Design Wall Monday February 27, 2012

Well, here is Peacock Love, still those first 15 blocks done.

I thought you might like to see how I get each row organized in preparation for the sewing.  When I have a few minutes, like 15 minutes before heading to work each day, I'll select the fabrics for a block, cut then and stick them on the design wall.  Then, when I have time this week, I'll make a block or two.  At least all the centers are done and placed, now I just have to sew those remaining 15 blocks.  Stayed tuned...

Today I completed 4 of the 5 Just Takes 2 red and white blocks from this 2nd half of February unit.  There are some "issues" with this group.  The basket must be paper-pieced--I figured I'd just piece it but the sizes are odd so, of course, it was 1/4" too small.   I took off two pieces, remade them extra large and fixed it.  One of the patterns (2nd from the top) had the colors in the wrong place, though the cutting instructions were correct, except for the four little pieces I cut that were not needed.  Corrections were posted a few days later but things still slip through.  Other bloggers were very upset with the large amount of waste built in--with fabric already at $11/yd or more, we don't want to cut our pieces quite so large, then trim.  I'll be checking all the measurements BEFORE I cut any pieces with the next group--they are available March 1.  At least, I'm on schedule--the 5th block for this unit has 12 little leaves to applique'--I'll get them finished tonight. 

We worked in the yard some this afternoon.  Wait a minute!  It's tax season--I don't want to work in the yard during tax season!  Spring is coming on early this year. 

Be sure to check out the other Design Walls at Patchwork Times by Judy L.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Why Quilts Matter

Why Quilts Matter is a fantastic Series on American Quilts, making them, collecting them,  and the marketplace, hosted by Shelly Zegart and airing on selected PBS stations.  Sadly, not my PBS station. 

BUT--this wonderful 9 part series is currently available free for members of thequiltshow.com--until March 31, 2012. Check this out:   thequiltshow.com   Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson created this world-wide community a few years ago and I've been a member since before it began.  I cannot sing the praises of this website/community enough.  Lifelong friendships have been made, there are amazing free classes available all the time, the forum is a wealth of information for everyone from beginners to professionals.  And, of course, every 2 weeks there is a one-hour show featuring the best, brightest, newest, most well-known, quilt teachers and makers who offer great information for all--some very modern, some artsy, some very traditional.  I often say, if I had to seriously watch my quilting dollars, this is the LAST money I would give up--it is that valuable to me. There is so much more on the site, I am just touching the highlights here.  No affilitation, just a very satisfied member!

So, if for no other reason than you can watch all 9 segments of Why Quilts Matter, I strongly encourage you to join thequiltshow.com now and catch them before they go away at the end of March.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Thimbles!

Bonnie Hunter, at Quiltville.com, has a Thimble Link-Up Monday--all about thimbles:  Thimble Link Up Monday.  Here are some of my thimbles--I had to hunt in lots of places to find them all:

Some are leather, some plastic, some for the underneath hand, some for the top, even one for the thumb--that's the yellow one.  I even had the same small plastic box that Bonnie showed in her post.  Quilters are such gadget/storage people!

Here are my favorites from the bunch.  The center one is my newest, a TJ Lane thimble will an amethyst gem stone.  It is beautiful.  My most used is the one on the left, I have several of these in different sizes.  And I really wanted to love the one on the right;   it is a sterling silver ThimbleLady thimble.  Liuxin Newman is the ThimbleLady and she quilts with the side of her finger, saying it will prevent hand and wrist problems. I've tried it some but didn't get the hang of it.   Still, it is beautiful and feels good on my hand.   I love to hand quilt so these are important tools to me.  I hope my someday grandchildren will love these as I do. 

I tried to get a shot of that newest one--believe me when I say it's HARD to take a photo of your right hand with your left hand.  Sorry it was just too fuzzy to use. 

And, BTW, I love the feel of the Roxanne thimbles too.  They are heavier and sometimes that's just what I want, like when I'm doing Utiltiy Quilting with Perle Cotton.

What is your favorite thimble? 
Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Design Wall Monday February 20, 2012

I'm only getting time to post once a week right now since I'm spending all my free moments sewing like crazy.  Here is what I got done this week, more Peacock Love blocks--the top is now half-done:

The wedding countdown clock is now under 6 weeks--yikes!  I have to get this top done by then.  I'm sure I will but still...

I wanted to work on the latest Just Takes 2 red and white blocks this weekend but that didn't happen.  Be sure to take note of the changes that were made to one of the design sketches, block 14, and pay attention to the printing info--some people have been having problems getting the paper foundations printed the correct size.  Nothing would be more frustrating than to piece a whole block on the wrong size paper foundations!

Last week I began teaching a new beginner's class, Quiltmaking 101.  We have 10 in this class and as always, the fabrics selected in class last week were great!  I get excited seeing the fabrics chosen and know they will make great quilts.  Photos of those later.

Be sure to check out Judy L's Patchwork Times blog to see lots of other design walls.  What are YOU working on?

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Design Wall Monday February 13, 2012

You'll be able to see I'm BUSY at work as this is the first post since last Monday and all I've gotten done is a good start on the Peacock Love Quilt: 

Most of the 30 blocks will have a message in the center, like "Cuddle" or "Hold Hands".  I've got those all printed and about half of the centers made.  The wedding is March 31, 2012 so my plan is to have the top done by the Rehearsal dinner as a surprise, then have it quilted while the happy couple is on their honeymoon.

Be sure to go to Patchwork Times by Judy L to see what others have been working on.

Wish I had more time to Quilt!!

Barbara

Design Wall Monday February 6, 2012

Time for unit 3 of the Just Takes 2 Red and White Project.  Only 2 blocks this time--yeah, I can keep up!

 The 2 new blocks are the large block in the upper right and the flying geese border to its' left.  At the end of each quarter there will be instructions to join all these units into a quarter of the quilt so we won't have to wait until the end of the year to start making the quilt--great idea!

Be sure to check out Patchwork Times to see what lots of other quilters are working on.
Let's Quilt!

Barbara

This Is MY Week!

If you have the 2012 AQS Engagement calendar, this is my week.  Joyful Journey, the first quilt I ever entered in an AQS show, was accepted for the 2010 show and was then selected to be featured in an upcoming calendar.  Because it's purple I thought it might be in the April timeframe, my anniversary is April 10, and April 15 is a special day for me.  Or maybe Easter.  NO--it appears this week so I guess I'm celebrating Ground Hog's Day! 

The pattern is by Susan Garman, Washington's Medallion, and is a block of the month pattern.  The spectacular quilting is by Pamela Dransfeldt, the Joyful Quilter--I found her on Facebook and we were  a perfect match.  I actually pieced a second one of these, in blue batiks, for Pam--we're collaborators.  Here is her quilt, it's called Joyful Journey Too:

Pam lives in California so we meet up each year at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach.  Here is a shot of the two of us, last year, when I got to see the quilting and crystals she put on hers:

I have an extra copy of this calendar so when we reach 100 followers there will be a giveaway.  Sign up as a follower, either by email or with Google by using the link above.  And tell your friends.  I'd hate for it to be December before we reach 100 followers!

Let's Quilt!

Barbara