Lois' STRONG Quilt

I pondered a long time about the different types of strong.  It was such a good theme, so many options, thank you Tricia.    I kept going back and forth with the strength animals - As we just returned from a South African Safari trip, where the brute strength of these animals in their natural setting was awesome to behold,  and the mascots in schools of animals used to depict Strong in a collegiate mascots. Not being from the South and witnessing the strength of the support for Southern Conference Schools - their loyalty to the Mascots, Flags and Banners of these teams everywhere, and the strength of their followings have intrigued me.  So I decided to combine them in my own version of strong.

I appliqued on the red letters - obviously to give the piece a collegiate feel as my last step.


I did my applique on untreated cotton canvas.   I drew the elephant on white velum, and used Fantastic All purpose inks, and their fine tip applicators and alcohol to paint on the fabric,  I wet the fabric first, did my drawing to size on paper, then taped it down, pinning the fabric over it, so I could see through the marker drawing done in permanent marker thru the thin cotton untreated white fabric. By wetting the fabric i was able to blend my colors better and not get harsh lines from the ink.   Be sure to put plastic under the whole project so your table surface stays clean.

After the painting was done and dry, I ironed it, then cut it out. I sprayed the back of it with Web Bond TA 101 and ironed it in place on the canvas.  Then I started thread painting with my new Sweet Sixteen.

When the elephant was completed, I decided it needed more texture so I put canvas colored thread in my machine and started free motion drawing, beige on beige on the canvas. It was a fun piece to do,and I learned a

lot about using the inks as well as practicing thread painting, which I am becoming obsessed with!!!!