What Cha' Think?

All washed and dried!  I still need to starch and iron, but they look pretty good (the picture is in front of a window so the colors are a little washed out).  No wonder it took me a while, I actually dyed 15 one-yard pieces and 11  quarter-yards.  Whew!  They were having a 50% off muslin sale at Joanne's so I purchased 25 more yards.  I will wash tomorrow and tear into   pieces for dyeing later.  My back is a bit stiff, so I am gonna relax for a couple of weeks---LOL! 

Although I wanted solids, I actually got some variation which is fine with me.  One color (right under the turquoise piece) is a strange khaki color---but has some interesting variations.  It isn't my favorite but who knows, it might be perfect for something.

Just wanted to share my product.  It is just Coal and I at home---the hubby and GS are at a baseball game....so I am folding clothes and surfing the web when I get bored.  I was once a wonderful housekeeper, now not so wonderful!  I would rather be quilting!

"See" you later!

 

Let the Dyeing Begin!

Today was an absolutely perfect day for dyeing fabric!  Warm with low humidity!!  Last year I did very little dyeing for myself so I have just a few odds and ends.   I have found also that I really need to dye in 1/2 yard lengths at least to ensure I have enough fabric in the same dye lot for my quilts.  The larger the piece of fabric though, the more difficult to get consistency.  This time however, I decided I would dye one yard pieces.  I purchased a couple of those large plastic Glad bowls to use in conjunction with my gallon plastic bags and dyed 15 one-yard pieces.  This time I did bright solids but plan to do another batch of mottled fabrics. 

I have to tell you though, it is truly work/time intensive.  The more I dye fabric, the more I can appreciate the $25/yard costs of some you buy.  If it is "truly" hand dyed, it takes a little over an hour just to prep; then you have to mix each of the dyes wearing a very uncomfortable mask; then you have to measure in each "recipe", and if you are doing solids, you have to work it into each piece of fabric; then you have to box that piece; clean up to for the next color and start all over.  It took me all morning (about 3-4 hours) to dye the 15 pieces and the work isn't over yet.  This morning I have to go out and rinse EACH piece by hand, and then machine wash, dry and iron.  Whew!  Maybe I need to surf some hand dyes and push a couple of buttons (LOL).  If you get a chance to buy hand dyes just don't get your nose bend out of shape if they are not $5/yard.  Appreciate all the work that went into making that beautiful piece.

Indigo and batik are on my list to try this summer! Hope I find it as enjoyable!  I am on the look out for a inexpensive electric skillet to melt my wax.  They have wax pots, but they seem a bit pricey when a electric skillet would do just as well.  I will investigate more!
 

I am also busy quilting Yin-Yang.  It is closer to a king and so taking a little longer.  Actually, I could really have finished it, but had some problems with tension which made me just walk away.  After a deep breathe and a couple of blue labels (Pepsi's), I came back and all I needed to do was to move to a bigger needle.  How simple was that.  I am using a rather complex panto of feathers, so the going is a little slow.  I am not sure I really like the top thread I choose (a dark beige), but at this point, I am NOT going to change it.  The back thread matches perfectly with the muslin back, and I am sure once it is washed, the crinkles will mask any "issues".  At any rate, it is MY quilt and so I am less anal if it belonged to someone else (another reason for not quilting for others---I get so stressed).

Next week I will be at a conference where I can just sit and listen!  Looking forward to that!  My flowers and veggie "garden" are all doing well in spite of the frequent thunderstorms we have been having.  I will have to post some pictures.

All is well on the home front and for that I am eternally grateful!  Have a wonderful Saturday and I will "talk" to you later!

I'm Back!!!"

I have been away from blogging for quite a while.  No real reason other than "life gets in the way sometimes".  I have been quilting and thinking about you all daily, but just didn't have the energy or time to really sit down and write.  Hopefully I can do better in the month of June.

So what have I been up to:

• Poor Coal had "the" surgery.  He really had a hard couple of days.  I put the "lamp shade" thingy on him and he had a meltdown and stopped drinking water and eating!  I finally took it off and just watched him closely.  He is back to his old self although he is so spoiled now!  When he gets to the stairs he sits down and waits for someone to come and pick him up and carry him.!!!  Such a sensitive "guy"!

• This quilt was in the latest Kaffe book of quilts.  It looks really southwestern doesn't it.  The fabric is linen and a twill like stripe.  It is for my grandson to put on his bed at his mother's house.  It is twin and the picture doesn't really do it justice.  It is a really "man quilt".

• I planted my "crops".  Three tomato plants and two peppers.  As you can see, I am utilizing fabric strips to tie them to the poles.  I got brave this year and actually planted them in the ground.  I am afraid of crawly things and always have heard that snakes are around tomatoes, but I have decided to keep the ground around them clear of everything so I can at least see what is there as I pick my crop. The container tomatoes were just so small---hardly worth the effort it took to grow them.

