"On Point" by Kerry

At Last got my act together to get this posted and get it away to you Judith. I love this little quilt and have had it on my design wall for sometime sorry Judith it is so late. Surely Ladies the ultimate negative space is that left when patches are placed "on point" even the patches can have "negative space". I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a restful and enjoyable holiday with your families.

Ngaire - The Three Bears

For several years Judy and I made the goodie bags for our club retreats and we often stenciled designs on them.The challenge negative space was a chance to use one of these designs again. Hope you like my little bears Judy.
Ngaire

Circling over Negative Space - Helen

I decided to make a quilt that didn't have a 'plain' negative space (apparently in art terms negative space could mostly be described as background). I've had the background fabric for a long time (sound familiar?) and am reasonably pleased with its use as my negative space.

"Prunus" stitched by Margie

Part one of this watercolour techniques class was to paint some trees [using branches of prunus as our models]. Part two, which I haven't started, is to fill the negative spaces [background] with pattern. So, I used this as a pattern for my little quilt and filled the negative spaces with quilting, as in the black and white picture. And now I'll go back to my painting and add the background!  Convoluted!

 

I'm a little late posting, having just arrived home from three weeks across the ditch in a motorhome on the South Island - what fun, and what a beautiful country.

Lynn - One Fish, Two Fish

This challenge led me to Google to check that my definition of negative space was the same as that of everyone else, and it was. So here you have " One Fish, Two Fish plus negative space.
Enjoy your little quilts, Judith.
Best wishes from
Lynn.

The Swan - Judith

Firstly thank you everyone for taking up the challenge, the little quilts that have appeared on the blog so far are wonderful, I am very fortunate.

Inspiration for my interpretation of "negative space" came while exploring a site showing how it is used in photography. It was the photo of a lone dingy floating on a large expanse of water that sparked an idea and prompted me to use one of the photos I had taken of black swan on Lake Taupo.  I manipulated the photo in Photoshop to create a greyscale image before printing it on fabric ready for stitching.

Lorraine - Tea for Two

Hi Judy,

Thanks for the challenge 'Negative Space' it was interesting trying to create an image without getting into positive/negative mode.

I really enjoyed the challenge and I think we all had to think hard with this one.

I called mine "Tea for Two". 
Original title - not!!

It's in the post as I write.

Cheers Lorraine

The Fourth Quadrant by Kay W.

I must spend too much time thinking mathematically!  When the topic 'Negative Space"
was posted the only thought in my head was the fourth quadrant of the co-ordinate plane, where the x and y values are both negative.  So here it is.  All the numbers have fallen of their number line and are floating in their very own negative space in the fourth quadrant.  With apologies to those of you with horrible memories of high school algebra and geometry classes!

Trees are full of negative space by Anna

I have made the negative space on this quilt black rather than white. I also created the binding fabric by quilting a pattern on it. I love this stylised tree design and thought it worked well for this project, Judy. We have all had to put our thinking caps on so thanks. Love Anna

Mary - Negative Space

Hi Judith
I am always saying to my students "look at the negative space too".  But when it came to thinking about this challenge, I was a bit stumped.
Then I remembered that whenever I cut out a spiral, I have a cute leftover piece which is almost the same.
So here is my version of negative space. 
I quilted right over the design without stitching down the fused edges, as I thought the stitching might detract.  It was an interesting exercise, as the stitching pulled it in and there were a few anxious moments until it was all done.
Beading finished the edges.  I enjoyed this project and hope you like it.

Love
Mary

Kay H - "Blue" and "Negative Space"

Hi all,  Kay H here

Two posts from me today, - sorry to be late to post the "Blue" piece, but it was sent to Ngaire on time  (...just catching up).



My love is nature, which gets a different twist in Blue, - this is moonlight and the hues turning to a bluish tinge when darkness falls. There are a couple of fireflies on the wall, giving a little luminescence to the piece.

                                                               -----  0000  -----

I have also finished the " Negative Space" challenge, which really had me thinking.



In the end it seemed to me that the idea is the contrast between the space where "nothing" dominates, and the life, colour and shapes where "everything"  happens. This was fun!

Keep them coming!!!

Kay

Split Difference by Kerry

I really enjoy piecing more than any other part of patchwork. I "created" this little block some years ago when I first started and was pleased to try it again ,just a little smaller. Thank you Ngaire.

