My Quilting....

pink and orange

2006-06-29T17:34:00.000+12:00

pinkpage
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This is my first page for a quilted book. I decided on small (6 x 4 inch) as I don't have much time, but want to get creatively moving again!
Theme will be about my childhood... thats me in the photo!!

sliver & fabric pendant

2006-06-11T19:56:00.000+12:00

fabricpendant
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I finished this last month, and I am wearing it constantly!!... it is a piece of my discharged fabric sandwiched between sterling silver which has been riveted together.

beads & bits

2006-05-31T20:45:00.000+12:00

fripperies
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I was lucky enough to attend a workshop last weekend, a real fun play day. We made fabric beads, wrapped with gold thread and seed beads. The "quilt" in the middle if made from polyshrink - you draw you design on the polyshrink plastic and then heat it with a heat gun until it shrinks - so much fun!

3 more ATC's

2006-05-28T18:02:00.000+12:00

kiwiQ may 2006 2
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Thanks to Pam, Sandra & Judith!

Kiwi Quilters Swap

2006-05-28T18:01:00.000+12:00

kiwiQ may2006
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Look what arrived in the mail yesterday!!
All so beautiful!
Thanks to Karen , Barb, Jane , Johoanna, Erica, Melissa, Diana, Jan, &Marina
See next entry for a a few more.

ATC series

2006-05-27T18:40:00.000+12:00

atc185,185,186,187
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

A series of 4 ATC's that I made for a swap on Kiwi Quilters online group.
The hills and moon are handmade felt stitched onto cotton background.
I recieved my swap ATC's today, I wiil get a picture out for all to enjoy!

friendship group

2006-03-28T20:11:00.000+12:00

friendship2006
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This month was my "turn" for our quilt friendship meeting. I asked all the girls to make me a block using 3 1/2 inch squares of all different fabrics to make a scrap quilt. Here are a few but there is enough to make a single size quilt. I have my stash to raid yet so I hope to make a double size quilt... eventually!

basket of fabric

2006-03-24T09:16:00.000+12:00

basket of fabric
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

A basket of hand dyed fat 1/4's all ready to sell at a quilt meeting this weekend.

new fabrics

2006-03-23T21:17:00.000+12:00

newdyedfabrics
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

My latest batch of hand dyed fabrics

fish brooch

2006-03-22T18:55:00.000+12:00

fishbrooch
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I am doing another jewellery course and this is our first class piece - a 3D fish - and more cute in person than in the photo!

woollen felted balls

2006-03-21T19:31:00.000+12:00

felt balls
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I was show by a friend in the weekend how to make felted balls - (they are about 2 cm diameter) I think they are meant to be used as beads - but I just like them to look at, although I have to hide them from my cats as they love the wool!!

garage sale find

2006-02-19T10:41:00.000+13:00

garage sale quilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I dropped into a couple of garage sales yesterday on the way home from doing some messages and look what I found for $2 - actually I got 2 for $4!
The quilts are completely naive with large handstitching and uneven squares - real patched patchwork quilts.
They are now in the wash and will need a few rescue stitches here and there!

koru postcard

2006-02-14T20:51:00.000+13:00

pc0010koru
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

These are 2 postcards that I finished this evening ! - I will be sending them away tomorrow for their world cruise!

Check out:
http://www.clvquilts.com

pacific pattern postcard

2006-02-14T20:48:00.000+13:00

pc0011pacific pattern
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

postcard

2006-02-13T17:12:00.000+13:00

pc0009
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I managed a small play today a 6" x 4" postcard.
Not sure what I will send yet but I want to make a postcard for a cruise ship on-board exhibition - Fibre Art Cards: Far & Wide - (Crystal Serenity Cruises) visiting New Zealand at the end of the month - the exhibition will then tour around the world and some will eventually be auctioned for the American Cancer Society. It will be a collection of works from Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne, Cape Town, Durban, South Africa and London.

pebble ring

2006-02-03T13:28:00.000+13:00

pebblering
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This is one of the stone rings I have made.
I made a trip to Birdlings Flat last weekend with friends - about a 40 minute drive - a wonderfully wild beach of pebbles and stones made smooth from the waves. There are so many interesting pebbles that you can just pick up and they are already naturally smooth and semi-polished.
I love to beachcomb anyway so this gives me an excuse to and anyway now I can wear my ring and carry my treasure with me!

brooch

2006-02-02T20:27:00.000+13:00

brooch
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This week I did a 4 day class making jewellery. It is the first time I have ever done any jewellery making and I had such a wonderful time! This was my first project - a brooch, my design using copper, brass and silver rivets.
During the week we learnt all the basic techniques and I managed to make a total of 3 rings and a small pendant as well as this brooch. I am hooked!

