Busy as a Beaver, Cough Cough

I am finally feeling better after having a serious cold since Saturday afternoon.  I had a busy quilting week in between coughing fits!

Before I got sick, I went with a friend to pick up our mystery quilts we did at the Patchwork Plus retreat.  The quilting was done in a leaf similar to what is in the green background fabric, using green on top and a dark fuschia on the bottom.  It looks awesome.  Now all I have to do is bind it -- with all the other projects I am working on, I think this will be done in February at the earliest!

I also finished piecing the KAQ mystery quilt, and just need to put on the border.  I'll probably send it out for quilting.

Last Saturday I completed my Block of the Week - it looks good in the picture, but has some definite construction issues so I'll probably redo it using the same fabrics later.

Grandmother's Choice Week 16

I've been working steadily on the binding of the VMI quilt:

And finally, I have been slowly but surely been catching up with the Easy Street mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter.  I have all the units sewn except the last step of step 4 (sewing flying geese units together) and 20 four patch units.  I have all the extra pieces cut from each step (squares and rectangles and triangles, oh my!)  And of course now I need to do step 5 which came out today!

What's on YOUR Ironing Board?

I am trying to catch up to complete the Easy Street mystery quilt steps I missed while on my business trip.  I have all the 4 patches sewn, all the flying geese sewn, all the pieces for the shaded 4 patches cut, and the first step of the shaded 4 patches sewn.  Now I need to iron!

Here's what it looks like so far:

Everything waiting to be pressed!

Four Squares Ironed...see the ones waiting to the left?

Flying Geese to press

First step of shaded four patches to press

It's Saturday!

So it's Saturday and it's Block of the Week time!  I had two blocks to do this week as I was out of town on business for a couple of weeks.  I decided to use my standard turquoise dot fabric in one as a main fabric and in the other block as the background.  I did not dither too much this week on fabric selections as I have a lot to get done.  They aren't perfect, but here are blocks 14 and 15:

Week 14 - Bride's Knot: Invisible Women

Week 15: Centennial: New Zealand's Victory

I borrowed ColvinKiwiQuilt's idea of a ring setting in the Bride's Knot by fussy cutting a print that reminds me of a solitaire diamond.  Can you imagine that a woman used to lose all her financial assets and decision-making powers upon marriage?  Glad that got fixed!

I went a little crazy in the block for week 15.  I originally was going to use the b/w wavy fabric in the bride's knot, similar to how honas52 used her purple version of the fabric.  When I decided to use the turquoise in the corners, though, I decided I wanted a more traditional look to the block.  When I saw the rectangles in week 15's block, I knew I could not resist using the fabric there.  Don't look at it too long or you might get a headache!  I cannot end without mentioning how great it is that New Zealand led the way in rights for women - 100 years ago!  Thanks for the inspiration, ladies!

I decided to snap a shot of the 15 blocks so far - my design wall is covered, so I took the shot on a table.

First Fifteen Blocks

 It looks like I need more with a light background, similar to weeks 5 and 8 so they don't stick out like a sore thumb at the end.  Dear me, I'll have to control my bright impulses for a few more blocks!

This is a really fun project and I'm enjoying it immensely.

Now....off to work on the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt.

Hotel Room Shenanigans

I have been on a business trip for the last week, and am having some sewing withdrawal!  I got a quick shot of retail therapy in by visiting a local quilt shop and helped the economy a bit.  I also brought fabric to cut up for a Zipper quilt I want to make.  I am cutting 88 4.5" x 7.5" rectangles and 560 1.5" x 2.5" rectangles.

The colors are pretty saturated in this picture, but they are actually pretty pastel greens and yellows.  I wanted to do something in a calmer palette than I usually choose.  I am also adding white dimple fabric to the mix.

I have also looked at the blogs for Grandmother's Choice and Easy Street!  I will be so far behind by Saturday when I return.  Here's what I will need to do to catch up:

 Grandmother's Choice Week 14, Bride's Knot: Invisible Women

Grandmother's Choice Week 15 (I'll see it on Saturday)

Easy Street Step 1 - Finish sewing 192 four-patch squares - I have most of the two-patches done.
Easy Street Step 2 - Cut and sew 128 flying geese units
Easy Street Step 3 - I'll find out on Friday.

I think I may be sewing this weekend!

I'm looking forward to the holidays and spending time with my mom, my best friend, her husband and her two kids, 1 kid's spouse, 1 kid's fiance, and 1 adorable grandson.

The biggest issue I have right now is catching up with my sewing.

My friends, life is good!

