February AAQI quilt

Hope Rises

8" x 10.5"

I realized the other day that I hadn't made my AAQI mini for this month.  I belong to the quilt-a-month club at AAQI, and I haven't missed a month in a year.  I didn't want to start now.  I had drawn out a sketch for this one a while ago while I was waiting for Bella at dance class.  I wanted a Phoenix-like bird rising from the dark into the light.  This morning, I pulled my blacks and whites and created the background strata.  I then pulled what I thought were going to be really bright colors for the bird.  They are not nearly as bright as I thought they were going to be.  They are very spring like.  Hey - that symbolism works okay for what I wanted.  Spring is rebirth and hope.  Once I got everything cut out and appliqued on, I started building pebbles at the bottom where it was solid black.  I used a variegated King Tut by Superior in a really light mix so they would stand out.  Then, I put some FMQ feathers on the bird and some wavy lines going up from the pebbles.  The binding is another batik that is very spring like in this piece.

It was very interesting creating a piece like this.  I haven't done that much FMQ except overall stippling, so I really had to concentrate on what I wanted it to look like.  I didn't want to pebbles to look uniform or perfect, and that was no problem.  Ha ha.  I think I could have put more feathers on the bird, but I wasn't sure where to go with that, so I stopped while I was ahead.

I am not sure how much studio time I will have this weekend, so I may not be back until Monday.  Until then, joyful quilting everyone.

More progress



Here is today's JL block.  I noticed yesterday, when all the blocks were on the wall, that I needed another pair of really dark ones.  I found this fabric in my stash, but don't know what it is because the selvage was missing.  I think it is going to work very well.  14 down, and 34 to go.

I wanted to tell you about my adventure with Tom at the local chain fabric store.  We went in to get ten yards of my favorite batting, Warm and Natural.  We went to the back, where it is usually hanging, and there was none there. There was Warm and White, and Tom suggested I get it instead.  I don't like the white, and there were not ten yards on the roll, but after looking at the other batting they had to offer, I decided to try it.  I was armed with my 50% off coupon, but of course the batting was already on sale at 30% off so the coupon was no good.  That always seems to be the way.  Tom was amused by this when I explained it to him.  Before we got the white batting cut, I asked the clerk if they had the natural in the back somewhere.  She informed me they don't carry it.  I was flabbergasted since they have always carried it before.  Another clerk, who overheard the conversation, said there was probably a bolt in a box in the back.  We went back and found it.  Hurray!  The first clerk set about measuring the batting and lost count about half way through.  Tom began to chuckle.  Check-out was just as much fun.  Only one register had enough cash to take cash customers.  Of course, we didn't know that until we got our turn at a non-cash register and had to go back to the end of the line for the cash register. It seems as if everyone used cash yesterday.  By the time we got out to the car, Tom was laughing out loud.  It was contagious.  From now on, I will be able to find the humor in my visits to this store.

When I was cleaning out a basket from an old project, I found these fun HSTs and built another quilt for AAQI.  This one is 11" x 7.5".  I love pinwheels, but usually don't make them because I have trouble with the centers.  This piece went together pretty easily.

I made this BOM block using some of the fabric I made yesterday.  Of all the BOMs, this one should be the easiest.  I managed to mess it up a few times before I got it put together.  Hmmmm.



Last, but not least, I did some more building on this piece.  I love these colors together, but I realize they are not every bodies taste.  I also realized I needed more lights.  I dug through the stash and found some pale purple batik.  I will add some in tomorrow.  I also need another dark, but don't have what I need.  Since my palette is limited, I think it needs to be purple.  Today, I added in some red/orange stripe fabric from another thrift store skirt.  I really love this fabric, so I am glad it works with this.

I guess that is all for today.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring.  

Joyful quilting, everyone. 

Friendship stars and card tricks

As part of the October challenge over at Modern 8 Create, I had to create a card trick block.  This is the first time I have been really successful with this block.  I actually made two of them, cut apart the second one and created this.

If you want to see more interesting things people are doing with this block, head on over to Modern 8 Create.
I also spent some time working on Hokule'a.  I built a stack of friendship stars out of old shirts, a muumuu, and some bright gold batik. This is where she is now,

I have decided to keep the star in the lower right corner as I build the quilt.  I am actually listening to what the quilt wants on this one.  I have quite a bit of Hawaiian fabric left to use from yardage I bought when I lived there as from clothes we no longer wear.  I have another quilt in progress using some of this fabric.  I will show it later when I get more done.
The last thing I did today was make my September quilt for AAQI.  I am calling it Calm.  Be sure and check out the other mini art quilts for sale over at the AAQI site.

