Mid month progress....

  July is here....and we are all so hot!  Our common remark is, you can wear the air here.  At least the sun is shining.  Right?
 


    Little by little I worked on the batik project.  One or two rows joined every few days and finally it is a top.  Now I see a few spots I should have moved.  Isn't that the way it goes?  But for now it is what it is.  It is just intended for a sofa throw.  I need to order some backing fabric and then it can get quilted.

 








   In between the joining the rows I started on the annual leader and ender block from Bonnie Hunter.

  Once I got into the rhythm of the block, one row joined made one block!  It worked perfectly for this project. 
  So I set up a tray of  pieces clipped together for a block.  As I work thru scraps and such I will put more together thru the year.  I have about 8 completed here!

  The last few days have been dog days of heat that just sap your strength and energy.  After a quick doctor's appointment this morning, I determined I was going to sew, be creative, push myself to do something.  Anything! 


  So I had seen a small doily in the sewing room.  I don't remember when I pulled it out originally, but it had a small tear in the corner and thus did not get used for what ever I was working on.    I cut off part of it and sewed.......   Inspiration came from Kelly Cline quilting on FB.   Her pincushions are beautiful!

  I stitched it down to a soft tiny print piece of fabric.  Then added some small quilting in the plain areas, and put on a backing.   This will turn into a pincushion for the guild boutique  (probably) next year.   I just need some crushed walnut shells.




  Just completing this little one, inspired me to find my own style for special pincushions.  And within and hour or so, I was moving right along. 
  Note:  My first love of quilting began when I discovered crazy quilting.  All that beautiful embroidery and lace!  I have since sold most of my threads and embroidery yarns, but I still have a large tub of laces and trims.  Many are antique, some were gifted to me, and others culled from sale bins at Mary Jo's. 

  So the natural part for me is to mix accent fabrics with lace and trim, mixing the new ones and the old ones.  I am going to have a very difficult time sharing this purple one!  But I think I will make a few more in a similar vein :)   I wonder how the laces will look on some of the batiks scraps?  Just thinking of combinations.  This could be a few days of fun.  Now to send Sir Old Man to the store for more crushed walnut shells!
Happy stitching.

Blocks to make

   I spotted a sew along for Fall at From my Carolina Home blog.  Each Friday Carole will post a project....do one or all.  She gives a good tutorial on making the leaf block, too.      Here are my first two, done very scrappy with what I found  already cut in the scrap boxes.   I need to dig some more and cut more background pieces.  Good practice for me.





    I added two more blocks to the Let's Book  It project.   On the wall they look good....but here they look too light (bottom right).    
  Studying this block, I can see that color/value placement really affects things down the road in assembly.  I like the light value strips mixed in, but now see that  I can do better in placing them toward the center of block.  I will try again.


Note:  Take photos of your project.  Then view them on the computer screen.  It is easy to spot potential problems that way.

I am willing to show the "good, bad, and the ugly" as a learning tool......but know it is not required.


Cynthia is hosting a linky party for scrap projects at Quilting is more fun than Housework .  Check it out for inspiration.

 Happy stitching.   

Home with lots of loot!

   The only good thing about that time change was the extra daylight for the long drive home........and it is always good to return home to your own bed :)
We got the van unloaded this morning and the mountain of laundry done.  In between loads, I sorted through the fabric.
   What's on the table is from one very large shopping bag......fat quarters, pieces, and yardage, a few books and magazines.   Two more smaller bags remain to be sorted.  There are lots of wild and uglies in there.....as my daughter says it is her mission now to get all the "ugly fabrics" she  can find during her estate sale excursions.  Turn around is fair play.....wait till she sees what I put on the back of her next quilt :)

Actually, there were some nice fabrics in the bunch, and even a couple of older floral fabrics that will be perfect to share for the upcoming workshop.  And a few prints that I will turn into circles.....the cutest owl print for one.   I would estimate this tonnage at about 30 yards!  I have a lot of work to do, don't I.



