Round 5 - Ding

I'm spending time each and everyday quilting.  I'm on Round 5.

I've enjoyed revisiting all my scrappy clams.

I'm using a link roller on sections before I begin quilting and I'm removing markings as I go too.

Quilting outside on the deck is fabulous.  It is so easy to see my markings.

Nutmeg is very curious about the outdoors and we are lucky to have a deck that doesn't lead to yard so she can enjoy a little fresh air.

  She kept sleeping on my quilt which was okay until I had to turn the hoop.

 She finally found her own spot.

I guess she is settling in.  Everyone loves her orange arm and her cute markings.

 Many people have asked how she is getting along with coco.   Really great.

 coco is so gentle and has always lived with cats, so no problem.

I hung my Olympic Star quilt in the hall for summer.

 I love hand quilting on a white quilt. 

 My container gardens are loving all the rain. 

Oooh my lime coleus really glows in morning light.

 Sedums

Some people like to watch Women's World Cup Soccer while sitting in a box.  Go USA

I'm driving up to the Vermont Quilt Festival tomorrow for a 1 day viewing and meet up with Randy D. and Wendy.   I'm bringing stencils with me so if you see me and want one, let me know or just say hi.

Happy Summer Stitching!

xo

Summer Quilts on Parade

Happy Monday!

While packing my trunk show, I decided to switch the quilts that were hanging about here at home.

This is "Bloom Where You're Planted"; a quilt that I finished in 1996.  It was a year long class and we learned a technique a month.

This is the first time I added lettering to a quilt - they are a little too spread out, but I got better at it.

The pattern was created by Irma Gail Hatcher and here is the original.  Mine is quite a bit different.

I learned ruching fabric.

I also inked the initials of our family members.

these are stuffed grapes.

It's a big one - about 100" square.  I really love the double diamond quilting. It is the only one I've quilted this way.

I also hung my Olympic Star quilt.  The quilting texture looks good with this overhead light.

 The best view is coming up from the lower level.

Have a great week!

2012 UFO Challenge

Giants Win In Overtime - Superbowl XLVI
just had to get that out.

I met last week with Jill and Susan and instead of starting a new challenge project, we've decided to finish some UFOs this year.

We are also going to swap flying geese units every month.  We've decided to use bright, fresh fabrics and solids for fun.  I'll post when I've made my first sets.

Here in her own words is Jill's UFO project:

After Barb introduced me to English paper piecing, I have fallen in love with it, the accuracy which I could never attain otherwise and the relaxation of whip stitching together the prepared pieces.   Of course it is additional steps, with the basting and paper removal, but I enjoy the results very much.

I started this "star" project some time ago and picked this as my UFO for this Barb/Susan/Jill quilt-finishing deadline!   I have yet to come up with a nice setting design, so I am not sure how many star blocks I need.  I am thinking maybe six and as you can see,  I only have two finished, almost three.   I had better "put a fire under it"...lol.

 I also want to do a setting where the multi-colored stars seem to "float" on the black background and I also hope to come up with an appliqué design to add to either the center of the quilt and/or the border.   I love the combo of pieced and appliqué...my favorite.

Barb thinks perhaps the appliqué will be too busy, as it is already pretty colorful.   So I am rethinking that.  Right now I want to finish the six blocks,  put them on my design wall and try to finalize a plan.

Here in her own words is Susan's UFO project-

It was easy for me to pick my UFO challenge.  This quilt has been on my design wall for months....and months....waiting for the border.

"POTUS 1789-1901" is a quilt I designed with the quilting in mind.  It is a two block quilt.  The president block looks odd, silly really but placing a wreath stencil on top to show what the quilting will look like gives a better idea of where I am going.

The president images are from an old Windham line.  I thought there was a misprint at first because one president had two images.  A check of the facts showed that the printing was correct.  One president served two terms but not consecutively.  I love making quilts that include little bits of history.

And here is mine -

I started this quilt in 2009 to commemorate (again) the 2008 Summer Olympics.  I loved that the opening ceremony was on 8-8-08.  It would be great to finish this one before the 2012 games open in London!

I put this away when I started working on my Mother's Garden quilt and other projects for the quilt show last November.  I have posted on this quilt before and you can find them by typing "olympic star" in the search box.

I have the quilting area you see on the upper left hand side, then binding and labeling.

I will reporting back on these projects.  Our deadline is set for mid-April.

Are you currently finishing last years (or the last 5 years) projects?  It seems every year we quilters try to finish our UFOs.  Why is it so much more fun to start them?

Spring Fling

Happy Monday -

It's so beautiful here in Northern New Jersey. The tulips and other spring flowers are blooming, as well as all the gorgeous flowering trees. A little chilly lately, but the sunshine is most welcome!

Here is a little folky doll quilt that I designed and made in 2002. I like to hang it during the month of April and May. I love the funny pink and yellow color combination. It's one that I have hand quilted.

Here is a close up

I used one of my grandmother's hankies in the top of the pitcher. It is tiny cross stitch on very fine cotton - why would blow there nose in this? Or is it just for dabbing?


Here is a few sneak previews of my Lincoln Challenge. I'm doing this with Jill and Susan to commemorate the 150th anniversary of his birth, I think. Anyway, we're all running late on this challenge. I showed the center to Jill and Susan, so now you can see it.

This is how I got the silhouette- I purchased this silk screen, but decided not to use it because of the way it felt, and I was concerned about ironing and washing it. So, I pressed freezer paper to it, traced it, cut it out, then pressed it on the marbled black, traced it, cut it out, and finally appliqued it to this background of the generals of the Potomoic. whew......many steps, but I'm very happy with the result.

I've been worked on another challenge for several weeks (months) and it will be revealed soon. I've also made a few gifts, which I can't show either. So instead, here is an update on the hand quilting. You can see the whole quilt here.


This is how I do feathers; first I do the spine, then the outer curves, then I go back and forth to fill them in. I feel there is less traveling this way and I can do more continuous quilting. It's probably not true, but that's how it feels to me.


And lastly, several more pineapples done - hoping to make some more today.


Enjoy the colorful bounty of spring today!

Well Begun is Half Done

Yesterday I finished the sew basting on my Olympic Star, or should I call it Star of Beijing? Hhhmmm, I'll have to think on that.

I'm the kind of person who likes a little encouragement, so a few years ago I got this great idea. Why not baste the quilt in sections using different colored threads. This way I can take it out as soon as I'm done with a section and I can admire it without the basting...so now that is how I handle basting. It's one of those "aha" moments that really works for me.



When I hand quilt pieced quilts, I like to do it without marking or using tape. I find it easier and faster. It may take a little practice, but it's well worth it. So I'm eye-balling the 1/4 seam allowance on these.



It reminds me when Gwen told me she doesn't use a 1/8" mark for a lot of her applique'. She said "if I don't a 1/8" by now....." and she's right, of course. I have also learned to applique' without marking unless it's letters or needs to be very precise. Try it sometime.

I'm using white muslin on the back. I order the 108" wide muslin so I wouldn't need a seam - nice for quilting. I love the reverse look you achieve when using a solid back.


Over the weekend I went to the Mancuso quilt show here in NJ. I'm not going to say a lot, because I don't have a lot of nice things to say. It was great to see my cupcakers; Jill and Susan and here are a few photos that took of things I liked:


This was an amazing advent calendar quilt, complete with opening doors and windows. She is an amazing quilter and has won many prizes and published a book. I'm so sorry her name escapes me at the moment.

A big winner --



Aroma therapy for puppy's.....a boy's stinky boat shoe.
She is asleep and snoring......gross. Cute, but gross.

Have a great weekend everyone!