A Quilt and a Nap

I'm starting to incorporate my woodblock prints on linen in this velveteen and linen quilt. Love a checkerboard pattern... very simple and classic! As usual, it's all unplugged - sewn in the garden and on the deck :) This summer has been pretty crazy, harried and full of upheaval. We've had a full house of kids... quilting and knitting seems to be all I've been able to summon up creatively. Mostly, these arts are a comfort and really good therapy. Someday, the tired little girl in her daddy's arms will be sleeping under this quilt!

Sewing Squares

I've been working on a new quilt... made from left over linen from the last quilt I was making. This time, a simple patchwork is just so pleasing to the eyes. I never use a pattern, but somehow I want to incorporate the woodblock hearts on linen. (hmm, maybe a mini checkerboard around them? But, how to make it fit??? I'll find out as I do it!)

My daughter is getting into arranging the squares in different patterns and tells me she's making a quilt too! I'm excited to see she's interested; this could be the start of something good :)

Woodblocks on Linen

Ocean and Beach on black linen... destined to become a pillow

After a special request from a gallery employee... I printed the image she wanted on linen and will make a purse. It was while I was printing that I went a bit crazy, printing a whole bunch of woodblocks on fabric. I'm sending some to my mom who wants to make a quilt out of them... some for purses/totes and others will be pillows for my etsy shop!

Printing on Linen

Sorry, I know this is a pretty bad photograph!

I did these little experiments today not in the studio but in my kitchen... while my daughter played with the pots and pans. These are hand brayed because it's just too messy and risky to do it on the press. (My blankets would really get trashed!) It was kind of hard doing the woodblocks on fabric... but I tried a few things and rocking a wooden spoon while applying pressure to all parts of the block was the best method I discovered. I also used some stamps I carved out that white eraser material... they were great to work with on fabric.

I did some larger pieces too. First, I cut out 'fat quarters' but they seemed too big, so I cut 'em in half and made some pretty cool pieces - I'm happy with them! They probably will become purses and wallets. Tomorrow, I will be printing larger images on linen using the press... much easier - I forgot what a workout hand printing is!

Pencil Drawn Sashiko

Working on my linen quilt last night, I drew some more designs where they were needed on the quilt. (I have sewn some block together now and am working with larger rectangles made up of 6

blocks sewn together.)

Here is a funky, fun kind of geometric design I began stitching with navy blue thread.

Note: I have placed several new items in my Etsy shop, now that I know how to re size my photographs! There are fresh prints and a few little paintings. I will be adding some blockprinted greeting cards in the next few days as well.

Doodle Sashiko

I did this last night, I just drew on the linen with a white chalk pencil and started stitching! I might have to repeat the design, I like it!

Linen Quilt

Click on the photos for a closer look at the sashiko... I used a white chalk pencil to draw my designs and just stitched ... so much fun to watch it come alive.

Quilt experiment... I've always wanted to make a quilt with free-form applique and sashiko. So, here is the beginning of something exciting! I bought a heap of linen a few days ago since it was on sale and I need it to print on and later make summer purses with the results. .. but then, I got a 'wild hair' and decided to make a quilt with some of the fabric instead!