It is a nice contrast from working in fabric - I have also made a couple of small pieces that I have in mind for sewing onto a small quilt so the 2 processes will be complimentary!
I will post my other pieces soon!

weekend project

2006-01-15T11:07:00.000+13:00

bookcover
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I wanted to do something small this weekend to try and get me inspired again - so here it is... a small notebook cover.
Quilting inspired by a walk at the beach with the patterns of foam left by the waves on the sand.

dyed fabric

2006-01-09T21:01:00.000+13:00

fabric
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

All I managed to do creatively today was to dye this small piece of fabric, I just made up a couple of tablespoons of dye and played with that - just needed a break in my day!

floral mandala

2006-01-08T11:47:00.000+13:00

floral mandala
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Every week on the Artists Way you take yourself on an Artists Date - something that you do by yourself and basically have some fun with your "inner child / artist".
As a child I loved to play in the garden with picking flowers and playing with them, so this is my play in the garden for this week!

the artists way

2006-01-05T21:12:00.000+13:00

artistsway
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

OK here is my project for the next 12 weeks!
Feel free to join in if you also feel inspired - there is a Yahoo group up and running at Artists Way Yahoo Group and also an associated group at flickr Artists Way flickr Group so there is lots of support out there is you wish.(Drop me an note if you are also doing the book and want to share)

The book is basically a 12 week course in "discovering and recovering your creative self" with weekly reading and tasks. A lot of fun as well as hard work.

I have done The Artists Way before, about 4 years ago and it made a huge difference to my creativity and what I though about me being a 'creative".

bead bracelet

2006-01-04T21:34:00.000+13:00

PICT1739
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Had some fun with making a beaded charm bracelet over the holidays. I received these beads as part of a prize from a Quilt Show for my 5 Trees quilt.

Oh so long ...

2006-01-02T13:20:00.000+13:00

abstract poppies
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

It is ... oh so long since I have posted, got plenty of excuses though!!
Anyway I miss not posting and miss all the wonderful feedback so I will be trying hard!
This is a quilt I finished in time for Xmas for a friend of a friend. She wanted a poppy theme so these are my idea of abstracted poppies.
80cm x 60cm

peppers 8" x 10"

2005-12-13T20:11:00.000+13:00

peppers8x10
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

The last of my three contour drawing pieces - they are hanging in an exhibition until Xmas at Gallery O at the Arts Centre.

seedheads

2005-12-08T14:29:00.000+13:00

seedheads 8x10"
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

The second of my 8" x 10 " pieces from contour drawings.
Again heavily machine quited, - I think I like this size as it is small enough that I can do all this intense stitching. I have used coloured pencil to then add shadows to the seedheads.

my news...

2005-12-07T16:41:00.000+13:00

quilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I must share my news with you. My quilt was accepted into a REAL Art Gallery - CoCA (Centre of Contemporary Art) for a selected members exhibition. It will be there until middle of January.
I still feel so WOW!!!

ATC's from USA

2005-12-07T15:06:00.000+13:00

NZ
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

These arrived in the mail yesterday from the USA from a USA/NZ ATC swap - thanks to ladies for organising and thanks to Clarice, LInda, Irene and Bev - all your work is amazing!

honesty

2005-11-29T08:55:00.000+13:00

honesty
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Busy, busy busy!
I had a weekend of sewing and this is number one of what emerged. I have made 3 pieces (I will post the others soon!) for the exhibtion and sale. The "drawing" is from a contour sketch I did a while back, which I traced onto fabric and then machine stitched the outline. The background I then heavily machine quilted.

nesting boxes mini quilt

2005-11-25T15:55:00.000+13:00

nesting boxes
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I have been invited to have 3 pieces 8" x 10" for a exhibition / sale at the a local Arts Centre gallery.
Thought it would be easy. Wrong.
Gonna have a play over the weekend, I had a play last night and this emerged... not sure that I like it - it grew inro something I was not intending it to be, think there are actually 2 quilt ideas that need to be on separate quilts - back to the drawing board!

