Virtual Retreat 2017

[Nancy R.]

This thread is behaving oddly, so will see if I can reply.....it says I"m on the last page, but posts are from March, and I know yesterday it was still showing me much more recent posts.

Well, in case anyone is able to see this, here's what I've been up to, though maybe since it's what's kept me from finishing my Rows, I should put it over there.....

First, the explanation....six years ago I started quilting while living in Brazil; we'd been in Brazil about 3 years at that time. Before I'd even finished my first projects, I was designing the next ones, and one that came to me during that time was this quilt. This quilt pays homage to Brazil, and the idea literally came to me fully formed, an image of the final quilt, and I sketched it out on paper as best I could. It was this drawing that my stepmom saw and decided I needed to have EQ7 software for my future designs, LOL! Actually, I just realized, this is the first quilt I "designed" on my own, even though it took me 6 yrs to acquire the skills and techniques needed to create it.

The central motif is a flower motif popular in the sidewalks in Brazil, at least in our area, with the side border being the *very* popular wave motif that is seen along Copacabana beach in Rio, and is used on tiles, jewelry boxes, fabric, etc. throughout Brazil (and repeated in sidewalks all over the country), and the bird is also a repeated/often seen motif. The dividing diagonal is to reflect that the left side is the sidewalks, the urban beauty of the country; the right side is where nature springs to life, the inspirations behind the sidewalk motifs. Brilliant flowers, the blue sparrow, the waves & sand of the many beaches.

I don't know how well it shows in the photo, but the left side has quilted into it (and then painted with a translucent wash of Lumiere paints) a city map of my neighborhood in Brazil, with the route marked from my apartment to the little market, and several other frequented buildings/places etched in. The Brazil map on the right has marked a trail of our travels and places we visited. Not every single city, but the big ones. That also was all quilted first then a bit of paint applied as shading/highlights.

The whole thing is pieced from hexagons (that were first pieced from house shapes, using Gyleen Fitzgerald's polygon 3 tool, and some of those were pieced from strips to cut the shape to give the brick & mortar appearance in the sidewalk side); the appliques were all first "made fabric" from the hexagons, then the shapes cut out & fused to a foundation and then appliqued on or, in the case of the wave borders, the foundation was pieced to the body of the quilt. The flower petals are machine raw edge appliqued.

The whole thing is ditch quilted, the applique's outlined, then various decorative quilting over that, different things in each area. It is not perfect by any stretch, but it is by far my personal best so far, and looks exactly how I've pictured it in my head the last six years. I went ahead and submitted it into a show, time will tell if it gets accepted or not. I'm just pleased to have it done.

Full photo, close-up of Brazil map showing the quilting and shading, close up of the city map showing my route for my daily walks.

[Ellen L.]

Quilts are beautiful!!

[Ellen L.]

Heather, your quilt is wonderful. I think that sometimes it's a quilt in my head that just HAS to get made that doesn't side track us, as much as it just says, It's my time NOW. I have a few of those floating around in the cranium that keep surfacing.
I love your 'map of the neighborhood'. That is something I'd like to try in a project that's waiting to happen.
Thanks for all the info about it. Sometimes it's hearing the 'story' behind the quilt that puts it into our hearts.
Have a wonderful weekend
Luann
In order to see your post, I did have to log in AGAIN, and click on reply to topic, then I can read down the thread.

[Ellen L.]

I've been busy sewing up some small charity lap quilts. 3 tops done, and the last one is an improv with the left overs. I need to add more to get it to the size requested.

Did an ice-dyeing play day with a friend. I love the one with the little white squares that were achieved from the clothes pins.

On the following day, I just had to have another go at it with those colors Pam chose to use.

And I've been preparing boxes and book covers for another 'play day' with some fiber lovin' friends. These have the inside pages removed, and gesso is applied so we will have a good surface to attach things to. Or,, what ever we come up with,, too many ideas for one mind to hold. I'll try to get something up on my blog when we have pictures of the process and perhaps some 'finished' ones too.
But for now, while waiting for the day to arrive, I've felted a vessel from wool. This was exceptionally therapeutic and calming to do.


Well, this post has been long enough to keep you entertained and let you finish that cup of coffee or tea before getting back to YOUR creative adventures.
Luann

[Eileen K.]

Heather, I've got my account set up to receive emails whenever anyone posts, so I can see your quilt. It is fabulous! Brazil is on my bucket list for sure! Do you or your hubs work for the State Dept? I was away from TQS for a long time, and only recently returned, so I don't know a lot of people.
I think you're doing excellent work that is coming from your heart.

[Eileen K.]

Luann, your boxes are great! I wish my brain worked like that. I have a friend that we all call the "Martha Stewart of the Dollar Store". She comes up with stuff like this all the time. Can you post your blog link? I'd love to follow it.

[Eileen K.]

My blog link for anyone interested:
www.letscreatetoday.blogspot.com
Have a peace filled weekend,
Luann

[Geneva C.]

I'm so confused! :woohoo:

I can't see all the posts. But what I can see is wonderful! Great work LuAnn. You've been busy!

I've been working on this. Maybe I already showed it you! I'm quilting it now. It's called "Straight to the Heart."



Heather I can't see your quilt but I know it's wonderful!

Have a peaceful weekend.

Hugs, geneva

[Eileen K.]

Thanks, Luann!

[Eileen K.]

Thank you, everyone, for the kind words on my quilt I am insanely proud of it, and showed it off at my LQS last night at our monthly "sew in" where they've watched it grow from odd little shapes, to bits & pieces waiting to be put together, to the final version, so that was fun.

Geneva, your Straight to the Heart quilt is beautiful! Very lovely, and very well done.

Luann, love your ice dying. A good friend of mine does that too and it amazes me. And your charity quilts are darling! Can't wait to see what the boxes become.

Hope it's a lovely weekend, everyone. I'm working on my rows again so my last few people should have them soon.

[wendy w.]

Yeh we're working again. We can catch up on stuff. Nice work Heather, Luann and Geneva. It feels good to be able to chat again

[wendy w.]

Thank you TQS technical people

[wendy w.]

Forum's really quick today. :cheer: :silly: :side: :cheer:

[Geneva C.]

Well, I finished my quilt "Straight to the Heart". It was a fun little quilt to make. It didn't turn out at all like I imagined, though partway through I couldn't imagine it anymore. Does that make sense? I made another bowl yesterday. They sure are fun.

I'm finding the upside down-ness of the posts confusing, but I'm not giving up on you all! I'd miss you too much!

Take care, Geneva

[E.M. T.]

Very cute quilt ! I love your creative ways ! I don't do well with that !! AND.... I'm with you about
this upside down thing !! All wrong to me.....but I will persevere !!