what if

what if #169: recolored patchwork

...so continuing from my last post where i covered up a section of patchwork that was not fitting properly... i thought what if i use a sheer fabric just to tweek the color a bit instead. kind of how you work a painting. recently gifted silk chiffon does the trick. coloring over and existing patchwork could be quite interesting. you can even see the seams or old stitching beneath. again i am trying it ragged style because what is underneath shows a bit like a frame or a shadow, adding dimension. i'll call it watercolor applique. ragged style.

i have noticed that chiffon works well for a ragged edge because of the nature if the crimp, it keeps its threads in place.

what if #155: stuffed dots

so Dee asked if i was stuffing the dots and i wasn't...until i asked myself what if i do?  and what if i use indigo shibori?  i tried silk and cotton but the silk worked the best because the shine shows off the relief.  they are stuffed with cotton batting recycled from an old stuffed animal.  i placed a ball of batting in the outlined circle, covered it with a larger circle of shibori and needle turned the dot catching the batting inside, working within and against the outline.  pressing on the dots spread the batting to edges. nice texture. imagine lots of them.

i am working on the patched knee of my old jeans which i cut off to make shorts.

what if #131: connecting things

since i was playing and connecting the dots, i also asked myself what if this works with anything?
......it certainly seems to work with hearts. (cotton floss and  silk on cotton velvet)
i have been away for a while here and i have high hopes for pulling this together as a community this year. there might be some changes in appearance and links etc. over the next weeks, but please stay with me.....i am a bit scattered at the moment. comment string has been enabled here so i will reply here on this blog and not by email. it seems to fit to the concept of sharing and conversation about what-iffing. yes. connect the comments.
happy new year!

what if #121: skitch and skatch

this one is dedicated to Paula, (one of my favorite stitchers and a fellow what-iffer) and her recent skitch-capades... a continuation from my last post and my old adventures over here. what if i combine skitch with skatch as an all over effect? working on a sketch with patch and stitch. 3" lion block, applique patch work and stitched face. 

silk and cotton on linen. i am freeforming the approach to applique, cutting a piece larger than needed and using turned applique using the drawn lines as a guide. i suppose you could cut pattern pieces if you need to be more exact. i like the ease of going out of the lines once in a while. i am having great fun fussy cutting patterns and fitting them in as special effects.

what if#119: crazy shapes

initially i asked myself what if (?) i made a collage out of one shape variation. and then put the focus on the negative space as the crazy shapes. ...and then of course since it is fall i said what if (?) i start with the leaves? and what if (?) i use silk since i need some practice at that.
...in order to put some focus on the negative space shapes created i used all 6 strands of DMC in a small back stitch. looks a bit like beads. and the color is random, thread ends again in a crazy order. i am not totally happy with the level of craziness yet. but i love the idea. about 7" square. silk applique on linen.

what if CQR is more?

.....today i want to say more about CQR. the group has produced many wonderful pieces that to me represent small journeys on a personal level. perhaps i should clarify my objective here.....
my reasons for starting this challenge was to demonstrate a thought catching and questioning process. i picked Crazy Quilting for several reasons.
1. it is a form of quilting which is my focus
2. its roots are in recycling and personal expression which is close to my heart
3.it has a recognizable style which seems to have a large following
4. the style included repeated techniques
5. i knew it would create a stir

...i was curious and asking myself about style. i think of style as a culmination of technique and ideas over time. hopefully it evolves as a personal symbol of achievement and a method of communication. but i thought to myself, what if style is also a stopping point? is it a place where we collectively rest and forget to go forward?  a path to over and over? so i put myself out on a limb with that question. and then i asked what if just the techniques and the materials change? What does it become and where does it lead? Crazy Quilting as it is has nothing to do with this question except i used it to make a point. a jumping off point. an exercise in questioning. I am thinking that eventually it will turn into AQ. Alternative Quilting. jumping off from anywhere.
I am just getting back to the internet after technical problems. I am very excited with the group's work and its atmosphere for sharing ideas.
i have chosen today to feature Karen's new block, because she has no blog and besides being exquisite, it illustrates very well what i was thinking. and the photo presentation just says to me what if we see with new eyes? a beautiful block, thank you Karen.
I have set up a photo album and will start loading in pics from those who have no blogs first, so you can see the work that is being done.i finally have some time to review all that has been done.

what if #102: crazy for indigo

.....i am taking a few days off for the long labor day holiday. i thought today, what if (?) i use indigo as the theme for the next CQR block. a color them to start with.  many of the indigos i have are gifts from generous internet friends so it can also be a thank you block. i will include a some silk and cotton and linen. and speaking of silk... glennis has joined our group and she had been kind enough to offer some free scrap bags for our project. my advice...grab'm while you can, this stuff is HOT!

i have added a CQR page for info and a list of participants to the (sandbox) sidebar. i am still working on it but if i have missed you let me know.

what if #38: not all about embroidery

probably no one remembers this one, which was about a silk sandwich and then all about embroidery. well now it isn't. it's about plugged and unplugged. fast and slow. together. the center panel is what if #22 and the rest is electric jude. special gifted scraps have been pieced in. i guess this is a prelude to the what if quilt in which i will utilize all my little what-ifs that have no home. i changed my mind 1000 times here. changing your mind. it's ok.

14"x 13"
mostly linen with silk, velvet and cotton scrap inserts, gifts from others( can you spot yours?)
center panel hand stitched
patchwork borders machine pieced.
unfinished (so far)

what if #25: integrated applique complete

the process is complete. the silk scrap has been fused to the cotton/silk sandwich with a zillion stitches.
7"x 7" silk and cotton.
stitched with double strand dmc.

see complete process

what if #29: faces in the fabric-part 2

single strand embroidery .

just a quick test this morning on the train.

although reversible is an option here i think i will stick to one side because of the tiny stitches and detail required. not worrying about the back frees up my style a bit.  i may back and quilt this little piece of fabric to hide the mess i anticipate.

each face is less than 1/4" across

i love the built in stippling created in the weave.

to be continued...