Friday Inspiration - Fun With Color!

If you're needing some fall color inspirations, take a look at Pantone's Fall Colors ...

and you can read about it here.

Then for fun, take the online color challenge found here!  You arrange each row of color putting them in order by hue and then click Score Test to see how well you did.  I'll post my results next week!

http://www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?pageid=77&lang=en

Happy Creating!  Deborah

Autumn Mice!

I'm using up some odds and ends of yarn and found this cute, cute pattern for crocheted mice - perfect as cat toys!

The pattern is very well written and easy to follow.  I used KnitPicks Cotlin and a size E hook.  The only change I made was to make the ears first and attach them and embroider the eyes after row 15, before I add any stuffing.  That way all the knots are on the inside.  For the eyes, I used a doubled six strand floss and sewed several straight stitches.

Being autumn mice, they've been in search of some autumn color ....

... and were last seen headed for New Hampshire!

Happy Creating!  Deborah

Autumn Leaf Quilt Block

I've been mulling over making an autumn leaf themed quilt - just not sure if I want to jump into something big right now, though!  So as a compromise, I worked on a quilt block this weekend.  I love quilt blocks - sort of like the granny squares of the sewing world!  One can work on them as you have time and eventually you have enough to put the quilt together with.  This one uses scraps of fabric for the leaves and embroidery to give it a bit more texture and interest.

I used a clear blue for the background - I just love how bright autumn leaves look against blue skies!  I think I must have taken a bajillion photos of that!

Materials:
*scraps of autumn leaf colored print fabric
*background fabric - a 12x12 inch piece for each block
*Steam-a-Seam II Lite
*embroidery floss and needle

1.  Print out the leaf pattern from my past Leaf Art Coasters blog post.  Cut out and fold in half down the middle.

2.  Place on a blank piece of paper and trace, adding 1/4 inch in the middle for a seam and making the stem a bit fatter.

3.  Put two fabrics wrong sides together, pin pattern on the top, and cut out.

4.  Pin right sides of the leaf together and sew in a 1/4 inch seam.

5.  Press seam open and iron front smooth.

6.  Peel the backing off one side of Steam-a-Seam II and press the leaf to the adhesive.

7.  Set a piece of plain paper over the leaf and turn over.

8.  Cut out.

9.  Peel the other backing off and iron onto the front of a 12 x 12 inch piece of background fabric.

10.  Using 6 strands of embroidery floss, sew around the outside edges in a blanket stitch.  Use embroidery stitches to highlight different parts of the prints, varying between using 6 and 3 strands.

Now we'll see how long it takes me to get enough blocks for a quilt!

Happy Creating!  Deborah

Friday Inspiration - Autumn Themed Quilting

Ahh, autumn!  I love this season - the leaves, apples, pumpkins, the two autumn holidays and the build up to Christmas .... even though we're in Phoenix during most of autumn, we usually get to see the season in New England and the Pacific Northwest.  And we do get to see changing leaves here also - it just doesn't usually happen until around Thanksgiving!

I came across these three autumn themed quilts that are gorgeous!  Actually, each of these artists have some amazing quilt work on their websites - definitely worth a look!

The color variation and shading on this pumpkin quilt by Australian artist Lisa Davis is beautiful!  And the stitching adds nice dimension.

I've been interested lately in quilts that use printed fabrics in interesting combinations and this quilt by Japanese artist Akiko Wakata from Phyllis Dobbs post on the 2011 Houston Quilt Market is a good example.  Very different prints, but they all work together so well.  And I love how the red of the leaves makes them pop forward from the cooler yellow background.  I haven't been able to find a website for Akiko but will keep looking!

Ellen Lindner's quilt Ripening is another good example.  The blues in the background are all different prints, but come together as a perfect backdrop to the leaves and berries.  Beautiful!

Happy Creating!  Deborah