Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Stars in A Time Warp

Hello from very snowy Connecticut.  I guess I asked for it in my last post with my remark about it being an easy winter!

Hooray.   I finished my Stars in a Time Warp top.  It measures about 40" square.
I have two tips to share about using this setting:
Make a road map!  I made a color copy of my layout on computer.  I have literally turn pieces the wrong way in the 10 steps to the machine!
I ended up clipping and pressing the long connecting seams in different directions.  I tried an open seam, but it kept warping that point.  It is intended as a wall quilt so I don't need to worry about stressing the weakness.
I've decided to commit to sharing my project process and inspiration.  This quilt has a long winding road to come into being.

I always loved the Sawtooth Star (c.1890) quilt in this book co-authored by Barbara (see her blog here), Rachael and Natalie who are founding members of my NJ guild.  It is one of my favorite State Documentation Books - EVER.

Can you believe I removed page 110 and lost it?  The horror!  The Shame!  I still have the notes we made when making it for a guild raffle quilt.
Here is me and (former blog partner) and still great friend, Mary V., selling tickets at the 2007 quilt show.  Jill and Susan set the quilt for us and Mary quilted it.
We made a little quilt with leftovers to raffle to a guild member.
The color combination is one that I love and have used before.  Here is a quilt I made Hanna in 2002.    coco was so curious about it laying in the snow.
There is every color and style of fabric in this quilt. It was the result of a year long nine patch swap with my friends of the Piecemakers of Elmhurst, IL  and there is my little sparrow at the top.
Here is the backing (pretty sedate for me).
You can tell it was well used!  there are a ton of thread pops from tugging on the top.
I made a little mini quilt for her American Girl doll, Molly.
 It has a cute dollhouse print on the back.
Here you can tell just how little the little one is.  I resized the nine patch.
I also made this quilt with pink and black as a setting theme.  It's called "Good and Plenty" and is part of the Hanna Vedder Private Quilt Collection.
Here are some snowy photos - the first one is unfiltered - it was that blue in the early morning hours.
 It was so beautiful.
I'm off to New Jersey tomorrow to teach Folk Art Applique' - My Passion!  I will share some photos next week.

Let me know if you like having the back story of my quilts.   I never know it is too much or too boring.

Happy Wednesday from the great white North East.
xo

54 comments:

OT Quilter said...

Love the newest sawtooth star incarnation! It's one of my favorite blocks, too. And of course we like the back story--inspiring as always. Hanna is a lucky girl to own so many Vedders. (Sort of like owning so many Picassos, right?)

Helen said...

Not too much and not at all boring! I love hearing the stories of your quilts. And I always appreciate pressing tips!

Janet O. said...

I love backstories, Barb! Very fun to follow along the hows and whys of a quilt.
(And I love the Hannah Vedder Private Quilt Collection) *LOL*
Coco seems ready to go back in--immediately! : )

Nifty Quilts said...

Wonderful finish!! Congratulations! I like your back story, told with lots of photos. Love the Hanna Vedder private collection. Those 9-patch quilts are really fabulous.

LuAnn said...

Your blog post is perfect and filled with all kinds of goodness. I like seeing all of the quilts and what you've used for the backing. I also like hearing the back stories and seeing the process. I like how you set your nine patches. I also really like seeing outside of your window to see your surroundings. Hanna has a really nice private collection. Great post!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Your quilt turned out so nice! I love hearing about your process, it's interesting to see what people do and why. Hanna is a lucky daughter to have such a prolific quilting mom!

Karen said...

When I first saw the picture of Hanna's quilt with the dog on it, I thought it was a bear!

Pat said...

Over the top finish!!! What a fabulous setting for your stars. Love seeing all the other versions and goodies too!

CecileD said...

Never get bored with your back stories ! Hanna is a lucky young woman with a wonderful quilter Mom like you !
I love your SATW quilt but when I saw the first quilt with Mary, I don't know what's my favourite : the one with black fabric or green ?
I think I love both !;)

Ruth said...