  The Singer 99 K came home with me!!!  We found this at an estate sale last fall, and it has just been sitting.  As I have more room ---and stitching  projects----we loaded it into the van.  So one day soon, I intend to devote to cleaning and getting this one ready to sew.  Bet it will be perfect for sewing circles for appliqueing.













   Then I got a really beautiful present.....hand made by my daughter who has developed into a very fine metal smith.  A corded necklace with a button pendant and toggle closure.  The pendent and closure are made of silver.  Using an old button, she did a cast and mold to create the design, which I love.

    See those paisley swirls.....yep, exactly what I love.  She hammers in the texture, and solders it together....somehow.    I can't explain the details, but take my word for it, it is lovely.  All of her pieces are so very unique.  sorry.....just being a proud mama.


 The "daddy-do" project list went well, and Sir Old Man was kept busy with a new one.  Of course, it involved a trip to the big-box store for all the required pieces.  A pipe bench with wood seat for the front porch has been on her bucket list for a while.
    I sat and watched the two of them twist pipe and  figure out the instructions/pictures.  Then there was a lesson on how to use the chop saw......power miter saw, and some nail gun usage with the small compressor.  So as my daughter covered in man glitter/saw dust is doing the happy dance for "I can use power tools",  and her Dad is beaming,  I had an epiphany.....a very clear vision of how important that time was.   It was a completed bucket list day and they did not even know it.
   When she was born, Sir Old Man is known to have remarked to the nurse...."A girl?  What am I suppose to do with a girl?"   I know the answer......teach her to use power tools!  

   Tomorrow for sure, I am making circles, and triangles, and squares.
Happy stitching.  

Some not so perfect quilting

 After a whirlwind couple of days....including a quick cookout, I needed some sewing time to unwind.

   I got a couple of hours free over the weekend to do some quilting.   I had pieced the small batik table runner, so it got my attention.  Through the center I quilted a free form flower--center and petals---and a trail of leaves to join them.









  This is the backside of white and it shows better.   Note that not each flower is the same size.....and not every petal is perfect.  Even in the flower garden, imperfect petals are the norm around here!  I mostly hit the mark on them and that is exactly how it grows in the garden.

    Back to the front side.  I debated on just a stipple in the light areas.......but some feathers won out.  Each area of light is quilted just a bit differently, too.  Some feathers curve, others are sort of wavy, and the last two curl around.  It is hard to break with the habitual free motion "hand" that you develop, I think.

   This pattern is from Connie at Freemotion by the River.  I was working with leftover parts and had to reduce the width about an inch.  That is when I realized that the pattern is quite similar to  the "Soul Seaching" block.    Using scraps I could easily turn a section into a block using a mix of scraps in a single color.  I may add that to my plan for later this year.
  Life returns to a sort of normal routine this week, and I have lots to bits to clean up.  Happy stitching.

Early Spring for February Let's Book It

 This is an older publication and I've never made a project from it.  I love the crazy patched backgrounds and cute appliques.   I took inspiration from a project, but did not follow the directions.....lol, story of my life.







  I used large chunks and hunks of  small prints/ muted prints to create my background.   I liked the offset balance in this layout, so that is how I stitched it up.

  I modified the basket shape and made it slightly taller.  I was fusing the basket to the background.....and cut out the center portion of the fusible for the basket.  This is the Pat Sloan method for fusing.....it keeps those large areas from being stiff.  And you get the benefit of the edges being fused---read as no fraying.

  The basket, stems, and flowers are fused and stitched down with a small zig zag stitch.  I thought the overall design needed a little kick, so I added a bit of fabric as ribbon ends.  The edges were stitched with a decorative stitch to give a ruffled edge appearance.

I also used a decorative stitch on the flower petals.

      Quilted with swirls and stippling for texture, and finished with a soft blue binding.  I pinned it to the design wall and was not satisfied.   Either I needed additional buds or blooms on the left, or  something.  It hung there for a week or so and it dawned on me I had something to finish it off with.

