Delivery

   A soft package arrived from Pam at For Quilts Sake.  She was a sponsor for Project Quilting, and I was a random drawing winner recently.  This is one of the stash packs from her etsy shop.....fabrics, beads, and trims!  How lucky can you get to have all the fixings for a very special project in one pack.    Thank you, Pam, for being a PQ sponsor.
    I'm quilting on the baby quilt.....almost ready for the binding.  Happy Easter egg hunting, jelly bean grabbing, and happy stitching.  

Project Quilting final challenge

"Hurrah for Spring" was the last theme challenge for Project Quilting.  I hope you have been following along and viewing all the entries, as there have been some really great projects finished.  It is always fun to see how we progress through the weeks....like watching Project Runway.  I view it as a way to "find my voice" and "make it work".....ala Tim Gunn.
  Spring is always a welcomed time....new growth and returning favorites in the garden.  I have 3 different Clematis vines in shades of purple scattered around the yard and they became my inspiration for When Clematis Bloom.  

 I stuck with my original fabric choices after all. Since  I needed a sample for the quilting class I will be teaching soon,  I left the center plain for lots of machine quilting.

I also like offset layouts---part of my voice---so the vines  are similar around the center, but not mirror image in the way they curve.  I kept it simple  and did not try to over design this one.                                                                  

When Clematis Bloom

  Then the fun began with the machine quilting.  I filled the center area with stacks of teardrops of all sizes.  They create wonderful texture when you allow them to grow out in different directions.

  A little bit of pebbling was used to fill in in some areas that were just too tight for a teardrop.  Then I moved to the border print area.  My original idea was to quilt in leaves, but I noticed the swirl in the print and decided to use that instead.  So lots of swirls along the edges.
    Flickr Group for Project Quilting.   It has been a great season.  Thanks, Kim, for setting this up.

Challenge 5 for Project Quilting

Garden Gate page 28

   The challenge was to select a magazine or printed publication and turn to page 28, and use that page for the inspiration of this week's project.  Sounds easy....except we had recently discarded and cleaned out a lot of old magazines, so my selection was limited!
   I decided to use the first one I found.   Garden Gate page 28---- it was a lovely view of a front entrance garden of white tulips planted in mass.    It was easy to zero in on one white tulip but what else?  
   I liked the contrast of the deep green plantings against the cedar shake and faded brick of the  house.  Looking closer I noticed the weathered  blue shutters.  So I drew inspiration from the subject as well as the colors.

Simply White 

 To the stash closet and there I found the fabric to use for the background that closely resembled the soft colors of the house.
  The background  is pieced with strips of varying widths.   The tulip and leaves are machine appliqued.    Very simple, very white.....thus the name is Simply White.   Sometimes less is more.

 
  This mini banner is 12" by 14".












   I liked that  the challenge topic was different take on what we would normally get.  And thankfully, we were not sent to the hardware store or grocery for inspiration!   There should be great variety in the entries for this challenge.   To view all the entries on Flickr Group, click here.
   One more place to look for inspiration....... Happy stitching.

Project Quilting #4

  I really had to focus to get to this this week.  I hated to break my commitment to Project Quilting.    I  have taken on a lot of projects, so I decided to put a little practice into this one..
   Our challenge this week was to incorporate a star into our project...."Wish upon a star..."

    I created the background--night sky--- from blue strips that were sewn and cut apart and then resewn in a random fashion.  This idea is from a tutorial at Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting. 





 The star is free hand drawn and stitched down with a trapunto effect---the easy part of this one!   I needed to practice the Sheer Ribbon Illusion for the challenge for SewCalGal, so a little thread painting followed.
   Instead of the "splat" pattern that I tried before, I went with the streamers.  I realize now that I did not put enough curve into them, just a few twists.   The curves help provide the illusion I think....and I like the "splat" effect a lot more.  



 
 
  

      Shine On is 15" by 25".
Now to get back on schedule.....happy stitching.

