Birthstone privilege

 

Sapphire 

Fabric ball - approx 3"   February 22, 2025 

For Project Quilting 16.4: Birthstone 

The challenge this week is to create something inspired by our personal birthstone. I'm a September baby, so mine is Sapphire. I've been really busy with other (secret) projects,  so I created one of my fabric balls - I've been making these colorful, beaded, embroidered balls as 'in front of the TV' type handwork.  So far I have a whole bowl of them in various sizes. 

For project quilting, I'll say they 'qualify' because they are made of layers,  that are stitched together by hand. 

They start out as socks that are headed for the rag basket, which I stuff with fabric and batting scraps.  

Then I start wrapping with fabric strips (usually selvage edges, rescued from the trash)

The final layer is strips of a single color, as I'm enjoying these as jewels. 

Then I embroider them to hold down the edges of each strip and add beads, buttons and decorative yarns. 

 
Here are a few more, a big green one, and a few small blues: 

  

 

What a privilege to live in a society where we all know our birthstone; where we are not lacking basic food, safety, civil liberties; where the fact of our birth in the USA confers us with citizenship and all that comes with it. Or, like me, because my family arrived 'the right way' or at the right time, I was allowed to become a naturalized citizen.  We are living in a time where citizenship and birthright are being questioned, where some humans and their life experiences count less than others.  Yet, like these fabric balls, its the diversity of fabric and found objects that makes each one unique.  Let's consider the beauty in each unique human who makes it to our shores.  Let's welcome them and find out about them and the culture they have to share.  The current political climate is NOT the way forward, is NOT the makings of the wonderful diverse community that has been and could be the United States of America. 

Let's do better. 

Peace, 

Paula 

Turning 3 common building blocks into Chaos

 

Chaos

 mini quilt  9" x 10"  February 9, 2025 

For Project Quilting 16.3: 3 Common Blocks 

For this week's challenge, we were encouraged to work with 3 common quilt blocks, the foundation of our craft. For example a 9-patch, or an Ohio Star, or Log Cabin, any 3 blocks. However, my mind is full of the chaos in the 3 branches of the US Government in the 3 years weeks since the inauguration of #47.    

I knew about a common block called Courthouse Steps, a log cabin variant, that could represent the judicial system.  Then I did a search for blocks that could represent the executive and legislative branches of government.  Using the very useful treasure that is the Quilter's Cache online source for quilt blocks, I used the alphabetical list to find Road to the Whitehouse and Rotunda.  

I drafted each one so they would be about the same size, and use the same size strips.

 

Then I made the 3 blocks in analogous colors of blue, teal and green:

I thought I would use the method for disappearing 9-patch, which cuts a 9-patch into quarters and creates a new block by rotating the pieces and sewing back together, but after cutting the Rotunda block this way, my possible cuts on the White House block was looking much too controlled.  So I made random diagonal cuts on the White House and Courthouse blocks.  Then randomly sewed them together to get the mini quilt in the top photo. 

Finally, I cut a long 1/2" strip of red, and trimmed the end to look like the tie of #47.  This long red tie is often used in editorial cartoons and other images to represent him. 

Rather than square this up, I trimmed it all at these odd angles, further representing the 'not business as usual' moment we are in.  

What a mess. I'm exhausted by the pace of the disruption in all branches of government, which is the point.  And we haven't seen the worst of it I'm afraid.  Luckily there is some small pushback by some legislators and some judges, but I'm not sure it will hold.  I hope it does. 

Take care of yourself and your family.  Watch out for your vulnerable neighbors. We are going to need each other. 

Peace, 

Paula 

The Elusive Madam President

 

The Elusive Madam President

a mini quilt with applique and embroidery, 7" x 5", Jan 11,2025

For Project Quilting 16.1: Mythical Creatures

For this week's challenge, the theme of Mythical Creatures begs for dragons and unicorns.  However as we approach the inauguration of our 47th president, after an election cycle where it appeared we were finally to have a female president, I have to accept that too many US citizens aren't prepared to elect a woman, regardless of how qualified she is and how Unqualified the opponent is. 

I used this painting by Bria Goeller as inspiration for Kamala Harris: 

as it referred to drawings of the creature Big Foot walking: 

I was ready to welcome a 'Madam President';   to see her inaugurated;  to have a 'First Gentleman' in the White House; to witness a final repudiation of the darkness and ugliness that surrounds the the person who ultimately won the election. But she is, at this time, a mythical creature. 

We'll have to carry on. 

Peace

Paula 

     

Improvisational Curved Piecing - Iron the sh*t out of it

 

Here is a method for creating improve curves that seems like it shouldn't work,  but it does! It uses strips with gentle curves, and lots of ironing, what I call "Iron the sh*t out of it." 

