Old Projects, New Adventures
Barn Dance, finished!
Finally got around to taking some pictures yesterday. Here’s my “Barn Dance” quilt hanging on the clothesline. It was a bear to quilt, but it’s finished! I have to say that I’m quite pleased with how it came out.
The next picture is of my “Rail Fence” quilt. I like how the lights and darks zig across the surface. It’s quite a lively quilt, with a lot of movement. Not bad for just sitting down and sewing a pile of strips together!
I’ll get them packed up this weekend, and in the mail to the Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS on Monday.
Rail Fence Scrap Quilt
I went up to Alley Kat’s Quilt Shop yesterday. All the fabrics were 30% off, including white PFD (prepared for dyeing) mercerized cotton. Such a deal! I got five yards for less than $18, including sales tax. Ben Franklin is having a sale this weekend, too. I have a 40% off coupon, so I think I’ll run over there this morning, and get another quilt batting. With all the quilting I’m doing right now, it’s nice to be able to save a few bucks on batting.
Now that I have some white fabric to play with, I may do some dyeing today. Fabric Dyeing 101 has lots of great tips for dyeing fabric. I especially like her directions for making batik-like fabrics with gel glue. I’ve dyed a lot of yarn, and even tried my hand at some socks last fall, but haven’t done any fabric yet. Since I already have the pro mx dyes, soda ash, and everything else I need, I’m ready to go!
I also took a look at Fusing Fun! Fast Fearless Art Quilts by Laura Wasilowski yesterday afternoon. I am hooked! What a fun book. I even have an idea for my first fused quilt, once I get a few fabrics dyed. I need to pick up some fusible web while I’m out today, too. I have some Wonder Under around here someplace, but since I don’t want to tear into my closet, I’ll just buy some more and wait for it to surface, which it will, eventually.
Haven’t done any sewing the past couple of days, and don’t know if I’ll get any done today, but hopefully I’ll get back to it tomorrow for a bit. Right now my brain is so full of stuff that I feel like I may explode.
Thill's Fish House, at the Lower Harbor in Marquette, MI
One last thing: Marquette, MI, my hometown, is one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010. Here’s what it’s all about: “Since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destination program has recognized cities and towns that offer an authentic visitor experience by combining dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes and a strong commitment to historic preservation, sustainability and revitalization. In each community, residents have joined together and taken action to protect their town’s character.”
Between now and February 28, anyone over 18 can vote for their favorite, as often as they want. Marquette is trailing behind Rockland, Maine, and we can’t let that happen! So please click the link, register (they just want your name and email) and vote for Marquette, MI! Vote early and vote often!
Tagged with: Dozen Distinctive Destinations • dyeing fabric • fusing art quilts • Marquette • MI • scrap quilts • stashbusting
Filed under: Neat Things In Marquette • Sewing Adventures
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Both quilts are lovely! I love two rail fence quilts and finished a leftover one recently that I think I like better than the first quilt I made with the strips (although I do like both of them!)
Hi Mary! I wasn’t sure if I liked the Rail Fence quilt or not while I was working on it, but once it was finished, I decided it was OK after all. If I make another one, I’ll have to come up with another way to machine quilt it, though. Too much twisting and turning when following the light and dark zigs!