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

Doll Quilts and Baby Fish

I'm really getting into these doll quilts for the 2012 Doll Quilt Swap.  Using half-square triangle units I got in an international swap a couple years ago, I'm coming up with different layouts of the 2" HST unit.  Here is May:

The binding is almost finished then it can be shipped to Wisconsin. 

Then I started laying out a few more--here are June and July:

June is made with 2" four-patches--I have hundreds of these since they are my go-to leader/ender projects.  There are 2 baskets full of 1.5" squares, a light group and a dark group, and I use them to feed chain piecing through the machine--in no time at all there are many of these babies! 

August is laid out and will be pieced later this week. 

Working around the pond Saturday I saw the first goldfish babies of the year!  There were 2, one black and one orange/white with a black tip on its' tail.  They move very quickly and stay down in the plants for protection.  This morning I saw the orange one again--you've got to look hard because they really go by in a flash!  We're getting close to fish capacity so I need to find someone who wants a few common goldfish. 

My next project is getting our guild raffle quilt ready--here is the center:

The pattern is Washington Medallion by Sue Garman and has lots more piecing to go!  I have 3 helpers who will assist with the 28 blocks and hundreds of pinwheels still needed.  Would you like to win this?

Take a look at Patchwork Times to see what others have been up to. 

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Laces Challenge

  A month ago or so, Judy Murrah announced a Challenge using her antique laces.  With the wedding front and center at that time, I knew I had to enter.  Here is what I put together this morning:

The ribbons came from the wedding program, the laces are from Judy, the pearl buttons are from my antique button collection, and there are beads and another old button.  Here is the back:

It is a page from the wedding program explaining the significance of the peacock theme. 

I like the great pieces Judy puts together but don't seem to have the "knack" for it myself.  Maybe I should take a class???  There are lots of great offerings in mixed media/embellishments at the IQF shows--next up is Long Beach in July and then the mother ship, HOUSTON, in November. 

I made another doll quilt this weekend--it's for the May swap so I'm actually ahead of schedule.  Wish I had worked on this lace challenge sooner--putting it off until the last day wasn't the smartest idea ever.

Check out Design Wall Monday to see what other folks are doing. 

Let's quilt! 

Barbara





I made a quilt!

OK, so it's a doll quilt but it was the first thing on my "must do" list for post-tax season.

It's on it's way to Idaho today.  The Doll Quilt Swap has over 30 members now and each month from April-December we are matched up with someone and make a doll-size quilt for them.  I am using the half-square triangle units I received in an international swap a couple years ago.  At this point, my plan is to use the same 8 x 8 settting but change up the design--pinwheels, 4 patches, etc.  We'll see how many different designs I can come up with.  This is 21" square.

This week I have to make a back for "Peacock Love" so I can get that to the quilter.  And finish the applique' block for Just Takes 2, then get to work on the next set of blocks.  And I have to use my laces for the Judy Murrah challenge--that's due May 1.  Never a dull moment!

What is your favorite quilt pattern?  Do you use it frequently or only for "special" quilts?

Be sure to check out Design Wall Monday with Judy L  to see what others have been doing.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Design Wall Monday April 16, 2012

It's the last Monday in tax season--yeah!  By this time Wednesday morning I'll be enjoying peace and quiet in my home, with the whole day in front of me.  I'll pay bills, sort through the clutter of accumulated mail, most of no import, enjoy my garden--the irises are fantastic this year!, and then read a book.  THEN I can QUILT!

And here's what I am eager to work on:

This is the center of the 2011 BOM from thequiltshow.com, designed by Sue Garman.  I am doing the applique' with a turned edge, machine stitched method, which is labor-intensive to prepare but quick to sew. 

As soon as I finish a few of the "must do's", like class samples and the back for "Peacock Love" so it can go to the quilter, I'll jump back on this one. 

I hope your tax returns are filed so you can quilt!

Go check out Judy's blog so see what other folks are up to.

Happy Monday--Let's quilt!

Barbara