Left over fabrics-make a quiltlet a day

I have found another way to use those pieces of fabric, scraps of batting that I can't use for big projects.....playing card sized free machine quilting practice pieces. I have cut up fabrics and batting a card size.  Then every morning I sit at my machine a quilt it in what ever way it takes my fancy.  I use those reels of thread that have only got a little left on them first.  This sometimes means the threads don't match the backing but that's OK as it pushes me out of my comfort zone with colour ways.  I get surprised at how well some colour schemes actually work. 

 

1. Cut up scraps of batting a similar size.  Mine fit in an ice cream container for easy storage

 

2.  Cut up bits of left over fabrics or "failed" fabric a similar size to the batting rectangles

 

Chose a variety of fabrics to work with.  This makes it more interesting and challenging.  Add a a backing.  I use off cuts of my backings from other quilts.  Use plain colours or surface design fabrics to quilt on.

 

3.  Quilt a little quiltlet a day

 

 

Experiment with shapes and colour

 

 

 

Make a journal entry for the day

 

 

Practice swirls,  geometric shapes and faces

 

A testimony quiltlet

 

 

 

Experiment with contrasting unusual colours

 

Try cross hatching

 

combine a picture and patterns.  A wee owl on a branch

 

 

Put patterns onto other shapes

 

It is amazing how much you can improve each day just with a little practice.

 

 

 

 

  

'Failed' fabric

Well you are all probably wondering where I have been over the past month?  Between a few Internet problems,  family challenges,  sickness and taking time to smell the roses :)  my blog has unfortunately been the one thing I have had to put aside.  Life does get like that some times.  It just takes over and things that aren't top on the priority list have to be put aside for those things that are more important for that time.  I think important things change too.  Sometimes I have to take priority and other times my kids or parents take that place.  It is all about management of time and working out what to say yes and no to so that some sort of normalcy is kept in our lives.



I have been condensing my sewing supplies.  They have metamorphosed into a monster out of control (many of you will know what I mean)  Just how many cotton reels or pegs does one need :)  I was forced into this job when I realised my boys were ready to go back to drawers after having a box for their clothes for the past 18 months.  So my 2 drawers in my sewing room had to be returned.   After a week of work my room is sorted.  I ended up with a giant box to give away and 3 rubbish sacks of rubbish (where does it all come from?)   During my clean out I found a lot of fabric I had made that  I now didn't really want to make into anything.  the thinking cap went on....what could I do with this discarded fabric? 



Questions I asked myself

• Can I get all this fabric to work together?
• Can I make contrasting blocks that work cohesively?
• Will the varying textures of fabric be compatible?
• Will I be able to create a work of art from discarded and "failed fabric"?



 I decided to cut all the fabric into strips and to make some striped patchwork blocks and take the chance to see if this could work.  There was nothing I could lose (apart from fabric that I couldn't use any where else)

 



 Patchwork isn't really my thing but doing it like this with no plans and no precise cutting was rather liberating and dare I say it......fun.  I have been making on every day to start the creative juices flowing.

What to do to make your own fun blocks from "failed fabric"?

1.  Straighten up the edges of the fabric
2. Cut into strips varying in widths.  I made mine between 2cm and 6 cms.
3. Cut to the length you want them.  I had 2 lengths so I can have 2 different sized blocks
4. Throw the strips into a container
5. Pick out any colour and stitch it to any other colour of fabric.  Don't choose the colour pick it randomly.
6. I put approximately 8-9 strips per block but you could choose any number you want.

 

 

A couple of complete blocks

 

 

The effect with all the blocks next door to each other.

 

I love the uniqueness of the blocks and how spontaneous this process is.  The next question is how am I going to put these all together?







 

The kindness chronicles

"I want to be kind to everyone 

for that is right you see

so I say to myself remember this

kindness begins with me"

(song from the children's song book at our church)

I love this song.  It was one of my favourites as a child.  It helped me remember that I can't make others be kind to me but I can always be kind to others.  Too often in our world people spend time finding fault with others and blaming others for the communities problems without making any effort ourself to help the community. One way we can simply help making changes in our communities and families is to just be kind in our attitudes,  comments,  acts and serve others.  

