Sew and Paint Landscape - Kourageous Kids Quilt

This past Saturday I took a class that was being presented by our Guild (Langley Quilters' Guild).  It was titled "Sew and Paint Landscape."

It was a last minute decision to attend this class.  I was talking to Wendy on Wednesday night meeting,  and when I saw the samples of quilts painted for this class, and after she said the class for Saturday still had some spots, it all came to me.  My head was spinning, and I was thinking hmm I could apply this technique to a quilt I need to create for the Kourageous Kids."  This quilt is due in March, and it's already the end of January, yikes, I'd better get started.

Our guild (as part of the community quilts programs) creates quilts based on drawing created by children who are ill.  Their drawings are used to create a Calendar each year that features each month a new picture created by one of them. We celebrate the struggle they all have endured by creating a quilt to match this drawing, or one that is inspired by the drawing.

I received notification that I had the Month of July from the 2013 Calendar to create.  This particular picture was drawn by a 3 year old boy who lost his bigger brother the prior year.  I felt , and still do feel honoured to create something for this wonderful program.

It's a very interesting picture, and it has certainly posed some problems for me, as a new quilter on "how to recreate or use his drawing in my design."  So having talked to Wendy my mind went yahoo I could use some of the techniques that would be outlined in this class, to help create my quilt.

I arrived at the class very excited to get started.   Here is July 2013 Calendar picture drawing;

My goal is to make a lap size quilt for him.   I have started the centre portion of the quilt (using the painting  technique I learnt this weekend in the class).

What you see below is the process of what I learnt at the class. It was a great class and again thank you to Joey and Wendy.

First you cut and sew your landscape fabrics. Then you cut your batting and backing and sandwich it all together.

Then you trace/draw your silhouette, using freezer paper or quilters chalk pens or something of this nature.   Now you free motion quilt around the silhouette, and then quilt all the background prior to any painting being done.

I never got to any of the actual painting in the class as I was busy quilting and getting my quilt centre done, and time just ran out.  It's funny how time fly's when you are having fun!

I started the painting part yesterday (Sunday), and added a bit more quilting to it, as well.

The painting part is great fun, and I am going to try other painting on quilts, now that I have some proper brushes and paint.

I started by using various Kona solids to create the  landscape which  represents my land, mountains & sky.
I  traced my silhouettes of  2 boys and a balloon on top of the front.

I tried to get a better picture so you could see how I traced my silhouettes on my quilt top (It has all 3 layers together now).  Thank you Lana for lending me your chalk pen (white) which worked awesome.  I will be purchasing these for future use for sure.

Now you sew around the silhouettes and then you quilt the background, and the other parts of your landscape (all the back ground around your silhouettes essentially).

A close up of the quilting I did.  You can see the 2 boys (one is holding the balloon, which will represent the 3 year old who drew the picture for the July 2013 drawing, and the other represents his big brother).

A close up shot of my quilting.

The balloon will hold a miniature picture of his drawing.  My plan is to have this colour photocopied onto fabric and then cut it in the same shape of the balloon.    

The first silhouette painting 

The second silhouette is painted which represent the boy who drew the picture.

I have more painting to do and will follow-up with the next part which will be the only colour on this middle section of the quilt (inside the balloon).

Then I will create all the borders with all the colours in the drawing.
Hope you like it.  It's been a cool project so far, and there is much more to do.  I am hopeful it all turns out the way I envision it to be.   I'll keep you posted as it progresses.
Thanks for stopping by.
Debbie

The Steam Trunk Craftworks Challenge

Out our last meeting for the FVMQG (Fraser Valley Modern Quilt Guild), Cathy along with her assistance from The Steam Truck Craftworks thesteamtrunk.com outlined a challenge and brought a large assortment of Sari Silk Ribbon  (approx. 5 yards per package) , and if you chose a package you liked,  you were now  entering into their "challenge" and now had to create something using this ribbon.

I was very excited  about the package I chose, and then my excitement quickly grew into "oh no what have I done, why did I select this colour, yikes I was scared. Oh, now what will I make with it.  I've never used this type of ribbon before ever!  Hmm, I did quite a bit of pondering."

Then it all of a sudden came to me, "I'll make a silk bowl."

I had been at the LQG (Langley Quilters Guild) Quilt Show last May and remembered seeing some bowls a Quilter had made in the Gift Boutique.  I really liked them.

So now I was excited on how to create a bowl and with the Internet and YouTube , it's amazing what you can find and what you can learn to do.  So after some investigation and the fact that it still appealed to me, I set out to create my bowl.

I purchased the fabrics and the twine and set out to create....

I found it tricky to do, as a beginner but I am very happy with how it turned out. My bowl is a little bit rough in spots, but I love it, and can't wait to use it in my sewing room.

