Christmas Here and Gone!

The holidays came and went---wow!!!!  It was the perfect holiday for me.  Lots of laughter, food, love and NO STRESS!  That was my promise to myself, I had no timeline for when breakfast or dinner would be ready----disposable plates and eating utensils, and a purchased ham.  I did cook a turkey leg for my son, but other than that, the meal was also planned to be low stress.

Now I have to clean away the last remnants of the boxes, etc. and I will be ready for the new year. Got some great gifts (nothing quilt related)but I did get a neat exercise bike (with a nice BIG seat) to go with my FitBit, and of course, GIFT CARDS!

Now for a "quilty" update:   The Longarm repairman (angel) will be arriving on Jan. 5 to get the "ole girl" back up!!!!!  I talked to a friend yesterday who suggested that actually this was a good time to really "fiddle" with her to get to know her better since anything I did was going to be corrected anyway, so I may do just that!  She also suggested I video him fixing her so if she has another hiccup, I can refer to the video....a great idea  My husband, who actually is more of a computer "geek" than mechanical, is going to also be in attendance to learn.  We have decided that we are going to go to the Gammil headquarters and he is going to take their maintenance course and I will take some quilting courses.  It is funny, I have had this machine since 2007 and I still am in the learning curve!  Our relationship has been "rocky" at best!  Not sure if I had it to do over if I would get this type of machine, but I can't do over, so I am stuck for a while anyway!

I have started a new quilt!  This is a free quilt pattern on the Sew Kind of Wonderful site (looks like I need a new ironing board cover).  If you make it, be careful of your cutting.  I totally ruined the remainder of this fat quarter so I will only have one block made with this color.  It is also a bit tricky in lining up---had to un-sew a couple of times, but I like the results.  The light color is a "super muslin"---a little heavy, but the same weight as some of my African fabrics and linens I have used, so I decided to use it.  I like the unbleached muslin with the "burlap" like texture of the prints.

Well,  gotta go!  No empty promises about frequency of posting, but I will be back!!!!

I Threw It Away!!!!

No pictures-----but I did something I have NEVER, EVER done before.  I threw away a quilt!!!!!  It was on my frame---I absolutely hated it!!!  The colors were weird, the fabrics did absolutely nothing for the pattern.  Lots of seams that were very difficult to quilt over, AND my quilting was horrible---so, I took it off the frame---cut off the back and batting and folded it up to use in another quilt---and threw it in the garbage!  Why take time to finish something I absolutely hate!!!  It feels strangely good!

To celebrate, I went cyber shopping and bought a new layer cake!    Yea!

I'm BAAAAAck!

I apologize---I have been remiss yet again.  It is just that as you all know "life does get in the way"!  Lots of work going on, a bit of quilting mixed in, but always something to keep me from sitting down and posting.

So to bring you up to date----I went to my Guild's retreat.  Nothing really planned, just an opportunity to sew, laugh and fellowship.  I had a really good time.  We had it at a retreat center that had once been a college----such beautiful buildings.  Had I not known I was in the middle of Nashville, I would have thought I was on the East Coast!-----in fact I pretended I was :)!

I worked on and completed this top.  I just need to add the borders.  I think I will give this to my second oldest granddaughter when she goes away to college next fall.  She is such a "girly-girl" and the color scheme is perfect for her.

My longarm is not "feeling" up to par, so I am going to have to call in the "doctor" to do a house call.  Hopefully it can get back up by Thanksgiving and I can get some quilting done.

Still working on the "rainbow" quilt---and "puttering" around in the sewing room...planning for the Guild Christmas Party.  I and another member is in "charge" of the challenge and all that means and I have to say I am more than a little anxious.  Last year was so nice with winning ribbons and everything---I have been really procrastinating so we have got to put our "thinking caps" on SOON!

So---until next time.  I have to go into work today (Saturday) so no rest for me this week-end!  Have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by!

Checking In!

I know my New Year's Resolution was to be a better and more frequent blogger.  Life though keeps "getting in the way".  I was trying to be a good wife/mother and clean my house.  I was on my hands and knees cleaning the bathroom floor and when I stood up, totally knocked out my knee!  Don't know what I did, but it hurt "something awful".  I had to cancel my class which is something I never do!

Then I had all kinds of work I had to do, etc.....plus, quite frankly, I didn't have anything exciting to write about.  I did start another quilt though-----

This is one section.  I am using a jelly roll I purchased a couple of years ago at the AQS Paducah show.  I am so disappointed though----poor--poor quality.

This is a picture of one of the strips in the roll.  There are several like this!  I know that hand dyes have a natural color variance, but some of them look like they are stained.  I decided to write the company---Marcus Brothers.  We will see if I get a response.

I was on my way home from work and look at the sky and was absolutely amazed at the beauty---so I proceeded to take pictures with my phone.  Aren't they beautiful!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

One Down---Several More to Go!!!

****The red on the blue is actually my label.  I embroidered it on the backing rather than place a traditional label.

I finished quilting "Confetti" this morning!  Since these pictures were taken, I have put on the binding--AND machine sewed it down and cut/removed the "jump stitches.  It is all folded and ready for "Show N' Tell" at the Guild meeting, and then I plan to put it on my guest bedroom bed.