We are having company for the next three days, then I am back with Bella on Tuesday, so I may not be posting much for the next week or so.  I will do what I can.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Quilting days

This is my sister, Kim, her first time quilting a quilt.  This was also her first large quilt.  Isn't it beautiful.  It is the largest quilt my frame will handle.  Kim is a natural free motion quilter.  This quilt is going to look stunning on her bed.
I finished quilting the D9P and got it off the frame just before Kim got here yesterday.  This is the quilt I made with the charm packs, Fandango by Kate Spain for Moda.  It is my first charm pack quilt.

I finished binding it this morning and attached the label.  I delivered it this evening to Robin, who has been my singing coach all year.  Saturday is the big recital where I make my public singing debut in which I actually have a couple of solo parts.

The last thing I did today was to finish this AAQI quilt.  It is 9" x 11".  I quilted it with triangles in each of the orange and gold wedges and micro stippling around the outside.  Now, I have three ready to register.

Tomorrow, my sis is coming to finish quilting her quilt.  I have an appointment with a quilter who I really respect about the next steps for my iris project.  Tomorrow night, I have dress rehearsal.  It is also my daughter's birthday.  Busy days.  Ain't retirement grand!
Joyful quilting.
Miki

Orange and Blue in a Dresden Platter

I worked on my Dresden platter today.  First I cut the pieces in 2 inch strips.  That was my first mistake.  I thought I measured correctly, but I should have added another 1/4 inch.  It was pretty touch and go making everything meet, but I was able to get it all put together.

 

After I got it all trimmed, my husband and I auditioned three different center possibilities.  At first, I was sure I was going to like the one in the center first.  Then Tom pulled the fabric on the left, and I liked it better, but it still wasn't what I wanted.  I dug through the scrap basket when Tom saw a tiny piece of the third fabric, and I found one just the right size with the spiral on it.  That is the one I selected.

Now, everything is fused down and ready for the next step.  I am trying to decide whether or not to stitch this down by hand or machine.  I was thinking about adding some decorative embroidery stitches.  At the garage sale, the seller gave me a huge bag of embroidery thread, and I want to get started doing some embroidery again.  Maybe this will be the right project to get started.
I also finished stitching En Vino Veritas together and moved it from the design wall to the quilting rack. I even found backing fabric for it. I want to get it quilted soon, along with the six other quilts waiting on the quilt rack.  All together there is one gift, four charity quilts, and two I want to enter into my guild's show in July.  I better get busy.

Joyful quilting, everyone.

Looking for a small quilty gift? Try the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.

I am still having great fun with Bella, so no new projects from my quilt studio.  I just wanted to invite you to take a look at all the wonderful small quilts available for sale over at AAQI.  The June quilt auction is also open right now.  Those quilts may be found here.  I have my eye on a couple of the auction quilts.  AAQI has raised over $500,000 for Alzheimer's research and education since it began in 2006.  Purchasing a gift quilt, or one that you want to hang in your own home, is a wonderful way you can participate in finding ways to cure this horrible disease.  Please hop on over and take a look at what many great quilters are doing.

A new AAQI quilt

Today, I made a new mini quilt for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  I call this one Inside Out.  The name came from the fact that the points of the upper star are outside the red arc and the points on the smaller star are on the inside of the red arc.  I used made fabric for the corners of the stars and the background fabric.  I added the red to the turquoises for a surprise effect.  I really like the way it is working.  Playing with colors is so much fun!
Tomorrow, I am going to do more work on the ribbon quilt before I go over to watch Bella for a few hours in the early evening.  I will try and post progress before I go.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Productive Studio Day

I had a great day in the studio today.  It has been a while since I had a whole day to play.  I built five blocks, quilted one, and added decorative stitches to another. 

The first block was a practice piece so I could try reverse applique.  When I was growing up, my mother had a wonderful wall hanging called a mola.  It was made by layering different colored fabric, then cutting out small designs and needle turning the raw edges.  I have always wanted to try this technique, so today I grabbed some pinks from the stash.  I started by drawing a large circle on a 9.5 inch piece of fabric.  Then I put another piece of fabric face up behind the circle and stitched on the circle line.  I cut away the top fabric close to the stitching, then covered the edge with a fancy stitch.  Next, I drew a smaller circle on the top fabric that overlapped the first circle.  I selected a new fabric to put in back, and followed the same procedure, using a different fancy stitch.  The third circle is smaller and has a dark fabric.  I cut away the extra fabric on the back as I went.  I quilted it with echo stitching on the machine.  The fabric at the bottom right is the binding wrapped on card stock.  Here is a detail shot of the fancy stitching.

