Now that I have finished the quilt…..

…..I wanted to look back and critique the process that I used. 

 I was excited to try Susan Carlson’s technique and I really like the flexibility and spontaneity that it allowed. However I am not super happy with the raw edges that it leaves. Perhaps I should have used more glue but am glad that I didn’t because, when I started quilting, the thread would shred when I hit spots that had more glue. 

Since this is a very organic structure I am not too worried about the thread but I wouldn’t want to use the technique on certain other pieces. The bottom line is that I think I will continue to use the technique but will mix it with a fusible web at times. 

On the positive, the hand of the fabric is better than with a fusible. 

I also enjoyed using various paints to slightly change the color of the stones and REALLY enjoyed using sponges to apply those paints.   As a matter of fact, without having done this first, I would never have thought to use the sponges to paint the trees on the “No Fishing” quilt.

 So the question is what to do next…. 

 I am in the middle of quilting my Queen size Pineapple quilt and want to have it finished for the upcoming show so that will be my next project, but what after that??

 I am pretty sure that I want to pursue more of these pictorial quilts from our travels. Michael suggested doing one based on the fishermen pulling their nets in….

 I am drawn to the way that all of their legs are in the same position. 

I also thought about this photo of our trek guide, Badri, making a water buffalo very happy.. 

The look on the buffalo’s face is one of pure enjoyment!!! 

I have also thought about the pack horses that we saw on the Nepal trek…..

 The sound of the bells around their necks will stay with me for a long time.

 Then there is this photo of Chinese women enjoying their morning exercises….

 I love the positioning of their bodies and the parasols 

So I will now head off to quilt and ponder what will come next.

Michael is also going to be looking for a new project soon.   Today he finished all of the leather work and just has the staining to do……

….and yes, he does have his next project picked out!!!

 If you are a “Big Bang Theory” fan you will understand this….if not, well you should be!!!!

As I was nearing the end of my quilting, I started thinking again about the prayer flags that I wanted to add.   If you remember, my original idea was something like this…..

And, although I like the look, I really wanted something that provided more perspective.  As I was showing my friend, Anita, the quilt, I noticed that one of my inspiration photos, hanging next to the quilt, had a wonderful series of flags.

SO…..the original flags were taken off of the design wall and I started working on how to work these new flags!!   The first step was to get a pattern that was the right size.   I did this by making a line drawing of the flags…..

…. and then enlarging them using my printer.  When I pinned them up, I knew that I was on to something…..

Hmmmm….this definitely shows promise!!!!

I really wanted the flags to be 3 dimensional (at least the larger ones) so I fused two pieces of fabric together, cut out the flag and then painted the edges with Fray Check.  The smaller ones were simply fused together.

To attach them to the quilt, I put a small strip of Wonder-Under to the top of the flag and then fused it in place.

I found a bit of yarn that worked for the string and finished off the display.

I put the finishing touches on the opening……

After adding some grass quilting around the base of the monument and squaring it up, I could declare it finished!!!!

He will soon be thru with his project and I have already encouraged him to take his own advice and simply start another one!!!!