In search of quality fabric on sale

I put all the cut up pieces of the D9P on the design wall.  I played with them for a while, and I think this is how they will be sewn together.  One of the things I don't like about working with charm packs, when I am working with more than one, is the number of repeated fabrics.  For some reason, it really bothered me with this project.  I like the way it looks now, but I was really struggling with it.  Now, all I need is to sew it together and find some border fabric and backing.  No easy trick for someone on a budget.

I set off early this morning to go to SewExpo 2011.  I wasn't going to go because I really don't have money to spend, and it was a bit of a hassle to get there and find parking.  I decided to go at the last minute because I foolishly believed that since sewing machines would be at special show prices, so would fabric and thread.  Boy, was I naive.  The prices were outrageous at almost every booth.  I enjoyed looking around, seeing all the new fabrics and quilt ideas, but I didn't buy much.  I did, however, meet Ricky Tims and buy his book about convergence quilts.  Now that I looked up the Amazon site for the book, I wish I hadn't purchased it at the expo.  It is $5.00 cheaper on Amazon.  Live and learn.  I did get to talk to Ricky for a few minutes about his Rhapsody quilts.  I have the start of a pattern for the background pieces.  He gave me some good advice.  Maybe I will do this after all.  Of course, that would mean purchasing fabric.  I will just have to keep scouring the sales.



A new D9P

I have been piecing this top as a leader and ender project, but today I decided to finish putting together the nine patch blocks.  Here they are on the wall, just before I sewed them together.  Now, I have cut them all again and am playing with placement on the wall.  I am trying to decide whether or not to put sashing between the blocks.  So far, I am liking the look without the sashing.  I will have to find the fabric for the borders no matter which way I go.  I used most of three charm packs for this part.  This photo does not do the colors credit.  Sorry about that.

The other thing I did today was to cut all the leftover food fabric into 2.5 inch strips.  I found a great pattern in Kim Brackett's Scrap-Basket Surprises.  The pattern is called Market Baskets.  I thought it was apropos.  It is all made from 2.5 inch strips.  I am excited about making another quilt with these fabrics.  Tom has already planned a place on the wall for it.  Now, I just have to cut the strips into the right sizes.  I also need to find enough light colored fabric for the ground.  I was going to use the potato chip fabric, but I don't have enough.  Looks like I am going to have to find some fabric sales.

Joyful quilting, everyone.

The oldest UFO

Today was the first full day back in my studio for about a week.  I decided to finish my 30+ year old UFO.  It has been hanging on the wall, unfinished, for a few months.  Then I listed it on my UFO list for my guild, and when the number was pulled, I had to finish it.  When I started it, Honey (my Bernina) was brand new.  I was doing a little bit of quilting, but fabrics were not what they are today.  What prompted me to use the fabrics I did when I really wanted an elegant piece amazes me today.  It was what I had back then.  The bead work center was from a 1920's dress that was falling apart.  The lace was also from vintage clothing that was beyond repair.  The beaded flower was from a neck wrap that was made of a whole mink pelt from the 20's or 30's.  Unfortunately, the applique work was done on all the old fabric, and I didn't want to redo the entire piece, so I decided to go with what I had to honor that young woman I was who created this piece long ago.  I chose fabrics for the last three borders that picked up colors in the bead work and the lace.  I am pretty happy with the new look.

Here is a detail of the old bead work.

This afternoon, I loaded the top, batting, and backing on Priscilla with the intention of getting it finished today.  Priscilla had other ideas.  Every time I start to quilt a new project, I have some sort of problem.  Today, it was the bobbin and a broken needle.  I don't really know what caused either problem, but I am becoming very familiar with the workings beneath the sewing plate.  I have had to remove it a few times to untangle threads, clean out lint, and remove broken needles.  I am sure this is happening because of things I am doing wrong, but I will get it all sorted out one day.  I made my repairs, and am ready to forge ahead.

My design wall is filled with several projects in various stages of design.  I have several orphan blocks that I want to do something with, my challenge block for 15 minutes play, another intuition style quilt, and Coming Home.  There are also several other projects stacked in baskets on my work table.  Tomorrow morning, I will start again.  I do love to create quilts.

