This post is a continuation of my ongoing series “What’s on the Design Wall”, featuring my latest project up on either the small design wall in my studio or the large design wall my hallway.
I am working on my fourth improvisational piece from a group of recycled clothing and home decor titled: Recycled Windows of Conversation. This piece will become part of my improvisational art quilt series: Recycled Denim Stories.
Here is Recycled Windows of Conversation in progress on my small design wall in my studio:

This art quilt will measure approximately 18″ x 40″, the same size as these two other quilts in the Recycled Denim Stories series, The Recycled Road and Recycled Door:


You might ask why did I name the piece in progress, Recycled Windows of Conversation?
The “Recycled” part of the name is to tie it to the two other 18″ x 40″ pieces from the same recycled materials shown above; and the “Conversations” part of the name is to tie to Additional Conversations, a piece I recently finished the quilt top (but have not quilted yet):
Recycled Windows of Conversation is made from the leftover blocks (and additional blocks) from Additional Conversations (which is still laying on my larger hallway design wall awaiting quilting).
In case you are new to my blog and have not followed the development of these previous art quilts, here’s a list of the recycled materials used in these pieces:
- Old jeans
- Curtain (valence scarf)
- Tweed jumper
- Old sweat pants
- Corduroy Shirt
- Gold home decorating fabric scraps (given to me by an interior decorator from her sample collection)
- The world’s ugliest orange corduroy pants
- Denim duvet cover (used in Additional Conversations only)
I plan to quilt Recycled Windows of Conversation by machine and I have selected my thread colors – gold, blue and orange:
Here is the piecing hanging out on the iron board, awaiting quilting:
In case you are wondering, I have only a tiny pile of scraps left over from these four quilts. I might challenge myself and try to eek out a small piece to make it five total.
I continue to work on having a cohesive body of work when it comes to my delusional journey towards becoming an art quilter!
Postscript
A quilting friend recently remodeled her studio area in her vintage home (circa early 1900s) and asked for help organizing her fabric in the reconfigured back room (that used to be where meat was stored in the early 1900s.
Here is a photo of an alcove with newly added shelves that I found especially pleasing during my time over her house yesterday helping her organize fabric:
Her fabric used to be crammed into a dark back storage room – now it is easier to access!
What a great storage idea! And your quilts are beautiful 💖
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Thanks so much for reading and commenting 🙂
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Quite a pleasure 😀
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So cool!
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Thank you 🙂
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I love the different textures in those recycles quilts. Just wanna touch em all.
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Thank you – yes they are very tactile!
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Well, that is a big thumbs up!
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I love the Recycled Denim series!
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Thank you – it is fun 🙂 (and eco conscious!)
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My son makes beautiful things out of material he finds on the street. He calls them street treats. He’s made tables, stools, benches, boxes…all from wood he finds. He has his son making things from scraps.
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Oh I love this – can you do a blog post someday about what your son is doing with recycled wood – that is awesome!!!
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I love the movement of the quilting on the Recycled Door quilt.
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Yes that was the lovely work of Betty Anne Guadalupe 🙂
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Just look how the ugly orange pants add a punch of color and texture!
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Much better in a quilt than on anyone’s legs! 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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I like Windows…. And drool over your friend’s storage space.
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Thanks and yes her storage space is lovely!
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I love your windows and their individual personalities. It is funny, as I was reading your post I wondered what the meaning of “conversations” was, then you answered it! I love to look at your quilt art Tierney:)
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Thanks so much Abbie I appreciate your comments! Oh good, I was hoping the title made sense. At some point I will write Artist Statements for Additional Conversations and Recycled Windows of Conversation and the names will make even more sense 🙂 (for now they just fully make sense to me, ha!)
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I’m looking forward to reading:)
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I love these! What a great way to not only reuse old clothing and fabric but what a great way to add texture and interest to your quilts.
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I love this series of your work, Tierney. It is so warm and rich. I’m struggling to pick a favorite!
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I think you are anything EXCEPT delusional! I love this body of work and I know you can get just one more quilt from a few scraps.
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Love your quilt and the explanations as always.
I’m actually drooling over such an organized alcove!!
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Thanks so much and yes that alcove is dreamy! How easy to design a quilt from a nice open layout/access to fabric!
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Love this – I am a scrappy/recycle possessed quilter nut. Your style is one I tend to gravitate towards and actually ‘do’.
My current project involves a more traditional way of using up my bin of 2.5 inch strips cut from decades of projects that are still around even after using them in various scrap quilts! HA! But the drive to ‘make do with what ya got’ is so strong – well I mention this, cuz it looks like you ‘get it’!!!!
Love the idea of quilting denim…arduous task no doubt, but really effective by the looks of your piece.
Keep up the good work.
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Thanks so much for your comments! About 8 years ago I made a simple rail fence type quilt using just scraps from quilts from the previous years. So many colors and patterns all together but it worked! Good luck with yours – it is fun! Plus you get to resist in your mind your past projects. I finished quilting this piece and once I get the binding/facing done it will be time for a reveal post 🙂
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I enjoy seeing the masterpieces you create with recycled fabrics. You have a talent for turning what you call ugly specimens into to awesome works of art. Can’t wait to see the final outcome. 🙂
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Thanks so much Cindy! Normal people would have tossed the scraps by now – ha!
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I’m so glad you did because I like what you make and am amazed and in awe of what you are able to do with them. I would like to be able to create things like you do. 🙂
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Oh my goodness…that quilt on Cindy’s blog today is a knock out…the cobblestone one from you. Goodness…pure goodness.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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The orange makes all the other colors glow! I’ll look forward to seeing these last two quilted.
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Thanks so much Melanie! I do have it quilted but I got behind in blogging, TTQH’s mom passed away, she was 98 but she was my much beloved mother-in-law. Trying to get myself back up to speed with blogs and blogging again.
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Your work is really inspirational!
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Thank you so much I really appreciate that 🙂
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I love your pieces! Check mine out https://wp.me/p9t3QW-3V
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I LOVE THIS QUILT!!!!
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Thanks 😀
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