Red Letter Quilts: SEW-VIVOR Audition - Red Letter Quilts

This is Do or Die.

We're talking 'All or Nothing'.

You heard it, I am AWL IN!

AUDITION TIME IS HERE!

I am a Sew-vival Desperado!

My goal? Round Four or BUST!

I have No Fear! I take No Prisoners!

My Creative Mojo is SET TO IMPRESS!

Audition time is NOW for Season3:SEW-VIVOR, hosted by Family Ever After. This year the quilt blogging community is ALL-A-BUZZ with the exciting news:

Season 3 is The Quilter's Edition! WOO-HOO!

Did I mention that I am willing to take a risk?

Already I am out on a limb! I am entering an Art Quilt of all things - my first one at that!

Now, I am a quilter through-and-through, and I love a challenge. SO, I decided to kick-start this party and get my motor revved! From the get-go, I aim to go outside my comfort zone..

I began by tracing some old sketches from my journal, then enlarging them on the photo-copier.

Next, I grabbed some linen and made a sample-sandwich to try my hand at thread-painting. I found some YLI variegated thread in my 'leftover' stash. (yes, I have a 'scrap thread' department!)

With the corner of a ruler, I 'scored' just the main lines of the design, right through the paper, onto the linen. Then Mr. Juki and I got right down to stitching with a vengeance.

So much easier than I anticipated, I felt like shouting, "WHY have I never done this before?"

(Or, "Rach, Where have you been all my life?")

Truly motivated, I set to work cutting the various fabric pieces.

I pressed them on for raw-edge applique...

Stitch.

Breathe.

Stitch more.

Breathe easier.

Keep stitching...

This was a really exciting make!

Perle cotton No. 5 seemed appropriate for a simple border.

Regular DMC floss to add the eyes and the orange flowers.

To finish, I wrapped the linen to the back for a simple, hand-stitched 'binding'.

I wrapped the backing fabric (Amy Butler) to the front to finish the top.

Three MOD Birds, 20" x 12"

The tabs are simple tubes top-stitched to match the 'frame', and the striped-tiger-stick was found by my husband in our yard. (shh - it is from a big bush-weed!)

My work is complete and I can rest... *sigh*

Hard though, since my brain is on anticipation-overdrive. I cannot help but consider some NAUTICAL possibilities for Round ONE!

A note for my faithful followers, for whom I appreciate SEW MUCH:

PLEASE STAND BY!

If I am so fortunate as to be selected for this competition, I will need your help! I cannot count on me, myself, or I alone! I will need support! I hope to astound you with creative-awesomeness and thus, compel you to participate in the voting process at Family Ever After!

16 competitors will be selected by judges and their names announced on Mon., July 28th!