Fence Art Finish and Free Motion Mavericks

I was able to finish my Fence Art this week. I really love how it turned out. 

Outdoor Textile Art

It's hanging with the correct hardware (more on that later) and has been weather treated with spray, three times in the front and once in the back. All that's left is to paint and shorten the bottom dowel - which I got done, see last image!

Colours in the Garden - finished!

Garden Art on the fence adds colour when the flowers are fading 

I had a lot of fun FMQ the bee. The appliqué was all black with the white wings. I added the legs and antennae in black thread, the yellow stripes and then from the back, I FMQ the wings with metallic thread in the bobbin. I'm not sure how the thread will hold up to the weather but I can always touch things up when needed.

Bee with wings of metallic thread

Hardware and dowels

I've learned the hard way that it's very important to hang your outside art well, so that it doesn't fly away every time there is a strong wind. I have a pole (the black one below) that was used for something in the garden since it was with my gardening stuff. I'm using it for the top sleeve. 

I purchased a couple of packages of screw eyes to hold them on the fence. I was going to use the thinner dowel for the bottom sleeve but since I have the larger ones, I may as well make this as secure as possible. So the bottom sleeve has a wooden dowel roughly the size of the black one.

I put the dowels in the sleeves and then screwed in the screw eyes. The top ones are about an inch away from the edge of the piece while the lower ones are right at the edge. I'll be painting the wooden dowel green and cutting it so that it's only about an inch longer on each side.

Another look at Colours in the Garden

What I learned

• 

  Final update - dowel painted!

  I did end up stitching the outside edges of the blue fabric to minimize the amount of fraying. I love the look of the frayed edges but I'd rather that it didn't fray to nothing 😊
• It took me a while to find the screw eyes - the tiny ones were with the picture framing stuff but the larger ones were elsewhere!
• I think that a fun, fall fence art piece would be cool.
  

Related links

• Garden Fence Art, September 2, 2021

Linking parties

I'll be linking up to many fun linking parties. Let's have a look at what's happening out there, and don't forget to link up below - it really doesn't have to be a post about Free Motion Quilting! Midweek Makers, Put your foot down, Needle & Thread Thursday, Off The Wall Friday, TGIFF, Peacock Party, Beauties Pageant, Oh Scrap!, Patchwork & Quilts, 15 Minutes to Stitch 2021, Monday Making

Free Motion Mavericks

Welcome to week 348 of Free Motion Mavericks. Are you getting back into the swing of things, now that holidays and the summer is mostly over, and the kids may be back in school? I know that I'm looking forward to starting FMQ my son's quilt. I have no excuses left - it's no longer too hot!

We saw a few lovely quilts last time and even got a behind the scene look at digital custom long arm quilting from Rebecca. It's always great to learn about these things that look like magic to me 😊. 

If you didn't see Frédérique's latest Bow Ties baby quilt, make sure to drop by. It really is lovely and colourful. It was simply quilted for maximum baby softness.

Frédérique's Bow Ties baby quilt

And now it's your turn! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter