Mini post: Brownie update

Just three more grape leaves to go and then grapes...lots, and lots, and lots of grapes.

Single color baby quilts

 I've spent lots of time this year and some of last year, making single color baby quilts in this pattern. It uses two-and-a-half inch squares and can be laid out really quickly.  In addition to various babies, I've also made eight quilts for the refugee center in High Point.  This is the most recent one.

 The fabric surrounding the patchwork is usually a pale version of the chosen color.  This particular fabric depicts fairy tales in silhouette.

Quilting is simple--just forty-five degree angles cutting through the squares and the extended to the background and borders.

I use a chalk roller to mark the lines and then machine wash and dry the quilt when it's finished.  I like to make baby quilts that can actually be used.

Here's a little peak at the backing fabric.

And this is the lovely little miss who received the quilt.  She's the first grandchild of some dear friends of ours here.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am making a determined effort to finish those UFOs in my basket beginning with the Japanese lantern quilt.  Yesterday, I managed to finish another one that is composed of embroidered animals my mother made set with pinwheel blocks that I made.

There were enough blocks to make two little quilts and now the second one is done. The bias binding for both of them was made from strips of scrap fabrics that are in the quilts. And now it's back to the Brownies quilt!

Update on the Brownies Quilt

 Naturally, when I got this quilt out again (see previous post),  it was easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of work that still had to be done.  I decided to attack it systematically. First, I traced all the Brownie figures that I needed and then began to get them embroidered.  I finished the figure for the label because it was the largest and when it was finished, I made the back of the quilt.

Next, I worked on the grape clusters on the right side.  Whilst doing that, it occurred to me that the grapes are probably the easiest kind of handwork, so I should save them until last.  I placed all the leaves and stems and then the Brownies.

The Brownie figures were appliquéd down and then I began on the stems and vines.  Once those are finished, I will do the rest of the leaves and then just grapes will remain.  The large hand appliqués are just not satisfying me, so I think I will do something else with those four corner triangles.  (This will be the third time I've changed that area!!) Stay tuned for the progress and the changes.

Update to the update!

After auditioning several ideas, I landed on this one and after LOTS of reverse sewing, there are no longer any hands.

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The Brownies quilt...It's back!

I am a great one for starting a new project with lots of energy and usually am able to follow it through to the conclusion; however, I have my bin marked "UFOs" like many creative people.  Recently, I decided to look at that bin critically and either finish or abandon the projects in it.  If you are a reader of this blog since it began, you may remember The Brownies quilt which started as a challenge piece way back in 2009.  Due to the amount of handwork involved, I didn't make the deadline and when something else came up, I put it away.  Well, it's back.

The center of the quilt was finished, but the border which includes a grapevine on three sides still has a long way to go.  Here's a close-up of the grape clusters.

Each one of the grapes is a sort of tiny yoyo that's turned under and then appliquéd down. 

The grapevine itself is bias that's also appliquéd down.

 

The quilt was inspired by the Brownie stories by Palmer Cox.  One of my favorite story books from childhood contained "The Brownies' Circus" and was my introduction to these delightful little folks.  Many people have pointed out the similarity to J.K. Rowling's house elves in the Harry Potter books.

In addition to the large brownie in the center of the quilt, I wanted to include a few more around the grapevine.  These three will be added at various locations.

I also found a book plate of Cox's that I've enlarged to be the basis for the label on the back.  Once it's enlarged to the size I want, I put the print on the bed of the lightbox and then put fabric over it and trace the image for embroidery. 

I've appliquéd a new leaf down and am adding tendrils to the vine with perle cotton.  Lots of work to come on this piece, but now I feel like I have a good idea of where it's going.  As Rachel says, "Watch this space."