Minis: Quilts and Disciplined Progress In the Studio

"I spy with my little eye--a flounder, a whale tail, porpoises, kelp,..."

Behind all the fun I am having in the studio, I am working toward a big goal. This goal has a deadline, and I should have begun earlier. Even starting at the last hour I calculated that I could make it, but frankly, it's kicking my keester. (Can I say that here?) I have become very disciplined at showing up in the studio, systematically working through problems, and making good progress. Will I make the deadline? I don't know, but I will work until the end to try.

Embellished Deconstructed Screen Print

'A Royal Afternoon'

This 11" x 29" art quilt has been in progress several weeks. 

Deconstructed Screen Printing: Fabric Art

Embroidering a Deconstructed Screen Print

It was very difficult to figure out what it needed, and I put in hours of stitching that I later ripped out. I'm glad I persisted, though, because in the end I'm happy with the piece.

Dark Sky Compliant: Another Art Quilt

"Dark Sky Compliant"

So, you ask, "What is that?" I'd never heard the term before I saw a notice asking everyone in Sanibel, Florida to modify all their outdoor lighting. In a nutshell, it means reducing light pollution while allowing the stars and moon to be more visible to people, but more importantly, the wildlife that biologically depend on it. Sea turtles nest on the beaches there. The loggerheads depend on the moonlight to lay their eggs, and the hatchlings to find their way back to their ocean home. Reducing artificial light gives them all a better chance at birth survival.

Island Management: An Art Quilt

Island Management

If I tell you I've been neglecting everyone and everything for a few days, would you forgive me? I'm sorry if I owe you an email or reply. Soon, I promise. There's a story with a not-so-happy ending, too, if you want to read on, and I'm the only one to blame. Ready?

Second Chance Quilts

 Quilters Are Passionate About Scraps!

There are dozens of ways to say this. You've all spoken from your hearts. 

When I last presented my dilemma with the awful term scrap vomit, and how much I disliked it, I asked for ideas to give these delicious quilts a better name. You all came through. What a list!

An Update On the Naked Ladies

Spring is harder on my quilting hours than the holidays. As fast as it rains, the grass grows, and so do the weeds. I have to sneak time to work on my projects, and there have been days at a time I didn't get anything done at all. Add to it a little planned getaway last week, and I felt pushed and stressed.

Improv Art Quilt Progress

I thought I should show you some progress after a design wall stall. I jumped ship on this project to work on the Naked Ladies quilt, but I'm back. 

This particular project has taken a lot of my time just standing and staring. Rarely have I ever made anything like this, and it has taken a while to adjust to. First was the color, width, and variety of the strips. 

Freestyle Improv Blocks: Declaration for One Monthly Goal

Block Play

A few weekends ago I wrapped up my work for the day, and decided I had earned some play time. Playing with blocks is my favorite creative outlet as a quilter. Drawing things out on paper or the computer is good, but physically handling fabric is far more therapeutic and inspiring.

Gold Rush Finish a.k.a. The Klimt Quilt

"Art is a line around your thoughts."
~Gustav Klimt

"Gold Rush" a.k.a. "The Klimt Quilt"

This scrap quilt reminds people of a Gustav Klimt work, although that was never my original intention. I didn't see it myself until a niece made a comment after seeing it online. It was interesting to me as I'm drawn to Klimt's work, and have had reproductions hanging in my house. I wondered if that was a subconscious influence. I don't know.

Uppsala Stars Goes Modern Friday Finish

Uppsala Stars Modern: Finished and Bound

Uppsala Stars is a Sew You Learn teaching pattern I've created, and available through Craftsy. It's made with easy measurements, and ideal for a beginner to intermediate quilter to work through on their own. I hope you enjoy this new colorway.

Pressing Perfect Edges with Aluminum Foil

Did you ever find something so simple 
you were almost silly about it?

Lessons in Quilting with Perle Cotton & Advice from Jen Kingwell About It

All quilters make mistakes.

I make mistakes.

Therefore, I am a quilter.

Don't you love syllogisms? Or not. It's funny the things you think about when your hands are busy, and your mind is free to wander. 

I started out hand quilting in the 1980's, and looked forward to the evenings sitting with a quilt in my lap while we watched a tv together. My lap was soon overtaken by one baby after the next, and I didn't get back to hand quilting until a few years ago. But the draw of FMQ with a domestic led me to try that, and as most of you know, ultimately longarming, which I love. Knowing I can finish a quilt that afternoon is delightful, but there is a seductive pull toward having something available to slow stitch if you crave it.

