Big Commission Done — Joan Sowada

After working many weeks in my studio, I am happy to report that my 48 X 72 inch art quilt, Bolsa Chica Trails, a commission from UCI Health in California, is completed.

Compilation of images of Bolsa Chica State Reserve in California. Sky, clouds, flying ducks, path, figures including kneeling photographer, water and islands, foliage. — ***Bolsa Chica Trails***, 48 X 72 inches

(My last blog, Studio Time, talked about the beginning stages of this piece; you might find it interesting.)

Ooffta - so big! A different artist might have used a long-arm sewing machine to assist them in making a quilt this size. I did not. My solution was to divide the project into two horizontal quilts 27 X 72 and 21 X 72, and then join them. A different artist might have worked with a design wall to see the overall effect as it progressed. Not me. For many years I have worked on a flat surface, often with much of the picture covered with tracing paper! My years of experience have given me confidence that this approach works.

I used a blanket covered ping pong table as my ironing surface. In the photograph below you can see sections of the paper pattern on the tables in the background. The lightly penciled design is visible on the tracing paper at the left. The following photos show more steps in the process.

Fusing on top portion of Bolsa Chica Trails art quilt, showing sky, clouds, flying ducks, and water. — Fusing of fabric on top portion has been completed and tracing paper removed.

detail of Fusing step, showing bean bags on top of tracing of placement of fabrics. — The tracing paper is a guide for exact placement of fabrics. The bean bags keep the tracing paper in the correct position. I move a bean bag, lift the paper, place the fabric piece in position, and fuse the fabric in place with an iron.

Joan Sowada at her sewing machine doing the applique stitching on Bolsa Chica Trails art quilt. Chairs are placed on each side of the table to keep the fabric off the floor. — Applique stitching is in progress. Chairs on the left and right side keep the fabric off the floor.

With the applique completed, I started the quilting. The next photos show detail shots of the fabrics and quilting. I have used commercial and recycled fabrics, and fabrics altered using paint or markers.

detail of golden path, brown shadow, and green foliage. — Bottom left corner

sky, clouds, and ducks in flight — Top portion, ducks in flight

detail of path, walkers in distance and figure with binoculars, foliage on each side of the path. — Figures on the path, and foliage

detail showing sky, ducks, water, and photographer kneeling. — Photographer and water.

The next photo shows the two quilts on the table ready to join together. I used three lines of hand stitching, one on the front and two that criss cross eachother on the back.

Two quilts placed together, ready to be stitched together by hand. — The two quilts before being stitched together by hand. This view shows the quilting very clearly.

Artist Joan Sowada standing in front of art quilt titled Bolsa Chica Trails. — Joan Sowada and ***Bolsa Chica Trails.***

At the end of each blog I share a recipe. Today’s is more of a suggestion.

Winter squash is in season and it is so tasty! One of our favorites is delicata squash. You can bake it whole in the oven or you can microwave it, piercing the squash with a knife and microwaving it for 5 - 7 minutes. Let it cool before cutting in half and removing the seeds. You can eat the peel, which makes it easy to use in casseroles, stir fry, soup, etc. Today I added it to Mexican Lentils. Yum! Winter squash is delicious with olive oil and salt.