How Long Does Something Like this Take?

Hello dear blog readers!
Some of you may know that I have been working on a donation block for the Baltimore Applique Society online auction - Bits of Baltimore. It's fair to say that apart from my gainful employment, I have been working on this project exclusively - and enjoying every minute of it. 



Discovered that my cubicle wall at work
makes an excellent design wall!

Well, yesterday I went back to the organizer for the second time and begged for more time to complete this project. By the way - THANK YOU for the extension Cathy!  
In the email exchange, Cathy mentioned that she had put in well over 80 hour of work into her donation block.  That got me thinking, just how long have I been working on this wall hanging?  Most of the time I have Netflix running in the background while I hand stitch.  So I went back to my Netflix history and was shocked to that since I started work on this block - late February this year - I have watched well over 112 hour programming.  That does not include the time I stitched riding in the car or listening to books on tape.

I am very happy to report that I have enjoyed every minute and every stitch!  And will continue to enjoy it for several dozen hours more because I still have to quilt the piece.  Currently I am marking the quilting design and expect to start hand quilting tomorrow.  Yes - hand quilting.  Even though I am a reasonably accomplished machine quilter, this block screams at me to be hand quilted.

So how long does it something like this take?  The answer is lots and lots of joy-filled hours!

Woven Ribbon quilting pattern in the borders

Radiating quilting design to emphasize the Peahen's tail feathers

Until next time...

Best stitches,
Mercy in Miami

BAS and the Peahen Block from Captain Aust Quilt Top

Peahen block from Captian Aust Quilt Top in progress

Happy Spring dear blog readers!

For those following my musings, you may be aware that one of my favorite applique styles is the fancy style exemplified by the Baltimore Applique Quilts. There is a terrific organization, the Baltimore Applique Society, which is dedicated to the preservation of quilts, many in my beloved style, and the promotion of the art of applique. From their website "The Baltimore Appliqué Society (BAS) was formed in 1993 with the mission to preserve antique quilts and promote the art of applique. Since our inception, BAS has supported the preservation of quilts, textiles, and related documents in museum and historical society collections, such as the Maryland Historical Society (MdHS), the DAR Museum, the Quilters Hall of Fame, the Lovely Lane Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. That support includes financial contributions, quilts made as fundraisers, reproduction patterns, and hands-on conservation work."

This fall, BAS, is holding an online auction of wall hangings made by members to raise funds to continue the work of documenting and preserving the quilt collection of the MdHS. I am stitching and will be donating a wall hanging featuring the Peahen Block from the Captain Aust Quilt Top pattern drafted by BAS members Margo Cramer, Eleanor Layman and Marylou McDonald. As the date of the auction approaches, I will provide more details.

I use a seam ripper to slit top fabric

Eye will be reverse appliqued

In the meantime, I wanted to share progress on the block and demonstrate a favorite tip. Notice that the opening where Peahen's eye will appear is reverse appliqued. I like to use a seam ripper to make a slit in the top fabric. This does not guarantee you will not slice through the underneath fabric, but if you are careful, its way less scary!

The peahen comes to life with just a few embroidery stitches
in 50wt sewing thread

The eye is lifeless
without embroidery

Notice the embroidery details in the eye and how it brings the entire hen to life. This is a wonderful technique I learned from an incredibly talented needle artist, Sandra Leichner. If you are not familiar with her work, please take a minute to check out her site. If you are like me, after one look at her work, you will be so inspired your work will never be the same again!

Beautiful fabrics hand-dyed by Sharon Schamber

Speaking of talented needle artist, the gorgeous hand-dyed fabrics in the hen's tail feathers and body where a gift from Sharon Schamber. I was on the fence about whether to stitch the hen as in the original quilt or to turn her into a peacock instead so that I could use teals and blues. But when Sharon shared a stash of this beautiful tan, gold, and rust fabrics with me I knew I had to use them for this project! It was simply meant to be :)

Until next time....

Best stitches

Mercy in hot Miami

Basket Obsesson

Basket Block of Eggleston Quilt

For over a year now I have been obsessed with a basket block in a quilt on display at the Abby Aldrich Folk Art Museum in Colonial Williamsburg.  The Eggleston Quilt is spectacular and I plan on interpreting several of the blocks. However - this basket in particular has captured my imagination.  Intellectually, I could make an argument that the simplicity of the design appeals to my artistic sensibilities - or such like nonsense.  The truth is I just love it!  It's like a gesture drawing of a Baltimore-style block.

This weekend I finally had an opportunity to start my version of this block.  Since the block requires about 40 inches of one quarter inch bias, I decided to snap a few photos of how I choose to make and apply bias in order to share my technique with my blog readers.  There are dozens of ways to make bias and lots of gadgets.  What I am sharing with you is the method I enjoy because it's totally portable - no iron, no sewing machine, and no gadgets.  I can make bias anywhere that I can set up to hand stitch. 

To make 1/4" bias I use 3/4" masking tape as a "guide" to cut strips of fabric with my scissors.  Or, when cutting fabric for projects and I see fabric that is a good candidate for bias strips, I will use a rotary cutter and mat to cut and assortment of strips ranging from  1/2 " to 1" and then put them away for later use.
I fold the strip of bias into thirds in my hands and baste the fold.  The basting process goes very quickly and I was able to make all the bias needed for my basket in about 20 minutes while sitting in the living room with my husband watching TV.

Yes I know I can make this same bias in a fraction of the time using my sewing machine and iron.  However, I chose to do as much sewing as possible by hand and in the company of my family. For me it's relaxing and I love how soft and pliable the bias turns out.

I know the next question is going be "Do you back baste bias strips?"  The answer is "kind of."   I mark by entire pattern from the back in the manner of back basting.  However, I only mark a single line, down the middle to mark where a bias strip needs to go.  

