This photo was taken on our camera club's 2012 trip to Tuscany. At the time, I knew it would make an interesting subject for a quilted landscape. Actually, I've been debating between this photo and another taken in San Gimignano. Okay, not so much debating as just plain procrastinating, but finally, I've begun working on this new piece. Documenting my progress here will hopefully keep me focused on finishing it.
First, I printed out my 8x10 photo. Next, I taped a sheet of clear plastic over the photo and used an extra fine point permanent marker to trace the edges of the key elements in the photo. At the copy center in Staples, I asked for an enlargement of this plastic sheet that would be 18" in length. This seemed to be a good size, but eventually I returned to get the piece enlarged to 24" in length as some sections of the first enlargement were just too small. Here is the enlargement.
Isn't that cool? You don't have to be an artist to make your own pattern. Even better, the enlargement costs only a few dollars. This is my master copy. I taped it to the window, placed a sheet of freezer paper over it, and traced over all the lines to make a working copy which I will then be able to cut apart as I work on each section.
Next, I put down a piece of black fabric and over it a piece of Transdoodle, chalk side down. (Don't you love that name? It's works like carbon paper used to, but this is intended for fabric. One side is smooth and the other side has a chalky surface. The same sheet may be used many times.) I taped my working copy over it and once again traced all the lines with a pencil. When done, I removed the working copy, the Transdoodle sheet, and here's what I had. The black fabric clearly shows where each fused appliqué piece will go. It's magic!!!
To fuse the individual pieces, I will use Misty Fuse. I learned about using Transdoodle and Misty Fuse and the process of creating a quilt landscape at an incredibly fun Quilting under the Tuscan Sun workshop in Tuscany with Esterita Austin back in 2010.
So that's how it starts. The process isn't difficult, but it does take time.
You never cease to impress me, I can't wait, I can see you teaching us a class one of these days
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen. There are parts of this piece which may prove to be quite challenging, but hopefully, I will be able to work through it. ;-)
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