After I finished this one, I decided to create a new Alzheimer's quilt out of a piece I started earlier.  I added a narrow turquoise border, and some meanders of decorative stitches.  I like where it is going, but I have to be careful about the size.  I took this photo before I pressed the borders.  They are actually even but the angle I took the photo makes them look crooked.

I made two new blocks for the Market Basket quilt.  I am really loving this quilt.  My goal is to make two blocks a day until I have 25.  As I cut each food fabric for the block, I also cut the rectangles needed for the sashing.  I will put them all together when I have all the blocks together

Finally, I cut some flannel for a new preemie quilt and built a block.  Unfortunately, I didn't buy enough of the fabric on the outside, so I will have to make another trip to the fabric store.   Too bad ;)  Don't you just love the little pink elephant?

A new Alzheimer's Art Quilt and a pieced border

I decided to make a small Tanzanian Tango for my March Alzheimer's Art Quilt.  This time, I started with 8" squares.  I cut my strips smaller and made sure I used a scant 1/4 inch.  These quilts have a maximum size limit of 9" x 12" including binding.  I didn't have enough room to add the same borders as the original piece, so I decided to add the black and gold pieces to the ends, then use orange for the binding.  This piece is 8" x 11.5".

I worked on the second border for Rumba today, as well.  I made strips of hand dyed fabric in two different shades of turquoise and a sky blue along with the teal from the containment border and the original fabric.  I sewed the strips together in a wonky fashion to match off-kilter lines in the original fabric.  Then I cut the striped sections into 3" sections.  I sewed them end to end to make long enough strips for the piece.  I am really happy with the way this is coming along.  I like the way the blues continue to bring out the bright oranges, reds, and golds.  I don't know what comes next.  Does this stop here, or do I continue to add borders to make this into a lap quilt.  Time will tell.  Presently, the piece is 23" x 24".

New Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative quilt

This one is called Honolulu Sunset. When Tom and I first moved to Hawaii, we lived in Honolulu, right across the street from the beach. I loved watching the sunsets. They were always so beautiful. I decided I wanted to recreate the moments in a small quilt.
It amazes me that it takes so long to create a 9" by 12" quilt. I started with a very rough sketch. Then, I looked through my books and online for a foundation pattern for a blazing sun. Of course, I couldn't find one, so I had to design one. That was a challenge in and of itself. Once I got the design done and the parts numbered, I dug into my stash for just the right fabrics. I had a few problems with the foundation piecing, but eventually worked it all out. I love the fabric I found for the sun's reflection on the water. I used a gold thread to quilt it to simulate sun on the water. I am going to bind it in a dark green, then send it on its way to be auctioned off.
I also wanted to share a photo of Isabella with her very own stash. She developed a love of fabric when she designed the quilt for her Grandma Edwards. That same grandma gifted Isabella with the fabric she was making yo-yos with. Isabella has a wonderful time with her fabric, and today she informed me she needs more fabric to put up on my design wall for a new quilt. Oh dear, what have we done.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative quilt

This is my first quilt for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. I first discovered this program on The Quilt Show blog. I really like that there are so many charitable opportunities for quilters. I am currently involved in four. I have mentioned the American Hero Quilt project, my quild's preemie quilts for babies in a local NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), and making blocks for a cancer patient's quilt. This quilt is 9" by 12". The quilts for this project can be no bigger. They have to fit in a priority mailer from the post office. These small quilts are auctioned to raise funding for Alzheimer's research. I think it is a fantastic idea. There are art quilts as well as more traditional style quilts. Check it out and see if there are any treasures calling your name.

I also completed four more blocks for the disappearing nine patch. The other thing I got done this morning was to wash and iron all the new fabric I purchased at my going out of business quilt shop, Pieces, in Renton. When I went in, I knew I wanted fabric to back my American hero quilt, when I get it done. I also looked for lights, Asian prints, brights, and some African prints. Some of these were to fill holes in my stash (lights), and others just needed to come home with me. Quilting is certainly an expensive art. If not for the generosity of a friend who decided to give me her large stash when she quit quilting, I would not be able to do any of the things I am now doing. I have been building my stash for a couple of years, little by little.

I have now completed six quilts, including the alzheimer's quilt. I am going to add my goal list for 2011 in the sidebar. I need to put it somewhere to remind myself not to keep adding more without finishing what is already on my list. I also have to figure out how to make quilt labels, and a good way to name my quilts. <>