Thursday, September 24, 2015

Cabin and Meadow

This week, the cabin section of the Overlook quilt was pieced, using Steam-a-Seam 2 Lite paper-backed fusible.

Used release paper to trace the whole section for placement.






It didn't take long to realize I'd be better off omitting the deck (especially the railing) and going with a simple wood cabin.







Fused all pieces at once on the release paper, then fused the whole section to the quilt top.







Added some trees, and a bit of meadow grass on the distant downhill slope.








But the cabin looked too plain and blank without windows, so some pale gray-blue batik was fused onto the cabin wall. Then the whole cabin was touched up, windows included, with a Marvy fabric-paint marker and a Sharpie marker. (Later, the trees were highlighted with a yellow fabric marker.)


Next it was time to audition fabric for middle-ground and foreground meadow grass.

I'm switching to black-and-white photos at this point. One reason is to better illustrate, without the distraction of color, the difference between my original choice to use this large-scale grass print for both middle ground and foreground...

large-scale grass print extending all the way from the tree line to the foreground
and my subsequent decision to insert a smaller-scale grass print behind the large-scale grass print, for a more realistic perspective:

Small-scale grass print below tree line for middle ground, large scale to be used in foreground.
The other reason for using black-and-white photos is that I forgot to take the thread-painted trees off the quilt for the first photo. I'm not ready to show them in a color photo of the quilt top just yet, as their final position isn't quite decided.

Next up will probably be the birdhouse section. That will be constructed off-site, just as the cabin section was.

Off subject, finished an outfit for the Lucy drawer:


This is a swing-top and diaper cover knitted in Rowan Handknit Cotton. The outfit in the pattern book was made in three colors as well, just not these. My colors were chosen from a swatch chart on a yarn company's website, and when the yarn arrived I realized that only one of the colors, the turquoise, actually looks just like it did on the website. Hence, at first glance this color combo may look a little strange, but I've gotten used to it now. And Lucy won't care. Not yet, anyway.

Hooking up with Whoop Whoop Fridays, where Sarah has finished a wonderful photo quilt.

Everyone have a great weekend. And happy autumn!!

Linda

4 comments:

  1. That is such a darling outfit for Lucy. I'm really enjoying and appreciate your sharing with us how you make the landscape. It's looking grand already and so like a painting - Wow!

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    1. Thanks, Angie. I almost quit this landscape project, but am committed to it now, which of course is making it more fun. The birdhouse is almost finished now. Thanks so much for the encouragement!

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  2. I'm very glad you didn't give up this landscape asI enjoy seeing your process and results. I am a "landscaper" as well and learn or at least am reminded of principals in every
    It's. Thank you for reminding me that the printed trees, grass etc are so much fun to use. You just need to get the right scale. That's the hard part and proves the need for a huge stash :-) I've been using mostly batiks lately but still do have a large printed landscape stash from a few years ago when I used only the printed. Good choice on the grass and thanks for showing that.

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    1. Carol, sometimes I feel a little bit too dependent on the printed landscape fabrics, as much as I love them and as many as there are in my stash. I'm thinking of trying something Ruth B. McDowell has done, which is using different-scale prints that are NOT landscape prints for elements like hills and trees and even buildings. It looks like fun. I also love the batiks you use in your quilts, and want to try that as well. You have amazing color and value sensibility, and your quilts are absolute eye-poppers.

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