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Slow Motion Quilting

I haven’t been feeling well and missed my quilt class this past weekend. I rallied and got my homework together in time for the midweek class instead. I was going to just pay the five dollar penalty for not doing my homework, but I wanted to get back to my normal routine as much as I could.

I sewed this block all by hand, using templates I made from poster board and plastic template sheets. The finished block size is 12 inches square, and 12 1/2 inches square including the seam allowances.

The yellow and white portions of the block are based on a 3 by 4 1/2 inch rectangle. The yellow triangle is formed by drawing a line to the center point of the opposite short side of the rectangle.

The blue and white portions of the block are based on a 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch square. Trace one out on plastic, draw two lines dividing the square into quarters, which divides the square into four smaller squares. Drawing a line from corner to corner of the smaller squares forms the triangle, and the trapezoid.

Once you cut all the template pieces out as I have above, flip them over right side down on the wrong side of your fabric and trace around them with a pencil. A mechanical pencil works best. It also helps to lay your fabric over a piece of sandpaper to stabilize it.

Once all the shapes are traced, cut them out leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance around each one. (The block’s center white square is 3 inches by 3 inches without seam allowances, and 3 1/2 by 3 1/2 with seam allowances.) I then piece them together by hand using a standard running stitch. It takes longer, but I find it is much more accurate and less frustrating than joining small pieces by machine. It is also calming and, I think, fun to do since you can do it anywhere, even while in bed watching TV.

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Lovely Lucy, New One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

This is Lovely Lucy. She is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, created from my own design and pattern. She is signed and dated. Lucy is entirely handmade and is meant to be displayed and loved, and she is sturdy enough to be played with. Her body is made of 100% cotton quilting fabrics, which have been fused to an extra layer of cotton sheeting for durability. Her bottom is weighted with Poly-Pellets so she can sit nicely while she looks around. She bends at her shoulders, hips, and knees. 

I have hand painted her pretty face with acrylic paint and fabric medium, which I then heat set for permanence. Lucy is decorated with high quality ribbon trims, Rick Rack and machine appliquéd fabric. She has no loose or removable parts. She is stuffed with Poly-fil polyester stuffing. Her ponytails are hand quilted and are a chocolate color. Her eyes are hazel. 

Lucy is approximately 10 1/4 inches tall when seated, and approximately 18 1/2 inches long when lying down.

 

Lucy will be available shortly in my Etsy shop. More photos of her can be seen on Flickr.

 

I am also still at work on more flower baby fairies, star babies, and another new doll pattern. Max Bailey has some new kitty dolls to photograph too. Stay tuned for more pictures in the near future!
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Complete Head Transplant..A Success!

Does anyone remember Princess Langwidere from L Frank Baum‘s Ozma of Oz? She had thirty heads, one for each day of the month, that she kept in individual velvet-lined cupboards in her dressing room. Instead of changing her gown each day, she would change her head. She always wore white, so her outfit wouldn’t clash with her head of choice for the day. Fascinating and frightening all at the same time. I loved loved loved Ozma of Oz. I don’t know how many times we read it when I was a child.

Much like Princess Langwidere, my little Lucy has a new head.

I think it suits her much better than her previous one. She now has hand-quilted ponytails as well. Very fancy.

Lucy is meant to be displayed and loved, but I wanted Lucy to be able to withstand some play. She is made of 100% cotton quilting fabrics that I fused to an additional layer of cotton sheeting for durability. She is decorated with ribbon trims, Rick Rack, and machine appliquéd fabric. I prewashed her fabrics so they wouldn’t shrink later if she needs to be gently spot cleaned and set flat to dry.

Lucy will be in my Etsy shop shortly. More photos of her can be found on Flickr. Please click here to see my available original, one-of-a-kind soft dolls and art toys.

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Faces in Space

The heat has been so oppressive for so long now that I am losing track of whether or not this is, or was, the weekend. I’ve worked through most of it. Having to be inside most of the time is

making me feel cooped up, kind of like being in a box, but it is also isolating, maybe like being in a box floating through space…like Dr Who, only without the excitement factor!

I have made more progress on my doll designs though. I carefully took my experiment apart, saved her face, and painted two more, in two different sizes.

I am also working on a new idea for paintings derived from my doll characters. I’ve got one ready to paint. I’m going to try watercolor canvas for the first time. I’ve walked past it many times in the store, and I finally got curious enough to buy some. I’ve been hoping to add some prints to my Etsy shop that are more nursery/children’s room oriented, along with some wall hangings/quilts, and dolls in the same theme. I’m not sure if I will end up gravitating more toward fantasy art than nursery or children’s art, but we shall see.