Design Wall today

This is my design wall today, July 1, 2011.  The Mola in the bottom right was one my mother bought many years ago.  Today, I rescued it from a broken frame.  Lots of WIPs right now.  I need to get at least four of these finished soon.
Have a wonderful 4th, everyone.

Fabric Play

I started the day making a mug rug with scraps from other projects.  I needed something ready to show my sis how I do binding.  Very autumn-like, I think.

Next, I decided to make a mini for AAQI.  This one will finish at 9" x 10" with the binding.  I couldn't resist jumping into this Jacobs fabric.  It is one of the seashell fabrics.  I cut 1.5 inch squares and rearranged them to give a mosaic look.  I then did 1/4" sashing.   I added one larger solid block that picked up the orange in the main fabric.  I have to figure out how to quilt it now.  It reminds me of one of those domed aquariums where you stand in the middle and the fish swim all around you.

I ended my studio time with a little more work on my Kandinsky interpretation.  It is getting there.  There are still spaces to fill in.  I have been enjoying the process for this one.  No pattern or drawing.  Just cutting fabric that is the color I want and adding it to the mix.  I also have to figure out how to quilt this one when it is finished.

Tomorrow is another day to play with fabric.  Joyful quilting, everyone.

Quilt finish, Will's quilt, and new fabric

I finished En Vino Veritas just in time to put up the library display today.  After discussions with Tom and Will (SIL), I selected a dark gray/black batik for the binding.  I quilted the top with light lavender and the back with dark purple.  Here are some details of the quilting.

 

I decided to use a medium size overall stipple, because that is what I know how to do.  One of these days, I really need to set up a practice piece and learn to do something else.





Will started a new quilt for one of her sisters while she was here.  Don't you love the colors?  The sister is a strawberry blond and has a very traditionally styled house.  This is going to be perfect.

While Will was here, we visited quite a few quilt shops.  I did some stash building, as well as picked up some fabrics for a wedding quilt I need to get done before October 1.

I seem to be a sucker for these colors and the floral prints.  They jump off the shelf into my hands if they happen to be in whatever shop I enter.  One of these days, I may have enough to make a quilt.  I also love paisleys.  Go figure.

These are for the wedding quilt.  My sister thinks the greens are not right, so I will have to continue my search for the right green.  It is supposed to be kelly green.  If any of you know a line that has kelly green and white, please let me know.  I haven't found any yet.

Finally, I added to my tiny Jacobs collection. When I went into Island Fabrics and saw all that bright wonderful fabric on the walls, I was hooked.  I will build this stash a little at a time.  I am, however, going to make an AAQI quilt with the center fabric this weekend as my July quilt.




Will left today, so I have lost my quilt shop companion and have no excuses to be out of the studio for a while.  Joyful quilting, everyone.

Book Winner

 I can not figure out how to put that cute little random number generator here, but this is what came up. 
 
True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 8 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

The winner of the Sunbonnet Sue book is Sunnybec.  Congratulations.

Sunnybec said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I am trying to think of any tips I have picked up along the way as I have only been quilting since August last year. I especially like the one from Quilter in the Gap about the needles. I do sort of the same with my rotary cutter blades, I keep one of the plastic containers they come in, write "used" on it, and put all my used cutters in there, much safer than just throwing in the bin.

Thank you for all of you who entered the book giveaway.  I appreciate your interest. 
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Solid fabric art challenge

Over at 15 Minutes Play, some of us are participating in a new challenge swap.  We are to select a work of art and interpret it using solid fabrics and the methods we have been learning at 15 Min.  These mini quilts are to be 15 inches square and are to be done by August 1.  I have gone through three choices of paintings before I decided on this one.  It is Improvisation 7.
My partner likes Kandinsky, and is doing a fantastic quilt for me inspired by Kandinsky circles.  You can see what she has done so far here.  I have been working on what I see as the background.  My next step is to work on the foreground.  I am pulling fabrics and cutting pieces as I think I might need them.  My goal is not to reproduce the painting, but to use it as an inspiration and guide.  Right now, I don't like the black and white area at the top left.  I am going to have to slice it and add something else to make it look the way I want.  The finished portion is laying on a 15" square of paper so I have a sense of where I am going size-wise.  So far, I am really enjoying this process.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Shop Hop fun

Today, My SIL and I joined the hoards of quilters in Western Washington on the annual Shop Hop.  The Hop started Wednesday, and we did visit one shop then, but today we visited four.  Our first adventure of the day, however, was a ferry ride across Puget Sound, or as it is now being called, the Salish Sea.  We were headed for a garage sale where a quilter who works in a fabric store was destashing.  All the fabrics were packed in very large plastic bags and priced according to the pound.  It averaged out to about $1.50 per pound.  Here are some of the yummies I found at the garage sale.

