Don't Be Floored!!!!

 (or how I manage to spend a lot of time on my sewing room floor....)

This year, our quilt guild has their every-second-year quilt show

and I decided to try the quilt challenge

soooooo.. 
in September, I purchased the blue fabric for the theme, "Along the River"

and guess what?!!!!!

It is now mid-April

and I am finally getting around to making the challenge quilt

which has been in my head for 6 or 7 months!

Nothing like last minute!!!!

(Some times, I think I work better under pressure.)

Anyway,

last year, inspired by a photo that Mr. U took on a hike up a nearby mountain

and a desire to try a new technique, partly in my head, partly seen elsewhere,

I created Sunrise on the Mountain....

and I have had it in my head (since September),

that this technique might work nicely with the river challenge quilt.

Of course,

me being me,

my take on this technique is some what unconventional...

I find this method works best...

...on the floor!!!!

 (and I can't really sit on my chair right now anyway!!!)

So yesterday, I finally got to work,
 armed with my
iron and ironing pad on the floor...

fabric backed with Wonder Under on the floor...

scissors, snacks, coffee, etc. on the floor....

and this time, I opted for a slab of wood (where else? but) on the floor...

so I could rotate my work while keeping it flat.

As you can see, I am still refining my technique.

My idea (still in my head)
was to use the challenge fabric along with some coordinating fabrics

to create the Hudson River which meanders through our area of upstate NY.

Originally, I thought I would create the background around the river 

but since I liked the wonky edges created on the river,

(and paying no heed to the fact 

that I am really must finish this project- along with 2 others for the June 4-5 show!),

I cut the river out of the original interfacing backing

and placed a new interfacing backing on the map to create the background first...

I used mostly my hand-dyed brown and green fabrics

along with a smattering of commercially available fabric

to create the background to resemble what our area looks like from the satellite view...

The pieces of fabric were cut up in odd shapes, mostly resembling rectangles,

placed in random configuration around the river area

and every so often, I would lay the release paper from the Wonder Under

atop the growing background and adhere the fabric pieces to the interfacing and other pieces of fabric

with my iron...

Gradually, throughout the day,

the background grew...

as did the mess....

Eventually, the river was delicately placed and adhered atop the background....

and I added the Interstate which goes right through the middle.

There is still some tulle to place atop the quilt and a backing to add

before the quilting (and maybe some embellishing) is done

but I might be able to peel myself off the floor soon!