Almost done!

Thought I'd share a couple photos of my Big, Huge, Enormous quilt.  At least for me it is that big!  This was a JoAnn Fabrics Block of the Month quilt from a number of years ago.  I finished the quilt top awhile ago but never quilted it.

Janet Hartje-JoAnn Fabrics Block of the Month

Well the quilting is done, still need to do the binding etc, but almost there.  Now I can move on to quilting my cactus and my tree quilt for the Minnesota Quilt show in June.  Whew!  I think I still have plenty of time.

Janet Hartje-JoAnn Fabrics Block of the Month

Don't look too close or criticize too loud.  I know I still have a lot to learn but I am happy with the end result on this one.

Janet Hartje-JoAnn Fabrics Block of the Month

Have a Creative Day
Janet

Creating a Cactus Abode

The challenge for Minnesota Contemporary Quilters this year is "Abode."  The meaning of abode could be interpreted by each individual.  I have been wanting to create a quilt from a photo of a saguaro cactus.
                                       

Saguaro cactus  Janet Hartje

I took the photo a few years ago when we traveled to Arizona.  I think it is fascinating that these cactus only grow in the Sonoran Desert.  They live to be hundreds of years old and can be tree sized.  It is even more amazing to me that some animals can make a home out of these prickly beasts.

Gila woodpeckers are one of the birds who live inside the holes of this cactus.  I wasn't fortunate enough to get a photo of the woodpecker but I did find a picture of one in a Dover coloring book, Animals of the Forest, Wetlands and Deserts.  My coloring may be off a little but I think I came close.
                                     

Prickly Abode by Janet Hartje

I've never painted an entire scene before and learned a lot while I did this one.  Mostly I learned that I am fickle about color and kept changing my mind about the color of the cactus.  I went through three shades of green before I found one I was comfortable with.  I also prefer paint to colored pencils.  I started with pencils.  So, there are a few extra layers of paint here but I am happy with the end product.

Now on to the stitching and one more quilt to create for SAQA.  If I manage to get them all finished I will have four quilts in the show in June.

Have a Creative Day
Janet

The Tree Project

Wanda in Minnesota Contemporary Quilters came up with a challenge for as many people who wanted to join.  She gave us a basic tree outline.  We needed to create a tree that fit the outline. Next we had to cut our tree into four equal pieces!  Gasp!  I think we ended up with approximately 26 different trees, not sure exactly.

We each kept the piece of our tree that was the bottom left corner.  We put the other three pieces in bags with our name and the part number, so the receiver knew who they were from.  At our meeting we randomly received the other three parts of our tree from three different people.  My pieces are from Sally Neckvatel (upper left), Leah Doherty (upper right), and Sue Kelly (lower right).  Thank you to all three of you, they are beautiful.

Here is my original tree before I cut it apart.

Janet Hartje original tree

Here are the four pieces for my new tree.

Janet Hartje the tree begins

                                       

I added a border, half spring, half fall, since that is what it appeared to me.

Janet Hartje tree with borders

                                       
Now the fun begins, how to make it once again my tree.  I decided it looked like a collision between two separate worlds.  In fact I think I might call it that.  "Two Worlds Collide"
fantasy and reality.

Janet Hartje "Two Worlds Collide"

                                       

All of the tree quilts will be hung together at the Minnesota Quilt Show in June.  I think it will be a fun exhibit and I can't wait to see them all.

Now for the quilting and binding and sleeve and label and ....

Have a Creative Day
Janet

Time to Sew!

Do you find it difficult to find the time to sew?  I do around special holidays etc.  Priorities change with the seasons. . .But now it is sewing season.  Finishing a couple of projects for the Minnesota Quilt Show in June is a priority right now.  I already committed to the finished quilts.  Luckily they are small.  Just thought I would show you a picture of something else I have been working on lately.

I have the top almost finished for my St Patrick's quilt.  It is big, huge, humongous!  At least as far as anything I have ever made.  It's ending up about 90" x 100."  I have the pieces cut for the final border and may sew those on yet today.  You can find a link for the blocks in my previous post .  The Center is a Georgia Bonesteel technique called over and under.

St Patrick's Day Quilt belonging to Janet Hartje

I haven't ever made a quilt using black sashing and I really like how this is turning out.  I also plan to "scallop" the edges of the quilt.  I've never done this before so I asked around for a good tutorial.  I'm using a youtube video by the Missouri Star Quilt Company (use their search for the scallop edge tutorial) and the Quilt in a Day template for scallops, vines and waves.

Now I need to figure out how much fabric to buy for the bias binding for a scallop edge quilt.  Anyone have a quick easy method to figure that out?  I think I will bind it with a green fabric.

Have a Creative Day,
Janet