Project Quilting week 3

  It's  time for week 3 of Project Quilting.  Our theme is Annie's Vision.  Annie Young is a blind artist who has a vibrant style that  depicts her feelings and senses.   Oh boy!  If  I was to create just from my senses this week it would be a huge hodgepodge of pieces.    I'm feeling pulled in multiple directions with  the tax man looking over my shoulder!  So coming up with a focus was my challenge this week.      I flipped through my sketchbook  and ran across a Pasque flower drawn after our trip to Alaska in 2009.



    I began with a 9 inch square for the background for the flower.   The pieces were fused down.  Then before I did the machine applique I placed some batting scraps behind the block.  Once all the edges were stitched down, I trimmed away the extra batting from around the stitching.  Trapunto effect!

I finished this off with an offset design of batiks for the borders.   I did not measure these pieces..... just cut  and stitch, trim and re-sew....until I was satisfied with the result. 



  

 I focused on the  memory of my mother-in-law  telling  about finding strength in these tiny flowers as I worked. Pasque flowers  are very delicate in appearance and have fuzzy stems.  The petals are thin and highly veined.    She referred to them as crocuses  and said they would poke right up through the snow in late winter in Alaska.    I imagine that finding  a few spots of vibrant color in the snow after a long winter was a real treasure and bright spot.   













       The Pasque..... finished size is 12 " by 20 ".  

  Linking to Project Quilting at Persimon Dreams  .

Happy stitching.

 

January round up

January finishes 

   I'm off to a good start for the year.  That's why I did not take on a big list for the month....I wanted to make sure I could meet my goal.    The table runner is finished and bound, and the Easy Street mystery is a top and ready for the borders.
   And 2 small projects for Project Quilting designed, and finished!
  This wasn't in my original project list, but I am enjoying the challenge and the quick process of designing around a theme....at least so far.  I am counting these as starts and finishes!  I did use scraps and strings, so maybe I can make a dent in using the scrap pile  up this year.





   And a new start for the month....my NewFO is the "ugly" challenge for guild.  I haven't gotten too far along yet.....just some of the nine patch blocks and the backgrounds for the applique.  I do have a small box of applique pieces cut out.  Since I am winging it on this design nothing is fused  in place.   So this has taken over the design wall and will begin to move up the priority list as  it is bigger than I originally planned!

   The Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop is approaching  so right now that is what I have been working on.  I can't show much but here is a peek at one of them.   I am finally at the quilting stage,  so I am sure I can get it finished over the weekend.    And yes, those are small, quite small for me,  feathers.
   Which is great, as we will be in and out of town for the next couple of weeks.......DD and SIL will be finally getting their house packed up and moved.  Sir Old Man has a few small projects to tackle for them before they leave.  I think I am expected to direct and supervise ----read that as, observe and don't step into any holes!  Maybe I will be allowed to paint a little.

 February plans:   I am putting them down and hoping for the best again!

•  Borders onto the easy street top and get to quilting it.
•  Continue with the "ugly" challenge.
•  Project Quilting----that will be 2 small projects.
•  NewFO----I am thinking it will be the Travel duffle  bag, first because Nicki expressed interest in it, and second because I see a need for it.  I need to shop the stash and see what I can find in there.  

Linking to NewFO at Cat Patches.
Linking to Show and Tell at Pat Sloan's blog.
Happy stitching.   

Project Quilting week 2

  It is week 2 of Project Quilting at Persimondreams.    Click here for   Project Quilting Flickr Group.
 Chasing Away the Winter Blues is 15" by 30".  It began with the wonky star block in the center.  I wanted to use what was in the pre-cut scrap bins,  rather than cut up more fabric.  That went fine.  I got stalled a little after that.  I thought I would do a string block to go between 2 star blocks originally.   Yet when I got the first one done, I realized I did not like it straight on and wanted it on point.  More thinking needed.

     I had strings of blue fabric laid out on the table and my natural inclination is to arrange them by value......really?  ;)     A natural progression emerged.  OK, I like it.

   Since the string/strips were different widths I had to play around with placement to get a semblance of size on each side as I created the blended braid effect.  The end result is just a little off kilter---wonky to match the star.   Then I practiced some endless feather quilting to finish it off.   Overall, a fun way to chase away the blues.
  A challenge and a finish....I like that.  Hope you will check out the others who are doing this by visiting the Flickr Group.
  Happy stitching.
   

She's back home!

