Using alcohol inks

I enjoyed some experimenting with alcohol inks on Yupo paper.  Because the Yupo paper is polypropylene, the ink does not absorb but runs across the surface. A bit of rubbing alcohol adds to the blending and random play of the colors.

 

Now that I have these wonderful treasures of color, what next??

Could I cut shapes out of the paper and attach it to a fiber piece?  Would it be possible to sew through the paper without it ripping or shredding?

On we go.....

.

I cut out silhouettes of birds.

I found some mitered border end scraps from a previous project.  By stitching these together, I had a small background.

(I love it when I can find a use for scraps.)

The birds were stitched in place (successfully).

The Nest (13" x 17")

Rainy Days and More Hexagons

You can blame it on the rain!
Yes, again I opened that bag of fabric and found more precut hexagons. 

With a bit of needed piecing to come up with the required hexagons, I came up with this pink and blue table centerpiece. This time I controlled the chaos of my previous hexagon piece and made a symmetrical design.

Some of my piecing was quite obvious in my hexagons.

But with a little thought, I managed to camouflage the piecing with my quilting lines.

You can hardly see the mismatch of the fabric design.

A bit of pink left from a full size quilt became the backing fabric. For the quilting thread, I am using up the remainder of a spool of variegated thread.

Ah, it feels so good to finish up little ends and pieces.
A relaxing, yet creative use of a dreary day.

Finishing hexagons

I chose to quilt my hexagons with a simple outline stitch. 

I feel this strengthens the shape and perhaps does a little to calm down the chaos.

The finished piece adds a bit of complimentary color to the table beneath my wall quilt. 

(The birds approve!)

For extra fun and to use up additional small bits of fabric, I also pieced the back of the hexagon piece.  This way I can flip it for a totally different look.

This opposite side could make a nice centerpiece 

along with the two squares I had left for matching coasters. 

 (I'm ready for the day when I can finally have a friend over for coffee.)

Meanwhile, still making masks.  

(Isn't it thoughtful that quilters had the foresight

 to keep enough supplies on hand to rise up in emergency situations.)

Another Moment of Color Chaos

Another bigger project has been whirling around in my head but its time has not arrived.  In the meantime, I found another bag of scraps that look too inviting to pass by.

Just what fun little project is hiding on my table??

 

Cheering on spring weather, I find several red and yellow hexagons. I can't go wrong with hexagons (my favorite shape) so lets see what we can come up with.

Smaller pieces of fabric, sewn together, are easily cut into more hexagons.......

Until I have a table full of hexagons.

It is simply a riot of color and confusion.  My perfect type of flower garden.

It is quite a contrast to this vintage diamond block that dates back to the 1930's flower garden  quilts.  (But then again, they probably had different "stay at home" orders.)

I hope you can peace and beauty in the riot of chaos and confusion of your life today.

And then I Was Done.....

After completing my quilt, the fabric pile was reduced to these small 1" wide scraps. Perfect candidates for the wastebasket...... or were they??

Was it possible to use them ALL up?

Sometimes the mind starts working and the machine starts stitching and you end up

with....

I cut two squares and started adding on the strips piecing them together as needed. I ended up with two perfect log cabin blocks with four logs on each side. 

(again God's planning, not mine)

A bit of rickrack on the edge was added to set off the fabrics.

The very last piece became a fused bookmark accented with the left over rickrack.

Ah, now I am done.