I then baste on that pencil line from the back.  The basting line shows on the front and marks where the strip needs to go.  Again, yes, I know I can do this a lot faster using light box or an overlay or ...  This is how I chose to do it.  It's like zen stitching... just me and the fabric and a needle and a length of thread.

I then basted the bias strips in place.  The basket base is back basted in the usual manner.  Everything is perfectly placed.  I laid out and basted the bias strips on the block while enjoying the weather on the front porch. So relaxing.

Until next time,
Best stitches from Mercy in sunny Miami

Priceless

My Artist Studio space at TESAA

TESAA Tuition - $975
Lodging - $1850
Travel - $475
One Perfect Berry - Priceless
One Perfect Experience - Beyond Priceless






Closeup of Santa Maria block
drafted and stitched by Mercy Savage

I just returned from the19th Annual Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy in Williamsburg, VA where I was honored to serve as Guest Artist.  This honor included the privilege of teaching a one day class for a large group of enthusiastic needle artist.




Me teaching on 2/20/2014
My Aqua Album in progress in the background

I was also given a beautiful space in the center of all the activities to display my work and chat with Academy attendees as they strolled from class to class and vendor to vendor.



My perfect berry in Sandra Leichner's class

As if this honor was not special enough, I also had another dream come true when took a 3 day class from Sandra Leichner.  That is where I was able to stitch my PERFECT BERRY.  I loved Sandra's class.  It is just you, the fabric, the needle, and the thread.  Yes, there are freezer paper templates and an overlay but no glue, no starch, no burned finger tips, no kindergarten craft-type work, etc.  My favorite prep method is still Template Free (Back Basting) but we share the love of needle turn and her instructions and generosity of spirit were, again, priceless!


My Main Conference Class was with Elly Sienkiewicz. As always, Elly was delightful. In a few minutes, as she lectured on the class topic, she twisted a yard of silk ribbon into this beautiful rose.  Elly wrote the book - both literally and figuratively - on manipulating silk and cotton into gorgeous bouquets and is responsible for this Golden Age of high style applique that we are now enjoying.  She is currently working on book number 21.





From left to right, Faye Labanaris, Elly Sienkiewicz, Mercy Savage
A chance meeting in Faye's room and captured by my husband on his iPhone.

Here I am on the right, Elly is in the center, and Faye Labanaris is on the left.  Faye, a vendor and teacher at the event, is a talented, award-winning needle artist known for 3-D flowers fashioned from silk and Ultrasuede that can be applied to quilted projects or clothing. The fact that she has been my dear friend for many years, is once more, priceless.





I was able to spend one afternoon at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum visiting the Quilts in the Baltimore Manner show.  I feel a powerful connection to these quilts and they has invaded by artistic sensibilities.  I can see their influence in everything I am currently stitching and sketching.  Here are a few of my favorites from the show.

Stay tuned for more quilts and photos in coming blog entries.

Until next time,
best stitches from sunny, warm Miami, Florida
Mercy

New World Rose The Second Time Around



New World Rose Designed and Executed by Mercy A Savage

I hope this blog finds all of you enjoying a wonderful holiday season surrounded by those you love.  
I know it's been a long while since I last reached out to all of you and my apologies.  As some of you know I also have a "9 to 5" corporate job that keeps me on my toes.  In addition I have been working diligently to create a better version of my original Santa Maria block using the exact same materials, fabrics, ribbons, threads, etc. that will be going into the kits for the Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy workshop.  I finished the block sample last night - phew!  As you can see the fabrics are all batiks and hand- dyes.  I used 6 strand embroidery floss. hand applique 50 wt cotton thread, and hand-dyed 4mm silk ribbon for all the embroidery.  I am much happier with this block because I think the design is more cohesive.  The ship is Columbus' Santa Maria and the flowers are the typical varieties on the islands the ship visited.  Enjoy the eye candy.

Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy New Year from sunny Miami,
Best stitches!
Mercy


Close up of New World Rose Block

 

Close up of New World Rose Block

Close up of New World Rose Block




TESAA 2013 Part 1 - Quilts in the Baltimore Manner

Greetings dear blog readers and fellow quilt lovers!  I was very fortunate to spend the last 10 days  in Colonial Williamsburg, Virgina and attend The Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy; TESAA as it is affectionately called by attendees.  It was an action packed event that included stitching with new and old friends, many side trips to local museums, shopping, and delicious dining.  The very first day in attendance, we were fortunate to attend an exhibition at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum entitled Quilts in the Baltimore Manner.  The small group was led by none other than Elly Sienkiewicz.  Elly has written over 20 books on Baltimore style quilts and is credited with the revival and current popularity of this intricate applique style. 
Rather than bore you with narrative, I would like to share the photos I was able to take of the exhibit.  These were some of the more unusual and ornate blocks.  As you view the photos, keep in mind that these stitchers were in love with the industrial revolution and the marvels of their time.  They used all and any materials available to them to express their artistic vision; paint, ink, thread, paste, fussy cutting, etc.  Their work is filled political, religious, and social commentary. I really believe these free souls were the art quilters of their time.  Of course that is just my humble opinion. 

Classic we all recognize!

I love the simplicity of this basket!

Sweetest bird block ever!

Love the tiny basket filled with large blooms!

Beautiful perspective!

Loaded with symbols!

Can you see the white thread? 

Another classic block!

More symbolism!

One of my favorite classic designs!

 





Beautiful White Rose block!

The museum reproduced several classic blocks on tiles to allow you to lay them out and create various settings. 

















Included in the show was a spectacular brodrie perse quilt and a stuffed white work quilt.  Enjoy!

Until next time...

Best stitches,
Mercy in Miami