November 17, 2009
In the Pink
Quilting threads and built in decorative stitches were the focus of my experimentation that ended up as this Tuesday’s Twilt, “In the Pink”. I chose an interesting batik that was mostly black but had some cool striations going on. I also liked the square spirals in the print. The piece was first grid quilted with a black and gray verigated thread in 1 1/2″ intervals. I played with some scrap fabrics at first and then started stitching rows of square spirals, hearts and stipple using several colors of verigated quilting thread, King Tut from Superior Thread. A couple of rows have torn silk-metallic organdy fabric underneath the stitching and I frayed the sides outside the stitches. I also used organdy ribbon under a couple of rows.
I chose stitches I thought would compliment the batik. I just tried to have fun. A Dragonfly button and square spiral and heart paper clips embellish and compliment the stitches and background design. I could see this technique used for Table Runners and Christmas gifts. It has a lot of possibilities.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
November 3, 2009
Ode to Fall
I’m busy prepping for a quilt show in Lake Havasu Arizona but I found the time to look through the unfinished box again this week and found this block that was left over from my second book, “Machine Stitched Cathedral Stars”. Floating Windows is the first block in the book and the fall colors just called out to me in this “Ode to Fall”. It’s wonderful that pieces that could sit in the cupboard forever get to shine as Twilts. I particularly liked the batiks I used in this block.
I did need to quilt it out and to do that I used a freezer paper circle and moved it along as I stitched along the edge of it which means marking isn’t necessary.
For info on the book check out the page on my website or on Amazon.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
October 27, 2009
Midnight Blossom
October has been a busy month and I’ve saved up a whole lot of things I want to share but for today, it’s Twilt Tuesday and since I was running out of time, I checked my UFO box and found this little piece. I just trimmed it up and put a binding on. Midnight Blossom is a Cathedral Window Flower set inside more Cathedral Windows that are black on black . I did find out how difficult it is to photograph a piece with so much contrast. 
Do click on the picture and you’ll see the high resolution version on Flickr.
My pattern that this Twilt is based on is called Sweet Strawberries. Check it out on the Pattern Page on my website.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
October 6, 2009
October Sky
I am welcoming October this first Twilt Tuesday with “October Sky”. This Twilt features nine miniature Star Puzzle blocks in blue and purple batiks complimented by an Asian print border. Each block is a three-dimensional square like the knot of a 3D Bow Tie block. The edges of the square are bias so after stitching diagonally through all the squares I rolled and stitched the folds into curves.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
September 29, 2009
Grandmother’s Flower Garden Twilt
Just a quick check in as I head out for another quilt show. I had a fabulous time at the “Garden Party Quilt Show” in Lompoc, Ca this last weekend. The members there are just the best. They treated us all so well and we enjoyed all of there lovely quilts. There was a Mini Quilt Raffle and when I walked in and saw around 35 Mini Quilts all around 12″ x 12″ I thought I was in Twilt Heaven. Quilters Etc has a DVD of their quilt show available and it includes the Mini Quilts. I had to bid on a bunch of them and usually I am not that lucky but luck was with me last week end and I won this Mini Quilt that qualifies as this Tuesday’s Twilt. It was made by Kathi Costa Downey of Lompoc and is hand pieced, appliqued and quilted. Click on the picture to see a larger view of Kathi’s handwork. A big Thank You to the members of Quilters Etc for a wonderful show and a special Thanks to Kathi for making this Mini Quilt so I could win it. Yeaaa!
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
September 22, 2009
In the Strata
There are so many new techniques and products available these days. Art quilting has become the rage and the possibilities have been calling to me for a long time. The Twilt project seems the perfect place to try out some new techniques. For “In the Strata” I used torn strips of painted silk, organza, metallic silk organza and a bit of yarn. I laid the strips over a base of cotton with light fusable web and bonded them to the surface. The strips were then stitched with Rainbow thread from Superior in the same direction, using the stitches on my machine, a flower stitch, a leaf stitch and straight stitch. 
I then bravely cut my piece into three sections, inverting the center and stitched linen in between. I thought the directional cherry print complimented the strata of the experimental piece. I will probably go back and add embellishment to this piece but since it’s Twilt Tuesday here it is, as is.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
September 15, 2009
Hibiscus Flower
Hibiscus Flower features a new block of mine called the Dresden Flower block. It has 3D corners that are rolled during quilting. I have a big quilt using this block in the quilting stage so watch for it in the future. A couple of the fabrics in this piece were picked up during my recent visit to Hawaii.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
September 1, 2009
Aloha Kaimuki
It’s been a while since I posted but I am back now. I took some R&R, did some work and enjoyed the summer. It’s time to get back to my friends in the blogosphere though. Early in August, just after the Long Beach Quilt Show I went to Hawaii to visit my son, Raymond. He lives in Kaimuki, a little town just south east of Waikiki and Honolulu. Hawaii is such a beautiful place and it was fabulous to see him.
I didn’t take any quilting related supplies with me other than a bit of handwork. Imagine my surprise that within walking distance of Raymond’s home I found the Kaimuki Dry Goods Store and a little bead store called Bead It.
I collected supplies to fashion my Hawaiian Twilt completely by hand. The Dragonfly fabric became the focal point and I stitched the strips to each other by hand through the batting and backing.
Embroidery floss, flower sequins, beads, pearls and shells were added for embellishment. I rolled the backing to the front and stitched the binding by hand. I think this twilt will always have special meaning to me because while I created it I explored Kailua, Waikiki and Honolulu with my son.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
July 21, 2009
Twilight Flight
A beautiful dragonfly wings his way through the twilight. The blocks in this Twilt, “Twilight Flight” use the block from my pattern Mandalesque (Pictured below). The blocks feature two 3D triangles in a four patch. When grid quilted the rolled folds form the lovely scallops.
I picked the dragonfly from my bead and button collection. 
It’s one of Susan Clarke’s pieces. To see more of Susan’s work visit her site at www.susanclarkeoriginals.com.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
I had a wonderful time at the Southern California Quilt Run. If you missed it I hope you will participate next year.
You can see more of my patterns on the pattern page of this blog and on my website pattern page.
July 14, 2009
Cathedral Star Celebration
For this Twilt Tuesday I have recreated a block from my second book, “Machine Stitched Cathedral Stars” in a much smaller version, “Cathedral Star Celebration”. The background pieces are 1″ and 2″ cut squares as opposed to 2″ and 4″ cut squares. The fabrics are batiks except for the outer border.
Last week end I worked the Southern California Quilt Run. It continues this next weekend, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you are in Southern California try not to miss it. I will be doing demos at Georgia’s Quilting Obsession so if you go, stop by and say Hi!
For more info: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
Snips and Bits from Shelley's Studio 