Mountain Reflection

   The most beautiful golden and rust colored leaves are decorating the Painted Maple in the front yard.   Early this spring when we had the tree guys work on some of them, they shaped this one up so nice.  As this is the first year it had showy color, maybe their work paid off.   They left me a couple of good limbs for quilt showing, too. 

   I did the quilting on this in a meandering loop as an all over design.  It's a good open design and will give lots of soft texture.  This should be a cuddly lap throw. 

  I used the straight layout for the Scrappy Mountain Majesty blocks.  The pattern is here with good tutorial. 
   I did this pattern once before several years ago and used the staggered layout.  This one reminds me of reflections or shadows, hence the name, Mountain Reflections. 

  I started with 8 1/2'' large squares of floral fabrics  this time around.  The blocks finish up at 6'' by 7 1/2''.




   So after taking a gob/gazillion photos in the tree, I turned around a saw the Japanese Maple in the side yard.  It has the deep burgundy red leaves and it very showy itself.  So one last photo. 












 

   I attached the binding and label this morning.   And called it done.  Of course, it needs a good wash after being drug around the yard. 








 

Mountain Reflections:
  Size is 42'' by 56'', a small throw size.
  One last look before the leaves fall with the expected rains this week.


    And now I need to turn my attention to the baby quilt that will be gifted to Chad and Amber.  Her due date is February, so I feel the need to get started.   I don't move as quick as I did.....so I must begin the cutting.

 That's my main task for the month, although I have a very long list of things/quilts/projects I want to start on....lol.  The usual lament. 
   Baby quilt first,   hourglass blocks as leader and enders, and  begin  sorting fabrics for a 16 patch using up florals, what else would you expect?   The 16 patch is inspired by Exuberant Color.    Wanda did a series of "garden" quilts a few years ago using this method.  She is working on another one, and the bug bit me to try one too.    Happy stitching. 

October....and on and on it goes.

   I had 2 projects to work on this month........ The scrappy floral mountains is under the needle....only not finished.   I am about half way thru the quilting, and easy meandering loop.  I debated on trying something more complicated or with detail.   But common sense prevailed and I knew the florals were so busy nothing much would show, so why invest that much time.









   The other got finished...... the rail fence in florals.













   I worked on the leader and ender ---Double 4 Patch---as I assembled both of these quilts.   Talk about a bonus.....I will probably work on hourglass blocks as leader and ender as I assemble this one.  Never ending, just one after another.









   Bonnie Hunter released her colors for the Mystery Quilt......I sent Sir Old Man to Lowe's for color cards.  LOL, he was wanting to get nails for the nail gun anyway.    He needs them to make a couple more pumpkins for the front porch:)   The sun was quite bright so the photo is washed out.
   This is his first prototype.  Made from wood pallets, unstained raw wood.  He sculpted a stem  of sorts too.   He plans on a couple more that are taller.  I will get better photos too.

   We had a great visit with Chad while he was in town over the weekend.  He and Amber are now in Missouri and expecting a second child.  He noted the featherweight was out, and said he was so relieved that I was back to quilting.    So I am now perusing thru patterns for the next baby quilt.  I have an couple of ideas which I will nail down soon. 

I will figure out next month when it gets here......tomorrow.  Happy stitching, and eating chocolate.

Month's end and Piper's Place quilt

From simple string blocks.....sewn but not quilted.  The 12 leftover blocks were a perfect size quilt at 30'' by 40'' for Piper's  Place quilt.  She's a Therapy/service dog.....a place quilt lets her know where she should be.






 
   I used all the turquoise strips I had for the binding to finish this one off. 
   Miss Piper, wearing the pink collar, has staked her claim to the string one.   Nick on the upper left is trying to nudge his way onto it too, I see.   Word is, she thinks the size is perfect....can I make another?  Lol, maybe.


  No Physical therapy this week for me ...no evaluation either.  I spent one  day at the doctor, and getting x-rays.  A swollen and very painful knee event brought everything to a limping along halt.   I tried an anti-inflammatory medicine for 3 days....but the stomach reaction has put a stop to that.  I just don't stomach--lol---any meds well.   I am taking ibuprofen instead.  A knee brace is ordered.....ugh.  Some arthritic changes were noted but most likely the pain is from an inflamed bursa  and accumulated fluid.  With ice on the knee and staying down for a couple of days, going out when required in the wheelchair to reduce walking for now......a gentle slide back.  Hard to take, but it is what it is.



    September only had the string quilt finish.....and the floral mountain blocks top, along with a few soup bowl cozies.  Not my best month for completions. 
 

    October.....I want to get this top quilted.  At this point plans are to keep it simple with no border.  Size is 48'' by 56'' as it is. 