In this bag, I found four plus yards of the fabric on the left.  It is browner than shows here.  It is perfect for the back of the traditional quilt I have been working on.  I also found several yards of fabric with Japanese prints that will go with other fabric I have to make a quilt I have had in mind for a while.



Look at all the yummy reds in this bag.  Some of it is reproduction 30's.  Quite fun.

At this annual shop hop, each participating shop designs a quilt block around a piece of fabric.  This years fabric is the blue floral in the front.  As you take your "passport" into each shop, you are given the pattern for that shop's block plus at least three pieces of fabric, including the main fabric.  I really like the fabric for this year, so I bought a little extra to make a cheery table topper with a few of the blocks.

At the last shop we visited, I fell in love with all the fabric.  Island Quilter on Vashon Island has the best collection of Fasset, Jacobs, and all the rest of those wonderful designers who create such bright and bold fabrics.  They also carry plenty of blender fabric that goes with it.  They have a room of novelty fabrics as well as a room of yarn. I wanted one of everything but the yarn, but I am on a budget.  I am going to have to collect them slowly.  I bought these three to start a quilt for Bella.  She wants purples, pinks, and fairies.  I think this is a good start.
All in all, four quilt shops, a garage sale, and three ferry rides later, we had a wonderful day.  We came home to a sunny day, and nothing is prettier that a sunny day in the Pacific Northwest - except maybe the fabrics at Island Quilter.
Tomorrow, we celebrate Bella's third birthday.  Whoopee!  Tonight, I start putting the binding on En Vino Veritas, if I can stay awake long enough. 
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Travel tip and a book giveaway

Many of you may already know this tip, but for those of you who don't, I want to share this great place to visit when you are in the Seattle, WA area.  Martingale Press is located about 25 minutes NE of Seattle.  They give tours on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at 1:00.  The tours are limited to 12 people, so you need to call about a month ahead to book your tour.  Why tour a press house, you may ask?  Martingale is one of the big publishers of books about quilting.  At any given time, there are wonderful quilts adorning all the walls.  The tour guide will take you around through the offices and tell you about the various quilts and the books they are in, or are destined for.  The quilts we saw yesterday were beautiful.  There was even a large purple cow that is going to be in an upcoming book.  There was no photography allowed, but there is something better.

BOOKS!

At the end of the tour, you are taken into the book room.  Books and patterns that are over six months old may be found in this room.  Each book is five dollars, except the ones with the blue dots which are three dollars.  I came home with $135.00 worth of books and patterns for $29.00. 

I saw wonderful quilts from each of these two books, and was so happy to find them.  They are each filled with wonderful patterns.  I would like to propose one of the quilts in Twosey-Foursey Quilts for our guild raffle quilt for 2012.

I have been wanting the Rose of Sharon Block Book for a while now.  I love these blocks, and have been wanting to have some applique to take as handwork when I need to wait places or watch television in the evening.  Even though these patters are for machine applique, I can easily adapt them to handwork.  I also found a block that I want to use for the center white blocks in the traditional quilt I am working on.  There are 83 blocks in the book and template patterns to make them all.

This book combines piecework with applique.  It is pretty traditional, but I really like the patterns.

There were many more books that I wanted, but I had set a limit on myself before I went in. 

On top of all the wonderful books I purchased, I also won a beautiful new book called A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue by Christine Porter and Darra Williamson, and was published in 2011.

This book has 12 small quilt patterns (22"x26"), each commemorating a different month of the year.  There are also directions for making 12"x16" blocks to be set into a bigger quilt. The retail price on the book is $24.99, if you are into that sort of thing. This is the book I am going to give away.  If you would like this book, please leave me a comment telling me your favorite quilting tip. I will draw randomly next Monday for a winner.  You don't have to become a follower, but if you would like to, I would be very happy.    Please make sure I can contact you if you are the winner.

