More blocks and some HSTs

Excuse the lousy photo, please.  I just wanted to show that I made three more blocks to go with the yellow.  I had to go to the fabric store for something else, so I picked up a couple of small cuts of the blue and purple pastels.  I am not really a pastel kind of person, but I think these blocks turned out sweet.  I can't wait to see all the blocks other people have made for this presentation quilt.

I also decided to tackle pressing all the little extra HSTs left from piecing En Vino Veritas.  There are almost 300 of them.  I have decided to keep the pile at the end of the ironing board and do a few each time I go to press a seam.  That way, they will get pressed eventually.  While I was pressing these, I remembered that I had already pressed the ones from Farmer's Market, so . . . .

This little piece is only 7" by 8 1/2" without the borders.  It will be another AAQI quilt.  I have pulled the top and bottom pieces to audition as borders.  I really don't know which one I like better.  What do you think?  I still have so much of this fruit and vegetable fabric left.  I am thinking about creating a jelly roll as a swap for something else.  I will let you know and see if anyone is interested.
Have a wonderful long weekend, everyone.
Joyful quilting,
Miki

Guild blocks

Today, I spent some time making blocks for my guild today.  This one is the BOM that is due in June.  One of the things I like about my mostly traditional guild is the opportunity to practice my piecing skills.  I am getting better at making my corners and points meet.  I am also getting better at cutting and sewing with a 1/4" seam.  I think it is all because of making these blocks pretty regularly.

This is one of the presentation blocks I am making.  I will make another one in pink and white.  The only downside of participating in all these block making opportunities is that I often don't have the required fabric.  Until recently, I did not have any white on white.  I looked through my stash bins today and found only two pastels that weren't batiks.  I really thought I had more, especially purple.  I guess I should buy fat quarters of these kinds of colors every now and then so when I need them I will have them.

My quilting tastes are very eclectic.  I really like a traditional style quilt with star blocks.  I also like a good churn dash quilt.  I am drawn to old fashioned feeling fabric like those designed by Kansas Troubles.  Then there is my love affair with improvisational quilting.  I really enjoy pulling scraps and sewing them together to make new fabric and then building something with it or around it.  I love the colors in the new fabrics out there, but I think I may just be a bit too old fashioned to really appreciate all the patterns.  I do appreciate the talent out there and the fabric companies who support these artists.   My biggest problem is that there are not enough hours to make all the things I want to. 

 I did take a little time to make a bit of crazy cloth by cutting up a D9P block I made back in January.  I will be using it to cut up and make a more traditional block.  Oh, how much fun I have in the studio!

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful long weekend.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

A little of this, a little of that

At last!  The intuition quilt is finished and I have been snuggling under it for a couple of days.  Yes, it is chilly and raining again here in Renton, Washington.  I try not to have issues with the weather around here.  After all, it is what it is, and I have chosen to live here knowing that.  However, this time of year, I do yearn for 75 degree days with beautiful blue skies.  At least, I have this quilt done to keep me warm.  I have decided to call it "Self Portrait."  It has a bit of controlled chaos, and that pretty much describes how I am most days.  It works for me, though.

I always love getting squishy envelopes in the mail, and this one was a real surprise.  Karen G at K's Quilting Corner sent me a thank you note with this totally cute thread catcher inside.  As you can see, I have already put it to good use.  I love the colors and the fabric and just the convenience of having a little thread catcher right there on the table.  Thank you so much Karen.

I spent a little time today making heart blocks.  This one was made with my crazy made fabric.  They are freehand and a little wonky, but that is intentional. I used a double buttonhole stitch for the upper heart, and a fancy flower pattern for the bottom one.  I am getting better at this machine applique, but it is still pretty new to me.  I would like to get really good at it before I tackle a big project I have on the drawing board. This block is 8 1/2 inches square. It will be going to an online quilting friend.

This one is going to be my next AAQI quilt after I use it as an example of what you can do with the rainbow of geese I am teaching my guild next week.  Again, I used some of my crazy made fabric for the heart.  My wonderful husband really likes the one above, but this heart doesn't make it for him.  He does like the rainbow geese, though.  I used a single buttonhole stitch for the heart and I pieced the curves for the rainbow arch.  I am calling this one God's Promise.  It is 9 1/2" by 8 1/2".  I think the binding will be a dark color and the back will be more of the background color.





