Blackberry Summer

It must be summer--I picked the first batch of blackberries this morning:

With any luck, every 2-3 days for the next 2-3 weeks I'll get this many again.  The first gallon bag goes in the freezer for Christmas Cobbler--my sons don't get to enjoy these fresh from the garden so it's tradition that I make Blackberry Cobbler for Christmas dinner dessert.   The rest I eat for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner.  Invite us to a BBQ--I'll bring cobbler!

The trick is to keep ahead of the birds--there are several mockingbirds that think this is their private patch! 

Class yesterday was fun and productive for all 8 students.  Those making the large star had the most cutting and sewing so did not get as far along as those making the smaller star.  The book is "Simple Stars Beautiful Quilts" by Calico Carriage Quilt Designs.  It's an easy way to make stars that look difficult but are not. 

 Linda C.  ready to join those rows of her central star.

 Eileen W.  Made for a new grandbaby!

 Debbie D.  Her FIRST quilt and she was thrilled with her progress!  This is the center star of a large quilt, about 70" square.  Great job!

Kathy F. got her center row completed in class.  Now she'll add 2 rows to the top, and 2 rows to the bottom, a couple borders, and she's done.  This is the smaller size, about 36" square.

Brenda G. choose dusty batiks and will have a great quilt!

Of course, today I want to sew!!  After a few more household chores, I'll clean up the studio a little and start two new projects--both are calling me hard so both get started today!

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Design Wall Monday June 11, 2012

Here are the five little quilts I made last week.  Three of the tops were done but all the quilting and binding was completed last week. 

I only have 2 more to do to be finished for the year.  Each month as I'm assigned a new swap partner, I may let her choose which she wants.  What do you think of that?  Would you like that option or prefer to be surprised?

Now I'm on to a twin-bed size quilt for a Fall class at my local quilt shop.  Hope to have much of that to show you next week.  I'll be teaching two classes tomorrow:  a simple broken star made from half-square triangles and Trash 2 Treasure, Gyleen Fitzgerald's pineapple method.  Fun! 

Check out what others have been up to at Judy's Blog.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Red and White and fun all over

Here are the Just Takes 2 blocks for April, May and the first set for June.  There is also an applique' block I'm slowly working on.  These are just thrown on the design wall--I have no idea yet how they will be assembled.  The second quarter layout will come in early July.

I've kept a spreadsheet and can tell you so far, there are 50 different fabrics and 1079 pieces--fun!  I've also listed the block name and the Brackman ID# if I could find it.  More fun!

Yesterday I got 5 small quilts sandwiched and ready for machine quilting, as well as prepared the bindings for each.  Quilting them is tomorrow's job. 

Check out what other folks are up to at Judy's blog.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Excellent week!

This has been the first week since tax season ended I could pretty much do what I wanted and did not have to go into the office at all.  As it's been hot, and now a cool front has come in, I even saved mowing the 1.25 acre yard for tomorrow when it is supposed to be a spectacular day!  So what did I do, you ask?

I made quilts, of course!  First off, was to finish 2 workshop pieces from Paula Nadelstern's  Simple Symmetry class 2 weeks ago.  All of the blocks came from the same piece of fabric but looked so different I decided to split them up and create twins.  Here is NIGHT:

And here is DAY:

They are each about 35" x 40".  Just tops so far but they'll get quilted later this month. 

Then I created a challenge piece for our guild challenge--it's our 25th anniversary and the piece had to have some silver or gray in it, and use the number 25 in some way--for example, mine has 25 silver squares that are 1" each.  I can't show you the entire quilt as it also has to be a secret but here's a sneek peek:

You may recognize the star point fabric--it's the Paula Nadelstern fabric from the 2 twins.  I figured, rather than put it away to start the challenge, just use it IN the challenge!  Now I can put it away.

Then I got to work on the June doll quilt for the swap I'm in--the person this is for likes brights, batiks, purple, green, etc--oh, that was easy!  Didn't have to go far to find those fabrics.  I'll get it quilted and sent in the next week or so. 

