Another Red & White Day

It's one a.m. here, I've been sewing on my red & white blocks for a few hours.  There are 3.5 more to finish before the new installment comes out February 1.  I'd wanted them to be finished before stopping tonight.  But, I'm throwing in the towel and going to bed.   

I'm still planning to make brown & pink blocks too.  I've collected these reproduction fabrics for a year, and have only made one small doll quilt for my sister with them. I'm just dying to get into them!  But...  really want to complete a few more UFO's laying all over my weaving looms before starting another project...  or the part 2 of this project, you know what I mean!
I hope no one gets tired of my red & white, because I'm still excited about it.  And am really happy the ladies at Sentimental Stitches & Dear Jane have put this all together.  Thank you both. 

Another Finish... and my constant shadow

Another finished quilt... and my helper, Abbey.  As soon as the quilt was unfolded and spread with care, she jumped up and tried it out!  I'm very lucky this quilt is for us and not someone else.  Abbey is my constant follower and source of many laughs around here.  She's frequently found in this position, quite immodestly spread out on her quilt, on the sofa.  Our little hussy! 

It's been quite the lazy winter Saturday around here.  I've been playing with Electric Quilt software, which is still a bit confusing.  I know many quilters use it, so there's hope for me.  I still like drawing things out myself.

                                                                             This blogger software is another story!  I think this is a new version, and things are disappearing, moving by themselves, and basically not working right!

 I've also been playing with all the possibilities these little half square triangles present.  I finally decided on this arrangement, and am reasonably happy with it.  Now do I add a boarder, I think so.  I don't have any yardage from this Moda line(Cattails & Clover) but I rummaged around and found an older Kansas Troubles FQ that is in the same tone.  It should work.  I just need to figure out the next step.  A pieced border would be nice, or applique....

 One thing I'm sure of... it'll keep until tomorrow. 

I started this project by playing with charm pack fabric, and making a list of all the patterns possible from a 5" square.  It's been a fun challenge so far.
I'm thinking a 4 patch outer border  might work.  Or... paper piecing a small flower block and using them as a border.  I have several charm packs left, so anything pieced is possible.

One of my favorite activities is attending estate sales, barn sales, and basic treasure hunting!  Sometimes, once in a great while... I find something a bit special.  Down below is one such find.  This is a vintage pie bird.  So cute!  I couldn't find much information about it or other pie birds.  I do know there are pie bird collectors though.  Since I only collect quilts and old colored pottery, this was listed on ebay.  My ebay listings started as a way to find new homes for extra sets of china, pottery I didn't like anymore,  and maybe sell a few quilts that were piling up.  But lately, it has actually turned into something more.  I love finding new homes for lost treasures!  It sounds silly, I know.  But, I just can't keep everything, and on ebay I know someone who really loves the item will give it a good home.  So, while I hunt for old quilts, sewing items, and pottery, I keep an eye open for things I know my new customers will love.  Plus it's a really good reason to keep treasure hunting!

Snow Day

It's been a dark snowy day here.  Lacking any motivation, I finally found some in a large mocha latte!  It's amazing the difference a large dose of caffeine can make.  Sometimes, it's just what one needs.

I started the project mentioned yesterday. I first heard about it from Sentimental Stitches.  But, there is a webpage for the project.  http://justtakes2.com/about-the-quilt/  You can find all the information there.

I haven't actually followed a pattern for a quilt in a long time. Usually I start with a basic idea for a design, sometimes I draw it out, or sometimes use the computer. Occasionally, I see a great quilt, and set out to make one similar, and usually end up with a quilt that is much different than the original.  However, I have loved following along with the directions.  It's so relaxing not to be thinking about what I should do next.  Plus, I've wanted to start a Dear Jane quilt for years, and this will be good practice.  I haven't appliqued blocks by hand in a long time, so this will be good practice.

To the right, you see a very neat cutting mat that was a gift from a fellow camper at my last quilt retreat.  I'd never even thought about buying one, but have found it's the perfect tool to use for this project.  It's quite handy for squaring up blocks and aligning corners, etc...
I'm going to try and get a few more blocks finished before I get sleepy!
ttfn 

Busy sewing day...

Well, I've finally made it here today!  I've been busy sewing, and trying to get projects organized in some sort of "priority" order.

I know my machine quilter will be calling soon to let me know my quilt is finished any time now, and one priority I've set is to take her another to quilt when I pick one up.  This "deadline" is self imposed, but it's been working quite well to get quilts actually finished.

