Four by twelve, twenty ten. Four artists, twelve colors, 48 art quilts. All art quilts twenty inches by ten inches. One piece from each artist each month.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
All the photos to-date in one place
I gave it my best shot -- and if you scroll down, you can see all the pieces together -- one month at a time.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
March color theme
My March color was the darker purple. It's in the narrow lines separating the columns and the two small sets of three narrow bars, plus the "bars" behind the angelina squares. I'm thinking of orange and lilies for April.
Love the Poppies!
Elizabeth, I love the poppies!
What is you colorway this month? I like the orderliness of the piece. You repeated the same elements in all three columns. Forces the viewer to come in closer to read the different text and to look at the details. We need to schedule a day to play with my new photoshop books. I want to learn how to layer like you do.
You are right, your pieces are all very connected these three months. You could actually put them together in a single grouping and have a very coherent display.
In answer to your question-all the purple flowers were free motion quilted after I sponged a background color of very light tseukineko periwinkle ink. I quilted them on top of the silver metallic mesh and that is the only thing holding the mesh down other than the stitched binding and the applique butterflies.
What is you colorway this month? I like the orderliness of the piece. You repeated the same elements in all three columns. Forces the viewer to come in closer to read the different text and to look at the details. We need to schedule a day to play with my new photoshop books. I want to learn how to layer like you do.
You are right, your pieces are all very connected these three months. You could actually put them together in a single grouping and have a very coherent display.
In answer to your question-all the purple flowers were free motion quilted after I sponged a background color of very light tseukineko periwinkle ink. I quilted them on top of the silver metallic mesh and that is the only thing holding the mesh down other than the stitched binding and the applique butterflies.
March Piece is Done
Finally! I've labored over this one -- and it's very "stiff" -- feels orderly instead of free. Too much labor -- guess that's the lesson this time.
delightful!
Linda, your piece is so light and airy -- I can see a little bit of the dimension in some of the butterflies, but not enough to get a real feel for it. It's really delightful -- especially after our surprise snow and ice storm of yesterday. Hope to see it in person very soon. The purple flowers -- are they all stitch, or some sort of broderie perse or something else I'm not seeing?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thank you Susan, I'm glad you like my piece.
I didn't start out just using a touch of this month's color choice. I had actually cut it up into three large leaves and I was going to overlay a large yellow tulip over the quilted background. It wasn't working for me and I had to come up with plan b. I had next to nothing left of the green, so I wrapped it to make a green branch.
I have had to go to a plan b for each one of these challenge pieces. My goal is to use the napkins in different ways each month and challenge myself to play with new techniques. For this piece, I used the middle layer of the napkins which were really muted colors of the top layer. I really liked the way this came out too. It is a happy piece, but so very different from the other two I have done.
I was really excited that I finished it before the end of the month! Today I started working on a broken star that I had started 20 years ago. I needed to work on something where I don't have to create it from scratch out of my head. The challenge pieces are hard work!
I didn't start out just using a touch of this month's color choice. I had actually cut it up into three large leaves and I was going to overlay a large yellow tulip over the quilted background. It wasn't working for me and I had to come up with plan b. I had next to nothing left of the green, so I wrapped it to make a green branch.
I have had to go to a plan b for each one of these challenge pieces. My goal is to use the napkins in different ways each month and challenge myself to play with new techniques. For this piece, I used the middle layer of the napkins which were really muted colors of the top layer. I really liked the way this came out too. It is a happy piece, but so very different from the other two I have done.
I was really excited that I finished it before the end of the month! Today I started working on a broken star that I had started 20 years ago. I needed to work on something where I don't have to create it from scratch out of my head. The challenge pieces are hard work!
Linda, your piece is wonderful!! It lifts the spirit just to look at it. Especially in MN, where brown is still the color of the day. I think it is so interesting the different approaches the three of us are taking to the color wheel hues- you use touches and I make the whole background the color of the month. Which makes April a real dilemma since it's red-orange! I am really enjoying this challenge and yes, we have to get together for show and tell. Susan
Waiting for Spring March Challenge

Waiting for Spring is made with a base of finger napkins quilted onto batting and backing. A sparkley netting type fabric was overlaid and the purple flowers were quilted on top The color use for the month was green--made into a dimensional twig corded with variegated thread. The butterflies were appliqued onto the backing. Several of them are three dimensional and their wings actually lift off the piece, but again the picture does not show the dimensionality or the true nature of the sparkle fabric. Susan, you are going to have to come down to see all the pieces and to bring yours:)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
MArch Piece
Well, my March piece is almost completed. Monday I played with stamping on organza to use as an overlay. When I put it on the base, the organza overpowered the entire piece, so I went back to the drawing board.
