12 x 12–Mirrors

This was the theme I chose because of a demo I saw at the 2011 Houston show.  It was done by Martie A. Winkelman in the Friday Sampler class.  The “class” was held in the ballroom and there were 29 different presenters at different stations around the room.  Attendees were free to move around the room to observe whatever interested them most.  I definitely wanted to try Shi-Sha Mirror Embellishment and thought this was the perfect opportunity for some self-imposed motivation.

To my chagrin, I found my initial attempts to follow the direction sheet were looking rather pitiful.

I tried to find further assistance online but this alternate version was the closest I could find–http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/stitches/shisha.html.  There were good directions but it still took quite a bit of practice (as you can see from this trial) to get it right.

Along the way, I had an additional idea from Debbie’s post about Shibori dyeing using white on white fabric–more reverse image really but compatible with the mirror theme.  I experimented with dyeing but did not like the reverse side of my first fabric at all.  Next I chose a different fabric and liked how each side took the color but I decided to nix my Shibori circles–and the pink.

I used green and purple dyes for my final project.  I also told myself I had to start playing with machine quilting but the corner motif I liked was too hard for me to get right.  I’m going to rip out the two corners and maybe put in a few hand stitches.  Otherwise, I felt pretty good about my little quilt.  I even liked the backing fabric that I found in my stash.