Liquid Thread

I love reading blogs and one of my favorites is by Terry Grant at www.andsewitgoes.blogspot.com. A while back she explained how she uses a product called Liquid Thread instead of a fusible like Wonder Under...and of course, I had to try it. She waters it down using 1 part water to two parts Liquid Thread and I followed her instructions. However, I thought I should shake the bottle to mix it up and I think that may have been a mistake because I had to deal with a lot of air bubbles when I went to use it!

I also learned not to put too thick a line of glue down so I am practicing using a lighter touch. In any case, I created this little wall hanging using Liquid Thread and was very happy with the results. The Liquid Thread does a great job of sealing the fabric so that it doesn't fray and once it is glued, that fabric is not going anywhere! I have started using it to glue my labels onto the backs of my quilts and it works wonderfully for that. No more sewing labels on for me!

Inspired by Nature

SAQA put out a call for small quilts to auction off as a fund raiser and I got inspired. I began by playing with dyed fabrics on a black felt background. I added silk, upholstery fabric and painted tyvek. I did a lot of hand stitching using hand dyed thread but it still needed something more. That is when I went to nature and added a piece of bark and those little stems with the balls at the end. They are actually from a package of potpourri that has been airing out in my garage for awhile! Stinky stuff but when the smell goes away, the materials are great for quilts.
If you click on a photo to enlarge it you will be able to see the stitching better. I had a lot of fun making this piece.

Endless Leaf making

My son, Jordan is getting married in December and he and Katie want me to make a wedding canopy with a tree on it. So I am making leaves....lots of leaves. I start out by fusing two batiks together with wonder under in between. Then I draw a leaf shape on the fabric and start free hand quilting the outline and the veins. I go around the outside twice to make the stitching more secure. When I have a sheet of leaves finished, I cut them out and soak them to get the marking lines out. They curl up a little as they dry which makes me happy because they look more natural that way. Hopefully you will see a finished tree by the end of summer.

Gentner's Fritillaria

The Rogue Art Quilters have a challenge going with the subject being the Gentner Fritillaria, a wildflower that is only found in Southern Oregon. The town of Jacksonville calls it their signature flower. We are hanging a show in Jacksonville and the flower was the perfect choice for subject matter. We are all using the black and grey batik that is in the center of my flower.

I used a variegated thread for all those little filler stitches in the background of the flower....kind of fun despite being very time consuming.

I crocheted a fuzzy needlepoint yarn and appliqued it down for the centers of the flower. I love the fuzziness and the sparkle that I got from the yarn.