Odds and Ends

I spent the weekend cat sitting in Bremerton.  This is where my very wonderful former quilter friend lives.  This weekend, she gave me a quilt stand.  It is quite wonderful.  Here it is in the former living room with the quilts that are waiting to be quilted.  Soon, I hope it will hold finished quilts, but for now it is a perfect place for my tops.  Thank you, Merlyn.

When I got home this afternoon, I put this third border on the quilt I started last week.  I think the next go around will be stars.  I have some ideas about what I want to do, but nothing is set in concrete.  I really love the fabric I used for this new border.  I bought quite a bit of it a while back, but this is the first time I have used it. 

While were in Bremerton, I worked on a cathedral window pillow top.  I got the background squares sewn before we left and started doing the hand work over there.  I haven't done cathedral window for years.  I decided to give it a try when I saw this cool pillow over at Lilac Lane.  I have been trying to come up with something I can work on when I am away from home.  I notice that many quilters are working with hexies, but I am not really entranced with them.  This cathedral window may be just the thing. 

It is going to be a busy week around here, so I won't be blogging again until Thursday.  Thanks for stopping by.  Joyful quilting, everyone.

New Challenge and the week in review

This week, Victoria over at 15 minutes play set us a new challenge.  Create a new 8 inch piece of fabric.  Then do something to it to make it into a 12 inch block.  The challenge is to do something I don't usually do.  For the 8 inch square, I used strata and curved pieces.  I rarely do either of these things.  Now, I have to let the fabric tell me what else to do to take it to 12 inches.  That will have to wait until Monday.  I won't be able to get back into the studio much until then.

This week has been very productive. I have linked up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict for the Whoop Whoop Friday to share what I have done. She is having a give-away this week. Check out the other linked blogs to see what everyone is doing.
I finished the intuition quilt top.  I have been auditioning fabric for the back and think I have found enough of two that I really like.  I will work on that next week.

I also put the finishing touches on the design for the Coming Home quilt.  I really enjoy designing sampler type quilts.  I am thinking about publishing some of my patterns and selling them.  First, of course, I have to make all of them and figure out how to calculate yardage.  Coming Home will be my first one.  It is still not bed size, but with borders, it could become a nice quilt for my bed.

I completed three elements of Coming Home and put them up on the design wall. I am really enjoying searching through my stash for just the right fabrics.  This quilt will be more subdued colorwise than my intuition quilt.  I love exploring different color combinations.  Yesterday, I was at the local pharmacy, browsing the eye make-up section.  There are such fun color combinations in those little eye shadow compacts.  I was thinking that I should try and make small quilts using these combinations.  Or, I could just use some of them in the different Coming Home elements.  If you look, there are great color ideas everywhere.

One other really fun thing I started was this medallion style quilt.  It started out as a 15 minute play block.  I have selected the fabric for the next border.  Maybe I will get it sewn on this morning.  So far, I really like this piece. 

Next week, new studio adventures await.  I am excited to see where the path and the fabric will take me.  Joyful creating, everyone.

A stone church and a French braid

Today, I worked more on Coming Home blocks.  I did the church in the upper left corner and the French braid that goes next to the star under the church.  The church is 18 x 18.  When I look at the design on the grid paper, I have a hard time realizing how big it is going to be.  It is a good sized church.
I went through my stash looking for something to use for the building and came up with this fabric that looks like stone.  I love old stone churches, so this was perfect.  I also found fabric that looks like stone tiles for the roof and a cool brown for the door.  I love the pink floral that looks like rose glass windows.  In the box of browns, I also found the tree bark for the tree trunks.  I think there is enough for all the trees in this quilt.  Once I had all the fabrics, including two blues, I started cutting based on the drawing, remembering to add seam allowances.  I was so proud of myself when I started sewing everything together and it all worked out.  The measurements were correct, and the seams all worked out.  It was very encouraging.