The last thing I worked on today was to get En Vino Veritas up on the design wall.  All the blocks are sewn, and I am pretty happy with the layout.  There is supposed to be another row, but I wanted the bottom and the top to look the same, so I left it off.  Now I have six extra blocks.  I will probably make a pillow out of four of them.  I haven't made a pillow in ages, and we could certainly use some.  The process for making this quilt has been a bit repetitive, and when that happens, I tend to make mistakes.  I only messed up twice on this so far.  I intend to be more careful piecing this all together.  Hopefully, I will make progress on that tomorrow.
Thanks for stopping by.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

The seam ripper is my friend

I couldn't resist posting this photo of our lilac tree/bush.  I grew up loving lilacs.  My grandmother wore Avon's lilac water all the time, and it is a smell that takes me back to her warm cozy home every time.   This year, our lilac has more blossoms on it than it has had since we moved here.  It smells so wonderful as you walk through the gate to the back yard.  I will probably cut some to bring in the house in the next couple of days.  I am so excited we have this tree and that it is in full bloom this year.
In more quilty news, I spent the bulk of the day yesterday working on Hokule'a.  I finished piecing the circle of geese and am very happy with the results.  When I laid them over the star compass, I decided I really did not like the job I did with the double button hole stitch on the star compass.  I didn't like the color of thread I selected, either.  So, what is a quilter to do?  I got out my trusty Bernina seam ripper and started carefully taking out stitches.  Have you ever spent time taking out double button hole stitches?  Believe me when I tell you it is not much fun.  It took the better part of the afternoon and evening.  I had to quit when my eyes gave out on me.  I finished this morning.  Then, I went to the store and picked up more King Tut in a color better suited for the project, and started over again.

My first mistakes were twofold.  I did not use a fusible, and I did not use a backing.  Beginner's mistakes, I know.  I don't know what I was thinking.  This time, I used both, and I am much happier with the outcome.  Here you can see the geese all pinned down and ready to sew.  I am going to hand stitch them down because I don't want the stitching to show.  I am pretty proud of this piece so far.  I designed it and made it myself, from drawing the pattern, to making the foundation pieces.  Imaging my surprise today when I picked up a copy of the new Quilter's Newsletter to find something very similar on the disc that came with the magazine.  Now, people are going to think I copied it, but I did not.  I hope this does not become a problem when I enter it into our guild show in August.  Any suggestions?
One other project I worked on today was putting together little kits to teach curved flying geese to my guild next week.  I decided to do a rainbow of flying geese with them.  This is what each participant will get.

I will be with my granddaughter the next couple of days, so see you on Thursday.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Backing for the intuition quilt - finally

Some of may remember my intuition quilt that I started way back when I started this blog.  I have had the top hanging on the quilt rack for a long time now.  Today, I decided to figure out what to make the back with and get it quilted.  I found a wonderful piece of batik in the stash from my Quilt Fairy Merlyn.  I love that it looks like someone spilled tea all over it, then drew tufts of grass to make it more interesting.  I also had a piece of this stripped fabric with all the colors I love.  Then, I looked at the design wall and chose two of the blocks I made for 15 Minutes Play.  Once I measured all that I found, I figured out how to make it the size I needed, 54" x 56".  After I cut and sewed it all together, I cut a piece of batting the same size and put it on the frame.  Priscilla my Juki that I use for quilting) was excited to have another quilt to do, especially after I figured out that she is very fussy about the thread she will allow through her system.  I was reminded of that yesterday when I tried to use the pink Coats and Clark machine quilting thread I purchased.  I had to make a quick road trip downtown to the local shop that carries Superior King Tut.  Priscilla likes that thread very much.  Today, I chose the blue/green/purple multi.  I got everything loaded and the quilting went very smoothly.  After I trimmed it down, I sewed on the binding.  Now, it is waiting for me to hand stitch it down.  I will post a photo of the finished piece tomorrow.  I will be very happy to have this done and ready to cover my legs on the still chilly evenings.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Rasberry Lemonade finished

I stitched the last stitch on the binding this evening, before all the light faded, so I went outside to take some photos.  I quilted this with FMQ loopy hearts, then I added the dark pink hearts in the corner.  I just wanted to add more of the dark pink.  I am happy to have finished it on time, and that it turned out so cute and feminine.

I am also very excited that I won some fabric!  Hollie over at The Undercover Crafter picked me to win fat quarters of these lovelies.

I can't wait to see them in person.  I saw a quilt the other day that had grays with brights, and I really liked the look.  This is going to be fun.   Thanks, Hollie.
 
Joyful quilting, everyone!

Progress on the baby quilt - Rasberry Lemonade

Today, I got all the blocks pieced, the hearts stitched, and the top put together for the commission due on Saturday.  I sewed the borders on, cut the backing and sewed a strip of the medium pink up the middle, cut the backing, and put everything on the frame ready to quilt first thing tomorrow. 

