The Overlook

...is finally finished, except for the hanging sleeve on the back. (Click on any photos to enlarge.)

(pardon the pins, but the quilt probably wouldn't stay on the design wall without them)

And against all odds at first, the darker bare shrubs were included in the end. The one thing I don't like about that is that the bare white shrub is practically invisible by contrast. But during auditioning, it became obvious that the center shrub gave the quilt added depth (despite also adding a bit of clutter to the scene), while the dark shrub on the right actually helped draw my eye to the birdhouse. Since they each had something positive to contribute, they were allowed to stay.

Here is the original photo, taken a couple of years ago at the Overlook Restaurant in Leavenworth, Indiana. You can see that some changes were made, due to 'artistic license' (mostly simplifying).

But there's some botanical license here, as well. A good bit of the meadow had browned out, as you can see, since autumn had arrived. However, my brown grass fabrics looked dull and out-of-scale for this middle ground and foreground. And we're not even going to discuss whether or not my flowers should really be there! Also, for weeks I'd debated on how to stitch that gorgeous clump of ornamental grass in the center of the photo. After nearly deciding to do it with bobbin work, on impulse I auditioned all the green grass fabrics instead. I liked them so much that the ornamental grass clump went out the (metaphorical) window. Earth science be darned, I would have my green meadow and my autumn leaves! Besides, some of the trees in the photo were still green, and much of the red foliage in the photo wasn't included in the quilt anyway. So, I'm thinking the quilt scene is about two weeks behind the photo scene, season-wise. Yep. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. ;)

My real point here is that if it's your landscape quilt, you're the boss. Nature is somewhat (or totally!) at your mercy.

Here are some closeups.

The two main trees were thread-painted on green tulle in an embroidery hoop. After all quilting was done, they were appliqued to the quilt with a free-motion straight stitch near the raw edges.

The bare shrubs were thread-painted over muslin and air, in a hoop (for more about that, click on the 'shrub' link above). They were the last elements to be attached (hand-couched).

The trunk is bobbin work (thread-painted in a hoop, right-side-down) in a size 20 variegated cotton thread.

Actually, turkey buzzards, not eagles, glide constantly above the Ohio river at the Overlook Restaurant. Please let me know if you ever see buzzard fabric anywhere!

White tulle was laid over the river to dull the intense blue; also over the background hills to 'fade' them for the illusion of distance.

This photo's a bit crooked--and I used a tripod!! Anyway...the birdhouse was constructed off-site, edges turned under, and straight-stitch appliqued on top of the already quilted forest.

A somewhat blurred shot of the darkest bare shrub. The post edges are not turned under. Those are raw, fused edges. I like the 'splintery' look of it. Not crazy about the horizontal wrinkles, but didn't want to quilt the post interior, as that would flatten it.

Here are a couple of photos where the quilting is more obvious.

The trees and the birdhouse puff out a bit, even without extra batting.

Off subject: Speaking of autumn, just had to include a couple of Halloween photos here.... 

This is Lucy, my sweet, only grandchild and the recipient of all items made to go in the often mentioned 'Lucy drawer.' She did not go trick-or-treating, as she is eating only pureed fruit/vegetables and teething crackers at this stage, but she seemed to enjoy being dressed for the occasion. (And Zoe, our diva cat, wanted that tutu now.)

Hooking up with Whoop Whoop Fridays. Check out the beautiful quilts going to Ethiopia!

Have a great weekend,

Linda

Two Trees & a Shrub Away from the Finish Line

This week The Overlook was squared, trimmed, bound and blocked. I usually block first, but the quilting was fairly even and was spaced far enough apart that the quilt really wasn't much out of square.

After squaring it with rulers and a marking pen, I stitched a line all around, just inside my marked line. That's to secure any quilting stitches at the edges before the final cut is made on the marked lines.

After blocking. You can see the T-pins between the binding and the quilt.

(also after blocking)

The quilt just barely fit on my 'blocking box' --the bottom section of a large but shallow shipping box, which I perched on top of a card table. It was nice to not have to work on the floor.

The box has a squared line drawn in permanent marker around the edges. It also has a lovely dent from being squashed in the attic door (thanks, son), so I propped up that section of the quilt with a partly folded fat-quarter to keep it level.

Two layers of an old cotton sheet were laid over the quilt, misted with water until damp (not wet), then well-steamed a couple of inches above the surface with my iron.

The quilt was left untouched overnight and most of the next day. By then all layers were completely dry. Even though it was fairly square to begin with, blocking gave it a more 'finished' look, shrinking out any flabby sections and smoothing the whole quilt without taking away any of the texture or puffiness. It's hard to describe, but there's definitely a difference.

Both trees passed the final audition and were attached this afternoon by free moton machine stitching. This weekend one (or maybe two) of the three shrubs will be re-auditioned. If all goes as planned, the quilt should be finished early next week.

