Progress and the Ugly Quilt

I've been working on a few projects, as usual.  Here is the top for Kisses + Hugs, also known as the Japanese X and + blocks:

I added 3 more rows to the top I had prepared for my Quilt-In class and am now declaring this top "done".  Some simple straight line quilting, a binding and a label, and it's finished.  Very bright and cheerful. 

Last week I quilted both Box of Wine and the Ugly Quilt, with free motion and straight line quilting.  They turned out all right.  That free-motion process takes lots of practice and I just haven't put in the time yet to improve beyond "OK".  More tops, more practice, more classes, I'll get there.

Box of Wine, class sample for Color College

 I'll be teaching a series of classes about color, using the wonderful new book by Becky Goldsmith, The Quilters Practical Guide to Color.   I wrote about that here.

The Ugly Quilt

This will be donated--it's just weird enough to appeal to a young person, I hope.

This is my Tumbler Leader/Ender project.  Bonnie Hunter does an annual Leader/Ender challenge, learn about this one the 2015 Leader/Ender Challenge,  There are four rows of 60 tumblers laid out, not sewn yet, no rush.

New start, Smitten by Jen Carson Kingwell.  I saw this a couple months ago on Instagram, most people are doing the blocks with English Paper Piecing.  Some are hand piecing, some machine piecing, and some are doing the hybrid method, some of each.  There is a set of Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates, Set H, that has all the pieces necessary for all the blocks so I am using them.  I machine pieced this block, Y seams and all, and will keep going with that process.  No rush on this one either. 

What are you working on this summer?  It's too hot here to be outside much so quilting keeps me cool.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

A New Finish and Chair Seats

Finally got my Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt completely finished:

 

The pattern is from Bonnie Hunter and will appear in a future book.  She offers a mystery quilt each year around Thanksgiving.  This one has colors that were inspired by the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.  Mine is half-size--that was enough for me and I added the narrow black sashing around the blocks.  See Bonnie's original here. 

The best thing about a rainy couple of days is that I really worked at getting my studio cleaned up.  My friends will be amazed--you can actually SEE the chair seats in my two cozy chairs and could sit in them if you wanted to visit:

It's been quite some time since those have seen the light of day.  I also cleared off the cutting table, mostly, as I am cutting Tumblers and 1.5" squares for leader/ender projects:

AND, I cleared off the ironing surface--that had way too much stuff piled up on it:

Next up, I'll machine quilt the Box of Wine quilt--jumping into free-motion with fear and trepidation but the determination to get it done in a satisfactory manner:

And the design wall has been freed up now that I finished the Simple What Nots Club sampler, shown here:

If the studio still looks messy to you, all I can say is "You should have seen it before".  This is a vast improvement and I feel free to create and make it messy again.  Several more projects have to get done before this year is over but I'm getting there. 

I hope you had a great 4th of July celebration--let freedom ring!

Let's quilt! 

Barbara