Saturday, October 08, 2005

SILK CHALLENGE


I have finished my silk challenge piece. Turned out that the blue I dyed turned out turquoise on the silk.. the purple turned out more red, so I couldn't use it and ended up cutting the piece that I had planned to use for the back I started machine quilting it, but I didn't like it, so I picked out all of the quilting and started hand quilting it just down each strip. I'm really out of practice with hand quilting. Good thing this isn't going to be intended for anything special.
I like to design, I like to construct.. but I don't like the quilting part. I just don't feel I am up to par in my skills. I am a relatively new machine quilter, I have only been at it for a year or so. I have always hand quilted, and I used to be pretty good at it, but, it is a skill that takes constant practice to remain proficient. And now that I am enjoying entering shows, I am more aware about my stitches and if they are up to par. I have practiced my hand applique and I am up to 20 stitches per inch with my needleturn. I do love needleturn the best of all of my quiltmaking. I am thinking of a design to incorporate my favorite piecing pattern and needleturn applique. The design is still in the planning stages. Anyway, I bought some DVD's today, I plan on watching them this weekend while I clean my living room, and do some sewing. The movies were only $7.00 at Sam's. Memphis Belle, Anne of Green Gables and the sequel. I almost bought the original Amityville Horror, and Carrie.. Maybe next time. It's a nice cozy weekend. Cold and rainy outside. I stopped and got a hot coffee and a Glazed Devil's food Krispy Creme . We are eating healthy at home, so no goodies anymore.. I just needed something sweet. I passed up all of the cookies in the bakery at Sams. One doughnut is better than a dozen chocolate chip cookies... at least that's what I keep telling myself...

4 comments:

Rian said...

Lovely colors, Teri! I just love the way silk takes dye, don't you? I bought some silk brocades in China, don't know if I'll ever use them, they seem to ravel a lot.

Enjoy your cool weather. I remember October 10 being just about peak leaf peeping time. I love Wallace & Grommitt!

Karoda said...

Teri, I prefer hand stitching too, but I haven't done much of it since I've wanted to concentrate on finishing pieces and prepare for submitting work. But my machine quilting is embarrassing and I have anxiety everytime I sit down to do it. I just purchased a gazillion felt squares to practice on a few days ago. I do find that listening to music versus a book on tape or silence helps me.

The silk colour is very rich and the piece looks fun and upbeat.

Debra Dixon said...

Beautiful colors!

My latest piece is all handsewn. I seem to have trouble making myself sit down to handsew & in the past (long time ago) I could sit and handsew for hours. I think it is what we get used to doing. This piece is not for any ahows so I am letting myself do whatever kind of sewing I want!

Debra Dixon said...

have you started quilting this beautiful piece yet? show photos, OK?