Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2016 - Applique

Vincent
Dimensions: 13''x15''

This is my first entry for the Blogger Quilt Festival, Applique Quilt!
The second entry is here (mini)

If you are new around here, WELCOME!

If you have been around for a while, THANKS AND WELCOME BACK! :)

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If you are new around here, let me just point you to my main addiction: designing and sharing for free tons of paper piecing patterns :)

As you can see from one of my old headers arrangement, I design patterns for Disney characters, Peanuts and Snoopy, Downton Abbey, Alice in Wonderland but I have many many more (Maleficent, The Simpsons, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Betty Boop, Minions and more)!! Some of them have to be tested, some of there are tested. You can find them just navigating the different tabs or just typing the character name in the search box at the top of the page.

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So let me tell you their story!

Everything started with my obsession about Van Gogh's "The Starry Night" and the amazing work of Adam Lister (adamlistergallery.com).

When I read about the AMB challenge, the use of solids (and just solids) didn't make me very excited (I don't like solids, don't hate me please :) ). However I thought that it could be the best excuse to finally put Van Gogh's painting down to fabric! But how exactly? I started googling around images of the painting and I came across Adam's wonderful "pixellated" reproductions of classic art and famous characters. As soon as I saw his version of the painting I had the moment "That's it! That's exactly what I was looking for!". I immediately got in touch with him and he was very kind and curious to see how his art would translate into fabric!

Now the difficult part: how can I reproduce this look and keep somehow the spirit of Van Gogh's irregular impressionistic look?
Raw edge applique and thread painting look the only reasonable option!
Of course I never tried any of these technique :) but luckily July tutorial of my series "Stretch Your Skills" was exactly that! So thanks to the wonderful tips and instructions by Kristel (wipgirl) I was able to make a little practice piece that gave me the confidence I needed to attack the big project!

A lot of designing, cutting, fusing and sewing later, this is what I had!

The irregular edges of the different pieces, combined with the irregular crossing of the quilting makes the piece really "impressionist" (IMHO).
I didn't want to add any distraction with the binding, so I used a pillow case method to finish it.
And this mini WAS ACCEPTED in the 40 (out of 230 submitted) minis for the Road to California exhibit!!

After finishing this piece, however, I had a lot of solids leftovers. One day I went to visit the Phillips Collection and I saw a painting from Piet Mondrian (Composition No. III) and I realized that I could make another mini for the challenge!

Since I didn't have white as leftover but blues, I decided to play with the colors and this was the result. It's very simple and the quilting is random straight lines to echo the simple shapes that Mondrian is famous to paint.

This quilt was not accepted in the exhibit, but I still think it's pretty and it balances the impressionistic look of "Vincent"!

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If you have any comment about these quilts, I would love to hear!!!
And  check out more wonderful applique quilts over at blogger's quilt festival!!

Learning new skills (and a link party)

Good project this week and a new skill learned!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. SYS2015 future projects - Nov project shared early this week and missing tutorial skill learned! (see below)
2. Block Swap Adventure - partner assigned, Oct blocks received (see below)
3. Charity quilts - next top done (see below)
4. Zipper pouches - paused for a while
5. Americana QAL - received Nov pattern
6. Applique pictures - done! (see below)
7. Adam's wall hanging - no progress
8. 2016 QAL (secret) - no progress
9. Allietare QAL - no progress

The EverythingElse List:

1. the SK project - no progress
2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
3. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. the Ender project - no progress
6. Embroidery calendar - no progress
7. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
8. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
9. As You Wish -  no progress
10. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
11. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
12. B quilt - no progress

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These are the blocks I received from Cathy from Australia!
Two great blocks and the most wonderful aboriginal fabric ever!!!

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This is a project that will be included in a Xmas present. I will fill a photo collage with pictures, but I wanted to add something different, so I made these two blocks as we identify with these two characters  :)

This is a project from my long Q4 list of projects! (Project 10. in the list)
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I have to be honest with you: I organized the Stretch Your Skills series basically to "force" myself to learn or practice some crafts that I usually ignore (like crochet) or to learn some that I never tried before (like EPP or knitting).

Here is more of my EPP (this is for a secret project).

And when the knitting tutorial was cancelled, I was super sad :(

I tried knitting about 20 years ago and I didn't really like it because of the "boring" look of knit/purl flat scarfs (that was the only thing I could learn from my mom as she was not a knitter herself). Plus I had to use those long and heavy metal needles and my kids hands really didn't like them.

In preparation of the SYS knitting tutorial, I started looking around for knitting needles and I discovered that heavy metal needles were not the only option. So I bought myself a set of bamboo double pointed needles and a set of bamboo/plastic circular needles... not even knowing what they are used for! :) :)

Having the yarn and needles and no SYS project to use them for, I started looking around for a simple project that used circular needles and not just "boring" knit/purl. Then one day I found a perfect project: small, with a fun design and useful... knitted mitts!

