"I Believe....." is all quilted!!!!!

The orientation is all wrong---but you get the idea.  I literally JUST took the quilt off the frame and haven't even trimmed it yet in preparation for the binding.  I have a couple of "oops" places on my quilting---my DH says to stop pointing out errors all the time---but generally I am pleased with how it turned out!

Now on to the next one in line!  Have a great remainder of the day!!!!!!!

My Current FAVORITE!!!

I am busy trying really hard to complete some of my UFO's for a special event.  I will let everyone know after I am absolutely sure it will happen.  In the meantime, I want to share my current favorite.  It is a quilt that I designed myself---really simple--nothing fancy.  I started it actually two years ago, but I put it aside---it was getting a little tedious with all the tracing and painting, so I needed a small break.   I picked it up a couple of weeks ago and started working on it exclusively, and finished it!

The center of the blocks are unbleached muslin and I have drawn (with the help of stencils) and painted in black ink various African symbols.  This was a very tedious process and it took a while for me to get the right ink...something that is a good color, but doesn't spread...fabric paints do not always work, ask me how I know.

The blocks are bordered in African fabric and I have added a African Scrap Piano border.  The sashing is Osnaburg (sp) also known as African Cloth/Linen since historically, it is said that this is what the slaves clothing was made from.  I added a really thin black border to "quiet" it before adding the border.  I am naming this quilt, "I believe.....", since each symbol means something special, and I chose them carefully and deliberately (once it is quilted I will post a better picture of the entire quilt.   I will also make a label that identifies the meaning of each symbol).  It is going to be a wall hanging (albeit a large one), so I am going to use very thin batting.  I think I will use my circle board since it seems circles are important in African history---at least this is what my research says...and everyone knows, if it is on the Internet, it has got to be true :)!

I like this quilt!  Well this is what I have been up to.  Thanks for stopping by!!!!

One More Quilted!

I finished quilting the auction quilt.  I used the CL "Swirls" Board.  I think it turned out great.  The circles are a great contrast to the Hex's.  I had GREAT tension and only had to "un-quilt" one little spot where my stylus came out of the guide (I was busy watching TV and not paying attention).  I am going to bind it in a bright yellow 30's print.  Since I am going to keep the scalloped border on two sides, I will sew the binding on by machine, but sew it down by hand.  It is taking me a little while to complete putting the binding on because of all the mitered corners.  It isn't perfect, but I really think it will end up really nice since I can manipulate it easier when I sew the binding down.

I worked on another WIP and will try to finish at least one of my "yet to be finished projects" before I start anything else.  I also have two more tops that need to be quilted, including "African Abacus", so I have LOTS to do to get "caught up".

Have a great evening!

A Busy Saturday!

I got up really early this morning--took my shower, and was drinking a cup of coffee in preparation for Guild Meeting.  Thank goodness one of the members called me and after talking, it was clear I had the wrong day---it is NEXT Saturday!  I don't know what is happening!  You would think I had just had a baby and had "placenta brain".  I think it is because I am having a little stress in my personal life and I am distracted a lot.  Anyway, since I was up, I decided to bind some quilts---all the more for Show and Tell next week.  I am getting pretty good at machine binding.  It is fast and perfect for quilts that will be used a lot!  I was able to bind three of them this morning!

One of the quilts that I put a binding on was one I quilted using the other new Circle Lord Board, Wanders.  I was not sure I really liked it at first, but it is growing on me.  There are more open un-quilted spaces.  I don't know why I feel this way since I have several panto's that leave spaces but I think the straight lines make it seem even more open.  It does however make for a soft quilt.  This is another lap size/child quilt.  I am not sure if I will donate this one either since it is nice to have this size available for covering cold feet or using when traveling.  I will wait and see.  I didn't use the high loft batting so you can't see the definition as well on this one as the other.  I think when I use the Board again, I will see how it does with a higher loft.  This would be a great pattern on a solid quilt too.  I think the "busyness" of this top makes the quilting get lost, but again, maybe that is what you want with a quilt like this.  At any rate it is done AND bound.

I pieced the back (a little) so you can see the pattern much better.  Everything from my stash!  It feels good to use what I have.

Have a great remainder of the week-end.

A Good Day To Quilt!

I am trying to keep my promise and blog more----so here I am!

The other day I was minding my own business and surfing the web and quilting message boards.  On one of the boards, there was "talk" about a couple of new Circle Lord Boards.  I looked and of course, had to have them---so before you could say "No"----I had called Canada and was talking to Michael.  He is so very easy to work with---has a great sense of humor and within three days I had my new boards.

It is funny---I had been looking at a paper pantograph very much like the first one ("Wanders").  These are perfect for "modern" quilting (whatever that means) and according to feedback are easy to use---so I thought I would give them a try!

