Cedar River Quilters 2011 Raffle Quilt

I didn't get much studio time today, so no new photos of my work, but I want to show you my guild's 2011 raffle quilt.  The inspiration fabric was the border fabric.  It is a wonderful yellow based batik with some of the other colors in the quilt.  The first border is a flap border.  The second one is half-square triangles.  The next border is piping.  It is a really beautiful quilt.  Raffle tickets are $1.00.  If you would love to own this beautiful quilt, get in touch with me at mikiwilla at gmail dot com.

Another Convergence start

I started with two lovely pieces of batik that I purchased in a scrap box from Carol Doak.  There was this turquoise piece and a purple piece, amongst a total of 42 different fabrics.  I was blown away with the quality and size of these "scraps."  I was also very excited to see them all in my colors.  I cut 16" squares from the turquoise and purple. stacked them, and made three curved cuts.

I swapped out the center piece can came up with these two squares.  I cut each one in different width strips, and alternated them.  I didn't take photos of this step because it is much better explained in Ricky Tims' book about Convergence quilts.  I have talked about this book before.  I really like the way each technique is explained and there are great examples for inspiration.

This is what I got after I sewed all the strips together.  It is 15" by 24.5".  I am going to add a border and use it as a table runner on the coffee table in Tom's photo studio.  I just love these colors and the leafy pattern on the purple fabric.  The color difference is subtle between the two fabrics I selected, but I can still see the curved elements, and I like what they are doing.  Next time, I may try more contrasting fabric.  I know I will be making more.  I am even learning to enjoy sewing curves.

I also made two more blocks for the Market Basket quilt.  I still have to come up with a name for this one.  I did go pick up three more fabrics for the last three blocks.  I got bananas, carrots, and mixed berries.  This is going to be one yummy quilt.

Joyous quilting, everyone!

Patriotic Log Cabin block

I have finally decided on a pattern for the American Hero quilt I want to make this year. I am going to alternate log cabin blocks and Ohio star blocks.  I made my first log cabin block today.  I haven't made one before and didn't have a pattern, so I played around until I got the colors cut the right lengths and in the right order.  I never seem to be able to take photos to show the straight even lines that are really in the blocks.  I am pleased with how this turned out.  I still need to get more red, blue, and cream fabrics to build the whole quilt, but I have enough now for a good start.
I have been reading bits and pieces about the history of the log cabin block.  Most of the pieces I read say it is a truly American block that originally symbolized home and hearth during the pioneer days.  I found an article today that takes the pattern back to Egyptian times.  This article talks about the popularity of the pattern on the Isle of Man where they didn't have scissors or rulers, so they tore the strips and used finger lengths to measure.  The article also says the Log Cabin quilt is always tied instead of quilted.  I am not going to tie my quilt because I don't really like that look.
The rest of my studio time was filled with cutting the rest of the squares and rectangles of food fabric, and creating half-square triangles for the market basket quilt.  As I got to counting blocks, I realized I need three more food fabrics.  I will try and pick them up tomorrow.  I don't need much, but I really don't want to duplicate any blocks. 
Happy 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?

National Quilting Day Fun

Happy National Quilting Day!  I hope you are all having a wonderful day celebrating quilts, quilting, and quilters.  I left with my friend at 8:30 to get to Sister's in time for the opening.  There was a great sale with 20% off your entire purchase.  This was my first trip to this store, and I will be going back.  It is a small store, but it is jam packed with wonderful fabrics.  There was a wall of very bright prints, many shelves ordered by color, a section of 30's reproductions, civil war reproductions, and the largest selection of flannels I have ever seen.  As promised, here are the goodies I came home with.

I really needed some reds and blues for the American Hero Quilt I said I would make.  There were lots to select from, but my budget allowed only a few - four reds and three blues.  I got a quarter yard of each.  This should get me moving along on this project.

I love paisleys.  I have no idea what I am going to do with them, but I added these three quarter yards bringing the number of paisleys in my stash up to 17.  I just have to find the perfect pattern to show them all off.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I found the Fandango collection by Moda and just the pattern I want to use for the D9P back that I am working on.  I had given up on finding any, so I was very happy to spot it.  I almost missed it, but it called my name just in time.

Sister's also has a wonderful collection of pre-cut fabrics.  I found this Bali Pops, and I love the colors.  I was looking for something to make another quilt from Kim Barrett's book.  This will be perfect.  I also bought background fabric.  I wonder where that got?  I am going to have to look for that.

Wonder of wonders, I found a bolt of this old Moda fabric that I really like.  I didn't think I would ever see it again, but I grabbed a yard of it.  Unlike so many stores, the folks at Sister's haven't gone around and raised prices on all the older bolts in the store, so I got this at the price it was when it first came out.  What a find for me.  It will become something very wonderful very soon.

I had a great time today.  When I got home, I put together two more blocks of market baskets - figs and limes this time.  This is going to be a very fun quilt.  Now, I need to go put lines on the light squares for the HSTs.  When I get done with the big quilt, I will have 150 small HSTs to do something fun with.  No waste with this quilt, and no scraps for the scrap bin.  This is a good thing.

