I finished my outside inspiration project yesterday. (You can see a photo that isn't cut off here). This little quilt is 9" wide by 8"high. The fabrics were all tea dyed - I used different teas for different colors. I used wonder under to applique the tea cup and then stitched it on using free motion quilting. I also wrote the words free motion style and added some loops for good measure. The binding is sewn by hand on the back.
It took me a good long while to figure out exactly how to interpret this word. I thought about tea leaves, all the tea in China, tea houses, tea bags, tea pots, tea cozies, high tea, afternoon tea, Boston Tea Party and more. Tea, tee and T. But, really, the quilting thing, especially free motion (which I was so scared of just a few months ago) is just my cup of tea. Plus, I am a fan of idioms. And I would be kidding myself if I thought the word I gave Tracy (piece) didn't play into this either. When I gave it to her, I was thinking of the verb, not the noun. Quilts on the brain, I guess. I can't wait to see her interpretation of piece. There are so many possibilities!
This was fun and a good exercise for me also. I liked having an assignment. Tracy and I are planning on doing it again, but the format is going to change some and we have a new partner joining us! Stay tuned for more Wordplay.
Hi Erin -I love the finished product. I also love that they are so many layers - dying, applique, quilting, sewing. Sounds like you had lots of fun in the process too.
Sam
Posted by: Sam | March 17, 2008 at 07:55 AM
What a very beautiful blog. I have loved looking at your beautifully fresh creations, thankyou for sharing. I also like green but I will look at it more fondly now.
Posted by: Kellie | March 17, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Seriously, one of my favorite things is tea-staining! That's so cool - what different teas did you use (if you don't mind me asking)?
Posted by: Sammy. | March 17, 2008 at 08:48 AM
such a great project to dig deep into the creative parts of the brain! i love the outcome.
Posted by: leslie | March 17, 2008 at 08:55 AM
That is just lovely, Erin. When you said you were going to sew it I couldn't help but wonder if you might make a tea cozy. I can't wait to show you my final tea labels. But my outside inspiration project, first. I finished it yesterday, and need to photograph it today.
Posted by: Tracy | March 17, 2008 at 08:57 AM
It's adorable - so whimsical and sweet. The tea dying added nice depth to your colors. Nice job as usual!
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | March 17, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Wonderful, Erin! This is beautiful.
Posted by: Alicia A. | March 17, 2008 at 09:17 AM
Love, love, love this!
Posted by: Sarah | March 17, 2008 at 09:29 AM
oh, I really love this! You sure did put a lot into it with various tea dyes and beautiful free-motion sewing.
Posted by: Ravenhill | March 17, 2008 at 09:30 AM
i don't know what i was expecting you to create. but this exceeds it! oh, i am excited to see tracy's. and the next exchange as well.
Posted by: leslie | March 17, 2008 at 09:31 AM
that is so adorable! i love it. ok cute appliqued things are getting added to my list of thngs to make. and i must get one of those free motion foots. my machine is so old ( like older than me) i wonder if one would fit.
Posted by: jeanetta | March 17, 2008 at 09:32 AM
very cool - it kinda looks like one of syko's mini art quilts.
Posted by: kirsten | March 17, 2008 at 09:58 AM
just my cup - just perfect! love love love the tea dyed fabrics and your fabric illustration erin!
Posted by: kristin | March 17, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Lovely interpretation. Tea dyed tea.
Posted by: Anina | March 17, 2008 at 10:50 AM
what a fun challenge!
Posted by: amandajean | March 17, 2008 at 11:12 AM
fantastic results, erin!
i love the collaborative inspiration idea. so, so good. especially to push one to think (and act) outside of one's norm.
Posted by: cloth.paper.string | March 17, 2008 at 12:37 PM
fantastic results, erin!
i love the collaborative inspiration idea. so, so good. especially to push one to think (and act) outside of one's norm.
Posted by: cloth.paper.string | March 17, 2008 at 12:39 PM
fantastic results, erin!
i love the collaborative inspiration idea. so, so good. especially to push one to think (and act) outside of one's norm.
Posted by: cloth.paper.string | March 17, 2008 at 12:46 PM
What a cute piece. Your free motion skill is top notch. :)
Posted by: Jennie | March 17, 2008 at 01:30 PM
That is so cute! Seeing what you're doing with that new machine is making me so envious :) I rode by the Bernina shop this morning, but it was closed...
Posted by: beki | March 17, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Such a creative (and cute) interpretation! I am so impressed with your free motion abilities!
Posted by: Angela | March 17, 2008 at 02:41 PM
So creative... and your free motion rocks.
Posted by: miss chris | March 17, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Oh man, you're a genius. I find so much of your work to buzz around as very high on my list of inspiring. Well, that sentence didn't make any sense. But, you know.
Posted by: Grace | March 17, 2008 at 04:07 PM
really adorable, erin!
Posted by: meg | March 17, 2008 at 04:18 PM
That looks great! And I love the fabric you used for the teacup. So delicate and sweet. Perfect for china. :)
Posted by: kristena | March 17, 2008 at 05:05 PM
That is CUTE!! Great job...
Posted by: Rachel | March 17, 2008 at 05:12 PM
I LOVE it! I'm just now getting inspired to create more quilts in the art-quilt realm and I love this idea of the free form embroidery around the design... Too many ideas, not enough time... sigh.
Posted by: Berlinswhimsy | March 17, 2008 at 07:38 PM
sweet erin!! loved the last several posts!
Posted by: heidi | March 17, 2008 at 09:02 PM
look how cute! (also, impressive writing!)
Posted by: daria | March 18, 2008 at 01:51 AM
That's lovely. It's great to be challenged like that isn't it. What a fun project!
Posted by: Louise | March 18, 2008 at 06:38 AM
Your little quilt is a cutie!
Posted by: Penny | March 18, 2008 at 07:10 AM
Erin, this is just so, so fabulous! I love it! Beautiful work.
Posted by: betsy | March 18, 2008 at 07:12 AM
The free-motion quilting looks great. Glad you're finding projects to use it on because I've been eager to see some more of your free-motion work. : )
Posted by: Julie @ Letter9 | March 18, 2008 at 07:30 AM
I absolutely love your teacup - it's gorgeous. I have gone applique crazy recently and it's all I want to do at the moment - it's so much fun making pictures all day, isn't it. I love the idea of the tea dying though..that's completely new to me.
Posted by: Florence | March 18, 2008 at 01:13 PM
Oh so L O V E L Y Erin!
Posted by: Lucy | March 20, 2008 at 08:04 PM
oh! it's so great!
can't wait to copy your sewing machine.... one day....
Posted by: charlotte | March 22, 2008 at 05:28 PM