Spirit Cloth

bird story

emerald crested moon dancer out on a limb.

doodles

plans for a fence for the garden.  patchwork will be tedious . haven't decided on the way to do it yet. this  journal page format will be the new way for me to share  ideas,  it will  be moved to a  linked info  database  along with tips and techniques, but right now i am just too busy to bother with finishing it.

back blocks and walter

the count needed is 83, i finished 9 so far this week. this blogging site is having problems so i may switch my format. whatever. this cloth is a gift for next year. it is not a surprise. the receiver is following the story of its creation. let's call him "walter" just for reference. he will be visiting soon and i will allow him to interact with this cloth in its middle stage.  more about walter later.

birdhouse block

i have started the first birdhouse block.  the birdhouse is pieced and i have just created a pattern for the bird applique.  i will trace this on to fabric ( haven't selected one yet) and maybe paint in some details before applying. i wanted the bird to sort of leave a trail like it was moving into the square. from the edge again.  the moon has been given a face and  i still have some plans for embellishing the backround.  it may need to be dipped in tan dye to tone it down, but i will wait till all the garden blocks are done.

blog problems

i am fidgeting with layouts . i'd rather be sewing.  please forgive the interruption.

seasons

i have decided that each garden block will have a seasonal theme. so after sewing the block, i will label it spring summer winter or fall and make some notes to inspire embellishment.  i am not sure whether i will group them by season. i already have many in place and it will be a hassle to take them off and rearrange. i suppose all areas of the garden have seasonal aspects so i will probably just scatter them around. each one will have its own story.  some i have just done have reminded me of fall and dried flowers and then others have sweet smelling blooms that will eventually attract bees and butterflies. i need to think about some sunflowers and a birdhouse.

painted thread

well i tried painting the thread, actually i used magic markers. i was not liking it because the color wasn't all around the thread and it was hard to turn it and cover all sides. i used black, olive green and turquoise on a green base. it works in a strange and wonderful way after all, because i colored the six strands, then when i separated it in to 2 strands it kind of twisted around before and during sewing so i did end up with a lot of variation with a small repeat and kind of a hand drawn effect. i used it to embroider some sprouting seeds for a garden block, ( recycled block i pieced a while ago to test contrast stitching) i still need to experiment for the velvet quilting. i will need to choose an existing color that matches the velvet and play from there. i'll use paint this time.  i did a before and after on the thread before separating and sewing to record the idea.

garden blocks

i am back to the garden blocks, the ones that will surround the enchanted velvet forest on the back of the quilt. some are already done but i probably have about 85 to go, didn't actually make a count. i am working on these during the work-week because they are small and portable and easy to handle during my commute.  they can be created randomly and embellished as i go and i don't need the whole quilt for reference.  i think i will complete all of them first and then apply them. (for now, in the evenings i will finish sewing the velvet section down to the main body and do some quilting from the lava side.) so we have some bees, more flowers and a special silk faille peacock feather print which just sort of showed up in my stash.  nice to have a peacock in the garden as a special treat, even if he is just  visiting from the forest....

magic fringe

the gauzy check i used as lining and stabilizer has been allowed to remain on the outside edge of the forest here and there as evidence of the process. after sewing, i removed the threads in one direction creating a fringe that has a high contrast alternation of color. this high def contrast represents the meeting point (edge) of opposites, the transformation of one into another or the balance that allows clear vision.  black and white are the ultimate combination but i have decided i can use any combo of colors to represent the different levels of this event.  this center section with all its layers is defined now by its edge and its edge is now a path between.

meeting places

the sewing of the center layers together was easier than expected. i have thought of working this way for a while but never tried it. it was intended as a way to stay portable but instead has transformed into an interesting technique based on points of reference. it has changed my approach to layers in general. i am still working upside down. laying the velvet section ( partially decorated) on top of the lava section ( back side up) . with wrong sides together, i sewed the meeting points around the perimeter with embroidery thread. roughly. leaving the edges open for now. some of the garden block on the back are in place so it was a meeting place for all to come together.  i then tied through at each intersection of blocks, back to front. i used green embroidery floss and left the ties clipped to 1" on the velvet side. they look like grass.  i am leaving the check fabric sticking out in some spots, to be frayed and furry like magic fringe.