Quilt University

I'm having a bout of insomnia, so I thought I would finally post about my Quilt University adventure this winter. I took a class called "People in Places" taught by Linda Schmidt.

We did two "warm up" pieces before working on the main project. The main project was to select a favorite photo of a person in a landscape setting and turn that into a wall quilt.

The first project was a landscape. Linda showed us how to use shimmery chiffon fabrics for surf. She also showed us how to make burnt edges-the mountains are done this way. The tree is made with thread on a water soluble stabilizer in an embroidery hoop, which is quite fun.

Our next project was a figure. I fused mine to this starry fabric. Her hair is made the same way as the tree. This was a quick fun little piece. We spent so much time on the first piece that by the time we got to the main project I was wishing for a break, but I persevered. The class started near the end of January and went until mid-March, although the last few weeks were not classes, just time to work on our project.

At the very beginning in January we all introduced ourselves and met Linda, this is all online remember. Folks joined from all over! Ireland, Ontario, and all over the U.S. Several mentioned that they took QU classes before but did not keep up with the work. That was a big hint to me that if I wanted to get something out of this experience I needed to put in the time. And it certainly did take time, but I am glad I completed each project.

Here's my completed project! It is my daughter when she was about 7 years old at Rocky Pond at Baxter State Park. I think that mountain is Double Top. If you have ever stayed at the cabins at Kidney Pond, you may have hiked to Rocky Pond.

The sky is painted with fabric paints. Can you see the curly machine quilting? I had fun with that.
The leaves on the bushes are made from two fabrics fused together then cut out in leaf shapes. I sewed them on one by one down the middle of the leaf. Some of the rocks have beads sewn on them. Beads around DD and a dragonfly button hovers near her.

Lots of thread painting for the grasses and branches. Little snippets of fabric for the rocks.

Oh, almost forgot! The figure is done separately on white fabric. It is colored with pastel crayons, appliqued to the quilt, then additional thread painting completes her. I really had fun making this whole piece. I highly recommend Quilt University. Check it out, you will probably find a class you want to take.

Color

I found this video on equilter.com. It is from 2009, but still interesting. Did you know that the color of the year for 2011 is Honeysuckle? It is a real candy pink. Did Luana pick it? I'd love to sit in on that panel, what fun!

Turquoise was the color of the year for 2010. No surprise! Turquoise is everywhere now.