Another 12"x12" exchange

Tommy once again asked if we wanted to participate in a 12"x12" finished block exchange.  Of course, I said yes!  I do enjoy these exchanges.  You can make each block the same or different for your group.  I only needed to make three to give away and one for myself.  Back in June, I  showed a stenciled tree block, which was my sample block and the one I'll keep for this exchange.  You can see that post here.

These are the three that I've mailed on to the other ladies in my group.

I started off with a tree stencil using fabric paint on black fabric.

Next, I cut circles out of ultra suede and fused to the bottom of the block.  I sandwiched the piece and then added some machine embroidery around each suede square.  I also hand stitched black Perle cotton around the inside of the circle.

I  free motion quilted in between the three suede squares and  added a ring of black beads around the center circle.

  I wanted to add some stab/hand stitching so I picked up some 20 wt crochet thread (my friend Susan uses this thread for hand quilting!) in a shocking pink.

I  free motion quilted the entire tree to give some stability to the block before I did the stab stitching.

I fused a backing to the piece and added a label.  A black binding was added then I finished the piece by using the same 20 wt crochet thread for the buttonhole stitching around the top edge on one side.

These were fun to make and gave me some hand work to do while watching TV at night!  I'm looking forward to receiving my blocks from the ladies.  I have Tommy's block she sent last week but I'll hold off until I receive all blocks and show at once.

Another standstill.... :(

After Ron left on Sunday, I prepped dinner, started laundry and then went into my little studio to play.  I took a piece of a deconstructed screen print I had made while in Florida.  When we got home in May, I did rubbings from one of my hand carved stamps and NeoColor 1 pastels...I really like the colors and had visions of what I could do to enhance the piece.

 I copied from one of the Dover books a leaf and printed onto to tracing paper.  I  added a 2 1/2" strip of green batik I had in my stash on the right side, which you can't see there!  Then I spray basted the the piece onto some batting.

I free motion stitched over the transfer paper...which does make it easy...but not so easy to remove the paper.  I used this same technique when creating the leaves on my table runner (see my last post) but it was more difficult, for some reason, to remove the paper today.  May have been due to the fact i spray basted the paper onto the fabric.  I don't think I did that last time...think I just used pins.   That dark area you see on the first leaf is the printed tracing paper.  I had already removed a good portion of the print.  And now you can see the green batik I added on the right side!

This is the back after I quilted the leaves..

And stitching a 99% of the paper removed!  HA

So then I decided I would do some hand embroidery...well, so much for that.  I barely got through on this leaf and had to quit.  My wrist won't take the motion!  So interesting what I can and can't do..even with the injection.  The free motion quilting didn't bother me at all..other than my back, which always hurts when I sew!  HA

So now to decide how to quilt this piece.  It's only 13" x 14" or so...just wanted to play....but guess I need to just play with the dogs or come up with another way to keep myself entertained!  Yes, Betty Davis, you were right...getting old isn't for sissy's!

Today I'm off to the Osteoporosis Clinic!  Who knew there was even such a thing!  Dr. said I'm in great shape for a 70 year old but my bones are like a 90 year old!  So....previous meds didn't agree with me so now she's sending me to this clinic.  Should be interesting and we shall see!!!

12 x 12s!

I posted in August the 12x12's I made as part of Tommy's 2016 exchange for this year.  You can see how I created mine  here.

I've received all three 12x12's from Tommy, Carol and Marybeth and wanted to share those today!  They are all so cool!   And I apologize for the quilts not looking square.  Trust me..each one is 12" x 12" and perfectly square!

Here they are in the order I received them!

First up is Tommy's square.  She screen printed the color in the piece. Cool isn't it! 

So 'Tommy like'!

Detail Work

Next up is Carol's square.  Carol is from California

You all know how much I love black and white in a quilt!  And the added color in this piece is so cool!  Note how Carol ran the threads off the circle!  

