Tuesday, March 23, 2010

I'm back!


Sometimes I fall off the blogging log. Its easy done. There you are gymnast like, carefully balancing life and blog then out of the corner of your eye you see a tempting and time consuming activity and - plonk! - off the log you go. I hope that I will be forgiven. Assuming you even noticed that is. Anyway, the good news is that I have been getting some fiber work done. Finally I am working on a series. (oooooh, get me -big grown up textile artist like words!) I am happily playing about with variations of the first wall hanging I made when I came home, inspired by aboriginal art, using aboriginal fabrics in very small doses and, hopefully, looking nothing like aboriginal art but somnething like I might be working towards acquiring my own style.

The one above is the second in the series and you have seen it before but it now has the machine quilting on it but not the hand quilting.  These thin ones to the side are awaiting quilting. they are made with fabric from a scrap bag from Lisa Walton at Dyed and Gone to Heaven Each is made by dividing one thick strip and inserting a thinner one vertically then some horizontal strips too. the fabric really dictated the format. sorry about the wonky floor photo.  As we have a trip to Bath coming upnext week, I hope to get the machine quilting done here and the hand stitching there but time is running out...
I also spent five hours putting letters around my South island souvenir quilt. I could not get the printer to do large enough letters so I had to draw and make templates and cut them out and arrange them on the floor using Stean a Seam 2. Only I didn't press them on enough so when I lifted the top onto the ironing board most of them fell off again. Grrr. Now I have to sew them.... later. Much much later when I have forgotten that I don't love it so much!
I chose the focus fabric for the blocks in Picton becuase the words reminded me of how I felt on that very relaxing part of the trip. Then the log fabrics were all accumulated elsewhere in the South Island of new Zealand. Some of the scraps got made into an as yet paperless and strapless journal cover.
And that folks was about it for the weekend apart from some very nice hours spent on 'my sofa' at Cedar Farm journalling and reading textile arty books.

9 comments:

Linda Robertus said...

I love that first Aboriginal fabric quilt! How big is it? The journal cover is gorgeous too!

Sandra Wyman said...

Love these, especially the quilts with aboriginal fabrics. Must actually think how to use mine!

Rachel said...

There are some gorgeous fabrics in there, and I love the combinations you've come up with!

Becky said...

Love them, the colors and fabric are great.

Diana said...

I had missed you! I love what you've done and can't wait to see more.

Gerrie said...

I very much like those first two pieces. Very nice. Now, will you go to blogger settings and select the pop up for comments so that I can see what I am commenting on? Please?

Diane Perin said...

Oh, Helen, a new full time job and all of these projects, TOO? I love the pieces -- especially the first one. Great color energy, wonderful lines, and the aboriginal style circles are just right. The quilting is looking good too. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that one. The others are terrific, too, but I would be going back to that red one over and over again...

JB said...

Thank goodness you are okay. Yes, I did miss your blogging. I think your limited use of aboriginal fabrics is intriguing and it appears that you are well on your way to your own style.

Karen said...

We all missed your blogging, but I know you've been busy, and it looks like your able to keep up with the art work. Good for you!