Starting a new quilt

I showed you the 2.5 inch strips I cut a little while ago for a new quilt.  Today, I cut all the background pieces, and enough fruits to begin two blocks without their sashing rows.  Don't the strawberries and plums look desicious? I put the lime fabric in just so the cutting board didn't show, it is not permanent.  I am pretty excited about this quilt.  I have 25 different food fabrics for 25 different blocks.  I am working from a pattern in Scrap-Basket Surprises by Kim Brackett.  This quilt is Market Baskets on page 40.  I really like Kim's designs.  They all use 2.5 inch strips, and are very user friendly.  There are several more in this book I would like to try one of these days.

When I first started quilting again, I wanted to use my own designs.  When I was painting and doing collage, I didn't want anyone else to work on my pieces, or give me ideas of what I should create.  This attitude came with me when I moved to fabric.  I have finally come to the conclusion that I love some of the great patterns out there, and I really want to try some of them.  I will continue to do the more experimental (for me, anyway) quilts because I get such joy out of that process.  I will also make quilts using other people's patterns.  For playing around with traditional blocks, I can use the preemie quilts.  If I find blocks I love, I can use them in bigger sampler quilts.  In all of it, I just love playing with the fabrics and seeing what I can create from my point of view.

Tomorrow, I am headed to Sister's in Chehalis, WA.  They are having a big sale to celebrate National Quilting Day.  I used to live in Chehalis, many years ago, so this will be a grand adventure.  Sister's has a reputation for having a wonderful flannel collection.  I will let you know what I come home with.

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".

A new harmonic convergence

Today I pulled out another piece of fabric to try a different approach to the harmonic convergence.  I have to admit, I purchased this fabric just for the joy of it.  The colors are all the ones I love, and it is so exciting. I had no idea what I would do with it when I purchased it. I decided I could cut four 10" squares from different places in the fabric, and converge them together to make something even more exciting.  Thus was born Rumba.

One of the really interesting things about taking photos for the blog is seeing how different things look on my screen than on my design wall.  The colors look a little washed out here, but they are really very vibrant. The photos I took of my containment border auditions really show how the camera lies about true color, compounded by the limitations of the computer screen.  I have decided to share the photos with you anyway.

I decided I wanted to push the warm oranges, reds, and golds, so my first choice was an orange border.  I should have known better from my art background.  See how the cools stand out and the warms fade into the border?  It is even more evident on the design wall. Tom suggested I try the teal that I was trying out for the second border.  I really like how that one brings out the warms.  I am going to piece the next border using other blues, plus a little of the orange and some of the original fabric.  The piece, without any borders, is 15 by 16.  I think it will become another table topper.

Why Rumba?  It just reminds me of a lively, exciting dance, and I used to love to Rumba.  It could have been Salsa, but I never really got into that.  Besides, Rumba is a dance that starts on the opposite beat than most, so it seems to suit me better.

March Preemie Quilt

Today, I decided to make my March preemie quilt.  I pulled out some fabric I washed and ironed, and made the cuts I needed.  I really like the bright colors in these fabrics.  After lots of sewing small seams, I came up with this.

I will add a border of the dot fabric at the bottom and another border of the owl fabric at the top.  These small quilts are 24" x 30".  The owls in this fabric are so cute.

My first convergence quilt

No.  This is not it.  This is a project I started doing with pieced curves.  When I finally started hand sewing the curves, I decided to scrap the original project, and see what would happen if I sliced this up, rearranged it, sewed and sliced some more, adding more fabric here and there.  This is the result.

Then, I got out my new Ricky Tims' book on convergence quilts.  I have wanted to do this for a long time.  I cannot afford any of the great hand-dyed fabric out there that is really perfect for this project, so I went through my stash to see what I could find that I could make work.  I found some fat quarters of African fabric that I have been collecting, and selected four for this project.

I followed the directions for the harmonic convergence.  I wanted the patterns of the fabrics to keep their strength in the finished piece, so I placed the first pieces carefully.  After cutting, sewing, turning, cutting, and sewing again, this is what I created.

I really liked it, but wanted to add just the right borders.  I selected bright orange for the small containment border and a gold on black pattern that mimics one of the patterns in the African fabric.  Once, I put it all together, I was really pleased.  I am calling it Tanzanian Tango.  I love this process and will be doing more of these quilts.

To see some of Ricky Tims' convergence quilts, take a look at his web site.

A new block and a fun book

I am in charge of finding the block of the month for my guild this month.  I was looking through Quilter's Cache and found this one, Crossed Roads, a 16 inch block.  If you haven't been to Quilter's Cache, you owe yourself some time to spend over there.  There are thousand of traditional and original blocks with great directions.  When I present this, I am going to ask people to use purples with a floral theme and cream for the crossed pieces.  I think it will turn out great.
I also did a few other things in the studio.  I worked on my design for my Ricky Tim's style Rhapsody quilt, sewed blocks together for the D9P and squared them up, and I started making copies of foundation pieces for a few of Carol Doak's stars of the states.  I finally got a copy of 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars by Carol Doak, and I am pretty excited about making more of these foundation pieced stars.  I love the first one I did and am looking forward to creating companions.  If you want to see more of Carol's work, and find some very cool free patterns, take a look at her web site.

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.