This months mini quilt is my “prompt” for 2023. As my husband and I move forward with our intention of relocating to Portugal in 2024 we will be downsizing to live a bigger life. Making room will be our mantra in the coming months as we empty our house of belongings, of lots of “things” that no longer serve us and that we would not even consider taking with us. After nearly 22 years in this house there has been a lot of accumulation! Our cabinets, garage and my studio are all packed solid with “stuff”.
My studio also contains a lot of unfinished projects. 2 years of my online Rettabug’s UFO Club have helped me to complete a big chunk of those projects. This year as I make my list of 9 projects to finish by the end of November, I’ll be looking at my remaining projects (still quite a few more than 9) and asking the same questions I’m asking about all my possessions, “Do I LOVE this?, Does it spark joy?, Would I take it with me when we move?” only projects that pass this 3 question test are going on my UFO Club list. We draw the 1st number for this years round of UFO Club on March 1, so there is still time to join us if you have projects you want to finish with a “support group” you can find the details here. Rettabug's UFO Club
I created this mandala design with room to add not only color but some of your own personal expression within the mandala itself. To test out my ideas for adding additional “flair” I printed the design on paper, and looked at mandala designs on Pinterest to get ideas for the details - the swirls, lines and dots that I added inside and outside of the original image. I tried a few things I didn’t like (that’s why working ideas out on paper is a good idea!) but I did achieve a design I love and feel adds to the overall look. I then added colored pencil to my paper drawing.
I almost always color a paper version before the fabric one, for the same reason I tested the ink designs on paper, paper is much cheaper than fabric. I’d much rather make my mistakes on paper! I printed the design onto the inkjet printer sheet, then I used a micron pen to draw the details I had decided on, moving quickly to avoid bleeding. When the ink designs were complete I covered the image with a piece of parchment paper, my preferred “press cloth” and pressed the ink to set it. I didn’t want to take a chance the ink would smear when I colored over it.
This is the way I typically audition mini quilt border fabrics, I fold them into a roughly 12” x 12” square and place the trimmed mini quilt design on top. For this mini I auditioned 3 different fabrics for the border and I had a hard time choosing between the middle fabric and the one on the right.
In the end I felt the fabric on the right, made the design “pop” just a bit more and that made the decision. All the ink and coloring was done on a Friday afternoon. Choosing the fabrics, adding the borders, layering, quilting and binding was done the following afternoon. I find it so satisfying to be able to complete a project, especially one that flows and comes together easily and well.
If you want to create space for new projects to come in or just make space in your sewing room with fewer boxes or bins of unfinished projects, please join us in UFO Club. It’s fun and there are prizes, but the true prize is the space you will create and the projects you will finish.
My mini quilt will be displayed where I can see it everyday to keep me moving toward my hearts goal, to make space in my life - and I look forward to the good to come.