Stamping and Pattern Board Quilting

I just completed this piece that feels a little oriental to me. I used a stamp that I won on a give-away from Ruth Powers website. Instead of my usual intuitive freehand quilting, I used a pattern board with a spiral square. When I finished, my thought was, that anyone could have created this piece, because it doesn't, " look like me." This makes me wonder if there is the same level of satisfaction for people when they use patterns or stamps that they have not created? How do you feel that it is your own work?
I am a long arm quilter who quilts only my own pieces. I did a few customer pieces when I first got my machine, but in truth, finishing someone elses work, does nothing for my own creativity. I feel that my pieces have to be totally my own, based on my own drawing, from my own photo, from my own imagination. Do other people feel this way?

It's Snowing in New Hampshire

We have snow flurries today, after unusually warm temperatures in December. I am working on small pieces. I just finished this piece which may become my fiber art grab bag gift for an upcoming Christmas party. Would you like to pull this out of the grab bag?
Back to sewing!

Water Lilly: From photo to fiber

Just finished this piece that I start last week. I am working through digital photos that I have taken. This photo was taken on a northern lake in NH, this past summer. I am always intrigued with the beauty of water lillies.

I don't know if I have done too much quilting on the lily pads? I started with white cotton and painted the fabric. I trapuntoed the pads and the lilly. The water is three layers, hopefully to give it depth and shine. Feedback is welcome, not just positve feedback. Tell me what you don't like, please.

Photo to Fabric in Progress

Last week I was painting fabric, trying to get the right green for the leaves of water lillies. I painted cotton and rayon lining material. I've ended up using the cotton in this piece, and I'm at the, " putting it together phase!" It's still at the sewing machine, but have a look. I layered pieces to get a dark water look......I hope. Say tuned. My husband said very little when I said, "Come look at this." That means he doesn't like it, but is not trying to discourage me. I think he wanted to give it a, "two thumbs down award!"

Two pieces finished !

I recently finished two pieces and am now wondering what to start working on today? I had painted a small version of my large quilt, "Saturday in Searsport," taken from my own digital photo of a harbor seal, but never quilted it. I put it on my machine about a week ago and decided after doing some of the quilting, that it needed sheer fabrics layed over part of the painted surface, to show the, "splash." Then I decided that all the water needed sheer fabric, so I added more. Then the question was once again, to bind or not to bind? Here is the finished product. Feedback welcome.

The next piece was a labor of love, a gift for a friend. This image was in my head and wanted out! She burst onto the fabric with the pure joy, that I wish for my friend, Judy!

Now off to the drawing board to see what's next!

Discharging

Discharging This video was shared by my friend Judy Marble. It is a You Tube video by Bob Adams and it is very interesting.

Project Funway; 4 so far!

I've been asked to show the other Project Funway pieces I created as Journal Quilts, so here they are; Betty Beach; Penny Proper and Fancy Nan. They are a little bit of foolishness; quick and fun!