This months acts of kindness I have seen

• A teenager getting up and doing jobs around the house without being asked when I wasn't feeling well.  This was so wonderful for me that I didn't have to do any washing, dishes, or cleaning for a whole day.  Just bliss!
• A motorist giving way to a cue of cars who had been waiting for quite a long time in road works.
• Someone phoning me to see if I am feeling O.K.
• Receiving a compliment on my character from one of my students in my marriage class I am taking at church.
•  My daughter taking care of a friend who had a concussion injury.  She watched and didn't leave her alone for a few hours so she would know if she needed any help.
• My daughter had the guts to tell friend she was concerned about her drinking.
• My husband taking a chicken to the vets because of how upset the children were about it getting injured
• My son seeing I needed help and just getting to work and doing jobs that needed doing.
• A friend stepping in on an awkward situation and assisting to help sort it out. 

Challenge for the month: 

 I challenge you to do one thing kind everyday this month and to record it.  

Let us make the world a better place one act of 

kindness at a time

Natural light in photography

Sorry for the lack of posts over the past couple of weeks.  Life has run away with its self and other things have had to take priority.  So hope fully I am back on track this week.

Lets talk about natural lighting in photos.  I haven't got the equipment or the space to set up a studio in my home so the lighting I have needs to be simple and cheap,  the natural light from the sun.  What can be cheaper than this. 

I tend to use this light in a few ways.  Direct light,  reflected light and diffused light.  Where you place the light also produces different effects as in these photos

 

Flower photos taken 1 metre away from a window

 

Flower placed on the couch 3 metres away from the window with flash on

 

Sun Light placed behind the flower

 

Direct sun light on the flower 1 and 1/2 metres away from the window

 

 

1 metre away from a window with full sun streaming through

 

Light diffused with cloud.  Flowers next to the window

 

Direct sunlight on petals.  High clouds.

 

 

Try experimenting with light on one type of subject and see what you can come up with.  I am amazed what effects that can come from just the sun without even changing any basic setting on my camera.

 

 

 



Flowers

It has been an other interesting week.  I am still having a bit of pain so not much has happened in the way of quilting.  I am hoping that the tests I am undergoing will provide some answers.  I have lots of ideas buzzing in my head though.

I have taken some new photos though this week that I would like to share with you . Some beautiful green flowers that my daughter got as thanks for helping out at church.  I love being able to crop and change the colours on photos.

Winter

Winter has hit us with full force this year.  We have had day after day of frosts and now day after day of rain.  The farm is very wet and soggy.  Auckland hasn't had frosts like this in years.  We have been lucky to get half a dozen for the whole winter.  This year we have already had over 12.  I love winter when it is like this.  A nice balance of rain and sunshine.  Rain is so nice on the iron roofs at nice and the frosty mornings always bring a stunning day, so warm at lunchtime that I can be on the deck in a light jersey.  

It is particularly nice this year to cosy up in front of the fire to watch the Olympics while the rain comes down.  I love the Olympics.  I get right in behind my teams to urge them on for gold.  I love how the world for one small time every four years put some of the political upheavals(not all unfortunately)  to one side for 2 glorious weeks.  Wouldn't it be nice if this could be permanent and that we could just be nice to each other all the time. 

In what ways can we make a difference with art in the world?  We probably can't bring the world to peace but we probably can all help in our little corner of the world with our art.

• Celebrate positive events in our lives
• Make art that inspires others
• Make our art for charity auctions
• Give away quilts to the homeless or cold
• Celebrate a birthday with art
• Give to notable causes like quilts for premies or for those families who lose babies
• Leave a piece of art in a bus station, public place or in a airplane pocket for someone to find
• Encourage others good behaviour through our work

How can you make a difference in your little corner of the world?

The kindness chronicles

I have seen the nicest things this month.

• The New Zealand Olympic  hockey player who dedicated her fist goal to My Brother in laws niece who passed away last week
• Mc Donald's in Levin who have offered free meals to her family
• My daughter who has sent me a 2 page note of appreciation for my mothering
• My sister and brother in law who took my daughter out dinner even though they were grieving ( the funeral was near where she is studying)
• My daughter expressing her concern to a friend who was drinking too much
• My hubby who did not get mad when I made a major mistake on his hair
• A woman who does not like me express her thanks for a lesson I took at church
• My hubby taking me away for a night so I could get some sleep
• My eldest daughter taking her siblings to the temple in Hamilton and the zoo so her mum and dad could have the day together
• A wee boy spotting when a chicken was sick when I was too busy to see

What a great month for kindness