Top of the Tree

I'm adding definition to the top of the Pomegranate Tree with hand stitching. Inching along while listening to an audio book of Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass, which takes one into a strange world indeed!

Working (Stitching) Hard

Progress is slow, but progress there is. I'm working on getting the lower half of the Pomegranate Tree filled in--3 to 5 hours a day. The end may be in sight...eventually. Going over a 6ftx7ft surface inch by inch takes time. Here you may say "Well, obviously, Nadia."
























Linked to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Friday".

Stitching Weeds

Weeds are taking over my life--in the garden and in the Pomegranate Tree Quilt. I'm stitching a minimum of 4 hours a day and I still haven't gotten to the end of them. The garden will have to wait for the stitched weeds to be finished...

Linked to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday".

Stitching Weeds, 2

Stitching into the night trying to control my anxieties about the near future. Fortunately, there are sometimes unexpected creative moments that feel like high adventure. I didn't know weeds could be so exciting! I added just a touch of green, which I really like in the mix, plus a few small circles here and there to echo the shape of the pomegranates. I'm trying to catch the chaotic feel of nature, which is a pretty good metaphor for life as well--organized chaos...

Stitching Weeds

 





















Yeah, I'm still here, slogging along. I may have some kind of news soon, but in the meantime, I've been stitching weeds under the pomegranate tree. French knots did not seem to be enough. This is a superficial stitch (feather stitch? can't remember the name) that does not go through to the back. I tried a single thread at first, which did not show up well so I went for a double thread, which seems to be working. I'm using several browns and a maroon. I think I'll add some small circles in there as well...and probably more French knots (groan). 

The plot thickens!

Inching Along

Oh, those French knots are so time-consuming--and I fell asleep with needle in hand last night. But, their beauty makes up for it all. It's a love/hate relationship...

Adding Depth

The Pomegranate Tree Quilt has come back into my life in a regular way. I stitch on it a couple hours every day, mostly hand quilting and adding French knots to create depth around the leaves. The Tree is taking on that quilted look that pleases me so much because it adds texture and dimension, light and shadows. The leaves and pomegranates are beginning to puff out.

On My Sewing Table

The Pomegranate Tree sits on my sewing table waiting for me to find time to sit down with it and strike up a conversation. Slowly the machine quilting is getting done.

Under the Pomegranate Tree: The Weed Section

Machine quilting into the night with a brown thread on top.

Stitching around the French knots in the Weed Section, which, in real life, is dry and colorless by the time the fruit ripens in October or November. I'm rather liking the way the floral prints are working.

I've left the ends of threads. I think I'll couch them down in their odd shapes. This won't be particularly visible as it's just sewing thread, rather thin, but, I like the unexpected detail...and who's counting time?

Linked to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday." 

Hand Quilting

Savoring the hand stitching/quilting, I fall in love with this piece again...

And the process is so pleasing, working on small areas and seeing possibilities for stitching.

Unplugged

The roots are quilted, but the rest of the Pomegranate Tree will have to wait.

I'll be unplugged for five days. Rather looking forward to that. 

I've got my stitching kit, sketch kit, camera and suitcase ready to go.

Pomegranate Tree Quilt: FMQ, 3

Every evening, I work through a few lines of quilting on the roots. 

I'm finishing this section because I can see what needs to be done. The rule on such a big project: a small bite at a time.

Looking at the photo, I'm reminded of how much I like to machine quilt, how much I like the effect. The lines are so interesting.

Of course, there is a problem looming ahead that I will deal with when I get there: the quilting around the roots is close, which will probably shrink the bottom a bit if I don't get just as much quilting done on the tree. I could have quilted the roots separately and then sewn them to the tree in a quilt-as-you-go technique (the intelligent solution), but I like working on the whole thing at once. The buckling is a familiar problem.

...ah, but it will all quilt out...

Pomegranate Tree Quilt: FMQ, 2

Sitting on my sewing machine table, the Pomegranate Tree Quilt awaits me each evening. The outline quilting around the roots is very slow and rather complex.

My method is a non-method. I safety pin the sandwich and then pin furiously where I'm going to machine quilt (at least every half inch, if not closer). Tedious, but it works for me. It will eventually all be filled in with FMQ.

See here for an overview of the whole tree.

















Linked to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Friday".

Pomegranate Tree Quilt, Quilting

I felt the urge to do at least a bit of hand-stitching into the Pomegranate Tree. The running stitch also serves to quilt between the machine quilting--vague leaf shapes. More French knots. I'm using two strands of machine sewing thread because I have such a large collection from my mom.

On My Sewing Table: FMQ

The machine quilting is going fairly smoothly, if slowly. Mostly outline quilting to hold the sandwich together and create a sculptural effect.

The Sandwich

Now the back, batting, and top are all taped and pinned on the floor. 

Tough to get a good shot.

And here I thought I had squared it up nicely! Hmmmph! Well, I won't do anymore trimming until I finish quilting and hand stitching. I'm just itching to do the hand stitching, however, I need to machine quilt some of the main lines to stabilize it...Fortunately, the waves will all quilt out...I think.

Further Knottings, 4

Whew! The French knots seem to be finished for the moment.

I'm thinking I can put the sandwich together now, but, I'll have to do it in a big space as this will easily measure 6' by 6' and it has a tendency to grow.

Linked to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday."

Further Knottings, 3

With Grandma's Boot Camp going full steam ahead, I'm just managing to squeeze in some late-night stitching, lining up French knots. 

This is the right side of the Pomegranate Tree Quilt.

For the last couple of days, I have been teaching cartwheels to GD2 (second granddaughter). Today she wants to work on head stands and hand stands. I can't decide if this is keeping me young or aging me rapidly.

Further Knottings, 2

Maybe, just maybe, I have finished one side of the Pomegranate Tree French knots...maybe. Lately, I've become reluctant to say I'm finishing anything as I seem to jinx myself!

I started out with three colors then added others. Notice that the lines are not particularly straight--I would have worried if they were. The French knots are not particularly visible, but I'm liking the effect all the same...sometimes I can manage to be subtle...


Linked to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday".

Further Knottings

Slowly, slowly, laying down the French knots. I added a dark green to the mix.