I just realized I spend a LOT of time talking about my obsession with sewing and quilting on other sites, but I don't think I've ever mentioned it here before...
I took up quilting when I got back from my big roadtrip. I met Paloma and her mom, and was promptly inspired to give it a try. I've made a few little quilts over the months, some tote bags, and recently I was commissioned to make a queen sized for my friend. It's a SHEER joy, and honestly, it's a zen way to pass the time after work. Work has been hell since I got back, and I come home in such a black mood some days, I just keep my hands busy and next thing you know, I've created something gorgeous and I feel so much better than I did an hour ago.
The tote bags that I made wound up finding their way into a little art gallery here in town, and so far two have sold. $20 each, and the owner keeps 25% so so far I've made $30, but I'm delighted. Seriously, it's just a way for me to get out of a bad mood usually, not a money making venture. LOL
Here is one of the quilts I made a few months ago. It's called "bargello" and it's actually way easier than it looks:
Anyhow, this past week my crappy Walmart special of a Singer gave up the ghost and I lucked in to this REALLY nice high-end computerized Bernina -- they retail for $1300, but I got it for $480 used, from a woman who owns a quilt shop and just upgraded. Talk about luck!!!
Here it is...
I am so thrilled I can't stand it. It's pure magic sewing on such a good machine after using such a crappy one for so long! This one sews through anything!
Any other sewers or quilters out there? What kind of machine do you have, what do you make, and what would you like to learn how to do?
Nice Oregon Coast patch back there.
I have a sewing machine but it was given to me as an inheritance and I have yet to use it. Maybe in a couple weeks you could show me what to do
Given a choice, I tend to knit and do other things that are more portable. I spend a lot of time on public transit and enjoy having something to do.
That rocks!! I wish I had something that high-end. I really like my sewing machine because it is reliable and only 4 years old. But it would be nice to get something like that. I would REALLY like to have a serger and an embroiderer. But that probably wont happen until I'm old or probably never. I love to sew and I'm big on historical costumes, fun clothes and I recently got into quilting. At the moment I don't have time for sewing and my craft room is a mess but eventually, I'll get back to it.
At the moment, my current obsession is home improvement and soap making.
I love quilting, but I usually only do 1-2 a year, because of my schedule. Great sewing machine!
Quilting is also a hobby for me.
I tend to run hot or cold on quilting, depending on other life distractions.
My absolute favourite is art quilts that take innovation and design to another level.
I have about a dozen art quilts planned in my head or on paper.
Cassia, what do you mean? Like paper piecing or quilts that are viewed from a distance as a piece of art/landscape/picture? I would love to see some of your creations!
I am still squarely in the 'squares' category, although I recently inherited a HUGE bag of quilting supplies from a little old lady that included the diamond, triangle and hex rulers. I'll have to try them some day. Tote bags are fun for this, as it's much easier to finish when the end is in sight, and on small projects, you can get them done in a day.
Paloma Wrote:Nice Oregon Coast patch back there.
I spy a salt lamp in the background too.
CF Scorpio Wrote:Paloma Wrote:Nice Oregon Coast patch back there.
I spy a salt lamp in the background too.
Good eagle eyes!! See the personalized labels and Quilters' Basting Spray?
It's like the Where's Waldo of my sewing table.
I started with patterns of quilts that specify everything, except fabric pattern choices.
Over time, I became itchy to express more individual creativity.
I am very flexible about my personal definition of 'art quilts'.
Here is a random search on images of art quilts.
http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en&q=a...=art+quilt
I love them so much that my pulse quickens, and I get obsessed enough to lose myself.
I dare not even browse those images, because there is stuff I need to get done.
OH OH OH YES! Cassia, I recently found out about something called
"One Block Wonder" quilting and it looks AMAZING. It's actually using one single fabric and stacking and slashing to make what looks like kaleidescope images. I LOVE it.
I love the link you posted. It turns out I love art quilts too... I am learning with my tote bags how to get creative and let loose with the artiness inside. LOL Gorgeous!
LOL
Don't get me started !!
I have got lots of other stuff that I really need to get done this week.
MUST RESIST THE ART QUILT !!!!
Tee hee!!
So.....who has a fabric stash, and how large is it?
Oh PG, I'm embarrassed to say how large my stash is!
You're among friends!
Mine is about a dozen 12x16x6" bins, separated by color, and style. Carefully labeled. Of course.
My fabric stash is in the basement on shelves to cover an area about 6 feet tall by 12 feet long.
