Paying It Forward

These are sewn/pressed HST blocks

for a quilt layout 12 wide x 15 long.

Along the way I fell out of love so

I emailed Alycia to see if they could be used

as the start of a QOV for a navy veteran.

(color palette was inspired by a photo of 

my grandson playing on the Atlantic beach in NC)

She happily said "YES!"

so these are now on their way to Colorado.

Shoshin is currently enroute to Linda S of Art in Search

who makes the most wonderful comfort quilts.

I have sent her tops and backings before

and now seemed right to send her a few more.

Ludic is in that same box to Linda.

This top is smaller so I included fabric for borders

as well as enough binding strips for the larger size quilt.

Blithe is the third quilt top/back heading to Linda's house.

(I swapped out that fabulous elephant backing

and substituted this Kaffe Tiddlywinks yardage)

* * *

It feels good to pay it forward.

Quiltdivajulie

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“I think hope and magic are most probably connected.”

Kate DiCamillo

Blithe - the Flimsy

Blithe is now a finished quilt top.

In less than a week . . . and all from the stash.

(I doubt this will be the last 18-patch I'll make)

I wasn't going to add a border but ultimately I did.

The top didn't look finished 

AND the border secured all those seam ends.

I've had this Timeless Treasures blue since 2015'ish -

high time that it gets put to use.

(binding has been made from the same fabric)

I had forgotten all about this amazing elephant print

until I went looking for border options.

It is beyond perfect as backing for Blithe.

(BA Design, LLC Represented by Ruth Levison Design

for Timeless Treasures)

I'll add the blue on white print to either side

of the WOF elephant print.

* * *

The top finished at 55" wide x 68" long.

FMQ will likely not happen until 2022.

Quiltdivajulie

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“She had blue skin, 

And so did he.

He kept it hid

And so did she.

They searched for blue

Their whole life through,

Then passed right by –

And never knew.”

Shel Silverstein (Masks)

Blithe - the Beginnings

I have wanted to make a blue and "white" quilt 

for a long time now so when I found this 18-patch  tutorial,

the fabric pull happened that same day.

I needed to use the top of the cutting table so,

instead of moving the stacks of blues/low volumes

like I normally would have done,

I actually cut the strips and re-shelved the yardage.

Then, of course, I just HAD to make a single test block . . . 

and soon there were eight blocks on the design wall.

This quick progress led my overactive brain 

to wonder what I could use for backing.

I have had these two fabrics in the stash for quite a while.

They'll make a fun/interesting back for Blithe.

P.S.

 

Quiltdivajulie

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“Blue is the only color which maintains its own character in all its tones.”

Raqoul Dufy

Each Step Forward Counts

This is the new fabric pull for November's

kitchen table quilt that I've named Sweater Weather.

My original fabric pull looked too much like

the palette for Farmland and I wanted something

that felt warmer / more like Thanksgiving.

I've started cutting strips . . . stay tuned.

I also put together this fabric pull for a new project

that I have named BLITHE.

(adjective - carefree and happy; lighthearted)

Instead of a 16-patch, Blithe will be an 18-patch.

I'm in no huge rush - at least I don't think I am.

(part of me wants to turn Blithe into a squirrel project -

but the practical part of me is resisting / time will tell)

* * *

I finally broke down and bought this for my sewing studio.

I don't like pulling out the big canister vacuum

and unless I move several things out of the way,

the Roomba cannot get into some of the tight spots.

Now I have a quick and easy way to clean up 

those pesky threads and bits of fabric.

(this model is super easy to empty

and I love the round flat charging base)

Ridiculous that I've waited so long to resolve

what has been a long-time frustration.

I picked up 3 clear 5-compartment organizers 

that were being marketed for make up.

 Instead of using them for their intended purpose,

I gathered my colored pencils,

Flair markers, Sharpies, and highlighters

and put them all within easy reach.

(I use them when I'm sketching ideas,

working out layout designs,

making notes for my project files, etc.)

This way I'm also making much better use of

the Raskog cart that sits to the right of my Bernina.

Again - such an easy solution to a nagging issue.

(Contemplate - Fabricate - Ruminate - Recreate

-- courtesy of something Sarah Bond shared

in one of her virtual classes)

I also took the time to make a proper mat

to line the bottom of this well-worn tray 

that lives at the end of my ironing table.

Why do I wait so long to deal with

something like this that is so simple?!

* * *

I haven't worked on Pandemonium for a while now

because my brain cells have been used up dealing with

another significant hassle involving an insurance program.

I've finally reached out to an advocacy group for help

and after the initial conversations, I'm hopeful

they can take over much of the heavy lifting. 

One step at a time.

Quiltdivajulie

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“Brown is neither one of the basic color perceptions nor a primary color used in color mixtures, but for human beings it is constantly present both in nature and in their everyday surroundings. It is the color of the earth itself — of rocks and sand, of the bark of trees, of the fur of animals. In that sense, at least, it could be called the basic color of everyday life.”

Kunio Fukuda