and more ATC's

2005-11-18T21:34:00.000+13:00

ATCtrades7
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

latest ATC trades

2005-11-18T21:33:00.000+13:00

atctrades8
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Some of the ATC's I received in the mail this week from trades both from NZ and Australian quilters and from contacts from Flickr.
Thanks everyone!

notebook cover

2005-11-17T21:51:00.000+13:00

smallbookcover
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

A small notebokk cover 5" x 6", the black background is machine stitched and the beads are from a necklace I found while op shopping.. Just love it, a good to carry around with me.

my two quilts

2005-11-07T21:54:00.000+13:00

quiltshow20051
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Here are my two quilts at the show, they looked great hung together.

quilt show

2005-11-07T21:52:00.000+13:00

q20051
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Having a busy week! A couple of photos from the quilt show in the meantime...

quilting finished!

2005-10-31T08:51:00.000+13:00

quilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Well this is the quilt I added extra quilting to over the weekend. I am pleased that I did the extra, although I am having thoughts it looks a wee bit heavy - oh well, it's done now and it is better than before!

The quilt is from a dream I had - I woke up with a very clear picture of the quilt in my head, - bit of a mystery about what it means though.

more quilting

2005-10-29T20:08:00.000+13:00

quilting
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I had "finished" this quilt a few months ago and it had always bothered me the amount of quilting it got - was it really finished? I happened to take a look at it yesterday and decided it really did need a whole lot more quilting and I was in the mood for some mindless sewing again.

wonderful mail!

2005-10-27T15:38:00.000+13:00

05
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I received 2 wonderful postcards in the mail today. The top one from croque-choux and the other from Karoda

I just love them - I am just so lucky - and inspired!

crazy quilt

2005-10-24T12:12:00.000+13:00

crazy quilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I have been collecting embroidered cloths from op shops for a few months. Finally I have enough to start my crazy quilt. I had such fun yesterday - I am really going to enjoy making this quilt. I think also it is a nice break from making my own designed quilts - I love the therapy of just sewing when all the decisions have been made. Maybe I need to have two types of quilts on the go at a time, something that is 'design' when I want a challenge and something that is 'easy sewing' when I want to chill out.

japanese fabric quilt

2005-10-16T19:11:00.000+13:00

japanese fabric quilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I have finished the quilting, just need to add the binding. I so enjoyed working with these fabrics, it was nice to work with fabric other than my hand-dyes!

85 cm x 75 cm

leaf ATC set

2005-10-14T20:55:00.000+13:00

atc0157
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Made a set of 10 ATC's today - I printed a set of 10 leaves - black on white - and then coloured them so there is a pair of each colour. Check out my ATC folder on the right to see them all.

cat and quilt

2005-10-13T18:33:00.000+13:00

catandquilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I pieced my Japenese fabrics together yesterday - I cut a couple of the larger pieces but generally left them in big pieces so I could enjoy the fabrics.
As soon as I left the quilt when I was quilting it last night the cat immediately decided it was a warm place to sleep!

japanese kimono fabrics

2005-10-11T21:19:00.000+13:00

japanesefabrics
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

A small shop has just opened here selling vintage and pre-used Japanese kimonos. They also sell bags of small pieces cut from kimonos that are too 'well used' - so I just had to treat myself!
The fabrics are just so gorgeous that I know It will be hard to decide what to do with them to do them justice.

close your eyes and draw

2005-10-05T20:14:00.000+13:00

honesty sketch
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Seems that the only time I feel anything about my sketches is when I blind contour draw!
Why is that?
It is hard to get myself drawing again - was inspired again today - I received a couple of postcards and ATC's from Janey - check out the freedom and feeling in her portrait sketches.

Janey123 at flickr

ATC article

2005-10-03T09:55:00.000+13:00

ATC0072
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

If you are interested in Artist Trading cards, check out the article about trading cards in The Practically Creative Quarterly webzine - there are some great links included in the article.

