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watercolor quilts

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Sunni12

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Jan 13, 2003, 10:22:44 AM1/13/03
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Watercolor quilts totally fascinate me, and I want to try one myself.

I would love to hear any input or tips yall can offer on the subject.

Thanks,
sunny

Marijke

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Jan 13, 2003, 11:37:59 AM1/13/03
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I did one in a wall hanging size (you can see it in my photoalbum if you
like).

It was my first attempt at anything like this and I really enjoyed doing it.
I just sorted out my squares into different colour groups. I then divided
the colour groups into different shads - light to dark. AFter that was
done, it was just fill in the squares and move things until they look right!

What was interesting was the reaction to the wallhanging by my family. My
youngest son was the only one who "saw" what it was supposed to be which is
sky, flowers, green and earth, all abstract of course. My daughter could see
it once we pointed it out. Oldest son and DH couldn't see it at all, even
after it was pointed out.

I enjoyed making it and would like to do another one. Good luck!


--
Marijke
in Montreal
To see some of my quilts, go to http://photos.yahoo.com/sesesi and click on
"my quilts."

"Sunni12" <sun...@aol.com> wrote in message
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Debbi

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Jan 13, 2003, 12:47:15 PM1/13/03
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I took a class through our adult education program where we did the
watercolor wreath. Some suggestions--

1) The directions said to sew various number of strips together and then cut
them. I put those with 2 pieces in one baggie, those with 3 in another, etc
which made it easier to lay things out.
2) I also had the pattern in front of me and out check off each row as I
laid it out. It is easy to lose track of where you are.
3) Lay out the entire quilt before you begin to assemble.
4) Step back and then you can see if you made some kind of very noticeable
goof. 5) Count the number of pieces in each row before you sew. I found that
on several rows, I put down the wrong piece and would have been off by one
or two squares had I not counted.
6) Be patient. The final product is worth the work!!!

Debbi in SO CA


"Sunni12" <sun...@aol.com> wrote in message
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RMcC

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Jan 13, 2003, 12:53:56 PM1/13/03
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I did a couple too, and liked doing them -- the third was the best as far as
fabric/color blending when it does take practice. Got to admit that it's out
of my system - after 3 small wall hangings I've had enough of the technique.
What I found helped was having a pretty good sized stash and fussy cutting
quite a bit (depends on the pattern). Mine needed a fine 'end of
branch/flower' for the edge of the flower basket and fussy cutting worked
best. Have a look if you like, under "mom's arts and crafts'.
Rose
www.pansy-paws.com

"Marijke" <clem...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Amy in PA

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Jan 13, 2003, 2:53:36 PM1/13/03
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> > "Sunni12" <sun...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030113102244...@mb-da.aol.com...
> > > Watercolor quilts totally fascinate me, and I want to try one myself.
> > > I would love to hear any input or tips yall can offer on the subject.
> > > Thanks,
> > > sunny

I just got started on my first watercolor quilt, from the book "More
Watercolor Quilts" by Dina Pappas. It's a floral medallion with floral
accents with a narrow inner border, a wider outer border and binding. It's
not an elaborate design like some I've seen (and they are gorgeous), but
it's a good start for me since it's a pretty basic lesson in matching
fabrics for this type of quilt. If you like putting together jigsaw
puzzles, you'll love watercolor quilts. I also like Pappas' method of using
fusible interfacing to "iron-connect" the squares of the panels and then
sewing the rows, rather than sewing all those bitty 2" squares together.
I've got three panels (of four) put together, and so far I'm really enjoying
it. I'll definitely do another, more complicated one after this.

