Monday, December 30, 2013

My Quip – BW 1950 Quilt and Wall Hanging – The Last Third Continues

Good day,

Work continues on the last third of our BW 1950.


It looks like we will finish all the piecing in a couple of days. Once all three parts of the top of our BW 1950 quilt wall hanging have been completed, I think we still might have to squint to completely recognize who our black and white portrait represents.

I am amazed at the work that Andy is doing piecing the little squares and triangles.

Thanks to those of you who suggested some ideas for a quilting pattern(s). I'm definitely considering a complementary pattern while keeping in mind a pattern for BW 2010. We're still open to suggestions.

Here's another image of our BW 1950 with a bit of change of lightning.


Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Friday, December 27, 2013

My Quip – BW 1950 Quilt and Wall Hanging – Abstract Art and Finger-Pressing

Good Day,

Our work continues on our BW 1950.


The construction of the black and white portrait is beginning to take shape. BW 1950 is definitely going to be an abstract work. Our BW 1950 is NOT going to be a portrait. It will, all-things-being-equal, be our representation of a person. Will it look like that person? Not necessarily. We hope that there may be some semblance of connection between the original and our production.

I had to look up a definition of the phrase “abstract art”. Abstract art: Art that does not attempt to represent external, recognizable reality but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures. From Dictionary.com – Abstract art seeks to break away from traditional representation of physical objects. It explores the relationships of forms and colors, whereas more traditional art represents the world in recognizable images.

The piecing of BW 1950 is somewhat intricate. Care has to be taken when joining the little pieces, especially the triangles. Our squares are only 0.8 inches on each side. After two small pieces are sewn together they have to be finger-pressed open at each seam and then pressed with an iron. It is not as difficult as it sounds. Finger-pressing is sort of like setting up a fold prior to using a heated source as an iron. The iron is then used to then “fix” the fold.


Continue to follow our progress with BW 1950. If you have any comment, thought, idea feel free to contact us at Quilts SB.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Monday, December 23, 2013

My Quip – Update BW 1950 – More Sets Completed

Good Day,

Pieces are coming together on our BW 1950 quilt and wall hanging. Here are the next completed sets.


The final portrait will be 24 inches square.

Any guess of who it may be? Try squinting.


Or should the question be, are we crazy?

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

My Quip – Our BW 1950 – The Portrait Begins to Grow

Good Day,

Yes, there is a portrait beginning to develop. And yes our BW 1950 is a pieced mosaic.


We are intrigued that the final product will look like who we know it is supposed to be. What do you think?

Each square is ONLY 0.8” square. And each triangle has three sides: 0.8”, 0.8”, and 1.13”. Andy thought I was crazy when I designed it… And he is doing an amazing construction.


And yes that coin is a dime.

We certainly appreciate your comments, ideas, and thoughts. Please feel free to contact us at Quilts SB.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Monday, December 16, 2013

My Quip – BW 1950 – Quilt and Wall Hanging In Progress

Good Day,

Our work continues on our new quilt and wall hanging BW 1950. A point of note; if our quilt does turn out the way we hope that it will, it will have a new name.


Our BW 1950 is a reproduction of a black and white portrait of a very special person. Andy and I are composing our portrait with very small squares and triangles. Our current construction is now comprised of 120 squares and squares formed by triangles. It is created of 16 shades and patterns of fabrics.

The above image now measures 8” wide by 10” long. The final piece will be 24” by 24” and will be assembled from 900 squares and created squares.

If you have any questions, comments, and thoughts please feel to contact us at Quilts SB. The only question we will not answer is “Who is it?” You’ll just have to guess.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Saturday, December 14, 2013

My Quip – BW 1950 – Construction Continues

Good Day,

Slowly I turned, and slowly the pieces are fitting into place.


Our BW 1950 is beginning to present a picture as it is being constructed and pieced together. And no we are not making a California King sized quilt. Our BW 1950 will be a 24” square wall hanging.


So does this quilt become categorized as traditional, contemporary, or modern?

Andy and I are experimenting as usual and we decided that size does not matter. We’re finding at this size that at times it is hard to open press these very small triangle points.


Keep following our updates on Quilts SB.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Friday, December 13, 2013

My Quip – BW 1950 – Quilt Wall Hanging – The Piecing Begins

Good Day,

Eventually, constructed of mini-squares and triangles, our new BW 1950 will be a 24” square. And for our friends beyond the 49th parallel, 60.96 centimeters square. The composition will be, if only with squares, 900 squares. But we are including triangles, and we haven’t calculated the total number of pieces that will be incorporated and pieced.


