Maple leaf art quilt – part 5 – 2019.12.18

Posted on December 18, 2019 by TerryAske

In my post last week, I showed a mock-up of the background of my Maple leaf art quilt.

Since then, I fused the tree trunks to the background leafy fabric, then layered it with batting and backing, and quilted it with vertical straight lines.

Tree trunks fused to leafy background
Background quilted and positioning leaves

I cut the leaves from the full-size paper pattern to determine exactly where I want the leaves on the background. I’ll use this to position the individual leaves when I quilt them in place.

This quilt is a good example of why I work better when I have a deadline. I was pretty bored quilting all those vertical lines, but with a looming deadline I persevered and got it done. Then I blocked the quilt – I laid it flat, sprayed it with water, gave it a good pressing and left it to dry.

Blocking: sprayed with water, then pressed, then left flat to dry thoroughly

Now I’m back to the fun part – quilting the individual leaves. It’s taking me about an hour to quilt each leaf. First I quilt around the outside edges and up the center vein. Then I quilt around the edge of each fused piece. Then I trim the boiled wool close to the fused pieces. In the photos below, clockwise from top left – leaf 4 before quilting, leaf 3 being quilted, leaf 4 quilted and trimmed, leaf 4 quilting from the back.

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Thanks for stopping by.  Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.
~ Love Laugh Quilt Monday Making
~ WIP Wednesday @ The Needle & Thread Network

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Maple leaf art quilt – background – 2019.12.11

Posted on December 11, 2019 by TerryAske

I’m working on the background of the Maple leaf art quilt. In my last post, I showed a selection of low-volume leafy prints that I was considering for the background.

When I posted the photo on Facebook a few days ago, and said I might use all the fabrics in the background, my very wise and talented friend Judith said “Keep it simple!!!!” I kept thinking of more fabrics and details I could add to the background. Then I would audition it with and without the additions. Every time simplicity won. I just keep repeating Judith’s words to myself!

All the background fabrics I initially pulled are too small to use for the background. But I did find this leafy fabric in my stash, and I have more than enough – so that’s what I’m using!

Background fabric and tree fabrics

Then of course I pulled out a lot of other possible fabrics for the tree trunks. But most of them were too dark or too busy. I decided to restrict myself to the 4 above – keeping it simple!

Tree trunk rejects

I took a quick photo before removing the leaves from the design wall. I will be adding a few more tree trunks. I did add one darker leafy print along the bottom – just because I wanted some contrast.

Background – simplified

Now I’ve removed the leaves, and I’m going to construct, layer and quilt the background. Then I’ll quilt and attach the leaves.

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Thanks for stopping by.  Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.
~ Love Laugh Quilt Monday Making
~ WIP Wednesday @ The Needle & Thread Network

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Maple leaf art quilt – part 3 – 2019.12.09

Posted on December 9, 2019 by TerryAske

The last two Maple leaves are done. As I expected, I changed my mind several times about the fabrics and colors of each leaf as I constructed them. I really like the plaid and text fabrics I used.

Below are photos of leaf #4 and leaf #5 during construction.

And here’s a photo of all the leaves pinned to my design wall. The lighting isn’t very good, so the colors are not really accurate.

I haven’t yet quilted or trimmed the lower three leaves. I think I’m going to start piecing the low volume background, and I’ll finish the leaves later.

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Thanks for stopping by. Today, I’m linking up with Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday

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Maple leaf art quilt – part 2 – 2019.12.04

Posted on December 4, 2019 by TerryAske

Work continues on the Maple leaf art quilt. I decided I needed another color of the boiled wool that I’m using for the veins and outline of each leaf. I started with light olive and dark olive, and now I’ve added magenta. I also want to have more variety of colors and patterns within each leaf.

Here’s how the third leaf evolved today. The colors are not true in these photos (the wool looks burgundy in this light, but it really is magenta).

Below you can see my design wall with potential colors for the background and the next two leaves. The first leaf is now looking too pale and un-interesting to me, so I may change it later. But first I’ll finish the remaining leaves and piece and quilt the low volume background. Adding the leaves will be one of the last steps, so there’s still time to change my mind.

