Category: Quilting

Quilting is an ancient method of putting layers of clothing or bedding together to create warmth and protection.

About the Quilt Artist

My art quilts are all about creating abstract, whimsical or impressionistic pieces. Inspiration comes from the natural world as well as from Mexican and Native American influences. My materials of choice are often redirected fabrics from the San Francisco Design Center and found objects. Art quilts free me to play with color and texture. My technique allows me to create movement on many of my pieces.

From the Fashion Show at Pacific International Quilt Festival

TWO INSPIRATIONAL ARTISTS

I owe some of my inspiration to two artists from Santa Cruz County, California. Meri Vahl, an award winning artist has been recognized nationally for her work. Teacher of the fabric layering technique, she was patient. Understanding that each student brought individual strengths, weaknesses and abilities. Ellen edith;friend,fabric designer and artist extraordinaire made whimsical, personal quilts. Her influence lives on well beyond her life. I have great appreciation for these two local leaders of the art quilt world.

SAQA (STUDIO ART QUILT ASSOCIATES)

I am proud to be part of an evergrowing group of art quilters. SAQA started by Yvonne Porcella in Northern California in 1989. It has grown to an international organization. Art quilters have transformed the quilt into a 21^st Century art form. I continue to explore new forms and ways of working with unusual materials on this journey.

ABOUT THE ARTIST,BIO

I was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. In high school I studied sewing and clothing construction for two years. I continued to sew much of my wardrobe. In 1974,I took my first quilting class at a neighborhood fabric store. Over the years, I continued to sew clothes and make quilts for my family. I stopped counting bed quilts at 300. After teaching 30 years in Watsonville as a bilingual teacher, I retired to spend more time on creating art quilts.

Homage to a Dancer,45″ x 56″”>

Homage to a Dancer,45″ x 56″

In 2008, I made my first art quilt, Homage to a Dancer. It reflects my participation in Los Méxicas,the University of California,Santa Cruz ballet folklórico group.

A STUDIO IN THE ART CENTER

In May of 2016, I opened a studio in the Santa Cruz Art Center, 1001 Center St. Downtown Santa Cruz. I have space to work and display my work. For First Fridays and Open Studios, I fill the lobby with art. In June, 2019 New York Art Center accepted my work into their gallery. 7 Franklin Place, TRIBECA, New York City.

AWARD WINNING ARTIST

Great Blue Heron at Dusk,31″ x 25″

Great Blue Heron at Dusk entered into an art show in 2010. The following year it won a merit award at the Olive Hyde Art Gallery in Fremont,California.
In 2013, Visions of New Mexico won third place in the Neo Membreno Vessels 2013 Show at the Western New Mexico University Museum in Silver City, New Mexico.

New to Quilting? Do this One Thing.

The most important things someone new to quilting can do is to join a local guild. Most guilds offer classes, expertise, access to fabric and materials. Above all,a guild is full of people who share one’s passion. Beginners often say that they aren’t good enough to join a guild. However, I can’t think of a better place to learn and improve skills.

A traditional block commission in blue and white. Tying is an easy way to quilt if one doesn’t know how to machine quilt.

Classes or Opportunities to Learn

Most guilds offer classes to advance one’s skills. Usually the monthly meeting will have a speaker that will share their work, life story or techniques. The speaker usually offers a class or two for a small group before or after the meeting.

Many times there will be other opportunities throughout the year to gain expertise as well. In addition, some guild meetings are turned over to members to share their favorite technique or special information to small rotating groups.

Block of the Month Activity

Block of the Month is a perfect activity for beginners that many guilds offer. Each month a pattern is shared including instructions,requirements,fabric,and suggestions. Often times the block is chosen because it teaches a new technique.The person has one month to make one block. Even most busy people usually have time to do that. Turn your block in at the next meeting the following month. Our guild pulled a name out of a hat to see who would win the blocks. In this way, people received a head start on the blocks for their next quilt.

Above all,enough can’t be said about being around people that share your passion. Turn to a person nearby and gush about a piece of fabric that is perfect for your next project. They will get your bliss. A family member can only listen to us so many times speak excitedly about our next project. Yet, at a guild meeting or small quilt group, people will listen in much interest. They have been in your shoes.

One of five different Scottie Dogs bed quilt commissions I made for a woman who breds Scottie dogs.

Access to Fabric and Materials

Most importantly a guild may offer access to reasonably priced fabric and materials. Sometimes a special brand of fabric will be sold at a guild meeting. Guilds may offer a flea market to give members opportunities to share, trade or sell fabric. Retail fabric is expensive. Some members may gift fabric or materials to others.This is an incredible boon to beginners.

Anna's Irish Tulips, a queen sized quilt. I cloned this traditional quilt from a much loved quilt from my husband's grandmother in Iowa.The original was made from C and H sugar bags. — Anna’s Irish Tulips, a queen sized quilt. I cloned this traditional quilt from a much loved quilt. I handquilted the blank blocks although my hand quilting skill level was low. The original quilt was made by my husband’s grandmother in Iowa. The original blank squares were made from C and H sugar bags.

Expertise

Furthermore, a guild is full of people that have the expertise you want. If you ask someone a question and they don’t know the answer, then they will most likely direct you to someone who does. Members generally enjoy sharing information.

Small Quilt Groups

Small quilt groups that meet regularly yet separately from the larger guild meeting are a good way to ask questions. By meeting on a regular basis, friendships develop and skills are easily shared. These same people will eagerly want to take a field trip to a quilt show or other event.

Beginners are Welcome.

Beginners may not know that new quilters will be welcomed. As quilters age, it is necessary for new and younger people to take up the hobby in order for it to continue. It may be hard at first but just admit that you are new to quilting. We all begin somewhere.

True Confessions Time

True confessions time-Most of my blog posts are about art quilts. However, I began quilting bed quilts as a newlywed in the 1970s. I stopped counting my traditional bed quilts at 300. Many of those were donation quilts. My passion was high for traditional quilting. I remember the excitement I felt when I learned a new technique. It was hard to sleep after listening to the inspirational guest speaker at our monthly quilt guild meetings.

A traditional double bed quilt made from tee shirts and my repurposed knit dresses in blues, greens and purple. — A traditional double bed quilt made from tee shirts and my repurposed knit dresses.

