“An Ordinary Day” is a stitched fabric collage quilt, measuring 50″ x 30.” The posts gathered here give insight on how I transformed inspiration into art reflecting the complexities of Jaipur, India.
1 – 6 months and counting
I’ve begun my next quilt, and as a departure from my usual method, I am making it specifically for an exhibit at…
2 – What do I post?
India quilt begins. I’m not sure what to post of my progress. I make lots of small changes on photoshop to create…
3 – Uplifted by kites
Kites dotted the skies wherever we traveled in India. I like my quilts to have meaning, and kite flying seems so symbolic…
4 – What story do I want to tell?
Of course my India quilt will have people, and maybe a few animals (like the cattle and dogs that were everywhere.) Fantastic…
5 – Making a vertical from a horizontal
India quilt composition in progress. #photoshopedit #ilovephotoshop #artistsoninstagram #neqmexplorations #saqawip #jaipur #susanpolansky
6 – Planning the composition
India quilt composition. So many hours in and I haven’t even started thinking about the fabric! Need to buy some “building materials.”…
7 – Bringing life into the picture
Once I created the background for my #indiaquilt I can figure out how to bring it to life, and the foreground figures…
8 – Layers in Photoshop Elements
If you’re wondering how I’m working with photos for my India quilt… #photoshopedit #fabriccollage #neqmexplorations #susanpolansky
9 – Final composition achieved!
It’s not a perfect photoshop edit, but it’s what I need to make a quilt from. I love making my own reality!…
10 – Fabric building materials
Gathering building materials for my India quilt. On the left are printed bricks and stones, on the right are similar textures. And…
11 – Using a plumb line
#indiaquilt – full size at 30” x 50.” I use an improvised plumb line (a string with a weight on the end)…
12 – Freezer Paper templates
I’ve been cutting out lots of freezer paper templates. For my non-quilting friends, freezer paper(from the supermarket,) when ironed onto fabric, sticks…
13 – An overwhelming moment
Beginning to put together a complicated quilt, when I am facing the actuality of the how many steps it will take for…
14 – Making some good guesses
Some fabrics might be replaced a few times, just as a painter would revise their colors, until the right balance is created….
15 – Cutting templates
Tools I use for cutting freezer paper templates for #indiaquilt A mini cutting mat is easy to move around, making it quicker…
16 – Block printing in Sanganeer, India
Are any of the fabrics in my #indiaquilt from India? No, but I did come home with a suitcase full! South of…
17 – A Sari made without sewing
Working on the little people; saris are fun because you can sneak in an unexpected burst of color. #indiaquilt #saqawip #neqmexplorations #jaipur…
18 – Woman in the green sari gets company
I showed the green sari woman getting created, but here she is in position with some company. #indiaquilt #saqawip #jaipur #neqmexplorations #susanpolansky
19 – The biggest character gets dressed
Time to work on one of the bigger people, but I’m still using tweezers. #indiaquilt #saqawip #neqmexplorations #jaipur #fabriccollage #susanpolansky
20 – Fabric auditions
Fabric auditions. Worst part about this is putting away all the ones that don’t make it! #indiaquilt #saqawip #neqmexplorations #fabriccollage #susanpolansky
21 – Translation, please
I’m going to make a billboard sign with thread work. Not sure how legible the characters will come out, if it will…
22 – Stitching a miniature billboard
This will be a billboard on #indiaquilt – don’t know if it’s legible, but it doesn’t need to be. (a number of…
23 – The perils of liking your work
When work becomes “precious” because you like it, it’s difficult not to get caught up in playing it safe, but that sucks…
24 – Not the typical way of fusing
I pin up bits of fabric that I cut with a freezer paper template or by freehand guesstimating the shape, but none…
25 – Organizing fabric scraps
Small fabric scraps can get out of hand quickly when doing a complicated #fabriccollage like my #indiaquilt. I use a hanging organizer…
26 – WashAway Stabilizer and Stitching
My version of life on the wild side: I haven’t used this kind of wash away stabilizer before, so here it goes…and…
27 – Quilt sections built from tiny pieces
A horizontal section of #indiaquilt removed to do some stitching. If you’ve been following from the beginning, you’ll remember that I didn’t…
28 – Building in sections
After stitching a section and washing stabilizer away, I add it back to the rest of the quilt. #indiaquilt #fabriccollage #saqawip #neqmexplorations…
29 – The deadline is looming
I’m in the final stretch of making my complicated #indiaquilt for #neqmexplorations ,- it has to be finished and photographed by Aug….
30 – Sewing in details before quilting
Sewing a section of #indiaquilt. This isn’t the quilting stage yet. Here I am securing bits of fabric(they have already been fused)…
31 – Marking outlines with pins
When I remove a section of my quilt composition to do some stitch work, I carefully mark with pins the space it…
32 – A mess of loose ends
What a mess, right? After stitching on a section of my quilt-before quilting-and before washing away the stabilizer (clear, shiny on the…
33 – Washing away the stabilizer
Going going gone – biggest section of stitching and wash away stabilizer in the bathtub. I put an envelope of netting to…
34 – All fused and ready for the next step
Composition is off the design wall! Ironing with a press cloth to make sure everything is fused completely. Next step: quilting. #indiaquilt…
35 – Sew, Sue, Sew!
My A-1 longarm machine, ready to sew! #indiaquilt #lovemylongarm #saqawip #neqmexplorations #deadlineistomorrow #susanpolansky
36 – Done and Photographed!
Ah, I just showed my quilt getting loaded onto my long arm yesterday, and-TaDah! it’s done and photographed! Not a super fast…
37 – One more thing – the kite string
Sorry to string you along, but I couldn’t resist, especially when I want to show how I sewed the kite strings. I…