Good luck to all of you who want this book.

Joyful quilting, everyone.

Color - Wow!

You may remember this piece I did a couple of months ago.  I used the Harmonic Conversion pattern from Ricky Tim's book of the same name.  I only used one fabric to create the inside, then added the two borders.  Well. . . . when I was cleaning a space in the studio, I came across it again in a pile of UFOs.  I also found a piece of Spirit by Lila Tueller for Moda in another pile.  Hmmmm.  Could they possibly go together?  How would I make them harmonize?

I know you are not used to this much bold color from me, but maybe this will be a new direction. I added four inch borders and fussy cut some of the pattern elements to applique on to the top.  This is what it looks like now.  I still have stitching to do, but I am very excited by this look right now.  The two fabric lines work great together because of color and line.  I was able to harmonize them by bringing elements past the border into the center.  This is certainly different from the very traditional piece I have been working on.  It has been interesting to see the drop off in comments with the traditional piece.  I wonder if it is just coincidence.  Anyway, here are a couple of closeups of the applique pieces fused onto the top.

 

I do hope you are all enjoying the longest day of the year.  As I write this, my sister-in-law is sitting on the ground at Dulles International Airport, in a plane, waiting for yet another thunder storm to pass.  So far, the flight is over two hours late taking off.  Oh well.  You can't mess with Mother Nature when she gets excited.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Flying Geese border done

I got the flying geese borders done and on the design wall.  This quilt has a decidedly more traditional bent than my others, and I am really liking it.  I am a bit bothered by the large background spaces in the center.  Since the print fabric is Perennials, I think I will have to come up with some flowers and vines to applique to make it more interesting.  I was cleaning out the guest room this morning, and I found some old scrapbooking paper with some great floral designs that I think will work really well.  I think that will be my next step before I attach the FG borders.  The center is 48" x 33" and I think that is large enough to try and applique on.  Isn't it interesting when we stay open to the possibilities instead of being rigid about reaching the end result.  That, to me, is one of the very best things about quilting. 
The guest room is ready.  Tomorrow, I need to finish sorting out the studio.  I am moving in another table so two of us have room to work.  If only I had another sewing machine.  That's okay.  We can share.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Some orphan blocks and stacks of flying geese

Today, I decided to play with flying geese.  These are beginnings of the next border for my KT Perennials quilt.  They are 3"x6" finished.  I used fourteen of the patterns in the fat eights bundle I got from Green Fairy Quilts.  If you haven't purchased fabric from them, you have really missed out.  They have great sales and the shipping is very fast.  Their selection seems somewhat limited, but what there is is wonderful.
Back to the geese.  These borders will go around the center that you can see on the design wall here.  The blocks in the center are 12" squares and the borders are 3".  So far, I have used two different fabrics for the backgrounds and borders.  I shopped my stash for both, but I think I am going to have to purchase some yardage to finish the next three borders.  This is a pretty traditional quilt, but I do like it all.
When I was searching for fabric, I  found a small box holding these little beauties.

Many years ago (the 70s, I think), I fell in love with the Hmong reversed applique and embroidery called Pa nDau, or flower cloth.  This is a very old style of needlework that was done by the women in the culture.  The Hmong lived simple agrarian lives in the mountains until the Vietnam war.  They became allies of the United States, which put them at risk at the end of the war.  They took refuge in refugee camps in Thailand and Laos until they could relocate.  Many of them ended up on the U.S.  I purchased these blocks from a group of Hmong women in Seattle who came together to help support their families with their fine work.  I am so glad I found these again.

Here is a close up of the front and back of one of the more elaborately embroidered pieces.  The stitches are minuscule, and the work is incredible.  I don't know what I will do with these treasures, but I will think of something.  They will be interesting in a small quilt.  Hmmmm.

Tomorrow, I have to muck out my studio and the guest room to get ready for my sister in law.  I want to make room for her to work on her quilts while she is here.  This is going to be so much fun!

Joyful quilting, everyone.

Here we are after our recital. Bella, in pink, was born to be on stage.  She did a fantastic job.  Lisa and I were two of our quartet.  According to the applause and the comments of our family members and some audience members, we did a fine job.  We sang a medley of Broadway musical songs through time.  Once we decided to just have fun, we all really enjoyed it.  I am so glad I did this and can check it off the bucket list.  Oh, and here is the hat.  It is a bit crooked, but I think you get the idea.

