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 The New England…
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 the final composition…
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 of what I…
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 people watching there,…
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.” #neqmexplorations #saqawip #jaipur…
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 will be central…
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! #neqmexplorations #fabriccollage #photoshopedit…
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 yes, I do…
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) to begin with…
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 and peels off…
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 completion, I can…
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. For now, I…
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 to cut with…
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 Jaipur is Sanganer,…
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 #fabriccollage #susanpolansky
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 be more about…
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 people kindly translated…
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 the fun right…
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 of these pieces…
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 (like for shoes…
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 the result is…
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 trace my original…
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 #artistsoninstagram #artquilt #susanpolansky…
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. 1. This tiny…
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) and also adding…
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 needs to go…
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 front and white…
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 provide support during…
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 #neqmexplorations #saqawip #ironing…
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 quilter, just my…
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 use a not-so-sticky…