January reveal "Three Frogs"

This will be the first time I'm uploading pictures, so I hope everything goes well. Allthough I admire some very personal aproaches in the journal quilts, I've choosen improving and exploring techniques as main goal, rather than expressing myself. To have something that will bind this monthly challenges together I've decided to focus on 'stitches' as theme.

For this month I decided to explore a bit more applique and intensive quilting. In my December Artimage Challenge I had a hard time with the raw edge applique of some frogs with satin stitch. I was relieved when it was done and decided to leave it alone so it wouldn't get spoiled. Since I had some spare frogs I decided to try another approach. This time I sewed the frogs on without the batting and backing which was slightly
easier. I didn't use fusible web (Steam a seam?) but basting spray which was a nice short cut but made the fabric fray more. I used invisible thread, that wasn't as invisible as I hoped, and I zigzagged instead of the satin stitch. It was better but I was still not that happy with the result (if this gets boring please skip, just would to like to write it down somewhere so I won't make the same mistakes over and over LOL).






In my challenge the frogs were just silhouettes, now I wanted to give them more detail by quilting/thread painting. I have very little experiences with differeent threads and there aren't many availbale where I live. I used Madeira Embroidery Thread which I alsways use for quilting. I didn't have a plan, but just started to free motion quilt (that might explain a bit why they have this Olily-look). I discovered that it really doesn't matter how neat or close to the edge you sew, it's like sketches with multiple lines, so that was a freeing experience for me. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I'm happy for a start.

The quilting in the background I kept simple by meandering and imitating ripples in the blue to give the impression of water. The fabrics are hand dyed by me.

finally getting there (I hope)

The one thing that prevents me from diving whole heartedly in this journal adventure is setting up this blog. I know it can be done but I'm struggling... I finally succeeded to upload a picture on my profile, will spare you the details, but I'm having a hard time seeing what I have done really apear in the blog. I was a bit aprehensive about the journal part because I thought it would take up to much time to read all those blogs and I don't really want to spend more time on the computer (that way I'll never finish my UFO's LOL). But I like the way you all are putting links in the thread that refer to reveals and work in process. I really like the way some have broke down their working process in steps with clear pictures. I've also had very quick responses to questions I had about techniques. So again a great group from which I can learn so much. So I have to kick myself into gear and try to link up with the rest of you. I'll try to catch up with the january reveal. (This month I had a great distraction, my mom's 80th birthday that we celebrated big with her twin brother and family). I will try some thread painting as well to add detail to applique images. I've done a frog wall hanging in the december artimage challenge. I just did applique the frogs down with a satin stitch (well sort of LOL) but often I'm a bit afraid to do extra stuff for fear it might spoil things. So i have a couple of left over frogs and since I'm a frugal Dutch I'll use them up in this one and stitch away without fear.

Trying to setup a blog

Not sure what I'm doing, but we'll see.