I love the zig zag setting and hope to make a quilt with it someday! Maybe with the 9-patches, which I haven't used yet.

audrey said...

For people who have quilted awhile, the latest quilt is often a result of many experiences. Loved hearing your back story and seeing the great pictures!

Julierose said...

Love reading the back stories--just fascinating to me. Your Stars quilt is so pretty...hugs, (still snowing here) Julierose

Lorraine said...

Love hearing those back stories..part of the entire quilt! Love your black lab(?)... Looks just like mine!

Anonymous said...

Love your stars top! And I love the stories! I often see old quilts and just wish I knew the stories they hold secret.

Chris said...

Yes! Love the stories! Keep them coming! Love the mini and maxi 9-patch! Must ask, in the last photo, are you outside in your jammies ? :) Love Coco too!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

I love hearing the backstory about each quilt. That is the reason I prefer blogs to Flickr. We get to hear the inside story and get to know details that other people just looking at the quilt wouldn't know. It's like going to an art museum and getting a tour to find out what makes each piece special, more than just what you see in front of you.

Linda Swanekamp said...

Love the back stories. That is what makes quilters human. Otherwise, machines could be churning them out. Love the nine patches especially.

Mindy said...

Love the backstories and the process pictures!!

Chantal said...

Love all the quilty goodness. The stories are never too long and certainly not boring. I love your snow shots - really does add something to the photo doesn't it. Your daughter and Molly's quilt is just such a cute idea! Just love them all.

Maureen said...

A perfect setting for those stars! I often iron seams open and have hesitated to clip them.
Hanna has quite a quilt collection!
I like reading the back stories. I think a lot of us struggle with how much to share.

Kyle said...

I have always loved that setting. Your smaller sawtooth stars look great together especially with you standing out in the snow. Save travels to NJ and yes, I love hearing your stories. Every quilt has one.

Chantal said...

Is that a trick question because I don't it? What can be boring about a back story? I love quilt story: the front, the back, the good, the ugly, ... well not here but ... anyway love them all. As I am no Bonnie Hunter, I always struggle with how-to do the pressing and the laying flat so I appreciate the back stories from others. Your quilt is a little gem, just fantastic. Congrats on the finished. ;^)
Oh and, just remember that nothing is lost in the universe, it is just misplaced and that page will turn up. ;^)

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Your back stories are an important part of your blog. I've said it before, but that is part of the way that you are teaching quilters whom you will never meet. Besides that, you often flip that little switch for me that turns on my own ideas. Keep those stories coming!!!

Linda in NC said...

Never boring, Barb! I love hearing about why you made the quilty decisions the way you did and also seeing groups of your quilts, not just the most recent but some older, as in this post, that have a common theme.

Your Stars in a Time Warp top is scrumptious; mine is still in pieces with a few more stars yet to make.

Susan M said...

Of coarse we love hearing the back story of your quilts! Never boring or too long. Great photos and a good sense of humour. What's not to like!

Diane said...

Never too much, and definitely never boring!!! I would love to take a sneak peek at Hanna's 'private quilt collection'...I can only imagine. Lucky girl!

Ann L said...

Ditto to all the above. Love the back stories, the process, etc. That richness is what makes quilts so special. Thank you for sharing so much of what you do.

Lori said...

I love this! I just showed mine at the guild meeting Monday night. One of my favorite quilts!! I will never get bored reading your blog, Barb.
Have a terrific class!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely LOVE to hear the stories behind the quilts...that's what makes them all the more interesting and unique! You have such a beautiful array of quilts. I look forward to reading your posts!

Tammy morrowrj(at)telus(dot)net

Judy in Michigan said...

That picture of you and Mary - look like college students - so young!! Hanna must have quite the collection of quilts - how wonderful. Love this post and I would continue reading pages and pages of your background info...LOVE it!!

Phyllis said...

