Chaos, debris and cutwork
It’s been crazy around here! We are considering a move instead of a remodel and that makes for a chaotic week of looking at houses, endless spreadsheets comparing options, getting bids on needed work on a house we might buy, etc. But my artistic and teaching life must go on-Houston is only 67 days away plus there are looming deadlines in the meantime.
You may be surprised to know how much prep work any teacher goes through in order to be prepared to teach a great class. If you teach at a big venue like Houston, Paducah, etc. there is even more prep and planning involved. For me, my first order of business to prepare for Houston was to begin making the kits for my students. I proposed to teach or present at seven different events for the Houston festival this year and they accepted all of them! Gulp.
I do love working with the Houston education people. They want to do everything they can to help you be successful. So when I asked, how do I fill my classes, I got an answer: offer half-day classes and make kits for them.
This is a two-edged sword. The Houston student wants to do everything while she/he is there-shop, take classes, see the show, hang with friends. A full-day class, even one with a coveted teacher, makes a big dent in the schedule. Half-day classes are preferred by many. And almost everyone prefers a kit-hassle for the teacher, lovely for the student.
From a teaching perspective, it’s a lot more work. But in return I get to meet even more students! And that is fine with me. Last year I had students from Australia, New Zealand, England, Dubai, Japan, Canada and Dubuque, Iowa! It’s just such a kick meeting like-minded quilters from all over the world.
Sooooo, that means if all my classes fill (and they did last year), I will need to make 400 quilt sandwiches. It sounds daunting and last year it was. But this year I am doing it all early. I anticipated having a kitting party but I realized that it will probably work out better for me to fill my down moments with kit making here and there.
The first task was to cut Kona cotton into 14″ widths and then make 2 more cuts to make my sandwich layer. I didn’t want just any old color, nor did I want to choose colors that some students would detest. So my theme this year is “beach” using Kona colors “Parchment” and “Bahama Blue”. I actually festered over my color choices for some time.
I wanted to accomplish two things. From a practical viewpoint, the stitches of the neutral-ish thread used in the machines need to show well. If the color was too dark, the less-than-perfect stitching of the student might not look so hot. And secondly, I wanted it to be calming and happy. Students can get all stressed out and intimidated and I just want them to have fun, relax and enjoy the zen of free motion quilting.
And I also wanted my students to have a fun color to stitch on. If they like neutrals, they can sew “Parchment” side up. If they like beachy, they can sew “Bahama Blue” up. How fun!
Making kits was done simultaneously with the completion and submittal of a cutwork piece I had been working on. I had a deadline to work with and I was working until the last minute. I won’t reveal the whole piece until it is accepted or rejected.
I began my design by drafting out a full sized pattern to work from. I drew free-hand, without any idea of the finished piece. And I erased…a lot. Once I was satisfied, I transferred the pattern onto my organza with a blue wash out marker.
I prepared the organza by Misty Fusing two pieces of flaming pink organza together. I have learned that strong, vibrant colors work best behind cutwork. I love cutwork-it combines holes with transparency, one of my favorite looks!
I then layered the wool atop the organza. This is luscious hand dyed wool from Linda Waddle-it is divine! I then free motion quilted from the back (organza) where my markings were visible. Once I finished my fmq, I began the cutwork. I very carefully cut just the wool from the piece, revealing the organza. And boy did I need to be careful and mindful in this step! The photo shows a piece partially completed, with some cut work completed, some in process.
I love the debris that comes from the cutwork! I just have to figure out what to do with these-I have saved them.
I like to have a very high contrast thread to show up on the vibrant backing.
I had not decided what I wanted to do on the borders, so I completed the entire interior of the piece before starting on the border. Because all the work was done in the middle and the border had not been touched, I got this predictable waviness. It’s scary to see it so misshapen. Once I got my borders on, the piece laid flat-whew! And I submitted literally seconds before the close.
Of course, it was not a direct path from beginning of this piece to the end. I actually almost completed another piece which I did not submit, as I did not like the outcome.
This piece was just not making the cut for several reasons. I didn’t have the right background organza so I painted my own. The color is unsuccessful-not strong or vibrant enough. And also, I overworked the interior of the piece. The design gets lost. Yes, it’s pretty, but the eye just sees a jumble of pretty filligree and that is not what I wanted.
I will probably finish it at some point. If you follow my blog, you know what I do with unsuccessful pieces-they take on new lives as class samples of what not to do!
