You thought I was Crazy!

I received quite a few "boy you are gutsy" comments after my last post where I talked about painting on my finished quilt. They all made me smile, and think, "yup", they get me completely. I'm if nothing else, gutsy. More appropriately, I may be crazy. Seriously, I spent however many hours (let's just guess 50) piecing the quilt. Then another 50-60 to quilt the quilt. And then this crazy woman comes at it with a paint brush and the knowledge that this will be permanent, like it or not. I had a vision. I tested the paints on a sample piece of purple, and I had my own self-faith that it would work.
OK, the verdict is in. I do like it. No, I love it! It is the effect I was going after. The purple stripe is too wide (5-6") o just stand alone and although the scrolly-vinework quilting is pretty in gold thread, it probably did not show up from more than 6 feet away. My sincere appologies on not showing the entire quilt. It is here unquilted if you'd like a look. I want to keep it under the cloak of secrecy until it travels to MQX in April.

In my absolute avoidance to work on a couple of client obligations, I have made good progress on both of my quilts this week, despite having all 3 wild things home from school yesterday on account of snow. On Tuesday, I had the reconcilliation that I really di not like the binding on this next quilt. Remember it?...it was tan. The tan Kona was too thick for a double fold binding, and looked bulky. It also showed ever little waver on the front and the back. I love the look of the binding matching the outer color of the quilt, but it just had to be different this time. I ripped the binding off completely (about 5 hours of work). In most places, it was stitched 2-3 times because to trying to get it right next to the piping. Yikes. On Wednesday morning, I went to Mardens and got a half yard of 3 options - med green, deep green and more tan (single fold ???). In the end, I did a binding on bias in the dark green. Why do I always forget how wonderful bias bindings are?? They are so soft to sew on, and it is way smoother than an on-grain binding. It's done and it looks much better than before. Plus, I think I like it better too. Win-win.

Many people hav emailed about the Judy Mathieson quilt I posted last month, and where to get the pattern. I have a book of her's from the library called Mariner's Compass Quilts, and it has the central medallion (Costa Rica Cartwheel) and several other stars as well. I would assume that the checkerboard design is in one of her other books (how to draft it that is). Happy hunting and sewing.

Past the point of no return

Part of me is still very unsure what on Earth I have done. I thought I knew what I was doing. I thought I was certain that this section of vinework (in the purple) needed a punch. It needed emphasizing, somehow, some way. I tested out gold gel pens, gold pencils, and then gold paint. On my sample purple fabric, the paint looked just as I envisioned. It would be tedious, but the floral vines would stand out in gold as I want them to.
So, last weekend, while the quilt was still on the blocking boards (albeit fully dry), I started painting. I have never painted on a quilt, but I am wise enough to have done lots of research in recent months about how to do it in order to make it permanent. Yes, permanent. Now that it is started, part of me thinks it will be ok...thinks that I can eventually give these leaves and flowers enough subtle shading to look more natural. Oh really??? (that's my sane and usually wiser alter ego). It's bold, alright. I am not certain that the gold vines completely meld with the style of the quilt, but hey - all I can do now is make them look good and pretend that they were supposed to be there!!

If you are curious to laugh at my end result, this quilt will be at MQX in April.