After watching several youtube videos (as I had no idea how the circular needles work) I decided to jump right in and make the mitts! I knew that I was using the wrong size needle but the right size was too thin and my stitches too tight. So I decided to use the first mitt as a "test" project, to practice the stitches, getting comfortable with the process, design and gauge. I will count it as "left done" for the purpose of finishes projects linkys as it is technically done (and not even too big), but it has holes here and there (I don't know how it happened but I got confused several times on which thread to use for stitches increases, so it must be that). I will redo it after I finish the right one.

Pattern by weezalana (knittywhipped.blogspot.com) 

My impression on knitting: I absolutely love it! even if I am slow at it...
The circular bamboo/plastic needles are just wonderful! They are light and easy to work with, perfect for projects-on-the-go, they fold easily and they keep the project safe without the need of needle tops.
I still struggle because I don't "see" the stitches (meaning that if everything is done properly, it's cool... but if I make a mistake, I don't know where I messed up and I don't know how to undo it properly), but I guess this will come with practice (I had the same experience with crochet).

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And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

I finally finished another top! In this I included orphan blocks from one donation, with fabric from a second donation, charms from a third donation and fabric from my stash! I really love to include a little bit of love from different people!

Now I have 2 quilts done and 3 tops to quilt... yes, I don't like the quilting part, but I will work on that next week so maybe I will report a finish next week!!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

SYS 2015 - Another month is almost over!!

At the beginning of June Kristel shared a cool tutorial for a fun Firefly-themed fabric postcard :).
You can find the tutorial on the SYS2015 page!

Where are YOUR postcards? Share them below!!

Remember that in this link party only projects belonging to the SYS2015 series should be added 

(I reserve the right to delete any non compliant link). 

This link party will be open all year long and you can add as many finished projects as you want! 

The same link party will be shown on the SYS2015 page.

Each link will give you a chance to win one of the monthly prizes.

This month, in order to be eligible for prizes, you are asked to make a fabric postcard!

You are encourage to use Kristel quote from Serenity, but if that is "not your thing", any other quote or any other design from anywhere else will qualify as an entry!! As long as it's a finished fabric postcard!

You can still link up blocks and projects from the Foundation Paper Piecing, Quilting, Crochet and Pixel Quilt tutorials!!

For rules about what will be accepted in those cases, please refer to this previous post (Tutorial 1), this other post (Tutorial 2), this other post (Tutorial 3) and this other post (Tutorial 4).

This month prize is:

A bundle of little scraps! They are all kind of colors, shapes and cuts! They come from my stash and I have been using them for paper piecing so they have all weird shapes, but they are just perfect for small applique projects like the fabric postcard!

As an added incentive, I will add a new piece of scraps for each project added in the link party from July 1st to August 5th! So the more people link, the bigger the prize could get... no upper limit to the number of scraps in the prize... so get your projects together and link them below!!

I will draw a winner (using random.org) on August 5th between all the new entries in the link party. 

International participants are welcome!!

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An InLinkz Link-up

SYS 2015 - A new prize announced

Earlier this month Kristel shared a cool tutorial for a fun Firefly-themed fabric postcard :).
You can find the tutorial on the SYS2015 page!

Are YOU enjoying this postcard making? What kind of postcards are going to be flying around the country and across the world? Share them below!!

Remember that in this link party only projects belonging to the SYS2015 series should be added 

(I reserve the right to delete any non compliant link). 

This link party will be open all year long and you can add as many finished projects as you want! 

The same link party will be shown on the SYS2015 page.

Each link will give you a chance to win one of the monthly prizes.

This month, in order to be eligible for prizes, you are asked to make a fabric postcard!

You are encourage to use Kristel quote from Serenity, but if that is "not your thing", any other quote or any other design from anywhere else will qualify as an entry!! As long as it's a finished fabric postcard!

You can still link up blocks and projects from the Foundation Paper Piecing, Quilting, Crochet and Pixel Quilt tutorials!!

For rules about what will be accepted in those cases, please refer to this previous post (Tutorial 1), this other post (Tutorial 2), this other post (Tutorial 3) and this other post (Tutorial 4).

This month prize is:

A bundle of little scraps! They are all kind of colors, shapes and cuts! They come from my stash and I have been using them for paper piecing so they have all weird shapes, but they are just perfect for small applique projects like the fabric postcard!

As an added incentive, I will add a new piece of scraps for each project added in the link party from July 1st to August 5th! So the more people link, the bigger the prize could get... no upper limit to the number of scraps in the prize... so get your projects together and link them below!!

I will draw a winner (using random.org) on August 5th between all the new entries in the link party. 

International participants are welcome!!

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An InLinkz Link-up

SYS 2015 - My finished project and other annoucements

Last week Kristel shared a cool tutorial for a fun Firefly-themed fabric postcard :).
You can find the tutorial on the SYS2015 page!

Announcement 1: My project is done! 

I won't use this as a postcard but as a bookmark instead! This is why I picked a more "Firefly" themed fabric for the back (and added a quote from the tv series... click the image to zoom in).

This is my first time EVER trying applique! and wow, it was easier than I thought! It was challenging to handle pieces of fabric that are that skinny... but with a lot of acceptance for imperfections and a little bit of practice, I think I can say that I like this technique.