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Thanks for stopping by.  Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.
~ Love Laugh Quilt Monday Making
~ WIP Wednesday @ The Needle & Thread Network

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Starting a new art quilt – 2019.11.29

Posted on November 30, 2019 by TerryAske

SAQA has a call for entry specifically for Canadian members, called Colour with a U. I’ve been thinking about possible entries, and I finally decided on very large (bigger than real life) Maple leaves.

I printed a collage of leaf photos I have taken over the past couple of years, then traced the leaves into an arrangement inspired by a recent photo I took.

Here’s my sketch. I enlarged it to about 36 x 36 inches – each leaf is 16 to 20 inches wide.

I’m making each leaf separately, fusing fabrics to a background of boiled wool. I had originally planned to use felt, but I couldn’t find any felt in the olive-green color I wanted. After searching several stores for the felt, I found the boiled wool – a slightly lighter shade than I wanted, and a slightly darker shade. I bought some of each, and I’m optimistic that using the 2 shades will add even more interest to the leaves.

Each leaf will be a different color. Here’s the first, which is a variety of yellow and light green fabrics – many from my scrap bags.

Here’s the second leaf, in various shades of green. You can see that I’m drawing each leaf on freezer paper, then drawing the main veins and cutting along those lines to create sections. I’m tracing each section onto fusible web, then positioning the sections slightly apart so the wool shows between them as the veins.

In the photo below, you can see the quilting on the yellow-green leaf. I quilted around each section, then added more quilting lines to denote the thinner veins. After completing the quilting, I trimmed the wool to about 1/4″ from the edges of the fabrics. The green leaf is fused but not yet quilted or trimmed. I’m auditioning background fabrics, but won’t finalize that part until the leaves are completed.

Next I’m going to make an red-orange leaf, an orange-gold leaf, and a red-purple leaf. Or maybe I’ll change my mind about colors as I proceed.

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Thanks for stopping by. Today, I’m linking up with Can I get a Whoop Whoop? by Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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Anonymous artwork revealed – 2019.10.31

Posted on October 31, 2019 by TerryAske

IAD Anonymous Show – I had 3 fabric art pieces accepted into the annual International Artists Day Anonymous Show at 100 Braid St Studios in New Westminster BC. There were over 250 pieces of artwork, including oil & acrylic paintings, textile art, photography and mixed media pieces. The artwork is all 12 x 12 x 1.5” and all priced at $150. It’s hung so that the name of the artist is hidden until the art is sold. When an artwork is purchased, the art is removed from the display wall and the artist’s name revealed.

The art was on display from October 25 to 27, 2019, starting with a Gala Opening the evening of Friday, October 25th. I attended on the second night and took these photos of the show. You can see the amazing variety of styles and techniques. The gaps in the display grids are where art was removed as it sold.

Because it’s an anonymous show, I couldn’t reveal my 3 pieces until the show was over. I’m pleased to say the 2 pieces below were sold at the show – ‘Still Life in Fruit Bowl’ and ‘WOW Westminster Abstract 2’. The first one may look familiar – I made it a couple of months ago for the Curated Quilts B&W mini challenge. (I temporarily hid this post once it was accepted for the Anonymous show.)

And this is my 3rd piece, which didn’t sell at the show – ‘WOW Westminster Abstract 1’. Ironically, it’s the one I like the best. So it will be hung on my wall.

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Thanks for stopping by. Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.

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My art work on display – 2019.10.13

Posted on October 13, 2019 by TerryAske

Quilting in the Garden – remember the Succulents quilt I made in July and entered in the Alden Lane Nursery Quilting in the Garden quilt show? At the end of September, I visited my friend Heidi who lives near San Francisco, and we attended the quilt show in Livermore. There were more than 250 beautiful quilts hanging among the majestic oak trees, including 3 of my quilts.