I like this quilt---the back of my "not so good" dyed pieces, really makes for a nice back.  The pieces are a soft suede-like texture and color which goes well with the scrap top.  The binding is a red print---I didn't quite feel like piecing a binding as well, but the all one type of binding seemed to tie it together....I guess I should take a picture of that---but I don't feel like going back down and unfolding.  Maybe later.

I found a quilt top I had finished a last year I think---and I will quilt it.;  Don't have a plan for it, in fact I really don't like it much, but I am going to quilt it anyway.  I might really like it more after it is completed.

Well have a great Sunday afternoon!

TaDa!!!!!

"Confetti" is all DONE!!!!!  I am now in the process of quilting it.  The finished size (before quilting) was 83 x 94---a good size --- almost queen!  I already had the "Egyptian Eye" CL board on the machine so I am using it to quilt the pattern.  It is so busy, you will not really be able to see it on top, but the back is solid so you can see the pattern there.  I am using ultra-thin poly batting since with all the seams, it is really heavy already.  My goal is to have it finished by the end of the week and be ready to start another UFO.  A better picture once it is quilted!

Almost Done!

I think I will name this quilt, "Confetti".  It looks like confetti spilled on the floor doesn't it.  I was talking with Diane and she asked me the name of the pattern.  This is one of those quilts that is a technique, not really a pattern.  It is inspired by the quilt, "Joseph's Coat of Many Colors", a quilt made by an artist from Gee's Bend.  Molly Flanders had posted one on her blog (also very scrappy) but my technique is slightly different from the one she outline.  It isn't really hard, but is certainly tedious.   You MUST make sure you have a consistent 1/4 inch seam, and your logs MUST be the same size!----Don't ask me how I know.  The hardest part (I think) is joining the rows.  As with all my quilts, I am making this one to fit a queen-size bed (the original was a crib quilt and made by hand I think), so I need about twelve more rows!  I am NOT going to work on anything else until this is done!!!!!!  It is made from nothing but scraps, and I plan to piece the back from some of my hand dyes.  I originally worked really hard to make sure I didn't have like fabric's close together, now I am not trying quite so hard :)!

All Done!

 

All finished---quilting AND putting the binding on!!!!!!!!  I really do like this quilt!!!!  Almost want to keep it for myself, but I will be a good Grandmother and give it to my GS.  The backing is a red flannel---nice and soft!

Checking In!

I have been super busy with not only the end of semester activities at work, but also on the quilting front.

I finished the couple of quilts I had shared on the blog, but instead of looking to the large stack of UFO's for my next project:

I started a new one:

At the last guild meeting, there were several members who shared "modern" quilts.  I put that in quotes, since for me,  the "modern" quilts of today, look a lot like the "functional" quilts of Gee's Bend, and other early quilters.  For these quilters, the goal was to create a functional covering to keep person's warm.  They were not as concerned with "materials" as we are now,  and so used what was on hand, regardless to the color, amount or shape.  Now that improvisational technique is called "modern"....but that is a discussion we are planning to have at our retreat.

Now back to my "modern" quilt----I saw this quilt in a volume of Modern Quilts.  In the magazine, the center segment was pieced.  As I looked at it, I had a "Ah Ha" moment.  I remember that I had purchased (I don't remember where or when) some faux piecing fabric.  Don't know why, but I went into "the" closet and after knocking down several piles (I did put them back in neatly), I found it.  It was only a little over a 1.5 yards, but enough to make the quilt (and increase the size of course).  My grandson just turned 14 and wanted a more "grown up" quilt for his bed at his Mom's, so this will go to him.  It will be a good size twin and I think is a great quilt that can even be used when he is older.  I plan to quilt it with one of my latest Circle Lord Boards that is modern, but will leave it really soft (a request).  I will have at least one extra panel that I am going to make into a pillow for his bed.  Again, this validates my belief that if you purchase fabric you really like, even if you do not have a quilt in mind when the purchase is made, you will find a use for it later.  It also supports my belief that if you really like something, it is probably best to purchase at least two yards.

Speaking of guild, our guild (Zuri) has been invited to exhibit members quilts at the Bessie Smith Art Museum in Chattanooga.  The exhibit will begin at the same time the AQS Chattanooga show, and will go through the first of December.  Each member will have at least 2 quilts on display.  What an honor!  I am still in the process of choosing the one's I would like to submit.

At any rate, we are very excited and honored!

Checking In!

"THE Motherland" (I intend to keep the capitalization of THE as is), is about 90% completed.  I need to add the two borders and then it will be ready for quilting.  It is a BIG wall hanging---but I think I have the perfect wall.  I like this quilt, but am still undecided about the quilting---that will come though.

I also have been harvesting from my "garden".  I have never grown a yellow tomato, neither have I seen one in the store and this is my first one!

Isn't it pretty!  and it seems luscious!  So fresh!  I will let you know how it taste.  I also have a purple tomato plant and that one is beginning to turn purple!  Can't wait!

Well thanks for stopping by!