Done with the Ladybug Quilt

Here is the finished front. I love how the pattern turned out and the mix of fabrics I hope Eric and Kalya like it. It is funny how all of the quilts have been so different even the two that were from the same pattern had their own personality's. This quilt was more meditative to make because it involved so much repetition with the stair pattern. I would like to try this quilt again but using really modern prints and see how that changes it. By the time I am done with my last quilt I am going to have a lot of scrap fabric to play around with.....then what?!

For the back of the quilt I choose one of the floral prints instead of the white that was recommended. I love this fabric and hope to use it again in the future. You can see the stair pattern that is created by the stitch in the ditch technique. Below is a close up.

It is always fun to send away a quilt and wait to hear back from the recipient, hopefully they will get it in the next few days. In the meantime I have been pre-washing the fabric for the next quilt and cleaning my studio. I snuck to the fabric store the other day to get ready for Cara's quilt or I should say Callia's quilt which is the last one in my project.

Creative Mom

p.s. I am writing this listening to the sweet noises of Lily playing in the next room humming and talking to herself : )

Stitch in the Ditch

I have finished the quilting and it's such a contrast from my last bit of quilting which was a struggle. This quilt called for the stitch in the ditch technique. If you are not a quilter this is when you sew along the seam of the piecing to hide your quilting. It is also used as an easy pattern for the quilt by just following all the lines created by the seams. For my first time I think it went well. When I was sewing along the seam in the right spot everything feels smooth and then I would go over the seam a little and the tension changes. Here is a close up and you can see where I get off track a little.

I have learned first through knitting and now quilting that I am not a perfectionist when it comes to some things. Now give me a gift to wrap, a drawer to organize, or tile to lay and I wont stop until it's perfect but when it comes to my quilting I can handle my stitching crossing over the seam a little. I think this imperfection is a little sign I made this quilt. My techniques will improve over the years so I might have fewer mistakes but I think there will always be something that will stand out a little and tell me I was learning or trying something new.

Creative Mom

Quilting

I selected one of the patterned fabrics from the front of the quilt for my backing and made my fabric sandwich, now I am happy to be quilting again! This has been my first time doing the stitch in the ditch technique and it has been so fun and fast.

Lots going on at home with my auction volunteer work starting and a do it yourself laundry room remodel happening but I am getting in the studio almost every day. More on quilting tomorrow.

French Knots

I found a great little tutorial on the French Knot and now my ladybugs have eyes. It's amazing how disturbing a group of little eyeless ladybugs can be, my kids really didn't like them.

This is just a section of the quilt but it gives you an idea of how the little guys are placed on the "stairs".

Tonight I was ready to make my quilt sandwich and surprise my backing fabric was too small. Very disappointing but I have been concerned with the pattern calling for a white fabric and felt that might not be the right choice for a baby quilt. If the backing is a color or patterned fabric it will just show less dirt. I believe you should use quilts and hopefully someday they will be soft little reminders of your childhood that have been loved.

Creative Mom

Ladybugs

I am embroidering my heart out. Lady bugs all over the place, it's very relaxing but I am still a little slow. Here are 2 more of the little guys. Notice they don't have eyes. I am still not happy with my attempts at french knots so I need to look at some videos online to figure out what I am doing wrong. When I am done I will do all the eyes at once.

Ed helped with some tricks from his animation experience to give the ladybugs more versatility.I have maybe three more to do and then I can start with the quilting.

Something that has been on my mind lately is where is the drawing and painting part of all this going to fit in? I have been doing some work in my sketchbook but feel it's time to do some larger pieces. Then I find it hard to make the time to draw when I feel the need to finish a quilt because of my own deadlines. The quilting and blogging is still really fun but I have felt guilty that the fine art piece hasn't developed more which is something I really want to happen. This is the conundrum I am working on...

Creative Mom