JW's: Garden Greenery

Green is my Dad’s favorite color.  Growing up in a green house with green kitchen cabinets and oh yes... that pure green carpet - ugh!  It wasn’t that I detested green, I just appreciate the entire rainbow.  Funny how some things revisit my life.  Our green house exterior is a prelude to several shades of green walls throughout the interior.   Even my new studio remodel is now awash in a pale yellowish green paint. 

Actually I’m surrounded by green because my favorite outdoor home hobby is gardening with special attention to adding a variety of greenery amidst my flowers.  My husbands summer priority is keeping our lawn the lushest green on the street and then we both play on golf greens as often as possible in our spare time ~ depicted with the green grass border fabric.

My quilt subject is dedicated to enjoying God’s green earth whether it is in my garden, on the course or in my mind.  I sketched this ornamental vignette with pencil and paper to actual size, then transferred the design using dressmakers carbon to trace the outline directly to my hand-dyed fabric background.  I originally intended to embroider the scene in black thread but chose to work the lines and shading entirely with a Pigma MICRON 01 permanent black archival ink pen for the finest detail.  It is acid free and my number one choice for writing my quilt labels on fabric.

Embellishments include 1/8th inch satin ribbon, various glass beads and a wire beaded dragonfly I made almost 10 years ago.  I wanted to keep the background simple so I used (60 wt.) Madiera clear monofilament for my topstich and smoke colored  Madeira monofilament for my bobbin thread which I free-motion quilted around the drawn shapes after the beading.  I tacked the dragonfly on last.  I think more light contrast would have helped the overall look but I worked with what was on hand.  My studio is spread to all corners of the house and garage so this was more of a challenge than I usually encounter to be finished on time.  

PS.  My first photo isn't true to color or in clear focus.  I took several shots indoors and out with various settings.  I was having trouble with my camera and low batteries.  I will replace with a better photo as soon as possible.  I'm heading to the golf course - I'm in a tournament in 2 hrs.!  I have cut this blog submission close because I just finished the piece an hour ago. 

Judy W's: Cellular World

Several ideas came to mind with this theme but part of my goal in whatever I make is trying to use supplies and leftovers from my studio.  The focal point of Cellular World began as a screen print about 5 years ago when Kathy and I were experimenting with fabric art and surface design methods.  I hand dyed a white recycled bed sheet and Dover Publications provided the copyright free clip art from which I made a thermofax screen to print from.  It was some time ago but I believe I used bronze Lumiere fabric paint to silkscreen the image.

Wonder Under fusible was ironed to the backside of the dyed/screen printed fabric, then with pinking shears, the smaller circles were cut from the left over border surrounding the large circle.  Finding a suitable batik background was far easier than laying out a pleasing arrangement of cells.  Thanks to fusibles, the decision was permanent!

Using black monofilament for both top and bottom threads, I free motion stitched all the circles including the dotted batik background.  Overall, I am very pleased with the result, especially since my brain cells seemed to be entirely focused on golf this summer and my dismantled studio has not progressed toward my intended remodel since spring!

Judy W's "Canyon Colors & Curves"

This reversible quilt emerged from an experiment with two separate construction methods meant to depict the geological strata and colors captured in canyon photos.  Both sides were created individually and then placed back to back before quilting and satin stitching the edge.  (The quilt was photographed on a black background to highlight the colors.)

One side is composed of narrow batik fabric strips in colors reminiscent of sunset lit canyon walls.  I used a rust-dyed cotton fabric as the base thinking I’d leave some of it showing through ~ which didn’t happen.  Using clear mono-filament top and bobbin thread, I zigzag stitched horizontal lines  to anchor the fabric.  More  ‘strata’  was added with straight stitched variegated thread.  Some strips were still not fully anchored so I resorted to machine needle felting a layer of beige tulle over the surface.  The result helped but was less than wonderful so I  peeled off most of the tulle after the quilt was finished.