ATC article

www.practicallycreative.net

That's my ATC in the article!
While you are there make sure you check out the webzine, lots of interesting ideas and inspiration.

latest ATC's

2005-09-30T08:22:00.000+12:00

atc129143144145
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I had a wee play again this week making some ATC's to trade. I love the colour combination that just 'happened' - must use these colours in a quilt some day!

pathways

2005-09-26T16:38:00.000+12:00

qpathways
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Not the best of photos, but you get the idea. This is a quilt I made for a friend last week. She gave me the base of what she wanted - a triptych, with colours fading from one to another across the piece.
I have called the piece 'Pathways'
- to me it represents the journeys we all make through life.

Each piece is 12 inches square.

Check out the quilting, you will see it better if you click on the pic to take you to flickr and then choose all sizes and choose a larger size.

Cheers!

garage sale find

2005-09-24T19:22:00.000+12:00

mosaicbroach
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Just have to show this off - I went out early this morning to look around a couple of garage sales in the hope of either finding some buttons or old embroidered cloths - neither - but did find this for $2 - not often I find cheap treasure!

(It is a brooch about 1 inch in diameter)

coloured seedheads

2005-09-23T16:28:00.000+12:00

colouredseedheads
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I had my last class this week at Polytech - this last session was to use drawings etc that we had done over the last 7 weeks and to take them further.
This is from a contour drawings I did in the first week and have machine embroidered with a varigated thread. They are four separate pieces and have I enough ideas to make several pieces! Hopefully my next project.

Today I have just finished a small piece that a friend has asked me to make - so I can't post it just yet - hopefully I will give it to her this weekend so I can post it for you all to see.

quilting it

2005-09-17T08:19:00.000+12:00

fragilitycloseup
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This is a close up of the quilt top I posted yesterday - but quilted. I love these small pieces (14" x 14") - you can actually get a lot achieved in an hour of quilting!

(If you want to see the quilting in more detail click on the image then choose all sizes.)

The background fabric is black homespun that I have discharged with a 50% bleach/water solution and then neutralised. The lighter fabric is also a black homespun bleached until all the colour was removed, this fabric I then printed with a seedpod.

bringing it together

2005-09-16T07:53:00.000+12:00

fragility
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

At last nights class (and the final class next week) we are to bring what we have done over the last 5 weeks together, using our drawings and ideas as a starting point.

This is a small piece about 10'" square. ( I am looking forward to doing some heavy quilting in the background.)
The honesty seedpods represent fragility and the background protection.

new quilt

2005-09-11T21:08:00.000+12:00

5squaresquilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I love this fabric and it has been waiting a good 10 months for me to take the courage to use it.

It was suggested that I make some more fabric and then take the approach of use it and not to think of it as so precious - and in fact I will get 2 quilts out of the fabric!

I am a bit worried as I can't quite be sure I remember how I made the fabric in the first place - we shall see - and do a bit of experimenting!

patterns on fabric

2005-09-09T16:17:00.000+12:00

patterns
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

The results from my class last night, - patterns on calico made by folding and twisting fabric and painting with a sponge brush.

Lots of fun!

twisted cords

2005-09-07T15:59:00.000+12:00

cords
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

These cords are made from strips of fabric which are twisted and then run through the sewing machine with a zig zag stitch. They will make great bookmarks for my next bookcover - I will have to make the cover to match the cord!

3atc quilt

2005-09-03T22:06:00.000+12:00

3atcquilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

A quick play tonight - a much needed bit of quilt therapy!

I took 3 atc's I had made and stitched them onto a piece of quilted background fabric. The black in the ATC's was quite different to the black of the background, hence the white border around the ATC's.

yellow crosses

2005-08-31T20:24:00.000+12:00

ATCsetyellowcross
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

A set of 4 ATC's in response to my class last thursday evening. We had a workshop working on bringing concept into form.

Stamped, stitched and overpainted.

another book cover

2005-08-28T21:22:00.000+12:00

bookcover
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I had a play this week with the idea of 3D flowers in mind. The flowers on the cover are from a commercial fabric, I vleisofixed them to fabric so they were double sided. I then cut them out, and painted them with a 50% water 50% PVA glue mix and let them dry so they gently curved. I then stitched them in the middle only to the book cover so they stand up.

I reakon they are quite funky!

