This time... LINES

Remember my pictures for inspiration post from last week? Well, I guess I really like the concept, because I took another walk, this time on the search for lines. 

a fence line

Trees have always been a big deal to me. I'm not sure just what it is exactly, their grandeur, their ability to clean the air, their home site capabilities, their colors and beauty. If you've ever seen the changing colors of the leaves in fall, or fledgling bluebirds following the mama from branch to branch, or Spanish moss dripping in the fog, you'd get it. 

knobby lines on the left,
smooth lines in the center

So anyway, here are my lines. We have a few trees in our yard, so I thought I'd capture a few pictures of the lines that trees create. 

not all lines are straight in a swamp;
trees lean into the softer ground

sexy curves?

lines going the wrong way

And I'll close with a few lines that are not from trees. Do you see the lines in these everyday objects? 

Pictures for inspiration

Under my needle today are these masks in gingham that my niece requested. Ten in total they've been relatively easy to sew. I made a jig to help in the pleating and that has made all the difference. Before this request, I'd made a few in oranges because I'd over-cut some 1½ inch strips. How convenient that they're the exact size of the straps. 

Recently one of the BRMQG quilters posted some photos she'd taken on her daily walks. The pictures depict lines in nature, and she uses the pics as inspiration to make blocks.   

hard gravel

mushy mushrooms

I loved the idea and decided to join her, except that I would work on textures. 

soft clover in bloom

  It doesn't take long to find different textures when you're looking. I started by looking down at the things under my feet as I walked. 

prickly stickers (yes in my yard!)

But soon I was looking a bit higher.

splintered wood

And then straight ahead at eye level.

rough oak trunk made even more so with woodpecker holes

sticky, prickly cedar

It was a fun exercise, though I was strolling rather than walking. I forced myself to get moving because I was, after all, out there for the physical exercise and it was getting hot. I don't necessarily intend to use these, except that I am enjoying the many different textures and it's as great exercise in mindfulness. 

Pin It Weekly #167

What's going on in your world?  There's lots of rain here. Plus, it looks as though there will soon be more if the weather systems headed toward the Gulf comes just a bit closer than the weather guy is predicting. I don't know how Louisiana could possibly hold more water. 

Martha Fultz has 218 boards and well over 100K pins! Wow! Now that's dedication! Here are a few pins from her boards:

Isn't this piece gorgeous?

Who doesn't love a toile look?

Sewing room organization! Oh yes...need some of that!

Martie Netuschil has over 11K pins on her board of cake stands alone! Talk about going over the top! But look at how pretty these are?

Don't be fooled by Simon (sorry no last name)'s 15 boards...he has over 1,000 pins on those boards. The first one is a texture of rocks to make it hard and crumbly. The second has some soft grass. 

And from his "Abstract/Design" board.

Have a great weekend. I'll see you for Sunday Quilt Inspiration...you know when!

Fidget Quilts #8 and #9

Since I forgot to take photos of Fidget Quilt #8, I'll just have to move on to #9. I made this one in less than a couple of hours.  Of course, these are quick and easy.  I loved Jenclair's beautiful orange and green FQ so much that I decided to play with a little orange and green of my own.  I added purples because, well, why not?  


Pulled a few of my favorite fabrics in orange, green and purple. Scissor-cut wide strips, which sewed together in no time, and played with a few layouts.

On to sewing, I tacked down the quilt with the first seams so I wouldn't need pins.  Then started some free-motion stippling without the BSR!  

In this picture you can just see the applique seam I used for the striped fabric.  I left a wide fold when I turned the fabric, so that I could flip it over and stitch it down backward.  This helps the seam to stand up so patients' hands can "find" the seam by touch.

Yes, just put on the embroidery foot and played.  My seams are much smother than I thought they could be.  


Just before closing in the quilt, I added an old piece of necklace chain on one end and about 8 beads in different sizes and shapes on the other end.  If you can see the dark shapes in the fabric in these small pics, you're looking at the shadowing of those beads and the chain.

Finally I carried the orange color to the other side of the quilt with a square of fabric that I ruched with elastic.  A patient who pulls on the 3D shape will be a little surprised because the elastic gives since I tacked down the edges only.  So the shape is a loop that I can slip my hand in.

I like adding lots of dimension and tactile experiences for the Alzheimer's patients who receive them.  I plan to add a few buttons and other trinkets to this quilt.  I tend to let a couple pile up, play with notions and found objects for all of them, and have a sewing session that finishes up all of the quilts at once.  

This quilt is the first one for the Alzheimer's ward in the nursing home closest to our house, so I guess I've now officially started the next batch. This one will take at least ten quilts so it may be a little while before I make the next delivery.

Linking up with

Finish it Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts
Art Quilt Designs

Fidget Quilt #7

A recently finished fidget quilt!  This baby is already in the hands of an Alzheimer's patient.

Richard and I delivered eight quilts earlier in the week.  I wanted the first group to go to the nursing home where my mom was a patient for a summer.  

This particular quilt is one I made using scraps and a long piece of yellow ribbon.  I wanted to work on this fabric manipulation technique in which the fabric is folded into box pleats.  Using this ribbon really added texture.

But you know I got tired of making the same pleats over and over, so I just used up the ribbon by playing with it.  The goal was to see how many folds I could make.  Turns out that there aren't many once you form a 45 degree fold, it's over!

I did accomplish getting more texture by sewing the triangles so that they stick up.  The trick is to barely catch the base of the triangle where the ribbon meets the quilt.  I used my thimble to show how much the ribbon stands up.

Ribbon and squares along the edges for added color and texture.  And in the squares, some beads.....because!

I hope that the receiver is calmed by holding and playing with it. With each quilt I say a prayer for the person who will keep busy by handling the fabrics, beads and ribbons.  

Please join me in praying for these patients, also. 

I did it!  I'm linking up with all five of the Friday linky parties:

Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts 

Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Fabric Frenzy Friday for Fourth Worth Fabric Studio

Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday for Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday TGIFF--find TGIFF at Quilt Matters this week

Link a Finish Friday at Richard and Tanya Quilts 

Please go and say hello!

Fidget Quilt #6

This poor little quilt has been sitting on the worktable waiting patiently.  The first thing I did when I got into the studio this morning was to finish it.

I started with this quilted purple fabric left from a long-ago project.  It was long and skinny, so I cut it in half and made a seam.  Then it was a matter of playing.

The aqua flower pieces were all in the scraps bin and make for lots of interest.  I used one color of aqua thread to zigzag them down and, to make sure that they stayed down, I added a line of stitches down the center.

Check out the green stem.  I just had fun with the whole thing.  The dark green thread was on the machine when I sat down, so guess what--outline the stem and leaves!

The grass is another design element that I decided to play with.  I wanted to know how fabric acts when it's twisted and turned and looped.  I planned to make one straight seam, but I decided instead to sew between the loops and to add sprigs of grass at the same time.  It worked, but more importantly is that it gives lots of textural interest.


Flowers need sunshine, so I bunched up a yellow stripe ribbon and stitched it down with lots of short seams so that it wouldn't flatten.

It was a bit of a challenge at first, but once I got a feel for where to place the stitches, we rolled right along. And in no time the three-dimensional sun was shining down.

In just under an hour the entire quilt was finished, including the dark green binding, which oddly looks almost black in the photos.

I'm really pleased with this fidget quilt.  I've gotten lots of ideas for future quilts and enjoyed playing with the ribbons.  I'm excited to donate this Alzheimer's fidget quilt.  I have no doubt that some little lady is going to love handling it and playing in the grass.

Linking up with:

Sew Darn Crafty at Sew She Can