With Gratitude

  The last 2 weeks have been a mix of projects and dealing with medications and insurance.    Sir Old Man  hit a point that he needed medication adjustment....emails, office visit, new Rx, discontinued medication, etc.  Then to come up for review for insurance just before the holidays!  Finally we think we have it straightened out but he will return to the doctor for a check in 2 weeks.  This getting older is not for the weak-hearted, or the soft-minded!  You need a thick skin like a tough old bird to reach this stage of life. 
  With the Thanksgiving season nearing, I tried to find the time/make the effort to get thru with my banner.   I got the quilting done and finished the binding this week. 

 
  Such a timely sentiment that needs to be viewed and thought about each day.  I have elected to hang it on the pantry door, as I must pass by it 20 times a day at least. 
  I quilted it with a mix of meandering and some swirls for texture.  I had intended to use straight line quilting, but after 2 rows, I stopped and ripped it out.  It was just not what I wanted. 

    I am grateful that Sir Old Man had a can of New Skin spray----think super glue in a spray can.  I made a nice slice in my thumb when chopping apples.  It was  more a flap of skin type cut and hard to stop the bleeding.  Glued together, and dinner finished and no trip to the ER. 




   I am grateful for my new scissors.....the large handled Kay Buckley ones with the serrated edges.  Believe me they are wonderful.  Relief for my poor hands and wrists.   I actually just order the next smaller size for a Christmas present for me----to save Sir Old Man the shopping trip.  :)   I am sure he will be grateful, too.

  We are not planning any feast, so I am grateful I can cook a few things and not stress over a big meal. 
  I am grateful to be almost finished with the quilting on the seasonal panel quilt.  I am liking how it looks. 
   To my blog friends far and wide, I am grateful to share with you.  I wish you a joyful, thankful day and week fill with fun, food, and family.   Until then, happy stitching. 
 

   

From panels to tops

   Working away and making a huge mess in the sewing room.  I will have to take a few days next week to get things back in order.

 
  First up......from Panel to top is the seasonal throw.  The color is not good on the outer border....it is all in gray tones.  It reminds me of looking out thru a window with stained glass around it.  I have the red dot backing cut, washed and pressed.  Ready for pinning to quilt.  The binding is cut and ready to stitch together. 
   It may have taken a couple of design tries to get this one figured out....but I feel it was worth it. 

  In between putting this one together I worked on more of the wonky courthouse step blocks.....I have strips everywhere. That's the part that I need to clean up before going further.



  Second panel to top.....this is a small wall hanging.   When the inspiration hit for this one 2 days ago,  nothing would do until I started.  I mean I could not concentrate on anything else.
 With all the crazy madness going on in the world I find it too easy to fall into the  habit of being bitter and angry.  I am here, I am alive.  I am able to do things, and I can think for myself.   I need to focus on all the good things I am....all the things to be grateful for.   I want to begin each day with a grateful heart.

The center was part of a pre-printed panel I got in North Carolina.  Surrounding this sentiment with my floral squares was natural.  Combining two things I love.....words and flowers. 
  Right now it is pinned to the design wall.  I will decide how to finish it off once I get the seasonal top quilted. 







       This morning was the day......for shopping for new chairs.  The air cylinder took it final gasp on my sewing room chair, and Sir Old Man had been practically sitting on the floor in his office chair.   I tried researching them on line and realized, I needed to sit in the chair.  I needed a higher one for the sewing room.  If I sit higher and have the correct 90 degree angle for my arms, I do not get a back ache. 
   so after sitting in almost every chair in the office store, we found one.  Just one, and of course it was the pricey $$$ one too.  With a name like Tempurpedic of course it is.  Lol.  I sit high now :)



  It was so nice to be out and see the trees with some color.  Freeze warnings tonight so the leaves will disappear quickly now.  I had to pull out my wrist supports again.  I am grateful to have them  when the inflammation gets bad.  Of course, I have been over doing it.  I will take the weekend off.  Stay warm and happy stitching.   

Having way too much fun!

    Last night I read through my new book, a  get well gift from Lara at BuzzinBumble...... isn't she a sweetie!
I had commented I was putting her book on my Christmas list, and she offered to send me a copy for my recovery.  Happy dancing here.

   So I did an intense read and decided to begin today on my focus banner for 2017.  Nothing like the present to set a future course.
   The book is a great read, and I love the extra tips that Lara includes.  Her directions are clear and easy to understand.  It is not a complicated technique, it just takes a little planning and prepping.   So if you haven't gotten a copy.....put it on your Christmas list.  There's time:)




     Along the way, as I prepared my fabric for the words I want to use, I discovered a new use for campaign yard signs.   I slipped one inside a trash bag for my prepping.  And that is all I will say about it for now.

