Scherenschnitte - Part 3

With everything secured to the background the free motion quilting could start.  I decided to stitch feathers and echo these with a mother of pearl thread.  I uses the applique shapes as the spine of the feathers and created the plumes around these.

Here 2 of the 3 colorful butterflies can be seen up close.

Finally done with just the binding to do.

I finished the project up to the point where I could take it along to our Saturday group meeting to sit there and do the back of the binding by hand.  Now I know taste differs and I don't expect everyone to like this but heck you have to give me credit for the binding with black to match the black applique shape and white to match the white background.  And with that I am ready for the fourth term's challenge.

Completed:  May 2012

Scherenschnitte - Part 2

If I ever used the right tool for the job, this was it.  I've tried every scissors I own but this little Fiskars with the big handle, short blades and sharp tip was just it.  The big handles ensured a good grip and full control of the cutting direction, the sharp tip pierced through the fabric and paper like a dream and the blades just had to round the delicate action off.

... and this was the mess I was left with after the cutting was done.

Once detangled, I could fuse the design to the background but decided to add just a tiny bit of color by adding 3 multi-colored butterflies.

The butterflies were secured with satin stitch and the rest of the design with a straight free motion stitch.

Sorry but I just can't stop bragging about my new space.  Here the Scherenschnitte can be seen under the quilting machine while another project (Twisted Log Cabin) could be cut, ironed and sewn on the other side of the table.

Scherenschnitte - Part 1

Our guild (roughly 200 members) meets once a term and a challenge for every term is given.  Now even though I write the blog for our guild and am supposed to be clued up about the dates; time just seems to fly by me.  I would still think about participating in a challenge and before I know it is meeting day and I haven't even given the challenge a second thought.

Then I decided to be kind to myself and select the challenge for the very last term and see if I then can't finish it in time.  The problem was when I read the word I didn't even know what it meant; let alone how to make anything of it!

Off to trusted old Google I went and it turned out to be a German term translating to 'paper cutting'.  Remember those squares we folded and refolded in school art class before we'd start snipping shapes and corners from it and once folded open it resembled a snowflake of sorts?

This is exactly what our challenge 'Scherenschnitte' was however the crafters practicing this art form nowadays stepped it up a couple of notches.  Snowflakes...... so yesterday!

I however too tried my hand at the original snowflake idea with disastrous results as can be seen on this photo.

I then decided to try something else but it soon dawned on me that there is a huge difference between clipping paper and trying to do the same with fabric.  So after deciding on my design I thought that there would just be no way that I'll do all of this on fabric folded twice.  Not that the folding would be a problem but the cutting sure seemed daunting just looking at the picture.

First the applique paper design had to be ironed onto black fabric.  I used fairly cheap but rather stiff applique paper hoping the stiffness would count in my favor when cutting.  However the 'fairly cheap' counted against me as the paper didn't adhere to the fabric properly but so we learn.

Then the tedious process of cutting the applique shape started and believe me this was no quick job for one evening only.

I think it is time to let go

I have a new group of beginner quilters that started last week so now I basically have 2 beginner groups overlapping.  I'll just have to remember who has to do what.  That however means my own work came somewhat to a standstill.

Fortunately taking photos do not take that much time and it is something I do spontaneously without even thinking about it.

When I saw these while I sat printing class patterns I realized it is surely time for them to retire now.

They are filthy and to think they only get used on supposed clean fabric and quilts!

A good Saturday

While DH started fitting shelves in the garage cupboards I found time to attach the border to my Twisted Log Cabin.

Done with that it was time for our Saturday monthly group meeting and these ladies don't waste time finishing quilts and bringing them to Show and Tell.  It is absolutely amazing considering that all of them are working gals.

The evening we went to watch the rugby game between the local Cheetahs and the Western Force and I even took hand work along to do before the game started.  Karin wanted to prove that she does more than quilting and didn't sew at all.