Design Wall Monday 7-16-12

Thread painting - that is what is on my wall at the moment. I took this photo of an iris in my garden this spring. Using Picasa I tweaked the photo a bit to make the iris the focal point. Then I printed it on fabric - twice. This is my first thread painting attempt and it has been quite a learning experience. First I learned that within minutes I stopped looking at the image and was focusing on the colors. I also learned that the piece looks quite different from a distance and to get a true picture of what the mind is going to see, you simply have to step away from it. At the moment, I've used various colors to outline what I see as the major components of the flower. Now I'm going to mull it over and see what I want to do next. On Quilting Arts I had seen one of Pokey's guests demonstrate thread painting and she set the machine to zig-zag as well as free-motion. I tried that first and did not like the result I got. Even with a heavy-weight stabilizer on the back the piece was puckering badly. At that moment I was quite glad I had the foresight to print the photo twice because I tossed the first attempt in the trash and tried again with my machine set to straight stitch.

I can see where even if I never develop the talent of thread painting, the exercise itself would certainly help me develop better control of my sewing machine for free-motion quilting. Anyway, I'm having fun with it. I don't know what else I will do to the flower but I will do more. I plan to densely quilt the background with green thread. Then I'll simply bind it and it will be a wall hanging and a nice reminder of this lovely flower.

Another Journey is finished. I'm happy with it. I have another idea for a wall hanging noodling around in my head, but a hectic work schedule and a few days of vacation following that will take me off the sewing trail for a short while.

Have you seen these adorable basket kits from Clover? My friend, Lori, at Cotton Fields Quilt Shop sells them. Ruth and I saw them at the sewing expo in Raleigh a few weeks ago and, wanting to support our local quilt shop, asked Lori if she could order them. She did and we've been experimenting. Lori made the bowl and I made the rectangular basket. At the show the sample bowls were made from yarn and from fabric. Haven't tackled one out of fabric yet. But I'm happy with the way this turned out. It doesn't take long to do.This one is about 5 x 7 x 2.5.

Take a few moments to visit Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times to see what others have on their designs wall.