I also added some micro stippling in the background to make the card more rigid: again, not perfect but it serves its purpose!

Announcement 2:  I received few comments and feedback in the survey and I want to address some of them here for everyone to see!

Issue 1: not linking projects because don't have blogs/facebook/flickr or have issues with the link software 

Answer: PLEASE, just get in touch with me directly via email!!! I can add your links for you, I just need a picture and I can upload it myself or walk you through the problems you are having!! But if you don't get in touch with me, I cannot know! And then everyone will miss the opportunity to see your wonderful piece and be inspired! 

Issue 2: not linking because don't have a camera

Answer: well, I cannot come to your home and take the picture myself ;) however remember that the picture doesn't need to be super-professional... so maybe you have a phone with a camera, that would work too! And again, see the answer before if you don't have access to different online platforms!

Issue 3: not being able to meet the monthly deadline

Answer: you don't have to meet the monthly deadline!!! The link party is open to ALL previous projects ALL YEAR LONG... so as soon as you have a finished project, link it!! The deadline is necessary because I need to draw winners every month so I need to do it on a specific date. But again, as I write in every single post, you can link anything from any previous tutorial.

Issue 4: not being fan of the specific fandom/pattern presented

Answer: while I totally understand this, and completely relate, I designed this series to have a relatively small "time/material commitment" for each project... so even if you are not a great fan of the fandom presented, trying it out could just be useful to practice the technique so it shouldn't be so much of a barrier. Plus almost all tutorials encourage variations and changes, so I find it very hard to believe that you cannot find a way to twist the pattern/technique to suit your personal likes!! Using your imagination and talent is also part of the Stretch Your Skill goals ;)

Issue 5: don't have time

Answer: as soon as I build a time machine, I would be happy to lend it to you ;) well, after I finish all my projects and use it for few other errands ;) I understand this issue, but this is why I try to keep the objects small and fast to make. I think that none of the projects took me more than a couple of nights to complete, and I was not familiar with 90% of the techniques presented... so if I was able to make them, you would be able to make them too!!

Announcement 3: 

How about you? what are YOU making? Let's get the party started!!

Remember that in this link party only projects belonging to the SYS2015 series should be added 

(I reserve the right to delete any non compliant link). 

This link party will be open all year long and you can add as many finished projects as you want! 

The same link party will be shown on the SYS2015 page.

Each link will give you a chance to win one of the monthly prizes.

This month, in order to be eligible for prizes, you are asked to make a fabric postcard!

You are encouraged to use Kristel quote from Serenity, but if that is "not your thing", any other quote or any other design from anywhere else will qualify as an entry!! As long as it's a finished fabric postcard!

You can still link up blocks and projects from the Foundation Paper Piecing, Quilting, Crochet and Pixel Quilt tutorials!!

For rules about what will be accepted in those cases, please refer to this previous post (Tutorial 1), this other post (Tutorial 2), this other post (Tutorial 3) and this other post (Tutorial 4).

This month prize will be announced next week!!

I will draw a winner (using random.org) on August 5th between all the new entries in the link party. 

International participants are welcome!!

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An InLinkz Link-up

SYS 2015 - Tutorial 6, Applique (and flash giveaway)!

Get your sewing machine, ironing board, scissors and thread ready, because here is our next tutorial!

The sixth tutorial of the series is brought you by the amazing Kristel (wipgirl).

This is a super cool fabric postcard, with a quote from the sci-fi movie "Serenity", continuation of the TV series "Firefly"!!

The pdf (links below) contains detailed instructions on how to create that beautiful piece!!

Click here to download Tutorial!

The link up for SYS2015 is still open for your Syndrome blocks, FPP projects, free motion quilting/tangle stitches pieces, crochet projects and pixel quilts!

Next week there will be more details on what to link to win our monthly prizes...

And speaking of prizes...

Three things:

1. There were no new entries since last month, so no winner for Karen's prize :(
2. For the last couple of weeks I asked your opinion on this series (filling out the survey at this link) and I received few comments that I will address next week!
   If you didn't enter your comments, the survey is still open...
3. ** FLASH GIVEAWAY **
   
   To encourage people to make this fun project, Kristel is offering not one, but TWO kits with everything you need to make your own cool postcard!!
   In order to be eligible to win, post a comment below telling me if you are a fan of sci-fi and, if so, which is your favorite series/movie! If you are not a sci-fi fan, you can tell me that too, we won't hold it against you :)
   
   ETA: comments are moderated and they need my approval. So if you don't see your comment immediately don't worry! It may take me few hours to get back to you but I will, promise!!!
   
   I will draw TWO winners on July 4th, 10 a.m. EST.If you are a no-reply blogger and I cannot get in touch with you I will simply draw another winner... so if you are not sure, just leave your email address in the comment!

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All the information about the series (as well as all the previously published tutorials) will be available at the SYS 2015 page.

If you have any question about the series, don't hesitate to contact me via email or add a comment here on my blog (and if you want an answer, make sure you are not a no-reply blogger!).

So now let's go and Stretch Our Skills!!! :)

Until next time
Happy stitching!!