Just what the basket of blooms needed.....a couple of butterflies.  These are ready made appliques that I have had in the stash.  A little black thread to add them to the finished piece for some balance.

  Early Spring---a cute finish for Let's Book It.  I am so glad I don't have to follow the rules to play along with this monthly project.

  Let's Book It project is hosted and presented by Sharon at Vroomans Quilts.  See the details and linky party there every month.  For that matter, just join us.

  Next month I am reviving a "rejected" book project and turning it into my project of the month.  So I have a head start.....
Enjoy....happy stitching.

I need to Cut and Run

  Last night the Queen of Scraps was in town and spoke at our guild.  See Bonnie's post here.    She proclaimed Betty as the lady of the night with all her quilts!
  First, Bonnie's quilts are more beautiful in person, if that is possible.  The colors and textures come alive and reach out and grab you.   Pictures on line and in books are good, but there is nothing like seeing them in person.

  Second, she was all over me in her Scrap Users lecture.  She bases the system on some simple math....she had us adding up sizes to understand her madness!  Fun and funny!    And throwing thread tails in the trash basket is a no-no.....that is why she uses leaders and enders to continually make her quilt units.  Good point with the price of thread increasing too.  

  Third, she was eyeing Sir Old Man's new shirt for a quilt!  Yikes!  He and Roger were quilt holders last night and Bonnie noticed his new shirt.  I have finally gotten him to wear something other than a denim shirt....so please leave it on him :)

So.......I have been quite slack at cutting up my trimmings and small pieces/hunks of fabric......the basket of them is over flowing.    I need to cut chunks /hunks/ and trimmings into those usable sizes.  Thereby reducing the over flow basket.
I need to run to the sewing machine and get back to making usable units....pull out that basket of triangle pieces and 4 patch squares.   And stitch a lot!
   Yes, it is time to cut and run.  Enjoy....happy stitching. 

Making scraps

   Instead of tossing my scraps---leftover strips, binding, and a few hunks---into the scrap bin last week, I set them aside.  At week's end, this is what I had.....!
  No wonder my scrap bin seems to multiply so fast.  I will sort the 2" strips out and put them into the correct bins.  Anything less than that will be sorted by color for strings.  Some of the hunks will be cut into 2 1/2" squares,  and/or 5" squares.....for a waiting project.   This is not my favorite thing to do.  I think that is why the scrap bin is so full.

   A little more stitching on the table runner.  This is a corner.  It is an awkward shape to fill in.  So once the small feather reached the narrow section, I added a swirl at the top  with an extra outline.  I like the look of this.

   Even though it meant a lot of stops and starts....and hiding tails, I went back and added the swirls around the feather wreaths.  There were 4 narrow sections of light that needed to be filled.  I just did not like them left blank.  It looked unfinished.
   Now there is just the color sections to stitch.  I am going to make that part easy......meandering loops.

   After reading the comments on my last post on feather wreaths,  I had a good giggle on me.  Here I was struggling with the wreaths and everyone else was using a stencil!   Yep, that sounds about right.....I was always the one who did things the hard way.   Or at least known to wander off on my on.
  Anyway, if you plan on trying feather wreaths, I do suggest you practice first with paper and pencil.   I finally realized it takes less plumes to fill the center.  If I try this again I will lightly pencil in the center plumes to get better spacing.   Of course, a stencil does that for you....lol.    Happy stitching.  

A peek at the design wall

  I wanted a break from that sashing ordeal, so I put up the bonus blocks that are happening from my leaders and enders.
  I did a post  a couple of months ago on the block here......2 patch + 4 patch.   It is really a rail fence variation.
   Seeing the blocks up on the design wall, I realize that this version benefits from using  strong colors in the mixed patches.  Including fabrics with light backgrounds seem to break up the pattern.  It almost looks watered down.  So I will pull out the light ones and look for good brights to liven it up.

