The first doll quilt of 2014

     A soft,squishy package arrived this week from  Mrs. Claus of PA.     Yep, the first doll quilt for the 2014 season!   And it is so cute.....and the first one ever with a bottom edge ruffle.  What a clever finishing idea instead of binding.
    This comes from Darlene, aka Amiko, of the HGTV Message Board.  Thank you, Amiko.....we love it!













  A little headway on the personal front....I am up to my arm pits in the Buzz Saw quilt.  This thing is huge and heavy, so I am working slowly with all the shifting and such.  Right now I am on white/light area 6  out of nine.  I am filling the light area with swirls and curls.  Then I will move on to the actual saw blade of batiks.
   I also have to prep for quilting class that begins this week.  I have several sessions scheduled for the next 4 weeks.....and look forward to spreading on the homework!!!  Happy stitching.

My Rule of 3

  My rule of 3....or how I keep those dread UFOs under control.  Apparently I scared  some of us with my comment about breaking my rule.  It has been a while since I mentioned this.  So let me explain.

   The year was 2000, and my life had changed once again.  I had time to sew and the creative urge was upon me. I did not have a dedicated sewing space, but used part of the basement, a spare room, and the dining room!  That translates to started projects stored in shoe boxes, tote bags, plastic bags, and other various bins and baskets.  I never counted them, but let's just say I was totally out of control.  I needed to  make some sense out of the mess.

    First, I decided what I wanted to keep and finish.  The other UFOs were "gifted" to others, or trashed.  Yep, some things that were so bad / ugly / disastrous were tossed.  No guilt, no quilt police, just make space to move on.  Was it hard?  Yes, it was.  But all that "baggage" was not going to help me move ahead.  

  That first year I finished up about 15 projects.......and along the way began learning to machine quilt.   This was this first thing I tackled.  It was part of my "neutral period"......not wonderful, but I was so proud to have finished it.

   Then I found this in a tote bag......from an art and color workshop.  I spent a lot of money on the fabrics, so I had to finish it.   This was the workshop that began my philosophy of how to select  multi-colored fabrics  for a quilt.

    Basically, begin with one fabric you love.  Pick one color from the first fabric and find a second fabric of that color.  Repeat using another color from fabric number one. And keep going until you have your required number of fabrics.  Be sure to include light and dark values.  You will be surprised at how well all the fabrics work together!

  All the blocks in this quilt are variations of the log cabin.  And this really began my journey into machine quilting.  All straight lines here.....and there are a ton of them.  Sir Old Man's cousin bought this one just because of the colors.

  Back to the story of 3.....By the end of the year I had made a dent in the UFOs, and then I took a workshop in strip pieced watercolor quilts.  That did it for me.  

   Shadow Heart set me on the road to where I am now.  Note the quilting.....some straight lines, some large early curls, and lots of stippling.  I was learning as I went, finding my own way.  I enhanced my stash of floral fabrics, and moved on to using 2" squares and gridded interfacing for the watercolors.  I was forever hooked.
   By the end of that second year, all UFOs were done----a few more were given away.  And I decided it was time to figure out who I was as a quilter.    

•  I loved the designing and unexpected surprises I found in watercolor quilts.  
•  I got bored easily  when piecing the same block over and over.  
•  I got bored with only one project to work on.
•  I liked block to block arrangements and hated sashing between blocks. 
•  I enjoyed the  machine quilting and wanted to get really good.   
•  I would rather be inspired by a design or quilt in a book/magazine than to make a duplicate of it.  

Thus, the Rule of 3 for me was established.  One quilt to be quilted, one quilt being sewn or pieced, and one quilt in the design/planning/cutting stage.   Small projects, like tote bags, table runners, and such that can be finished in a day or two are allowed anytime.  Just no major quilt is added to the 3 in the sewing room.  

 End result----finished projects and no UFOs!  Twelve years later, and I have kept up  with this philosophy, and have a huge body of completed work that covers my family, friends and many unknowns.  Until now.....I have some major quilting to be done, so future projects are just dreams added to my wish list.   But to keep my interest and creative juices flowing, I will play around with a stack of mug rugs and  snack mats  between quilting times.   Now, this might not work for you,   but my Rule of 3 works for me.   Happy stitching.

Simple borders

   I was stash shopping for a fabric to border the floral strings.  And a pleasant surprise happened.  I  found a beautiful blue to compliment one of the faux braid tops I have waiting in the wings.  I think I purchased this originally for a backing, but never used it.
   So a very simple border to this braid.  I cut the full width cuts of the blue into half lengths and joined them with some leftover pieces that I used in the braid.  I don't really plan this type of border, but let it just happen.  I do not miter the corners either.  Keeping it simple.






