Turning improv patchwork into this.....

Remember my post from last week where we exchanged fabric bundles and I made this sample in a log cabin style.

I was given blues and reds in this fabric stash but this fresh spring look just needed a chair.( I am just cleaning and sorting my art room and noticed  my most fav fabric collection colours : grey, orange, lime green and driftwood shades.)
The sample I stretched into the embroidery hoop and  free hand embroidered a lounge chair mimicking a window view.

This was my favourite style of improv pieces.

Now it framed as a mimi quilt or placemat.

( It still needs a good press)

January 2012

Improv Patchwork

What to do with all the scraps from previous projects? The improv patchwork  class at our local fabric store the workroom is the answer. It is more  than sewing little bits and pieces together, it's about how
everyone in the group approaches each exercise differently. We brought a dozen of different fabric scraps ( some had bags) and made this......

next exercise:   bring a prepared fabric bundle from home , pick a number at the class and exchange it. This is interesting, you might end up with a colour palette you normally wouldn't pick.

the busy fabric I toned down with solid fabric and it has the 50's look

next exercise: fuzzy cut the centre  

This is my favourite piece. I chose a pale aquamarine palette with some charcoal solids.

Buying fabric

Recently I was asked where I purchase my fabrics. The answer is everywhere where I travel. We are blessed in North America with a huge selection of excellent cotton . The cost per yard or metre is almost double in Europe, so quilting is a luxury. I shop on-line for Japanese fabrics and go to my local quilting store The workroom or Quilt a Bag . The best vintage prints I find at antiques fairs or in my mother's closet! The textile museum in Toronto hosts every year a yard sale. Fabric lovers are lining up an hour before the open. The nicest thing is to make a bundle of scrap fabrics and swap with a friend!

Westcott Scissors with Carmi Cimicata

Last night my friend Carmi featured the Westcott 9-Piece Titanium Ultra Smooth Bent Scissors. If you missed her you have a chance to tune in today!

( photo taken from the TV screen)

She is a serious crafter and has tested many products for companies and when a product gets her approval you know it's good. I love fabric and when I saw the adjustable titanium ultra smooth scissors cutting through a pile of fabric I was impressed.
The kit also includes the Micropoint scissors.    This is going to be my favorite scissor since I am doing
The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery which started with a " Desert of the Month Club". These are seriously cute patterns by Amanda and Ashleigh.

Last but not least my fabric bag was also as a prop on Carmi's Westcott table on TV.

Fabric bags for everything we make

Last week I had several requests for my fabric bags. Here there are..........

For this bag I used the beautiful flower print by Lotta Jansdotter.

Lined with vintage ticking. ( Ticking is a heavy cotton or linen used for upholstery.)

This is a keeper

....... this little fabric scrap didn't make it to the waste basket. He is too cute.

Fabric from LizzyHouse.