The new piece, which has already taken a couple of hours, is just 25 squares. All things being equal, we calculate that it may take about 36 hours of piecing and sewing, give or take, to complete the first part.


And yes that is a dime.

Follow our progression at Quilts SB and maybe, fingers-crossed, our final result will turn out to be what we have envisioned.

And I am now thinking about the quilting design that will be a complement to our BW 1950.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Thursday, December 12, 2013

My Quip - BW 1950 - Fabric Prepared

Good Day,

The chosen fabrics have been prepped and cut for our new quilt and wall hanging BW 1950 . Each square and triangle has been readied.


BW 1950 is the translation of a black and white portrait that Andy and I are experimenting with.  The 16 shades, all-things-being-equal, may provide what we hope to a near approximation of the portrait.

We're are trying a different and new technique to assemble and piece the pieces to create our reproduction of the portrait.

And just who is the portrait?  For that you'll have to wait and see.

No, I did not insert the picture upsidedown.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

My Quip – BW 1950 – Quilted Wall Hanging – Fabrics Chosen

Good Day,

Yesterday Andy and I chose 16 fabrics for our new quilted wall hanging. Shades of black, grey and blue-grey are the focus of this attempt.


We have designed our mapping. Our new composition, code name BW 1950 will be constructed of pieced squares and triangles.



Each side of each square will be 0.8" (2.0 cms). The isosceles triangles will two sides that are 0.8" (2.0 cms) and the third side equal to 1.13" (2.87 cms).  The expected and completed size of the BW 1950 is supposed to be a 24" (60.96 cms) square.

This is our sample.

Stay tuned for our updates and progress.

Enjoy,

Jim
Click here to continue reading...

Monday, December 9, 2013

My Quip - Two of Our Quilts Selected - Blumish Two and Tampa Lightning

Good Day,

The mail just arrived. Andy and I are extremely excited. Hot damn!  Two Quilts.

Our Blumish Two and our Tampa Lightning quilts have both been selected to be judged at the World Quilt Show - Florida V.

Blumish Two

Tampa Lightning

Both will hang on display during the Show from January 9-11, 2014. The Show will be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Definitely a trip for us and so close to home.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

My Quip - New Wall Hanging Started - Miniature Piecing

Good day,

And of course we have started a new design and quilt wall hanging. We started the new design started last night.

This one is going to a really small deal of piecing. I have completed the suggested designs. It will be a construction of 0.8" (2.0 cms) squares and triangles with third side equal to 1.13" (2.87 cms).

Okay I am crazy but Andy took my design and calculations and then came back with an amazing sample. Small stitches and open pressing.


Now I have to sort the fabrics.

Stay tuned to our progress.

Oh and by the way the final product is targeted to be 24" (60.96 cms) square.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Monday, December 2, 2013

Q114 – K&J 2013 – A New Quilt

Good Day,

Our newest quilt K&J 2013 has been completed and is already on its way to its new home in Tampa.


K&J 2013 is a special quilt and the celebration of a wedding and marriage that occurred in Grand Cayman. This quilt, K&J 2013 is a gift and was commissioned by a loved one who wanted to make sure that the exact feelings were conveyed by the design, style and color of fabric.

K&J 2013 quilt is a combination of traditional, contemporary, and modern designs. Images were taken and presented of the color schemes and home decor. The idea was to capture the essence of the married couple and celebrate their styles.


The new quilt is a square construction 64” by 64”; 162.6 cms by 162.6 cms. Four complimenting fabrics were chosen for the top and the back. The images, taken under different lighting show the melding and corresponding grouping of the design. The quilting accents the symbolism of the design.

And some additional images -











Congratulations K&J.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...

Sunday, November 24, 2013

My Quip – Blumish Two (Q113) – Some More Pictures

Good Day,

Andy and I were asked if we could take some more pictures of our Blumish Two.


Blumish Two resulted from the scraps and left-over pieces of Blumish One. Blumish One, the top has been finished but the complete quilt is just waiting to be done. And no we did not intend for it to look like nautical signal flags.

Here are some additional images.






For a complete write-up of Blumish Two link to Q113.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy Click here to continue reading...

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

My Quip - Cosmo's Moon Accepted to MANifestations, Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum

Good Day,

We just received notice that our Cosmo's Moon has been selected as entry for the MANifestations 12th Biennial Exhibit of Quilts Made by Men at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden, Colorado.


The exhibit will run from January 30 through April 29, 2014.

Andy and I are extremely excited and very pleased.

You can see and check out the details of our Cosmo's Moon online at Quilts SB. Check this link - Cosmo's Moon.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy
Click here to continue reading...