Another confession-I have only belonged to one quilt guild. My views here are mainly based on that guild of over 350 members.However, I was president of the guild for several years. During that time, I received and read newsletters from other guilds. Their activities were not much different from ours. Most guilds offer classes. Most guilds offer opportunities to learn from more experienced quilters. Many guilds put on quilt shows to share their work with the public.

Another sad but true fact- I don’t have many photos of my early work. Remember that there weren’t digital cameras back when I started out. Plus I didn’t anticipate that documenting my progress might be important to me at some point. I tried to find photos of some early quilts although most were not readily available.

Of course, the internet is full of videos to watch about techniques and other quilters.. It is a wonderful resource. Yet, it cannot replace a real person who you can share your quilting life with.The one thing I highly recommend for a new quilter is joining your local quilt guild.

https://annbmayartquilts.etsy.com/

Everything I Know about Thread for Quilting

Let’s talk about everything I know about thread. Notice I didn’t say everything there is to know about thread.I am not a thread expert. But I have been sewing clothes and quilting for decades.I will be the first to admit that there is a lot that I don’t know about thread. I can not say which type of thread is perfect for which project. Some shiny metallic threads are too fussy to work with for my liking. I might couch them from time to time.A special needle helps if sewing them by machine.

Here is a large a large basket of new and old threads. — a basket of threads

What I Know

Thread colors and fabric colors are like fashion.Styles, shades and hues change often.Greens may always seem available. Yet the shades change. If you want a forest green It may not always be available. This I learned yhe hard way. My preschool daughter wanted a forest green dress when that color was out of style. Currently, tealish or bluish greens are currently popular.

All Brands are Good.

All brands make good quality threads. After 50 years of sewing I have not found thread brands that are not good quality. Individual threads may have different uses. Some may be easier to work with on your particular sewing machine than others.When I bought my Husquarva Lily over 20 years, Guttenberg thread was recommended for use with my machine. I used that thread with mixed success. I kept using Guttenberg because of the recommendation. Yet, while doing donation quilts, I was given some other brands to use. It was amazing to see how much easier this other brand was to use. The stitches looked better also. I learned that some machines work better with some threads. Of course, paying a company for a recommendation is not unheard of. Get to know your machine and what it likes for the type of sewing that you do.

Free Motion Quilting

Aurifil Threads for free motion quilting and other sewing.

For free motion quilting I am very fussy about the thread I use. I find Aurifil brand improves the quality of my work when I am free motion quilting. It can be used for piecing or general sewing. At times it can seem pricey so I try and save it for those particular projects. I will say that there is a lot of thread on the spool because the thread is very thin. So it isn’t as expensive as it seems. Once, I pieced and quilted a king size bed with only one spool of thread.

Old Thread

Don’t be afraid to use old spools of thread. The quality is amazing. The colors unique. If it breaks easily in your machine, save it for hand basting. I acquire old thread whenever possible to maintain a wide range of thread colors. Test the thread to see if it is good. Pull on the thread. Does the thread break easily when you pull on it? Then it is no good. I have bought new spools of thread that failed this test. Build up a resource of thread colors just like a fabric stash.

I avoid polyester threads but sometimes it is not possible. Depending on your project polester may be fine. If you are making an heirloom project, definitely use 100% cotton thread. Yet I have come to the conclusion that most of my projects will last 20-30 years. Polyester thread is fine for those projects. Quilting is supposed to be fun. Not stressing over little details of the quilting police.

Chartreuse Thread?

At a flea market I bought a chartreuse spool of thread. I surprised even my self. Greenish yellow? What was I thinking? It quickly became my favorite thread to quilt with. Chartreuse on black fabric is stunning! Move out of your confort zone.Try unusual or different colors than what you are unaccustomed to using. One never knows how a color will look once sewn or placed on another fabric. It changes. Our eyes also see colors diffferently. Let the fun begin. Try a different and unexpected color of thread for your next quilting project.

All I Know About Thread

As you can see I am not an expert on thread.Yet I do have a few suggestions to make. Don’t be afraid to use old spools of thread. Most of them are perfectly fine. Unless the threads break. Polyester is fine to use for some projects. For family heirlooms I would stick to 100% cotton fabric and thread. Practice helps. Get to know your machine and what works best for the type of sewing that you do. Some unique threads like metallic ones need a special needle. Relax and have fun.

http://www.saqa.com/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2022/07/art-solutions-came-to-me-in-a-dream/

https://annbmayartquilts.etsy.com/

How to make a Quilt without a Pattern

Making a quilt without a pattern may sound easy and appropriate for a beginner. However, it is not. First of all,this post assumes that the person has basic quilting skills and materials. As always,choose 100% cotton for ease of sewing and washing. Use a quilter’s cutting board, quilter’s straight edge and rotary cutter. I prefer to use a generous 1/4″ 1 cm seam when sewing.Whatever seam size you use, be consistent throughout your piece.

Whimsical wild animal fabric and solids strips — Whimsical fabric and strips

Starting Your Patternless Quilt

Choose your colors and fabrics,3 solid colors. Fabrics that read solid from a distance are also fine. Some batiks fit this bill. They add interest close up and seem solid from away. Choose 1-3 fabrics of interest to highlight. This could include animals, checks, dots or a number of items. Plan on a quilt of about 44″ x 35″ 112cm x 89 cm. This is the size of my work table. Adjust for your liking or workspace. Yet, this is a doable size for the first effort.
Next,press and lay out the patterned fabric you want to highlight. Cut 3,5,or 7 pieces of varying lengths and widths. Using leftover pieces works well. Trim to make sure long edges are straight. Place fabric on your work space or design wall in a balanced order.

Balanced solid and print fabrics laid out on the cutting table before sewing begins.

Planning Before Sewing

3. Next, cut the strips of solid fabric. The width can vary. I prefer 4-6″ 10-20cm wide. A wider strip gives you more flexibility if you need to trim it later.Lay them on the table or design wall. Adjust to your liking. Add other colored strips to fill in the spaces. Make sure that the colors are equally balanced across the top of your quilt. That said there aren’t too many pieces of one color on one side of the quilt or the other. Does your eye flow smoothly across the quilt top or does your eye get stuck somewhere? I prefer that the eyes flow or move gently across the quilt top. Step back from your piece to observe. Take a break to rest for your eyes. It is amazing what little errors one might see upon return. You don’t need to lie down just do something else and come back later.