Today, I am sewing on the butterfly applique pieces and tomorrow, hopefully it will be finished and posted. Today was such a dreary day that working with the soft pastels of spring was just what I needed to boost my spirits.
And so we keep waiting for spring.
Today, I am sewing on the butterfly applique pieces and tomorrow, hopefully it will be finished and posted. Today was such a dreary day that working with the soft pastels of spring was just what I needed to boost my spirits.
And so we keep waiting for spring.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
March is marching along
I have spent the last week photoshopping and cropping and struggling over this piece. Today it seems to have come into focus -- so now it's just a matter of putting it together. The pieces are laid out, printed and primed.
It's definitely poppies -- and if I look at the last three months -- there is a certain "rosy glow" to all my work. I think I may have to modify that next month. Until I post a picture.....
I remain... busy.
It's definitely poppies -- and if I look at the last three months -- there is a certain "rosy glow" to all my work. I think I may have to modify that next month. Until I post a picture.....
I remain... busy.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Resizing photos for printing
I also had a delightful day yesterday -- and went home with new ideas swimming in my head -- which I had to research later in the evening. I really liked the restaurant!
The answer to the printing question is not a simple one -- if your printer allows banner printing, then you can print a banner -- look under "banner printing" or "custom options" for creating a different size.
Photoshop's printing program allows you to set up parameters, but the work of "stretching" the photo is done in the program itself. The challenge you run into with something that is "out of proportion" to the original -- or in this case making it something that is 10x20 -- is that these proportions run counter to the "golden mean" -- in a big way. If you use Photoshop to resize, then you will get a proportional resizing -- and end up cutting off part of your picture, either when you print, or when you put it together in fabric. You may be able to turn off the proportional resizing, but I haven't done that.
The tricky part of printing in pieces and sewing it together is matching up the design. The reason it's tricky is that you have to "cut up" your photo within Photoshop -- making sure you get the size of the cuts EXACTLY equal -- otherwise the matching up doesn't go too well. Ask me how I know.
It can be done, and I always print it on paper to check the match before putting it on fabric. There is usually some waste of the fabric to do this, but my experience has been that this is nearly impossible to alleviate.
The answer to the printing question is not a simple one -- if your printer allows banner printing, then you can print a banner -- look under "banner printing" or "custom options" for creating a different size.
Photoshop's printing program allows you to set up parameters, but the work of "stretching" the photo is done in the program itself. The challenge you run into with something that is "out of proportion" to the original -- or in this case making it something that is 10x20 -- is that these proportions run counter to the "golden mean" -- in a big way. If you use Photoshop to resize, then you will get a proportional resizing -- and end up cutting off part of your picture, either when you print, or when you put it together in fabric. You may be able to turn off the proportional resizing, but I haven't done that.
The tricky part of printing in pieces and sewing it together is matching up the design. The reason it's tricky is that you have to "cut up" your photo within Photoshop -- making sure you get the size of the cuts EXACTLY equal -- otherwise the matching up doesn't go too well. Ask me how I know.
It can be done, and I always print it on paper to check the match before putting it on fabric. There is usually some waste of the fabric to do this, but my experience has been that this is nearly impossible to alleviate.
Good Morning Ladies,
After a delightful day yesterday with Elizabeth, I went shopping at Dover Publications. I got 5 new books that come with cds that I have been ogling for months. Three of them are photoshop books, and the other two are increidible forms in nature and in the ocean. Can't wait until they get here to play with them.
I think I need to go ahead and get my next computer now, there is just too much to do with a computer that is tied up with my sewing world.
The horse piece is strangling me. I want to finish it already and it just keeps needing more work!
And now for the question of the day. I want to use a picture that I played with on the computer for the base of the March piece. I want to stretch it to 10" x 20". Would that end up printing as 2 pages that you would seem together? Will photoshop let you print it as a banner if you had a fabric piece long enough, or does your printer have to allow banner printing somewhere in its own set up software?
After a delightful day yesterday with Elizabeth, I went shopping at Dover Publications. I got 5 new books that come with cds that I have been ogling for months. Three of them are photoshop books, and the other two are increidible forms in nature and in the ocean. Can't wait until they get here to play with them.
I think I need to go ahead and get my next computer now, there is just too much to do with a computer that is tied up with my sewing world.
The horse piece is strangling me. I want to finish it already and it just keeps needing more work!