The first quilt is a top I have had for quite a while.  It is a large lap and is made from leftover strips.  The bottom quilt is the baby quilt I posted earlier.  Doesn't this quilting board  (Egyptian Eye) add great texture.  I quilted both of them today, so they are EASY to use.  Next I will load a quilt and use the other Board.

Thanks for stopping by!  I think I will quilt a couple more tops and then stop and finish the binding and work on some of my WIP's.

A Busy Saturday!

Up early, trying to straighten up the house a little.  I find I feel less "guilty" if I at least attempt to straighten up one room.  My grandchildren were here, so they "willingly" straightened up a little.  I cleaned the kitchen (including moping the floor) and washed a couple of loads of clothes (currently on the pool table unfolded).  That was enough to alleviate any guilt I might have.  Down to my "studio" I went and completed a baby quilt.  I don't know what it is with me and baby quilts these days.  This one is for one of my daughter's employees.  This young lady is having a difficult time, is pregnant and has received a "not so good" diagnosis that will require a major surgery after the birth of her baby.  She is a single mom and doesn't have very much so----what does a quilter do (?)---make a quilt.  This one is the bigger of the two I am making and I am also going to make a couple of flannel receiving blankets and embroidery something cute on them.

The baby is a boy and I think these are bright, non-traditional colors  will work well.  I found some bright green flannel that will be the back.  These are all my hand dyes---I am using up ALL stash fabrics if I can.  I sent a picture to my daughter and she loves it!!!!   The white is 200 ct. bleached muslin.  I am not sure I really like it though---the "hand" isn't very soft, but I think it is fine for this small quilt.  I sent my son a picture and he asked that I make TWO for a friend that is having twins!  The key is the different contrasting tones of the fabric, so I will look for anther combination.   It makes me feel good to use my God-given talent to help someone else.

Time Does Fly!

I can't believe it has been a month since I last posted.  I can not really explain why---I have been busy, but I have found time to read other blogs, not sure why I haven't posted.  I don't know, mine seems so ----well---boring!  But I have to remind myself, it actually is a personal journal in a way---documenting my life at this time in history.  I don't have to be witty---just realistic I guess.

Anywhoo----I have been quilting!  I have completed quilting several quilts, and made several.  I have also planted my "crops" for this year----so--

These are my tomato plants.  Our oldest son came from Baltimore just to help me with my spring yard work!  How sweet is that!!!!  The grandbabies built the "wall" around the plants and this year we covered them with netting to keep those birds away.  Four plants--two red, one purple and one yellow tomatoes.  I don't have a picture of the "other" garden.  That holds two watermelon plants, squash and sweet potatoes.  Not sure why I am enjoying this---but I am.  Wonder if it has anything to do with living in the south and growing old---maybe with my grandchildren as well since I want them to understand that things do grow and don't just come out of packages.

 We also planted flowers and cleaned out the beds.  The above shows Sweet Coal inspecting the growth process.

On the quilting front----

I am determined to use up my stash.  Diane gave me lots of 30's scraps a couple of years ago.  They have been sitting in a box waiting for me to get some energy!  I purchased the GO! tumbler die and so proceeded to cut both large and small tumblers.  I originally was going to make a quilt using both sizes, but when I put a couple of rows together, I thought it looked too chaotic.  I decided to make a baby quilt from the small tumblers.  There isn't a baby I have in mind, but I will either donate it to the charity our Guild is supporting, or save it for later.  Eventually a baby will come along.

I agreed to make a quilt for the "silent auction" the school of nursing where I teach is having in conjunction with a fund raiser.  Again, I had some 30"s jelly rows that I have also had for years!  I really like 30's, but it isn't my first choice in fabrics right now (my first choice changes frequently).  I had an old magazine with a hexagon quilt pattern in it made from jelly rows.  The quilt below was the left overs.  You can see it is lots of "mix and match" blocks.  I also purchased the new GO! half hexagon die that is a perfect complement.  You might know this is a Jaybird pattern.  I love it when things come together making the process easier.  I didn't have to use the special ruler, or make a plastic template.  I wish other patterns would do this.  This is a baby quilt and like the other, I am not sure what I will do with it.   It is already quilted and only needs binding.

This is the quilt for the auction.  It is a large almost twin size.  I was trying to make something that would appeal to many, yet would not take forever for me to finish.  The quilt is not unisex, but is very female in appearance--but still hopefully will result in a good return.  I plan on leaving the edges scalloped to further add to it (at least I think so).

I have several more quilt tops that need to be quilted, and "dyeing season" has begun.  I purchased some dyes at AQS and plan on getting out and having fun with dyes.  I need to clean my corner though and so will need to get my  energy up a little more!

Well, no promises, but I will honestly try to blog more frequently.

Guess Who Is Back!

Yep---I have been "out of pocket" for a little over a month!  As usual, life has "gotten in the way", and I haven't had the time or in some cases, the energy, to be creative and write an entry.  I have been busy though with quilting and will have some updated pictures to share next time (I hope).   So what have I been up to????

