Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Science and Art.......Together




For everyone who sews for the AAQI, I know you do so because you care deeply about finding a cure for Alzheimer's. Let me assure you that what you do matters. Every single stitch counts. Your art touches people in a most special way. Just look at the faces of the people below holding the quilts you made!


University of Michigan
Research Team
with Ami Simms

It is unusual for researchers and those who fund them to ever meet. AAQI volunteers have had this opportunity three times. It is an extremely rewarding experience.


CLICK HERE: Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative


CLICK HERE to view My Quilts


CLICK HERE: From Heartbreak to Hope Video

CLICK HERE: Sparrow - Inktense Portrait on Fabric

CLICK HERE: Purple Name Quilt on The Quilt Show


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn Kessi

Friday, December 16, 2011

Corded Edge Treatment...


I am always looking for new edge treatments 

for my art quilts.


For the last year I have been using a cord bound edge 

treatment for most of my portrait quilts.




Cord Bound Edge Treatment



CLICK HERE to view MY TUTORIAL



I hope this adds a new technique to your 

Quilter's Tool Box.



CLICK HERE to view My Quilts

CLICK HERE to view my Portrait Quilts

CLICK HERE to view my Art Quilts

CLICK HERE to view my Woven Quilts



May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn

Monday, December 12, 2011

Challenge Quilt.....Slideshow



Today is the BIG Reveal
for our 2012 Challenge Quilts...



Nature Walk
60 x 60 inches


You can follow along as I create
Nature Walk
by clicking on the slideshow below:



Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox


Many Thanks to Patsy Thompson for all her Quilting Inspiration over the years!


This quilt would not be complete without the Hand Dyed border fabric created by Vicki Welsh!



CLICK HERE to view My Quilts


CLICK HERE to view: 2010 Challenge Quilt

CLICK HERE to view: Woven Sunshine Quilt

CLICK HERE to view: Sunflowers Quilt

CLICK HERE: Featured Quilter Article

CLICK HERE: Harlan Valley Quilters Blog


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Portrait Class......Sign Up Now!


I stopped in at
JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop last week...


sample quilts are now on display!


Only 6 weeks until Portrait Class...

Saturday, January 21, 2012




This is a BEGINNER level class offering...

Yes, YOU can create a portrait in fabric
and I will show you how.





You will create a 19 x 13 inch portrait of a loved one or favorite pet
from your personal photos.

I also have images of animals and flowers and birds you
can choose from.

Sign up at JLC....
Send me your photo so that I can alter the image in photoshop
and prepare it on fabric for you.


CLICK HERE to view My Quilts

CLICK HERE to watch me create the Zinnia quilt.

CLICK HERE to watch me create Gunnr 1 quilt.

CLICK HERE for more class details


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Portraits,
LuAnn Kessi

Sunday, December 4, 2011

More Microwave Dyeing...


I finished up the last of the microwave dyeing...

If you are on my Christmas list
don't look at the photos below:



Unders for the dudes in the family...





Most of the guys like the long leg style...





My boys saw the undies I dyed for the girls last week,
and wanted in on some of the dyeing action!





Now all of the guys in the family will have dyed unders
in their stockings at Christmas.





Sox for the guys too!





Here are the undies I dyed for the girls last week...










Sox for the girls...





Christmas will be colorful...



I saved the best for last:


Bamboo Sox





These take the dye beautifully...





The bamboo is oh, so soft....and yummy!





A few of these will find their way into my dresser!


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


CLICK HERE to view: Microwave Dyeing Slideshow

CLICK HERE to view: Microwave Dyeing Play Day

CLICK HERE to view: Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes

CLICK HERE to view: Bamboo Socks


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Dye,
LuAnn

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Today....


Today......it's a gift




How do you plan to spend your day...


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn Kessi

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Surface Design....Discharge Play Day


I spent the day experimenting with various
discharging products

To see how the day went,
check out the slideshow below:


Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
Customize a digital slideshow


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


CLICK HERE to view Fabric Dyeing Play Day

CLICK HERE to view Soy Wax Play Day

CLICK HERE to view Thermofax Play Day


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Challenge Quilt......Detail View


Here are a few detail images of my
2011 HVQ Challenge Quilt



The Challenge Theme for 2011 is...
Seasons





The season I chose is...
Summer








I enjoy creating sun printed fabrics in the summer





All of the botanicals used in this quilt were collected
while walking up in the timber with my favorite guy.





Leaves collected from an Alder Tree





Maple Leaves





Ferns





I have decided to name this quilt...
Nature Walk



This is all I can show you for now...

The 2011 Challenge Quilt BIG REVEAL
is December 12, 2011.

I will post full quilt images after the quilts are revealed.

Thanks for following along.....this was a FUN quilt!


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to view ALL Challenge Quilt posts

CLICK HERE to view Sun Printing

CLICK HERE to view Rust Dyeing

P.S.
I am learning more every day about my new Sweet Sixteen. Long arms are nothing like a conventional sewing machine. They require almost NO bobbin tension compared to my Bernina. That has been the biggest adjustment for me. I have recently learned that a TOWA Bobbin Gauge is a necessity to achieve accurate tension, so I have just ordered one.
With the Sweet Sixteen I have so much room to move the quilt around, that I can concentrate on my quilting instead of manipulating the quilt under the harp of the machine. Yes, I like my new sit-down machine very much, especially the little touch screen on the front.



CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 2

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 3

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 4

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 5

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 6


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of FUN,
LuAnn

Monday, November 14, 2011

Challenge Quilt......Binding


I can't resist a stripe...



I will cut this fabric on a 45 degree angle for the binding






2 inch binding strips cut and ready to piece together






The binding strips are pressed and ready to go...





I feel like I am coming down the Home Stretch
with the challenge quilt...






At this point...


I am ready to find a cozy chair and hand stitch the binding
to the back side.


Why do I keep my binding in a coffee can?


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 2

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 3

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 4

CLICK HERE to view: Challenge Quilt Part 5


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn