An Ordinary Day

“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…