AQS Paducah!!!!!

Diane came from Florida for our our annual trip to Paducah.  We have been doing this for about 7 years now and really look forward to it!  As usual we drive up on Wednesday to shop!  This year was no exception except we both have remarked that we are much more selective.  You can really spot the "first timers", their carts and bags are filled to overflowing and they have this look on their faces that clearly indicate the "WOW" factor.  What I found interesting though is although I had a budget (which was a little more this year than last) and followed pretty closely, (I was about $50 over), I seemed to get less.  One reason is the things I want appear to be more costly.  My pride purchase this year was four Bloc Loc Rulers.  They are quite pricey, but although I do have a GO! cutter, I still need to square up often and I am truly "squaring up challenged".  The more I quilt, the more I realize how important consistency is (at least that was my justification for paying this premium price for pieces of plastic).  Other pricey purchases were a couple of GO! dies(I got 30% off as the show special) and a $23 pattern I purchased by mistake.  Mistake because I thought the price was $13!  I AM going to make this quilt for sure!!!!

We also spread some of our AQS money around at local shops.  I absolutely LOVE Grunge, so at one quilt shop the fabric was 30% off so I purchased a total of 17 yards of three different colors.   Of course it was the usual thread, fabrics and patterns, but not quite as much as in previous years.

We went back on Saturday on a Guild bus to look at the quilts.  They were beautiful, but I have to say a little disappointing when I read that the "Best of Show" had also won at the Lancaster show.  That doesn't seem quite fair to me since there were other quilts that certainly could have had a better chance.  I am wondering then will I see the same quilts at the Chattanooga show?  There are now 7 AQS shows and I think they might be spreading themselves a little thin.  Rather than giving more opportunities for quilt entries, since one quilt can now enter many shows, it seems kind of discouraging.

On the quilt front, I have been working on a couple of quilts that I put aside to finish quilting the quilts I have of Diane's.  I plan to get back to them though so I can use some of the new patterns I got at AQS.

Oh yea!  For the big news, Diane purchased a long arm.  She will soon have a Nolting Mid-arm!!!!  I loved the feel of the machine and really think she made a wise choice.  I also have decided to have my machine upgraded with a stitch regulator.  I must say however, the person's I talk to who represent the make of my machine weren't very friendly or forthcoming at all, so since my warranty is up anyway, I am going to get an Intellistitch.  It is about $3000.00 cheaper and will accomplish what I want.  I hope to have it in place by the middle of summer (gotta save a little more).

Anyway, this is all for now.  I will take some pictures and make my post more interesting next time!  Have a great day/week!

What Do You Think?!?!??

This is my version of a Gee's Bend Quilt called "Coat of Many Colors".  I saw a scrap version (like mine) on Pinterest.  I love it!  It is comprised of 2 x 4.5 inch rectangles and is sewn together with Y seams.  I have gotten the "hang" of it so the going is much faster.  It actually takes more time to cut the rectangles than it does to sew them together.  This is a "long term" project, since I really am going to have to get back to my "shirt" quilt, but I do need something to break the "sameness" of working on just one quilt.  I don't think this will be a bed size quilt though, more a large lap size.  This will be the last quilt I make with these particular scraps though (this will be the fourth one I think). After a while, the quilts all sorta look alike, so after this quilt, I will discard what I have left and start over.  I am already discarding the small pieces I have left from cutting the rectangles and am not feeling the least bit guilty about it either.

I have finished my "African Abacus".  I forgot to take a picture of that, and right now don't want to go back downstairs to do so, so I will post tomorrow.  I am currently quilting one of only two quilts I have left for Diane, so after I finish the one on the frame, I will load Abacus on and quilt it.

I have also finished quilting two baby quilts for donation and just need to bind them (I am doing so by machine), so although I haven't been blogging, I have been busy.  I have one more baby quilt to quilt and bind before the next guild meeting and then I will past those on.  I think I will stop for a while since that will make 20 I think I have made and donated.

Well, just wanted to check in!  Have a great remainder of the week!

Checking In!

Life has been "getting in the way"---but as always, I am making sure I put some time aside to quilt.  At the end of the day I am so tired sometimes, I don't have the energy to quilt AND blog, so guess which wins out!!!

Above is the quilt I started to get my "creative juices" going to finish the shirt quilt.  I used a special ruler to make these shapes.  I have never had such an easy time sewing curves---don't even need pins.  The fabric is from my small collection of African fabrics.  The grey of the background with the black strips is a good combination I think.

This is the latest BOM from the Brockman site.  This is not as much fun as I thought it would be, mainly because if you are making the ticking blocks you get absolutely no help in how to make it.  If I wasn't so very stubborn, I would just move on, but I really "think" I could like it.  I do think though, I am going to use a ticking in a contrasting color.  As it is, I don't think you can see the pattern very well.

Well, I will try hard to be more diligent in posting.  Thanks for stopping by!