Inspired By Many

The second 3 week period 

of working on a UFO is over.

And I have another finish.

You might remember the batik challenge

I wrote about 3 weeks ago. (here)

The members of my quilt group,

Quilt Therapy,

did a fabric exchange where we

each started with a yard of batik and ripped, kept half,

and passed.

Eventually ending up with 

7 different pieces,

7 different amounts of each.

The challenge I gave myself

was to try some of Gwen Marston's liberating tips

and techniques and see what happened.
It seemed only fitting.

I have watched many of you
from afar
working with an improv style
and knew it was time to step out,
just alittle.

I started with a few liberated stars

and kept sewing trying different blocks

until I put everything together in a simple nine patch.

I tried just about everything.

It was quite fun and I

even liked what I had created.

Having ventured out of my norm

I had to continue the same spirit with

the quilting.

Those of you who regularly break the barriers

in quiltmaking,

this may not seem too extraordinary,
but you have been an inspiration to me.

This was actually quite a freeing experience as

small as these baby steps were.

But wait there's more.

I used the "crumbs" for the back.

The edges were finished with a facing

rather than a binding,
another first.

This was a great experience,

trying lots of new techniques and ideas.

"Liberated Spirit"

"Sunflowers"

22 inches

Having been quilt making for over 40 years,
it just goes to prove there's always an opportunity
to try new things and see where it takes you.
Old quilters might be willing to try
new tricks.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Two Less=Progress

Progress only comes
when you take

 one step and then another.

 Slow and steady, just like

these gals in their Mary Jane cross trainers.

The good news is that my
11 yards of orange dino fabric
is all used up and the two dino

quilts have lumbered away
to their new owners.

With these last two quilts I used the
faux piped binding technique.
You can find lots of links
online on how to do it.

 It added visual interest, some texture,
and was completely machine sewn on and sewn down.
A real time saver.

My list of  "17 in 2017" is now
reduced by two projects.
They were "fast to finish" and
perfect for the first 3 week period
 of Meredithe's challenge.
Check it out and join in.


What's up next?

Now I've got a project with a deadline
so there's not much a choice.

Last fall one of my quilt groups
had a challenge, a batik fabric exchange, and the results are
due mid February.

Maybe some of you have done
this fabric exchange before.
It's where you
begin with a yard of fabric,  rip it in half,
keep one of the pieces, pass the other half
to the left and get a different half from the
person on your right.

You keep going until you have this.

Now it's time to do something with all of this.
The rule was to use these fabrics, but
we could add others if we wanted to.

I had been inspired by many of my
blog friends recently to explore
some of Gwen Marston's liberated techniques.
I wanted to try something new (for me) and
see what I could come up with.

This was a big challenge...
stepping out of my normal comfort zone.

I started with a liberated star.

I know some of you are smiling and
thinking, wow, she's really stepping out there.

 It was fun!
I didn't get hung up on how they turned out.
I would definitely do these again,
but I will admit to
being cautious at first.

4.5" finished stars.

Then the holidays came along
and I had to stop.
So that's where I am today.

With a deadline in sight I have
some sewing to do.
Maybe with Ricky Tim's philosophy
of "Passion over Perfection"
 I'll see just how liberated I can be.
Wish me luck!

Until Next Time- 

Kyle