Bright Row By Row

 I pulled these bright fun pieced rows from a UFO drawer in my studio.  This is from a quilt guild "Row by Row" exchange.  I made the first row (actually two rows of houses) and put them in a bag along with a collection of bright fabrics mixed in with some graphic black and white prints.  This bag was passed along from one to another in our "Row by Row" group.  It was probably started around year 2000.  Not sure.  One of the rows was made by a member who is now deceased.  As long as I am cleaning out space, I felt I may as well finish this one up.  I remember being flummoxed by it when I got these rows back all those years ago.  I did not hesitate at all this time.

It is all finished now and measures 50 x 61".

Scrappy Quilt Back for the Stripe Scrap Quilt

I forgot to mention this one measures 43 x 70".  Here is the back for the Scrappy Stripe Quilt I posted yesterday.

 

Here is a detail of the quilting on the backside.

My pile of finished scrap quilts is getting higher!  (they are piling up awaiting labels!)

Stripe Scrap Quilt

Horray!  I have made a lot of good progress with this series of scrappy random quilts.  There are so many other life events in my world right now - these have been like a breath of fresh air.  Therapy, actually.  I was happy with the way the spiral quilting turned out on this one.

Quilt Back for Pink and Green

 I thought this one may as well have a pieced scrap back, since that is what I am doing these days.  I balk at the idea of buying more fabric!  These backing fabrics are quite old.  Some of these fabrics are from the 80's!  I think it makes for an interesting quilt!

Pink and Green Scrap Quilt

 I am on a big mission to clean out the studio.  I have been working at this slowly over the past year.  Many things have gone to the second hand store, trash, and a few things are being resurrected and finished.  This UFO (pieced top) has been in a drawer for many years.  Probably 8 years or perhaps longer.  I thought I could finish it off as I have been doing a rather extensive series of scrap quilts.  This one is a good nap size - 45 x 72". 

 Here is a little detail picture of the quilting.  Working these larger utility quilts on my domestic machine are a challenge.  Nothing to brag about here, except for the fact that it is now finished and no longer a UFO stuck in a drawer.

Mixed Media Daily Postcards - November 9 - 16

Neutral Scrap Quilt Back

 Here is the back of the Neutral / Black Scrap Twin Size Quilt I showed on yesterday's post.  Below is a detail image of the front, showing the quilting (which is not very even).  I learned some things while quilting this one.  Basically - it is really hard to control free motion with a domestic sewing machine when making long runs.  There is a lot of unevenness in the quilting on this one.  No matter - I am sure it will be loved, anyway.  I don't plan on giving it to anyone who would care about the quality of the quilting!

Neutral Colors Scrap Quilt Twin Size

This one is quilted and bound.  The finished size is 58 x 80".

Scrap Quilt Back in Green

Here is the back of the green scrap quilt I shared yesterday.  Still using up scraps on the back......

 Detail of the back. 

Scrappy Quilt in Greens

 I am on a roll with these scrap quilts.  Clearing out space in the studio while also making something to give as a gift or for my own comfort.  I love doing these random patterns because one never really knows how it will all end up!  This one measures 48 x 70".  I quilted it with an overall leaf pattern, which was easy to manage and I think looks good with the colors.

Sue Reno's New DVD: Surface Design Essentials for the Printed Quilt

 

 I have always been captivated by Sue Reno's striking prints, and so I was very happy to have an opportunity to view her newly released DVD.  Printmaking is one of my favorite artistic approaches and it is so interesting seeing how Sue uses various printmaking processes in her art.  She explains and demonstrates each of her fabric processes carefully and thoroughly. 

Cyanotype prints - I so love that Prussian blue and white contrast!  I have never used cyanotype and have always been a bit intimidated by the idea of using those photo sensitive chemicals.  Sue has completely de-mystified this process for us all!  

Find Sues' DVD here:

http://www.interweavestore.com/quilting-arts-workshop-surface-design-essentials-for-the-printed-quilt-grouped
 
Tomorrow, check out what Natalya Aikens has to say about Sue Reno's new DVD:
 http://artbynatalya.blogspot.com/

Mixed Media Daily Postcards - November 3 - 8

Scrappy Back for the Warm Colors Scrap Quilt

 I decided that since I am trying to use up scraps and smaller pieces, I may as well make the back out of larger sized scraps.  I really like this one.  To me it is just fun.  Below, some detail shots of the quilting on the back.

No specific plan for this one, but it might be a Christmas gift for one of my daughters.

Warm Colors Random Scraps

 I am really thrilled to have this much larger scrap quilt finished and bound.  I quilted this one in a large floral pattern.  It was challenging to do on my domestic machine, but I like the way it looks now that it is finished.  It measures about 50 x 86".  A nice size for snuggling in front of the TV on a chilly winter eve.

Scrap Quilting in Blue

 I have never done a stipple quilting stitch on my domestic machine before.  I found it amazingly easy and fast.  Such a contrast to the intricate machine quilting I do for my art quilts!  I am so pleased to have this little baby quilt all finished.  36 x 48" - I will put it away until someone has a baby.

 I know this quilting is not very pretty, but it is a utility quilt and I am sure the quilting will hold up to a lot of use and washing. 

Thompson Falls Fires from our September Road Trip

 These are the last photos I will share from our September Road Trip to Northwestern Montana.  We drove west into Idaho as far as Coeur d'alene, where Joe planned to attend an event.  We drove through Thompson Falls - and saw country we had never seen before.  These two small forest fires took us by surprise.

Lake McDonald Plein Air Painter

What fun to see a number of painters taking advantage of the beautiful snow on the peaks around Lake McDonald!

Lake McDonald at Glacier National Park

 Going to the Sun Highway did not reopen in time for us to drive it again this trip.  We did stop off at Lake McDonald where we a very kind gentleman offered to take this photo of us.  He told us he and his wife have been coming to this very same place every fall for 23 years and they never grow tired of it!

Mixed Media Daily Postcards - October 27 - November 2

Bowman Lake in Glacier National Park

While we were visiting the Northwestern part of Montana, there was a significant first snowfall that closed the Going to the Sun Highway.  The day was beautiful, so we opted to drive the road that follows the western boundary of the park, passing through the little town of Polebarn.  The road to Bowman Lake is narrow and windy.  Probably more challenging than usual on account of the fact that it was the only road open in the park so there were quite a few vehicles on the road and few were accustomed to backroads driving!  Oh well, we were rewarded with this stunning view of Bowman Lake!

We tried fishing for a little while.  No luck, but we were told there are fish in this lake by fellow fishermen who are familiar with this lake.  What a view!