Focus on Fusing - Lesson 4

Our lesson this week is Fusing From a Pattern.  I wasn't quite sure I wanted to make this piece but it was only 8"x10 (actually Melody's was only 7" x 10") so it was duable!  Only hard part is coming up with the colors I want to use.  This was our pattern and if you go to Melody's site, you'll see the cool piece she did!

I don't want to copy Melody's color scheme so at times I find myself starting to grab her same colors then stop!  Wait!  I don't want it to look like Melody's work....I need to find my own color scheme!  More pressure!  HA  Anyway, she is so good at walking us through each step and I don't think I worked on this more than an hour...and don't forget I had to fuse some of my fabric and fight with myself on the fabric choices!

 Just some of my scraps!!!!

And my finished piece!  I like it...and next week's lesson we'll be fusing it to batting and stitching!  That should be fun!

Bob wasn't too sure about it but then again he doesn't even know what it is we're doing or why!  But then I don't either!  HA  Just having fun and trying to stay cool inside!  Sure can't do any weeding or sit outside and sew!  Way too hot!!!!!

Focus on Fusing - Lesson 3

Well, I'm still enjoying playing along with Melody Johnson and her 'Focus on Fusing' online tutorial!  What's not to like!  You get to cut up fabric, fuse and then see what you end up with!  HA

This week's lesson is working with strips of fabric.  The theory behind using strips is some designs would be labor intensive or even not quite possible if just doing patchwork sewing.  Makes sense to me.

I started off with some wider strips than Melody suggested...no reason...just grabbed some pieces I had already cut.  I've always kept pieces, circles and strips of fused fabric...in fact, I have a drawer and baggie filled with fused fabrics.

This piece really isn't as big as it looks.  The purple and dark green are silk dupioni I had fused from a project years ago.  The purple is really prettier in person than in this picture.

I continued to grab fused strips from my stash and  then just started to add/move/cut and lightly fuse them together.

Honestly, this is a great way to use up your scrap pieces.  I have run into some trouble trying to fuse some of my smaller scraps but I did it!  Melody suggested you fuse fat quarters or half yard pieces.  I'm trying to use up what I have so it's hit or miss if I have to add fusible or have a piece already fused!  Keeps me on my toes!

And this is my first finished strip piece. 

But it was too wide to fit in my folder (Melody suggested we keep our samples in a booklet for reference).  So, I cut it down!  This one is  8"x 10" and fits in my book!  And I have strips left over!

Well, I had so much fun I grabbed some of the scrap pieces from making the first one.....

And started to add strips....

And more strips......











This is what I finished.  It measures 8"x8.5"....and fits in my booklet!  HA

Just having fun!  Didn't really take all that long...lets face it...we're not having to be picky fussy on the construction and I'm sure not worrying about my workmanship!  HA  Looking forward to our lesson this Friday....although, I may not get to it until Sunday.  Meeting up with my bud, Carol, on Saturday to go to an art fair.  At least I know we'll have a good lunch and yes, probably a glass of wine!

Focus on Fusing - Lesson 2

What fun doing Melody's Focus on Fusing lesson this week!!  Melody  has included leaves in quite a few of her quilts and this weeks lesson was on making leaves!!  Woohoo!!!

We got to practise making leaf shapes, which was great!!  Here are a few of mine!

They look really nice on background fabric...the shadows are from the binder page glare!

We are keeping our samples in a binder, which is a good idea.  I'm sure some of us will create a quilt piece using several of these samples.  But it's also nice to have the examples just for inspiration!

I am really having fun with this 'fusing' thing!  I'm trying not to start making a quilt or art work yet....there's just so much Melody can show/teach us...hard to contain yourself but, let's face it, I do have other projects to work on don't I!!

Well, maybe I could just think about something small to work on!  Bob wants me to make a new table runner for the dining room....hmmmmmmmmmm

Focus on Fusing - Lesson 1

I started on Melody's, Focus on Fusing, class on Saturday.  This was our first lesson!!  Cutting out shapes and fusing onto backgrounds.

Of course I had fun cutting out shapes....my hard part was trying to decide color combo's..this isn't my strong suit!  Not sure what my strong suit is but I know what it isn't!  HA

So here are my sample backgrounds/fused shapes.  Melody is having us keep these in a notebook.  I'm sure at some point, we can use them in an art quilt...but for the time being it's just a lesson and samples.

I'm thinking I may need to put more 'shapes' on my backgrounds but this is a good start for me!

Our lessons will be posted every Friday, so that should give us all enough time to create our samples.  Depending on my week, I just might make up some more!!!