On the Design Wall

I'm doing a little sewing and these items are on my design wall. The large yellow burst represents my efforts thus far to create a quilt for the QuiltCon challenge - Pick a Color Challenge. At least ten different fabrics are to be used in a single-hued quilt. My stash and scrap bins led me to choose yellow because I have it in abundance. 

The design is fairly convoluted. I first created it in EQ8 printing the design into a grid on 8½" X 11" paper which I then printed with different values of yellow.

Then on a gigantic piece of paper I manually drew a grid, and drew each individual triangle shape on the paper. When the life-sized paper was done, I used it as a template for each piece. With transparent paper, I'm in the process of drawing around around each triangle, adding a quarter-inch seam, from which I cut each piece of fabric. A few of the triangles are "made fabric" from print scraps. It's a tedious, slow process. 

On the left side of the design wall is something much easier to work on. Modern Maze was designed as an Along by Debbie of Big Cypress Quilters. These are the small blocks (larger blocks to be revealed later) that measure 6" X 12½" unfinished.

Since we've be given free rein to make this however we wish - from yardage or scraps - I will continue making blocks this size, so as to use-up pieces exclusively from scrap bins. 

The third item on the design wall is this Patchwork Sashiko, made according to instructions in Diane Fitzgerald's book Patchwork Sashiko. I came across the book after reading that Diane will be an instructor at QuiltCon. I don't care for this method of using scraps because they're raw-edged. 

A sewing machine is needed to baste the raw-edge fabric to a muslin background. I used red thread for basting. 

Hand stitching is with crochet thread (I prefer Wonderfil) across lines marked at quarter-inch intervals. I'd prefer to eyeball the distance. Anyway, my least favorite part is leaving exposed loose threads on the surface. 

I'd prefer to make my fabric with turned-under edges because the made fabrics would be more durable. Still, I like several of the projects in the book - those slippers! If I make fabric in more of a Kawandi style, I'm sure I'd be happier with the result. 

                                

Now that the 7" X 9" made fabric is washed (per instructions), I need to decide what to do with it. 

While power walking on Thursday, I stopped because this hawk, perched on a roof, was squawking at me! I sure appreciate seeing that blue sky and pink crape myrtle. 

Last Saturday, at the Central Florida MQG meeting, I was unexpectedly honored when President Betty invited me and my friend Karen to the front of the room to be presented with a gift and thanks for founding Central Florida MQG 13 years ago.

The thoughtful gift was the cute green clock in center of this picture. The swaying pendulum is a pair of scissors. 

On this short wall and shelf in my sewing room are a few of the gifts I've been given by friends - postcard, framed piece, "L" in a hoop, ice cream sundae pin cushion, Lego sewing machine, handmade coaster - and a few special award ribbons.

Post-knee replacement surgery hubs is more mobile, walking with a cane as directed and taking a 10 minute outdoor walk each day. Since our neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks and streets are designed with a curve for water run-off, I golf cart him to a grocery store or nearby postal station so he can walk on flat surfaces. He needs only a little assistance with wound care and putting on a compression stocking, so he's back in the kitchen for limited amounts of times, doing a little cooking. Ah... much better. Linda