Fabric is sorted by type ( ie wool, cotton, fleece, ) and folded (not neatly) on those shelves.
I have a freestanding shelf that is about 5 feet x 5 feet of specialty fabric, projects and scraps.
There is another freestanding shelf about 5 feet x 3 feet that is for stuffings and batting.
I bow down to Cassia's stash!
You guys are freaking me the hell out!! LOL
I have a small stash by y'all's standards. A little three drawer thingy full, plus two more small bins. It's really not that much, though it seems like a lot to me.
Oh, I have lots of batting and backing and stuff, on shelves. I guess that is stash-like. LOL
Yeah, well... I am meaning to reduce it somewhat but have other priorities first.
Maybe 30% of it is salvaged from clothing for a special project in future.
Some of the salvaged cloth is to make two different styles of denim quilts or furniture covers (plans keep changing).
A load of upcycled plaid cotton flannel is to make a quilt that will be 'square in square' with a calm pastel side and a revved up bright side.
Some salvaged wool will become either floor rugs ( braided or hooked) or old-fashioned wool quilt ( traditional look).
About a further 20% was bargain fabric found in one place or another and would be easier to give up ( decluttering)
About 50% just needs a good straightening and further organization.
There are many quilts in my future, but I want to finish one I am currently supposed to be working on first.
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PAST ART QUILTS ( random recollections)
- CAR CULTURE: fantastic images of abandoned cars in rural U.S. settings. They are set as a picture frame within a double Irish chain of two different colours of blue. The back and the accent fabric consists of U.S. Car liscense plate
- SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE MURAL this two sided quilt has a pieced and stabilized mural of t-shirts from an annual science fiction movie convention. All of the accent fabric are mature-looking space fabrics. The other side is more stabilized T-shirts from those events but are random juvenile-style and are set at odd angles and intersperced with very juvenile fabrics of space images.
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FUTURE ART QUILTS ( random recollections)
FAMILY FARM: a quilt in which the main fabric of the piecework is scanned and transferred image of the typical aerial photo of the family farm from the 1970's, and there will be newspaper headlines across the quilt to show the contrast and changes from the ideals of then to the real affects to today's farmers
FACE IN CLOUDS: a 3-D trapunto ( ie puffy and over stuffed) quilt of clouds with semi-transluscent cream material with added blue, grey undertones for depth and effect.
It will be uneven in shape and resemble a cloud, but very subtly in the stitching will be a few face shapes.
WOMAN'S WORK: It will be a quilt that has two levels to it, where if you stand 5-7 feet away, it will look like one thing ( typical woamn's quilt) but when you get about a foot away you will see all of the images are extremely sexual in nature. This is to jolt the idea that quilts/beds are only the gentile reflection of women and not show their innate sexuality.
FLOWER WALL ART: a very soft focus quilt that has layers of visible stretched sheep fleece that has been dyed soft colours to create an image of two flowers in the impressionist style
INDUSTRIAL ART: grey-scale photos of industrial settings and equipment, transferred and turned into a cozy quilt for contrast of purpose and function
CYCLE TOURING: a pictorial quilt ( direct and indirect images) to show in an abstract way why I enjoy solo cycle touring and an attempt to dialogue with people who have no idea why I do it.
CYCLING HISTORY: a quilt showing shadow images of profiles of many styles of bikes, trikes and human powered vehicles to show the diversity available in cycling. It will have tire treads running all over it.
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Darn Jo- You got me started again!!
There are a lot more to list, both past and future, but I got other stuff to get done today!
I hope some of this entertain/inspired you!
I wonder if we should do a stash exchange?? LOL I have been on a board where people send 6"x6" squares or stuff like that to other people on the list. It could be in an envelope and mailable. LOL I have tons of Canadiana fabric. OH WAIT. NO I DON'T! LOL Paloma's got it now!!!
Ah, c'mon Paloma!! FESS UP!!! I wanna see pics of your stash!!!
And Cassia, LOL I know, it's hard once you get started. I've been on a roll for months. I bought a Fabricland membership and have been freaking on the 50% off days. Also gotten freecycled tons of scraps as well as enjoyed fabric.com and my new US address that allows for free shipping.
It's at the point where I need to settle down a bit. LOL
Oh, one more thing... I read the blog of a woman named Bonnie Hunt (quiltville.org or .com or something like that) and she recently fessed up and showed us her stash.
May I present...
Edited to fix link:
http://thedomesticdiva.wordpress.com/200...-too-much/