What have I been Doing Since Completing My Book?
Just about a year ago I finished up my Scrap Book of Quilts - 40 quilted pages of projects/techniques I had tried out, memories of life events and my love of quilt history. You can read about that project at: http://quiltpapers.blogspot.com/2023/02/louises-scrap-book-of-quilts.html
There are posts prior and after that show techniques, materials, inspirations and process of making the book.
Then it was on to class preparation for Quilting By the Lake. I signed up to make a quilted coat with Rachel Clark in July 2023. I decided to use the geometric elements that Gustav Klimt used for textures in his paintings. I opted to use straight-line elements, in multiples of 1.5-inches. I went through my stash and picked out my favorite colors. I did purchase some Cherryword solids to compliment my choices - all the rest was stash. Using my Design Sofa, I laid out my selections and started making elements.
The Making of The Elements of Klimt - A Quilted Coat
Armed with all my elements, it was time for the class at QBL with Rachel. We spent the first day or so making our muslin base. By making sure that it fitted properly, it was time to start designing! During the class time, I was able to get the front sections just about completed, and the back started. I would need to make more elements to finish off the back and make the sleeves. At several sew days at the Chenango Bridge Town Hall and a few days at the Broome County Public Library - the pieces were completed. Border and Collar Triangles were next. All was going well, then New Zealand happened.
The New Zealand Kiwi Bird Quilt
In preparation for our trip, I made a batik zip bag to carry my hand sewing project, Hexagon Patchwork Pictures, along with me. I started working on the embroideries in March 2020. They are based on the Priscilla M. Warner book Pictures and Patchwork. You can read about it here: https://kwiltkeyes.blogspot.com/2020/08/my-embroidered-pictures-for-patchwork.html and https://kwiltkeyes.blogspot.com/2020/03/hexagon-quilts-cot-cover-pictures-and.html
I have only one more motif from the book left to do. I created eight additional ones using other illustrations by Priscilla - there will be 48 embroidered pictures in total..
While in New Zealand, I was able to stop at a couple of quilt shops for a few moments: Fox's Cottage Quilting and Wool in Foxton and Annie's Country Quilt Store in Ashburton.
After designing my kiwi pattern, I started making them - 51 in total of various sizes. I added some free-styled leaves into the design to represent the concerted effort New Zealanders make in conserving their native plant and animal species. The birds are surrounded by pathways.
While visiting several kiwi encounters - in the dark since they are nocturnal birds, it took me a long time for my eyes to adjust. I found that if I saw a kiwi at a particular place, they would eventually return along that path and I would get to see them again, rather than looking all over to find them elsewhere.
My Kiwi Quilt top is all pressed and ready for backing and batting. I should be able to pin baste it at at future Sew Day and will machine quilt it on a domestic machine if all goes according to plan.
Cheers, Louise