I was very pleased with my fabric calculations for this quilt.  We bought just the right amount of fabric, and that is always nice.  No extra trips to the fabric store.   That is really good since I bought the last on the bolt of one of the fabrics.  I was pretty organized for this quilt.  I cut all the shapes I needed before I got started on the sewing.  Then, I sewed all the smaller units, like the flying geese and the center blocks.  This may seem like a no brainer to most of you, but it is a new practice for me since I do so much without patterns, just asking myself "what if I . . .?"  I am getting more comfortable making quilts with repeat blocks so I can now use chain stitching to its fullest extent.  What used to take me way too much time is now taking a reasonable amount of time.  I am still a slow stitcher, but I find the process so enjoyable, I don't feel a need to speed it up completely.  Even the process of putting the quilt on the frame went smoothly today.  The good thing about all this is that I will get the quilt done on time.  I will have plenty of time tomorrow afternoon and evening to stitch down the binding by hand and put the label in its proper place.  I will post a photo tomorrow when it is all finished.  I plan on using the darkest pink for the binding. 
In other news, look what arrived at my doorstep today!

 

Green Fairy Quilts had a sale on the fat eighth bundle of Perennial by Kansas Troubles for Moda.  I really like the Kansas Trouble Quilters designs, so I spent some of the money I am making with the commission quilt on these yummy fabrics.  I am not sure what I am going to do with them yet, but I have some ideas.  Right now, I am just going to enjoy petting them and enjoying all the great colors.

Productive Studio Day

After a very busy Sunday shooting a wedding with Tom, I finally got into the studio the 6" heart onto the SteamASeam paper, folded it in half, and cut about 3/4" in from the outside line.  That gave me a good rim around the heart, and the center is still soft and pliable.  After cutting out the 8 I needed, I took them to the pressing board and got them firmly adhered.  I was very pleased that my idea worked.  Now, I have 8 small SteamASeam hearts for another project.  This quilt has 16 8" blocks, 8 stars and 8 hearts.  I got all the parts cut and the flying geese and square units sewed together, so now I just need to stitch the hearts, and put the star blocks together.  I did get two of them together so you could see where I am going with this.

I noticed that the dark pink square is a bit wonky in this.  I think I can steam it straight.  For the hearts, I have decided to use different decorative stitches for them.  I may use four or eight, depending on my mood.  After I took this photo, I did another one and used a heart motif.  This one has a blanket stitch.  One of my readers suggested that this color combination reminds her of pink lemonade, so I am calling this one Rasberry Lemonade. 
Tomorrow and Wednesday, I am with my granddaughter.  Tomorrow night is guild.  I will get back to this quilt on Thursday.  I need to get it pieced on Thursday and on the frame Friday morning.  I haven't decided how I am going to quilt it yet, but I am sure it will be an all over pattern.  Maybe swirls and hearts.
Joyful quilting, all.

More flying geese and a commission

I had a most interesting day in the studio today.  I decided to start working on the circle of flying geese for Hokule'a.  I pressed the deconstructed shirt parts in prep for cutting.  I then cut them in pieces the right size for piecing.  I got a slow start after ripping out the same seam twice.  Can't say I am a fan of ripping out those tiny stitches, but I finally got it right.  After cutting, sewing, cutting, and pressing over and over again, I got half the circle done.  It may have to go on the back burner for a week or so.  I got my first quilt commission, and it is due next Saturday.

Yes, I accepted a commission to make a baby quilt by next Saturday morning.  I am pretty excited about doing this.  My client came over this afternoon and we looked at some of the patterns I have designed that I can get done in that amount of time.  It sounds like a long time, but I will actually only have three days in the studio to work on it.  We selected a design with stars and hearts for a little baby girl that is due in June.  The mother-to-be wants yellow and pink and white.  We went to the fabric store and picked up these beauties.  The pink with yellow dots is the flannel backing.  I put them all in the wash this afternoon, then got them pressed. Tomorrow morning, I am going to get the fabric cut, but then we have a wedding to shoot all afternoon, so I don't think I will get much sewn together.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Miki

Blogger's Quilt Festival Entry

The Blogger's Quilt Festival begins today over at Amy' Creative Side.  I am excited to be a part of this great and exciting show.  Any quilt blogger may link up to her blog for this week to show a quilt.  Take some time to look at one or all of these beautiful quilts and read about how they were made. 

