These past few weeks have been a total whirlwind as I've got a number of projects in the works. Two projects on my radar involved two quilt challenges:
Given my limited bandwidth, I chose to create one quilt that meets both quilt challenge guidelines. This is not cheating...it's being resourceful!! ;-)
My morning walk abouts helped to inspire this spring-time scene inspired by the saying "April showers bring May flowers." A garden scene featuring 3 flower pots, each containing some springtime blooms was free-motion stitched onto a greenery solid backdrop. Instead of marking out my design, I created two templates out of contact paper for the flower centers along with some blue painter's tape to outline my flower pots. Everything else was truly free-motion quilted.
While I was rather pleased with my wholecloth quilted scene...it was time to transform it with some crayon-etched/modern mola magic. That meant taking a deep breath before brandishing my trusty seam ripper along with curved tip embroidery snips to carefully remove portions of the solid greenery fabric to reveal a secret layer of colorful and pattern fabrics layered beneath the surface. The first cut is always the scariest...but once the hidden layer is revealed, I couldn't wait to cut out the next section!! Lucky for you that I managed to show some restraint to slow down and capture some pictures of the progress so you too can witness the transformation.
As I did not mark out my design in advance, there was a small gap next to my daisy. This created the perfect opportunity to add a friendly fauna to my design by stitching in a butterfly.
There is more mod mola magic on the horizon! Until then, I would like to wish you a very colorful and happy Spring!!
- "May I?," a May Off Season Project Quilting Challenge celebrating the "May I?" theme by starting and finishing a quilted project during the month of May
- 2017 Pantone Color of the Year Quilt Challenge by making a quilt, mini quilt or quilt top that celebrates this year's Pantone Color: Greenery.
Given my limited bandwidth, I chose to create one quilt that meets both quilt challenge guidelines. This is not cheating...it's being resourceful!! ;-)
My morning walk abouts helped to inspire this spring-time scene inspired by the saying "April showers bring May flowers." A garden scene featuring 3 flower pots, each containing some springtime blooms was free-motion stitched onto a greenery solid backdrop. Instead of marking out my design, I created two templates out of contact paper for the flower centers along with some blue painter's tape to outline my flower pots. Everything else was truly free-motion quilted.
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| Before and After |
Captivating Coneflowers
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| Dazzling Daisy |
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| Radiant Rose |
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| Beautiful Butterfly |
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| Spring Inspired Aurifil Threads to Help My Garden Bloom with Color & Texture |
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| Fun Quilt Back Featuring this Garden Inspired Print |
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| "Spring Has Sprung" finishes 27" x 21" |
Beautiful and so creative, as usual! You are so prolific! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAww...thank you Jackie. I am having so much fun with these mod molas!! It is so exciting to reveal the hidden layer...instant gratification!! I am in the process of creating a 1-2 day workshop based on this project/technique...cannot wait to see what others create!!
DeleteWow this is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tomomi...it is super fun too!! The transformation is so exciting to watch...I hope you will give it a try!
DeleteThis looks like a very interesting technique, what happens if you clip into the 2nd layer?
ReplyDeleteGreat question Judy. That is certainly a fear of mine. I usually use my seam ripper to make a small slit along the edge of the shape and do a quick check to make sure I don't see any batting peek through. After a few cuts, you really start to get a feel for changes in resistance when you start to catch the 2nd layer. Every once in a while I get a little too excited and will make a small nick through but its usually pretty small and again, near the edge so well disguised...
DeleteSomehow I missed this year's Pantone color. What a gorgeous green. I'm so impressed with your mole, not least because you start cutting at the end. Wow. You've made three different flowers and a butterfly. So Interesting. I love how you put three different fabrics ne'er the green. And in the right places. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI am having soooo much fun with these mod molas Ann! They combine my love of free-motion quilting and bright colored fabrics...along with the element of surprise!!
DeleteThis is so awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandra...it is so much fun too!!!
DeleteSo fun. I've tried this once. Maybe it's time to retry it. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI am having so much fun with these mod molas...more project posts coming up soon!!!
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