Big contented sigh.
It took energy and focus to prepare for Craft NAPA and I am glad to say, The Peacock Quilt is helping me transition back into studio life. And as it comes to completion, I am beginning to think of my next project. I am not as excited about finishing the Peacock Quilt as I am to start printing the fabric for NEW quilt!!
My next quilt is going to be a baby or ‘craft’ sized quilt, because I won some wool quilt batting from the BERNINA sewing machine piñata at Pokey’s Art Barn party. And I feel assured that it will be an extra special quilt because of its emergence from the piñata. I mean, just look at that thing. It is and was magic. And, I have never used wool batting before.
Even though I am excited about moving on to a new project, I do have some more straight lines to quilt. I am using Aurifil Mako 12 weight cotton to machine quilt. I love dense ‘straight line’ machine quilting (None of my lines are anywhere near straight!). This thread shows off the sheen of its cotton fibers wonderfully at a lengthened stitch of just under ‘4’ on my BERNINA 1001. This stitch length is pretty long, but it’s a perfect length to show the thread off!
I will just keep swimming, and get this quilt finished! I look forward to snapping a photo and doing a finished reveal!! Soon.
In the meantime, it seems like it might be a good time to flip through my design journal and see what designs are calling to be printed, expanded upon and colored. I love what I am learning about printing cloth.
Evaluating how big a quilt I would like to make, comparing that to the motifs I would like to use, then beginning to print those designs, is a magical process. I have come to understand how important tonal, textural and single color prints are. These simple, often single colored prints are work horses in the design of the quilt top, they provide a resting place for the eye and they contrast well with the more densely designed and multicolor prints.
Melanie Testa 
I can hardly wait to see the Peacock in its finished state. You’ve inspired me, once again. I received some wood blocks from Santa Carl. 🙂 I am marking the days off the calendar to warmer temps and days in the outdoor dye studio. I also want to carve some more blocks of my own. I even brought some wood home from Dad’s shop to use. I used to do wood carving, so why not make my own blocks? I’m interested in how you like the wool batting. I am always cold, and I like the thought of using wool. Love the Mako thread. Have a fabulous week, Ms. Melly!
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We need a Sew Day.
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