The opposing side features a lovely variegated 100%  wool roving (looks better in person), thinly arranged across a 14” square of black felt which serves as both base and batting due to its eighth inch thickness.  Following the lines of the roving, I machine needle felted a 13” square area.  I layered both sides back to back, then machine stitched a 12” circle on the fabric side.

Transfer product and photographic inspiration.

 A small portable projector  enabled me to enlarge a photo of Ammonite fossils which I then transferred to Sulky Heat-Away Clear Film with a fabric marker.  After positioning the film overlay on top of the felt with the images centered within the circle, I then free-motion quilted the Ammonites from both sides of the quilt to emphasize the outline, then removed the excess film.  I hand picked the film residue off the wool with tweezers instead of ironing it as the product was intended.  Since I’d never used this film before I felt safer avoiding any meltdown mishaps... especially on wool.

Although not entirely pleased with this piece, I’m always happy to learn what works and what doesn’t from one challenge to the next.  Best of all, I finally put some mileage on my felting machine!

Judy W's "Interwoven: Through the Ages"

"Interwoven: Through the Ages" 

by Judy Wedemeyer

My reference to 'through the ages' is an interweaving of past, present and future  projects and memories.  (Past) is highlighted by recycling vintage black wire beaded earrings.  The flower was one of many I made a few years ago while experimenting with melting black plastic fruit tray dividers into flower bases. I was planning on incorporating them into weatherproof yard art somehow.  Batik fabric in aqua and orange tropical colors are inspired by my daughters beach themed, Hawaiian destination wedding scheduled for April 2014. (Future)  And of course (Present) is the creation of this current challenge piece.

A foundation of mixed ephemera and threads from various art quilt projects were laid on dyed cheesecloth, interwoven and then sandwiched between two sheets of Water Soluble Solvy foundation.  Included materials are painted Ludura, upholstery threads, plastic netting, dyed silk cocoon pieces and dyed cheesecloth.

I bobbin stitched a variegated metallic thread while machine quilting with a clear mono-filament top thread in a wavy grid pattern.  Once stabilized, I cold water rinsed the Solvy away, towel pressed the 'fabric' and iron dried it between parchment paper.  The tissue paper and gold foil candy wrapper pieces were embedded after the wash and dry cycle.  Unfortunately I got heavy handed with the iron and melted the green netting pretty much into oblivion. : /

Quilt Basting Spray adhered the interwoven section to the orange batik background fabric.  I ironed fusible fleece batting (Thermolam) to the backside of the batik before bobbin quilting a diagonal wavy grid in metallic thread. After quilting, I sandwiched top and back right sides together, cut a small slit in the backing to pull right side out, and then fused my quilt label over the opening.  Final step was gluing and thread tacking the embellishments to the quilt top and beading the edges.  This quilt exemplifies what I enjoy most about art quilting ~ small experiment projects which incorporate recycling, hand beading, embellishments and surface design.

Judy W's "Travel Bugs"

My travel experience to date has been minimal.  As an avid reader I consider myself more of an armchair traveler.  However, to my husbands delight I became a golf enthusiast this past summer, which sparked a mutual desire to pursue future annual mid-winter golf vacations.  Recently pet free and soon approaching retirement, our travel opportunity is growing exponentially.  Without a doubt, we've been bitten by the 'travel bug', so I chose to convey my travel theme from a whimsical perspective.

Ladybugs bear personal significance in a couple of ways.  My first dog was named Lady but I often called her Ladybug and we traveled lots of childhood miles together.  Ladybugs are also somewhat of a namesake. My nickname is Jude. I shared my idea with dear friends a couple years ago that if I had a Volkswagon beetle I would have it custom painted red with black dots, the headlights would look like eyes, and my vanity plate would say "Judebug".  Since then, we have enjoyed the ladybug theme in various gifts between us... therefore, my travel bugs are depicted by 'Judebugs'.  The letters "A" and "B" portray the term "Traveling From A to B".

My design was sketched freehand, translated to hand dyed fabric and embellished with running and back stitched embroidery, hand painted houses using Lumiere metallic, Pigma pen colored ladybugs and machine anchored three dimensional synthetic leaves.  Machine quilted details were free-motion stitched with clear mono-filament.  Unsure if I should add more quilting to the background, I refrained with the idea that I could always add more later.