Easy Street Step 1 Progress

So far I have cut the strips for step 1, sewed strips together and subcut most of them.  I need about 75 more subcuts, and I still need to sew all the 4 patches together.  Sheesh, first week and I'm already behind!  I plan to catch up between Christmas and New Year's if I have to during my week off of work!  We'll see if it takes me that long to catch up.

Strips

Four patches pinned and ready to sew are in the bin

I just love this color palette!  Here's my fabric - still need to add a bit of darker turquoise or teal.  I am wondering if it should be (mostly) tone on tone, or if the white prints on teal/turquoise/aqua will work.  Do you have most tonal choices in your colored fabric, or are you using prints?

Busy Weekend

This has been a hectic weekend with the end of the Thanksgiving holiday and two projects on the task list for quilting.

Yes, it's block of the week time again, this time we are celebrating universal suffrage.  The block is called "Everybody's Favorite".  I wanted to get it finished Saturday morning, so I jumped online first thing -- even before I had my Diet Coke!  I think I should have taken the time to go get the soda because I had to resew one seam at least 5 times!!  Ah well, it's a smidge wonky, but as they say it won't be noticed by someone on a galloping horse.  This block actually makes me smile as I used my very favorite red flower in it and 2, count 'em 2, plaids!

There's another version being done that is just great.  I had no idea how to draft it, and these fabrics would not have worked in that version,  It is fun seeing what others do.

I had another project start this weekend -- a mystery quilt with Bonnie Hunter -- see the link under the blogs I follow.  It is scheduled to run for 6-8 weeks, coming out every Friday.  My weekends will be busy!  Here's my fabric selections:

Aqua/Teal, Apple Green, Purples and ...

.... grey and block on white prints

The grey and black on white prints are this weeks assignment....make 190-something 4 square patches from 2 inch strips!  I got most of the strips sewn and subcut, but was unable to finish because I thought I should actually take clothes with me on my business trip this week!

I will be behind for both projects as I'm out of town until Dec 8th.  Lots of catching up to do over the holidays!

So, there's my quilting world for now,

Deciding When to Stop - Red/White Challenge

My guild is turning 40 this year and has issued a challenge for the annual quilt show to make a quilt with 40 of something or to make a quilt in the guild colors of red and white.  I have never done a two-color quilt before, so I decided to make a red and white quilt.  I am using a pattern from Kaffe Fassett's book, Quilts en Provence, by Liza Prior Lucy called "Gameboard Quilt".

I am at a decision point for how many "rounds" I am going to complete for this quilt.  Here's the two options:

I like the one on the left because it is nice and clean.  I added another round on the right (corners are sewn, but they are not sewn onto the center piece) so that the dark red would end up on point.  The quilt in the book has yet another round added, but I do not want to go that large.

How do you decide when to stop adding onto a quilt?

Bonus question:  Would you just bind this one as is (that's what the book has) or would you add a border?

Kick in the Pants

Saturday was, of course, Grandmother's Choice Block of the Week day.  I checked out the pattern, and it didn't look so bad -- I've gotten used to sewing in a Y-seam.  (aside:  did not know this was going to be "get really good at Y seams block of the week, but I digress).  It is Week 12 and the pattern is Little Boy's  Breeches: Dress Reform.   It deals with the fact that women's fashion was extremely uncomfortable.  If you go check out the blog, you'll learn why women's pants are called Bloomers!  It was not acceptable for women to wear pants until the 20th century.  Now look at us!

Saturday was also my guild's sew-in at a local library day.  I gathered a selection of black and white, and turquoise fabrics and another project, put all my stuff in the car and off I went!  I quite enjoy these sew-in's they provide an opportunity to get feedback on works in progress, some social activity with like-minded ladies, and a full day of concentrated sewing.  Little did I know this ENTIRE day would be spent on this seemingly not-so-bad block.  I had sympathy from Dorry, over at Colvin Kiwi Quilts, as she is also working on the block of the week project.   There might have been some sounds of frustration from our two tables as we went back and forth to see what progress each of us was making. The others in the room were mystified at our tenacity and length of time we spent on these blocks!

The first task was selecting fabrics for the "breeches" and backgrounds.  The pattern has 4 pants in the pattern, and I wanted each to be different.  I came up with 4 black & white breeches, and 4 turquoise breeches.  So, I think to myself, I'll just make two blocks.  ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaa

The result turned out ok, but constructing this block was much more difficult than I imagined it would be.  Neither block is perfect, but I am somewhat satified with the result.  Here's my final blocks and what I wish I would do to change them a bit:

Little Boy's Breeches

I would just like to clean up the construction for the one on the left with the black and white breeches.  This was the first one I made, and the set in seams are a bit "wonky".

For the one on the right with the black background, I would change where the patterns are.  I meant to put the polka dot and floral opposite each other.  I just got them in the block differently than I planned.  To change it would mean re-doing both set in seams, and I'm not sure I want to attempt it.