I have added a new link to the right that will take you to a set of ATC's that I have received from other people- check them out.

op-shop shopping

2005-08-26T17:18:00.000+12:00

opshop1
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I am collecting hand embroidered cloths to make a crazy quilt style quilt. I remember them from my childhood and they are the type of thing that to me feel like treasures. Most are worn or stained, perfect fodder for reusing, but I have been lucky enough to find a few wonderfully embroidered ones in good condition which I won't be recycling.

tyvek beads

2005-08-24T15:19:00.000+12:00

tyvek beads
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I already had some tyvek paper painted so these beads were a quick half hour play this afternoon after I had finished work.

I always get stuck with "Well - what am I going to do with them now??!!"
I think I will just make them so I can have fun making them and so I can enjoy looking at them!!

If you want to see more detail - click on the picture (that will take you to flickr) then click on the "all sizes" button above that picture.

new book cover

2005-08-22T17:36:00.000+12:00

bookcover2
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This is an A5 book cover using the designs I worked on in the class last week. Hard to tell from the photo but the black background is quilted with straight lines randomly spaces apart. The seedheads are embroidered by hand.

thursday class

2005-08-21T12:50:00.000+12:00

thursday
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

We took our contour drawings from last weeks class and used them this week to explore pattern. Being a quilter I like pattern - whether symetrical, asymetrical, or repeating.
I can see this seedhead as an embroidery (black on white) and have started another bookcover using a motif from this drawing.

book cover

2005-08-19T11:21:00.000+12:00

bookcover1
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I made this tree block as a sample in a class by Rosalie Dace almost 2 years ago. I have always loved it but never got around to using it. I had a thought yesterday it would make a perfect cover for my visual diary - so I get to enjoy it all the time now. The great thing is that it is a slip cover so I can use it on whatever journal I am using at the moment.

. . . also check out Ste-pha-nies comments on sketching in public. (Tifty's blog)

back of quilt

2005-08-17T17:47:00.000+12:00

Qjonoback
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I managed to get the "label" on Jono's quilt last night. I am so pleased with how the whole design and make process went - it went so smoothly. It is now permanently on his bed - which pleases the cats (and me) greatly!

sketching

2005-08-16T18:33:00.000+12:00

It is a few years since I have done any drawing and even then it was mainly self taught, but going to this class has made me think about drawing again - as a tool for being more creative. I can see the need to play and to use it to quiet that inner critic.

I was impressed with an entry in Tifty's blog yesterday. I then came across this in Eric Maisels - "The Creativity Book" today.

"Many people are embarrased to create in public. It feels unseemly to them, like kissing in plain view. Pulling out a writing pad in public heightens their self-consciousness and makes them feel foolish. But really - who is justified in pulling out her pad and writing right in the middle of a restaurant? You are. Who is not showing off in some narcissistic way but simply creating when an idea hits her and she sits down on the sidewalk to record it? You are. Who is not ridiculous or phony or eccentric or arrogant if she excuses herself and stops in mid conversation to capture a phrase that she's been stalking for a week? You. You have the right and the responsibility."

contour drawing

2005-08-13T15:32:00.000+12:00

contourdrawing
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

On thursday I started an evening class - "Elements of Design" at the local Polytechnic. I was expecting to be taught the 'rules' of design - but she has shaken us by teaching us more through loosening us up by having some fun, and getting us to get rid of our inner critic!!
Well she had us doing contour drawings - that involves very slow (i.e. intense concentration on what you are seeing) drawing the outside (countours) of on object with your eyes on the object 99% of the time - that is you can look at the object but not at what you are drawing. Needless to say this means a not very accurate drawing and a lot of mental energy to kill that critic that says what you have done is not very good!.

It does however put feeling and freedom into your drawing which she is trying to teach us to do.

red boxes quilt

2005-08-12T17:09:00.000+12:00

redboxes
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Finished the quilting at long last on this little quilt (60cm x 25cm). The quilting in the boxes is hard to see but each box has a cross stitched in seed stitch.

presents

2005-08-11T11:45:00.000+12:00

rarotonga
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

My parents arrived back this morning from a week in Rarotonga. I scored 2 wonderful sarongs - they look they have been painted then sunprinted with stencil cutouts - tempting to use as quilt backings. The other is a small black purse with machine applique flowers and hand-quilting in the background. Lucky me!

still trading

2005-08-10T19:33:00.000+12:00

ATCbook
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I have ATC trades in the mail this week from Ireland, Canada, USA and Phillipines.

