OK…I think that worked! Now….for the middle layer of TS2 (aka Tree Spirits 2 etc.)…. I did one painted panel, and decided it would be the “practice” layer and re-did it! This layer is sheer synthetic fabric, originally white. I painted the two tree spirits on it as well as the tree trunks using a diluted mix of Golden Acrylic Paint mixed with textile medium and water.

I had to use a slightly thicker mix to outline the figures, which I let dry so that it would act as a resist for the thinner paint mix I used to fill in. I really wanted the effect of the finished piece to be that of looking into a hazy forest…not being able to see clearly what’s in the distance. The whole surface was then painted with a very thin wash of warm yellow paint with a few rays of pale green…think of the “angel escalators” when sunrays pierce the clouds. I added a bit of batting wrapped with batik and quilted it to finish the raw edges.

What a surprise…the past two weeks have been chaotic! The good news is that I’ve been busy, taught two classes, had a couple good things happen, and got to go to a quilt show with my friends, the Frayed Edges: Deborah Boschert, Kate Cutko and Kathy Daniels. But more on that later.

I wanted to post pictures of my latest big piece, Tree Spirits 2: Song of the Solstice Grove (and please don’t ask why I sometimes come up with such long names! I have no idea!) that show what it is. It’s one of those pieces that if you’ve seen it, you understand what you are seeing in the photos, but if you haven’t seen it “in the cloth” you don’t really “get” the photos. Anyway, am going to try to upload pics. The first one will be the bottom “underneath” quilt. This is the base layer and is a basic quilt…backing, batting, top, quilting. I used very bold, simple shapes and colors in my selection of my hand-dyed cloth because that’s what it takes to be seen / perceived through the two layers of painted sheer fabric that go on top.

Not everything is quilting. Sometimes it is inspiration for quilting! Hubby bought two kayaks for us this summer with a small fund he calls the Horizon fund….some scratch he inherited from his dear and much missed papa, which he is saving to use to expand our sons’ horizons. Sometimes that means a trip to someplace far away, sometimes it is a more local horizon. This time, it was to open the world of exploring nature from on top of the water.

Now, I am SO not a jock, not athletic, and totally un-coordinated. And when presented with something totally alien like paddling a kayak, it can be just a tad intimidating (read that as terrified until I try it). But I had been in a tandem sea kayak once, 12 years ago with Paul, and enjoyed it. So, I was game to try it on my own on a lake (with, blessedly, no strong ocean currents, duh!). This photo is from our very first outing on Lake Megunticook here in Camden. We saw two loons, a whole bunch of turtles, and I managed to paddle for over 90 minutes. We’d paddle a bit, coast a bit, and it was a gas! I snapped this picture of hubby and number two son (number one was at day camp). Guess what my August journal quilt may look like?

Intro to Machine Quilting:

Machine quilting is fun, and it is more than using your machine to stitch your quilt sandwich together. Learn about batting, thread and design choices for machine quilting, then practice using the walking foot and the free-motion (darning) foot to machine quilt a sampler of fill patterns.

Small Blocks and Itty Bitties:
This new series of small appliqué blocks features 8×8 or 4×4 inch blocks or as a “4-by-4” set Hawaiian-quilt style into an 8 or 16 inch block. Most easily done as fusible appliqué, these designs are also suitable for hand appliqué, redwork, or quilting motifs. In class, choose your project from loons, lobsters, lighthouses, kayaks and more. Finished blocks can be used to decorate pockets on clothing and totes, home dec items like pillows, tablerunners and placemats, wallhangings–the sky’s the limit!

Hawaiian Applique by Machine:
Hawaiian quilts are beautiful in their symmetry and bold design, but hand appliqué is time-consuming. Learn three methods of machine appliqué to create a Hawaiian-style masterpiece in a fraction of the time. After practicing all three methods, select one and choose a 16” block pattern provided by the instructor to begin a pillow top, small wall hanging, or begin a larger quilt.

Quilting Design:
Stumped about how to quilt your quilt top? Have a stencil, but it’s the wrong size? Can’t find anything to go with that stencil? Then this is the class for you—whether you plan to quilt by hand or machine, learn how to choose a design that complements and enhances your quilt top. We will discuss how to choose a design, use a transparent overlay sheet to “test” options, considerations for the design depending on whether you plan to hand or machine quilt, and suitable threads.

Balinese Garden:
Using fusible web and decorative and utility stitches on your sewing machine, make this small wall hanging, table runner or pillow top. The floral motifs were inspired by the lush gardens of Bali. Sarah used flanneltiks from Bali Fabrics Inc., for her pillow, but this pattern would be stunning in cotton batiks, a cream-to-toffee elegant color-scheme, a gentle pastel selection, or bright-brights, too.

More Machine Quilting and Decorative Threads:
When you are comfortable with free-motion quilting, this class will help you take your skills to the next level. Students will tackle one of the biggest challenges in free-motion quilting: back-tracking over your lines in the feather design. Complete this small wholecloth quilt and explore the use of decorative threads including cotton, polyester, rayon, metallic, flat metallic film, variegated, couched yarns and trims….whatever we can find!

I haven’t figured out how to do multiple photos in one post yet, so will close for now, then add pictures of what we will do in classes in the next posts. If you have any questions, just e-mail me and I’ll reply as quickly as I can. Cheers!

Hi everyone…as promised, here is my teaching schedule for Fall. Most of the classes listed are at Cote Brothers in Bangor, Maine. I will also be teaching at the Quilters’ Cottage here in beautiful Camden, Maine. The classroom at Quilters’ Cottage is tiny—only four students! So we have been scheduling as demand requires…basically, if you are interested in a class, call them at 236-2933 to sign up–just say which class. When we have 3-4 students, we schedule a mutually agreeable date, and then we have a class.

September 15, Thursday 10-4: Intro to Machine Quilting, Cote Brothers
September 17, Saturday 10-4: Quilting Design (for hand or machine)

October 10, Monday: speaking to the Clamshell Quilters in Damariscotta, ME (a guild chapter)

October 13, Thursday 10-4: Quilting Design (for hand or machine)
October 15, Saturday 10-4: Hawaiian Applique by Machine

November 10, Thursday 10-4: Hawaiian Applique by Machine
November 19, Saturday 10-4: More Machine Quilting and Quilting with Decorative Threads

December 10, Saturday 10-4: Balinese Garden, a machine applique project class
(you can see the pattern at my website at https://www.sarahannsmith.com/patterns.asp