Practicing Machine Quilting for art quilt....

Practice muslin piece, 2 layers.

Straight stitch for outlining.

Today was a work day, practicing free motion machine quilting, then machine quilting one of my batik art quilts.
There is a good article with tips on free motion quilting in Quilting Arts Magazine, the Feb. March 2015 issue.
As you can see in the pic.s I have my free motion quilt foot off and my regular foot on,which I used for outlining the blocks. The free motion foot was used for the practice muslin piece.
I don't machine quilt my large quilts on my small home machine, backbreaking. One of my friends has a big quilt machine that does wonderful work,  she and her quilting machine are the best! 
How do you get your quilting done?
Now I'm tired of work and must relax, Happy Friday to you!

Folsom, CA quilt show last weekend, blossoms today....

 I went to the Folsom, Ca quilt show, last weekend. It's a small show but close and I had to go so I know what's going on in Folsom. The weather was rainy and dark, lighting was not so good.
However, I always enjoy the hustle, bustle and the vendors and the variety of quilts and use of color. I took just a few pictures of quilts that caught my eye, that were different from the usual.

Sun Bonnet Sue, a very happy quilt.

On my morning walk I pass by this tree full of pink blossoms and bees. It's just humming.
No rain today.
Remember to stop and enjoy something beautiful, that's how to get the creative juices flowing!

'Love in a Meadow' #2 art quilt finished!!!

'Love in a Meadow' #1 & #2

Close-up of #2, embellishing and hand embroidery details.

 I finished my deconstruct-reconstruct project, 'Love in a Meadow'. The final embellishing, embroidery and binding is done!
I like working around themes and using series, the focusing is challenging and helps define style.
Altering and layering gives movement and dynamic, creating a new statement.
Check out Jane Lafazio's blog, she has a beautiful, interesting artistic style and offers classes and mini tutorials. She is a great inspiration to me.
Have a great day and stop to enjoy something beautiful.

'Love in a Meadow' #2,  finished embellishing and binding.

This is 'Love in a Meadow' #1.

Lots of Small Batik Hearts for any and every reason...

Lovely batik hearts....

        
     I don't know which I like better, heart shapes or batik fabrics, so I mixed both and now I have a
double whammy! I'm going to make a few more for different projects, they measure about 3"x 3".
Valentine's Day is such a good reason to make hearts and use bright colors, isn't it?

New Valentine's Day small quilt, Love in a Meadow.....

'Love in a Meadow'

Close-up, I hand stitched the batik heart, love it!

This little quilt is an experiment. I bought a small quilt from a friend. I embellished it with laces,ribbons, beads, hand embroidery, etc. Then I 'deconstructed' it, cut it up in squares with pinking shears. Then I shuffled the squares, coming up with two small quilts I liked, I sewed the squares together. This is one of two. Then I added more hand embroidery and the little batik heart. It seems to me to be about young love, a little unpredictable, thrilling, moments of beauty, confusing at times, sigh.
That's life!
Remember to enjoy the little lovely things in your day.

Crazy quilt style Strawberries N' Chocolate sewing kit finished!!

Sewing kit pocket and one of two felted wool needle keeps.

Back of sewing kit opened out, I cut it from a crazy quilt piece.

 I finished Strawberries N' Chocolate, #1 in a series, sewing kit. It is made of silks, taffeta and other fancy fabrics. It is embellished with hand embroidery, beads, Venice lace, trims, yo yos, and crushed velvet ties. It will soon be for sale in my etsy shop, crazyvictoriana.etsy.com.
On my morning walks I go by some lovely citrus trees, like this lemon tree, wow, cheerful and full of vitamin C.
Make sure and enjoy something beautiful today!

Strawberries N' Chocolate sewing kit closed and tied.

I go by this lemon tree on my morning walk.

Crazy Quilt Style,Chocolate n' Strawberries, silks and beads.......

New art, center, from Lilla @ http://justlilla.blogspot.com/ .

Work station, with tools, threads, beads etc.

 I've been sewing beads onto my sewing kit, Chocolate n' Strawberries, close to finishing it!
I have been working on an art quilt, sewing on binding. Another art quilt I sent in to Art Quilt Studio, http://www.artquiltingstudio.com/ to be considered for publication.
So little by little things get done. I work best when not in a hurry. How about You?
I also visited Lilla @ http://www.artquiltingstudio.com/
She is one of my favorite artists, she is very versatile and her work is fabulous and fun. I bought her 'lovely lady' to go with my pin cushion doll, 'blue lady', now they are friends. Beauty and joy are contagious, if you dare to let them in.

Beads sewn on, note iridescent heart bead, lovely.