Tag: design process

Posted in drawing, quilting

Progress on latest quilt

Posted on by Laura Kate

Almost two weeks ago, I started work on a baby quilt that will be a gift for my niece who lives in Oregon. Her baby is due in August.

I have no title for this project, so for now I will call it the Oregon Baby quilt. In my first project post, I shared sketches under consideration as subject matter. They focus on animals and plants native to Oregon. This week I added two more:

Painted Turtle
Oregon Swallowtail

Having received a lovely bundle of fabrics from Connecting Threads, I have proceeded to cutting and sewing. Here are a couple of images of strips. They are not cut precisely, but range from 1 1/4 to 2 inches in width.

After cutting, I shoved the strips into four baggies: Solids, lights, mediums and darks. My plan is to alternate the strips, not so much by color as by value. Forging ahead, I completed the first block, which is assembled from four strip-pieced squares.

The solid 2 inch strips (In this block, the pink strips) will be placed consistently at the widest point on each square. I chose a brightly colored floral fabric to act as a mini focus point for the block. These two elements should serve to unify the multitude of fabrics that will be used in this quilt.

Moving on to the first feature block: I chose the rufous hummingbird. After making a pattern from my sketch onto tracing paper, I cut out the parts to be appliqued and fused them in place onto background fabric.

Eventually, shading and details will be painted on, the applique edges will be machine stitched and hand embroidery will create finishing touches. That’s secret code for I don’t know for sure what I will do next.

For now, I am waiting to receive more Jacquard Textile paint.

I’m so relieved that I’m back into action at my new address.

What are you working on this month?

Posted in drawing, quilting

Finally Friday: A New Project

Posted on by Laura Kate

During the past week I had correspondence with my niece who is expecting a child in August. I offered to make her a crib quilt, and she happily accepted my offer.

Suddenly my creativity was rekindled.

The stirrings of this project began a week or so earlier when I checked out Carolyn Forster’s book, String Quilts, from my local library.

While I am familiar with this construction technique (It is one I taught to fiber arts students in 2019) Carolyn had some excellent advice and also examples of variations that helped me to envision a baby quilt.

My niece kindly sent me an image of her nursery palette.

At this point, I graphed a design. There will be five rows of four 10 inch blocks, framed by a 4-inch solid border

I must have been channeling those days when my granddaughter was expected and I was knitting like a crazy woman. Just as then, I decided on a theme of baby animals. The animals will appear on the background color blocks. They will be made using a combination of applique, paint and embroidery. Suddenly I felt a strong desire to collaborate with Amanda, my granddaughter’s mother and also a talented fiber artist.

She was thrilled to be asked. We will need ten feature blocks. The two of us will share in designing and making these.

Yesterday and today I spent an hour or two happily sketching creatures that would fit nicely into the diamond shaped picture frame of our solid blocks.

Rufous Hummingbird
Baby Red Fox
Red Dragonfly
Baby Raccoons

This is just an audition. There is much work to be done before we cast all the roles.

I have also done a fabric pull and begun cutting blocks and strips. Once the fabric I ordered from Connecting Threads arrives, I can start piecing.

Posted in quilting

SAHRR 2025 Round 2: Japanese style quilt

Posted on by Laura Kate

Before I show my work for this round, I want to share a source for Japanese quilting and sewing supplies.

A few years ago, I was interested in learning about sashiko stitching. When it became clear that the necessary supplies and materials for this craft were not available anywhere in my quad-state area, I turn to Etsy and found kimonomomo. Returning to the site this year, I discovered that she carried hundreds of Japanese fabrics which are available in small amounts – fat eights, fat quarters, etc. I chose eight different fabrics which are presently winging their way to me – should arrive on February 3rd. I can’t wait to get my hands on them.

During my preparation of round two, it became very clear that I didn’t have enough fabric to complete the quilt. So in addition to the Japanese fabrics I ordered from Etsy, I bought three cotton solid colors from Hobby Lobby.

Since the color gold is quite prominent in my center paneI, I chose it as a unifying color that would help marry together the different block patterns.

Now on to Round Two: Turning to the Susan Briscoe’s quilt block directory, I discovered two layouts that feature half-square triangles (aka HST.)