  It was time to begin work on the letter patterns for the applique.  Next, I pulled out my orphan block box.  I found a couple of blocks I loved that I could incorporate into the banner.  And then the improv/free piecing of the background.  I have a large zip lock bag of neutral strips, and pieces that come in handy for creating  mixed backgrounds.
 

 
   I had a rough sketch  as a guide to what I wanted.  I knew that I wanted an off set layout, and that a bit of color in some orphan blocks would be a good thing.  At this point, I need to square up the bottom and check to be sure I have enough room for the letters.

   You can get an idea of the type of piecing I am using....strips, chunks, a few 4 patch units, and a couple of blocks.  It is a matter of finding things that fit, and pressing well.  Square up the sides as you go:)

   
        And the first letter is a "B".    I am using a lot of batik scraps for the words.

  I did a search for alphabets for applique.  I found a couple that I decided to work from because the size was about right.  I traced over the block style letters I needed, adding a little curve and personality to them.    I added an extra strip across the bottom on the final size to be sure I had enough length.  

    I did a small bit of cutting with the rotary cutter---no problem.  The pressing is worse on the hand, so I pulled out the lighter travel iron to use.  Much better.  
   I got the lab results for my B12 level.....even with the monthly shots, it is too low for my nerves to heal and maintain my body.  I see the doctor on Friday to discuss  a different shot schedule.  I seem to do well for a couple of weeks after the shot, but feel my  energy level drop by the third week.
  I'm done for today.....happy stitching.

For 2016---- Enjoy!

   Enjoy......my word for 2016.  Enjoy what you are making, enjoy the process, and enjoy the finish.
   I am giving myself permission to begin a project, and if I am not enjoying it..... Stop, give it away, or toss it.   Recognize that some things may not be worth the effort and not everything turns out as you envision.  Accept it and find something you do enjoy.

   2016......what's ahead.

• There are a couple of quilts waiting to be quilted.  I enjoy that.   A string donation quilt, and Birds in the Air need backing  before I get them quilted on Hot Legs.

•  The  Orange Peels needs to be bordered......I decided to forgo the original border idea as it was competing with the design.  I will just keep it simple.  
• Continue making circles for the Quilty 365.  I am throwing in half circles to allow for a staggered layout.  The plus is being able to use smaller scraps for those half circles!

• Enjoy the Let's Book It project.  While I have not picked patterns yet, I will continue with this on going challenge.  I will be looking for a few smaller project ideas after the mega marathon from last year of floral quilts.  I do have one small project set aside that will probably get started in January.
• Friday Finds.......will continue in some manner for next year.  I have had emails asking if I was stopping since I only did one post in December.  I was surprised how many readers liked the "hunt" for quilts and tips.  

January will bring changes to Blogger.....read here.    For readers of blogs, you will need to have a google account for following. The plus is that followers  can use the reader feature for blogs they do follow.   For bloggers, we may see a drop in followers as those followers without google accounts will be dropped.  I have yet to figure out how to have my posts show regularly  on Facebook, so those following on FB will need to do the google thing.  

   I know many use Feedly and  Bloglovin', and those readers will not be effected......just realize they are mirror sites and you do not get regular traffic from them.  That does not bother me, as I get no profit from my blog.  

   Confused, yet?   Me, too.  Just know, that blogger likes to kick up a fuss in the new year, just to keep us in line!  But us ''die-hards'' are tough and we won't let them stop us.  Just to be prepared, I am going to put in new blades for the rotary cutter.....in case I need to defend my territory.   Quilt on!

Update:  My posts may be missing from your dashboard reader....in that event you will need to re-follow this blog----that blogger/google thing is causing problems I fear.    I have found several blogs that disappeared from my list and had to be added again.   

Picking binding

   I had a question about how I chose fabrics to bind a quilt from Linda. And what was I going to use on the latest scrappy quilt.   A flood of things came to mind.  Along the way I have  learned a few things....mainly to follow my instinct at the end.     I know some quilters plan ahead and cut binding strips as they cut pieces and borders.  I don't always think about binding fabrics until I get to that stage.   It is just a matter of preference and what effect you want.

