Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Cottage CQ Underway

This work is the absolutely perfect antidote to Election Day for me....

After getting my sewing room squared away for a new project, I've been giving a lot of thought to how this process is going to go. It's different because of the printed imagery, but also because I'll be constructing the quilt in three panels, almost like three "whole quilt" sections, not in blocks.

Immediately I realized there would be some machine piecing, some fusing, and some hand applique...I'll have to bring out the entire toolbox to shape this the way my mind's eye sees it.

I obviously don't depend too much on detailed drawings.
The design wall was a good way to rough things out, though.

The water is going to flow upward to the left, forming an arc with the sky...
There are so many viewpoints and different kinds of lighting in the photos that getting them to read as a single picture will be challenging...

I've got my palette of crazy quilt landscape fabrics where I can see them and get to them...

...and my work area is set up....

I am inaugurating my shiny new Pfaff from the "My Quilts/Our History" contest, too!

So off I go....

I always start my landscapes with the object farthest away and build outward from there, toward the viewer. In this case that object is the summer sun.....

...And no matter what happens today, God Bless America!

12 comments :

Marty52 said...

Oooo Allie... I wish I could watch over your shoulder as you put this together! But I guess I'll just have to make do with your updates, good as they are. Have a blast!

Debra Dixon said...

This is going to be one big project! I bet it's heady stuff figuring it all out.

Anonymous said...

oohhh - this is going to be fun to follow

Jane said...

What a dump! And to think we clean up before we do it again, hee-hee
What a pile to work from. I can see you now... does that look and feel like a conifer, is that the fluid feel of water I want? Oooohh, perfect for bark! Isn't this 1/2 the fun?

Esther Gregory said...

I organize my palette of yarn the same way you organize your fabric :-p Off of Jane's comment, it does seem a little futile to clean up after every project. I just did that today. However I find it helps me organize and prioritize my projects to go through my mess and add some order.

Oh, and I think your pin up of pictures has a nice cohesive look (at least from a distance).

Jane said...

Allie? I meant to ask you if you could show how you go about doing your curved seams? Your pieces always lay so flat and undistorted... do you baste by tacking down or sew completely?Forever grateful for your tips

Deb Hardman said...

Your pictures take me back to September at the beach. The sun & sand were still warm, & the air smelled good. I love the Big Lake. It's one of the things I really miss about Michigan.

Susan Elliott said...

I love how the sun is peeking through the trees. And I am jealous of your big long room -- my sewing room is square and boxy so I have been sewing in the basement where I can have a big long table set up. I have a Pfaff that I love -- so you seem to be set up for the long haul.

Sandra said...

This new project looks fascinating. I'm looking forward to watching your progress, especially how you work to integrate the printed photos with the CQ fabrics and textures. Thanks for being so faithful in posting the process! You are an excellent teacher!!

Sewing Up A Storm said...

Congratulations on your ribbon in Houston............I was standing in front of your quilt and thking I have see the quilt before then I read your name and realized that I have seen it on your blog. I also got a ribbon in Houston this year.......we got the third place in the group category.

By the way l love to visit your blog you always have wonderful eye candy!

Lynne said...

Alison,Passing on an award to you, if you would like to join in. No compulsion, just if you feel likeit.Lynne

Summerset said...

Interesting the way you're laying this out. I think it will take the multiple techniques to get this first layer in place, the way you're seeing it in your mind.