When this challenge was announced, I immediately knew what I was going to use for my quilt....I have been doing a lot of fusible web stuff lately and really enjoy it and always end up with bits and pieces of fused fabric left over that I have just been tossing into a box. I decided that I would pull all of that out and and figure out a use for it. I then came across a picture in a recycling ad of a swirly tree with its limbs all ending in what can be recycled and the importance, blah blah. Well, I decided that I wanted to make a tree. This is what I ended up with:
As I was working on it, it felt a little Dr. Seussian to me...but I loved it.
Then, sadly, I quilted it....
This is with the quilting and the binding. I am very disappointed in both of those. I wanted to do a bunch of free motion quilting, but need to practice a lot more on that. Ah well, I learn with each challenge.
This is the backing. I used a wallhanging that I made for my friend Sara's nursery...or rather, I used the first attempt at the wall hanging. I wasn't happy with the placement on the fabric after I had fused it all down and decided to make a second version....which is what she received. However, since this was the reduce, reuse, and recycle challenge, I figured I would go ahead and use it. The binding is also a bit that I had left over from some other quilt and you will notice that the bobbin thread on the backside is all different shades, that is because I used up a whole bunch of bobbins that were partially filled with different colors (nice thing about that is now I have a bunch of empty bobbins that I can prefill in preparation for my next big quilt rather than just having a single or couple of bobbins that I have to repeatedly stop and refill.
As I look at this more, I may take the binding off and redo it...if I get done with the next challenge early...
This was a great challenge for me and I really enjoyed it. I've always wanted to attempt doing a "snippet" picture and this was my first foray into that but it won't be my last....I'm thinking about just covering a whole bunch of fabric with fusible and then see what moves me...
Boy! Ain't it the truth what we learn from these little quilts! I like the snippet style, tho. I haven't done that technique in awhile - may have to try it again. Loved the figure on the back. this makes a nice 2 sided piece!
ReplyDeleteI like the tree. I learn with every thing I quilt. It took a long time before I was able to start without thinking I was wrecking it as soon as I started to quilt. The colors you have used are really nice.
ReplyDeleteThis is really cool! I want to see it up close and personal (which I will!) because on the computer, your quilting looks good! But I certainly know what you mean! It is always a learning experience....and cool back too!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your tree. I learned the hard way that every now and then less quilting is better than more. Don't fret, it looks great.
ReplyDeleteLove your tree. This is all about learning anyway.
ReplyDeleteLove your piece and the backing!!! Perfect! Looks very 'modern'!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with a bit of Dr Seuss and I quite like your stitching!! Free motion is just practise - and the more you do the better you get. I think you're already well on your way though! For the binding it's all in the technique. I went and found a link to a tutorial on youtube that changed my binding from terrible to perfect - it's a very different way of doing it but is absolutely bound to give perfect results (and you can fiddle until it is perfect before committing and sewing. If you do rebind give this a go:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2hWQ5-ZccE
I love your idea!!! My binding went through a lot of phases before it reached where it is now - its still far from fab !!!
ReplyDeleteThe design and colour is lovely. I agree with you about the quilting Andrea but hey, I look at these as learning pieces and seems like you have learned a lot from this challenge. I love the reject piece you used for the backing and think that the quilting actually looks quite good on the back.
ReplyDeleteLove your tree and the figure on the reverse. We all learn from these challenges, I've tossed more than one piece away that I wasn't happy with.
ReplyDeleteExcellent job. You created (and finished) a unique piece of art.
ReplyDeleteAlthough doing something you've never done before is daunting and scary, congratulations for forging ahead.
I try to do something new, different and untried on every art quilt I make, it is often mind boggling but it is a great way to learn. Each one of my Art Quilts for this group has a different style / type / method of binding, not allowing myself to use the same technique twice, wonder how many Art Quilts I can make before needing to repeat a binding method?