Shoud I change them?  I am not sure which I will use, but my personal preference is the one on the right.  The one on the left works better with my current set of blocks, so I'm keeping an open mind.

I find it interesting that the comments on the flicker group are even as to which block is preferred. 

Yowza, what a week!  I am certainly meeting my goal of learning a lot and attempting blocks I would never choose left to my own devices. 

Now With Some Chemistry

I decided to redraft the bottom portion of my Little Red Schoolhouse, and while at it I changed the fabric used for the windows.  I think there's a chemistry class in session.  I like the two windows better.  I also made the door a little wider, as Dorry mentioned she did.  I'm not sure I made mine much different!  So, in my journey of "firsts" for this Block of the Week project, I now can no longer say I have never redrafted a pattern. Interesting process and not as difficult as I thought - just a little arithmetic.

So here's the second schoolhouse block beside the first one.  Which do you like best?  I think definitely the two window version.  (I'm getting better at cropping images, too!)

Two window version

 

 

 

 

 

One window version

Best Laid Plans

I took Friday off last week to sleep and to get some work done around the house.  Sleeping was accomplished, and if "work around the house" includes sewing I got that done, too!

I knew I was attending a workshop on Saturday (with Linda Ellis on Priority Quilts, but that's another post) so I decided Friday evening to pre-select some fabrics for the Grandmother's Choice block of the week.  I have been doing the orange-red for the last couple of weeks, so I decided this week to do a black and white block.  Here's the fabrics I selected on Friday evening:

The floral is vintage-inspired, a modern dot, then some small pin dots including my ever-present turquoise.  The small bin has scraps from previous blocks or scraps that may fit my color scheme.  I always have my other blocks around as well.

So, I get up early on Saturday, knowing my workshop starts at 10:00.  I do my morning routine, and decide to take a peek at the Block of the week on the blog.  The first thing I see, is that the block for Week 11 is called:  "Little Red Schoolhouse:  Lucy Stone".  REALLY?!!  So much for a black and white block, I decide.  Although I think the pattern would work in a black and white scheme, I just had to use red for the schoolhouse....just HAD to.

After the workshop, I played around with a lot of fabric options -- a red-orange checked stripe with a black and white zig-zag roof, a red orange on red orange print for the schoolhouse.  I was getting pretty crazy.  I ended up with a bold, graphic design and I am quite pleased with it now that I have slept on it and viewed it with fresh eyes today.

Since I finished my block I have been looking at blocks others have done.  Consistently, the blocks I like the most re-designed the schoolhouse to have two windows.  Colvin Kiwi Quilts also lengthened the two windows.  I have looked at my block and I think I will change it up to have the two, longer windows.  Tomorrow is a Veteran's Day and I actually have it off work.  I think I will redo this block in celebration! 

For now - here's my Little Red Schoolhouse:

Week 11: Little Red Schoolhouse: Lucy Stone

This block means a lot to me as I am very, very grateful for the educational opportunities I have enjoyed.  It is mind-boggling (kinda like my red polka dotted fabric) to imagine that such a short time ago, it would have been verboten for me to think I could get an advanced degree in a technical discipline.  Wow!  Thanks to ladies like Lucy Stone, we have so many options today.  I never take that for granted and it is nice to be reminded every now and then.

Whatever Possessed Me?

No - not Halloween.  It's Saturday, which means it's Grandmother's Choice Block of the Week time.  This week commemorates Susan B. Anthony and New York.  She voted in New York and was arrested for her trouble.  Sadly, she died before the amendment was passed that would have allowed her to vote.  Check out the blog for more info - link to it is over on my links area.  The block is a flag with a square (recommended to be star fabric) up in the left-hand corner and stripes.

4 1/2" inch log cabin

Week 9 - New York: Susan B. Anthony Breaks the Law

So, back to being possessed.  I have never done a log cabin block before.  I have thought about it, but have never decided to do one.  So whatever possessed me to do one for the flag?  If you look closely, you will see the center of the log cabin is, in fact, star fabric.  The small block also reminds me of the place you make your mark to vote.  So there you have it.  I have no idea why I did this, but it was fun and only required ripping one seam out before I paid enough attention to make sure I did the "logs" in the correct order!

I decided to replace the white logs in the upper left of the log cabin block:

Try 2 - Better, I think!

Embracing my Inner White Space

I have continued to work on the Pointing the Way quilt the last couple of nights after work.  After some comtemplation, I decided to keep the white space.  The pattern calls for a 12" white on white print block in the corners.  I think it is so people can do some fancy schmancy quilting in the corners.  HOWEVAH, I don't do fancy schmancy quilting.  I embraced the white space, but added texture by continuing the use of 16 patch blocks doing each corner in all white on white prints.  I like how it is coming out:

Not a great picture, but you can see it ok. 

