together went into this quilt top.  

All the Fish in the Sea, was begun earlier this year, and stalled for lack of priority.  I look forward to finishing this top. 

Some left over squares are pulling together with a black and cream theme.  When I decide what the piecing will be for the next row, it will begin.  Eventually it will have a wide border with applique.  Right now I am thinking of an Eiffel Tower concept.  The black and cream look very elegant and have an aged flavor to the composition.

This is a baby quilt I am making for a couple who are expecting, finally, a very healthy boy.  The new mom loved the a-b-c fabric contrast to the green.  Black is rarely used for baby quilts, but the strong contrast helps a baby's eyesight grow strong.

These little baskets are from a variety of yellow fabrics, on a variety of blue backings.  When enough are done, they will border a central applique design of some sort.  No decisions have bee made yet on the applique pattern.  It will not be a basket of flowers.  Beyond that, I have not decided.  It will need to compliment the charm and simplicity of the basket shape.  So this stays as a pending.  It makes nice carry along project work.

These stars were begun at my mother's in Blanco, TX.  This piece was a scrap from her fabric stash.  I have already done several more stars, each with a different fabric.  When there are enough of these, they will be assembled.  No layout has been determined yet.

So, these are some of the quilts in progress.  Yes, only some of them.  I love handwork, and it simply takes time.  With each move, rearrangement of furniture, and reorganization, they are put away.  When they are brought out, they move forward a little more.  The importance is not on speedily finishing projects; but, enjoying the process of creating quality pieces.  Some will be sold, and some will be gifted.  All will be finished.

Creating

For the past month, and then some, I have been creating right and left.  Here are some of the things I am working on, or have finished.

In February I made valentines.  This had an antique flavor.  It uses upholstery fabric.  It is all hand stitched embroidery, and machine quilted.  Part of a private collection.

This next valentine has a door.  Adding the unexpected makes it a surprise for the recipient.  This is also hand embroidered, machine quilted, and part of a private collection.  The first pic shows the front, then the door open.

The elephants were part of a drapery/upholstery trim.  I just happened to have the right beads to go with them.  The copper corner indicate there is a door, and were from a scrapbooking store.  When you open the door you see...(sorry it is sideways).



I have done a couple of traditional things.  There was this quilt for my husband.  Since we are from Texas, and miss it very much, he wears cowboy boots and hat when he can.  I think he's hot when he does, and could not resist celebrating him, and his service in the navy.  It is only a top.  I look forward to the piece being quilted and bound.

I also learned how to zip this block out from a current magazine.  I cannot remember the title, or I would credit the publication, and the author.  This was the test block.  I am working on a black and bright green baby quilt in the same pattern.  I will post pics of it soon.

The anchor fabric scorched incredibly easy.  There is more of the fabric, so I will keep going.

This piece is called Tough as Leather.  I am not sure who the lady is, but I know she was my maternal grandfather's mother.  I wanted to preserve the deugerotype print.  The image is from around 1870-1890.  Where the portrait was taken is as unclear as who she is.  The broken strap hints at the title.  The qualities of leather would probably describe the qualities of this woman.  Life may have seem well improved to her, but from our 21st century, you had to be tough as leather to live through those days so long ago.  I am happy to welcome her into our family.  This piece is in the artist's personal collection.

I love doing trees.  This one is in progress.  No working title has even been decided.  We shall see what it ends up as.



As part of a challenge to make zentangles, through a fiber exploration group, I made a couple of one inch pieces.



I have been adding yo-yos to a quilt.  There are two of these.  One has fabric repeats, and one does not.  They grow slowly, but they grow all the same.

I have also been working on a quilt for my daughter.  It seems there is no fabric available to make the outer border...yet.  I love the zing of the colors, and the pic cannot do it justice. 



This is not nearly all I have been up to.  I have made lots of other quilt tops, quilt squares, and lots of embroidery.  I've also done some collage work, photography, and embroidery.  I need to take about another dozen photographs to update you on those.  Check back.  This blog will be kept up with once again.  See you later.

Latest Quilt Started

This is a 36x30" quilt, so far.  I'm not sure where it is going next.  It is reverse applique, and I am thinking an olive branch applique could be the logical choice.  It might even be an interesting addition done in reverse applique as well.  I'm not sure this is the best direction.  It will rest awhile, until I see what is next.

A new page!

Look a new page.  It is of art quilts from prior to 2011, with 2 exceptions.

A group discussion about jambalaya is becoming a quilt called Jambalaya Journey.  Hand drawn and cut, very slowly, this trawler is returning with the bounty to make a big pot of jambalaya.  I have to applique him down, and add the ingredients (somehow), to complete the quilt top.  Here though is what the trawler looks like.  The pattern is copyrighted, and my own. 

Finished

Finished this original tree applique, I designed years ago.  I don't know what it will become a part of.  This part is finished.  Now on to other SFTF (seeds for the future, as opposed to UFOs).

Ideas for Art Quilts

I love to make little art quilts by theme.  One series is for shops.  Quirky, little, gingerbread type shops.  Kind of like in these drawings.

They get attached to one of these "blanks" I prepare before hand, either by embroidery, or applique.  Then they are embellished some more, sometimes.

Here are some of the shop names, and some of the things they sell, or services offered.  Please add your ideas into the mix.  The more the merrier.  Share what you make from these ideas.

• Stacks:  pancakes, newstand, bookstor
• The Beaten Path:  drums, landscaper, wools & looms, shoes
• The Bone Yard:  ribs, dog stuff, junk yard, chiropractor, dog vet
• Bloomers:  girl stuff, flowers, etiquette lessons
• The Cover Up:  quilts, publisher, newstand, window coverings, awnings, umbrellas, tents, weavings, makup, yarns
• The Feathered Nest:  home, maternity, birds, baby, aviary
• Free Holies:  Mexican food, donut shop, recycled clothes
• The Grinder:  coffee, grist mill
• Jingle Jive:  psychiatry, holiday, advertising, DJ, records
• Leaves:  teas, tea shop, travel, tickets, paper, gardening, calligrapher, books
• Links:  internet cafe, hot dogs, hardware
• Loco Motion:  model trains, art quilts, psychiatry, dance
• Pidgeon Post: parcel shipments, stams, aviary
• Portions:  restaurant (healthy), weight managment
• Promises to Keep:  scrapbooking, quilting, bank, weight management, chapel, lawyer
• Shadows:  playhouse, puppets, photographer, curtains
• Shady Business:  sunglasses, arborist, lamps, windows, awnings, outdoor umbrellas
• Shutters:  hardware, windows, photographer, gates & doors
• Snaps:  baby apparel, cookies, photography, notions
• The Sod House:  garden nursery
• The Spinning Wheel:  pottery, automotive, travel agency, wool
• Tall Tales:  sails, books, library, signs, flags, pets
• Thing-A-Majigs:  woodshop, hardware, nottions, 5&10
• Waves:  flags, hair, boats, swim wear, beach stuff
• Whispers:  cats, kites, shapel, tea shop, book store, library, antiques
• Who Buoy:  boats, fishing supply, boy stuff

Please add your ideas.  I would love to have more.  Thank you to my daughter for adding some of these.