The French braid was not so easy.  I had the perfect fabric, a candy bar from Moda.  I think it is Luna Notte or something like that.  My friends told me this would be so easy to do.  I am sure it is much easier with a pattern.  I tried to create my own foundation, and this is what I got.  First of all, it was supposed to be two inches wider than it is.  I was thinking 6.5 but drew 4.5.  I was more than half-way done when I realized my mistake.  I decided to keep going and create a filler strip.  I really like these fabrics, so I am going to make it work.  One day, I will find a pattern and try this again.  I think I know where I went wrong.  It is very time consuming, but that is because I have my iron set up in the other room.  It is my exercise program.  Sew a seam.  Walk to the other room to iron.  Back to the studio.    Great plan, don't you think.
Here is the upper left area as it will go into the quilt.

Creating fabric and fun

Victoria, over at 15 Minutes Play, set us a new challenge.  Start with a 15 minute play block, then ask "What if I . . . .?".  I used all my play blocks in my intuition quilt, so I set myself a challenge to make one using the first six scraps I pulled from the top of my scrap bin.  I usually use more than six fabrics, so this was a bit of a challenge, but great fun.  If you are interested in creating new fabric from scraps, Victoria
has a great tutorial here.

After playing for a little while, I came up with this.

Then I cut it into four uneven pieces, and auditioned fabric for the next step.

First, I tried dark blue batik.

Then I tried this ochre batik.  I liked it best.

I liked it enough to make it the first border.  I put in the corner pieces from fabric made from my favorite dress of all time.  I just love this fabric, and plan on using more of it for this quilt.
The top photo is the way I left the piece this evening.  Tomorrow, I am looking forward to playing with this some more.  I already have ideas for the next border.  I am also working on the church block for my Coming Home quilt.  It is supposed to be snowing here again tomorrow, so I am looking forward to another creative day in the studio.  I hope you all have a wonderful joy filled day as well.



Starting a New Project

I started pulling fabric for my original quilt, Coming Home.  I think there are going to be some interesting colors in this one.  There are also several stars.  This one was very fun to build.  It was also a bit of a problem.  I wanted to have a D9P in the center.  Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to cut the squares for a D9P to get a specific size block.  I had to cut this one down to fit in the center, so some of the bars got too small.  I still like the overall look, and I love the fabric.
I am going to be working on this for a while, since there are over 30 different components.  I have decided to show you the design.  It is roughly sketched on 4 to the inch graph paper.  Each square represents two inches.

I am pretty excited about working on this piece.  The buildings all remind me of places I have lived.  I put an apple tree next to the barn because I found the coolest fabric.  There are a couple of places that I may change to something more interesting, or I may just use them to show off cool fabric.  There are three 12" stars and one 18".  I may change some of the pinwheels to friendship stars.  The beauty of creating my own design is that I can make these changes easily.  Below are some of the fabrics I have selected so far.

I also have some purple, blue, and green batiks.  This project will take a while, and I will be working on others as well. 
I was able to cross off #1 on my weeks to do list.  I braved the hail and snow to get to the post office and send all the quilty things on to their way.  Tomorrow, I am going to put  the chemo quilt on Priscilla and try and get it done.  Don't know how much else I will get done.  Joyful quilting, everyone.

This Weeks List

I finished the chemo quilt top over the weekend, cut the back and the batting.  I need to go get some thread for quilting.  I thought I had the right color, but it is the kind of thread that gums up, unravels, and breaks in Priscilla.  I do wish there was someplace close that sold Superior threads.  Alas, I will have to find something else that will work.  That is on my to do list for this week.
I should have posted this yesterday, but I was busy in the studio all day.  This is my list of things I want to get done this week.

 1.  Get all my quilty mailing done.

2.  Quilt and bind the chemo quilt.

3.  Start pulling fabric to audition for the Coming Home quilt.

4.  Start cutting and piecing blocks for the Tea Party quilt.

5.  Iron all the fabric I washed over the weekend.

6.  Finish For Madame - the UFO from 30+ years ago.

7.  Get new D9P blocks pieced.

This looks pretty ambitious.  I believe in setting high goals.  What does your to do list look like this week?
I will leave you with this cute Scottie dog fusible applique block done for a presentation quilt for my guild.

Ta Da! The Intuition Quilt Top is Done

Creating this quilt top has been a wonderful journey.  It started in January with this block.

I played with many techniques and colors along the way.