I'll show you how to cut gentle curves and how to insert a piece to either create a pop of color or 'fix' a curve that isn't allowing for your next piece, in both a concave and convex situation. 

I started with these strips and scraps of approx 2" strips: 

Then I randomly cut each strip with a wavy curve:  (notice this is NOT the method of stacking the strips right sides up and cutting the SAME curve.  Each strip has its own curve: 

Select 2 pieces that have roughly similar curves. Notice they don't match up.  Its ok. 

 

Flip one piece over the other, right sides together and line up the TOP of the strips. Start sewing VERY SLOWLY. 

As you stitch DO NOT pull the fabric, but gently reposition so the edges line up. 

Press by pushing the new strip flat.  It will fight you a bit. Use steam or spray as needed. 

You can get it to lay flat.  Especially if it is narrow.  This method is not good for wide strips. 

Notice that the bottom of the purple strip is not connected to the pink all the way to the edge (I did that just to show this can be done)   cut off the 'tail' of the purple, to create a single 'edge' for the next piece. 

The next piece (green) encloses the thin point of purple (line drawn just to show the seam, since these are both dark fabrics) 

In selecting the next piece, note that these two have exactly opposite curves (bellies poking out at each other)  these will NOT go together well.  Select another piece!

This one is better. 

Flip the light green stripe over the dark green and slowly sew that seam. 

In selecting the next piece (the purple) notice the hole I am pointing to (opposite problem of bellies sticking out)  But rather than select another piece, I'm going to solve this by inserting a small section in the space in green stripe. 

I sewed this pink strip into the concave bowl of the green stripe. 

Then after pressing it, I trimmed it into a bump to fit the shape needed for the purple strip next.   Honestly, this bump is too big, but it causes another problem I solved next. 

This is a nice technique for adding a small pop of color in a wavy set of strips. 

This purple strip was NOT going to lay flat.  It might have worked if it was narrower, but I had to cut these 'easing' notches to get it to lie flat when pressing. (If you sew clothing, this is often done on curved seams.) 

Then I cut the purple narrower to remove the notches:

I added a final strip of green and consider this done. 

The final step is to square this piece up, to be used in a project. 

Here are two links to the other way of creating improv curved piecing. They both use the method of stacking fabric, right sides up and cutting the curve at the same time.  This 'guarantees' the strips will fit into each other.   Notice that none of these methods include seam allowance so you will always have size shrinkage.  Work with strips or blocks significantly larger than your finished block. 

Wavy Woven Curved Piecing (strips)  

Free style curved piecing arcs (squares or rectangles) 

The Value of Birds

 

The Value of Birds

a coinpurse shaped like a bird, with velcro closure, approx 4" across

For Project Quilting 15.5:  Wearables

For this week's challenge, we were meant to create something 'wearable', and apparently bags and pouches qualify!  I found a little pattern for this bird wallet to be made by lacing leather together, but I adjusted it for my supplies.  I used fabric and a very stiff fusible interfacing.  There is a button eye and a bit of velcro holding the wing flap down. 

Its lined, and fully functionally as a coin purse:

Birds are a valuable member of our ecosystems all over the world in their capacity as insect eaters, and seed spreaders.  They also provide food for other creatures. Let's take care that our feathered friends don't become further endangered. 

Peace, 

Paula  

Running out of Time

                                        Running out of Time

11.5" x 15",  Quilting cotton, Machine applique, Machine quilted,
Hand embroidered

Completed Feb 26, 2024 for Project Quilting 15.4: Hourglass challenge

Continuing my personal theme of "birds" for this season of Project Quilting, I've done some research on the number of endangered bird species due to climate change and human destruction of bird habitat.  According to the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) 

"There are over 10,000 species of birds on the planet, from the largest hawks and vultures to the smallest finches and hummingbirds. Unfortunately, many of them are on the brink of extinction. As climate change and human activity impacts wildlife around the world, it is important that we work to mitigate threats like deforestation and climate change and protect these endangered birds."

For this project, I created small colorful birds and also black birds representing those species we have already lost.  The birds are fused into the hourglass shape, then embroidered to add details.   I quilted the background before adding the hourglass, which is machine raw-edge appliqued. 

Protecting bluebirds

 

Houses on the lake

9”x6”. Paper pieced, hand embroidered, machine quilted.  Hand dyed cottons

Completed for Project Quilting 15.1 challenge: birdhouse 

On a recent walk around the Orange Reservoir we saw a row of birdhouses facing East, built in the lake  like this:

    A bit of research revealed that local bluebirds are endangered by more aggressive species like swallows and sparrows.  To protect bluebird nests the conservancy built these specifically for bluebirds.  Here is a picture a neighbor compiled showing baby birds in residence.   

After paper piecing these tiny houses (2”).  I added the posts and then quilted it to look like water.  

Finally i embroidered small bluebirds on this small piece  

Peace 

Paula