My Tips n Techniques

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

2013 Challenge Quilt.....Part 4



Auditioning another gray fabric...


This isn't pieced just yet....

the blocks are pinned on top





This is a close up of the 6th gray fabric

 I am auditioning

for the bottom window fabric...





I will leave it up on the design wall for a few days...

It will let me know if it is the right one.




We are in the middle of 

remodeling our master bath:


This cast iron tub was made in 1919

It originally came from the Eugene Hotel 

(Eugene, OR)

It also had several other owners along the way who

added a coat or two of paint to it.




Today we restored it to it's original brilliance:


I think it is happy now!



CLICK HERE to view:  All Challenge Posts


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Saturday, April 20, 2013

2013 Challenge Quilt.....Part 3



I removed all of the lower sill fabric...


I am abandoning this lay out...





I went to town and brought home 

new window fabrics to audition...






This is a Stonehenge Fabric....I love it.....

but it is too dark

I lose the 3D attic window I am trying to create.






This is a medium gray.....

but I think it is too textured...






Another medium gray.....again, too textured...






Another medium gray.....much calmer...

might work...






One last medium gray.....

gives a good 3D appearance.

I will live with it on the design wall for a few days

before I stitch it up.



Lots of activity at the goat barn this Spring:


Mama Goat and Twins





While the mothers are out to pasture...

The babies gang up around one mama.





This kid goat was very curious about my camera.



CLICK HERE to view:  All Challenge Posts


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Friday, April 19, 2013

2013 Challenge Quilt.....Part 2




The tree printed fabric is cut up into squares:


The plan is to turn the blocks into Attic Windows






I measured everything out on graph paper and made

myself a paper block to sew...







The block sewed up perfectly



Time to cut into the real fabrics for the block:



The first block is cut and ready to piece...






19 more blocks to piece...



20 Blocks pieced into the Attic Windows Design:



I am not thrilled with the bottom sill fabric.

It is too light and too textured.

I ripped it all out and am going on a search for a

medium gray fabric that reads more solid.



CLICK HERE to view Challenge Quilt posts




I have a magazine article coming out later this year

featuring my sketch book of quilting designs.

I will let you know when it is published.



CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Jello Printing on Black.....Play Day 2



I decided to explore further with 

jello printing on dark fabrics...




The Thread Shed is all set up for a day of play...






The jello plate is covered with 

white metallic craft paint

and paper horse images...






This is the image printed on black fabric.




 I left the paper horses in place on the jello plate,

painted over them with yellow paint:


Then removed the paper horses...






This is the second horse print on black fabric.



I printed out a bird silhouette on printer paper,

covered the jello with yellow paint,

placed the bird cut out on top of the paint:


This created a dramatic print on black fabric.



I left the bird cut out on the jello plate:


Then covered over it with green paint.

Then removed the bird paper...





This second print has the previous yellow paint on the

bird and the tree.





The cut out paper image did not survive 

when I removed it from the jello plate.






 I enjoy cutting paper.....let's do it again...






I am enjoying the more complex looking prints...






The first print on the left 

is crisper and more dramatic.

The second print on the right 

is more complex in appearance.





I am only able to produce 2 prints...

then the paper silhouette falls apart.









Next time I will print the silhouette images

 on plastic sheets that will last through many, 

many printing sessions.





I had a good day experimenting with black fabric,

but it is time to clean up...













Gunnr enjoys spending time in the Thread Shed:


Especially.....SNACK time!


CLICK HERE to view Play Day 1


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi




Almost....a dozen eggs