The process of creating this quilt without planning ahead was new to me, and very enjoyable.  I love that I only used fabric from my stash.  I am sure I will walk this path again.  I will keep making the small blocks for fun.  Who knows what will grow next,

My husband, Tom, took the great photo of the finished top, and the next few closeups of some of my favorite parts.  Joyful quilting, everyone.



The one quarter inch seam and other quilting challenges

Today, I put all the blocks and sashes together for the chemo quilt I am working on.  I have some light green I will use for the first border, then some dark blue with small pink flowers for the second border.  I have some very sweet pink flannel for the back.  I think I will use the green for the binding, as well.  This is not going to be a really big quilt, but it is for a little girl, so it doesn't have to be.  It is a wonder, however, that it has come this far.
I have been sewing these blocks for a while.  That means that I sewed many seams before I solved my quarter inch seam issues.  Today, I tried to work around that issue, but it was pretty tough at times.  I ripped a few seams and used my steam iron quite a bit.  It is still a bit wonky, but the over all look is pretty nice.  I will square this up before I attach the first border.  That should resolve all remaining issues.  At least I didn't have points to match.
Now that I am quilting much of the time, I am discovering several things about quilting I never realized before.  First of all, fingers have to develop tough skin on the tips to withstand heat from the iron and jabs from the occasional pin or two.  Second, I need a better chair that will support my lower back.  It does get sore after four or five hours, even though I am constantly up and down going to my ironing board in the other room.  Third, my hands get so dry from constantly handling fabric, being near the hot iron, and just generally putting them out there.  I am glad I have good lotion to put on at the end of the day. All of these things may deter the less hearty soul, but I will keep on quilting.
After I pieced the above top, I spent some time making three more blocks for the border of my intuition quilt.  I am getting near finishing this quilt top.  Maybe next week.  Joyful quilting, everyone.

Plaids, polka dots, and stripes

Today, I didn't have tons of time in the studio, but I did want to work on creating new blocks for the latest challenge over at 15 Minutes Play. Victoria has asked us to create two blocks each using plaids, stripes, and polka dots. Fortunately, I have lots of that in my stash. I couldn't begin to use all of it in these two blocks, but I had fun making a dent.

I love all the beautiful colors. I think there are plaids in all colors. I have red, orange, green, tan, blue, and all combinations thereof. After I made a pile of scraps on the cutting board, I started grabbing pieces and sewing them together. I just kept sewing them together and the new fabric kept growing. I tried a set-in corner, but it was a struggle. I really need to figure out how to do that without so much stress. I thought about creating some curves, but elected to save that for another project.

Tomorrow, I hope to spend much more time in the studio. I want to get the chemo quilt all pieced and onto the quilt frame. I think that is doable. I need to get it done so I can deliver it Sunday evening. I will post progress photos tomorrow.

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.

Happy Valentine's Day

This is the mug rug I made for Tom for Valentine's day. I used a foundation pieced pattern by Carol Doak. I really like the way this little heart turned out. The heart block is 6". I added strips to make it 9", just the right size for Tom's favorite mug and a small snack.

Today was a finishing day. I finished quilting the D9P for Mary Ann. I have the binding machine attached and will hand sew it down this evening. For a photo of my pin cushion while I was unpinning the quilt from the frame, check out Tom's Facebook page. I really like the colors in this quilt. They don't show up well in this photo, but it is a very warm quilt. I also finished up this months preemie quilt. My intuition quilt is still on the design wall. All the blocks for the chemo quilt are pieced and the sashing cut. The blocks for the new D9P are partially stitched together. I have begun putting together the fabric for my Coming Home quilt (a new design of mine), my tea party quilt (another design of mine), and the American Hero quilt. I have the design done for the February Alzheimer's Art Initiative quilt. There is never enough time in a day.

Finally, here is the UFO I started about 30 years ago. The lace is from an old dress. The center piece is from a dress made in the Roaring Twenties. The beaded piece on the lower right is also from an old dress. I cal this piece For Madame. I obtained all the embellishments from a very good friend who went by Madame. She collected and sold vintage clothing and jewelry. When there was something that was not otherwise salvageable, I bought them for my collection. If I was to do it all again, I would use a different fabric for the third border, but I will work with what I have. I think I have found some fabric for the next couple of borders. I think it may end up about 36" x 36".