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!!

Update!

I have been busy with life AND quilting of course.  Just want to update you on the latest "goings on":

I have decide to name this "Good News".  It was not an easy quilt initially--certainly not for the novice, but once I figured it out it wasn't too bad.  After I had started this I began to worry a little about the red fabric's and bleeding, but it is a bit too late.  When I wash it I will just make sure I use lots of color magnets.  I used two layers of batting with this--a wool and a cotton.  Not because I really wanted to but the wool batting was terrible.  Very uneven---in some places you could read through it.  At any rate, the two did give great definition to the quilting, which you can't see in the picture.  I even sewing the binding down by hand!!!  This is a keeper for me.  I am going to look for a white coverlet (and put it on top since it is not big enough for my bed) and use it for my Christmas quilt.

This is a quilt made from the "No Name Block"---this was the subject of the workshop at the Guild Saturday.  This a the "scrappy version"---I just used whatever left over jelly roll parts I had.  It is a cute quilt!! It is destined as a gift for my niece to use to keep her warm in the car when she travels since my nephew likes to keep it really cool (keeps him alert).

This is the same quilt in a more controlled version.  Again using a jelly row, but with the same first and last strip (the white) on the strada.  This is going to be a donation quilt for an older child/toddler.  I do like it---the secondary pattern is neat and the white strips look like love knots or ribbon twists.  I think I might make this in a bed side quilt!  I am thinking about making a piano key border since I only used half of the jelly was needed after adding the white from yardage.

That's all that is going on here!  Thanks for stopping by!

My New Project!

This is my next project  UFO.  I have a sizzix cutter and really love the Wedding Ring Quilts.  This really isn't going to be the Wedding Ring however, but is called the "Pumpkin Seed" pattern.  It is a very old quilt pattern but I have "updated" it a bit.  The blocks are very big (18 inches) which makes the curves really easy to sew.  I am going to use various shades of red and the middle is a newsprint pattern.  The trick is joining the rows so they look like they are interlocking.  This is just the beginning, so "stay tuned" for my progress.  I still have the green "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul" to finish first before I work on this one full time.

I am going to teach a short class for the Guild and so had to put everything to the side to finish the "sample".  I have, it is quilted and I am in the process of sewing on the binding....so I have been busy although I haven't been posting.

Just wanted to update you!  Thanks for stopping by!

"Grandmothers House Dresses"

I remember when I was a little girl, we would go to visit my Grandmother and she always had on either print "housecoats", dresses or aprons  made from these prints.  While these reproductions of 30's, 40's or 50's prints are not always my favorites (I am not a pastel sort of girl), they bring back fond memories.  My friend Diane LOVES these prints and always shares her scraps with me.  There are some that I do like, especially if they are bright saturated colors.  I am on a mission to use as many of my scraps as possible.  I also included the few black and brown prints I had, to add a little interest or "pop".

I have an extensive collection of GO! dies and decided to use my Tumbler die to cut larger scrap pieces and put them into a "cuddle" quilt.  Cuddle because it is not really large enough to go on a bed, but will be perfect to wrap up in while watching television, or if I wake in the night and need an extra quilt.  I tried really hard to make sure no two prints were together, but failed.  There are two tumblers of the same fabric that are together, but I decided to leave them "as is".  I like the "imperfection" of quilting.  I quilted it with the traditional Baptist Fan and decided to bind the edges with the scallop on the sides.  I started to do it by hand, but "cooler heads" prevailed and I machine bound it so it is FINISHED!!!!  Click on the picture to enlarge it and you can see the quilting.  I rather like it!!!  The backing is a purple flannel and the binding is from a small piece of 30's yardage that I had!  A true stash quilt!!!

FINISHED!!!