I don’t make resolutions, at least I didn’t think I did until I told myself I had to use up more of my scraps before I can buy new cloth. In 2022 I experimented with a technique from Paula Kovarik’s book [Amazon Associates link], At Play in the Garden of Stitch (which I had apparently bought and then forgot I bought), and two sewing machines later and four more years of practice put the process into a new perspective. So far, I have made four small pieces that are quilted, but they are more akin to mats or pelts than quilts. I’m working on a fifth and sixth, trying to make them bigger. But I do a lot of trimming (including my finger, owwwww), so they get smaller as I go. This appears to be the January series project.
And here they come:
Bird Disruption
9.5"w x 13.25"h (24 cm x 33.5 cm)
Hand dyed or painted cotton, linen, velvet; free-motion quilting; machine-joined sections
I had started a quilt with more drawn birds like my “Klee’s Birds” quilts, but it wasn’t calling to me, so I cut it up and added a few pieces leftover from a 2022 piece, noted here.
I Am of Two Minds
9.75"w x 10"h (25 cm x 25.5 cm)
Hand-dyed velvet; letterpress printed; Japanese yarn-dyed cotton; free-motion and machine quilting; mcahine-joined sections
This is made from one of two pieces leftover from a quilt I had started after seeing the fire line on the hills near I-580 that have been sitting out, staring at me. Two other pieces have already become quilts: 2024 Fire Break, and 2025, Ashes, Ashes. It started becoming clear that a rectangular finished piece was not necessary and other shapes could be explored.
Do I Know You?
13.5"w x 14.5"h (34.5 cm x 37 cm)
Hand-dyed cotton, velvet, linen; free-motion and machine quilted; machine-joined sections
These were the rest of the pieces I had not quilted for the bird quilt I had started. The first section, which I HAD quilted became Bird Disruption, above.
Over the Hill
17.5"w x 16.5"h (44.5 cm x 42 cm)
Hand-dyed cotton; letterpress printed; Japanese yarn-dyed cotton; free-motion and machine-quilted; machine-joined sections
This is the second piece cut up and made from the two pieces I had out on my table for a couple of years from the fire line quilt that wasn't made.
I am finding the process both soothing and addictive. For now.
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