  • Succulents
  • Converging Corners
  • Round and Round We Go

Curated Quilts STARS issue – in June, I submitted two mini quilts for the Curated Quilts Star mini challenge. I also submitted a few of my larger star-themed quilts for the Gallery section. ‘Twinkle Stars’ was selected for the mini challenge, and ‘Scrappy Stars’ was included in the Gallery.

I just received my mini quilt and my copy of the STARS issue in the mail. I’m looking forward to reading it cover to cover.

IAD Anonymous Show – I will have 3 pieces in the annual International Artists Day Anonymous Show at 100 Braid St Studios in New Westminster BC. There will be over 250 pieces of artwork, including oil & acrylic paintings, textile art, photography and mixed media pieces. All pieces are 12 x 12 inches and all are priced at $150.

The art will be hung so the names of the artists are hidden.  When an artwork is purchased, the art is removed from the display wall and the artist’s name revealed. Here’s a photo from last year’s show.

IAD Anonymous Show 2018

The art will be on display from October 25 to 27, 2019, starting with a Gala Opening the evening of Friday, October 25th.  Click here for more information.

Because it’s an anonymous show, I can’t yet reveal my pieces. After the festival is over, I’ll do a blog post about my 3 pieces.

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Thanks for stopping by. Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.

Posted in Art quilts, Mini quilts, Modern quilts, Quilt shows | 5 Comments

Journal quilt for FAN artist exchange – 2019.09.07

Posted on September 7, 2019 by TerryAske

Later this month, I’ll be heading to Naniamo BC for the annual conference of the Fibre Art Network.  As usual we will have an art exchange.  All participants are invited to create a journal size quilt (8.5 by 11 inches) inspired by this year’s conference theme, ‘Coastal Networks’.

These prompts were provided for inspiration for the exchange:
• The ocean reflecting the sunset?
• Life under the sea?
• A network of friends?

The second phrase “life under the sea” reminded me of my art quilt “Synchronized Swimming” that I made last year.

Synchronized Swimming by Terry Aske

I thought it would be fun to use the same fabrics and shapes on a smaller scale for my journal piece.

As with the original, I pieced and quilted the background before adding the fish. Then I used paper shapes to audition various positions for the fish.

I fused the fish in place and then quilted around each one.

Synchronized Swimming 2 by Terry Aske

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Thanks for stopping by. Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.

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SAQA annual benefit auction – 2019.09.05

Posted on September 5, 2019 by TerryAske

Each year, SAQA invites each of its members to create a small 12 x 12 inch piece of art and donate it to the annual SAQA Benefit Auction.  The auction has a dual purpose – to increase the recognition of quilts as art and quilters as artists, and to raise funds to support SAQA’s exhibition programs and education outreach activities.

This year there are over 440 pieces that have been donated by SAQA artists from around the world. You can see them all on the SAQA website here. Think about which you might want to bid on when the auction opens on Sepember 13th. Or just enjoy browsing through hundreds of mini works of art!

This is my entry for this year – ‘A Slice of Lime’

This is my seventh auction quilt!   Below are the six previous ones.  As you can see, I like to mix it up and use a variety of techniques.

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Thanks for stopping by.  Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.

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Another B&W mini quilt – 2019.08.28

Posted on August 28, 2019 by TerryAske

As often happens, my subconscious influences my design choices. I’d been thinking about black & white quilts for the Curated Quilts mini challenge, and I noticed a fruit bowl in a friend’s kitchen. The shape of the fruit bowl intrigued me, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. So when I visited her the next day, I asked if I could take a photo.

Inspiration

I selected a white fabric with silver lines that reminds me of Arborite kitchen countertops of my youth. I built the fruit bowl with black bias tape.

Starting construction of bowl

My original intention was to submit the black fruit bowl on a white countertop as a completed mini quilt. But I couldn’t resist adding some stylized fruit.

Still Life by Terry Aske

I’m not sure if it meets the criteria of mostly black & white with a sense of motion – but isn’t that lemon trying to escape from the bowl? I have submitted it anyway, and even if it isn’t selected, I love it!

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Thanks for stopping by.  Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.

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