Sashiko On Blue from Lynn

In each challenge, I have used a different technique, and here is another. Sashiko is a technique I enjoy stitching and teaching. I have adapted the traditional Hemp Leaf design to make it look more interesting.
Ngaire, enjoy your gallery of techniques.

Storm at Sea - Kay's Style

As a teacher of geometry for many years I was first attracted to patchwork and quilting by the lines and angles of the traditional blocks.  Storm at Sea is one of my favourites.  It is amazing just how many designs can emerge with different uses of colour.  I also indulge in machine applique and embroidery so I added the lighthouse to fill out the rectangular quilt in "my style".  I have to say that in the time it took to make four four inch Storm at Sea blocks I probably could have made a queen size quilt!

Circles - Helen

Only nine on this quilt to add to the thousands of suffolk puffs that I've made, and am continuing to make as I'm currently working on my third reasonably large quilt. During a workshop on our recent holiday in the USA we were discussing my suffolk puff quilts and one local lady asked (probably an obvious question) - are you insane? In my life blue is usually accompanied by red so I've added a machine applique piece to include this. Thanks Ngaire for choosing my favourite colour for your theme.

"Scraps of blue" stitched by Margie for Ngaire

Most of my quilts are simple, traditional, machine pieced, and hand quilted; and scrappy: there are 94 fabrics in "Scraps of Blue". So thank you Ngaire, my stash of blue fabrics is for the moment tidy and sorted.  I like to use boldly printed fabric even in such small projects; and often it isn't until the binding is on I notice big splodges of colour like the red  in the middle of my little blue quilt - oh well.
Kay, Deb, and I showed our quilts today and everyone knew instantly the maker - Kay's so carefully calculated and pieced, Deb's yummy crabs, and my scraps.

Deb - Blue Swimmer Crabs

                                       

My "style" would definitely have to be machine appliqué with a bit of hand quilting. My other "thing" would be enjoying a yummy feed of blue swimmer crabs sitting with friends in the caravan park at one of our favourite holiday destinations, although it's hard to eat them with any style!

Mary - Blue Daisy

Hi Ngaire
Your style in blue, well it had to be flowers.
I am trying some new collage type quilts so maybe this is my new style in blue.
The first one I made turned purple with the addition of the red tulle over it, so here is the modified quilt.
Hope you like it.
Love
Mary

Lorraine - 'Up, up and away'

Hi Ngaire,

Some time ago I was fascinated by the design on the carpets in the Darwin airport - and photographed the 'parrots' thinking 'Someday I'll use this because its so weird' 

Whoever would expect such outrageous birds in an international airport??? Well when you set the challenge 'Your style - in blue' here was my opportunity. I hope you appreciate the sense of humour, I just loved the colours. cheers Lorraine

Blue and White Stripes by Anna

Most of my friends and family know that I simply adore blue and white striped clothes so here is my take on "My style" in celtic work,fabric and design.
Hope you enjoy Ngaire. You will know exactly who has made it!!!

Sapphire - Judith

Ngaire how much I enjoyed stitching “Sapphire” for you and as you know for a while she was “Betty Blue” but in the end that name didn’t seem to fit.

Recently I have been enjoying setting myself little exercises in free motion quilting firstly to better know my Sweet Sixteen and secondly to see how far I can push the boundaries. Such a buzz. Therefore, for the moment, it seems these little quilts are my passion. Enjoy

Lorraine - Oscar

Hi Mary,

my portrait is of our little dog Oska. Thank you for the challenge I enjoyed bringing the image to life with free motion stitching and shading, rather like colouring in, only using threads. Hope you like him. Sorry for the late posting I have only just returned from our trip to the USA, only I extended and also went to Canada and Alaska. We had many laughs together and lots of photos to share.

cheers Lorraine

Mary - Betty, 1944

Betty, 1944

Hi everyone
Thank you all for  my lovely portraits, they are all wonderful and I will treasure each one.
What a hard challenge I set.
Here is my attempt, slightly experimental.  This is my Mum, Betty, photo taken on her 20th birthday.  My sister sent me this pic for my birthday, I had never seen it before.  Made me feel quite emotional.