Still looking at those borders.  I like the inner border of points and I'm still not sure about the outer border. The vertical piece was the suggestion in the "kit" I got, and the upper pieces are from the fabric in the quilt.  I don't have enough extra fabric to use all the way around, but could get some that matches closely.

What I Did On My Rain Days Off

I worked on the Pointing the Way project on these 2 days with work closed due to the weather.   I completed seven 16 square patch blocks, and sewed the middle four together. 

I also started looking at the pattern's recommended borders (these half square blocks were already sewn).  I wonder if they want a narrow border between the main star and the point border?  I'd have to calculate it so the points would still work.  I suppose I could cut down the ones I already have sewn to make it work.

Since I have an aversion to white space, I'm thinking of putting a smaller version of the large pattern in the corner blocks - also made the half square blocks for it.  Perhaps I should embrace the white space, I'm just not sure.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Pointing the Way - as of 10/30/2012

 I did pretty well on the center section, so I'm not putting anything over it.  (The pattern calls for an appliqued compass points on a circle.  You can find the pattern online -- it opens a pdf file -- at this link.)

Pointing the Way - Middle Section Close Up

I'm tired now and starting to make mistakes, so I'm going to stop sewing for the evening.

Subtlety Is Not My Forte

One of my current projects was from one of my local quilt shop's, Webfabrics, for National Quilting Day 2011, called Pointing the Way (pattern by Martha Ethridge).  I think I got it in March.  Now that I have a design board (and I highly recommend one) I think progress will be faster.  This one was very hard to visualize in pieces laid on a table.  I could only get 1/4 of it visible at a time.  Now that I see it up it is much easier to piece.  Yep, more precision required.  I am becoming one with my seam ripper!

Pointing the Way

I did not pick the fabrics and initially thought they were far too similar.  Seeing it in the photo, though, I see the variation and I like it.  This one is helping me hone my eye to the subtle differences in shading.  I tend to prefer big, bold coloring.  I am starting  to explore shading and slight changes in hues because I have some more artsy fartsy ideas that will require this to work.

Mad for Plaid!

It's Saturday, so it's Block of the Week day!  I started the day checking out the new block on Barbara Brackman's Grandmothers Choice: Votes for Women blog.

The block this week is called Brick Pavement: March on Washington.  It commemorates the march on Washington prior to Woodrow Wilson's inauguration.  There was a parade, mad men (really angry men, actually) and a white horse.  Read the blog for more!

I had trouble early in the day figuring out what I wanted to do...so many possibilities.  I took a break and went with a friend to one of our favorite shops in Purcellville, VA, WebFabrics! Yummy!  We got fabric for a workshop we are taking soon.  THEN, this fabulous black/white plaid fabric jumped into my hands, followed by a lovely black on black floral, and about 8 other fat quarters and a charm pack that I NEED for this project.  (I think I'll have enough for 5 more quilts in these colors by the end of the year!)

The plaid and floral inspired me and this is the result for week 9:

I used the tip I learned from this same friend at a recent quilt retreat:  You can't use too many pins.  I'll add that I find you can't iron too much!

Block of the Week - Can I Keep Up?

A woman in the guild I am in mentioned a "Block of the Week" project that started on September 1st.  CRAZY, I thought!  No way could I keep up.  It would be tooooooo difficult for me at my stage of quilting experience. 

So, I joined!

It is on Barbara Brackman's blog, Grandmother's Choice where she is providing the history of the women's suffrage movement in the U.S.  Each week she posts a new block and explains its inspiration.  I am learning SO much.

We've done 8 weeks now....here's my first 8 blocks: 

I chose this color combination because I think it is perhaps a choice that we would choose today if we were faced with this topic.  And because I really love these colors - I hope they're not too much once I get 49 blocks done.  The light turquoise will be in every block accompanied by the black and white or red-orange. 

I have decided since I made it by week 4 with the sunflower block, I can do any of them.  Here's hoping!

Another way I am learning through this process is by seeing what everyone else is doing with their blocks on the Grandmothers Choice Flickr group. Check it out!

What's in a Blog? (or what I am doing here?)

Well, what am I doing in blog-land?

I have been quilting for a little over a year and have recently been learning a lot of "tricks of the trade", if you will.  I'm also working on projects to force me to sew blocks I might never have thought of doing and to force me to be quite precise.

So - I thought I would record some of my musings to try to remember some of these tips as I go.  It will be nice to have a record of what I'm working on as well.

In between quilting, I do a little photography and a little other crafting.  Sometimes I just muse.

Let's create!