  I want to consider a floral strip pieced project.  I have an older tutorial in three parts that you can find here.   This tutorial uses 16 fabrics and makes blocks that end up at 6'' finished.   I want to "grow" the palette to 25 fabrics and  make 7''  finished blocks......and  introduce some variety into the value layout....lots of things to think about. 

  I ran across a quilt that was described as a Blooming Nine patch pattern, but used 4 patch units instead of 9 patch.  Since I am preferring smaller size projects  now just because of the easier handling, this sounded like one I might like to try.  So I am putting this into the Future Ideas list. 

  Cooler temps today.....I think I felt a little crispness in the air!  Looking forward to a cooler weekend as Fall does make an appearance.
Happy stitching.

Slow week

    I saw a poster on the Pernicious Anemia FB page.......it tells exactly how I feel this week.  I know many of you battle pain daily too.
   This has not been a productive week on the sewing front.  I did a small amount of sewing more as a diversion than production.  Pain tends to do that to me and it has been one of those weeks.  Pain  is now prominent  in my feet.....I feel like the bones are exposed and the pains shoot up my heel and sole of my feet.  So walking and activity has been less.....and on top of that I have an evaluation for more physical therapy tomorrow.  Keep it in perspective.....I have sensation in feet and legs  where none was.  I believe this is part of the "reversing out" process of the nerves healing and connections being made.

 

 

    I added 4 more blocks to the scrappy mountains on the design wall.  And I cut 4 more sets......I think that will be enough for this one.    Yet, I haven't made a dent in the floral fabrics......I am losing on that front.

Piper on "place" quilt

  This pretty girl is Piper, my daughter's service dog.  Piper asked for a new "place" quilt.  When she is "on duty" Piper knows that she can keep watch from her quilt.   Piper goes to work at least 4 days each week....here she is keeping an eye on Mama while she is getting a check up at the doctors.











   She requested one that is colorful and fun.   This one always reminded me of a party.......we will send it off today.

   Happy stitching.

Once again......scrappy mountains majesty

   I had a comment this week on  some of my quilts.   The comment picked up on the simplicity of the  patterns I use  to create some of my  quilts.  I loved that....someone gets my philosophy.  Let the fabric do the work for you....and  I find that simple patterns work best with busy, colorful fabrics.    That is what satisfies me, and what you will find me doing.

   As I continue to use up my floral stash, I also tend to repeat patterns.   Nothing wrong with a repeat, if it is one you like a lot.  I enjoy figuring out a new version of my favorites.

  So from the stack of oldies that I made.......scrappy mountain majesty is a very easy pattern.  I use the tutorial from Bonnie at Quiltville.com  .   I made this first version about 7 to 8 years ago from large scraps that I had on hand.  I used a larger square and  sub-cut for this one....I think 2 1/2'' strips, so the blocks are larger.  This was mainly to learn the technique and use up some fabric.









  Fast forward to 2014, and enter the "whopper" for our bed and a tribute to Sir Old Man's woodworking skills.  

   This is the Buzz Saw quilt....same pattern with an extra strip added turn it into the  square buzz saw block.    If you want details...go to the linked posts.










   And this is what you will find on my design wall right now.   This version is done in florals.....let's just say the Year of Florals started 2 years ago is still continuing.
  Anyway, I am not sure if this is the layout I will use, or if I will make more blocks, or if there will be borders.    This is just what there is for now.

Happy stitching.

The first cut

   Why is the first cut always the hardest?   All that lovely fabric just waiting for the rotary cutter.....and I was so hesitant to take the first slice.   Be brave and do it, so I did.
   At the top of the photo are  the  large
10 " squares of background fabric and squares of the batiks and Stonehenge fabrics, along with extra strips.  Below is the first test block to check for size and measurements.  Well, actually, it is 1/4 of the full block.




   So what the pattern?     Sir Old Man saw the buzz saw quilt on Wanda's blog--Exuberant Color--- one morning and really liked the pattern.  I'm not sure if it was the name or the pattern that appealed to him, but that is what he wanted.   So I agreed....anything to convince him I need that free motion machine soon.

 


 
 The technique is not hard and just takes a little planning.  It is  the Scrappy Mountains method  that Bonnie Hunter does.     Plus an additional strip added to one side to make a square block.    You get great looking points with no match sewing, and  I love that.
    So, I officially started a NewFO this month.   And I will be at it for a while as this one is to be large.  I will have to find a couple of small projects to throw in this month, just to keep things interesting.   But I did get a bonus....a nice pile of strings to add to my collection, and plenty of extra fabric for a Pineapple Blossom throw that I want.