  I'm so glad to have my machine back home !!!!  How do you spell relief.....s-t-i-t-c-h-i-n-g!!!

An hour in the sewing room, and I feel a great relief because my list of pressing project deadlines  that was piling up.  
  I only had the center section for the Project Quilting done.  A wonky star of blue.  I used the technique of Bonnie Hunter's to make a maverick star.  An easy block and choice since I wanted to only use scrap squares and string pieces.  I had a stack of 3 1/2" squares to use, so the block ends up at 91/2" unfinished.   I added a wonky triangle in each corner just for fun.  Then I got stuck.  I needed more that just a single block.  so it sat since Monday.

   Today I got inspired......strips of blue were added to create a braid effect on opposite sides.  Yes, this is going to work.  There is nothing like Chasing Away the Blues.  ;)  
 
After the holidays, I caved in and asked for an iPhone ...since they were practically giving them away.  Time to enter the new century.  Or almost, as I did not get the latest version, but it works for me.  I actually used it over the weekend when Bonnie Hunter had her "quilt-cam" on Sunday.  I was sewing on the 9 patch blocks while keeping an eye and ear tuned to what she was doing and sharing.  Bonnie mentioned an "app" she used while traveling called Waze.  It is a real time GPS  app and it re-routed her while traveling to avoid a traffic jam due to an accident on the interstate.  I think it could come in handy when we hit the road for Michigan this spring.

   So, here's my question.  Does anyone use or know about any good quilting type or related apps for the iPhone    I have added the app for Jo-Ann's for the coupons, but wondered what else I might be able to use.    I think a quilt shop locator would be good to have.    Or maybe one  with a database to list projects or photos and fabrics/notions  needed for each.     There are so many out there, but reviews of them are not always the greatest.  Which ones are function-able and not junk?  Which have you used?  Do you really use them?   Thanks for any input.
Happy stitching.

Monday's bits

   Monday already?  I got bogged down with stuff this morning and  I have free motion class tomorrow.  I got the samples and handouts together, and bundled up the quilts to show.
   If you are a follower and lover of  Exuberant color  ....be sure to read the feature article on Wanda at  Quilt Inspiration today.  And they are showing a few of her latest quilts!  She's a huge inspiration to me, so click over and enjoy!
   Over the weekend I got a small start on the guild challenge quilt.....some 9 patch blocks and more leaves cut out and yards of bias stems.  I figure I will have the 9 patches together by the time my big machine comes home so I can start the appliqueing.

    Then yesterday Project Quilting announced the challenge theme for this week.  It's My Favorite Color.  Create a project with white and your favorite color.  In essence a two color project.  So the color pick is easy, blue it shall be.  To the scrap boxes and string bins I run!
     Here's the assortment so far.   Rather than just sticking with the dark blue and white, I want to use a variety of blue shades.  The monochromatic quilt has always been a challenge for me, as I love to use lots of color.  So I am putting a bit of a mountain in my path to stretch my ability to deal with the monochromatic side of this one.
   So next is deciding on a design.  

Project Quilting

   It's happening over at  Persimon Dreams .   Like Project Runway, there is a theme and a time limit!   A weekly theme for the challenge is posted on Sunday and photos of a finish are required.    Sounds like fun....but let's see. It is already Saturday and  I have committed to the mystery quilt, aka Easy Street, and to the 2013 Finish challenge each month, and the New FO challenge each month, and the guild's challenge, along with a growing list of want-to-dos.   On the other hand, this sounds interesting and I miss the weekly journal challenge from 2 years ago....so, yeah, I am going to join and see what happens.    

   This week was "square in a square".  Do you think I have squares in my stash for this?  **big grin**  You know I do, so  I hit the watercolor squares and did a small table top project.   It's squares in a square for sure.  Eight rows across and eight rows down of blended 2 " squares that I bordered with a batik.  The size finished at 16" by 16".   I used straight line quilting to finish it off.  But you can't see that in this photo.

 






 That's the back view.....wild fabric and straight line quilting.  
I admit this was an easy out for me....next time I will at least put my thinking cap on.
Now to get this posted on the Flickr group and link up to Persimon Dreams.

   Happy stitching.