I used some retro fabrics which I had acquired, and made a collage.  I then used artist transfer paper and photo manipulation to make a black and white image which I ironed onto the collage.  Not sure if it has come off but an interesting experiment.

Gordon



 This is Gordon, John's Dad. John says his dad was not that scary!  But I enjoyed doing this portrait, it is bigger than our size, but something a little different for me.  I am keen to try to do more of these.

Thank you all for my "portraits"
Mary

Mug Shot - Judith

Mary I loved making Mug Shot for you, although it didn’t meet the deadline it was such an interesting challenge, now even TV has become so much more entertaining as I study facial features, expressions, etc.

Apologies once again to everyone for trailing the group, I’m on a mission to complete a round robin quilt begun as a Club project in 2002. I didn’t want it to return to the cupboard for another 11 years so just had to finish quilting the round before I could start the portrait. The trouble is the rounds are getting bigger, just two more to go.

Loved catching up again at Taupo Symposium Mary, enjoy your quilts.

Love Judith

Deb - Self Portrait

I've always wanted to do a colourful self portrait (as I've seen in Quilting Arts magazines) so when Mary gave us this challenge I knew what I wanted to do.

I took a photo of myself on my iPad and very lightly traced it to use as a template. Then I played with colour! I didn't like the look of my short hair so I played with flowers and leaves. I added some black and white earrings for a bit of contrast. The giraffes on my jumper signify an online class I'm doing at the moment - 'The Year of the Giraffe'.
This is how I'd like to live my life - bright, bold and colourful!!
I hope you like it Mary. I really had fun doing this quilt.

Posted with Blogsy

Virginia W - Helen

While my portrait could be 'anyone', an idea developed from a greeting card that featured an abstract illustration of the writer Virginia Woolf. The card included part of one of her many short quotes. This one really appealed to me -
         "I don't believe in aging.
          I believe in forever altering one's aspect to the sun."
This quite troubled lady who lived from 1882 to 1941 was the author of many varied works. My portrait is 'somewhere' between the card and photographs of Virginia Woolf.
I apologise for my late post this time. I was fortunate to be in the travel group to the USA - I've mentioned this only because I bought the card in the Pike Place Markets in Seattle. And we all had a great time!

Pam's Portrait

Pam's Portrait

Front

Back

 

What a challenge! THANKS MARY!!!!
It however, all worked out in the end.
Hope you enjoy this small quilt for a wonderful friend and quilter.
Tom not all that ok at the moment so things are happening a little slower at the moment with me and quilting!
Will happily post your little quilt off to you soon.
Had a great time with Juliet and Jacquie in Adelaide. What fun!
Cheers and happy quilting!
Pam

Cleo by Ngaire

While I was teaching juniors, often one of the art activities was to create a simple face usually using black paper. When your topic came up Mary I thought maybe I can go back to those days and create a face myself. So here is my go at that art activity to join all the other portrait quilts. Ngaire

African Queen by Anna

Thought I would try some reverse appliqué for this image. Very tricky cutting out all those little bits!!

Good to catch up at the symposium in Taupo, Mary.

Enjoy your quilts, love Anna

"To Margie from Asha" stitched by Margie

Having researched the drawing of faces and all the 'correct' proportions I chose instead, with Asha's permission, to copy this portrait of me from her book Margie's monster birthday in which a one eyed monster eats my birthday cake.  Being not much over 5' I do love my new long legs!

Machine appliqued with hand quilting and embroidery. The fabric on the face puckered up so I was able to iron out the wrinkles [no botox!] and give myself a nose.

Here is the original and a cushion cover I made for the artist:

        

Lynn - Once I was an Infants Teacher - Now I am a Quilter

I found a papercut of a much younger me, enlarged it, traced it, fused it and machine appliqued it.
Enjoy your Portrait Gallery, Mary.

Best wishes from Lynn.

Portrait Challenge - Kay H

                                                                         Mick

Mick is our neighbour. He is a bit of a diamond in the rough, with a heart of gold and so much character. He will do anything for you, and will tackle anything. He has helped us over and over again as he has many others.  To my relief, he actually likes his "portrait".

This was a real challenge for me. Bård took the picture of Mick and manipulated it with Photoshop to make it a bit like it was done with a palette knife.  With that as a start, I first created a cotton fabric base, then I spent hours and hours burning pieces of organza in different colours with a hot nib stencil burner, then carefully placing (and re-placing, and re-re-placing) layer upon layer of the organza pieces to create the shadings I wanted. Next time I will use a face I don't know, because trying to get it to really look like Mick often conflicted with how I felt like representing the face.