• I finished Yin-Yang!  It is pretty big and so I wasn't able to lay it out completely but you get the idea.  I started quilting it, made a "oopsy" and so now am in the process of "unquilting" a section, which is a pain to say the least.  Hopefully I will be done with that soon.  I really like how it turned out though.  The border is purple batik with some of my hand dye as a small border (the orange).

Well, as you can see, I have been busy!  As I said, I really will try to be more diligent in posting, it is just that "life gets in the way".

xoxo

Progress!

This is my progress so far on the Ying/Yang quilt.  I am using a batik jelly roll that I purchased last year at AQS.  It is interesting that it was a predominate purple one, yet there were yellows and beiges in there as accent pieces.  I am making a queen size with unbleached muslin as the background.  I am going to border it so it should (hopefully) be large enough for my new BIG bed!

Last week was AQS in Paducah.  Diane came up and we went for two days.  I have to tell you though, it was COLD both days we went.  The second day (Saturday) it was rainy all day.  I really believe that had we not been going on a bus, we would have bypassed the trip.  The quilts were beautiful and except for a few, I was really inspired!  To clarify, I am only inspired by quilts I feel I would be able to make myself.  The very intricate ones that look like they were made by a machine, although beautiful, do not inspire me to quilt, but rather make me feel defeated since I could NEVER make anything like them.  This year there were more quilts that I think, given a perfect alignment with the stars, I could possibly make myself!

Both Diane and I were very selective about our purchases this year.  For seven years I have been looking for Kaffe strips to make a quilt I saw in a magazine and later in a book.  This year I purchased those strips (15 half-yard cuts) and some shot cotton.  I also found some strips and fats at Hancock's, although I didn't see a real SALE on fabric, although I got some patterns 50% off.  I got a ironing board cover (which I put on and am very disappointed with), but all in all I stuck to my list.  I did have two impulse buys---two cute little magnets that hold scissors and pins and some inks to dye fabric.  This isn't all I purchased (of course), but the highlights.  Next year they will add a show in Chattanooga which is only about 1.5 hours away from my home.  Great fun!  Diane will not be able to come again for that one, so I am going to scoop it out and see how it is.

At any rate, I had a great week!  Only wish I had won the lottery, or found several thousands of dollars to add to the joy!  Now I need to get busy and use up that new fabric and those patterns.

Thanks for stopping by!  "Talk" to you soon!

Ying and Yang!



 

I was making the "Scrappy Trip" quilt---and still have every intention of completing it, but I have gotten TIRED of it.  I need to cut more strips and just wasn't "feeling it" anymore---so into the "to be picked up later" pile.

 

I looked through my pile of "to be done eventually quilt patterns and found the "Ying/Yang Quilt".  It is funny, I didn't want to cut out more strips, but I cut out enough parts to make 160 blocks---6.5  inches.  I have completed the "Yang" side (90 blocks) and am in the process of completing the "Ying" ones (70).  I used up some of my stash---a jelly roll and about 4 yards of unbleached muslin.  I am also adding a couple of borders---again from my stash.  Should be a nice BIG quilt for my BIG bed.  It is (thankfully) going relatively quickly so if I stay on target, I will have all the blocks completed and will start to put it together next week.

 

 

Tomorrow Diane gets here!!!!  Lots of fun planned ahead!  It is our annual trip to Paducah and the show which we both look forward to.  We have vowed to both be more selective in our purchases and even have lists.  We will see how focused we stay.  It is great to hang out with such a close friend.  We have had some stressful times in the last couple of months so we both need this to "recharge" our batteries.

 

What else is going on-------I am playing with purchasing a loom!  I have always been interested and have been doing some research on-line.  Going to a yarn shop is on the list of things Diane and I will investigate---so I may have yet another "hobby" to add.  Since I quilt, and dye my own fabric, it only makes sense I would think about truly "making" my own fabric (at least that is my reasoning to the hubby).  We will see.   While the looms themselves don't seem really expensive, particularly the starter ones, the accessories really are.  I could not be looking at the right things, and because I am so new to this, hopefully I am misinterpreting what I am reading....hence the visit to the shop.  I am not sure I want to invest a LOT of money to another hobby-----quilting is pretty expensive all by itself.  I could end up with not only a fabric stash, but a yarn stash as well.  At any rate, I am enjoying the research part of this, whether I move forward or not, I am learning a lot.

 

I will keep you informed as I begin yet another adventure!  

 

Thanks for stopping by!



No Rest for the Weary!!!!

 

 

I have been very, very busy and sick!!!  Above is my quilting busy! I finished quilting my daughter's quilt.  I haven't thought of a name for it yet---but I love it.  I continue to be amazed at the texture that quilting gives a quilt!  I used one of my CL giant templates to quilt it---Swirl.   It is a perfect complement for the squares. (the light spots are reflections of the sun from the window).