The color in this photo is rather washed out.....the first photo is truer for color.  As I was adding the strips to the top, I realized I had a creation that resembled the view out my window.....Frosty Morn.  It has the blue of the sky, the darker bare branches with lots of shadows,  and the frost on the windows and roofs.


   


  The floral strings got a double border.  A  darker 2 inch inner border and a tonal neutral for the outer border.  I used the same joining technique for the outer border,  using  leftover fabric bands of floral fabrics between sections.  The tonal border will give me a good place for some quilting that will show.
   And this one got a name too....since it was about 12 degrees outside that morning, I was longing for warmer days and flowers.  I'll call this one, Mid-winter Dreams.

    I thought the comparison was a good lesson. Two very different style tops with the same simple border can work.  The joining strips just add a bit of interest I think.
  These two are now official UFOs.....I am not sure when they will get quilted.   That means I started the year breaking my "rules"......guess that means only small projects until I get caught up.  Or I throw those guidelines out the window.
Happy stitching.


  

Something old, something new for January

  A quiet new year, and now the big chill / freeze has come.  The very frigid air should arrive here tonight, and luckily without the snow or ice so many are enduring.  A perfect time to get some things going.  Actually, I have been up to my elbows with the old Buzz Saw quilt......it is pinned and under the needle.  Since it is so big, I will be at it a while.  So don't hold your breath waiting for a peek.
   Something old----not that old, but the blocks had been on the design wall for a month or so.  I finished off a few more and stitched them together today.

  I enjoyed the play time on the design wall with these floral string blocks.  I nixed the original idea of putting a sashing strip between them after reading comments last month.  So thanks, Nicki and Dana, I listened to your advice. And that is something new for me!
  This one is rather small as the blocks are only 9 inches.....a narrow border at least to finish it off.

  Design time was just trial and error....... turning and twisting the blocks, walking away, and looking back.  If I wasn't happy with it, I took everything off and tried again.  Because I had no "picture" in my mind, I ended up with this very random layout.  Just enough dark areas to produce the contrast needed for that soft blended effect in the other areas.








   Something new----  I decided to do something with the box of batik ends and leftovers, as it was full to overflowing.  I knew what I wanted to do with them.  I wanted a "jumbled library" throw or wall hanging like Wanda at Exuberant Color has on her sidebar.   While you are there, check out her latest colorful project.   It  is a simple but effective design.....I am being tempted by it.
    Just be warned, the improv style piecing is addictive and time consuming!  Right now this little piece is about 40 inches by  24 inches......and I lost track of the hours working on it.  With very little on TV to watch at night, I just kept stitching away.   Not sure what size this one will end up either.

 
  Vicki Welch had a very good post noted in her newsletter today.  I highly recommend it to everyone.  Read it here.  Even though most of her testing and results relate to dye bleeding from hand dye fabrics, I found a gem included.  What detergents we use to wash our quilts is very important and her results were a bit surprising to me.
 
  Something old, something new Linky Party is going on this year at Never too hot to stitch.  I decided I needed a little motivation this year after all  :)   Thanks, Lynne, for providing that touch.
Happy stitching.

  

Home for the holidays

  It's Friday, and we are staying home for the holidays......for a number of reasons.  Number one was the driving weather, and then the health of Sir Old Man's father has nose-dived this week with pneumonia and congestive heart failure.  Dad is back in the nursing home now and doing better.    And lastly, I have had the stomach bug that is going around.   Today finally, I can eat a little.  Not ready for chocolate yet, but soon I hope!


   The good news is that we will be here for nephew Remy's visit...and of course, the rest of the family ;)
I had word from a very reliable source that Remy was very taken with the Elf on the Shelf mystic.  So nothing would do, except to adopt one here.
   Mason Dinklejarrel arrived yesterday and made himself at home.  He prefers to be called Dinks and apparently loves mints.  I am so happy that Rudy was pleasant and agreed to share his space with Dinks.  I would hate to have them fighting.
   I know I am just a big kid at heart, but I love to see the wonder and delight in the eyes of those who still believe in magic.  So I am planning to have some fun with Dinks this season!
  Tomorrow begins the cooking ahead/baking time that I thought I would avoid this year.  But that is part of what I do and who I am.  So why fight it?
   There's a wonderful post from Wanda at Exuberant Color today.....her studios revealed!   You don't want to miss it.  Nothing like envy to make you want to get busy.
Happy stitching.