These challenges are great!! I probably take them too seriously, but I learn soooo much and it takes me outside my comfort zone!

Hanging our little quilts

I've noticed the girls from New Zealand sew little rings to the back of their quilts to facilitate hanging - what a good idea!. I found some "Standard Spindle O-Rings" for taps at our local hardware store [the black ones pictured]. Another option is little white rings for Austrian Shades in the curtain making department. Margie

A Portrait of A Geisha by Kerry

I read a book many years ago and thought its title was A Portrait of a Geisha, But now checking found it is Memoirs of a Geisha. Never mind it was a fascinating read and this was a lovely quilt to make. I copied the bottom right Geisha and enlarged her on to fabric through the photocopier  to make my Central lady and then concentrated on having accurate sashing. Thank you Lynn H for the lovely fabric it was a pity to cut it up.

Faceless Man in a Blue Tie by Kay W.

When Mary posted "A Portrait" as our next challenge I wondered what on earth I could do.  Then the state of politics in Australia in the last two weeks was a gift!

The Australians and probably the New Zealanders in our group will get the reference.  If there are readers outside our countries, the Labor Party in Australia is often said to be run by "faceless men".  That is, party members, not elected to parliament, who set policies and do deals without their names or faces being known or published.  Last week the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, made a speech saying that if the nation voted for the opposition Liberal Party at the next election then all we would get in the government would be men wearing blue ties and no women.  Unfortunately, at the time, she was surrounded by her senior cabinet and party colleagues, all men in blue ties!  And now she is no longer the Prime Minister.

So I couldn't resist making a faceless man wearing his very nice blue tie.  What fun!

Kay

PS  I know I have posted this early, but I am setting off to visit my sons and the Sisters Quilt Show on Saturday and won't be back until well after the deadline.

"Water - memories of Port Stephens" by Pam

WATER for Margie.

This image will remain in my memory of the area Port Stephens we recently left.

Seventeen years of fun and pleasure in this area.

We now look forward to finding all the hidden goodies that exist here in the Central Coast.

We are delighted with our move and look forward to many years here closer to family and friends.

Hard to take Kay around the corner.

 We look forward to getting to know Kay and Bard more.

Have a wonderful trip you and the 'others'.

Look forward to another dinner at Darling Harbour in 2014.

Fireworks were a go again on our night of dinner shared with the fun four.

You didn't think I could do it again!!!

Cheers.

Pam

Aquarius by Judith

Aquarius has been a work in progress for several weeks and sadly it is now finished and must be on its way. I have enjoyed every moment of its creation. I do apologise for the time it has taken to complete it but it has been so much fun to once more play with and try to master shiva oil sticks and prisma colour pencils then finally to add the stitching. I do hope Margie, Aquarius gives you pleasure too.
Judith

Water Cycle by Ngaire

Bicycles and biking have always been part of our family life so when I saw this image and thought of the times I taught the water cycle to the children at school it was a must.
Hope you enjoy this Margie.
Ngaire.

"Looking down" by Kay H

I received this little treasure today.

Kay wrote:
"...Looking down from above into a rock pool.  If you look carefully there are some fish hiding in there.
Materials used - fly screen, cellophane stressed, tulle, paint, lace, batik, cotton,velvet, muslin and glitter.
Techniques - free motion machine quilting, heat stressing, and lots of fun."

I do like the idea of using "lots of fun"- Margie
[if you click on the picture you'll get a full screen version which might help to find those fish!]

"A storm at sea" by Kerry

My first attempt at this block, I could not find details for a pieced block so this was done with foundation piecing.Thank you Margie a pleasure to complete the challenge. Blue is my favourite colour . Looking forward to catching up with some of you next week, thank you Pam for organising the dinner.

"The Water Carriers" stitched by Lorraine

I thought you might like to see Lorraine's quilt - I think Lorraine is away, so she can update this post when she returns.
Have to say I expected blue to be the dominant colour in all your 'water' quilts - how wrong I was.
Given the interesting and different responses it seems you enjoyed the challenge - I hope so anyway.
Margie