4. Then,begin to sew your pieces together. Finally,add your favorite batting and quilt as you generally choose to do.

a lap quilt of solid colors , magenta, purple, white and violet

Hints to Make a Quilt without a Pattern

When trimming fabric with a design or picture, look at the fabric design before cutting. Pay attention to the fabric’s pattern or animals. Trim to highlight the part of the pattern you want. For example in the wild animal quilt,I highlighted the faces of the animal. On the other hand,I trimmed off the foliage. Take notice and trim fabric from each end rather than cutting from one side only. This extra bit of caution can make a big difference in the look of the final product.
Some printed fabrics have a direction to them. Are all of the pictures facing one way? Or are all the pictures facing all directions? No matter which side it is being viewed from, a face is looking at the viewer. It is your choice if you want all of the pieces ( ie. animal faces)facing one direction or not. We often create a quilt with the designs facing one direction.Yet when it is used a quilt is usually not viewed that way. So don’t worry too much about this.
Have a general idea of where you want certain pieces to be in your quilt. Lay them all out to view before sewing together. Leave them for a few hours or longer to be able to view the pieces with “new eyes”. Are the colors and patterns balanced? Does something catch your eye that shouldn’t? Furthermore, make these changes before the sewing starts.
When piecing the quilt top together, flexibility is necessary. More strips may need to be added. Or at times strips may need to be trimmed. I find that I have more flexibility to make these changes if I sew the top together more or less by sections. For example,sew the upper right corner together. Then move to the upper left corner. Then the lower right corner and the lower left corner. If for some reason another strip or piece of fabric is needed, it is easy to add it this way.

In Conclusion

At this point in my career, I do not use quilt patterns. However, I did use patterns for years to quilt and sew. The rare time I do use a pattern is generally a shape that I have made myself. If sewing without a pattern is new for you, I applaud your bravery. It can be a daunting new experience. At times, it can be very scary. Ultimaltely, it is my hope that you will find it as freeing as I do.

I have several lapquilts on my etsy site made in this way.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1194284434/contemporary-modern-lap-quiltbabhttps://www.etsy.com/listing/1194284434/contemporary-modern-lap-quiltbaby

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2022/06/how-to-discover-your-artistic-signature/

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1208240295/contemporary-modern-lap-quiltbaby

Need Help? Try These Low Tech Quilting Hacks

Swimmingly

Low Tech Quilting Hacks

Try these low tech quilting hacks to make to make quilting tasks easier. This post is about my favorite tools that I often use in my studio. Redirecting materials are a major motivating factor in my art. It so happens that it affects my low tech quilting hacks as well.

Threading the Needle

My regular sewing foot has a white plastic piece that holds it together. A bit of the white forms a background that allows for the ease of threading the needle. For years, I sewed clothing. Yet, never noticed this because I had no need to change the foot. As soon as I started quilting and began to use different feet, I noticed that threading the needle became more difficult.

What Had Changed?

I couldn’t figure out what had changed. It took me a while, the small white background was not longer there. So I recreated the white by using a small piece of white paper. I now keep a particularly stiff piece of white paper close at hand. For easy threading of the needle, I slip the paper behind the needle. When I use the walking foot or darning foot for free motion quilting, I can see the needle’s hole much better.

Easing of Fabric through the Feed-A Low Tech Quilting Hack

Many years ago I received a stick that looks like an orange stick used for nail care. Suzanne Cam gave them away as part of a quilting workshop. This tool has now become an indespensible tool. I use it often to grab threads, to gently guide fabric smoothly through the feed when necssary.

Moving Small Pieces- A Low Tech Quilting Hack

I also use the stick to move small pieces of fabric. For the fabric layering technique,I create my art flat on a table. I place the backing fabric down first. Then I lay the batting on top.Finally, I create the scene. At times this requires a gentle movement of small pieces of fabric or yarn. I use the stick for this. Nothing else creates a smooth curve or allows me to control the placement of small items or details.

Tiny Globs of Glue

At times I need to glue items to my fiber pieces. Often I only need the tiniest bit of glue not a glob of glue that might show. When my studio was in my home, I would use a plate from the kitchen to put the glue on. After moving to my studio,no plates were readily available.

Making Do

I flipped over the 3 ” plastic cap from the can of starch to use. To control the smallest bit of glue, I use a large needle or hat pin. When finished I can easily wipe off the residue of white glue . The pin or needle is then ready for its original intended use.

low tech quilting hack 3 — Plastic caps to control globs of glue

A Design Wall

I use a design wall to create my abstract pieces of art. It is essential for me to have a large space available. I would recommend at least 60″ high and wide. My studio design wall is about 90″ by 90″. I covered the wall with a piece of white flannel fabric. It is held in place by push pins. Portability is not an issue for me. Other quilters will swear by their expensive design walls. Don’t be fooled! Simple can be just as effective!

my large white flannel design wall design, low tech quilting hack — My large white flannel design wall design

True Confessions Time!

I am not an early adopter nor a gadget person. Quality standard tools and materials are necessary. These hacks are very low tech. Whatever works! For those still reading this post, I expect to hear a chuckle or two or daresay I, some laughing out loud at their simplicity. What simple hacks do you use? Please share.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/04/forging-your-own-art-path/

Need Punch? Add Color to your Art Quilts

Splendid Fairy Wren Australia

Adding Color to your Art Quilts

Color is probably the art element that attracts and motivates most artists to begin work. For most people it is the most engaging aspect. For my take on this subject, I am going to focus on how I choose to adding color to my abstract art quilts. In general, I chooose 3-4 colors to work with. Then I find the range of hues from light to dark to add for balance and interest. I often use bright colors while I find a pale palette of beiges and whites to be very calming. I work on a large white flannel design wall.

To begin, Where do I get my ideas? How do I decide on which colors I want to work with? Most of my materials are from FABMO, a non profit that gets castoff materials from designers. Swatches of a wide range of colors with slight variations provide a lot of choices. Here are some ideas I have inspired me to get started.

