"Color Bowls #6" - Chocolates 02-21-09

Periodically I have been working on the Color Bowls quilt I started back in January. Since I missed the deadline for which I had started this piece I am just going with my own idea and limitations. This center portion of the quilt is about 12" square.

On the January 26 I had five bowls of various sizes and I was trying out backgrounds. I won't show you all of those I tried, this seemed to be the best of the lot - but sort of wimpy. Then I put the whole thing aside.

Earlier this month I started looking for a background again and decided on this one, which I sandwiched and quilted using variegated thread. The color in this picture is pretty accurate.

Color Bowls #1 was laid out symmetrically and I liked it a lot. So, I tried it on this one. I had to discard the largest of the bowls and make some more small ones so that I would have nine.

I tried a random layout and it is okay, but not fantastic!

This closeup shows good color on the bowls, but the background is way off and I can't seem to improve it. Maybe I should take pictures outside in the daylight - right?

Opinions on the layout are welcome.

More on Color Bowls 01-26-09

I've made enough bowls for this project. Deciding on the background is very difficult this time. Should be finished tomorrow night. And Corky will be here all day tomorrow. He has had a busy social schedule the last few days, so he will probably sleep most of the time.

New Color Bowls 01-22-09

I have been making what I call "Color Bowl" quilts for a number of years now. It is something I came up with on my own and enjoy doing. But I have found that I need to have a design idea and make the bowls specifically to fit that idea. I can't just make a bunch in different colors and store them for future use.

I use already fused fabric, mostly scraps from other projects, cut into sort of scythe shapes to fit inside a circle drawn on paper (this circle is about 3"). I put a Teflon sheet over the paper which lets me see the drawing of the circle underneath. Then I shape and pin the pieces started from the outside of the circle and overlapping just a tiny bit.

When I have about half of the circle done I use the little Clover iron (with a handle like a screwdriver) and fuse the pieces together, removing the pins as I go. If the entire circle is filled and pinned it is impossible to get the little iron in between the pins to adequately fuse the pieces. Then I go back to cutting and pinning until the circle is filled. Sometimes I put something in the center, but mostly not. If you click on "Color Bowls" in the tag list on the right side of the blog you will see all of those that I have posted previously. Or just click on this URL to see a small quilt.

http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2008/02/color-bowls-two-02-08-08.html

Color Bowls & Skinny Strips 06-06-08

I spent a little time today trying to work out the problem with this project. I thought maybe it was the color that bothered me, so I tried a dozen different colors and values. But didn't like any of them. So, I thought, maybe it is the shape of the strips.

And I tried some different curved shapes. These pleased me the most. But I always use Dorene Speckman's example, "Do you like it when it is there? Do you miss it when it is gone?" No, I don't miss it, but the spacing was planned for something to go in the lower section. I'll keep at it.

My friend Liz and are going to Beach Cities QGuild QShow tomorrow. It has always been an excellent show in the past and we are looking forward to it. It is in Aliso Viejo (south along the I-5) and this new venue has air conditioning! Hope it isn't too hot tomorrow, today was!

Color Bowls & Skinny Strips 06-05-08

I am now experimenting with the skinny strips. This one isn't bad, but I think I can do better. Perhaps a brighter, warmer color. Maybe I will be able to experiment further this weekend.

The border/binding is just folded and placed over the edges. That is something else I am thinking about, but the skinny strips come first. Click to enlarge.

Color Bowls/Skinny Strips Qltd 05-24-08

This is a replacement picture for the one I posted on 05-24-08.

I finally finished the quilting. It has two different colors of Valdani 35 variegated thread. The color on this image is good. This quilt is 15" square.

I replaced the original detail picture - this is more true to color.

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Color Bowls/Skinny Strips Qltg 05-19-08

I found some time to quilt on this project today. I'm using a Valdani variegated thread which is a little thicker than regular sewing thread.

I've found in the past that I do better keeping the quilting lines straight if I stitch a few lines and move up/down to do a few more. Then I go back and fill in the lines between those that I have already stitched. I plan to use a different color of variegated thread across the top of the quilt.

Here is a closeup. You can see the netting behind the color bowl. I ripped out the blue thread I had stitched around the edge and re-did it with poly invisible thread (Superior). Looks much better.

A bit cooler today - only up to 98, but lower temps tomorrow.

On the back 05-18-08

My friend Patty commented that the quilt I am working on reminded her of Monet's waterlily paintings. It must have reminded me of that also, which is probably why I had chosen this fabric for the back of the quilt. Great minds and all that.

Click on the picture to enlarge and you can see the stitching to the left of center.

Still hot here - 101.8 on my patio today sometime. Bless the person who invented air conditioning.

Color Bowls & Skinny Strips 05-17-08

A few weeks ago I was working to combine color bowls and skinny strips, but neither design worked. The first one at

http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2008/04/oh-no-more-skinny-strips-04-29-08.html

looked like a sort of Indian motif with an image of a person.

Then I tried

http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2008/05/skinny-strips-new-view-04-30-08.html
But it was so static and derivative I couldn't continue with it.

Now I am trying another arrangement and I'm not sure it will work either. Above is the overall shot which looks like a blue fried egg or maybe a monster's eyeball!

I put the free cut net behind the bowl to make more variation in the background. But going around the edge with blue thread just doesn't work. I have picked that thread out and think I will try invisible thread. Or I might cut away the net to make it conform to the shape of the bowl.

I like doing this sort of experimentation, but it takes a lot of brain power and it is really too hot for that, even with the A/C running. Still hot tomorrow (Sunday), but cooler temps predicted starting Monday.

"Color Bowls - Two" 02-08-08

Installing the exhibit at Back Porch was a very special event, but there was another special event in my life yesterday.

"Color Bowls - Two" Del Thomas 2008 17″W x 23″L

Virginia Spiegel introduced the quilt I donated to the FFAC Reverse Auction - 2008 when she posted it on her blog yesterday and explained about the auction. Check it out at: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/blog/archives/date/2008/02/07/

FFAC raises money for the American Cancer Society and this auction is one of the major fund raisers each year. I am particularly dedicated to supporting this cause because eighteen years ago my husband died of a brain tumor. I hope that my small efforts will help find a cure for all types of cancers - sooner rather than later. I am very proud to be among such talented artists who are trying to make a difference with their art. On March 10th I will remind you that the auction is open!

"Color Bowls - Two" 01-26-08

DETAIL "Color Bowls - Two" Del Thomas 2008

(See 01-13-08 post)

I'm only posting a detail of one corner because this quilt will be in the Reverse Auction for Fiberart For A Cause which will take place online in March and Virginia Spiegel has asked that we not post pictures of our donations. I will post more about the auction later, but meanwhile you can find information at

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.html

Color Bowls 01-13-08

While I am waiting for my thread I went back to another project which is part of a series I call "Color Bowls". I've made several quilts based on this idea, but only one other with this exact design. So, I suppose this is "Color Bowls" #2. I'm having a terrible time choosing a background, but this black/white print might do it. I need a few more bowls and then I will put it up on the design board and move things around. There is usually a point that I get stumped and it takes lots of thinking and looking to solve the problem. I don't think I'm the only one, but it is frustrating.