 
    I am not sure of my layout for this one.  I am using the Faux Braid block pattern----quarter ( or some call it half)  log cabin block.
    I originally did a similar one in straight rows....and then gave it up for a donation quilt last year.  I have been working on these blocks off and on for a while because I really like the design and get to play with floral fabrics.  Anyway, I thought I would play  around with the layout and see which I liked.      This one is the barn raising layout....or at least part of one.  I have 48 blocks in total  to play around with.  So I will let this sit and simmer for a little while as I finish up those darn sashings!  For now, I am just going to visit the workshop---and my bed that is being stained---and enjoy a few rays of sunshine.  Happy stitching.     

Butterfly Week?

    I feel like it has been a "butterfly week".....flitting from one thing to another, with nothing finished.   Want to see what I mean......

  I have a workshop this fall to teach on making a  water color wall hanging.   It has been a while since I did this and my original samples have been turned into projects.   So I needed to create a couple of small pieces to show the process.  One of these will get partially sewn for class.

  A little straight line quilting on this top of the Carolina Chain blocks.  It needs trimming and some binding.  I really like the overall finish of this block.....I think it is worth a repeat!

   Then just some play time --ticker tape style --with hunks of scraps.... sorted by color.  A couple of these will be turned into doll quilts, and the rest into place mats.  Simply zig zag stitched onto a white background fabric with batting underneath for stability.  I will add a backing and bind to finish off.

  I like doing these as a means of therapy to let my mind roam and see where the pieces fall.   When I am happy with the arrangement, I pin each and place and stitch away.

  And some stay-stitching  to stabilize some edges.   I have several long...long....bands of strips for a piano key border for a scrap quilt.  To keep them from stretching and getting wavy on the edge, I like to stay-stitch about 1/8"  from the outer edge that will eventually get bound.   When I was a garment sewer, I hated to do the stay-stitching for some reason.....yet now I find it very useful.

   I did a check on my machine stitch length a long time ago to learn how many stitches per inch were at the different settings.  I marked a couple of 1 inch lines.....you can see the dots where I penciled in the lines.  Then I stitched at different setting,  like 2.5, 2.2, 2.3.   Count the stitches between the penciled lines.

   For piecing I generally use a 2.3 setting for 12 stitches per inch.  It is easier to unpick, too!

   For strip piecing that will have sub-cuts---and the chance of unraveling stitches---I use a 2.2 or 2.0 setting for 13-15 stitches per inch.

   For the stay-stitching I use a 2.5 or greater setting for anything less than 10 stitches per inch.

  And, lastly, I took the watercolor strings off the design wall. I was ready to begin putting the rows together, yet for some reason I was bored with  the setting.  My instinct told me to stop and rethink the design.  If I wan't pleased with the layout un-sewn, then I was sure to not like the sewn version.   I have another idea to try, but not  yet.
  So that has been my flitting around this week......hope to accomplish something soon...happy stitching.

Friday Finds #8

   From Quiltville....Bonnie Hunter shares her tips on selecting fabrics for her scrap blocks.   I thought she gave a good set of guidelines on using multi-color prints in her post.  Be sure to check it out.








 

   Another way to recycle jeans.....make a sewing machine cover.  I ran across this here.    I thought this would be great to make a cover for the Featherweight machine.  No instructions, but it appears that extra fabric was sewn to the waist band to make the top portion.....now to check the old jeans in the closet!









    While I do not do paper piecing, this one was just too cute not to share.  Sonja has an album with several free patterns available.....check it out here. 





  I was inspired to turn this into an applique for a mug rug.










 Cassie sent me this pin.....she knows I love doodles and zentangles.    The Zany Quilter has a good tutorial on creating this "art quilt" that looks like a zentangle.   Thanks, Cassie!

 Wow....that's enough for this week.
  As always, be sure to visit each site thru the links....please pin from the original source, and not from here.  Enjoy and happy stitching.

Under the needle

      I taught another beginning free motion quilting class on Monday, and had a couple of questions posed that were very good.  Both  questions made me stop and think about how I approach the quilting part of this whole process.    I like the piecing and sewing part, love the designing and colors, and enjoy enhancing the quilt with the quilting.

