Mask

That was the theme for this month’s Out of the Box (my creativity group) challenge.

This was my first attempt at a face. Creating a face is absolutely terrifying for someone who doesn’t draw. I figured it was time I get over myself on that one and give it a whirl.

I used the hand dyed fabrics I purchased from Judy Robertson at the quilt show in February. LOVED them. Definitely a habit in the making. The hair and the little yellow corners are fabric from Marbled Arts. I was fearful the marbled texture would overwhelm whatever I chose to use it for. To my delight, it took on amazing movement when overlayed with some free motion quilting.

The piece measures 8 x 6 inches. Long live minis!

I threw out the Timetex and used a thin cotton batting. Much happier with the results. Besides being easier to embroider and bead on, the batting gave me that subtle puffiness I love. Now I have to figure out how to get rid of Wonder Under. Any ideas for positioning the fabric with something less gooey?

37 Responses to Mask
  1. Terri Lynn
    April 4, 2007 | 2:09 pm

    I love the stuff at Nancy’s Notions, Generations quilt basting spray. Cool stuff, plus it’s repostitonal. did I tell you I love the mask?

  2. Rachel
    April 4, 2007 | 2:49 pm

    Wow! I love the mask. I admire the quilting. Detailed, but not overdone. Thanks for the tips on Timetex verus thin batting. I keep thinking that I need tor try Timetex, because it is out ehre and a lot of people use it. However, I don’t want to be disappointed once I lay out the cash.

  3. Sarah
    April 4, 2007 | 2:52 pm

    Gorgeous quilt! I love the marbled fabric you used for the hair, the swirly cheeks and the beading on the mask is lovely.

  4. Daphne
    April 4, 2007 | 5:01 pm

    Wow. I’m really impressed–the hair is especially amazing. But with the pink cheeks, the beaded silky mask and the red lips, it’s striking and beautiful.

  5. Sonya
    April 4, 2007 | 5:44 pm

    Such a beautiful creation! I love the subtle effect with the hair and your stitching add such richness. Wonderful!

  6. Happy Zombie
    April 4, 2007 | 6:05 pm

    WOW… that is beautiful! I’ve never done anything out of the box… I need to, especially after seeing what you did.

    I use Heat n Bond lite. Still kinda sticky, but I like it better then Wonder under. Though, I only use it for buttonhole appliqué. I’ve tried the 505 (or is it 606) adhesive spray, but it’s ooooh sooooo toxic. Works well, but gives me a MAJOR headache.

    I wish they made a Heat n Bond UBER lite.

  7. Stephanie
    April 4, 2007 | 6:08 pm

    Love the free-motion quilting – it really makes it shine!!

    I’ve just discovered Steam ‘n Seam Lite – it works wonderfully, isn’t too sticky, and is super thin.

  8. Pam
    April 4, 2007 | 6:27 pm

    Something less gooey.. what about the Roxannes Glue baste it? I love that stuff for applique and for other little jobs that just need some tacking in place before hand.

  9. Mama Urchin
    April 4, 2007 | 8:06 pm

    I love the eyelashes. And the pattern of the brown for the hair looks really great with the quilting on top.

  10. beki
    April 4, 2007 | 8:10 pm

    Ohmygosh, that’s fabulous!

  11. Robyn
    April 4, 2007 | 8:34 pm

    I really love all the detail. But the most striking part for me is the mask. Very nice!

  12. Samantha
    April 4, 2007 | 9:09 pm

    I use a washable Elmer’s glue stick to position things that don’t have to have a permanent adhesive. It works to hold things until I can sew them down. I also like Wonder Tape. It washes away but sticks really well before it is washed. It is 1/4″ wide, and while it is pretty sticky, it’s thin and soft, doesn’t require heat to apply it, and you could always just use a little piece or two to hold your piece in place for sewing. You wouldn’t have to cover the whole fabric piece with it. Since it washes away, you wouldn’t be able to tell where it was once it gets washed.

