Absence explained

  I have been absent, not away, with too much going on.  And I never did get cookies made.  Things I did accomplish include......a double batch of Chex mix for the nephews and Sir Old Man to munch on, shopping is finished, packages mailed, Christmas notes sent,  side dishes for Christmas dinner assembled and frozen, small amount of stitching, and birthday brunch out.  Yep, I am a year older and almost forgot about it:) 

    Sir Old Man didn't......He decided to make my life even easier and got me a Surface Pro, you know the fancy thing to replace a laptop or a tablet.    So it is learning time for me.  I called our IT friend and he will help us get all the settings right and set up sharing.  And that's all I really know to date. 

  I did catch the HQ live video on it for this month.  Feathers with Jane Hauprich was excellent!   It's an hour video and worth the watching.  She uses the HQ sit-down machine, but her techniques work even for LAs.   I loved being able to sit in my chair, feet up with  the tablet to watch it. 



  And a second video I watched today from Janome.  Anna Maria Horner shared a pattern for her Turn It Up quilt.  Lots of scraps went into this one as well as a good lesson on using value in our quilts.  You know that was right up my alley.  It's very simple, squares and HSTs .  And she offers a PDF to download. 


   My last to share today is from C and T Publishing.  Click here to get the Carolina Chain quilt pattern from Bonnie Hunter.   They are sharing full instructions for the on-point layout.  This photo is one I made with a straight set several years ago. 

  Stitching.....a bit more to do as I assemble the 16 patch blocks into two narrow foot warmers for the bed.  And I finally decided on a quilting motid for the baby quilt.  Now I just need a few hours without interruption or distraction.    Maybe today.......happy stitching.

Comparing Carolina Chain quilts

Carolina Chain of 2"  strips begun in May

  For my Year of Floral quilts, I am really exploring some of my favorite patterns focusing on how they look done in floral fabrics.  There is always the blending effect using florals, and attention to the light and dark contrast of values.  Sometimes the busy print of the florals obscure and disguise the pattern, and sometimes the floral fabrics simmer in radiance due to the contrasts.

   I began the Carolina Chain blocks in May using 2" strips and batiks for the dark and light accent squares through the center.  The block is from Bonnie Hunter column, Addicted to Scraps, from 2010.   It's a simple block....easy to figure out.

   On the design wall, it looked like this.  Interesting chain design develops as it grows.

What I was not prepared for was the radiance that happened by adding the borders.  Leftover pieces were joined into long strips for the border, which were banded with the dark batik.  The photo does not capture the glow from the contrast.  

  I knew the quilting would not show well because of the busy prints.....but crazy for feathers I am.  I stitched bands of feather sprays across on the diagonal....not dense, but enough to satisfy me.  

 Field of Blooms

36" by 45"

  For comparison:  

  The larger version done earlier this year in the same pattern was made using 2 1/2" strips of scraps/leftovers.   Same pattern, two sizes, two different fabric palettes gives you 2 distinct quilt personalities.   I love seeing this happen.

Now I think I have gotten this pattern out of my system and I'm ready to move on.  We are looking at a lot of liquid stuff--rain--instead of sunshine this weekend.  Cookout will be indoors.....enjoy your weekend.

Happy stitching.  

Ending June with July plans

  Jumping Jupiter....the year is half  gone!  Or is that there's still 6 months left in this year?  Anyway,  June was a small month for finishing, with headway made on two projects for next month.

Finishes for June.....project folder from leftover bargello,  table top strings with flowers, and the floral quilt, Summer Popourri.








Progress made on two projects that should be finished in July.....if I don't get side-tracked.
   Both fall into my Year of Floral quilts category.  Besides a couple of watercolor wall hangings, I have 3 large floral quilts done this year.....Where My Feet May Fall---log cabin variation block;  Metamorphosis----sashed string qult;  Summer Potpourri----just finished using the Faux Braid block.  The  floral Carolina Chain will be a small lap quilt, and the floral bargello will be a wall hanging.



 The smaller floral quilt of Carolina Chain blocks  is pieced and now  quilted.   Binding and label are ready to go on.  So I know I can get this done in July.

    The Let's Book It bargello project is still on the design wall, but I have decided on the border.  This will be my main focus next week.....get border on, and prep for the quilting.