Originally I'd planned to create a background fabric with Sharpie Markers and Alcohol dyeing but the result was too dark so it became the backside and binding of the quilt.  This is a dye technique new to me, which I will further explore.

I started with these colors scribbled on a white on white fabric but the result was too pale so I added darker colors that aren't being shown here.

This is the 'wrong side' of the dyed fabric, which offers a pale alternative of the original.

I had just enough fabric for both the backing and binding and a scrappy label.

Judy W's Spiral: "Staircase To Heaven"

First I'd like to apologize for being tardy with this submission.  Between torrential wind wreaking havoc and felling two significant trees from our landscape, plus a delayed front deck replacement with construction materials adding to the 'disaster status' of our yard, my schedule went completely awry.  This is the first year in a long time that I can say I might be looking forward to winter!

Now, about the spiral theme.  I was off to a slow start and no firm ideas would gel.  Time was nearly up and very few doodles were striking my fancy.  My photo of the spiral staircase inside our Alaska Railroad train car just wasn't working out so I Googled spiral staircase images and found this one, although the original was in black and white.  Using my iPhoto tools, I chose a green color that reminded me of fiddle head ferns.  The image was printed on a June Tailor Colorfast 100% Cotton Fabric Sheet For Ink Jet Printers and heat set with a dry iron.

"Staircase To Heaven" embraces my love of curved lines, spiral staircases, fiddle head ferns when they first begin to unfurl in the spring, but most of all, I love the photo angle with its upward movement that leads my thoughts toward infinity and eternity in heaven.  The black/gold spiral border print was luckily in my stash, as well as the gold spiral braid.  I chose to extensively accent the spiral movement with predominantly green and gold glass beads.  The stair treads are machine quilted with a variegated green Blendable thread.  I machine stitched the braid with gold metallic thread.  I'm not sure the details will show up well enough in this photo but my husband said, "this looks rich".  I agree with him.  It really glows in person.

Judy W's Element of Simplicity: No Excess

My Element idea is a bit obscure yet quite meaningful in regard to my focus on simplifying my life in 2012.  Simplicity (like Elements) will mean something different to everyone.

All my choices were symbolic.  The design is uncomplicated, focused and simplistic with an overall depiction of my targeted goal.  The red ribbon X is emphasizing NO as well as the cross hairs of a target.

My fabric choices hopefully convey the following... black chicken fabric is akin to running around like a chicken with my head cut off when I complicate my life with too many choices, tasks or thoughts.  I feel like I am in the darkness of confusion.  The white clock print fabric reminds me of time constraints and choosing what is important and letting go of the unnecessary.  It is lighter in appearance and so is the feeling that follows with accomplishment and letting go.  In choosing the solid yellow gold fabric, I eliminated all distraction and reached the bulls eye of my target - by eliminating Excess (XS), and achieving the ultimate element of simplicity.

Finishing details include a narrow red ribbon crosshatch to indicate a target (goals), a kumihimo (Japanese Braid) embellished inner circle that defines and honors reaching my goal of simplicity in life, and concentric quilting lines radiating toward the center of my focus.  Lettering is a bold black embroidered reminder to stay true to the Element of Simplicity by eliminating Excess in my life.

I used fabric glue to adhere the ribbon and braid. Quilting stitches anchor the ribbon but I chose not to couch the braid unless it indicates that necessity later.

All the South Quilts (so far)!

And don't they look impressive, all together like this?  Thanks to Diane Perin Hock who told me how to make a mosaic like this!

Now for me to identify each, at least by quilter's name.  (By the way, it would be really super if for the next "reveal", each of you chooses a title for your quilt other than just the theme title!)

Okay, here goes, top row:  Petra, Patti, Judy W.
2nd row:  Sara, Kathy, Carolyn
3rd tow:  Barbara, Judy S., Nedra
4th row:  Rita, Andrea, Alice
5th row:  Linda