The quilt  here on the left is one I made about 3 years ago, and never got the border on.  I have a great stripe paisley print that I will put between two black prints or perhaps a darker aqua/turquoise print (if I can find just the right one).   I'm thinking about ordering a wide flannel print  for the backing.  This will be a birthday gift for someone special, next month.  So, I must get busy!

Cattails & Clover!!

Have you seen this line from Moda?  I think it was released in November.  I LOVE it!  The line has lights & darks in several colorways that are just wonderful.  I started purchasing these charm packs to serve as samples.  After ordering prints online, I've  found it safer to actually see the fabric in person, before ordering.  I've found several prints that will be added to my "wall of bolts".

Anyway, I've been playing with these charm squares, and found  a great way to make quick half-square triangles!

 You just take 2 contrasting squares, and arrange right side together.  Then, sew around the square 1/4" from the edges.  I back stitched in each direction in each corner.  Then, arrange the squares on your cutting mat to cut across the diagonal in each way.  My mat has lines that help me do this.  Once the square is cut, you have 4 half square triangles! And, they are perfect!!

I've almost used 2 charm packs doing this, and have spent way too much time playing with the arrangement!  I need to decide on the best one, then get some yardage ordered for the backing and borders.  I'm thinking though, these little squares would make a great small quilt for my wall of little quilts.

The strips you see to the left, started life as a charm pack of Moda's Rouenneries Deux.  I love working with every print in this line.  I made small four- patch squares with the 5" charm pack.  Then rummaged through my fabric to find the light beige and red prints.  I then made strips of the squares with triangles.  After the strips were assembled, a stripe seemed to be the next logical step.  This French General stripe seemed to fit  nicely.  I'm still playing with the arrangement.  The smaller stripe will probably be between each strip of piecework with the red/beige strips alternated.  Decisions, decisions....

I'm still sewing the scrap blocks together, then pinning more...  This seems endless, but it's getting done in small bits of time.

And, last but not least, my sewing desk, 
hidden down below in my last photo.
It is a huge, pile of bits & pieces.

Everything is there... right where I put it...somewhere.
oh... two more items to mention -- I'm reading Barbara Brackman's book "Quilts from the Civil War".   This copy is from the library, but it's on my "must buy" list. One last thing I've started, is the red & white in the photo.  Gay, over at Sentimental Stitches has a great sew-along.  The project is called "Just takes 2".  Head over to her blog and check it out.  I'm hoping to make the blocks in red & white (my absolute favorite for old quilts) and make a second set of blocks in pink & brown.
http://sentimentalstitches.net/

I suppose dinner should be made now... wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to eat?  Think of all the extra time we'd have to make our quilts!

And.... let there be scraps....& more scraps.... more.... & more......

If you've been quilting all your adult life as I have, and you have a thrifty streak, then you know scraps can become a problem.  Last year I began organizing my new scraps by cutting them into strips and squares that I frequently use for piecing.  So, those pieces are neatly stored and marked in bins that make finding just the right color or size quite easy.  However, I didn't attack my existing backlog (nice word for hoarded supply of little cut up pieces of fabric!).
These older scraps are stored (hidden) in various places around my house.  They are my insurance against any upcoming cotton fabric shortage and prevent me from worrying about not having anything to sew should such a shortage occur!  You know....  one can never be too careful!  What I like about scraps, is having the ability to make such wonderful, colorful things out of what most people would throw away.                            
                                                                                                                                                                                  

This quilt will be a large square when finished.  I've worked on it for well over a year.  It's been the quilt to work on when some mindless 'movie watching' sewing is called for, or when some quilting problem must be thought through.  The bin was always close by so that when I just had a few minutes some progress could be made.  I've come to the point where it's not far from being finished.  All the blocks are pieced, and I'm joining them together.  Each 7.5" block is joined into a block of 4, then 4 of those blocks are joined together to form a larger square, then 4 of those blocks are joined to form a 30" square.  I've been considering adding some black feather stitching between the dark and light pieces as an outline.  But haven't decided yet.

These are piles of the squares pinned together along the seam line.  At this crucial step, another movie on the computer is called for.  It seems a bit of overkill, but makes a big difference in keeping everything square.


Below are stacks of recently joined smaller blocks.  All of these are now together, awaiting another pinning session. 

I hope this post has encouraged someone to attempt a scrap quilt.  There are so many simple patterns that could be made by simply sewing fabric on any geometric shape of paper.  The shape, could be an equilateral triangle, rectangle, square... anything really.  There are many ideas online for scrap quilts.  I have resorted to keeping computer folder of just scrap ideas.