   I have my eye on the next Let's book It project......only I will make a smaller version of what I picked out.  Smaller versions seem to satisfy me right now.....it could be the heat and crazy weather  that are affecting my concentration on projects.   Rather than fight a big quilt project, I am taking the simpler path of smaller  lap quilts.  And it is time to start thinking about Christmas gifts.....small is good!  Happy stitching.   

Re-thinking a thing or two

   When I am quiet, it is because I am thinking and pondering things.  It could be life events--yes-- or a design challenge, or project I am working on.  Lately, it has been a little of everything weighing me down.

    I have this.....stack of quilts in the living room.

  In the sun room, there is my quilt ladder that is loaded with a double layer of quilts.

   And a section in the guest closet with small quilts and wall hanging......seasonal items, table runners, and a few mini style items.

  In the guest bedroom, you find another stack of quilts.  There are a few quilts put aside for donations to charity causes.  All of these, plus those on the walls and beds and sofas.....do I have overload?

   Please don't laugh.....I do not know how many large quilts I have.  I am afraid I could not count that high.  I'm not interested in selling them either.   I am emotionally invested in most of them.

   Storage is what I seem to need.  Enter Sir Old Man that magical knight of the workshop.  Unknown to me, he had begun to repair a storage cabinet that has been in pieces for a few years.  We believe will work and solve this problem.   I will share details and photos of  this treasure soon.  Just know I am excited about the possible solution.



   All of this leads me to thinking about size.  I have been on the bandwagon for the last couple of years of large quilts.   8 to 10 a year is overboard.....way more than I can use or give away to friends and family.   I already have completed 3 this year....and one ready to quilt now.  So I am going smaller in size for this next project.

    On the design wall are 12 blocks (instead of the 42 planned) of the small size Carolina Chain pattern.  I have some tweaking and re-arranging of blocks to do yet, but I am only going to add a border and call it done.








 

A new Let's Book It project has been nagging at me too.  I went looking for a much smaller project that could give me a work out.  Selecting the fabric for a small bargello has begun.  The pattern is from the book Colorwash Bargello.  It requires 19 fabrics....and my challenge is narrowing down the field.  There is an unseen stack of at least 20 more fabrics that I pulled out to use.  Grin----that's the good thing----having a big stash.    At least I have a plan, let's wait and see how far along I get.

  June always flies by around here.  I need to sneak out and do a little birthday shopping for Sir Old Man.....remember the fuming tent for the bed?   He has already made his birthday purchases, but I want to tweak him a little bit and add some color to that workshop...lol.  The bed---alas, poor me---is not finished.  That is the rub....the finish.  Sir Old Man is having a very trying time with the hand rubbed finish, and it looks like he will have to sand and start again.   So, we are waiting yet again for drying time, etc.  That is why he took to repairing the storage cabinet.   Things work out for the best.....I am not complaining.
Off to the sewing room....happy stitching.

Finishing a few things

  I decided it was time to get a few things finished up to make some space on the "to be done" table.  I am probably the only one in the world that has a stack of small projects that get  set aside for  later completion.  This runner is one of those projects.  It's the Piano Keys pattern done in fall tone florals.  This is the small size using 2" strips.

 








   Two place mats needed binding.....so I got to dig through the binding strip bin to find the right colors.  I love these done in the colorways.  I don't do much quilting on them, just some straight stitches in the white area to keep them from shifting.

   The design wall was bare.  I need to have something up there to keep me motivated.   The Carolina Chain---small version---went up on the wall for some interest.   I have a couple dozen units pieced and will get them turned into blocks soon.

   I know I seem to be a one-trick/repeat pony lately, between the string blocks and faux braid, and Carolina Chain blocks......but classics never go out of style.  When I get this one done, I should be ready for something new.
   I am spending the afternoon quilting on Hot Legs....she needed a good workout.  Maybe I will actually have a large finish this month.....happy stitching.  

A trio of doll quilts and some answers

     A cute trio of doll quilts arrived last week.  These are from Mrs. Claus of Texas.  Rose, aka Rosenana, is a member of the Circle of Friends.   The colors are just dainty and sweet in this one.

  And the other two are fun and dashing with bright colors.  I love the red dots, they say summer is on the way!
   Thank you, Mrs. Claus for helping and giving of your time and talent.