I was sent this booklet in the mail also. so I now I have a place to keep my mail, as they are just as much the treasure as the ATC's themselves.

I am blown away with the interaction I have had from people since starting this blog, the trades the emails and the comments - there is such a supportive community out there, which I never knew existed.

With each trade I usually put in a small piece of my hand-dyed fabric or a handmade bead - one pair of beads was made into earings another set are ear-marked for a bookmark on a handmade book.

I think that gives me the greatest pleasure, that something I have created has gone on to inspire someone else, a piece of me out there somewhere, - immortality eh?

quilt finished

2005-08-09T17:46:00.000+12:00

QJono
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

...well almost finished - binding is on but I still need to organise a panel for his friends and family to sign and a label... but I have done it ! ! ! and I am so pleased with the design and colour - yes it really is this bright!
It seems it has the blessing of the two cats as they found it a great place to sleep while I was putting on the binding.

This is not a great picture, I could only get most of it in shot by putting it on the floor, standing on a chair and arms above me as high as I could reach. - but you get the idea.

artful quilters

2005-08-07T14:00:00.000+12:00

I have just been made a member of the Artful Quilters Webring, so if you haven't already check it out now!

You will find a button over on the right (scroll down a bit). Click on the Artful Quilters picture and that will tell you a bit more - or click 'next' to see the next blog etc. If you click on 'list' you will get a list of all the members. There are lots of amazing blogs there - everyone just blows me away with their creativity.

The other thing I did on friday was to put in a counter on my blog, I was a bit worried about doing it - what if no-one was checking out my blog, - anyway it appears a few of you are!

play time

2005-08-06T22:20:00.000+12:00

ATC0118
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I wanted a break from all this quilting so had a play from an article in a magazine I have out from the library.

I made a layer of acrylic felt, gold lamme and 3 layers of organza and pinned that to the front of my prepared ATC. I then stitched my design from the back using gold thread in the bobbin.

The excess fabric was then cut away and the edges melted with a soldering iron.

This is my first attempt at anything involving shiny, metal fabrics and heat - so my effort is a bit clumsy... but I can see me wanting to play some more.

kiwi quilters swap

2005-08-04T12:48:00.000+12:00

kiwiquilters
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Look at what arrived in the post today!!!
They are all so exciting...

ATC's from:
(left to right, top to bottom)
Ronnie Martin, Mary-Ann Kane, Billie-Joye Stewart, Clare Smith, Clare Smith, Margaret Morrison, Margaret Morrison, Diana Båhler, Barbara Hilford, Susan Claire Mayfield, Susan Claire Mayfield, Jane Howie, Jane Howie, Clare Smith and Clare Smith

To see a larger picture - click on the picture, (that will take you to my flickr site), then click on the "all sizes" button above that picture.

started quilting!

2005-08-02T19:14:00.000+12:00

PICT0987
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Basted my son's quilt yesterday and began quilting today, nothing fancy as it is quite a job managing to quilt such a big quilt. I am using a walking foot but because I am quilting the centre square with orange thread and the outside blue there is a lot of turning of the quilt.

Still I am real happy with it - and so is my son!

CPS quilt show

2005-07-31T19:07:00.000+12:00

2libertyquilts
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Helped out at the CPS quilt show this afternoon.
This is my liberty scrap quilt on the left, made as a friendship quilt from off-cuts of liberty fabric. (the quilt on the right is my friend Joy's Willam Morris fabric quilt.)

pin-board

2005-07-28T16:05:00.000+12:00

ATCS
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I tidied and organised pin-board today and put all my ATC swaps and a few of my own favourites up so I can feel really inspired!

Thanks to all who have traded with me so for - I feel very privileged!

