028 - Feathery Abstract Journal Cover

Inspiration

Begun as a stretch goal, I wanted to attempt a more complex quilt block using curves.

The Seagull block inspired a quilt design idea, using Judy Dale's technique for curves, but I knew it would become more complex and I would need to improve my skills.

Details

The design is a variation of another of the patterns in Judy Dale's book, Curves in Motion, called Practice Petals. It is offered as a challenge to those of you who wish to try long, skinny curves, or those who just wish to hone their skills. It was a challenge for me ... which means, I'll probably give myself a second chance for something similar in the future.

I added fabric to create a rectangle large enough to cover the composition books I use for my morning pages–three pages of stream of consciousness written in the morning to clear my head and capture ideas. I layered it with a lightweight batting and backing and quilted it with unmarked free-motion quilting (which was pretty stream of consciousness, too.

After quilting, I added flaps on each end (to hold the cover on the composition book and bound the edge.

The open cover measures 10 inches high by 16 inches wide.

025 - Sea Gull at Sunset

Inspiration

I always give myself the luxury of a second try before deciding something is beyond my ability ... in quilting and in life.   This block is a second try of Judy Dale's bird block, which I made as my Daily Feather #8, but wasn't happy with my effort.

I can't remember if Noah Scalin ever suggests giving yourself a second chance as a project in the book,  365: A Daily Creative Journal ... but don't we all deserve a second chance at something? 

Details

Like Feather #8, this bird block was made from the pattern in  Judy Dale's book, Curves in Motion, however my approach in making it was completely different.  

I created a mirror image version of the drawing, printed it on card stock and cut it up to create templates which I could use to trace the seam lines and all those registration marks for matching the curves onto the back of my fabrics. 


I hand stitched the pieces together. Hand stitching allowed me to see the markings on both sides of the seam as I sewed to make sure everything was perfectly matched.

When I machine stitched the first block, I pinned the entire length of the seam before sewing. When hand-stitching the seams,  I focused on a smaller increment of the seam ahead and only worried about the next pair of registration marks.

It may be hard to see in the photo, but the result is that the hand stitched bird block has no puckers and is perfectly smooth and flat. (Click the image to see the original on Flickr for a closer look.)