Yep I see patterns everywhere. I live close to Orlando and recently went to the Maitland Art Center and rubbed some of the Mexican designed tiles that ornament the sidewalks. I hope to use them for hand quilting ideas.

I do that all the time!! My hubby and the rest of my family thinks I'm nuts! Glad to hear that I'm not the only one! But they don't understand that is where I get some of my best ideas for a quilt pattern or a quilt period. But even a flower blossom, or the way a farmer has mowed his field will even give me an idea, its all in the way you look at things. I keep telling my family to look outside the box and take a look at the bigger picture and then take maybe just a part of it or even the whole thing, depending on what moves you and just go with the flow! I'm glad there is one more person out there like me who looks outside the box at the bigger picture.

Hi Kluededigns,

You mentioned you make your own fabric. How do you do that?

Thanks

i use PFD in either cotton or silk.

the cotton i dye either to be a batik or a gradation of color typically around 3 different colors.

the silk i dye shibori style or i paint the design by hand.

Hi Kluedesigns,

Did you use a book to teach you or take class? Thanks

i learned it from watching tv shows and reading magazines.

i forget which ones but i'm pretty sure simply quilts and quilting arts on pbs.

i plan on taking a class in NYC on weaving my own fabric.

here's a link to dying batting so you might have everything you need except some dye which is really inexpensive.

dyed batting is really beautiful it has the look and saturation of dyed wool.

it might be a good way to see if this is an area you'd like to expand upon without having to put in a huge financial investment.


http://www.quiltingartstv.com/projec.../312/312-3.htm

Thank you so much klue.

I would love to try it.

Cyniree

How do you use dyed batting?

the project uses it for applique wall hangings.

its really more of a lesson in dyeing fabric with what you have on hand.

then if you find that you enjoyed dyeing fabric and what to do more of it you would invest in some PFD.