I love this filigree concept. I look forward very much to seeing the finished one you selected to enter. I really really really really wish I were going to Houston this year and I’d take one of your half day classes. Here’s hoping you find the perfect house and can slip in the move…lol…that would be a real accomplishment. Cheers.
Oh I wish you were going to be there too Betty Jo! I have more time this year too. Thank you for your kind comments!
I love reading your posts! I remember the first classes you taught and how wonderful they were…but this class is just incredible. Your creativity is inspiring, a true artist.
Thank you Tecla-it’s great to know you read it!! Ah yes, I remember my first ASG class was one of my first classes period-and everyone survived my learning curve. I had some things to learn from that class but I was among friends and supporters. Thank you for your nice comment!
Jenny, you are simply amazing! I know you’ll enjoy your Houston experience….hard work and creativity is your forte!!! Good luck with this adventure.
Oh Loretta I will enjoy Houston-it is incredible! Thank you for your good wishes for me.
Goody, another use for organza. How thick is the doubled up organza with Mistyfuse? Have you tried any top layer other than wool felt? Maybe I can find some Nuno felt locally for such a piece. But enough about me. How exciting/scary about Houston and a possible new house. Can you trust your husband’s attention to detail sufficiently to say, “I leave it in your capable hands” and continue with class planning worry-free?
The doubled up organza is the thickness of 2 eyelashes, giggle. It’s very thin, the Misty Fuse adds almost nothing. I have tried cotton on top and quickly concluded I needed 2 layers on top, fused. But experiment with anything! It may work easily with one layer, just haven’t tried lately. And hubby is incredibly capable with anything financial/contractual so lucky me, I can trust him with all of that! Thank you for your comment Joanna.
Beautiful work as always, and you are smart to get started now. I have 2 full day classes and am kitting one of them. I start dyeing next week and I’m making 25 kits. What is your best advice for either borrowing a Bernina on site or bringing your own on the plane? I haven’t gotten a good answer yet from the staff.
Thank you Roxane. Oh dear, you have to dye before you even begin your kits-now that is a lot of work! The Bernina people will be happy to get a machine for you-you’ll have a hundred pounds of luggage so no room for a machine:-)
Love the work your doing. Material and design. both fascinating.
Thank you Tomomi-I’m glad you enjoy my work. I took a peek at your site-oh wow, I love “Flow”! So beautiful and your quilting unique.
Ooh, exciting AND chaotic, thinking about moving vs. remodeling.
I love your cutwork. The “reject” is lovely. I have a lot of gorgeous wool for my rug hooking. I might just start re-purposing it into quilting material :)
Oh brother, your factory of kit-making sounds daunting. I would like doing it if there were only 25 kits to make :)
Debby you could make some beautiful work with your handwork on that wool!! Kit making is just part of the process-some teachers are hand dyeing mountains of fabric and then making their kits. It’s all in a day’s work and well worth the effort.
I love your cutwork- it’s just beautiful. And I love the idea of putting the organza behind it. I use a fair amount of cutwork in my pieces but I’m somewhat limited by how much I can cut out before I’ve completely lost structural stability in the piece. Thanks so much for sharing your process and I hope the piece is accepted!!
Thank you Shannon. I know all about losing structural stability-I tried this on a larger piece once and it wobbled horribly.
Wow, your house plans keep changing. It sounds like renovation will be in the works either way! I love your illustration of your cutwork – I will have to try misty-fusing two layers of organza. I love finding different ways to work with it.
Your classes in Houston sound wonderful. Wish there was more time in my schedule there so I could take one. Your participants should have a great time and learn loads.
We had not idea how painful and expensive a whole house remodel was. It’s still up in the air though. I’d love to see what you do with organza!
OMG – that is a LOT of kits. Don’t you wish sometimes you had an assistant! That would sure be a life changer. I left the coporate world in 2013 – and I used to manage a very large staff. Now, it amazes me all the little things and big things I end up by myself. Love it actually. Anyway, hope you get those kits done. Very smart because I agree – the students will love it. Hope your classes fill to the brim!
Yes Teresa, a lot of kits! It’s not as tedious as you might imagine, doing it this far ahead. If I have an “I don’t know what to do with this piece moment” or a too tired to quilt moment, I’ll head in and do some kitting.
Your students are so lucky to have you — sense that many know that from comments I’ve seen. Good luck with the decision on move vs. remodel. xo
Thank you Franki!