   So the first question concerned where to begin when you start quilting.  I had taken this small runner as an example of meandering / stippling. It turned out to be a good example.   I picked a spot near the main vine and leaf that is near the center as the beginning point.  Since I was quilting the background only and using a simple fill stitch, the actual spot did not matter.  If it was to be filled in with a geometric or gridded stitch pattern, planning and marking would be needed.

   Second question was how do I decide where to quilt, like on a log cabin quilt.  A log cabin is traditional stitched along the logs or in the ditch to enhance the pattern.  So my response right off was.....what part of the design to you want to accentuate?  Do you want the dark logs or the light logs to stand out?   A good rule of thumb---which is often broken here---is to quilt down the part you want to recede and leave the area you want to stand out un-quilted, or at least only lightly stitched down.

   All this relates to how was I going to quilt that scrap quilt from 5 " squares.  So enough words.....here's how I quilted it.

 

   I did not want to just do an all over pattern, which is my usual habit.  And there is no border on this one either.  So I asked those questions....what did I want to enhance, and what did I want to recede or ignore.

Since I liked the diagonal row effect of the pattern, I wanted to visually enhance that aspect. So I quilted long vines with loose curls and wavy leaves in each diagonal row that the pattern creates.
   You can see the stitching better on the corner of the back that I flipped over.

  I also alternated the direction of the vines with every row....some  go up and some come down.  It's a little different style for me....and I really like it.   Not what I would normally think to do....the vine was a border motif  I ran across and adapted.
   Anyway, it will be a good example for the next class on Monday when I teach the swirls and vines.  A little binding needs to be done, too....and the label.  And better photos when it is finished.

Happy stitching.

A Welcome detour

  I am up to 30 of the string blocks.   Along the way---between colored blocks---I used white, beige, and cream strings  to cover  some smaller pieces of the foundation.   I figured they would be a good background for a small piece.   Then my package arrived from Connecting Threads with the wire stand table top display! Time for a detour......

    I decided on a pineapple for the applique.  I know this doesn't look like much, but it is how I began.  Using the gold, to orange and some brown strings, I did a wonky style braid.  I began with a small almost square piece at the top and added a string to one side and then to the other----until I had a large enough hunk of wonkiness to work with.

Pineapple fused onto string background 

   I had a pattern from a magazine article---it looked more like an egg to me--- that I used for the pineapple.  This I  traced onto fusible interfacing.  This technique is one that Eleanor Burns uses----
    Draw pattern onto the smooth (non-fusible side) of the interfacing.   Place fusible (bumpy side) side down on the right side of fabric and pin together.  Stitch on the drawn line of the fusible...all the way around.  Trim the excess fabric and interfacing away--close to the seam line.  Then slit the interfacing in the center and turn fabric right side out.  Use a dull or round end of chop stick ( or other "poker")  to smooth the seam line edge.  Be careful not to poke through the interfacing.  I do a lot of "finger pressing" here to make it work.  Once it is flattened / smooth / shaped, then the applique can be fused onto the background for stitching.

 Fused  leaves added

   I like this technique for larger applique pieces, or when I want the applique to appear raised and not flat.  I chose to use it here because of all the bias edges created by the braid technique.   A buttonhole stitch was used around all the applique.   For the top knot of leaves, I just fused them in the normal way and then stitched them too.












  Finished size was a consideration....so only 2 sides got a border.  The pineapple was not perfectly centered, so I just used that as a reason for the 2 sided border.

  No swirls!  I quilted teardrops  for the background.   I like the feathered effect they create.    In the border I did parallel straight lines.










  I added a narrow tube sleeve at the top and Welcome is done.
    Finished size is 12 1/2 inches by 14 inches.



  Our local guild has a quilt show this weekend....so today  I am baking some pumpkin bread for the hostess break room.  Then maybe a few more string blocks....happy stitching.