Quilting Oneself

Last year I came across a couple of quilts which blew my mind.  Both quilts were portrait quilts. The details and techniques used to create these works of art fascinated me.

You can see them  Here & Here

 At the end of last year Shruti, of 13 Woodhouse Road put out the call for people who wanted to join her and participate in a portrait quilt along.  I signed up immediately!  The schedule was set, fabrics purchased and picture prepared.  I settled on an old photo from my early twenties.  It was a glamour photo, from the only photo shoot, where I have been in front of the camera.   Those who know me know that I am usually the one behind the viewfinder!  

 I cropped, as I wanted to concentrate on the face.   

While a portrait is usually longer down the sides, who says you can't make a portrait in a landscape?  

This quilt along was as much for me, a chance to make something I thought I never could, as it was to challenge my own view of myself.  The images of the famous Marilyn paintings by Andy Warhol, played a lot in my mind while planning this.  I usually try to stay out of the spotlight, I even have a social networking profile in which I choose to remain anonymous.  This piece has greatly challenged this anonymity and my comfort zone of being able to choose how others view me.  I had to make the choice to concentrate on how I viewed myself.  When I was obese, I would often catch my reflection in windows and think ... who the hell is that?  That isn't me.  In my mind I always saw my slim self.  The self that I know I am.  Having lost 40kg since that time, this image is the image I had in my head while hiding in size 20 clothes.

I had never done a project with appliqué. What a project to start on! Not one to bow to the unknown, I just went for it.  What was the worst that could happen?  My iron getting gunked?  I end up looking like a demented vision of myself?  

Another first ... using invisible thread.  In the bobbin I used the colour of the fabric on top, so if my tension was a little out, you wouldn’t notice as much!

With all the pieces down, I basted and then got quilting.

 I used Aurifil 50 wt in 2021, 4663, 2630, 5005 and 2692.

Thanks to everyone in the group who participated, made comments and generally encouraged me.  I have been walking around on a high ever since I completed this piece, as much because it is finished and it is pleasing to my eye, but because it also challenged me on so many levels. 

Who knows what I’ll try next!!!

Celebrating a MASSIVE achievement

WARNING ... This is not a quilting post!

I jumped on the scales for my usual weigh in.  

To my absolute amazement I now weigh a massive 64.4 kg or 142 pounds less than when I gave birth to my son in 2005!!

While I have not been actively dieting, my busy life, full time work and two children ensure that I am on the go most of the time.

Some of you know that I put on 40 kg in my first pregnancy and then added another 30kg in my second.  I also developed Gestational Diabetes, which needed daily blood sugar readings and injections of insulin twice a day.  My Gulcose Tolerance Test (GTT) had a reading of      16 mmol/l ... way over the threshold of 8 mmol/l for gestational diabetes.

I am also taking part in a 15 year study following women who were insulin dependant in pregnancy.  I recently did a follow up GTT and my results were NORMAL!!!  

This is fantastic and I plan on keeping my weight off and living diabetes free!

If I can be an inspiration for others to lose weight and keep healthy ... then my work here is done!

The first feather in my cap

Since beginning quilting in 2011, I have always been in awe of all the beautiful feathers quilted into many of the quilts I admire.

I had never been game enough to try one for myself. 

The time to put all that fear aside … is NOW.

A charm pack of Ruby by Bonnie and Camille has been waiting for a special project.  This cot sized quilt has seen my try new things (to me!), namely setting blocks on point, and quilting a feather.

I matched each charm square with a square of Kona Ash and made half square triangles, then sashed and bordered the quilt top with white organic homespun.  This really lets the colours pop.

  

I quilted pebbles between all the blocks, then got busy with a pencil and paper and practiced feathers over and over.

I decided that instead of procrastinating and giving into my fear … I should just quilt that feather. 

So I did!

It only took about an hour! 

Needless to say I am very pleased with my first free motion feather on a domestic sewing machine.  

 The back is a piece of Denise Schmidt in lovely aqua, pink and reds, bound with a lovely red and white dotty and stripe fabric from my stash.

I may not give this one away!

Taking the plunge

Exciting .... My very first feather!!!! 

Please excuse the dodgy phone pic.

Can't stop to blog.

Far to busy quilting.

C XX

Cuzco Love

A whole month and no blogging!  Never fear, I have been quilting.

This is going to be the year of stash busting!  Although I have only been quilting for a short while, my collection of fabrics has been growing.  I have decided to use as much as possible this year, while I also want to push myself out of my comfort zone.

I have had a layer cake of Cuzco, by Kate Spain, in the stash for a while.  I have been waiting for a project to use it in.  With lots of babies on the way this year, friends and family are being most obliging … I decided to get a head start.

I decided to stack and slash the layer cake, in two different cuts, and make the fabric into three small quilts.  Some of my Kona Ash and Tangerine was also thrown into the mix.

The first I quilted with a simple stipple, the second with organic straight lines and ‘oranges’,

and the third with straight lines and right angles.

  The backing for all three was in my stash.  Score!!

If they don’t get gifted … all three will look lovely,

on my coffee table!

Camera Strap Cover Love

Did a test run tonight for a last minute chissy gift.

Very pleased.  

Going to keep this one myself and make another!

Now to find some fabric, lol!!

I am all last minute

I have been pretty busy making a few last minute things as christmas gifts.

Very me, to be so all last minute.

Wheat bags … which are always handy to have.

But, you never can find!

I have also been promising someone a table runner for years!! 

So I grabbed out a Salt Air by Moda, jelly roll and got sewing. 

This jelly had been an impulse purchase from the lovely QuiltJane at Want It Need It Quilt, which I am glad I made!  I used Aurifil 50 wt to piece and quilt these lovelies.

A gorgeous palette and will look lovely with the dark maroon/red feature wall of the dining area.

Can’t wait to gift them.