Fiberactions Challenge colors of food

Our most recent Fiberactions challenge was to use colors from foods. Loved this one. We had plenty of choices that worked with what I had in my batik stash.

"To not see the forest for the trees" 27x19

This is just an imaginary place, peaceful with a light to walk towards. I used the same cut-fabric method for the trees as I have in recent quilts like this one. I wish I had taken it further, but I will next time.

I used  Aurifil 50 for the appliquéing and quilting. I did both at the same time they call it appliquilting. 

I faced it, I love how it allows the picture to continue.

Please check out the other quilts in the challenge here at the Fiberactions Blog.

Thanks for stopping by :)

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Boston bombings - Boston strong

What a week it's been here in Massachusetts! My two oldest daughters both go to Northeastern University in Boston and one of them is currently on Co-op at Massachusetts General Hospital. She was at the finish line during the Boston Marathon but had left about 25 minutes before the bombings!

Here is a picture she took the morning after the bombings on her way to work.

It's just coincidence that I chose to use the Boston skyline for a few of my most recent quilts. I'm glad I captured the skyline prior to that terrible day, to remember a safer time. Both are for sale in my Etsy Shop.

I was happy to get a blue ribbon on my quilt Dusk at MQX east. There were only six quilts in my category so competition wasn't too big ;) the show was inspiring and I picked up some new batiks at some of my favorite vendors.

There are lots of ways to help the victims of the bombings

here is a link to one - One Fund Boston

Peace

A simple repair restores life to a much-loved Murphy Bag

I made this backpack for my daughter Jill during her senior year of high school in the spring of 2010, she loves it and uses it daily now a sophomore in college.




She used it so much she wore out the straps....




At first I thought, ugh... fixing them is going to be difficult. However, it wasn't hard at all!




I wrapped the old straps with new fabric - lucky I still had some of the original fabric but I could have added something new.







She had also worn out the bottom, so with some clever stitching I fixed that too!











She was very happy to have her backpack back!
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Spring 2013 Sale in my Etsy Shop!

Spring sale! 25% off in my Etsy Shop ~ use SPRING13 in the coupon code box at checkout! Click on this text to go to my KathleenMurphy.Etsy.com shop.

I wanted to do something nice today so I thought I would have a sale in my Etsy Shop. It's a good time for a new spring bag. 

The sale even applies to my art quilts

head on over to my Etsy Shop and pick out your new bag, Mother's Day is just around the corner :)

Fiberactions Challenge Quilt using nature's colors

Our most recent Fiberactions challenge was to use the colors of nature. I enjoyed working on the Boston city skyline in black and white for the neutral challenge so I decided to revisit making buildings with fabric. I had been collecting these fabric for this purpose for a few years. 

Boston in Natures Colors 34"x 26"

 For Sale in my Etsy Shop

I did a lot of practice quilting on my iPad sketching app to figure out what work work best in all that sky. 

I added a few Swarovski crystals to some of the buildings, it looks like the  lights are on. 

The free-motion quilting was a challenge because most of it is straight lines. I figured it was a good way to practice. 

The Prudential Building is really grey but this fabric was perfect otherwise. 

check out the other quilts in the challenge here...

Aggie's Wedding Ring

Aggie's Wedding Ring 40" x 40"

This quilt came together organically. I had several color waves in batiks made hoping to make another Hot and Cold Flow quilt. I was out to lunch and a little shopping at the Charlton Sewing Center with Sue Pelland (designer of the Leaves Galore Template). It occurred to me that I could cut those color waves into wedges and play. 

The doilies were hand-dyed by me. Some were made by my MIL, Winnie Murphy (passed away 2/14/00), given to me by my aunt Aggie Glavin Parker (passed away 11/16/12) and some given to me from Susan Freund (moved to MT 12/12). They were an afterthought, a solution to what to put in the centers. I'm so glad I thought of it!

I cried many tears making this quilt. Listening to Ray Lamontaine and Cat Stevens. It was very therapeutic!!!!!

I haven't quilted in the wedges yet, I'm hesitant but I must....then I'll add crystal:) ill post a picture of it when it's finished.

I'll be blogging about Sue's new book Rotary Cut Applique and giving away a copy, stay tuned. 

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I had the rare and awesome opportunity to meet up with my high school art teacher, Gale Babin, at my gallery show at Northeastern University yesterday! My sister, Maureen, pulled it together for us.





It was a full circle moment for both of us. She was a great teacher!






I got a kick out of this :)



It's cool to see them hung together and in such nice lighting.



Hundreds of people walk by them everyday, that is the goal of an artist, to share their work. They are on display until 2/18/2013 in Curry Center.



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New year, new work

I finished a commissioned piece this week. I got a message through my etsy shop from a gentleman who saw my quilts on display at Northeastern University and wanted me to make a quilt for him. He sent me a few options of photos he had taken, this is the one we chose of his home in Hingham, MA.




Here are detailed shots that show some of the quilting and how I used ink dots to help blend the hard edges of the pieced squares.







I did a curvy cross hatch on the lawn with my walking foot, the rest was free motion.




My quilts will be in the Curry Center at Northeastern until 2/1/13. If you can't get there here are a few photos of the display.










You can catch the details of my etsy listing "your home in fabric" here https://www.etsy.com/listing/77825886/your-home-in-fabric

Thanks for stopping by :)

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Fiberactions 10 Color Challenge Quilt

It was my turn to choose the theme for our Fiberactions Challenge quilt this month. The challenge was to use 10 or more colors in your quilt. They could be all greens but must have been all different.

Transitions 18" x 14"
$250.00

I wanted to use as many batiks as possible and play with cutting fabrics. The stone wall is a gray background with a black piece that I cut out all the pebbles. It was surprisingly enjoyable. I thought I was going to dread it.  There is a lot of potential for this technique.

I had fun choosing fabrics for the trees, of course a challenge but the funnest part for me. 

I used Mistyfuse which allowed me to layer without problems when threadpainting/quilting.

I used Aurifil 50 weight for the quilting and the bobbin. 

                                      

Check out the other challenge quilts here at the Fiberactions blog