 

Before



After

 



My bath is all finished now and as I mentioned, I really now need to complete the others.  I am loving it!  I run my bath, light my candles, and pretend I am a lady of leisure.

I was working in the yard and was bitten by a spider! I had a bad reaction---lots of swelling (my middle finger); pain; antibiotics and now I am much better.  My finger is still swollen and the skin has peeled off, but other than that, I consider myself blessed since these types of bites can be really bad.  Moral of story----shake your garden gloves out before putting them on, better yet, store in the house in a zip lock bag!---or even better, hire someone to work in the yard!

Well, wanted to touch base with you.  Diane will be here in two weeks for our annual trip to AQS.  Given my bath renovations, I will have to be a bit more selective in my shopping, but shopping I plan to do!  I am counting the days!

My Goodness!

All I did was call my husbands attention to a loose tile in the bathroom!  Actually I had been doing this for a couple of months---but this time I raised my voice a little more.  Anyway, we got a contraction to come in, with the intention of having a new tile floor put down.  Little did we know!

 

We ended up replacing the entire floor down to the joints.  Since we were tearing everything up---why not totally renovate it.  So that is just what has been going on.  Since this will be an absolutely beautiful bath, the other bathrooms don't look so good----so---I will have contractors in the house all summer.  Needless to say, my budget for fabric will be affected a little! (to say the least)!

 

 

 

I finally finished the black and white quilt.  I have decided I do not really like "modern quilting".  It takes too long and uses too much thread!  I wanted to take this off the frame so badly, but I decided I was going to push on and finish.  It is a pattern by J. Gehering (spelling) that was in a magazine.  Not sure what I will do with it, but this is one of those things I can say "been there, done that, got the t-shirt".

 

Well wanted to check in.  Bath should be done by next week and I can move back into my bedroom and my bed!

 

Have a blessed Easter Holiday!









Yet Another Start!

In my  last post I was complaining that I thought I was losing my "quilting MoJo".  I think I have found it, but I also think I am suffering from a lack of focus!  I seem to not have a problem starting anything, but of late, finishing it is yet another very long story.....I know other quilters have the same malady.

The above is my latest quilt beginning---this one though I will certainly finish since it is a gift for my youngest daughter.  She is moving into a new house and asked for a sofa quilt.  I had a couple of solid jellyrolls and had been looking for the right pattern.  I saw this quilt during one of my blog surfing expeditions.  There is a pattern for sale but as I looked at it, I decided that after 20 years of quilting, surely I could reproduce it, and so here it is. 

I would have liked a little more variety in color---lots of blue and red strips, but all in all, I still think it is okay!  I have three more rows to go and then it will be a "flimsy" waiting for quilting.

After this is finished, I need to get back to one of the 4 quilts I have in various stages of completion.  Thanks for stopping by---hopefully my next post will include some finishes.

 

Quilting Block?

I have been doing "some" quilting, I have been sorta blocked.  Not sure why---but  I know we all go through the same thing on occasion.  What I did do is to make the pictured quilt tote. 

It was pretty easy to make----used one yard of pre-quilted fabric.  Although the pattern says it would hold a queen quilt, I don't think it will hold any more than one.  I think I will remake it larger, but it will definitely do for taking smaller quilts to guild, or holding equipment needed for a class. 

Anyway---this is a pretty boring post---sorry, but that is the way it goes at times.  Have a great remainder of the day!

Progress!

This is my progress so far on my Scrappy TATW  (8 blocks)!  To speed up the process I cut a lot of 2.5 inch strips.  There is going to be some repeats, but it really doesn't matter to me.  The plan is to make a 84 inch square quilt....no border (49 blocks).  I am making the strata's first and then I will cut and sew them into blocks.  For me it appears to be more efficient.  There are several ways to lay out the quilt, but I really like the traditional layout.  It is interesting how when looking at the quilt, I don't see the diamond shape as well, but when I take a picture it is so apparent.  I also like the unplanned part of it, how the shape sorta blends out at points  Remember, I am into spontaneity and not so planned.

I also finished my very first truly "modern" quilt a couple of days ago.  It will be called "Study in Black and White #1"....a modern name for a modern quilt.  I didn't design it, but made it from a pattern in a magazine I recently purchased.  It is to be a housewarming gift for my oldest son and his wife.  I cannot keep a secret so as I was talking to him this week-end I let it "slip" about the quilt.  He exclaimed how neat that was, since he and his wife had decided to only hand black and white art on the wall of their bedroom.  The quilt is a wall hanging and solid black/white (also new for me).  I am now contemplating the quilting I will do.  I think I will do some freehand quilting -- sorta like I used for the quilt I made as "homework" in the Craftsy class.  I will post a picture after I have finished and sent it off, since they read my blog occasionally.  They clearly know they are getting it, but I want to keep the details a secret.

Well, just wanted to update you.  Thanks again for stopping by....more later!