Free Motion Friday & a Tutorial!

Alright, moving on...  I tweaked the machine a bit more on my own.  I matched thread weight, changed the needle, changed the needle again, tightened up the top tension, and away I went to finish the background of Mandy's Magical Tree.

lots of variegated threads throughout

Things are working out, though I still don't trust it.   I haven't taken the machine in to the technician yet.  I needed to finish up things for the magazine quilt yesterday.  Gosh - I cannot stand to go without my machine. So we'll see how long the luck lasts.  ; P

I am really happy with how this backdrop is playing itself out.  The whole piece is made from recycled materials - a mother's cloth baby carriers.  Everything in it is made from three carriers/slings.

The top of the sky is deep blue and all horizontal straight line quilting.  The pink blends in some waves.  The orange works itself into vibrant curls.  And the yellow at the horizon comes up vertically like heat waves.

I pulled in some extra strips from that rainbow fabric to serve as lines of color in the sunset/sunrise.  (Excuse the dried bit of glue ... I'll clean that off.)

see the heat waves?

And I can't wait to add all these leaves!  Again, more baby sling reclaiming.  But they need to go on after the whole backing is done.

I was leary of getting back to this commission.  I'm so scared of destroying it.  Slowly but surely.  It will be SO pretty!  I just have to trust that machine.  I'm off to Mandy's this morning to pick up some beads and buttons for embellishing this piece.  I can't wait to see what she has!

Hey Quilters:  If you like, you can check out my new tutorial for a hanging sleeve.  It's in the left sidebar under my big red button.  Or you can click here:

TUTORIAL: Hanging Sleeve 

And my goodness, thank you everyone for such sweet and personal comments on yesterday's post.  You make my world a better place.  : )

Have a lovely day!
~Monika