   So I will share my thought process and let you find your own way and inspiration.  Please remember, my quilts are for use....on the walls, on the sofa or bed....not for big exhibition quilt show.  If I was looking to win a big show, of course,  I would need to change some of my ways. Judges look for things like hand stitched bindings, and bindings cut on the bias.  Needless to say, mine usually are not.  I'm not doing tutorials or "how tos".....there are plenty of those elsewhere.  Just check Pinterest.



  I see the binding as the final frame.   Think of a picture frame  and how it finishes off the print or painting.
   So for a quilt.....It might look best to blend with the border fabric.  Most of my small wall hangings have a binding that blends with the outer border.  I want the center to be the focus.  In this case, I used the same fabric.  If I am short on fabric, I would just look for a very similar fabric to use.

  Small watercolor quilts that have a solid border also get a binding that matches.  There is so much going on in the center that a contrasting binding would be a distraction.  If the border is a print or batik, I would also match as close as possible to it.











    Other times,  a contrasting binding accents the colors or fabrics in the center piecing.  It might tend to lead the eye back to the center.  For this baby quilt, the Mom wanted pink and green colors......so I made sure there was a bight pink binding for the finish.  It's unexpected and fun in this case.  And I got to use up a lot of that bright pink.

   Another contrast binding to accent the color and pull all the blue/purple out to the edge.  There was quite of bit of blue and purple in the body of the quilt and the border strip and binding just made it all pop.







  Yet my favorite binding is mixed.....whatever strip is leftover from the center gets added to the binding.  I simply string them all together until I have enough length to go around.  You might note that I am guilty here of joining some fabrics bluntly rather than a diagonal join.  I probably was short on fabric and needed every inch.

  The diagonal join is the best method to use to distribute the bulk.   Here's a good tutorial on joining binding strips.  It is the technique I use.

     One more.......This quilt had a very busy border, so it was easy to use up any leftover floral strip for binding.  It was mixed floral strips  and yet blended into the border without distracting from it.

  The  question about the latest scrappy rail quilt.....its binding will be  an assortment of whatever leftovers I find.  It is just that kind of quilt.
  Maybe a few of my ideas will spark your creativity to experiment with your binding choice.  Match it, mix it up, or find a bold contrast.  As long as you like it, it is good.
Happy stitching.

Changing focus here and new project

 I am back on my feet again, and able to keep food down.....that was an ugly virus.  Anyway, it gave me pause and time to think about my plans.

   In the last couple of years I have done a lot of quantity, and gained a vast improvement in quilting skills.   I am not going to even count the number of quilts, much less small projects.  I guess I thought I was in a race, and had to have the numbers to get there.  I had made plans for about 15 quilted projects for this year along with a couple of challenges.  That is about to change.

   I want to take a slightly different direction here and put my focus on the design process.  I hope to bring out options, inspirations, and put some design ideas  into what I share.  A lot more content and focus on quality---how did I get there--- rather than the quantity.  I need time to quilt more donation quilts, so my finishes will number less I am sure.   I hope you will stick around, ask questions and come along for the journey.


   Last month  I started prepping this project for the new year.   I chose the English Garden quilt from the book Watercolor Log Cabin Quilts by the Palouse Patchers.   The book is out of print, but can still be found occasionally on different sites.  The block was described as a rectangular log cabin block that  is flipped and staggered across the quilt and becomes a twisted ribbon on the diagonal.    Something a little different I thought.   Right off I realized it was not quite a log cabin, but rather a variation at best.

Rectangular block for English Garden

    I did a mock up in EQ7 to show what I mean.  Strips are 2 " and you create a dark and a light side.  I caught myself adding the first light strip to the right instead of opposite the first dark strip......like a log cabin.  I went back to the book and checked  arrangement again.....this is correct.
    A setting strip will be added when the vertical piecing begins that will actually complete the log cabin look.   Not there yet...so I won't confuse the issue before hand.
 

    I went ahead and put in the cutting size measurements for reference in this photo that I used.     A block can "grow" and warp by strip piecing....
 ( butting one section to another against a long strip, sew,  and then cut) .   So I do cut the strips into the correct length before piecing to  be sure that the block is the correct size....it will finish at 4 1/2" by 6".

   I am using floral fabrics....what else would you expect.  But I think this one would be a good design to play with in batiks or scraps---- as long as you pay attention to the value and get a dark and a light side.  And the proportions could be easily made larger or smaller according to the strip size you want to work with.
  Meanwhile, I have some blocks to piece and setting lengths to cut......and next time I will show the actual layout.  Happy stitching.

Quilting as a design layer

It is beautiful and in the 50s here today.....so I am outside enjoying the sun before the next cold blast arrives tomorrow.
  Here is how I approach the quilting process to hopefully get that added design layer.