I also enjoy following some great blogs, some simple ones, some that post several times a day, some that post once a month. This week I learned of this one: Find a Friend Friday It's a place for bloggers to list their blog and you can quickly take a look to see if you're interested in what they write about.

Now I'm going to start on the Just Takes 2 red and white blocks that posted this morning--they are fairly easy this set and I'll have them done by next week.

Yes, it's been a productive week.  And today is my birthday so I was very happy to have lost 16 lbs since mid-April.  I only want to do this one last time--I've lost and found 100's of pounds in the last 15 years and they really have to go and stay gone.  Bet some of you can relate...  Only problem today is my son and his new bride are taking me and my beloved to Macaroni Grill tonight--my favorite place.  Just give me a loaf of their great bread, a glass of wine, and a salad and I'm happy!  Lots of hard work tomorrow should help

Hope everyone has a great June--let's quilt!

Barbara

Class with Paula Nadelstern

Saturday was a great class with Paula Nadelstern:  Simple Symmetry.  Using wonderful fabric with lots of symmetry gives you amazing blocks.  You start looking for the "axis of symmetry" and all those other geometry/trigonometry things from high school.  Glad I paid attention way back then!

Here are the blocks I got done:

The blocks are not yet sewn together because I am going to make another set of two rows before I decide how to assemble the quilt.  Here are two of Paula's class samples:

Needless to say, I had fun and am eager to get these done.  There are 2 other things knocking at the "do me right now" door so I should have something more to show, completely different, next week.

Go see what other folks are working on at Judy's Design Wall Monday blog    Let's quilt!

Barbara

Spending the Day with Paula

Paula Nadelstern is teaching for my quilt guild this weekend.  She gave a terrrific lecture Thursday night and we had an awesome workshop yesterday:  Needlestar--which is what her name means.  Here is the block I got finished in class:

It's a good first start and I'll be eager to make more of these with other color combinations.

Today it's Simple Symmetry--a much easier class and one I am also excited about. 

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Monday and My Hero

Here's what I'm working on:

This is the first quarter of the year-long Just Takes 2 quilt provided by two bloggers.  Click this link if you still want to start:  www.justtakes2.com  You'll have to pay a small amount for the prior patterns but they come out twice a month and are free for 30 days. 

If you are working on this you might notice a few differences in mine:  I changed the position of 2 of the 6" blocks, used a different applique' block, lower right, and, most notably, I joined the right side panel to the "other" side of the previous panel.  Notice, I did not say the "wrong" side.  When I got the seam sewed and saw that it was not the "correct" side, I wasted no more than 10 seconds deciding I would not be un-sewing that seam--it stays as is. When the other 3 quarters are added, I bet no one will notice mine is a different layout.

Now, I want to introduce you to my quilting hero:  Sue Garman.  She does a wonderful blog, once a month or so, and the May Blog is fabulous!  She is a pattern designer and a phenomenal applique' artist. The blog is an amazing photo exhibit of some of her current work.  While dealing with family issues, she still turns out an incredible amount of handwork.  Her handquilting is amazing, and her machine quilting puts me to shame.  Sue designed several of the blocks of the month for www.thequiltshow.com, including the 2009 Stars for a New Day.  I have made 2 of her Washington Medallion quilts and am currently at work on the 3rd to be used for my guild raffle quilt.  The one I made in purple batiks was lucky enough to be accepted into the 2010 AQS show in Paducah.  And her 2011 BOM for thequiltshow.com is calling me back--I am eager to get Ruffled Roses done. 

While I love to piece quilts, the more complicated the better, I think applique' is wonderful and Sue is an inspiration to me and thousands of other traditionalist quilters.  If you want to be impressed, check out her May Blog.

To see what others are doing, check out Judy Laquidara's blog.

Until next time, let's quilt!

Barbara