My version of the Carolina Chain

   After my post of the end of the month projects, I had several emails about the Carolina Chain block.   The original block was from 2010 Quiltmaker magazine....ala Bonnie Hunter.  It is in her column Addicted to Scraps----so that is why I did not post complete instructions on how to make this block.  Bonnie gives so much away, and by posting instructions I know I would be violating copyright.   It is quite easy to figure out and select the size strip you want to use according to your stash.  My quilt in the photo used 2 1/2" strips.






     I began playing around with a smaller version over the weekend.......I know another project, but I was just testing it out  ;)    I have stacks of 2" strips of florals.......so by adding a few strips of batiks for the center squares, I came up with this.  Each small unit finishes at 4 1/2".


  I have seen this quilt using all batiks....and it is always beautiful.  Then I saw one that a friend did in blue and yellow.....very striking.   What's in your stash?  Pick your favorite fabric style and go for it, I say!







 And several questions about the rail fence with 2 patch + 4 patch  popped up.  Here is the post with the block. 
     My earlier version appeared "watered down" because I included too many squares with light backgrounds.  I put together a few more blocks, keeping the prints and backgrounds deeper in value.  Now, the design becomes more evident.   Of course, you could reverse the rails by using  a dark rail mixed with lighter 2+4 patch units.  That would give a different look!     You can't get easier than a rail fence design.....and it makes a great donation quilt, baby quilt,  or family snuggle up quilt.  Just remember , you are the designer.....let your quilt speak with your voice.   Happy stitching.  

May already?

  Time is flying by again......April was full of projects.



   A scrap quilt made from the Carolina Chain block from Bonnie Hunter was quilted and bound.  I named this one Home Ties.











 The pattern was in an old Quiltmaker magazine....but it is an easy one to figure out.  I used 2 1/2" strips for this one.  Light center squares go on one diagonal and the darker center squares go in the opposite direction.

   I spent a few days playing around with the 2+4 patch block scrap project.  My stack of 2 patches is piling up as I am making them as a leader/ender unit while I work of other quilts.  That means I have 3 things going on right now......that is enough.

  Then I spent a week making table runners from the Piano Keys pattern from Connie at Freemotion by the River.  I love this pattern and am planning /cutting out one in fall tones!

  The floral string quilt got a change up in the layout, which really slowed me down.  But I like the blocks so much better with the sashing strips.  I have just uncovered a fabric for a border, so I can get this one completed next month.

   I finished up the floral log cabin blocks....and decided on this layout.  It is simmering on the design wall until I get the border onto the string quilt.


  May looks like it will be spent on completions.....the string quilt, the log cabin watercolor, and  more blocks for the scrappy rail fence of 2 + 4 patches.
More than enough to keep me busy.  As much as I want to jump onto a new project,  I will stick to my limit of 3.....and maybe just add in a plan or two.   Happy stitching.

Home Ties

 
   Spring is here in full force. Flowers in bloom, warm temps---84 degrees today---with cool mornings.   So this quilt is just what is needed for early mornings on the porch...along with a nice cup of coffee.

   I finished up the scrappy binding yesterday, for a finish this month.  Yay!  I had debated on a border for this one, but instead I opted for just a nice snuggle size of 50" by 60".  

  Simple straight line quilting on this one.  I almost used an all over swirl, and then decided to keep it clean and simple.  I just wanted to accent the diagonal lines of the blocks rather than weight it down with too much thread.

   I began putting these blocks together last December, so this one has been hanging around for a while.  The block is Carolina Chain from Bonnie Hunter.   Originally shown in Quiltmaker 2010, here is a link to see the block.  I believe Bonnie has put this into one of her latest books.....but it is simple enough to figure out just from the photos.  Wink.....I am thinking about a floral version using 2" strips this time along with batiks.

  A simple scrappy binding.....I just dug through the bin with leftover binding pieces and sewed them together.    This is one of my favorite "waste not" techniques.   Eventually, every binding scrap finds a home.
  Home Ties is done....and looking for a home. I have somebody in mind for this one ;D
 
  I love a finish....it motivates me to move forward and think ahead.   That means I need to do some cutting.   And ponder the layout for the strings I took off the design wall.  I think I have an idea that just might satisfy me.
Happy stitching.