Tanzania Tango is my entry for this show.  Some time ago, I purchased some fabric made in Tanzania to add to my stash.  I really had no idea what to do with it.  Then, I discovered Ricky Tim's Harmonic Convergence and I fell in love with this process.  I like the idea of not having total control of the outcome.  (That is also what drew me to Victoria Findlay Wolfe's 15 Minute Play techniques.)  For the center of this quilt, I used four different fat quarters.  They were tied together in color, sort of.  Once I got the center sewn together, I was really excited about how the purple swirl pattern became a focal image.  I decided to pick up on the orange for the inner border.  I think that pulls all the fabrics together, and it contrasts well with the purple so that it really stands out.  I chose a gold on black fabric for the outer border because the gold pattern is almost a repeat of a pattern in one of the Tanzanian fabrics.  I used a deep purple binding to help bring out the purple swirls even more. 

I really didn't know what to do with the back.  I thought about going with a solid black, orange, or gold at one point.  Then, I decided I had just enough left of the quilt fabric to piece a back.  I am really glad I went that way.  Now, you can see what the original fabrics looked like.  I used a piece of the bottom row to make a label.  I actually finished this piece last night, and was excited to post it, but blogger got in the way.  I am happy they fixed their problems so I could share this with you all.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Quilting Green

"What?  Has the old girl lost her mind, then?  Why in the world is she showing us her ironing pile?"
 I can hear you all now.  This, I will have you know, is a future quilt or two, green style.  I have been trolling through our 100% cotton Hawaiian shirt and dress collection.  So far, these have made the pile.  I spent some time today cutting them into usable parts.  This was not really easy to do, because I really liked these shirts, and one dress.  I don't wear them any more, however, so I will be able to love the fabrics in a new format.  I am going to use three of them to build the circle of flying geese for Hokule'a.  The rest are going in the bin with the Hawaiian fabric I collected while living there.  I have also put out the word to family members that they should send any 100% cotton clothes they no longer want.  I will build my stash however I can.
I had a very busy Monday, and didn't get into the studio except to cut up a few shirts.  I managed to pick up two jobs for extra money.  I am doing a bit of freelance resume writing, and I am now a real estate marketing assistant.  I have done both jobs before, and I enjoy them, so I am happy for this opportunity to earn fabric money.  My husband and I also celebrated that he signed up two new distributors for our Send Out Cards business.  All in all, a good day.
I also picked up a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 3.  I haven't opened it yet, but I am looking forward to spending quality time looking at all the wonderful blocks.
I will be watching Bella for the next two days, so I will talk to you all again on Thursday.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

Exciting news!

Today, my blog was featured over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  I was very honored to be chosen.  It was really fun to see which quilts she selected to show.  Thank you, Sarah.

Today, I ironed the fabrics for the preemie quilt.  I made my flying geese and decided what to do for the strips between the geese.  I got it all pieced and pressed just before we went to my daughter's for dinner.  I asked Tom to take the photo because my camera sees yellow, then all other colors disappear. This is a very warm and cheery quilt.  Now, I have to find some flannel that matches and is just as warm and bright.  I am hoping I can find something in cheddar.  The search is on tomorrow.  This quilt will finish at 24" x 30".

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day.
Joyful quilting, Miki

A beautiful exchange quilt and more work on En Vino Veritas

This incredibly beautiful quilt was made by Victoria Findlay Wolfe.  She hosted an challenge exchange over at 15 Minutes Play.  The challenge was to make something from nothing into a 12" finished quilt using the fabric making techniques we use on that site.  I have been loving all the quilts people have been making for each other, and I especially loved this one.  I was so excited today when I saw the postman put a squishy into my mail box.  Then, when I saw Victoria's return address, I was even more excited.  I am one very lucky woman to have received this quilt.  This is the quilt I made for the challenge.  It is on its way to its new home right now.

In other news of the day, I got back to working on En Vino Veritas.  I trimmed and pressed and finished piecing all 96 B units, so now I have two stacks ready to put together into squares.

I did get four blocks put together and up on the design wall so we could all get some sense of what it is going to look lie all together.  I am not really sure right now if the sage green was a good choice for the background, but I am going to live with it.  I really liked it at first, mostly because I like the color and the weight of the cotton is wonderful.  I am sure it will be fine when all is said and done.

I also washed the new fat quarters I got for the next preemie quilt.  I really don't like washing fat quarters because there is so much raveling, but it needs to be done for these quilts.  I have picked fabrics in cheddar, orange, and olive green.  Not really baby fabrics, but they are bright and cheerful.  I am going to make flying geese for this one.  Now, I have to find backing flannel that works with these colors.  Hopefully, I will have something to show you on this one tomorrow.
Happy Mother's Day to all of you who do mom-like things.
Joyful quilting, everyone.

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.