    Hope this helps!

  13. claudine
    April 4, 2007 | 9:36 pm

    That’s some amazing quilting! The marbled fabrics worked very well I’d say.

  14. Kristin
    April 4, 2007 | 11:51 pm

    Like Pam, I’ve used “glue baste it.” You can even wash it out when you’re done :-)

  15. Sue B
    April 5, 2007 | 2:52 am

    I am not a fan of wonder-under. I use Misty Fuse for all my fusing. It’s much lighter than wonderunder and doesn’t have that gooey plasticy feel that most fusibles leave behind. I’ve used layers of it in a single piece and have never had a problem stitching through it all.

  16. sue
    April 5, 2007 | 5:55 am

    Very nice! (I noticed it in the previous picture and wondered what you were doing… )

  17. katrin
    April 5, 2007 | 6:03 am

    so cute and colorful!
    i love her cheeks! XD

  18. susan
    April 5, 2007 | 6:05 am

    how lovely! this is so much fun and i love it!

  19. Jo Ann
    April 5, 2007 | 7:15 am

    I’d say you aced your first face. Emblishments perfect..not too much not too little. Love the eyelashes. Free motion quilting enhances beautifully. Be proud!

  20. Jen
    April 5, 2007 | 7:30 am

    Very cool, I love your color choices!

  21. Kathy
    April 5, 2007 | 8:37 am

    That looks really neat!

  22. Tami
    April 5, 2007 | 11:09 am

    Very fun quilt! Hmm, she kinda reminds me of one of the TMNTs for some reason. Of course that could just be because of the green mask. :-)

  23. Anamaria
    April 5, 2007 | 12:24 pm

    I love your face! Especially the pink cheeks. Have you see Susan Carlson’s work–she has a book (Free-Style Quilts) and I think also a website–I think she just uses a glue stick to position the fabric and then holds it in place with machine quilting.

  24. Dacia
    April 5, 2007 | 1:10 pm

    that is SUPER cool!. i love it. well done. :)

  25. JudyC
    April 5, 2007 | 1:56 pm

    Simply fabulous Kathy!

  26. Natasha
    April 5, 2007 | 5:35 pm

    Gasp what a beautiful piece!! You did awesome.

    Lots of great basting ideas, hold the stickyness, I like a glue stick but also love “Sullivans Spray Quilt Basting Adhesive” it is a bit pricey but works like a charm. I use it to position all my projects before quilting.

  27. Ashley
    April 5, 2007 | 6:00 pm

    I love that you have this group that pushes you outside of your boundaries. I’d love to have people like that around me! (Well, I guess I do on the internet. But real life is different somehow.)

  28. Péitseoga
    April 6, 2007 | 8:47 am

    wow, the hair turned out perfectly, it looks somehow ‘real’, like the glossy strands in shampoo ads!

  29. weirdbunny
    April 7, 2007 | 6:46 am

    I redit the sidebar on my blog recently. I’ll put you under sewing is that okay. Will put you on later today.

  30. dottyspots
    April 7, 2007 | 6:53 am

    It’s beautiful! Well done!

  31. Tiel S-K
    April 7, 2007 | 2:29 pm

    it really is fantastic.

  32. nina
    April 8, 2007 | 5:10 am

    This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Truly!!! Thank you for sharing.

  33. Niki
    April 8, 2007 | 7:30 am

    Just sent you an email RE a blog link exchg request, and then realized you are on Bainbridge! My mom lives there! how funny, small world. Me, I live in AZ :) Anywho, let me know if you wanna swap links xoxo NIKI

  34. Jennifer
    April 8, 2007 | 3:55 pm

    Happy Easter!

  35. Vanja
    April 9, 2007 | 5:23 am

    I just love this lovely mask. The colours, the details. It really makes me want to start quilting.

  36. Suzanne
    May 8, 2007 | 8:49 am

    Very good!

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