I hope you like it too!

my package of sari silk ribbon

the ingredients  (2 colors of Heritage Quilters Cotton, cotton twine and silk ribbon), I cut the fabric into strips (1 inch x WOF - width of fabric).  I just started wrapping the cotton twine with fabric, then the sari silk ribbon and kept sewing, and sewing...

At some point when you want to create the sides of the bowl, you tilt it up while sewing and the sides start to be created.  It's all quite amazing how it works.  You work with and feed the fabric covered twine on the right side of your machine while using your zig zag stitch, and the bowl seems to be created on the left side.    

"YAHOO, my Sari Silk Challenge - my bowl - FINISHED   A closer picture

trying to capture the inside

inside my bowl on it's side

The Sari Silk Bowl - I love it!

Travel Swap

Travel Swap - you might ask what is a "travel swap."   Well here goes, as this is my first every travel swap.

Our Modern Guild (Fraser Valley Modern Guild aka  FVMQG), did a swap with the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild  (aka VMQG).

My partner assigned was Karen, and the idea was you complete a Travel Swap Questionnaire with details/information about yourself, example: what are your favourite colours, when you travel what is your favourite thing to do, favourite fabrics,  is there a specific travel elated item that you're in need of?   You get the idea...

Yesterday we had a "Sew-In" and exchanged with our partner's the Swap items.  It was a pleasure to have shared my sewing area with ladies from the VMQG (Lorraine, Sonja, Felicity and Stacey) whom I had never met before, and Cathy from the FVMQG. Cathy, it's always a pleasure gabbing with you.

Karen my swap partner unfortunately had to work, so I did not get to personally give her the item I made for her, but I got the one she sent for me, and YES, I am happy!!!!

Karen put a lot of thought and work into this and I sure am happy about it.  It will be great to take while travelling. 

Some of the questions we got asked as mentioned (this would give each of us some type of idea of what our partner liked, disliked)  re: my favourite colors are yellow, turquoise and purple, I had no request for a specific item, but did mention that we have just purchased a motor home, and we hoping to travel a lot in it.  She nailed it!  A portable - big sewing  case (it has everything) in a compact size.  Yikes, she is good. 

Rambling... for us when Ramble along in our motor-home.

Included yellow embroider floss, 2 spools of purple tread, needle/pin keep complete with 3 yellow headed pins.  

Great little "pin cushion" with the yellow bird.  The back ground fabric is of measuring tape - very cool.

Here is the band that goes around it, once folded up to keep everything extra secure while not in sure.

Even a portable pin and needle keeper idea (my scissors) 

Everything needed in a portable compact size, great for travelling.

 I put the pair of scissors in to give you the idea of what this "v" was for - awesome idea.

Quilting is in turquoise, purple and yellow thread.

Love the way she added the 2 spools of thread held on by a cord that loops over a button (yellow button) for security.

  Okay, this binding is so cute with the pins, gotta love it. 

Karen thank you so much for the awesome Travel Swap Sewing Case, I love it! 

You put a lot of thought into it, and consistently carried my favourite colors throughout the complete item, which I truly appreciate. 

I sure hope you like what I made you.

Debbie

BOM - More blocks done

Here are the next two blocks:  String Quilt Block and the Broken Spider Web Block.  All blocks are 12-1/2 inches (finished block at 12 inches).

These are both created with a variety of strips from 1 " to 2-1/4"..... another great way to use up some of your scraps.  I used the Kona Snow as the "foundation" and the strips of various fabrics are sewn to it.

                                                                   String Quilt Block

Broken Spider Web Block

                                                             The Balkan Puzzle Block sewn together...

BOM - blocks made so far....

                                                                    Asterisk Block

                                                          Wonky Pound Sign Block

                                                                Chevron Block

The Balkan Block just needs to be sewn together...

4 blocks done...

Mystery Monday - on the design board

I am a little behind and am trying hard to catch up...

I really seem to be drawn to black, red, Kona snow, and  various prints I have been collecting to make a quilt.

I'm off to start cutting these up and start making some blocks.  I want to start making the BOM (block of the month) from Craftsy.  I downloaded their 2012 BOM by Amy Gibson, and want to use these fabric to make the quilt top.  Leah Day is also giving the instruction on "Free Motion Quilting A Sampler" through Crafty.

I figure with these two talented ladies giving instruction what could go wrong!  It's fool proof!

My plan is to make this quilt top per the BOM blocks by Amy and then try Leah's method of quilting each block separately and then assembling them into the quilt.

I have never done this before and look forward to how it will all turn out.

There is my Monday Mystery - on the design board and I hope to post some pictures of the first few blocks I am going to sit down and make up....

I'll keep you posted on my progress....