A Photograph

A friend sent me this photograph of a colorful bird from Australia. Rarely do I work from photographs. I will not be using the bird however, the hues of purple,blue and black will be in an abstract art quilt in the near future.

Look Down

While working on a piece,I tossed the extra fabric in a box on the floor next to me. I did this repeated. At the end of the day, I looked down and saw these wonderful grey and lime green colors together. I gathered them up and put the in a special place to work on later. This was the piece inspired by leftovers. May I note that I usually don’t use these colors.

Lingering Fog,34" x 34" 86 x86 cm 2019, a grey,white and lime green abstract art quilt — Lingering Fog,34″ x 34″ 86 x86 cm 2019

Using Up Materials

Sometimes I just start a project with materials or colors that I want to use up. I might have too big a piece of fabric or too much of one color. Some artists might find this idea very unorthodox or even unsettling. When I started City Lights, I had a pile of blue fabric that I wanted to diminish. Sand Between My Toes allowed me to make use of whites and beiges. Sea Turtles is not an abstract art quilts but I had a large piece of blue synthetic fabric that I used for the background. The turquoise plants are also created from fabric I wanted to use up.

City Lights, lots of blues and purples with pops of other colors, 24" x 22" — City Lights, a fabric art quilt,24″ x 22″

Sea Turtles,an underwater fantasy art quilt,Sea Turtles 35" x 23 " 2014 — Sea Turtles 35″ x 23 ” 2014

an abstract art quilt in pale colors — Sand Between My Toes

Use the Palette of a Commercial Piece of Fabric

A fabric friend suggested this to me several years ago. I have to admit I couldn’t wrap my mind around this idea for a long time. Go to a fabric store. Look at the colors on the commercial fabrics. Very experienced designers work to create these prints. Choose a palette that you would like to use. You don’t need to use the fabric just let the colors inspire you.

In my abstract art quilt, Spring Break I did use some of the fabric. However, the process of chosing the materials was driven by the colors of the original piece of redirected linen. I looked for complementary colors from the fabrics I already had.

Spring Break, an abstract art quilt of blues, yellows and green — Spring Break

Multicolored Blue Linen Fabric — I built the fabrics around this piece of fabric.

In conclusion, inspiration for art can be found in many unusual places. Inspiration comes from spending time in your studio. Keep your mind open and inspiration will appear.

Here are some other articles that you may be interested in.https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/03/using-discontinued-fabrics/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/12/the-amazing-story-of-fabmo-how-two-dedicated-people-can-make-a-big-difference/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/01/creating-movement-in-abstract-art-quilts/

The following article is about Spring Break, art quilt.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/09/abstract-art-quilts-a-work-in-progress/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

I Love Mistakes-Learn from Them.

We all make mistakes but then learn from them. I Love Mistakes-Learn from them. I would like to share some mistakes that I have learned from. All mistakes are not bad. Errors are often touted as being something to avoid. Keeping one’s mind open can lead to embrasing errors as a good discovery. Postits and the microwave oven, for example, were originally mistakes.

grasses in the wetlands with a moon overhead,Mistakes that I have Not Regretted — Grasses in the wetlands with a moon overhead

A Fabric Layering Technique Example

While working on a wetlands fabric layering piece, some fabric turned under at the top. This unexpectedly added movement and added interest to the marsh. I continued doing it and added it to my toolbox. I Love Mistakes. Learn from them.

An Abstract Example

One example is how I discovered a signature detail of mine by mistake. When working on abstract pieces, I generally first pull out all of the possible fabrics within my chosen range of colors. A particular color was missing. Not finding a bigger amount, I solved my problem by sewing some small pieces together at odd angles to make a large enough piece of material. It pleased me,I liked the way it looked.

I Love Mistakes-Learn from them.

This example is how I discovered a signature detail of mine by mistake. I started to do it more. sewing small pieces of fabric together (about 1-1 1/2″ long) that had been trimmed off other pieces. Not wanting to waste any fabric anyway, I now often include some small pieces sewn together to each of my abstracts. I is now my signature detail.

greys,pinks and purple fabric in this abstract,Mistakes that I have Not Regretted — Greys,pinks and purple fabric in this abstract art quilt

Tension Takes Over

Another example is the day the tension on my machine seemed to have a mind of its own. The sewing machine started to pull the bobbin thread from the bottom up to the top of the fabric. Stitches looked like dots. I liked the effect. I tried it using different colored threads. Using a cream colored fabric,I preferred a black thread on the bobbin(bottom) and a cream colored thread for the top. I adjusted the tension so that the bottom thread would pull up and create dots .

white fabric with black thread pulling to the top — stitches with poor tension

decorative stitches created by black thread being pulled to the top of white fabric — Knots, detail showing stitching with poor tension

In Conclusion

Keep an open mind towards mistakes. Are they interesting? Do they make your piece more interesting? Then accept your mistake. Learn to love and accept mistakes.Learn from them. Add the technique to your toolkit and use it. Embrace new discoveries.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2017/09/inspiration-from-one-fabric/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/product/grey-laotian-reverse-applique/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

See A New Abstract Art Quilt Work in Progress

Winter Sunset greys,pinks and purple fabric in this abstract art quilt.

Abstract Art Quilt Work in Progress

Winter Sunset, An abstract art quilt with lavander,pink, and grey colors,the finished piece

Abstract Art Quilt Work in Progress, Winter Sunset

This work in progress shows the steps I follow to create an abstract piece of art. Designing my abstract art quilts begins with choosing a group of colors. Inspiration for this quilt came from the greys and pinks of a winter sunset. I pick the decorative threads that I want to work with. I choose fabric that fits into the shades of colors that I chose. This time I want the colors to blend together and hardly be noticeable. Look for the green marbled fabric I added for that purpose. Choosing mnaterials from my stash is my favorite part of the creaive process.

Couching Decorative Threads and Yarns

Couching decorative threads and yarns to a long strip of fabric is fun. I use little pieces that might otherwise be thrown away. Each person’s eyes will blend the colors together differently. Then I randomly cut up the strips to use as fabric. I place the fabric on the design wall. Then I move the pieces around until I like it.

Keep Colors and Textures Balanced.

Beginning to sew the pieces together, I keep my eye out to make sure that the balance of the colors and textures is good.

