TUESDAY HAPPENINGS

There is nothing more fun than getting together with friends and visiting and doing quilting and/or crafting projects.  Two friends, Sharon and Linda, and I get together monthly and do just that.  Usually we work on our own selected projects, but a couple months ago Sharon suggested we all do the same project and see the different results.  Linda suggested we make floor quilts.  I had seen these at various quilt shows and had bought a book while I was at the AQS Show in Paducah with the intention of making a rug for my kitchen floor.  Linda had another book that she thought was a good source so we went with that book as our guide.

Linda was our fearless leader and led us through the steps to create our "rugs" called Floorquilts.
We had our Show and Tell in Linda's Studio.

On the left is my version of a fairly traditional Rail Fence with a little improv addition of some circles of flowers and strips;  Sharon is in the center with her lasagna strips where she added some rectangles for interest; and on the right is Linda with her beautiful Layered Circles of Kaffe Fasset fabric on a black background.  This was a fun project that we spread out over two months.

We are experiencing a bittersweet time right now, the three of us.  When we arrived at Linda's studio yesterday the For Sale sign was up on her lawn.  She and hubby are moving back to Florida.  We will really miss her!!  She has so much talent and expertise to share and I don't think I have had enough time to learn all I want to learn from her.  Besides, she is such a sweet friend!!

We will continue to get together until she must leave and continue to count each gathering a special blessing.

                         -sandi
 

FLOORQUILTS

In my small group one of my friends, Linda, suggested we do Floorquilts as a project together.  It was a technique that I had not done but was definitely on my bucket list.  Linda found this book for us and we all purchased our copy and we got started.

I decided to make mine almost square to use in my kitchen.  I chose greens to do my rail fence design.

I chose to use a toile drapery fabric for my backing.  It was necessary to prep this piece with Gesso.

LilBit is looking for her home in the design!  LOL

After the Gesso step we moved on to attaching our designs to the base.

These strips have been treated with a diluted solution of water and ModPodge.

After I made the rail fence blocks I decided I wanted a little contrast so I did some circles at the intersections.

Then I added the "binding".  This is so fun because it is cut and paste.

Now comes the sealing and finishing.   Using more Mod Podge and sanding between coats is the first step.  Then it is sealed with an Acrylic Poly sealer and some skid resistant product on the back.  The rug is ready to use.

                             -sandi