Basted 4x

I got this pin basted successfully on the fourth try. 

successfully pin basted

The first time was a batting issue (see this post).

The second time was an un-squareness issue which had escaped notice. Couldn't let that be! The remedial reconstruction got involved and took so long, it began to feel like mending. I hate mending. 

under reconstruction

Keeping feelings in check, I trudged on. Eventually it was straight, square and flat. 


I pin basted it for the third time and basked in the glory of success. Only for a moment. Something was awry - I'd left off a strip! Would anyone know? It threw the composition off and that would've bugged me no end. The good news was the strip was at the very bottom. The bad news was I had to un-pin the whole thing because the batting would've been short. Could've been worse.

strip added  and re-pin basted

If I'd kept a neater work space (impossible!), I might've noticed the errant strip sooner. Oh well. I'm just happy it's ready for quilting.

Under construction

Neighbors on one side told me they were remodeling their bathroom. The project has expanded to the kitchen, the roof and the exterior. One day recently contractors were jack-hammering out their front steps - solid concrete - while neighbors on the other side are cutting stone for their patio. Construction in stereo.

I'm in a remodeling mode too. In the garden I've moved three existing plants, put new ones in the ground, regraded the soil along the new-ish fence, and dug up five gallons worth of calla lilies rhizomes. I put the container of roots at the curb with a sign to take them. They were gone in flash.

In the house, I've taken a major step toward the new studio:

new studio storage ready to load up

It only took a month to assemble due to multiple breaks and waits for more hardware, tools and muscle power. In another two or three months I might even be working in this new studio.

Meanwhile, in the current studio-cave, a quilt top undergoes remedial reconstruction:

squared for re-assembly

I'd tried to make this into a quilt sandwich twice. First the batting bearded like crazy. The second time I noticed one side was significantly shorter than the other. Why didn't I see this the first time?! It bugged me that no amount of tugging would square it up. Un-sandwiching began an odyssey of identifying and fixing the unsquareness. Turns out each of the three larger areas down the center needed trimming.

This was my very first improvisationally composed quilt top. I must've thought ruler cut pieces would sew up square. Goes to show I've learned a few things since.

No bargain

batting was stacked atop of solid black fabric.

bunnies under the table after sandwiching the quilt.

I’d picked up the batting at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse for a bargain. Soft, silky and lightweight. No packaging, no brand. I suspect a bamboo blend. Turns out this was no bargain after all. 

blue masking tape frame around test square to contain the lint

underside of quilt top

I cleaned up the lint as best I could and re-built the sandwich with another batting. Back to tried and true. Save the experimentation and unknown for another day.

Two weeks - yaa-owwl!

Okay, I've decided: I'm not finishing the ribbon quilt. So there! My rationale: quilted means more weight and less space in my suitcase. So doesn't this make sense?!
For the next two weeks, I'll have time to work on more motifs. To pack up fabric & supplies for shipping. To take up again with fmq practice. To clean up the studio. To take care of personal business. To relax a bit.

Then earlier to bed and earlier to rise. Shifting from California to Ohio, I want to be a fully awake workshop participant.

Orange in a different light

I finished the orange section last night. Not without a few missteps of course. After all, what would life be without them?
The bottom strip of black and fuschia isn't attached yet. But the section is taller than I thought it'd be. It's not attached to the rest of the ribbon quilt yet either. Opportunities for adjustments await.

The whole ribbon quilt  will be more than three feet wide and could be six feet tall or so but the proportions seem off. My design wall won't allow a long view so I must find someplace to hang it all. Tonight it's going to my quilt therapy group for a different light and multiple eyes.

Old tricks

Three weeks ago, I dared to think I could finish the ribbon quilt before the workshop in Ohio.

One week ago, I dared to think I could finish the top in a few more days so I could get some space and helping hands to pin baste it.

Today I haven't totally given up on this quilt, but I have missed the latter goal and have serious doubts about the former one.

Intending to accomplish more, I set up mini-goals each night – i.e. sew strip A to piece B x 6 times. A couple of nights later I'd look and really see what I've made. Ugh! So I've spent the last three weeks piecing and un-piecing. Repeatedly. If I had enough fabric to cut more or had bought more, I wouldn't need to un-pieced for reuse.

What I've learned so far:
• there's no point in rushing just to get it done (didn't I say this before?);

• adding to an existing project may be harder than starting from scratch when working improvisationally;

• to make visual decisions, I must really look and see (didn't I say this before too?);

• to minimize un-piecing, take it one piece through all steps first rather than all pieces one step at a time;

• to minimize un-piecing, look and see after each step (and this before?);

• to get in the right frame of mind after one project, take a little break (not a month) before the next.

My Quilt Therapy Group, is meeting tomorrow night. Dare I think I could show them the ribbon quilt with this orange section added?

This old dog, same old tricks.

Where did it go?

It's gone! Deserted me! Aiyah! Such a struggle now. Multiple do-overs. Where did it go?
 
I want it back! So I can do what needs to be done. So I can move on. Where did it go?

I had it a year ago. I want that mojo back. That strip-piecing mojo. That narrow strip-piecing mojo. That mojo that enable me to do these:

What will it take? Is it a problem with the thread? the needle? the tension? the pressure foot? the speed? What is keeping that mojo away?

