“Do what you know”
This was a “get it done” moment. The deadline for submitting a 6″ x 8″ piece to the SAQA Spotlight Auction creped up on me. All of a sudden I had 4 days to submit my piece and I was going out to a lecture/workshop for 2 of those days!
I’m really excited that I will be attending the SAQA Conference in Portland, Oregon. One of our fundraisers is the Spotlight Auction. Members donate their 4″ x 6″ pieces and then can bid on what we like. It’s a LOT of fun and it’s so much more fun when you have skin in the game. So I did not want to miss this opportunity.
But what was I going to do? I didn’t have time to think, just time to do. I briefly cruised my inspiration files but nothing there was really formed in my mind. I didn’t have time to ponder colors, design, fabric. So I went to what I already knew and created a whole cloth grass piece….in about 4 hours.
I usually start here with my quilt sandwich Misty Fused together. I once again used cotton sateen-white on the front and black on the back.
We are instructed to send a 6″ x 8″ piece but it will be framed down to 4.5″ x 6.5″. I wanted to create that window so I knew how to design the piece. I chose to just stitch it out in water soluble thread so that it would be easy to remove.
You MUST remember to change out that bobbin when using water soluble thread! How do I know? I’ve watched 4 hours of quilting disappear when I wet the quilt surface after forgetting to remove the water soluble thread in the bobbin. When I store the water soluble thread in its protective bag, it better have a bobbin with it.
I marked my basic lines with my Marvy disappearing marker. I prefer the Marvy over others since it is acid-free. And I did not want any worries with removing other forms of marking.
Because I have done this piece before, just with a different scale, it was easy for me to stitch out. I was done in 4 hours-perhaps an all-time record.
This piece is all thread-no ink or paint. I used Aurifil Mako cotton on top and Superior Kimono silk for the bobbin.
I always love my backs. I like it as well as the front.
Now, my question to you, should I sign it in pen on the front or does that disrupt the design? The photo is of a completed piece. As you can see, the back bled to the front, creating that horrible stain. But it does give me an idea of how the signature would look on the front. (I would sign it in the lower right corner-ignore the other test signatures you see in the photo.)What do you think?
I’ll be linking up with Nina Marie’s Off the Wall Friday-check out the links.
How about “signing” it in thread? I’ve seen some folks use FMQ to add their signature or initials to the front of their work.
sign it!!! It adds a nice element…it is a work of art.
Definitely sign the “down swoop” in the lower right corner – use a Micron or other great fibre archival pen.
Bethany
You use silk thread in the bobbin and Aurifil on top? I have only heard of it done the other way around — but your quilt backs ARE silk-worthy! I can’t imagine completing a quilt piece in 4 hours. You rock!
Rebecca I do that just because I LOVE the look of silk on the back. It is a very challenging combination to achieve good tension with and I have to use my older (153) Bernina with a tension DIAL, not electronic because I need that infinite control to dial it in perfectly.
I’m really liking the “front” idea…….Such a really neat piece!!!!!
I’ll bid on yours if you bid on mine…! ;-) Seriously, though, I look forward to spending time with you in Portland, and to seeing who snaps up our respective artistic contributions to the Spotlight Auction. Go, girlfriend!
Margaret I’ll see you there and can’t wait to see your piece in person!
Congrats with the finish in time. A beauty. Love those yarns.
Very nice!
Hi Jenny
I just loved reading your process in creating this. Using the water soluble thread to create a box was a great tip.
I think that I would sign the piece. Your signature is subtle and signing on the front feels earned.
Have a great day.
Beautiful. I love your simple concept and the outcomes.
A lovely piece. I look forward to seeing it in person.
You’ve lost me on the water soluble thread – are you doing the quilting with it? What happens when it goes away? Does the black show thru the holes left by the stitching? Your piece is really nice and I like the signing on the front.
Hi Carol-I used the water soluble thread to just mark the outside perimeter of the piece so that my design was properly positioned. I picked it out after I was done instead of dissolving the thread with water. And no the black does not show through-I’m careful about that.
Can you write really small at the side of the stem then it may not be as noticeable!!
Thank you all for the comments! I am delayed in my response due to a glitch in the site not notifying me that you commented. I did end up signing the piece with a Micron pen and I forgot to take a photo of it.