I keep adjusting the fabrics adding and subtracting fabrics as I go. Until I get it just right in my eye’s mind.I begin sewing small pieces together.

I continue sewing pieces pieces together. Here you can tell that the pieces are getting larger.

I moved some other pieces around. Sewing together continued. I finished sewing or piecing the top together.. The quilt sandwich has the top, the batting and the backing fabric pinned together to quilt.

I use my wacky fun scribble quilting technique to quilt the three layers together creating an added level of movement. Scribble quilting is a technique I named. I move the quilt side to side while quilting with a walking foot.

You may be interested in reading more at Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) website.

http://www.saqa.com/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2021/06/abstract-art-in-fabric/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

Try Something New. Bring Your Bravery!

Sunlit Boulders,art quilt

Bring Your Bravery! Auditioning fabrics on my design wall, browns greens, beiges — Photo 1 Auditioning fabrics on my design wall

Bring Your Bravery! Be Brave!

A main motivation of mine besides making stunning art is to reuse materials. Pieces of yarn and decorative threads that some people may discard become unique design elements. I couch (zigzag) them on a strip of fabric, cut them and use as fabric. Yet, sometimes there are decorative threads that one just has to buy. There is one like that in this piece. The ribbon alternates rusty orange and green with 3D native inspired tied knots. Bring Your Bravery! Be Brave!

Choosing Colors- Be Brave!

Choose your color scheme. I recommend three to four colors. Sort hues from light to dark in the same shades. Be brave. Experiment with different colors on your design wall. Don’t be afraid to eliminate fabrics. Start with more material than you think you might need. Include one bright fabric that makes the piece pop.

Creating Details Bring Your Bravery! Be Brave!

Couch (zigzag) decorative threads on 5”wide strips of cotton. Try something new. Bring Your Bravery! Be Brave! Emphasize the art element of line by couching with thread that matches the yarn to make the sewing thread disappear. Double or triple the ply for a thicker line. Repeat four to six times using different colors and types of decorative threads. Couch the decorative threads fairly close together about 1/8-1/4 inch apart. Leave a 1” space on each side of the fabric strip. This gives you flexibility. You can always make it smaller.

Tucks add texture.

Bring Your Bravery! Be Brave! Tucks add texture. Fold a 12” length or longer strip of fabric wrong sides together to create a fold. Stitch 1/8” or 1/4” close to the fold edge. Choose your thread to blend into the fabric or to stand out as a design element. Make 3-5 tucks on the same strip of fabric. Remember to save room for the seam allowance on the sides. Press to lay flat. Cut up the strips into 4”- 8”pieces. Balance their placement on the design wall.

Temporarily Mark your Design Wall

Plan to make your finished artwork about 24”square. Mark with pins the approximate size of your finished piece on the design wall as a guideline. Remember when you are putting fabric on the design wall, the finished product will be smaller. Start with fabric pieces that are a bit larger.

Bring Your Bravery!Small strips are being sewn together. — Photo 2 Small strips are being sewn together.

Place the Pieces Randomly

So, you have assembled your own “fabric” with couched decorative threads and tucks. Now it is time to mix those fabrics with others on the design wall. Bravely put the pieces up randomly and start to move the pieces around to see what goes together. What fabrics jump out at you?

Almost all squared up. Most pieces sewn together — Photo 3 Almost all squared up.

Balance the Fabrics

Limit those to an odd number of them. Balance the different fabrics making sure that they are spread out evenly over the top. Beginners might choose to piece their top using straight lines up and down. Placing the pieces on a diagonal adds interest. A diagonal quilt will go past the guideline pins and be trimmed into a rectangular or square.

quilt sandwich, the three layers are put together — step 4 quilt sandwich

Golds, greens and yellow fabric highlight this Native American inspired art quilt — step 5 Sunlit Boulders,art quilt, completed

Sew As You Go

Show courage. Sew, cut and move fabric around the design wall. Keep cutting and sewing pieces together until it pleases you. The top doesn’t need to be totally finished to start to sew. Sew straight or curved line seams. Continue to sew pieces together into about 8” strips. Pin them to the design wall either in straight lines or on a diagonal. Allow time for this process. Trust yourself.

A “Painful” Time

This can be a “painful” time for an artist, if the piece isn’t coming together as one wishes it would. I find that if I don’t like a part, it gets more interesting after I cut it up and rearrange the pieces. Leave items on the design wall and return later to look at the piece with fresh eyes.
Complete sewing the top when you are happy with it. Prepare the quilt sandwich and quilt. Scribble Quilting is fun and adds movement to your piece. Whichever way you quilt your piece, you will have an artful abstract art quilt as testament to your bravery.

About the Author

Ann Baldwin May lives in Santa Cruz, California. In 2012, she retired after teaching elementary school for 36 years. She has won several awards for her work. She participates in the juried Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour from her studio in the Santa Cruz Art Center. May is a member of SAQA( Studio Art Quilter Associates). Contact her at baldwinmay49@yahoo.com or www.annbaldwinmayartquilts.com. Or visit her Etsy shop at annbmayartquilts.etsy.com

Directions for Curved Line Piecing-optional

Lay two pieces of 5” cotton squares on top of each other right sides up on the cutting mat. Cut a slightly curved line through both fabrics with a rotary cutter. There will be four pieces. The top of one fabric will fit the bottom of the other fabric like two puzzles pieces making the original square. Take those two pieces that fit together and sew right sides together with a ¼” seam. Only the part of the fabric going through the foot will line up to a ¼” seam due to the curve. Slightly adjust the top fabric as you move them both through the foot. Press open. This technique is very forgiving. You will be amazed at your curved line. Practice making curves of different widths.

Advice for Beginners

Let each person’s eye see the hues in their own way. Let go of controlling the way the colors mix together. The color of thread changes depending on the color of the fabric that it is sewn on. The color of the fabric is influenced by the color it is next to.

When I started making art quilts, I had a lot of experience sewing clothes and bed quilts. I would think of how a traditional quilter would do something and then I would choose to do it differently.

Consider expanding your stash to include a wider range of shades and hues.

Tips

It is imperative to be cautious with certain aspects of our lives, but cutting up fabric is not one of those times.

Create texture by including fabrics other than 100% cotton. While a variety of fabric adds interest, provide some solid fabrics as a needed resting spot for one’s eyes.