And now for the question of the day. I want to use a picture that I played with on the computer for the base of the March piece. I want to stretch it to 10" x 20". Would that end up printing as 2 pages that you would seem together? Will photoshop let you print it as a banner if you had a fabric piece long enough, or does your printer have to allow banner printing somewhere in its own set up software?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Hi Linda. Glad you liked my piece. I'm printing on all kinds of things lately- handmade paper, my own organza, etc. I ironed a piece of organza to an 11 by 17 inch piece of freezer paper and it went right through, as did a featherweight piece of paper with fiber swirls on it. After trying other brands of printers, I'm convinced HP is the best. Good luck with your March piece. Susan
Morning Ladies,
I love both of your pieces! They look etherial and delicate. Susan, are you using organza in the bottom part with the tree? I love the lacey snow. Elizabeth shared that yesterday, but I forgot how she said you did it. Both of your new pieces have beautiful wording and that is something I want to try.
Elizabeth, your stamped images are remarkable and I think the cut edge border you did is just a perfect border to match the thorniness of the the thistles.
Both of your pieces make me want to experiment with some messy stuff, although I am really trying to keep my messes to the bare minimum in case we have to show the house. It is putting a crimp in my creative nature. ( A big part of the crimp is also that most of my messy toys got packed and sent to the basment:)
I got a new book yesterday the is called Fabric Collage. I bought it because there are some interesting techniques to try with stabilizers and batting. I am thinking that at least one of those techniques will end up in the March piece which I think will be about butterflies.
The horse challenge has grown much bigger than I had anticipated--it is now 60" and I want to finish it already. I am only going to complete the top and then it goes into the magic closet with the other summer tops so that I can concentrate on our challenge.
I love both of your pieces! They look etherial and delicate. Susan, are you using organza in the bottom part with the tree? I love the lacey snow. Elizabeth shared that yesterday, but I forgot how she said you did it. Both of your new pieces have beautiful wording and that is something I want to try.
Elizabeth, your stamped images are remarkable and I think the cut edge border you did is just a perfect border to match the thorniness of the the thistles.
Both of your pieces make me want to experiment with some messy stuff, although I am really trying to keep my messes to the bare minimum in case we have to show the house. It is putting a crimp in my creative nature. ( A big part of the crimp is also that most of my messy toys got packed and sent to the basment:)
I got a new book yesterday the is called Fabric Collage. I bought it because there are some interesting techniques to try with stabilizers and batting. I am thinking that at least one of those techniques will end up in the March piece which I think will be about butterflies.
The horse challenge has grown much bigger than I had anticipated--it is now 60" and I want to finish it already. I am only going to complete the top and then it goes into the magic closet with the other summer tops so that I can concentrate on our challenge.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Two new pieces!!
Elizabeth- Thanks for posting the photo of my piece. I was so surprised to find yours there too! I love the stamped images on it and it certainly fits with the Lenten season. My color for April is red so that will be a real challenge, since I'm leaving at least a little bit of the pure color exposed in each piece. I love this challenge- the size is probably the biggest hurdle but it's also the fun part. Susan
February challenge piece
Monday, March 8, 2010
Lookin' good
I especially like this tree, Susan! This one talks to me -- of things it has seen, of warmer days to come. And that snow is looking vaguely familiar.......
March- Orange!
Here is March- sun, receding snow, and wind. Virginia Spiegel's book inspired me to write a haiku for it. Susan
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Hustling and working
Okay, so I've been working on this piece for February and it's kind of thorny -- haha! Thistles and whatnot. Anyway, I have handcut four separate stamps and used each and every one of them to stamp the background. I finally did a little sewing last night to add the "flavor of the month" and now I need to print some more organza with some additional design. Then it's upstairs to layer it with some mistyfuse and see what happens. Sadly I spent way too much of the day shopping (for food!). On the bright side, my custom chocolate came and it's pretty yummy.
Linda, when I was at Costco they had hamentashen!!! Haaman's Hats (Book of Esther) pastry.
I'm liking the blog commentary -- how it's picking up!
Linda, when I was at Costco they had hamentashen!!! Haaman's Hats (Book of Esther) pastry.
I'm liking the blog commentary -- how it's picking up!
Wow! I came home and checked the blog and all kinds of things have been happening! The new piece, Linda, is great. It is fun, isn't it, to use those fancy stitches that we all know we just have to have.
We all seem to be into the bright colors for cheering up winter. Here in MN it is around 40 and it's so nice to get outside. The very bright orange that's up next in my colorwheel is going to be a challenge, so I'm still thinking about this one. Susan
We all seem to be into the bright colors for cheering up winter. Here in MN it is around 40 and it's so nice to get outside. The very bright orange that's up next in my colorwheel is going to be a challenge, so I'm still thinking about this one. Susan
Thank you Elizabeth,
I just got back from Joann's and I found the coolest spun metallic fabric in colors. I bought some in light purple and I found a 1/2 yard remnant of it in silver. I am thinking of doing my March piece with it in the style of Ellen Eddy. Maybe a 2nd midnight garden party to go with my first one.