Uroko (scales) is an all-over pattern of the HSTs. Yosegi (check frame) features it as a center square. I decide to make two blocks of each.

Starting with Uroko, I quickly sewed, pressed and trimmed all the little HSTs and then cut out the gold fabric for the setting triangles. Sewing together the first block, it was clearly too small. I removed the gold setting triangles, re-cut each piece 1/4 of an inch larger, and tried again. It measured out perfectly.

Turning to Yosegi, I had much less difficulty. The center HST was edged by four strip pieced squares and cornered by four nine-patch blocks. Easy peasy.

And here is my project at the end of Round Two.

I’m so glad I didn’t start sewing the rows together yet. When I added my newest blocks, it was obvious that I needed to change the layout. Alternating the blocks of Round One with Round Two blocks makes for a more pleasing design, IMHO.

To see the other participants’ round 2 blocks, visit Anja @  Anja Quilts

And here is the line-up for the rest of Stay at Home Round Robin 2025

Posted in quilting

Fabric Strips Saga: Chapter Three

Posted on by Laura Kate

My obsession with strips continues. First, let me share an image of the pieced abstract landscape that I have been working on most recently.

The work at this stage looks about as I expected, although I feel kind of let down by it. I’m also stumped as to how I will proceed with the surface embellishments and quilting. As I ponder, I have laid it aside.

Leftover strips are hanging out, and they keep drawing my attention. I started noodling around with them, cutting and sewing together. Since I had used the 1- and 1/4-inch-wide strips for the landscape art quilt, I wondered what else I could do with this size. Pulling out some 2 and 1/2 inch scraps, I start sewing strips together, again.

Well geez, first I need a little bit of structure to this game. How about a palette? I decide to try analogous colors. Pulling out my color wheel, I spun it around to show that teal blue color in the center, surrounded by its four closest relatives.

Now I am really in my comfort zone. My stash contains many scraps in this range, leftovers from some favorite projects.

If I sew two thin strips on either side of a 2 1/2 inch precut, then cut that piece down to four inches, I get a nice-looking square block. I decided to stick to monochromatic fabrics for each. Here are some examples.

Combining four of these gives me a seven and 1/2 inch square.

What if I sew four of these together?

Hm. To me it looks too busy while also looking kind of boring. I can do better.

How about inserting some sashing? I have a longing to try dark background fabric with this palette.

Now we’re talking. But to get more negative space into the picture, I could put the blocks on point and space them out with a background block.

Ah, the drama it beginning to happen. I sit down with graph paper and plot out a lap sized quilt using this on-point configuration.

This could be wonderful. Perhaps I can create focal points in the dark blocks by inserting some bits of hand-painted fabric. Something like this leaf, which is left over from my very first quilt.

Gosh I feel better. Going from a vague notion to a planned design is so satisfying. Even though I had no intention of sewing up another lap quilt, I’m ready to go. The trick will be to buy as little fabric as possible and still get the look I want. I’m up for that challenge as well.

Posted in painting

Admirable Weeds

Posted on by Laura Kate

My inspiration for this painting happened during a camping trip to Kansas in late March. At the site, I noticed a dozen or so Red Admiral butterflies floating around an open area near some trees. After following them around for awhile, I realized that they were taking nectar from two weedy non-native plants: henbit and dandelions. My thoughts went something like this: Those two plants are disdained by gardeners and the general public. Yet one of our most beautiful native butterflies found them attractive. There is something to be valued here that I wish to explore.

The henbit was lush and blooming profusely.

I grabbed another photo in my backyard, which I used to create my drawing.

For the butterfly reference, I went to Unsplash.com for this lovely by Don Coombez.

https://unsplash.com/photos/a-butterfly-sitting-on-top-of-a-metal-pole-PLyR1XIwcsU

Reference in hand, I started work, first by testing colors in my sketchbook.

Next came a pencil sketch which was transferred to Arches cold press paper.

Stages of the painting:

Masking fluid applied and Initial wash laid down.

First round of colors dropped in.

Foreground painted and additional layers added.

Masking fluid removed, some shadows and details painted in.

Finished up by adding highlights and cast shadows.

I’m relieved to have finished. These complex organic scenes are still very difficult for me. And while I can’t say I love every bit of my painting, I did achieve my objective.