Include a bit of fabric that will pop. Shiny synthetics work well for this.

Supplies and Materials

Rotary blade, cutting matt, design wall(white flannel thumbtacked to the wall)
sewing machine, batiks, found threads(decorative threads, yarns, rickrack, colored string, synthetic raffia), a variety of small pieces of cotton fabrics(fat quarter or smaller), fabrics of different textures (optional), thread, batting, cotton backing fabric, scissors, walking foot for quilting.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/press-coverage/

http://Art Quilting Studio Magazine, Fall issue, 2018.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2021/06/abstract-art-in-fabric/

Challenge Yourself!Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!

Along the Path

Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!

Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement! appeared in Art Quilting Studio, Summer edition, 2018. Ann Baldwin May is having Fun With Color!Texture! Movement! in each of her art quilts.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/press-coverage/

fabric teal colored tree with leaves falling and rocks at foot of the treeFun With Color!Texture! Movement! — Along the Path

Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!

Having Fun With Color!Texture! Movement! will show the steps needed to add color,texture andmovement to art quilts using the fabric layering technique.

Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!
GETTING STARTED

The fabric layering technique makes it easy to have Fun With Color!Texture! Movement! to your art quilts. Begin by laying the back cotton fabric on a table. Choose a size that will easily fit on your work table. A square or rectangle about 15”-20” is a good start. Press the fabric to lay flat. Cover with batting which should also lay flat. Don’t worry if the edges don’t exactly line up, they will be trimmed later. Next, choose a fairly neutral background fabric or fabrics. Overlap the fabrics about an inch. If the fabrics shift during quilting, the batting won’t show. Cut a meandering line to look like rolling hills on the edge of the top fabric. Lightly baste with a glue stick.

Choose your Colors Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!

Choose your colors adding a range of hues from light to dark as well as colors that contrast. Play with the colors to see what you like. Be ready to eliminate those that really don’t work. Go for an impressionistic view rather than a picture perfect trunk, leaf, or branch. Each viewer’s eye will blend the colors uniquely.

Start Large to Small

When beginning to create the scene, start with the largest part and work to the smallest. Cut out the tree trunk and add branches as you go. Flip the fabric and use the backside to add dimension. When you have the tree the way you like it, lightly baste. Just baste in a few places not all over. Later on, if you may want to slide a branch underneath and you won’t be able to if it is totally glued down.

Add Details Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!

Add rocks to the foreground. Choose fabric that will work for you to add texture. Avoid fabrics that have rocks printed on them. I chose marbled fabric I bought at Pacific International Quilt Festival and a redirected fabric to add texture. You will notice that they are cut simply. Lightly baste the rocks to the background.
For the medium sized branches, I couched (zigzagged) decorative threads and ribbons on to a multicolored piece of redirected linen. Then I cut the branches out. I lay them on the piece balancing out the colors. Crossing branches adds interest and movement. Keep going until the scene is pleasing to you. Baste lightly.

Leaves Add Interest

Working on the leaves is so much fun. Gather contrasting and blending colors. Make the leaves about
3”-4” varying the shape and size. Small scrap pieces are all that are needed. Pay attention to balancing the placement of the colors . Reflective, shiny sheer fabrics add a pop to the leaves. Save them for the top for the greatest effect. If you choose to have the leaves stick out from the edge, make those leaves ½” bigger for ease of zigzagging. During the final trimming you can adjust the leaf lines by cutting before zigzagging. Lightly baste leaves in place. Your art quilt will also be successful if you decide to make the edges straight .

The Beginning of the End

When your artist’s eye says that the scene is complete, cover with tulle. Make sure that the tulle is 2 “ longer on all sides. It can pull a bit during quilting. Pin the tulle down making sure that it is flat but not stretched. Use a lot of straight pins; remove as you quilt. As with other quilting techniques, begin in the middle of the piece and quilt outward. Edges may be rolled to accommodate the machine’s space.

Helpful Hints

Beginners will have success stitching along the edges of the branches, following the lines of the fabric. More experienced quilters can add movement by quilting lines resembling slanting plants. Choose a thread color that blends with the background. I highly recommend Aurifil thread for successful free motion quilting. Trim the edges and zigzag two times. Press lightly with a pressing cloth or piece of fabric. Add a sleeve to the back to hang. Stand back and admire!

Everyone Starts Somewhere.

Several years ago I began my path from traditional quilts to art quilts. I took a class in the fabric layering technique from the award winning, Meri Vahl (meriartquilts.com). Meri had learned the technique from Northern California artist, Laura Fogg(laura-fogg.squarespace.com).The technique allows for much personal creativity; none of our work looks similar. I was inspired to create a tree with leaves overflowing the edges as I have sold five pieces to the new Kaiser Permanente Facility in Scotts Valley and WEatsonville, California. A change in color scheme keeps all of my trees unique.

Important Materials

quality scissors; large and small, sewing machine, darning /free motion foot, walking foot for zigzagging, rotary cutter, cutting board, plastic see through quilting ruler, cotton fabric for backing, tulle, synthetic fabrics, redirected materials, commercially marbled fabric, sheers, batiks, Aurifil thread, Avery glue stick, pressing cloth ( to protect tulle and synthetics from melting when being pressed),a pointed wooden stick , straight quilting pins(They are longer than sewing pins.)

Tips

Leave a 1-2” empty back ground space on the sides of your piece. Then when trimmed your art doesn’t lose any interesting parts.
A light colored tulle will be best for your first project. I personally am not fussy about the color of tulle I use.
This technique is a forgiving way to practice free motion quilting. Before I learned this technique, I was ready to give up with free motion quilting in frustration. Lower or cover your feed dogs. Put your stitch length at 0. Use the darning/free motion foot with Aurifil thread. Push foot pedal control fast while slowly moving/quilting the layers of fabric.( Fast foot ,slow hand) Aurifil thread is available at most quilting stores. It appears more expensive but it really isn’t. I pieced and quilted a queen sized quilt of many seams with one spool.
Throwing the leaves onto the scene adds movement. Free yourself from cutting out perfectly formed leaves.
Use a large straight pin like a hat pin to get the tiniest dab of glue on the tip and gently slide under the fabric to be basted. I use a wooden stick similar to an emery stick to help me gently nudge the pieces of fabric to where I want them to be.

