Camellia Art Quilt

Just finished this yesterday.  (Well, I still have to finish the hand stitching on the edge.)  This started in a class with Ellen Lindner this summer. We started with a photo of our own and interpreted it in fabric.  We didn't sew in the class, just cut and arranged our fabrics.  Ellen teaches a raw edge collage technique and you use your photo as inspiration.  It was a ton of fun and I am pleased with it!  I layered a piece of tulle over the top before stitching.  I attempted to do it without the tulle, but so many little pieces kept getting caught under the darning foot when doing free motion stitching.  Once I layered up the tulle it was smooth sailing - although I did end up using my walking foot instead.  It is appliqued and quilted at the same time.  It's not large - you can see that it fits inside my cutting mat - so that's less than 18 x 24 inches. 

Here's another view.  My husband actually took the photo I used as inspiration.  It's from a camellia bush at our old house.

I have tons of drawings that I would like to use for art quilts (or maybe bed quilts) so I am happy to have learned a new applique technique.  Here's one I have been playing with today.  As you can see it is still in the early planning stage.  Auditioning fabrics can be a long process!  I'm not sure which technique I'll use for this one yet.

Hope you've had a productive and happy weekend.  Now, are we going to get snow for the next two days???