Thursday, January 26, 2017

Two More Tops Nearly Done



What a Difference Good Lighting Makes!

After bemoaning the lack of light in the studio, I made a trip to IKEA. I bought 2 standing lights with bright bulbs, and it was like summer again just using one of them.  I decided to move the mess I'd accumulated by sewing in my living room back to the studio. It took most of the day to get things back into order, and clean up.





Several days ago I started playing with some 5" blocks, and figuring out how to use some vintage fabric. Limiting the choices of fabric you have to use can be liberating. You force yourself to consider some that would never cross your radar any other time. I happened to have a stack of gingham, but nothing really in the colors I was working with. The nearest choice was a charcoal gingham. I know it isn't a true black because that was there, too. It was a nice contrast with the pink and violet, and even leaned toward the grey in the floral border. Gingham of any kind makes me think of the 1960's and 70's, and clothes I wore as a child.

The pictures show the quilt at 62" x 92". Another border of pink will take it out to a twin size at 72" x 92". After quilting it should be closer to 70" x 90". 



All these fabrics were grabbed from a box of donated fabric. Unlikely bedfellows, but they seem to play well together.



The Houses On Cherry Ridge

I needed to free the design wall so I buckled down and sewed this together. It's a nice 60" square, and I'm debating on just how to finish it into a 60" x 80". I may do one more row for the top and bottom, and finish it off with half blocks of the L's. I have lots of these fabric already cut. I could see a nice navy border as a good way to complete the edges. I hung the pink to see how it might look too. It never hurts to audition your fabric options.

We're having a mini class this afternoon, and I'm still not quite ready. I'm off. Here's wishing your day is full of fabric and sunshine! 

Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.


8 comments:

Rose Prairie Quilts and Farm said...

Like the lighting and makes your tops pop out. Love the look of both and give me inspiration.

Nancy said...

Your pineapple quilt is gorgeous. I would never have thought to put the coral with the lavender and yet they look fabulous together.

Angie in SoCal said...

Your design walls with that new lighting make them look like a gallery. Love the three quilts I can see.

Stitchin At Home said...

Your new lighting was a great addition. Your pineapple quilt turned out lovely.

Linda Swanekamp said...

I think I need one of those lights. I received a display stand for Christmas, but it has been so gray here, that I need light to get a good photo. Your quilts are gorgeous! Nice work.

Jayne said...

Love the coral/pink quilt. The colors are amazing and the pinapple block is really cool! Sometimes artificial light is needed! Can't wait to see how you quilt it!

Kate said...

Having good lighting really helps with the photography. I bought a natural daylight LED late last year and I love it. You've done really well on using up the scraps and getting them in to donation quilts.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

You have been so productive this month. Wow.