Advice for Beginners

I come from the world of bed quilts. The basic sewing skills used in traditional quilting are fundamental for most art quilting. However the “Quilting Rules” can be left behind. Buying patterns, pressing seams and matching seams are a few of those rules I have freed myself from. Give yourself permission to try something new, be it a color combination or creating your own designs. Listen to yourself. Take baby steps. You decide if you like your work or not. If not, change it. There is no wrong way to do it. Many art workshops or seminars begin with activities to get people in touch with one’s creative side.

About the Author

Ann Baldwin May lives in Santa Cruz, California. In 2012, she retired after teaching elementary school for 36 years. She began quilting in the 1970s. Ms. May participates in the juried Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour from her studio in the Santa Cruz Art Center. She recently sold five tree art quilts to Kaiser Permanente for their facilities in Santa Cruz County, California. May is a member of SAQA( Studio Art Quilter Associates). Contact her at baldwinmay49@yahoo.com or www.annbaldwinmayartquilts.com. Or visit her Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/01/creating-movement-in-abstract-art-quilts/

https://stampington.com/art-quilting-studio-summer-2018/

Step By Step Instructions to Make an Abstract Art Quilt

This work in progress shows the step by step instructions to make this abstract art quilt, Sunlit Boulders. Featured in Art Quilting Studio Magazine, Fall issue, 2018.

Step By Step Instructions for an abstract art quilt, browns, greens, yellow and batiks with a sourthwest feel. — Sunlit Boulders 31″ h x 28″w

Inspiration and Adjustments

Sunlit Boulders is an art quilt with curved line piecing, Scribble Quilting and couched decorative yarns and threads. My first intention was to highlight the Native American batik shown on the left on the first photo. As I chose different fabrics, I decided that I would minimize their use. I removed more of that fabric. I was happier with the way it looked. It’s okay to change ideas in midproject if it doesn’t look or feel right to you. Follow these step by step instructions to make your own abstract art quilt. It will be uniquely yours.

Photo 1

I am auditioning fabrics that complement and contrast with the batik fabric. Using strips of fabric, I couch(zigzag) a variety of decorative threads and yarns to the strips. I cut the strips apart into varying lengths without much forethought.

Photo 2

I am still auditioning fabric. I included some pieced strips left over from a previous project. Notice that I eliminated the reddish fabric.

Photo 3

I start to cut up the strips of couched yarns to add to the quilt. I am trying out where I like the pieces, moving them around. Dark strips frame the piece. I begin to sew some pieces together. Figures from the batik stand out enough.

Step By Step Instructions. Sew pieces together. Move to a different spot to create balance of fabric and color. — photo 4 Sew pieces together. Move to a different spot to create balance of fabric and color.

Photo 4

Tucks are add texture. Notice that I moved some pieces around. I do more sewing of pieces together.

Photo 5

I am not afraid to cut up fabric. I can always use the fabric at a later date for a different project. More tucks are added to fabrics. I eliminated some batiks symbols.

Photo 6

All pieced together and ready for batting and backing.

Photo 7

Scribble Quilting is complete. Edges need to be trimmed and cut straight.

Photo 8

The finished art quilt represents my mantra of color, texture, and movement.

What is the Difference Between Art Quilts and Bed Quilts?

Homage to a Dancer, one of the first art quilts I made.

Art Quilts and Bed Quilts

People ask how art quilts and bed quilts different. The answer is something that I have lived through. I started making bed quilts back in the 1970’s. In 2008, I made the transition to creating wall art. May I offer some generalizations?

Bed quilts and art quilts are made with the same tools; sewing machine, rotary cutters, cutting boards, see through ruler, a variety of feet for their machines. Many of the techniques are also the same. Both have three pieces sewn together,use applique tecniques, quilt by stitch in the ditch, and often include binding. Bed quilts generally have squares or blocks of fabric sewn together. Bed quilters prefer to use 100% cotton. It is the best fabric to work with. It lies flat and most importantly, it is washable.

Art Quilts are Wall Art.

When a quilter moves away from the necessity of washing their piece, a whole new realm of fabric possibilities open up. For me, foregoing the use of patterns also forged my way toward art quilts. I have been “scarred” by my pattern disasters. I flatly refuse to use them anymore unless it is my own pattern. But that only happens rarely. By not following anyone else’s ideas, colors, or materials, I have been able to create my own style.

Silk, linen, synthetics, yarn and decorative threads have become my go to materials. I am very focused on using redirecting fabrics and materials to keep them out of the landfill. I keep the smallest pieces of fabric to try and find a use for it instead of placing them in the trash. Of course, my first focus is on creating a beautiful piece of art that someone will want to live with.

http://annbmayartquilts.etsy.com/

Learn more about the international art quilt organization that started in Northern California in 1989.
https://www.saqa.com/

Looking for a Fun way to Quilt?

Spring Break, 32" x32", $695.

Scribble Quilting is a wacky fun way to quilt. Are you stuck in stitch-in-the-ditch? Are you a bit bored with straight line quilting? Maybe it’s time for you to try Scribble Quilting. It is not hard at all. All you need to get started is a walking foot, a quilt sandwich ready to quilt and different colors of thread.I developed this technique because I was bored with other ways to quilt.Looking for a wacky fun variation to your quilting? Try Wacky Fun Scribble Quilting.

Waiting for the Roadrunner, green,gold and beige, 22" x 24" 56cm x 61cm — Waiting for the Roadrunner, 22″ x 24″ 56cm x 61cm

Artful and Interesting

First of all,Scribble Quilting is a colorful, artful and an interesting way to quilt. For example,the quilting thread lines cross each other; creating positive and negative space. The sewing lines are the positive space. However,the negative spaces are the shapes created by the lines. Similarly, Lines undulate, curve and wave. Do the lines you’ve made draw your eye in and keep your interest?

By Accident

Like many great ideas, Scribble Quilting was discovered by accident. Once while making a baby quilt,I decided to quilt curvy lines with my walking foot instead of straight ones. Furthermore, I used one of the built-in stitches on my sewing machine which made regular, gentle curves. Soon, I wanted to make the curves wider. Switching back to my usual straight stitch, I began gently moving the quilt from side to side by hand to make wider curves than my built-in stitch had allowed. It was fun, and the lines looked more interesting. I kept quilting, experimenting with contrasting thread colors. Subsequently,I currently finish many of my art quilts this way.