If you would like a closer look - click on the picture (that will take you to my flickr account) then click on "all sizes" button above that picture.

top finished

2005-07-27T17:45:00.000+12:00

PICT0929
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Yeah - got the quilt top put together today! It is too big to get in the photo - it has a bigger blue border than this. Tomorrow I will get the logo design printed out to full size and vleisofix to the top. Quilting will be a challenge as this will be the biggest quilt I have made - I am used to small quilts these days.

blue fabric

2005-07-26T21:41:00.000+12:00

PICT0933
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This is the result of my fabric painting - it is going into the quilt.

blue fabric

2005-07-24T14:06:00.000+12:00

bluefabric
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Painted this fabric for my son's quilt, the paint is light sensitive so scrunched it and put in sun to dry. Will iron to heat set the paint and should get a subtle pattern.

centre square

2005-07-23T19:56:00.000+12:00

PICT0920
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This quilt will be double bed size so quite a big scale of piecing - at least that makes piecing quick. Spent some time this afternoon painting some fabric deep blue, not sure how the fabric will turn out - if it will be as he imagines. I am so used to making quilts by myself for myself, it is hard to accomodate someone else's vision as well.

basic design

2005-07-23T19:51:00.000+12:00

jono1
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

So this is the basic design we have come up with - orange centre on blue.
My son is an arts student so no basic nine patch quilt for him!

a challenge

2005-07-23T16:16:00.000+12:00

monde
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

So I asked my son if he wanted a quilt for his 21st - somehow I assumed he wouldn't - but "yes" he said " although I don't know how you will make something that will suit a 21 year old male!"

After a bit of a brainstorm he wants... hand-dyed fabric, something abstract and to incorporate this logo subtly (a car logo!)

To add to my challenge I've got 3 weeks. Will post the progress - hopfully it will be one of those quilts that flows!! I am doing what I want on the back - some photos and to get it signed by his friends.

silk crazy patchwork ATC's

2005-07-18T12:09:00.000+12:00

I have had some silk furnishing samples for a while, and been wanting to make something. These were such fun to make, would love to do a 'proper'
crazy quilt someday.

This size is about my limit in the meantime though!

nancy's buttons

2005-07-16T17:57:00.000+12:00

I was given a wonderful bag of old buttons from a friend from my quilting friendship group today - some of the buttons quite old and all quite wonderful!

buttons2
Originally uploaded by leap-of -faith.

I just had to share them all with you.

If you click on the picture you will get a larger, clearer picture, then if you click on the"all sizes" button above that picture you will see even more detail!!

more mail

2005-07-15T16:34:00.000+12:00

huanamail
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I love getting this 'real mail" . It is probably 30 years since I had such interesting mail. This came from Anke in Germany - a 3 for 3 ATC swap.
Most of the trades have also sent interesting 'bits' for collage, I can see me doing a bit of that soon.

In the meantime I have been making ATC for a swap through Kiwi Quilters, I am so excited to swap fabric ATC with NZ quilters. Trouble is I have too many ideas so hard to know what to make first.
I feel a bit like quilts are getting second best of me at the moment but I love trying out and playing with techniques on the ATC's - it has got to be good for my design skills.

fabric beads

2005-07-10T18:52:00.000+12:00

fabricbeads
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I sat with my son in front of TV last night and made these fabric beads with him. They still need something else, a bit of gold paint maybe or wrap some thread around them. Fun to make but not sure how I will use them yet.

button ATC's

2005-07-09T19:26:00.000+12:00

ATC717069
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I have buttons on my mind at the moment so had to do some ATC's with buttons. The copper 'buttons' are handmade beads from thin copper - I think it is called copper shim.

button day

2005-07-06T14:57:00.000+12:00

buttons
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Had my button day today. I had fun spending my $1.50 pocket money at the local Op shop. I spent half an hour going through their white buttons and found these treasures. I had a chat to the lady serving me and she told me of a local Church group fair coming up where they are going to sell all the old linen and china that their families don't want - sounds like fun to me!

red boxes

2005-07-05T22:23:00.000+12:00

redboxes
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Got a it more quilting done yesterday and today.
I was going to do the centre blue all in seed stitch, but was thinking about a photo a friend had taken of a hillside in the Mediterranean that had a small shrine (in someones backyard) so hence the cross design. The photo is not very clear sorry!

ATC series 2

2005-07-03T19:32:00.000+12:00

ATCseries2
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Finished the last ATC in this series yesterday. Have traded 2 already, one has gone to Canada, the other to The Netherlands. Keeping my favourite for myself!

