'My Complements' to You and Other Abstractions...

What started as an exercise to compare pairs of complementary colours (those opposite each other on the colour wheel) and the impact of varying amounts of each colour became a small wall quilt which I'm really happy with. 

The impetus to get it finished was the South Coast and Country Quilters' Guild show which I had entered it in - so, for once a deadline......

Pairs of complementary colours from my earlier hand dyed fabric.

I quilted it using straight lines  a quarter of an inch apart. I had considered straight line quilting but after watching a Craftsy class with Jacquie Gering (Quilting with a Walking Foot) the idea was confirmed, ultimately creating a modern look I think.

The back was cobbled together with some of the less successful fabrics - but they seemed to work - and a hanging sleeve as required........

 This small piece was my entry into the challenge for the same show - 'I See Red'
Another small abstract pieced together as I went along until it felt balanced.

I then quilted it with another of Jacquie Gering's straight line techniques using two focal points, which again I was very happy with.

I couldn't get to the show but was pleased I made the effort to enter. It was a good mental shift from the renovation and other life events tossed into the mix.

Sue xxxx

Time for Cogitations

I managed to cobble this together this afternoon - and I mean cobble.....I could say in the spirit of the improvisational technique I was using. Would you believe me if I did?

After being reminded to look at it in black and white .......(thanks CC)

I decided just to put my foot to the pedal and go for it.......

For now it will have to sit quietly on the design wall and cogitate on how it woud like to be quilted because I will be here for a couple of weeks.......

....................on this ...............

(Not mine - good friends with boat....)

I will be cogitating, too - as long as the seas are kind. It may be a different story - time will tell.........

Sue xxxx

When More is Less and Less is More

When is more, less and less, more? Let me explain the latest changes and the 'how' and 'why'......

There is LESS stuff in my sewing room after our trip to Melbourne. We managed to cram our car full of daughter's stuff and redeploy it at her new abode. Gone is 'Samantha' (the dressmaker's dummy) and a large box or two from under my sewing table. Gone are some boxes from the wardrobe which has freed up MORE storage space for me to pack away my machine bags and covers.......

I found a small bookcase in our storage area (I'm not exactly sure who it belonged to but since no-one has been looking for it - for years - I figured it was mine - until someone claims it....)

I have my quilting books right next to my machine now and the good news is there is plenty of room for MORE books - should they happen to turn up in the mail someday......

And with a bit LESS clutter I can see MORE of my design wall as well.

I can once again sit on the couch which was drowning in books, projects and fabric that had nowhere to live.

 All my technique and reference books can now be accommodated on the original bookshelf with spaces to squeeze a few MORE in here and there........should that become necessary........

All in all a good day's work!

Back on the design wall that I can now see so much MORE of (including all the stray threads) is a small experimental and improvisational piece practising using complementary colours (ie those opposite each other on the colour wheel). It was also an excuse to use the 12 step colour gradation I dyed earlier in the year. The idea was to see the effect of using pairs of complementary colours in reverse proportions and study the effect.

(Very) Rough sketch with Inktense pencils

 So now we come to layout - and this has been the stumbling block.

This was the original idea based on the reasoning for the project.

                                                                       OR???

Any comment / opinions gratefully received - though probably I should just dive in and stitch it up in the spirit of the original intention......... 

AND, I dusted, too! (Earlier pics here).

Sue xxxx

(I've also finally worked out how to link back to previous posts. You might like to test it out for me.)