Scribble Quilting

In addition,I named this technique Scribble Quilting. After art lessons were cut at in my elementary school classroom, I noticed that some students showed their frustration with what they considered unsuccessful art projects. After that, they would scribble all over them with four or five different crayons. It caught my attention. However,it looked like a party with confetti falling all over. As I quilted my pieces, drawing lines with multiple colors and crossing over them repeatedly, it reminded me of scribbling.

Fun with Thread Color

Take this opportunity to have fun with thread color. Be aware that the thread color can appear different depending on what colors it is on or near. Free yourself from perfectly matching the thread to the top fabric. I found that even slight variations in the color of the quilting threads added subtle interest to a quilt top.

More color is more interesting. For example, I bought a spool of wacky fun chartreuse (yellow green) thread at a flea market several years ago. I never wear this color and had not tried it in quilting. But this thread has become one of my favorites because of the way it plays with other colors. It brightens green or black fabric.Yet, it often reads as yellow. I encourage you to play with the thread to see how it changes, depending on the color of the fabric. Updated- Sometimes I use just one color of thread instead of more than one.

More Color is Better Except

More color is more interesting, with one exception. Thinking that variegated thread would be fun and wacky, I tried to use it. However, I personally was not satisfied with the results. I had no control over when the colors changed. It wasn’t fun when the bobbin thread didn’t match the top thread. Maybe this is just a personal choice on my part. Each quilter can make their own decisions.

Are you ready to start Scribble Quilting?

Begin each project by quilting straight lines about 5 inches (12cm) apart using a walking foot. Stitch-in-the-ditch works well to hold the quilt sandwich together. Remove the pins to avoid sewing over them. After you’ve finished straight-line quilting to secure the quilt sandwich, change to another thread color.

Next,quilt several lines in one color. Spread the stitiching lines out across the quilt top. As you sew from one edge of the quilt to the other,gently moving the quilt sandwich from side to side. Change thread color and continue quilting. Make wider curves so that the quilting lines cross. Keep quilting until the quilting is evenly space. Are happy with the way the lines cross each other? if not, then do some more.

Instructions

1) Prepare a quilt sandwich by pinning together the backing, batting and top (step 1).

step 1 of fun wacky quilting process — step 1 of scribble quilting process

2) Decide where to start quilting. In the beginning, it’s easiest to start on one side and go to the opposite side.

3) Begin by using a walking foot to make straight lines of stitching about 5 inches 12 cm apart. Stitch in the ditch if you want. (step 2).

step 2 of quilting process straight line sewing on the quilt sandwich(3 layers) — step 2 of scribble quilting process

4) Now begin sewing curved lines of quilting, still using a walking foot. Begin curved quilting on the edge of the quilt, near the middle of one side. Pull the quilt taut with both hands as you quilt. Gently move the sandwich from side to side as the machine stitches. Use your needle down position in case you have to stop. Stop quilting to readjust the quilt sandwich. Avoid jerky movements. The quilting thread should form a smooth, flowing line (step 3).

step 3 offun wacky quilting process — step 3 of scribble quilting process

Problemsolving

If your line of stitches moves abruptly to one side, stop immediately. Remove stitches until you have enough to thread a needle, then bury the threads in the batting. Continue quilting, starting at the end of the line of stitching. If you don’t want to stop or don’t notice the mistake until later, stitch another line of quilting which crosses the first line at the point where the mistake occurred (step 4). This will make the mistake less noticeable.

step 4 of quilting process, curved line sewing — step 4 of scribble quilting process

5) As you quilt, check the back of the sandwich to see if some areas need more quilting. The quilting lines should be balanced from one area of the quilt to another (step 5). Keep quilting until you like the way it looks. If you’re not happy, add wavy lines in contrasting colors, crossing more lines of quilting.

step 5 of fun wacky quilting processm Adding more curvy sewing lines — step 5 of scribble quilting process

6) Bind the quilt using your favorite technique.

Welcome to the joy of Scribble Quilting! I hope that you enjoy using this wacky fun technique as much as I do.

You may also be interested in these articles.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/04/an-abstract-art-quilt-a-work-in-progresssunset-through-the-forest/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/01/creating-movement-in-abstract-art-quilts/

http://annbmayartquilts.etsy.com/

http://www.saqa.com/

Classes or Opportunities to Learn

Block of the Month Activity

People that Share your Passion

Access to Fabric and Materials

Expertise

Small Quilt Groups

Beginners are Welcome.

True Confessions Time

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What I Know

All Brands are Good.

Free Motion Quilting

Old Thread

Chartreuse Thread?

All I Know About Thread

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Starting Your Patternless Quilt

Planning Before Sewing

Hints to Make a Quilt without a Pattern

In Conclusion

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Low Tech Quilting Hacks

Threading the Needle

What Had Changed?

Easing of Fabric through the Feed-A Low Tech Quilting Hack

Moving Small Pieces- A Low Tech Quilting Hack

Tiny Globs of Glue

Making Do

A Design Wall

True Confessions Time!

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Adding Color to your Art Quilts

A Photograph

Look Down

Using Up Materials

Use the Palette of a Commercial Piece of Fabric

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A Fabric Layering Technique Example

An Abstract Example

I Love Mistakes-Learn from them.

Tension Takes Over

In Conclusion

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Abstract Art Quilt Work in Progress

Abstract Art Quilt Work in Progress, Winter Sunset

Couching Decorative Threads and Yarns

Keep Colors and Textures Balanced.

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Bring Your Bravery! Be Brave!

Choosing Colors- Be Brave!

Creating Details Bring Your Bravery! Be Brave!

Tucks add texture.

Temporarily Mark your Design Wall

Place the Pieces Randomly

Balance the Fabrics

Sew As You Go

A “Painful” Time

About the Author

Directions for Curved Line Piecing-optional

Advice for Beginners

Tips

Supplies and Materials

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Like this:

Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!

Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!

Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement! GETTING STARTED

Choose your Colors Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!

Start Large to Small

Add Details Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!

Leaves Add Interest

The Beginning of the End

Helpful Hints

Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!
GETTING STARTED