My 2nd option is to pull more stuff off of my design wall and construct another 1 day project. I liked that and it made me get the thing done! I could wait until the last day of the month to pull that one out of my hat.
I forgot to ask you yesterday when you looked at First Night what you think I should do about hanging hardware-or not. Its current resting place is on my cutting table. I really don't know where to put it now that it is done.
I'm off to the land upstairs--need to work on my Laurel Burch/horse piece today.
Susan, you are very quiet this week. Are you working on March or is it finished already?
I just got back from Joann's and I found the coolest spun metallic fabric in colors. I bought some in light purple and I found a 1/2 yard remnant of it in silver. I am thinking of doing my March piece with it in the style of Ellen Eddy. Maybe a 2nd midnight garden party to go with my first one.
My 2nd option is to pull more stuff off of my design wall and construct another 1 day project. I liked that and it made me get the thing done! I could wait until the last day of the month to pull that one out of my hat.
I forgot to ask you yesterday when you looked at First Night what you think I should do about hanging hardware-or not. Its current resting place is on my cutting table. I really don't know where to put it now that it is done.
I'm off to the land upstairs--need to work on my Laurel Burch/horse piece today.
Susan, you are very quiet this week. Are you working on March or is it finished already?
Love it!
I love the new piece,Linda. I can't believe it all came out of your scrap bag, except for the orange from the challenge bundle.
Seeing it in person -- it was really something. I can tell you're quite focused on Texas now. Seeing First Night in person was even better -- the photo does it no justice -- the layers aren't visible and I agree that the shadowbox really makes a difference -- it deepens the layers. I wonder if photographing it in the shadowbox would make the layers more obvious in a picture?
Seeing it in person -- it was really something. I can tell you're quite focused on Texas now. Seeing First Night in person was even better -- the photo does it no justice -- the layers aren't visible and I agree that the shadowbox really makes a difference -- it deepens the layers. I wonder if photographing it in the shadowbox would make the layers more obvious in a picture?
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
wow info
Ladies,
Just spent some time today looking over my newest wow segments.Wow is Workshop on the Web. It is something I have subscribed to for 3 years and I get so inspired by what they are doing across the pond! Anyways, I had a peek at the news and reviews section and the new products section today. I was delighted to find out that Sherrill Kahn has a new book and a new DVD out. I love her work and I have all her previous books. Her work just gets me percolating. Her new DVD is entitled Acrylic Paint Pizazz and the new book is Creative Mixed Media: Paint Print Stitch Stamp Embellish. You can order both from her website impressmestamps.com or from Amazon. I asked the big powers at QSDS last year if they would consider bringing Sherrill over for the seminar, but haven't seen her listing Ohio in her teaching schedules. I hope she teaches at Houston:)
Just spent some time today looking over my newest wow segments.Wow is Workshop on the Web. It is something I have subscribed to for 3 years and I get so inspired by what they are doing across the pond! Anyways, I had a peek at the news and reviews section and the new products section today. I was delighted to find out that Sherrill Kahn has a new book and a new DVD out. I love her work and I have all her previous books. Her work just gets me percolating. Her new DVD is entitled Acrylic Paint Pizazz and the new book is Creative Mixed Media: Paint Print Stitch Stamp Embellish. You can order both from her website impressmestamps.com or from Amazon. I asked the big powers at QSDS last year if they would consider bringing Sherrill over for the seminar, but haven't seen her listing Ohio in her teaching schedules. I hope she teaches at Houston:)

Thank you Elizabeth for the info on the card reader. We got one today and that solved my problem for this computer. It is actually easier to do than the hook up directly from the camera. Guess that was the important what I learned from challenge #2:)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Good Evening Ladies and Happy March,
I have completed the February challenge piece. It is entitled "Texas Sunrise." I finished putting on the binding today, but actually completed everything else yesterday. I took a picture of it to post. However, my computer died last month and I have been without my own since then. When I tried to download the pictures using this computer, my camera program would not work. Apparently none of my programs will work on this computer. I am not getting a new computer until after we move, so I will only be able to participate with the rest of the challenge with comments-no pictures.
I already have the March challenge piece idea figured out. It will be about spring.
I have completed the February challenge piece. It is entitled "Texas Sunrise." I finished putting on the binding today, but actually completed everything else yesterday. I took a picture of it to post. However, my computer died last month and I have been without my own since then. When I tried to download the pictures using this computer, my camera program would not work. Apparently none of my programs will work on this computer. I am not getting a new computer until after we move, so I will only be able to participate with the rest of the challenge with comments-no pictures.
I already have the March challenge piece idea figured out. It will be about spring.