      My third design layer is the quilting.   This turns a flimsy into a quilt and can change the whole appearance of a top.  Like adding decorative icing on a plain cake, and suddenly it becomes a wedding cake.  A lot of quilting, a little quilting, or absolutely hyper-type quilting......I love it all and think there's a place for it to be used.
   For a wall quilt, or a show quilt, I love to see lots and lots of thread used----what I call hyper-type quilting.  But if I want to cuddle up under a quilt, I want it flexible, not flat and stiff as a board. If it is a special gift to someone, I want to "show off" a little and make sure there is some fancy quilting stitches that they can enjoy.
   I will ponder a while and ask myself a few questions before I put the quilt under the needle....usually.

•   Who is the quilt for...and how will it be used?
•   What part of the design do I want to stand out?
•   Do I have large areas that are open/plain and need to be filled?
•   Is it a busy pattern with lots of prints that will hide the stitching?

   

   Busy patterns and lots of prints are the easiest to decide on.....they will hide a lot of your stitching, so do the easy thing.  For me, that is large stippling.  I use the large stipple on watercolor quilts, and chose it for Walking in Sunshine, which was the Easy Street mystery from Bonnie Hunter.  There was just so much going on in this quilt, I wanted to blend it together and not try to accent anything.  A second choice could easily be a pantograph --repeated-- pattern that runs across the quilt from edge to edge.  Or straight lines on the diagonal would be a third option.    All three options serve to finish the top and not put the focus on any one part.

  

 Applique quilts usually provide a great opportunity to let the quilting stand out.  There are open areas/background space that are crying for some thread. 

  Red Hots is from last year and I was learning to do feathers as you can see here.  I wanted the hearts to really pop, and it was a wall quilt (not for cuddling), so the background was quilted heavily.  By heavily quilting the background, the appliques stand out. 

  The trees in this quilt are pieced with just a few birds appliqued on, but there is a lot of background space.  I filled it all in with swirls--large and small---in an attempt to push that background back.

And the benefit was a great texture for all that white area....the swirling lines look like blowing snow.

Deb's quilt at A Simple Life Quilts

   Straight lines.....often overlooked but so effective in the right place.  I thought Deb used the straight lines here to get very striking results.  The pattern is a simple sashed pinwheel block.  Yet with the quilting accentuating the diagonals, I see  a secondary pattern of the white sashing strips.

  I  did ask permission to show this one from Deb at A Simple Life Quilts.  Be sure to see the rest of her work.   Thanks, Deb, for sharing.

  I ran across a couple other quilts that really take that third layer of quilting over the top.  One is at Nifty Stitcher---click here to see.  Rhianon is a fabulous quilter....she knows how to push the limit and go beyond the boundaries.  Her latest quilt of floral hearts is a simple design of sashed blocks that is very heavily quilted.  She pushed the backgrounds down with quilting to bring the appliques forward, the sashing is full of feathers, and I even see some straight lines.  Don't miss this one!

  A second one I discovered at Tamarack Shack.  She long arm quilted a customer quilt with a mix of patterns to blend and bring out the texture.  

  I added all three of these quilts to Pinerest under Free Motion Quilting.

     I am a minimalist piecer.......I like the piecing to be quick and easy because I want to get to the quilting stage.  I love the texture the quilting gives my quilts.  I enjoy the added element of the quilting pattern.

    If you prefer more difficult/ prolonged piecing and less quilting.....applause from me.  Hopefully, you will still glean some information from all of this anyway.   There are no rules, but some principles still apply.   We are all quilters and I think there is room in the world for all of us, no matter where we fall.  And the best part.....a finished quilt!  Happy stitching. 

A finish and a start, some progress

 So this is what April brought........a finish, a start, and some progress.

•  The guild challenge quilt is put together with the borders on.  It is ready for pinning and then the quilting fun begins.  
• Buzzsaw is in the works.
• Stings and coins.....the on-going watercolor to use up lots of strips.  Only they seemed to have multiplied!
• Loose Change is this month's finish.  This was the scrap quilt made from 5" square stash.

May is next up.....time for some plans and focus.

Water strip quilt----get it sewn together.  Nicki's recent comment gave me some additional inspiration on how to finish this one up.  I was stumped on the border--or not-- and now I have a vision.  Thanks for the help!

Make more buzzsaw blocks.  I actually got  a few  more done yesterday as they go together quickly now.

Pin the challenge quilt....this month.  I have till September to finish this so it may not get quilted till later.