Such a great quilt, love it!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I love the back story to accompany the gorgeous quilts and pretty snow pics :)

Barb said...

Thanks Deb! Did you know your settings are "non-reply" blogger :(

Barb said...

Thanks Ann Marie - Your settings are non-reply :(

Barb said...

Thanks Mindy!

Angie said...

I love hearing back stories about everyone's quilts. And now I must get a copy of New Jersey quilts - there's no such thing as too much inspiration!

Karen said...

What a great post. Hanna's quilt is fabulous and I love the label, sleep with love. I may have to borrow that someday. And it's so well loved.

Cheryl said...

Keep it coming, I find the process fascinating and helpful. The zigzag setting really accents your stars nicely and I like the alternate colors. Pink and black or pink and green....love them both. Love the Hanna Vedder collection....lucky girl!

Karen in Breezy Point said...

I love that setting--so fun! Good and Plenty really caught my eye--very cute! I think it's all the dotty fabrics that does it for me.

Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts said...

Great quilts all of them, and I always like the back story to quilts. Don't ever leave that stuff out! The zig zag setting is just gorgeous! I love the folky appliquéd names on the four patch quilts.

Lori R. said...

I agree with the Barb Vedder Fan club. I love the back story and remember the quilt well. Stay warm this weekend. We're in for a bitterly cold one.

Janet said...

I love reading the back story. What a gorgeous quilt! I love the zigzag setting :0) what a fabulous way to set your time warp stars. I enjoyed the pictures of you and Mary and that raffle quilt in green and pink is a great combo too. Your snow is so pretty. Ours is almost melted away and what is left is hard and icy. Yesterday I had to get out gardening tools to dig a fort/tunnel with my 8 year old. We've had such a crazy winter...

Sue said...

Hi Barb
I just wanted to leave a message and say how much I enjoyed scrolling through your blog. I cant pinpoint anything in particular, as everything on here is so much me and what I love!
Thank you!

smazoochie said...

There's so much to love here (except the snow, grew up with it, don't miss it at all), I don't know where to start!
Stars, 9-patches, zigzags, doll quilts! Wow! And, yum!
I am a collector of the state quilt survey books, but I don't think I have New Jersey's. This is a mistake that will soon be rectified!

Barbara said...

Love your Stars In A Time Warp top--and the back story! Wow, that is a lot of little 9 patches. Hanna is so lucky to have her own quilt collection :) Thanks for adding a link to my blog. That NJ quilt is one of my favorites. I actually saw it in person at GSQ's meeting Monday night.

fiberchick said...

Love the quilt and the back story! Those state quilt books are required collecting:)

Janet said...

Happy Valentine's Day. I love your header,very pretty. Enjoyed the story of your quilts. Thank you for sharing.

Rachaeldaisy said...

I loved every photo and every word of this post, from the fun Valentines header to the top of Coco's tail, and all those beautiful quilts in between!

Rachaeldaisy said...

Ps The idea of printing out the layout of a quilt is genius!! Thank you for sharing this great tip. I use a photo on my phone but a bigger printout would be much clearer, and good for writing notes on if need be.

Wendy Caton Reed said...

Love that setting! Perfect! And, I can't believe I've never seen Hannah's Good and Plenty quilt. I adore it! And no one could ever be bored reading your great stories! Keep it up. Thanks!

Aunt 'Reen said...

Love the setting you chose for your Stars in a Time Warp.
Hannah's quilts are fabulous - amazing how small Molly's little quilt is.
Please keep those back stories coming, they are wonderful!

Quilt Inspiration said...

HI Barb ! These quilts are lovely ! And, please keep writing the back stories about all your projects, as the information is so useful ! We really enjoy reading your blog.
Happy quilting, from Marina and Daryl

Ann in PA said...

Always love the "back story" about your quilts. You can never share too much information on quilts...love your blog and love your humor. It was nice to see Mary V....who was a charter member of our guild a gazillion years ago. lol (we all miss her -very talented and nice, too)