I spent a few hours in my studio today and caught up on my June BOMs for 15 Minutes Play.  First, I needed to make some fabric.  I have a plastic bag full of scraps just for these blocks.  I would like to make a quilt with the blocks at the end. 

The first June block is called Beacon Lights.  I have to say I have never seen this block before.  I enjoyed making the block because I got practice making quarter square triangle squares.  I haven't done that before.  This is not my favorite block I have ever made, but it will be fine in the quilt.

The second block for June is the Courthouse Steps.  I do really like this block.  I am using different background material for each block.  For the Courthouse Steps, I used a burnt orange.  I like the way it looks with the turquoise based made fabric.

Tomorrow, I think I will start making flying geese with the Kansas Troubles Perennials.  I also want to start getting everything ready for my sister-in-law's visit.  She is coming from the D.C. area to spend a week with us.  I am really looking forward to her visit.  We are going to do many quilty things.
Until tomorrow, 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

Sunday and the design wall

This being my 100th post, you would think I would have something really important to share, or at the very least, a giveaway.  Alas, nothing earth shaking has gone on today in the studio, and I really don't have anything to give away.  I think I may try and do a giveaway on my 65th birthday in December, but not today.
I did put the star blocks together and added the sashings and first border.  I am at a standstill until I find fabric for the wings on the flying geese border that is next, as well as a border outside of that.  I am happy that my measurements have worked out so far.  I expect they will be fine because I have done the calculations very carefully.  I enjoy coming up with my own quilt designs, or at least I think they are my own.  There is nothing new in quilting, though, is there.
As you can see from the design wall, I have not settled inside any particular quilting box.  I love trying new things.  I would be really bored if I did the same thing all the time.  That is the beauty of quilting, I think.  There are so many ways to cut up fabric and put it back together again. 
Speaking of cutting up fabric and putting it back together again, I have joined another challenge at 15 Minutes Play.  This time, we are to take a painting and interpret it into a 15" quilt using solids.  At first, I was going to use this painting by Diebenkorn called Berkley 23.

After playing around with it for a couple of days, I decided it was not going to work for me.  So then, I took a look around my inspiration board and found this.

This is Three Russian Dancers by Degas.  I love the colors and the fluid lines.  I think this will really work for a free-piecing  fabric piece.  Now, all I have to do is find solid fabric in the colors I need.  I just don't have many solids.  Of course, I may keep looking for an inspiration piece that is more perfect than this.  After all, I do have until the first of August.
I am with Bella on Monday and Tuesday this week.  On Saturday night, I am actually going to sing on a stage with a very small group (four of us), and I got the hat done for that.  Wednesday, my sister is coming over and we are going to load her first large quilt on the frame and fire up Priscilla.  It looks like a full week ahead.  I will be back here on Wednesday.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Painting with fabric - part 2

This morning, I was excited to work more on the iris project.  I finished drawing all the pieces on the SteamASeam and cut them apart.  Then, I put them into piles for the different fabrics I was using.  I ended up using five plus the little piece of yellow.  After I got them tacked down on the right fabric, I cut them out and started building the puzzle.  After I got everything in place, I realized that I had to transfer everything to the fabric I selected for the background.  Hmmmm.  I know there are easier ways to do this, but I just decided to eyeball it.  After all, it is my drawing and if I changed it a bit as I moved it, that was okay.

The next step is the machine work.  I picked up some King Tut in four shades of purple some time ago on sale.  I know I am going to use a double button hole stitch around the edges of the pieces.  Then, I want to do some thread play.  Right now, it is on the design wall so I can sit with it a while before I tackle the next challenge.
Then, I changed directions completely and pulled out my fat eighth bundle of Perennials by Kansas Trouble for Moda.  While I was staying with Bella, I drew up pattern designs for four quilts.  One of them was for this fabric.  In the center are six of my favorite stars.  Around that there will be flying geese.  The outside border is also fun.  I didn't get the stars completed, but enough to lay them out on the design wall.  There will be sashing between the stars, but I don't know what color yet.  I love the fabric line and I want to show it off in this quilt.

What fun things are you working on these days? 
Joyful quilting, everyone.