While the quilt was being blocked, the vinyl overlay used in designing and piecing the quilt top was spread out for cleaning---the idea being to wipe the 'permanent' marker off with rubbing alcohol, since any errant lines during the initial drawing had been successfully removed by those little alcohol pads that come in individual wrappers.

Well, so much for that plan. Apparently, if you leave permanent marker on vinyl long enough, it does become permanent. It did fade from black to blue (notice the upper half), but that's as far as the cleaning went. Then again, maybe it's the alcohol. As mentioned, I used the little individually wrapped pads when correcting my lines during drawing. But when attempting to clean the entire piece of vinyl, I used paper towels and isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) from a bottle--which didn't seem to smell nearly as strong. Might there be a difference? I wonder now. If anyone knows, please share. Didn't think to test it at the time. Maybe later.

Anyway, now the vinyl (and the paper it came with to keep it from sticking to itself) are rolled up on a mailing tube and labeled 'used vinyl.' I'll use it to paint fabric on, or for some other messy job. Very little goes to waste around here.

Time to sign off. Loving this fall weather and being upstairs with the studio windows open, but I do wish our fall color was better this year. Overall it's just been too dry. Here's a shot from one of the windows.

Before I go, though, I'm linking up with Whoop Whoop Fridays and Free Motion Mavericks. Check them out and get ready for lots of inspiration!

Have a wonderful weekend, wherever you are this fall (or spring, depending on your hemisphere).

Linda

To Tree or Not to Tree

Last week there wasn't much to show on the Overlook landscape, although the quilt-top piecing was finished. This week brought more action.

Binder clips and masking tape were used to hold the backing smooth (not taut--which is generally a mistake. Guess how I know. ;)

Before layering the quilt top on the batting and the backing fabric, a final sticky-roll was done on the back of the quilt top. It was the last time I would ever see this surface, and I don't want any nasty surprises showing through the sky fabric after the quilt is done. Too late then!

The old vinyl-covered, lead pattern-weights shown in a recent blog were used to hold the batting in place for basting.

 After many hours of free-motion quilting (including the satin stitching), it's close to being finished...

...except for the handwork, consisting of two thread-painted trees and two or three shrubs (stacked behind one another in the photo), which will be tucked under those un-quilted grass sections---but only after the quilt is blocked, trimmed and bound. This keeps the trees and shrubs from getting ratty during quilting and handling.

Their positions have been tentatively decided, but they will be auditioned again before attaching. That's because there's a fine line between embellishing and cluttering, especially in a scene this busy. Also, having the binding already on is going to make a difference in the overall appearance of the quilt, which means some of these thread-painted pieces may look better switched or may even need to be omitted.

So, to tree or not to tree....that is the question. Or will be.

Meanwhile, the rows for the twin-size donation quilt are still waiting. The batting pieces are cut but the backing still needs to be pieced. Looking forward to trying this method of quilting and joining, one row of top and batting at a time, onto an overall, one-piece backing. (My shoulders and neck are not yet ready to wrestle with a whole quilt at once, regardless of the size of my harp space.) My friend Kathy quilts this way all the time, and her quilts are gorgeous. Crossing my fingers I can do her proud.

Linking up with Free Motion Mavericks and Whoop Whoop Fridays. Check them out; you'll be glad you did.

Have a wonderful weekend, in whatever hamlet you happen to live.

Linda

Fiddly Bits

This week, piecing on the Overlook quilt came down to the last stage, the 'fiddly bits' (I love that expression!). They are fused/glued, and the raw edges are being basted by machine.

The red flower-head pins are reminders not to baste those areas where tree and shrub trunks will be inserted behind a fabric layer. At present I'm thinking that at least two embroidered shrubs will be used on the quilt, as well as two of the three thread-painted trees. They'll be attached after all quilting is done.

The eagles are lower in the sky than I like, but by the time the top edge of the quilt gets trimmed, the higher eagle will barely escape with his wingtips intact.

Off subject, last weekend a dear friend gave me what was left of her Superior Rainbow thread after switching to their Magnifico line for her longarm. I was floored at her generosity (and not for the first time). There are tons of thread left on most of these large spools, and I can't wait to start playing with it!

Also off the subject, another addition to the Lucy drawer.

VVHH (very versatile handy husband) does not like this sweater. He thinks it's strange-looking. I think it's funky and cute. And it's warm and soft (they all are). Again, a variegated yarn from Deborah Norville's Serenity Chunky line, this time in a colorway called 'Cattails.' I was hoping the front pieces would match better, but it's really not a big deal.

Update: Hooking up with Whoop Whoop Fridays. Look what Sarah and the mission team will be delivering this weekend. Also linking in at WIPs Be Gone. Beautiful quilt block, and there's a book giveaway going on!

Speaking of weekends, have a great one.

Linda