First Sunday inDecember

I added the applique pieces to this piece and I like it a little better.  I am hoping that I will be inspired to do a great job quilting it.  It needs feathers or something.  It will be a great practice piece.  It is a good thing I have some of this challenge fabric left to try again.

As part of our Univera team, our group does charity stockings each December.  In addition to the fancy soaps and hand lotions I have collected this year, I decided to make some small pouches to be included.  I used fabric I had on hand.  These are fun and easy to make, just time consuming.  I do wish I would get faster at these things, but I guess I need more practice.

My most recent project is this Christmas small quilt.  I started with my scraps in my Christmas fabric bin and created these nine patches.

Then I cut them to create a disappearing nine patch, one of my favorite patterns.

Finally, I searched for and found this wonderful angel pattern by Erin Russek.  I changed it up a little, but not too much.  I am still deciding whether or not to add eyes.  I always worry that I will do it wrong and ruin the overall effect.  I am very happy with how this came out.  I really like the fabrics I found to use in the background, and I think the angel is so sweet.  I found this pattern a long time ago, and almost forgot about it.  If you love it, you can still find it at http://erinrussek.typepad.com/one-piece-at-a-time/2011/10/celebrate-christmas-quilt-a-long.html.

That is pretty much what I have been up to this week in the studio.  I hope you all have been enjoying your week.  Joyful quilting, everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

Playing with Piet Mondrian

It all started with this challenge fabric from Patty at Rebels.  I got quite a nice piece of it and have been looking at it for a while now.  I really like all the colors, but I didn't know what to create with it.

Then, I started thinking about rectangles, which reminded me of Piet Mondrian.  I drew a sketch and then started pulling fabric.

I found these in the solids bin and the one batik was on the table from another project.  I decided to use it as well.

The first thing I did was to cut some motifs from the challenge fabric, cut them up, and put them back together again with small strips, a la Mondrian.

Then I got busy cutting more pieces and sewing more blocks together.  I forgot to take more photos, so you will just have to imagine some of the steps in the process.

After moving things around quite a bit, I finally got it all put together.  I have a couple of small pieces I am going to applique on the top to make the colors work better and balance the design, but this is what I have so far.  Unfortunately, I cannot seem to get the colors right on the screen.  It is not as clashy as it looks here.  The green is darker and the orange is redder and duller.  This is about 24" x 30" right now.  I don't think I will do borders.  This is a bright wall hanging for a dark corner.

Another piece I worked on over the weekend was this Amish Bars mini for a doll quilt exchange.  I have never done the cable stitch before and it was interesting creating a pattern that fit my design.  I am very happy with how it turned out.

It even looks okay on the back.  As most of you know, I am not the world's greatest quilter, but I am practicing something other than an all over meander once in a while.

Tomorrow, we will have a small family gathering to share Indian food since all by my son-in-law are vegetarians, and we love dal and palak paneer.  On Friday, I am going to try my hand at glass blowing with my professional woman's group.  On Saturday, Rebels is hosting Victoria for a tea.  On Sunday, I am going to a home party for Parklane Jewelry.  I sincerely hope you are all going to have as much fun this holiday weekend as I am.

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends who celebrate, and joyful quilting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trying to find this fabric

Good morning, everyone.  It has been a long and busy time.  I have so much to share.  First of all, Janis the hen has learned to crow.  Apparently this is not unusual, but it is sure annoying.

Second, I was at the annual convention for Univera, the natural health products company I am associated with, and I won the 2012 Weight Management Throwdown!  It was a complete surprise, and loads of fun to be famous for a couple of days.

Because I only have limited time this morning, I will put off sharing what has been going on in the studio until the next post except for a couple of things.

First - Do you know what this fabric is called, who made it, and where I can get more?

Second is a sneak peak at the doll quilt for the August doll quilt swap.

I can't show the rest because my swap partner, the very talented Sharon Vrooman of Vrooman's Quilts, has been known to stop by here once in a while.

There is much more in the works - one piece I need to get finished today - so I will say goodbye for now.  Joyful quilting, everyone.



Back in the studio at last

I finally made it back into the studio to work on quilts.  It has been way too long.  The place was such a mess, I couldn't find a table top or anything that I was working on.  After spending some time straightening things out, I decided to work on some small projects.  I have posted the red and white part of this one before.  Here it is with the border.  I just need to quilt it and add a red binding and it will be done and ready to send to Germany as part of the Doll Quilt Monthly swap for July.  The theme is Patriotic.  I am hoping red, white, and blue fulfills the theme.

This is the June quilt for the doll quilt swap.  This theme is Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue.  The lighter border is old fabric I had in my stash.  The darker fabric is new from my trip back East.  The borrowed is the idea for the pattern from an antique quilt pattern I saw in a book.  The blue should be obvious.  This one was really fun to make. I really like the dark fabric.  I wish I had purchased more of it.  This one is on its way to Florida.

This last piece was made for a new friend who had us over for dinner the other night.  I knew she liked purple, so that was where I started.  It is a 12" square with fast finish triangles for hanging, if so desired.  It is always tricky to make anything for someone you don't know well.  The colors are a bit tame compared to what I have been working with lately, but it was very calming and peaceful to work on.  Maybe a larger calm quilt is in my future.  We will see.

For those who are interested, we did get the chickens.  We have four beautiful Americauna chickens:  Veronica Lake (the blondest and most difficult to get into the coop at night), Janis Joplin (the one with the darkest coloring who dares to be different), Katherine Hepburn (the classiest looking and the one who behaves the best), and Lady Bug (the one with the dark cheeks who Bella named).  I will try and get photos posted soon.  So far, we have enjoyed getting to know them.  They are pretty quiet, making only soft murmuring sounds unless they are upset at us.  They love the weeds from our flower beds and oatmeal.  By the end of the summer, we are hoping for fresh eggs with beautiful blue shells and creamy yolks.  As we go along, I will add snippets of our life as backyard chicken farmers to this blog, along with more quilting adventures.