Amy in PA


Julia Altshuler

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Jan 13, 2003, 4:08:55 PM1/13/03
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I might be able to credit watercolor quilts with getting me interested in
quilting. I say "might" because I've never actually made one. When I took my
first beginning quilting class, I had no idea what I was getting into. I wasn't
that interested, wasn't sure I'd like it at all. I just had a space to fill and
signed up. Even a few weeks into the class, I wasn't sure what I thought. I
went to a guild show, liked what I saw but was overwhelmed. Then I picked up
the Watercolor book that one of the vendors had for sale. I believe my eyes
must have bugged out of my head. I was in love. But before I could run home to
start making my first watercolor, I had other projects. I made one quilt. I
made another. I started a stash. I kept thinking a watercolor would be lovely,
but I had many other things to do first. I bought the book and studied it
carefully. It was so on my someday list. I went to more shows, subscribed to
magazines, made a bunch of quilting friends. It was normal that when my
boyfriend's job took us to Seattle that I would make arrangements to take the
That Patchwork Place tour. I got a chance to see that famous watercolor quilt
with the stars that's in the book, and, for the first time, I saw a quilt that
looked better in the photograph than it did in real life. Don't get me wrong,
it is a lovely quilt, but I'd built it up in my imagination to more than it
could possibly be in reality. I still like watercolors, and I use the
principles of paying attention to value more than color all the time, but I no
longer have a pressing desire to make one. When I see them, they seem ordinary
to me, uncreative, as though someone followed a formula and didn't put her own
creativity in.

--Lia

Patti

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Jan 13, 2003, 3:25:47 PM1/13/03
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Hullo Sunny
The lady who has made her name synonymous with Watercolour Quilts is
Deirdre Amsden. Perhaps you could see if you could get one of her
books? As others have said, you do need a good range of fabrics, but you
could use a charm collection (or two!) if you need more variety. I
agree that it is a fascinating technique. It's on my 'must do one of
those someday' list <g>
Your library might be able to get you a copy of a book.
.

In article <20030113102244...@mb-da.aol.com>, Sunni12
<sun...@aol.com> writes

--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

Melissa in NJ

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Jan 13, 2003, 6:32:36 PM1/13/03
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"Strip Pieced Watercolor Quilts" and it's second book are quite nice. For
some reason hundreds of floral charm squares daunts me but several floral
strips doesn't. The effect is the same at the end but without all the tiny
squares!!!! One of the only quilts in the house that belongs to me and
wasn't given away to someone is one of these.

Mleissa in NJ

--
and the "Boos Hounds" (Bear, Bits, and Lexus)
and Maxi (aka Witch Kitty with a "B"), Kenobi (aka "Kitty Wan Kenobi"),
and Salem (aka "Salem the Yak")

Quilt Something for Yourself! Adopt a Racing Greyhound!
--
Remove STOPCRAP to reply
--

"Sunni12" <sun...@aol.com> wrote in message
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Miriam "Mim" Spencer

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Jan 13, 2003, 8:26:20 PM1/13/03
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I received a lighthouse WH kit that included all the cut fabrics as a
Christmas gift. It was an interesting piece to do and I did learn a lot.

I would suggest a kit because it is a very different concept. I do a lot of
scrappy quilts and I would have really lost my way without the grid and
pieces.

It kept me busy for several days playing with the pieces on my design board
and was a very good change of pace.

Mim in Maine

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Pat in Virginia

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Jan 15, 2003, 8:11:27 AM1/15/03
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The book I have is by Donna Slusher and Pat Magret.
Great book .... I think they've written two on the
topic. The 'mother' of the watercolor (or as the
cousins say "watercolour") is Diedre Amsden, an
incredible quilt artist. I think she wrote a book too.
My suggestion is to go to your county or guild library
and find some books. Libraries are so cool! PAT

Sunni12

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Jan 15, 2003, 11:18:49 PM1/15/03
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Thank you very much for your ideas.
I have ordered a book 2nd hand from Amazon and I have bought several lots of
2" charms pretty cheap on Ebay.

I've invested about $15.00 so far - not much really when talking about
quilting. I have all the rest of the stuff I need to begin a watercolor quilt
already from previous quilting.

If I decide I dont like the watercolor idea as much as I enjoy looking at them,
I'll end up with a book with beautiful illustrations and I can use the charms
for mini quilts which I prefer to regular quilts anyway. So, I really wont be
out anything.

Keep those thoughts coming yall!

-sunny

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