Art Quilt

 I have always been fascinated by trees.  Since I was a small child I loved to draw trees, not that I'm very good at it, just that it is so amazing how the branches grow and head off in all different directions.

Maybe it's because I am ALWAYS in SO MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AT ONCE!!


 
I wanted to play with the yarn in this picture and it just looked like a great 'bark' color so I decided that it would make a good 3-D tree feature.

I cut out a background piece for the tree top and two landscape pieces for the bottom and placed them on the blue fabric I wanted for the sky.  Using detailed embroidery stitches I outlined and attached the tree top to the background.  I then sewed the yarn into place to form the tree.

Once the tree was formed I used detail embroidery stitches and free-motion quilting to add dimension to the landscape pieces at the base. 

Stars sparkling in the night.

I continued free-motion stitching the sky then add small Swarovski Crystals for create tiny far away stars and larger shell buttons for closer stars.

And here is the completed Quilt

It's to be one in a series...

I better get creating!!!

MJ Art Quilt Tree Series 1 Fall Tree Night OOAK Wall Hanging

  This Art Quilt Mini measures 11" x 11 3/4"

To View in my Etsy Store

Log Cabin 'Barn Raising'

My absolute favorite traditional quilt block is the Log Cabin.

My favorite way of putting together log cabin blocks is to make the center the same on all the blocks then use 3 lights and 3 darks.  

I number the lights and darks 123 then on one block I use the fabrics in a 123 order and the other a 321 order.  

Make sense?  Probably not.

Above is the 123 order and below the 321 order.  Notice that the inside purple above became the outside purple below.  Doesn't look like much yet.

Next is a picture when you put 2 of each of these blocks together.

 And when you add another row all the way around?

This pattern layout of the log cabin is known as 'Barn Raising.'

I have a finished quilt! Actually there is also binding added that matches the center color and brings the whole project together. The quilt seems a bit rounded in it's lines, that is because I made the light strips a 1/4" thinner than the dark and that creates the 'flow'.

This quilt measures only 13 1/2" square.  Looks a lot bigger doesn't it?  This quilt was a birthday gift I made for my wonderful friend Anita who loves purple and green and flowers!  I made her a tote bag to match...  But that's another day!

When I googled 'Log Cabin Quilt Pattern Tutorial' I got almost 500,000 hits.  Below are a couple of links I thought did a great job of explained 'how to'.  

Enjoy! 

Great Online Step by Step Log Cabin Pattern by Quilt.com

This one is for Strip Piecing - A great time saver from quiltingboard.com

Bright Flying Geese! Mini wall hanging

Welcome to the latest addition to our lake house.
(Pattern - slightly different - is now available)

I have always loved 'flying geese' but this is the first time I have designed a pattern using them.  This mini wall-hanging uses the paper piecing technique.  I love the flow of this piece and of course it's full of color!  I have once again gone with the Hard Candy rainbow color group from Tonga Treats!

Where else will these colors bring me....

The quilt is Up!

My Rainbow Quilt is finally completed, quilted, bond, and Up hanging on the wall.  I love it in our new space - it adds bright cheery color to the whole room!  Here are a couple of pictures to enjoy...  Doesn't it go great with the stools my husband painted?!

Now what should I tackle...

Played with the Rainbow Colors... A little!

Wow - I really love working with this colors!  They are so far from what I would normally introduce into my home space.  Fortunately I have a NEW SPACE to decorate and COLOR! Lots of color! Is what I am going for.

I used the 2 1/2" strips plus a black with tiny dots and a white to make the center of this Rainbow Quilt.  I used a wonderful black fabric that I have had for years for the border and I love! how this came together :)

 AND! it wasn't as hard as it looks!  I actually created 9-patch blocks with four different bright colors and black dot as the center...  cut the 9-patch into four pieces AND this was the result!  The shortcut idea came from the book:

Two from One Jelly Roll Quilts [Paperback] -Pam Lintott (Author), Nicky Lintott (Author) 

Their website is:  http://www.quiltroom.co.uk/

 

Their sample was this quilt:

 

Adorable in pastels but I have to say...  I like the brights better!  Interested in a "how to"?  Let me know and I'll post it!!

Have already begun cutting into the 10" blocks...  Be back soon :)

Busy Busy

I was very busy this weekend creating new items for my Etsy Store!! As always - the Caribbean is a favorite for me!! Come see the new Swarovski Sprig Items!! More colors will be added shortly! Have a wonderful day! www.mjjoerger.etsy.com