Until later, joyful quilting, everyone.

Friday in the studio

Blue painters tape is my friend.  I have debated several different ways to quilt this little doll quilt, and finally decided on cross hatching.  I am not the queen of straight lines, so I dug out my trustee painter's tape and created a grid.  I could have used a fabric marking system, but have not had success finding something that I like.  I thought the magic blue pen that goes away with water that is all the rage would be the thing, but I get so frustrated trying to get it to really go away.  Usually, it takes three times with water before it stays gone.  Anyway, the tape works great for straight lines.  I used the fantastic, fabulous, wonderful walking foot that my fantastic, fabulous, wonderful sister gave me for my birthday, and the quilting was done in no time flat.  Just quilt one way, remove the tape, lay the tape in the other direction, then finish the quilting.  I have the binding on and ready to sew down this evening.  This little fun piece will head for parts east this weekend.

This is the other thing I finished today.  It is for the Stash Bee.  It is supposed to have perspective, but my husband thinks the rows of pink flowers going off into the distance are just confusing.  I had great fun creating this windmill house.  The blocks are all different kinds of houses.  I think this will be a fun quilt.

I have two more things I have to get in the mail by Monday.  One is done, and the other is almost done.  Then I can work on my April challenge from Modern 8 Create, this weeks Peach color challenge at 15 Minutes Play, and the piece for the International Robin.  Of course, there are May bee blocks, the May doll quilt, and my H2H quilt to finish by the end of next month.  I am also taking three days of workshops with Gwen Marston in the middle of May.  Another fun month to look forward to.  As long as I keep working on these small pieces, I don't add to my growing pile of quilts that need quilting.  I really need to get that stack done.  I also need to clean the studio!  So much to do, and so little time.  What's a quilter to do?

Joyful quilting, everyone.

Traditional small quilt, Ochre color challenge fabrics

I can't show all of this doll quilt, but these are the some of the yellows, greens, and purples I have used.  I have used two very traditional blocks in this quilt.  Can you guess what they are?  If anyone tries to tell you that making minis takes much less time than bigger quilts, it is safe to assume they are pulling your leg.  There is just as much cutting, although the cuts are shorter.  There is just as much sewing, although the seams are shorter.  There are just as many corners to match and points not to lose.  This top has been great fun.  I am thinking of quilting it with Bishop's Fans, but have to learn how to do that first.  My initial sketch did not look very good. Back to the drawing board.

This weeks color challenge at 15 Minutes Play is Ochre.  I happen to love this color.  There is such a great variety in ochre from the deep reddish browns to the golden tans.  I dug through my scraps, and found a couple of deconstructed shirts as my base and pulled the other colors to go with it.  I may get time to build the block tomorrow, but it may have to wait until Monday.  If I have time after my tasting event, I may get to it. 

If not, until Monday, joyful quilting, everyone.

  

A house and a doll blanket

This is wonky house seven.  Only five more to go.  I machine appliqued the tree onto this one.  I am sad that I don't have enough of the sky fabric left to make any more blocks with it.  I think it is a great sky.  If you want to see more great wonky houses, go over the the Wonky House Flickr page.

After I finished the house, I decided to put this doll quilt together.  Last week, when Bella was in the room with my stash, she pulled out the fabric with the blue flowers.  She decided she loved it.  Then she pulled the red and white to go with it.  Next, she pulled the pink and red and said she needed one more.  I pointed her toward the teal.  She wanted it to have flowers, but decided it was okay when we couldn't find any teal with flowers.  Then she asked me if I would make another doll quilt with them with a cuddly back.  I think she means minke, but she will get flannel.  I had the fabric on my table for a few days when I decided to just start playing. 

I really like how this pattern worked out.  I wouldn't mind having a larger quilt like this.  Unfortunately, the red with blue flowers is from a deconstructed shirt, and it was a small shirt.  The pink and red was from an estate sale bag of scraps, and there is very little of that left.  I have plenty of the red and white I got at a garage sale next door.  It is home decor fabric.  The teal is from a bag of solids I was given by a friend.   I think there is enough of everything to make myself a mini to hang on the wall, or a pillow top.  This quilt is 20"x20".

I think the snow is about at an end for us.  It snowed steadily all morning, and we got about 5" total in our neighborhood.  It has been so beautiful.  I think most people will be happy to see it gone.  We are supposed to get back into our typical winter rain starting tomorrow. 

Joyful quilting, everyone.

Doll quilt top done and ready to quilt

I went to our local IKEA today in search of a doll bed, and I got the last one in stock.  I am so glad I went today, or I would have been really upset.  It is very cute, and just needs a quilt.  I saved lots of fabric from Bella's quilt because I knew I wanted to make a doll quilt for her.  I decided to make on in the jelly roll race style.  I cut my strips 1.5" wide and various widths.  I foolishly thought I could control where the different patterns and colors went, but I won't do that again.  Actually, I really like the surprise element in the jelly roll race.  This little top is about 17" x 19".  Just right for the little bed.

It is now in the stack of little projects to quilt.  I made sandwiches of everything this afternoon, and made the bindings.  I have five mug rugs, one doll quilt, one AAQI mini (that I am hand quilting tonight), an 18" square red and white mini, and an exchange 12" square (that is also going to be hand quilted).  With luck, and patience, I will get it all done on time.

Joyful quilting, everyone.