Start saving your scraps!

This block is making me CRAZY!

It looks innocent enough right?  It has potential for a secondary pattern with the lighter rectangles.  But as I previously stated above, "it's making me CRAZY!" 

This block starts out as a 9-patch.  Blue in the four outer corners, and red in the center.  I'm working with a charm pack, so there are many prints to choose from.  After the 9-patch is pieced, ironed, and measured, it is cut down the middle vertically and horizontally.  Then the upper left and lower right are flipped around and then reassembled as a 4-patch.  Sounds easy and is easy.

I have pieced seven blocks.  I've interchanged the red and blue squares since a charm pack has limited pieces in one color.  But look.... there is NO way to make this work.  I've spent two days looking at these blocks laid out on the cutting table. 

I think the prints are part of the problem.  If I worked with one color for the large square, one color for the small square and one light print for the rectangle square/rectangle, it might be a nice pattern.

I'm stopping this with 9 squares + borders and calling it a lap quilt.  Sometimes my vision for a design, gets very covered up by beautiful fabric. 
I think my paper-pieced project is calling my name today.  It's mindless, enjoyable sewing.  Plus the results are very predictable, very traditional.  Hopefully, tomorrow I can show you finished blocks.

Two down...way too many to go!

I picked up quilts today from my very wonderful quilter today.  I just love how they turned out!  This Trip Around The World quilt has been waiting about four years to be finished.... way too long!

The other quilt she finished for me is a 9 patch, that I intended to hand quilt, thus the large beige areas.  Please note, intended is the key word in that sentence.  It hasn't happened in the last five years, so.... machine quilted it is now.  And, I love the fact it's done.

The large alternating blocks would have been prettier with a feathered wreath, but the nice overall pattern used (seen on the red boarder blocks) is very nice too.  AND it's FINISHED.  I think that will be my motto for 2012.
Please forgive the crummy pics, it's pouring down rain here, so a nice outdoors picture is out of the question.  And, it's too dark in my room with the larger bed.  But this works well enough to give you a good idea of what they look like.

I will hand quilt again, someday.  But, in the near future I see many more trips to my quilting friend.I will hand quilt again, someday.  But, in the near future I see many more trips to my quilting friend.
If you look closely at the border of this quilt (to left) you can see a 2" inner border in black and a deep rose/brown outer border.  This border was for another quilt I was working on.  This quilt's border is still on my cutting table.  I sewed the WRONG border on this quilt! I honestly didn't notice until just before dropping it off to be quilted.  What can I say?  It's not too bad, but the other border was PERFECT for this quilt.  Oh well.... at least I don't have to try putting in a humility block, they just appear magically in ALL my quilts!

I'm real close to finishing the sewing on a king size scrap quilt that is paper-pieced.  I had planned on machine quilting it in 120" panels, and probably will.  It's real tempting though, to change my mind and have it quilted.

I also have new Moda fabric that I'm dying to cut into.  I'm thinking that's probably what will win my attention today.  It's the perfect day to make soup and sew.  So, time to get busy!

2012 - a new start

2012....time is going by so quickly these days.  Does anyone know how to slow it down?  We probably need Einstein to return and work on that problem!  I've really felt the need to make time count, and use it productively.  We'll see how it goes!  Below you can see the main reason for my concern.  How do our children grow up so fast?  This precious baby is our second grandchild. 

This precious bundle is what we received this Christmas!

I've spent the last week reorganizing my quilting priorities.  It's been quite helpful to address each unfinished project, and rethink where I'm going with each project.  There has been plenty of sewing and finishing projects too.  I've also sent quilts to a friend to be quilted.  I've come to the conclusion that I can't do it all.  So, hopefully I can keep my journal (blog) up to date, concentrate on my book, working on new designs, and sewing.  By focusing on what I enjoy the most, hopefully more will get done!

I've also moved one of my sewing machines into my weaving room, mainly to keep warm this winter.  I've enjoyed working in this cozy part of our loft.  The looms were moved into the opposite corner.  There is a wood stove across in the living room, and great lighting.  It sure helps having a comfortable work space.  There is a big cutting table in the lower right corner which is on wheels, so moves between both sewing areas.

This little quilt was made for a gift.  It was slow to take shape, and I finally came up with the "sharp geese" for the top and bottom borders.

Time to get back to the sewing machine...

Hopefully, more to follow!