   Insight:   The more  quilts and projects you make, the more scraps and strings you create.    I'm sure this is obvious to most of us, but the reality hit me after today's cutting session.   Now to create something with them.
   All this complaining about Spring being late....today I think summer arrived as it is 83 degrees outside!   Sounds like a good reason to stay inside and sew.  Happy stitching.  

Waste Not and Scrappy Mountains

Finally a complete picture of Scrappy Mountains, bound and labeled.  I really love this one.  I think it is the movement and rhythm of the pattern and color that appeal to me.  This pattern goes together so quickly and is dramatic too.  It is definitely a keeper and I will make it again, probably in florals...what else!


The second photo is Waste Not....just lots of leftover squares made up into a split 9 patch pattern.  I sorted the squares into lights and darks only.  I will use the medium values in another one.  The lights come together to form the cross pattern.  There are so many layouts using the split 9 patch that I could stay busy just making them for a year. 

This will go to Habitat for Humanity this year.

I am so glad to have my big computer back up and running again. Russ spent 2 days at the computer shop troubleshooting it.  Problem found:  automatic update for Windows blocked the re-boot.   At least all is safe and  I can get everything backed up again. 
Our Art Quilt group meets tomorrow to get started on the workbook and projects and I have a thread painting class to get caught up on.   So, time to get busy.  Happy stitching.

Snowy Day

It started snowing late yesterday while we were loading Deana's cabinet into the van.  We awoke to bright sunshine and 5 inches on the ground. We won't attempt to go to Charlotte afterall.  For South Caroline that much snow means everything shuts down.  At least it wasn't all ice.  It  will be a good day to stay in and stay warm and sew some more.

I finished up  the binding on Scrappy Mountains last night.  I was really happy with the quilting on this one.  I used the Isacord thread that I picked up in Asheville on it.  Not once did the thread break or fray on this!!!  I will be using Isacord for free motion quilting from now on.  Here's a close up view of the quilting.  The feather effect is done with the stacked  teardrop.  For the border I used the same feathers and a large "mitosis" pattern in the corner.

I worked on the pastel signature quilt top for our guild President too this week.  It went together so quickly.  I was a little worried when I first started it because of all the pastel fabrics.  I was afraid it would be very washed out and  boring.  Wrong!   It is delightful and fresh.  I will get it pressed today and add an inner border strip of the medium tones that are leftover.  I have 4 fat quarters of very light batiks that were donated that I think I will use as the outer border.   That combination should make the center area float...I hope. 

Scrappy Mountains

Scappy Mountains is ready for a border.  I really like the colors and design of this one.  I realized another thing about my quilting insights last night as I was pressing this top.  I like the simple--easy piecing--blocks that let the fabric or color do the work!  I used  a lot of tone on tone fabrics for the darks and the lights included some pattern prints.  I auditioned a few border colors and decided on a tone on tone turquoise blue.  I will use a black insert strip about 1 1/2" around the mountains to stop the pattern. 

With the  method ( from quiltville.com)  for delectable mountains, you get nice points and easy to match blocks.  What appears difficult is very simple to contruct.  I love the sharp points that look like I worked very hard to get.  An accurate 1/2 inch seam and careful squaring up of the block is all it really required.  And is was all pieced on the featherweight!

I ordered more fabric from fabric.com this morning.  I had  a birthday coupon to use and needed black fabric and found some on sale for half price.  Seemed like a no-brainer to me.  Russ ordered more tools this week, and I order fabric....that way we are both happy.

Stitching on the Braid

Last night I finished the scrappy mountain blocks--delectable mountains--that I had cut.  After the pressing I realized I had cut too many "downhill" blocks and not enough "uphill" ones  (the mirror image).  So I hit the stash again and cut the needed squares to make some more "uphill" blocks.  Here's some of the "downhill" ones.  I am using 10 1/2 inch squares to begin and then the strips are cut to 2 1/2 inches.  The block end up unfinished at 8 1/2 by 10 inches.  Since I am adding more blocks that I need, the quilt will end up large rather than a lap size. 

I have been piecing using the featherweight machine.  It began running heavy and needed a good cleaning and oiling.  And a new needle....remember it goes in sideways!   Even so, I love that little machine.
And back to the french braid......I had one run done and have begun the second, which is about half way done.  I wanted a photo to be sure I was happy with the colors.  The second run does not start with the same fabric as the first, and the third and fourth will be different too.  The photo shows the two runs....unpressed or trimmed.  The piecing is very easy once you get the system down, so the rest should go together quickly.
 I found some batik on sale while in Asheville that I believe I can use for the separator bands, as it has the blue, purple and rosy tones in it.  But that is for another day, I need to finish the piecing first!  That's why I usually have 2 or 3 projects going at once.  I get bored easily and my mind starts jumping around to something else.  By switching back and forth between projects, I manage to get things finished.