A little extra-----The Elf on the Shelf is magical.  He watches over the child and reports back to Santa each night.  When he returns the next day, he will probably be resting in a new place.  He often brings extra treats.  But you can not touch him, that could hurt his magical powers.  And he loves to hear how your day went and what good things you did each day.
  Imagine my 4 year old nephew up before dawn, using a flashlight to find his Elf!  We all need that little bit of magic each day.

A little gift making

  The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a blur.  December arrived and is half over before I come up for air.  First, comes the baking.....bread, and apple bread, and cookies....all those goodies for friends and neighbors.  Second, I jumped into making market tote bags to hold the good stuff----sort of a gift within a gift.  I did not realize how long 8 of those bags would take!     I did quilt the fabric---that took up a lot of time.  The bag is just a simple toe with no pockets, just lots of room for stuff!

   I finished up the last 2 yesterday and shopped today for a couple of  extra items for them.   This one is a "spa bag" theme....good book, candle, soap and scrubby.  I looked for a matching hand towel to include, but no luck today.
  I also did one with the "cooking" theme with a cookbook, chopping mats, and cake cover.  That one will be for my nephew's girlfriend who loves to bake.

  These were a lot of fun to do.... only wish I had planned further ahead to make them. All my ideas seem to hit at the last minute.  

  We are sitting on the fence about traveling to Michigan.....right now they are in a deep freeze and Sir Old Man is not keen on traveling in sub-freezing temperatures.  Getting through the mountains to head north is rough this time of year.
 

 
   In between everything else, I have been stringing along on these blocks using up some floral fabric scraps.  I have the foundation pieces cut for another 5 blocks, so that may be where it ends up.  I have no idea for the final arrangement.....but I think I will put a sashing between them for a window pane look.  Lynne at Never too hot to stitch   showed one today that she sashed....and I love how it turned out.
 
  Usually at this time of year, I recap  my year, and post plans for next year.  Honestly, I am tired right now.....this old gal is feeling the years.  I must need a strong cup of coffee and chocolate.....happy stitching.

Bingle Jells!

  Bingle Jells all the way! Oops, I just woke up from my long Autumn nap, and that should be Jingle Bells.  In case, you don't know me, I am Rudy the official and very sociable mascot for the Get Your Mrs. Claus On project.
   My Mrs. Claus had this bright idea a few years ago to make a few doll quilts to go along with the doll beds and cradles that the Greenville Woodworker's Guild  make each year.  Since  Sir Old Man is the woodworker and my Mrs. Claus is the quilter, the projects just complimented each other.
  Well, let me tell you, what she thought was a few doll quilts needed actually was  60 that first year.   That is when so many wonderful blogging quilters stepped up....actually sewed up a storm.....and helped my Mrs. Claus fill the need.  And the Get Your Mrs. Claus On project began.
    Since then, quilts arrive all through the year from around the world.  Each one special, and wonderful.  And a very big antler shake and thank you goes to that group of quilters from the HGTV Message Board.  This group of quilters have supported this project from several years now,  and really stepped up when my Mrs. Claus broke her shoulder.  They send quilts dedicated to every state in the USA and territories too.  You can't imagine how excited Mrs. Claus gets when she opens one of the packages and sees where it is from and which state it represents!

   This year close to 80 beds and cradles were made by those busy elves at the Greenville Woodworker's Guild.  In total over 540 wooden toys.....beds, cradles, chairs, push toys, wooden puzzles, cars, trucks, and fire trucks were made.  All of them to be given to various organizations that work with children----from hospitals, to child development centers, and rescue groups.  These quality toys and quilts are much needed and will be much loved.  And....a new addition was  bed/cradle mattresses and little pillows made by the wife of one of the woodworkers!   See what we started.....another antler shake.

  Anyway, on Saturday, I got to oversee the packing up of the doll quilts.  One giant, huge display was being set up at the woodworker's complex.  Twenty five woodworkers, wives, and student woodworkers---students of that Pesky Elf--- were on hand to unpack toys, set up tables, and turn it all into a wonderful display.  So, without any more words from me....enjoy the show of toys and quilts.

There are going to be a lot of very happy children this year....don't you agree?   Thank you all....each Mrs. Claus....for making this year a success from me---Rudy, and the Pesky Elf, all the toy maker elves, and of course, Sir Old Man and my Mrs. Claus.  Wishing you Merry Christmas and lots of jingle bell days.