Next is Marybeth's square.  Marybeth is from Wyoming

I think Marybeth's piece looks like a modern day crazy quilt!  Love the colors too!

Marybeth used so many different stitches, fabric and even beads!  

And this is the square I kept for myself.  I do have a book that I'm keeping all my 12x12 quilts in.  I enjoy looking at them from time to time.  

My square was made using SolarFast to create the leaves from a negative.

And no beads!  HA  Just lots of hand stitching and free motion quilting!

I am very happy with this exchange, as I have been in past exchanges!  It's always fun to see someones style and just a surprise to receive a quilt or two or three! 

12"x12" exchange

Tommy had another 12" x 12" exchange and fortunately I started on these before my hands/wrists got really bad!    These yearly exchanges are fun to be part of and I have some  nice 12"x12" squares for my collection from past years.  You can see those here:  2013, and 2014. 

 I created these pieces using Solar Fast paint and a negative that I printed onto transparency paper.  I've done several posts on using Solar Fast and this is the negative I used to print onto a piece of fabric for each block.

Each piece of fabric  was painted using a different color Solar Fast paint then  the transparency is laid on top, held down with a piece of glass.  It doesn't take long for the print to appear and the fabric to pop with color!  You just rinse out, dry and you're ready to incorporate in your work.  I just added borders to each then hand stitched the leaves and machine quilted around the leaves.

I've already sent my squares out and they have all been received so I'm showing what I made.  The due date isn't until September 1st but I have received Tommy's already - no surprise there!  HA  As soon as I receive the other two I will post those...until then this is what I sent out!

I used a commercial fabric for the border and  a dark navy 1/4 strip and same navy for the binding.

Again, commercial fabric added for border and black fabric for the 1/4 strip and a black/white fabric for he binding.  Lots of french knots.  I used Lana thread by Madeira for all the hand stitching on each square.

Again, commercial fabric for the borders and binding was another black/white commercial fabric.

All of these squares are 12" SQUARE!!  Funny, my friend and I were discussing how taking pics makes our pieces look crooked!  These are square..honest!

Hope the folks who received their pieces also enjoyed the exchange!  Look forward to what's next!  HA

And this one I kept for myself as part of the exchange...you could or didn't have to make one to keep yourself.

This is Bob's favorite..

Stitching Time!

Finally, I'm back to doing some stitching!  I can't show much of what I'm doing....we are making  12" blocks again to exchange with Tommy, Gayle, Irene, MaryAnn and myself.  This was our exchange in 2013 here;  2014 here .

We agreed to do another 12" challenge while visiting with Tommy this fall but I honestly don't remember hearing a target date...hence, I forgot all about it.  That is until Tommy sent out a note that she was mailing her 12" block!  WHAT!  I guess some knew that the target date was Feb. 14th and some didn't!  Yes, I had margaritas that weekend!  Blame it on the margarita's!  I guess beside making "your clothes fall off" (it's a song!!  I don't lose my clothes, honest!) they also make your brain go dead!  Who knew!

So I've been busy this week looking through the limited fabric stash I brought with me.  Fortunately, I had a yard of mono printed, hand dyed fabric I did a few years ago.  I also had some pink suede fabric that I incorporated in the design, which I stamped.

Now it's hand stitching time to get the pieces quilted, so to speak!  Then add some binding and ship the buggers off!  I may not quite make the February 14th date but I won't be far off.  Besides, I'm not the only one!  Thank goodness!

I should get caught up on all the TV shows I have taped...haven't had a chance to just sit and watch them...since I've been too busy eating, drinking and just goofing off!  It's Florida, folks!  You gotta go with the flow.

We have had more rain this week!! And it's been cooler as well.  For me, it's perfect weather (without the rain!) for walking dogs and just enjoying the cooler weather.  I'm not an 80's degree kind of gal!  I prefer 60-70's...that's also great stitching weather to sit out on the Lanai!