Yet Another Start!

Okay---I know!  I have more than enough "works in progress", including one I am diligently working on to complete.  I though have an "problem"---one shared by many quilters.  Even though I am working on project(s), I am still continuously reading and exploring.  Often during these instances I come across something that interest me and I absolutely must get it "out" of my head and I do that by making a "test" block.

I went to a lecture by Kathy Doughty last week.  She has authored 5 books (I have all of them) and in her second book, I saw a quilt I loved.  It is titled "Pop Stars".  In that book, each of the "stars" are a different fabric surrounded by 1.5 inch strips.  The quilt is constructed using a fabric foundation that is cut from a template or a "kite shaped ruler".  After going to her lecture, I pulled out the books, and I even had tabbed the pages that contained the quilts I really liked.  I began the process of "making the quilt", gathering the materials/templates, etc.  In looking at the quilt though, I suddenly realized, it was actually a "spiderweb".   So my quest took me in another direction.  I didn't have to purchase templates or template plastic.  I had the materials already (I love rulers and "stuff").  I could actually use a technique like paper piecing.  My blocks are 12.5 inches unfinished as compared to 21.5 inches in the book quilt, so that means I will have to make more blocks for a queen size.  Rather than use a different fabric for each "star", I will use the white/black dot for each one.  The quilt is very scrappy and the "calmer" stars will give the eyes somewhere to "rest" and will unify the very chaotic quilt (something I learned in the lecture).    I think I am onto something!

I will finish my "12 Square" quilt, but tonight I will spend some time cutting my scraps into various size "strings".  My DH got me an electric GO! for Mother's Day, so it will be really easy to try to get my scraps together.  Although the original quilt has strips the same size, I like the varying sizes better.  I have decided that my max strip size however will be 2.5 inches since my star halves are smaller and I don't want to "overwhelm" the block.

I will see where this will take me.

Progress!

So the quilt "told" me it wanted setting squares, so setting squares it is.  You can't really see them since the linen is white as is the design "board".  This will probably be a lap size and although it is a really simple pattern, it is nice to just sew squares together in a pattern that doesn't require a lot of thought.  These are only 2.5 inches unfinished so although my box is overflowing, I anticipate the result will be relatively small--sorta like cooking spinach---one bag only results in enough for two people although the pot was originally overflowing.

Thanks Karen and Diane for making posts!  I can always depend on you two!

I Am Here Still!

I have been working on this quilt for almost a year (off and on).  I decided to finish it a couple of weeks ago and did so this morning.  It is a Kaleidoscope quilt---no pattern just a draft that I did on EQ7....LOTS of points to match!!!  The background is some Grunge I have been resistant to cut into but decided, "why buy something is you are not going to use it".  The prints are from my scrap bags.  Just odds and ends.  It is about 80 x 90 (10 inch finished blocks set 8 x 9).  I am not going to put on a border.  It seems to not really need one.  The quilting will have to wait until I get my knee done (I am having a total knee replacement in about 3 weeks).  In a way, I think custom quilting would work, but I also think a simple edge-to-edge would also work---just lots of texture.

This is what I am working on now.  I actually have another quilt in the wings, but I am waiting on some 30's scraps that Diane is preparing to send me and then I will start on that one.  This quilt is a simple 12 patch of scraps (again).  The white blocks are actually linen scraps I had left over from another quilt I made.  The 2.5 inch squares were cut out probably almost 3 years ago.  I plan to just make blocks until I have used up the light squares, count them and decide on the layout and size of the quilt.  I do have the potential to make it bigger since I found some white linen at Joanne's that I purchased (only 1.5 yards).  I can either use that as setting squares or make more blocks, using the extra blocks as setting squares (see below) cutting the edges even but I would lose about 1/4th of the block.  That seems so wasteful.  I will have to see what works best.

At any rate---although not blogging, I have continued to be busy with my quilting.  I am actually trying to decide if I want to continue to blog.  My "Followers" haven't really increased and if I didn't blog I really don't think it would be a big loss to the blogging community.   Blogging and not getting any indication that anyone (other than Diane) is reading your post is  like you are screaming into the dark, and you don't know if you are along or someone is just standing there watching you make a fool of yourself.  Brings back days of the "popular girls" vs. those of us who were not so popular.  I don't like that feeling.  At any rate,  I will have to mull that decision over as well.

If you are reading my blog---thanks (and if possible let me know you are out there) and have a wonderful productive day!

OOps---I Forgot One!!

I also put together another donation quilt.  While on our quilting retreat last week, we made a group trip to a fabric shop having a sale.  Although it is not specifically a "quilt" shop, it had a great collection of cottons.  My view is that any fabric has the potential to be made into a quilt. They had a dynamite sale, and I picked up 1.5 and 2 yard "remnants" for as little as $3.00 (the fabric was regularly 12.99/yard).  This is one of the quilts I put together from the focus that I got at the sale, and the remainder from my stash.  From a 1.5 yard piece, I got two of these "stripper" quilts (the pattern is a free one on Mary Quilts web site.  On the second one, I am going to reverse the placement of the orange and green.  You can't tell from the picture but the focus is a very pale blue background, but it could be a given to a baby girl as well since it is so pastel.  I did get the same focus with a pale yellow background and will make a couple more.  A great size for a older baby, or as a "blankey" for a toddler.

I love making donation quilts!  These quilts are destined for babies that are sick with a chronic disease.  To think that my quilts may comfort some little one who is not feeling well makes me feel that my talent of quilting is making someones world a warmer place.  Maybe I am a bit unrealistic or a bit "pie in the sky"-- maybe the quilts will actually be used to mop up spills--it doesn't matter--I still love the idea.  Anyway----

Current Project!!!!!!!!!

Current Project--I really don't have a recipient for this little quilt.  There are two more rows to add so it will be a nice size baby quilt.  It is a pattern from the Moda Bake Shop and a perfect use of the 30's scraps Diane gifted me.    I am going to make it again but use different fabrics -- more modern/bright perhaps.  Although it says "Easy" it is a little tedious but not cumbersome or difficult.

Still Quilting

Not blogging---but still quilting!!