Craftsy Sweetens Up My Quilting Life! Blog Hop and Slow Stitching

Pin basted, and ready to quilt! Finally.

We're still hoppin' and showing our love, but flu has hit this household. It means a minor change in plans for me, and a good reason to find something portable to stitch while playing nurse. Check it out below. But first, let's 'talk hop'.

Are you registered for the Giveaways?
 Over $500 of Craftsy products!

Two more talented ladies are ready to show their discoveries on Craftsy.

Zenia at A Quilted Passion is enamored with FMQ and her review of three classes, "Start FMQ" with Elizabeth Dackson, "Secrets of FMQ" with Christina Cameli, and "Help! How Do I Quilt It?" with Angela Walters will open your eyes to the benefits.  Buy any of those classes through Zenia, and get 50% off for the next week! 

Jayne at Twiggy and Opal has a sweet heart deal from Craftsy to show you: her pressing/cutting mat and mini iron.  We quilters adore our tools!  Let Jayne point you in the direction of some pretty terrific finds!

Sweet Giveaway Details

Enter the Craftsy Giveaway here or through any bloggers in the hop. The main schedule can be found here or by the button in the sidebar.

Over $500 of free Craftsy products up for grabs

• Two free classes
• A Boundless Solids 6" Strip Set
• A Boundless Solids 10" squares
• A beautiful Boundless Solids Crown Jewels Quilt Kit by Amy Gibson!

One entry per person.  Enter until Sunday, February 21, 2016, at 11:59 pm MST.  The winners will be announced Feb. 22 here and at mmm! quilts.

This project is based on Jen Kingwell's block 'Mrs. Bannister's Stars', but beyond the center has been add-as-you-go. It's been waiting for the perfect moment to finish. You may remember it starting here, the next post here, and adding borders here. Then I got sucked into the Moda Building Blocks quilt, and this beauty sat on a shelf.

No need to go into details when the fabrics are so varied, and so dear. There are pieces from Depression feed sacks...

...recycled dresses from the 1940's, and every decade to the present. The fabrics range from contemporary to traditional to modern. The initial goal of this quilt was to blend all of them without fussing. Would it work? I think it has. All that's left is the quilting.

Enjoy the guest bloggers, and stay healthy. 
I'll be keeping the chicken soup warm.

Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's sit and stitch.

Linking up with~
A Quilted Passion
Crazy Mom Quilts
Off the Wall Friday
Fort Worth Fabric Frenzy
Confession's of a Fabric Addict
A Quilting Reader's Garden
My Quilt Infatuation

Add Batiking to My Love-to-Do List!

True Colors

Honestly, if I had known how fun and easy the process was, I would have been dyeing fabrics years ago. As my wise husband would say, "Sometimes you just have to do it to understand it." Yes, indeed. 

Improv Quilt: Gold Rush

Gold Rush

Stripped together from a box of scraps donated by a friend, these outcasts have taken on a new life. Two people said immediately it reminded them of a Gustav Klimt work. I believe this is the piece to which they referred. Stocletfriez

Image: Gustav Klimt, Wikipedia

Does Our Work Define Who & What We Are?

Dear fellow Blogger, Quilter, or poor soul who stumbled onto this funky blog titled Pink Doxies:

2015 year is winding down, and some of us feel the need to finish up loose ends. While wrapping up projects, I'm pleasantly surprised to see my work has come full circle. 

Concept to Quilt: Implementing Your Ideas

Scene: You're relaxed--just falling asleep, and the images are flashing through your head. Some people might hear music, but my movie is a total run of images and color. One catches you, and you think, "I better not forget that." 

Improv Quilt Finish

Let me start by saying this quilt design isn't every one's cup of tea, but it speaks to me. It started off as an improv project at an Amy Butler Dreaming Big in Color weekend.

Day 3: Quilting & Art Journaling

This was a good exercise in art journaling for me. I listed anything that came to mind when I thought about December. All lumped together with no judgment either way. I just wrote everything down equally. When I was done, I tried to use a spray adhesive, but mine clogged. Short on time, I resorted to Elmer's, but that was tough to get where I wanted it. It turned out a wee bit over glittered. What was kind of cool about it, though, was the really over glittered words were ones I might interpret as negative. Very interesting.

Day 2: Soft Finish for Improv Quilt & Journaling

This quilt center was started as an improv project at an Amy Butler retreat. A partner and I had to randomly choose fabrics for each other, and build up quilt blocks from the scraps. It was too small to do much with so I kept building around it after I got home. I have to admit I do this type of medallion built quilt a lot. It's comforting to add a border, watch it grow, and then make a decision from there.