I have been busy machine quilting a quilt today for a friend. I enjoy machine quilting now, taken me years to have any confidence in my ability so it's a big thing to do quilting on someone elses precious quilt. Luckily she trusts me and says to just quilt to my standard and she will be happy.
The more quilting I do the better I will get - hopefully!

dyed thread

2005-07-01T20:16:00.000+12:00

quiltPICT0862
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I went to buy some thread yesterday to do some seed stitch in the middle of the squares. I did buy some hand-dyed pearl 8 thread and then got the idea that I could dye my own thread. I hunted out some pale blue pearl 12 and used that. Pleased with myself!

quick quilt

2005-06-28T17:32:00.000+12:00

quilt280605
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Had another busy day but wasn't going to let another day go past without sewing. I have a library book about Hunderwasser out at the moment and a piece of a painting caught my eye. I love hot pink and this blue together so 1 hour later this was on my floor - how I love when I work that fast and that intuitivily!
30cm x 65cm

new old quilt

2005-06-27T20:21:00.000+12:00

New Quilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

No sewing today, worked all day!
I finished this quilt a couple of weeks ago. All the fabric is discharged black cotton homespun. The quilt is inspired from a picture of a quilt from the book The Quilts of Gees Bend. I love to cut my blocks freehand (i.e. not using a ruler). The quilt reminds me of and old lino floor. I would love to own an pre-loved antique quilt, I suppose this is my way of getting "character" into a new quilt.

ATC series

2005-06-25T09:24:00.000+12:00

ATC series1
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I had so much fun yesterday, I decided to make a series of 6 ATC's. I was having so much fun I could have just kept going, I made one and that lead to another - the ideas were just flowing!

Also I have had an idea for a new quilt that relates to my most recent quilt so have done a couple of blocks of that. Purple and green again!

love these cat photos

2005-06-24T22:06:00.000+12:00

DSC_1278
Originally uploaded by junku.

Not my photos but If you love cats, you have to check out this set of photos by Junku on flickr!

Click on the photo and it will take you to the site.

more exciting mail!

2005-06-23T12:07:00.000+12:00

fromihanna855
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This arrived this morning - my ATC trade from ihanna in Sweden.
Just love the card.

I got mail!

2005-06-22T21:09:00.000+12:00

fromtifty
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

My first ATC trade arrived today from tifty in the USA

Wow - it felt like xmas opening my letter!

new ATC

2005-06-21T20:04:00.000+12:00

ATC18
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Had some fun with machine embroidery today. Not something I have done much of. Started off with machine on wash-away fabric and made some wonderful "thread-yarn" that will be wonderful to couch down onto an ATC.

On this ATC I machine embroidered circles on black felt and then attached to the ATC.

What I like about doing ATC's is that I get to play and try things that I would be to daunted to try on a quilt. My next challenge is to transfer my skills to a quilt design.

visual journal

2005-06-20T19:03:00.000+12:00

journal
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

I have kept a visual journal daily for the past 2 years, a5 in size and the challenge was to find something inspirational every day to put in there. Some days easy, others a real challenge. Sometimes I have written notes, more often not so when I look later I often wonder what the "original" inspiration was. This was from an advertisement for a CD holder but makes a wonderful quilt design. I have made a small quilt of this, now I want to make a larger version, or maybe make another the same size and just alter the colour.

untitled quilt

2005-06-20T19:01:00.000+12:00

untitled quilt
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

This is the quilt inspired by my journal entry.

48 x 48 cm

"Ideas have come from the strangest places"

Joyce Carol Oates

new ATC

2005-06-18T17:23:00.000+12:00

ATCduo
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

Received my latest copy of Quilting Arts magazine yesterday. There was an article about mixed media & quilting, with the idea of using watercolour paper, so these are the result of a play with my paintbox!
I ripped the shapes out of watercolour paper then coloured with watercolour paints. I used a small amount of PVA to fix them to the fabric and then stitched over them. It worked well, I think because of the thickness and flexibility of the paper the fabric and paper go well together.

fabric ATC's - Artist Trading Cards

2005-06-16T09:23:00.000+12:00

ATCtrio
Originally uploaded by leap-of-faith.

To construct my ATC I first make a sandwich of backing fabric / vleisofix / batting / vleisofix , and iron to make a unit.
I then either sew my ATC top or use a piece of fabric and vleisofix the 'bits' on.
This I then iron altogether.
I usually then cut to my 2/1/2 x 3/1/2 finished size before quilting.
To finish I either do a straight or zig-zag stitch several times around the outside.
If the back has ended up particularily messy I will then vleisofix on another backing, and do a couple more rounds of stitching around the outside.