*My Painted Garden*- My latest article in Simply Moderne Magazine

My latest article is out in the summer issue 2016 of Simply Moderne magazine#5. In it, I show how to work with transparent and opaque paints on fabric.

                                                   My article is published on page 66.
The fabric paints are from Prochemical and Dye I used their PROfab paints.

Once I finished painting, I used Aurifil 50w cotton threads to sew the inside details.

I used 28w cotton thread to sew around the border. Using this thread with a close zig zag stitch creates a  pronounced border while adding stability and also covering the loose threads from the raw edge.

I hope you will do this project and set a festive table to celebrate a nice meal surrounded with friends and family.

 

MQX Quilt Festival New England *New Traditions in Textile*

*PEACE* a paper and fabric quilt

 

I'm honored to have received a teacher's ribbon from Candace West at the MQX Quilt Festival New England 2016 for my quilt "PEACE". I entered a new category called *New Traditions in Textiles*

You can read more about this quilt HERE

Hanging with the quilt was this card, were I explained how I constructed this work of art.

I used Aurifil threads, which are perfect also for working on a mixed media piece.

Thank you Janet-Lee and Mary, founders of MQX Festivals for opening this new category. There are many of us who like to work with unusual materials.

Working with Thick Threads/Quilting Arts Magazine April/May 2015

 

Be sure to pick up the April/May issue of Quilting Arts Magazine—I am featured on page 80! In my article I show you how to work with thick 12w and 28w cotton threads. I used Aurifil Threads.

First, we add bold embroidery stitches. 

Later, with the same threads, you learn how to prepare your quilt sandwich to work with them in the sewing machine. You can also read more about it HERE while working in the bigger quilt.

 



Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Creating Texture on a Paper and Fabric Quilt with Aurifil Threads

 

*Flowers for Sophia*- a newsprint infused paper and fabric quilt (32 inches by 30 inches)

 

From the picture below you can see how the quilt started. The flowers where painted over an infused newsprint fabric. It looked nice but flat, so I decided to go to my drawer where I keep my threads and..

 ..chose Aurifil 28w thread for machine stitching....

..and12w thread for hand embroidery. Then I applied some seed beads.

I love how the different thickness of threads with a combination of simple stitches made the quilt *sing* creating texture and dimension.





 I'd love to spark your creativity at one of my *Workshops: Painting and learning how to work with paper and fabric*

And you can watch the videos on how I made one of my paper and fabric quilts with the links below:

  How I did my Quilt *Orange Blossoms* 

                    How I did my quilt *Orange Blossoms* 2   

 



Working with Thick Threads by Hand and Machine combined with Beading

*Compost*

 30" inches by 44" inches

It has been quilted with thick Aurifil 12 weight and 28 weight thread.
 

I wanted to do a quilt with one of my favorite fruits as the main design *The Apple* and show off how beautiful it can be even when it is in it's rotten stages.

After I designed and painted each block, I didn't like the *too white* background around each apple, although it can be ideal for showing off the true colors of the paint. To fix this, I chose a light green 28 weight thread to do the quilting around each apple. It gave it just enough color to tame down the white and, in my opinion, give it more depth.

Then I chose a black 28 weight thread to quilt on top of the black and white dotted fabric and red 28 weight thread for the curved red inserts; it gives enough coverage to allure the viewer.

Let me show you how I did it:

I designed the stencils in my Silhoutte Cameo machine and with painsticks I painted the designs on white muslin fabric.

I loaded my sewing machine with 12 weight Aurifil thread and started sewing/drawing around each shape.

With the same thread I did hand embroidery.



And then some beading.



When I was happy with each apple, I sewed the blocks together. Then I loaded the sewing machine with 28 weight thread this time. Although there are so many quilting designs to chose from, I decided to use the *classic* meandering around each apple and loops on the dotted fabric.

(looks like white thread but it is actually a light green color)

Detail of one block.

As you can see, the thick threads adds extra dimension to your work, calling the viewer in, surprising them with the texture achieved and the unexpected hand embroidery and beading. I hope you will give it a try.