Four cushions

The last project from last year continued on the first of January was four cushions.
A friend of mine asked me to decorate hall where the main color is vanilla. The couch, the curtains, the carpet, even the walls. It looks nice, but without any accent.
I made the cushion corresponding to the doors of the cupboard and used rests from the curtains.

"The Steps of the court" have the same look even the stripes makes an angular feeling.

The quilt - Hours before Christmas

Since my last post I was involved to create two quilts for Christmas.
Working on them was a real challenge for me.
Love the final result.

24 blocks as the days before Christmas, 12 clock faces as the hours of the day, 12 clock faces as the hours of the night. Each hour is so different.

After making the design I began follow the idea.
Collected  all white, green, red fabrics I have in my stash. Then added the gold printed ones.
I ordered them on the bed - almost 140. There are satin, taffeta, velvet, cotton fabrics.

First I began to make each block paper foundation. After sewing the second one I remembered about freezer paper. It was a perfect idea. - the work began going much easier.

Then I have made the second quilt.

 After sewing all the blocks I collected them and began thinking of quilting.

It has to be light and air.
I found a golden thread - perfect addition to the project.

The half of the blocks are with such star, the rest with different.

Final balance 22 white fabrics, 28 red and green, 2 golden - for the bindings.
I am satisfied.

Klimt inspired mini quilts

This year is the year of Klimt.
150 Years from his birthday. Read more about Klimt here .
I like his works. First my patchwork inspired by Klimt was a curtain.
Now it is "The tree of life". With his spiral branches and gorgeous look of the woman's dress.
A set of three  mini quilts. 4 3/4 inches squares. You might say it is too small.
To fit  IKEA's frames.
Golden taffeta (small pieces left from my curtains) and polyester silk in mint green, neon purple, deep dark blue (on my pics it looks like black).

As I mentioned this quilt had to be put in a IKEA frame, so I  made an unusual quilting.
I decide to use as a back fabric a sheet of paper..
Yes, you are reading right - PAPER.
This gives two advantages:
The first  - the quilting will be more bold.
The second - it is easy to stick on the cardboard inside the frame.
I have added thin layer of batting and stuck to the paper with tape.

Quilting was like the tree's branches.

Add framed cardboard.

Final look - it is a little bit tilt, but the glass of the frame reflected everything standing in front of.

The picture is not so beautiful as the real quilt is.
I like the depth of the frame. It helps the quilt to be seen well.
The next one from here

to the frame

All three together.

It is a pity I finished late in the night and hurried to share with you :)

Cathedral windows taffeta needlecase

I have seen it in wonderful book "QUILTING 140 practical projects" by Isabel Stanley and Jenny Watson.
I love it, I want it.
I had to be very brave when decided to made this needle case.
This is my first cathedral windows project. It is not complicated, but sewing so small cathedral windows from taffeta seem to be very ambitious.
I have scraps left from my curtains.
At the very first beginning it was easy and pleasant to sew. I cut eight squares, folded and attached following instructions. Cut small pieces for the centers and then began the difficulties.
I was on the way to give up after sewing first square. But it would be pity for the lost 3 hours.
I  kept sewing.

The finished needle case looks so gorgeous.
 I forget about the hours spent in sewing.
Do you like it?
 I have written a tutorial with pics.
1. Cut eight  4 in inch squares. I use 3,5 in square freezer paper for easy folding the ends.

2. Fold each corner to the center point, press and pin.

3. Fold each corner to the center point once more. Stitch the corners at the center.

4. Place two patches right side facing and whip stitch.
There is no need to be so perfect like me :). At the end these places will be hidden.

5. Make 4 couples this way.

6. Then join the columns.

7. Measure the fold from one corner to the center point of the patch. Cut 8 squares in another colored taffeta to this size.  Pin each piece diagonally over the seam. Roll the fold over and slip stitch in place. Do the same with all 4 sides.

8. Repeat with others 7 squares.
Make the cathedral window effect on the patches without additional taffeta, too.

 9. Sew a button on the one side and a fabric loop to the other.

10. Cut the lining fabric to fit the case, adding 1/4 in seam allowance. Press under the seam allowances.

Press the corner this way. It will be easier to stitch to the outside part.

11. Slip stitch the lining to the needle case wrong sides facing.

12. Cut the felt to size and pink the edges. I have added 2 sheets.
13. Place the felt pieces in the needlecase and stitch down the centre line.

Enjoy the result.

Finished quilt in brown

I finished it on 11.09.11. In fact expected to be earlier, but the sewing was so funny so I was not bored. This quilt was my first so big quilt.
The condition "without heavy quilting" was difficult to follow. At the beginning I spent much time to fit the pieces. At the end it became so easy and fast.
The final result.

 The back is pretty, too. The "Quilt as you go" method allows combination on the back at the same time you are preparing the front.

 Some golden details.

I was happy, the client is satisfied.
Now it is time for next projects!

Big Gorgeous Quilt - brown and golden

An order for friends' daughter made me happy and put in front of new challenge.
To make a quilt for her bedroom in brown and golden, not heavy quilted and with gorgeous look.

The choice of fabrics is very limited, so I decide to use great Belgian curtain fabric, taffeta and some rests of curtain I was given by my cousin. Taffeta has an interesting characteristic to change its color when you look at it from different direction, because of  warp yarn and weft yarn used by weaving. They are two different colors.
The quilt's size is big so I decides to use "Quilt as you go" method.

The family is artistic so the squares seemed not right choice. The crazy rectangles looks better.  It took me some time to create the color schema.
First I have drawn the model on a big paper to make the templates. Began cutting and sewing the pieces.

 

Two contiguous parts connected with 1,5 inch strip.

The most interesting is that back side is different colors so there is another figure.

I will show it tomorrow.

Good night!