I plead with you for help. Help me get back my mojo. All you have to do is sing Looking for My Mojo (to the tune of Going to a Go-Go – Na-a-h, nah, N-A-A-H, nah, N-a-a-h, nah).

Thank you very much.

Back two, forward three

The first attempt to finish my ribbon quilt was disastrous. I threw pieces together in a hurry. Didn't look. Unstitching became the name of the game. I'd forgotten the maxim: make visual decisions visually.

I had to step back and take another approach. Satisfactory results come from listening to my instincts and taking time to play, to look and then be critical. No point in rushing through the process if the finished product is not acceptable.

After another week I'm quite comfortable with the new section. This photo shows it with some colors I've auditioned. There are a few more decisions to make. Back into the studio tonight.  

Maybe I'll meet my goal to get it to the guild drop-in tomorrow. Maybe not. I'm not going to push it just to get it done. I've learned my lesson – until next time anyway.

Thinking and seeing

Sometimes what I get is not what I want.

I've taken up the ribbon quilt top where I'd left off last spring. I've extended ribbon tails and pieced more ribbon together for the bottom.

The concept seemed good at the time but it just didn't work out visually. A case of too much thinking and not enough seeing. This pattern is too regular and the coloring too lightweight. Doesn't balance nor anchor the rest of it. Why didn't I see this before?

So it won't be finished tomorrow. But I now have a better visual idea about finishing it. I threw other ribbons on the design wall to see if they'd stick. Back to the cutting mat.

9-day countdown

The guild depends on volunteers to put together their biannual Voices in Cloth. Members with a quilt in the show must volunteer 4 hours for the show.

Two years ago no quilt but I volunteered anyway as a white glove hostess. I touched the quilts, flipped over to backs, answered questions as best I could and got a chance to really look at every quilt. Despite the tired legs, a great experience. This year I will white glove again both mornings from 10am to noon.

Neutra House is not finished, but I'm not worried. Quilting is done; facing is 99% complete; sleeve is ready to be added;  finally attach the show label and it'd be ready. All small stuff I can finish in a couple of hours.

With my design wall free, I've put up the strip-pieced ribbon quilt. Do I dare think I can finish it before heading back the Crow Barn on May 8th? And develop motifs for the Sets & Variables workshops too?

Turning to leave my studio last night, my eyes caught the quilt and I was captivated by its colors. Magic moments like these keep me going.

Stopping point

My art instructor, Kim Thoman, would say there are stopping points when an artist might consider the painting done. My ribbon quilt has reach such a stopping point. Here it is this morning: It lacks the two corners from the sketch. I think it needs these as counterpoints. Since I may not have time to make those strips, I've basted the main sections together to take it as one piece to the workshop. What do you think?

Countdown

4 days and 4 nights. Saturday morning I'm flying to Ohio for another workshop at Nancy Crow's Barn.

The goal is to show a finished ribbon quilt top, but I'm still not there yet. This sketch came during my daydreaming moments at work. I like the way this looks on paper and it gives me a plan to follow. Here's a repeat of the last photo of my design wall. Very little have changed. The ribbons are there. Just more wide strips of black with narrow strips of color, sew them all together and voila! Doable.

First day of spring & another beginning

First, Nancy asked for an 8'x8' ribbon quilt top. HUGE. Taller than my studio ceiling. Wider than my design wall. Too big. So I set my sights on a 6'x6'.

I made enough ribbons to cover the 80" width – knowing I'll lose some to seam allowances – so the 72" width was achievable. Tried to include them all but ribbons conflicted. Too many bosses and not enough support staff. See this posting.

Finally, I let go of the 6' width and pared the ribbons down. Keep it simple: just vertical ribbons. See this posting.

But one ribbon nagged. "Un-ribbon me!" Undid it and rearrange them all. Here's how it looked this morning:
I get stuck on an idea and beat it to death even though it does not come together. Much later, I realize my self-imposed idea is just that – self-imposed and not a requirement. That's the way it has been with this ribbon quilt. It's lurching on as one idea gives way to another.

I like the new direction. And I haven't given up on my self-imposed deadline to sew this together to show at the workshop. Only one week left.

Less but not more

Doubts crept in. Troubled by what ifs led to more editing with Photoshop.



These reductions are too tame for me. Less is not always more. I'm shooting for the moon (and shooting my foot too): wild energy with all the ribbons.

Next, I'll work on the width of the black spacer strips.

Virtual ribbons

Still cogitating on the ribbons and filler strips. Initially I'd pinned up black strips on the design wall. But what if the strips were another color? Using Photoshop, I tried out a variety of colors. It's down to these three: black, or terra cotta or gold. I'll try the terra cotta and gold on the wall.



I know enough about Photoshop Elements 6 to get by. In this case it was easier to test out ribbon arrangements and different colors of strips virtually than on the design wall. Sometimes it's not.

Enough ribbons

Finally! Made enough ribbons to cover the 80" wide design wall. I've split the neutrals and rearranged all 24: To make each ribbon more distinct and for more overall cohesiveness, added black strips between every other: More is more? Black strips between every one:
These 3/4" wide black strips were just hanging around - orphans from aborted attempts. So ignore the little colored pieced section.

I prefer the last one. I do think the black strips should end up 1/2" or 3/4" wide finished. And I may remove one to three ribbons. Or redo a couple.

But I'll let it sit for a day or so. Maybe rearrange it on Photoshop. Just let it cogitate.