Collaging water

Kayak on Pine Island Sound

Really, the sky and water are this serene.

First, cut muslin 20" x 20".

Then paint it with white gesso.

Cover the gesso-ed muslin with fabrics and papers.

Paint it where it seems right.

I have learned to use separate palettes (I use paper plates.) for warm and cool colors 

to avoid making a muddy mix.

Here, a bit of paint

Add some sheer fabrics, like the lilac and turquoise torn strips of polyester organza. 

They curved naturally.

Make the prow of a kayak from fabric glued to buckram.

Here, silk that my Aunt Mary bought ages ago in Thailand and contemporary cotton.

I really like this pinky-red.

Place the kayak onto bottom of the piece, where it is in the guiding photo.

Ugh!

Maybe a sailboat?

Yes!

Quilt sleeve tutorial

The final details, like sewing the label and the hanging sleeve onto the back of the quilt, are less interesting than creating the piece itself. This woman knows her sleeves. I always follow her directions.  Before watching her, my quilt sleeves didn't have that extra "give." Made this way, the quilt will hang rather close to the wall.  It's a little harder, but better, to cut the sleeve into three pieces