Start a NewFO......strings to carry me for the summer months.  I love the mindless sewing that a string quilt brings.  I get to play with color and create some drama.    I have been collecting ideas for layouts of string quilts to share.  

  And that is all I am committing to for May.....unless something else pops in.  

 Linking to 2013 Finish Challenge




Oh.....and I don't want to forget to welcome a new Mrs. Claus!
  This sweet little doll quilt came a couple of days ago.  It was made and donated by Happy Erme of the HGTV Message board.  She sent this to represent the state of New Mexico.   Such beautiful colors!  Thanks so much, I really appreciate the help and support.

Happy stitching.

New FO for April

   Not bad this month.  I stuck to my plans and had a finish, a new start, and 2  in progress.    I think this planning stuff really does work!    OK, I do the work, and the planning keeps me focused.  I am not sure where the days went this month, so I am glad I planned a lighter load. Now about that NewFO........

 
 The NewFO took  up a lot of time because of all the prepping and cutting.   But the first full block---18" buzzsaw  block-- is done.
   I expect  this will be in progress for a while, as I have about 40 of these to put together!










The rest of the fabric is stacked in strips and ready to turn into blocks, which will really go fast this month.  I just need to sort them a bit and make sure I get a good mix and variety in each large block.

Note:  This block uses the technique for Delectable Mountains from large HSTs plus and an extra strip.  I explained my measurements in this post.

   

   This was some  free motion quilting practice time, not really a project.  I wanted to see if  I could do a feather with a center stem--yes!--and individual plumes--yes!---with a branch--yes!  The outlining and meandering are rather boring to me...........so when I ran out of bobbin I stopped  :(

   This was a lot more fun, just feathers and curls.  On the far right I was playing around with another version  of a feather that Patsy Thompson uses.
Can you believe I was battling feathers 15 months ago?  I am here to say practice times 3 and anyone can do this.  

  More progress on the watercolor strip quilt, which was a NewFO a couple of months ago.   It is probably long enough and needs maybe one more row before I call this one done.  I used a lot of strips but once again they seem to continue to multiply on me.
















  The NewFO from January is a top.  The borders were added to this challenge quilt--that was my goal for this month.  Now it is ready to pin for quilting.

  EQ7 is starting up some summer drawing lessons....see the button in the side bar.  I hope to participate and learn a lot more about it.  There was a major upgrade that came across last week for EQ7.  I haven't had enough time to discover what was added.

May's NewFO?   Do I need another project?   Not really, but there are all those strips and strings.....so May will be an easy NewFO.  It will be a short sewing time month for me as I have a classes  to teach and  we are planning to venture north to see the furkins .....and daughter and son-in-law.   So if anyone wants to string along----oops, I mean sew along---with me, then get those strings sorted into color families and make some plans accordingly.

Linking to NewFO at CatPatches.
Happy stitching.

Finishes and April focus

  The big finish for March was the Easy Street mystery quilt.  My version is called Walking in Sunshine and I raved about it here.    It is a bit ironic that I am showing it again on April 1....because my darling girl was born today and Sir Old Man always calls her his Sunshine.  So happy birthday, Deana....we love you.
   I stayed on track for March and worked on or completed what I had listed.  Of course it helps that I am doing finishes in stages over 2 or 3 months, or making small things.  That is what I figured out works for me.  I like multiple projects going on, but I detest true UFOs.  If it sits too long, a project usually turns into a no-do.  So by taking small  steps to the finish, I will  get it done.


 The guild challenge quilt is still in progress, even though I put it aside for a week or so.  The applique is done and the first border is on and that was my plan for March.  Yesterday, I began some piecing for the rest of the borders.  And that's my focus for April on this one---get the top completed and ready to quilt.

  Here's the focus  list for April:
   Guild challenge quilt---finish the borders and pin for quilting.
   Quilt the scrap quilt made from 5" squares.
   Make more blocks for the floral blended coins quilt. Another dozen done.....about 80 more to do.
   NewFO for April is the batik quilt for our bed....begin cutting and do a test block.  (What you expect me to list more?)
    Strings----I have been obsessed lately with string quilts.  I even set up a String Quilt board on Pinterest.  So I know I'll be doing something soon.
    Buy fabric....for the 2 baby quilts to be for Maria.  This is on hold until we know boy/girl for sure.
  And lastly......put the push on for the long arm table top machine.  I'm teaching 2 more classes, so that's the down payment!
Linking with Lynne for the 2013 Year the Finished Project.
   Enough for now......got fabric to play with. Happy stitching.