A Quilt-y Day

I don't like it when my studio is a big mess like this:

Every flat surface is piled with stuff as are both chairs--just a big mess.  So, I cleared out and put away most of the stuff that was ready to be put away and got to work machine quilting a few projects.

It's not the best quilting you'll ever see but it's practice that actually get's something done:

Here is the baby quilt I made in the past few days for a grand nephew due soon:

The only quilting left to do is in the perimeter triangles--still pondering what to do there.  The blocks are pretty simply quilted so I decided not to do heavy quilting on the outside edges.  I'll decide tomorrow...

In an effort to get rid of some of all this clutter, I sold  Double Wedding Ring parts I started in 1988.  All the arcs are sewn and and fabric and book were all still together--I just had to find it when a guild member expressed an interest in buying it.  Here's what she came and got today:

She was glad to get it and I was glad to get rid of it.  I hope she finishes it someday, 'cause I know I never would.

I sill have a treadle sewing machine, 29" Hinterberg round quilting hoop on a stand, a Queen size Hinterberg 3-rail solid oak floor frame and my beloved Bernina 1230 to sell.  There is someone interested in the Bernina, we just haven't been able to get together yet.  At the retreat I was told not to let it go for less than $1000, mine is priced less than that.  Just trying to clear out the clutter and free up some floor space since the Q20 came to live here.

Can't let today go by without mentioning my grand-girl Stella turns 6 months old today, and her Daddy, my baby, turns 420 months old today--that's 35 years--how did THAT happen?

I saw a great gift suggestion for kids on Facebook the other day as we think about what to get for our precious girl:  Get something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to READ!  Isn't that a super suggestion?  Now, to go shopping...  And, what could a 6 month old possibly want, except lots of hugs and kisses?

Let's Quilt!

The Hard Stuff

I'm giving a presentation to the Madison Station Quilters next week on "The Hard Stuff".  I'll talk about these more challenging quilts:

Mariner's Compass, made 2001, original pattern



Double Wedding Ring--this is a mini, made 2009, pattern by Virginia Robertson

Feathered Stars: Joyful Journey made 2009, pattern by Sue Garman

The PowerPoint is ready and I did step-outs for blocks needed for my next quilt, Diamond Jubilee.  I'm about a year and a half behind in starting that one so this was a good reason to get started.  Here are the 2 blocks I made this week:

These are 15" finished stars.  One I made by Foundation Paper Piecing with Sue Garman's pattern, Stars for a New Day.  The other I did by regular piecing.  The problem with that:  those feathers are a weird size for regular piecing:  13/16".  Yes, I did all the measurements in sixteenths of an inch--crazy!  At the lecture, I'll have suggestions on how not to make it so hard.

I've also been plugging away at the Barbara Brackman  Stars in a Time Warp QuiltAlong blocks.  Here are the last four weeks:

 

 

Barbara Brackman is the queen of quilt block history and has written many books about this wonderful topic.  I have them all and this is a great way to learn more about fabrics and techniques over the centuries.  I am making two 6-inch Sawtooth Stars each week--I now have 68 blocks done.  Each week, Barbara shows some possibilities for how to use our stars and I'm beginning to think about how I want to set them.  Time will tell.  Here are a couple possibilities:

I'm on the lookout for a Printed Center Medallion panel

A lifetime of Applique' though
 

Now it's time to get those garments started for Houston--that will be here before I know it.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara