(Mis)Adventure

I was able to leave work an hour early yesterday ~

so cutting the 16 prepared Marcia Derse fat quarters 

for a Yellow Brick Road quilt was high on my list.

[Note:  I know some don't like this pattern,

but for efficient use of fabric, pure power sewing,

 and allowing chosen fabrics to be the stars

instead of fancy piecing, YBR  is hard to beat.]

Above you can see the 3-1/2" strips being power-stitched to the 6-1/2"strips.

Problem was, I got overly involved in the joy of power sewing (it felt SO good)

and I stitched ALL 16 sets of strips together instead of only 8 sets.

Remember just last week, I mentioned not working well from directions?

Case in point!

Moving on without missing a beat,

I used some of the A and all of the B sets I had 

to create this first set of 16 blocks.

These 12 blocks in the second configuration feature more of the properly pieced block segments.

And then I was left with a stack of incorrectly pieced strip sets . . .

Now what?

As a liberated/ UnRuly quilter, no way was I going to unstitch. . . 

Time to consider other options!

* * * 

The pattern creates 9-1/2" blocks.

My goofed-up strip sets measured 9-1/2" ~ 

albeit in a different configuration than the pattern designer specified.

Okay - using the 3-1/2" segments from step A

and adding 6-1/2" segments from my messed-up strip sets

yielded 9-1/2" blocks!

Woo Hoo ~ no unstitching required!

After a quick press,

I tossed the 40 blocks up on the design wall.

(this lap flimsy should finish at 57" x 75" according to the pattern envelope)

I'll take them back down for trimming

and then spend a bit more time on the layout

prior to the final assembly process

(stitching can be done from their current condition,

but it goes much faster and the flimsy lays much flatter

if the blocks have been trimmed first).

Because I started with 16 fat quarters when the pattern called for 12

(I have had fat quarters come up short so I always add a few extra to the mix),

I have segments that will become a scrappy stripe for the back of this quilt.

Not too bad for about 4 hours' work!

Quiltdivajulie

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p.s.  Lynne's quilt, Magic Happens, is scheduled for delivery this morning.  WARNING:  Serious Squee Alert!!

Pay It Forward 2010

A while back, Chris went searching through her stash for a particular piece of fabric. Like many of us, she was amazed by how large her stashed stash had become.

During one of our conversations, I said something about setting aside the pieces she was certain she wouldn't use and we'd use those to create charity quilts. Well . . . when we met up earlier this week to swap unfinished for finished quilts, she brought me several boxes of fabric.

Last night, I dumped it all out and sorted enough groups to create at least seven (yes, SEVEN) quilt tops! There will be 4 (maybe 5) lap size yellow brick road quilts, a baby quilt like the ones I've made for co-workers using the Little Bits pattern, and a coffee/bistro themed quilt (maybe 2). I'm guessing there will be enough bits and pieces for lots of scrappy binding and I'll be on the lookout for discounted backing fabrics.

No promises on how quickly I'll get these cut out and stitched, ready for Chris to quilt, but they will be done for the 2010 Pay It Forward effort!

And here is a tiny sneak peak of the binding work that is happening on No Words Needed. Chris added some totally awesome custom quilting that I'll share as soon as the binding is finished. It is definitely worth the wait!

Quiltdivajulie

Breakthrough ~

Those of you who have been with me a while know all about my slow cloth French Roses project ~ and how it both delights and annoys me.

Out of nowhere this morning, it hit me like the proverbial "ton of bricks" (maybe it had something to do with Mrs. G's Let's Talk Tuesday question about buyer's remorse??) ~ I don't HAVE to keep doing what I've been doing ~ I can change the plan . . .

So ~ there will now be two ice cream quilts instead of one.

The first will feature the 12 already-completed rose blocks, set in a 3 x 4 arrangement with a narrow inner and 6" outer borders. This romantic lap quilt (Ice Cream and Roses) will be a surprise third anniversary gift for DS and his wife in June (shhh, don't tell them).

And, since the roses used only 1/2 of each fat quarter in the 25-piece Posh bundle, and I'll have loads of leftover border/backing fabrics ~ I will make myself a subtle, scrappy on-point Yellow Brick Road quilt (Ice Cream Social).

. . . I feel the most wonderful mixture of liberated exhilaration and heady relief . . .

Quiltdivajulie
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"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Disappointment ~ Hint ~ Decision

First, let's deal with the disappointment.

The Symphony charm squares were delivered yesterday ~ such excitement as I opened the package. But the colors, while truly gorgeous, were far (and I mean FAR) darker and more somber than the swatches shown on the website.

DARN.

SO, I cancelled the backordered fat quarters and resumed the pondering process.

While I pondered, I stitched. This is just a hint as to the work-in-progress for Tonya's summer class ~ finally, there is something visible!!! Stay tuned for more letters in the coming days!

After spreading my unwashed fat quarter bundle of Kaffe Fasset fabrics all over our bed and walking around the colorful display most of today, a joint decision has been made. Even though DH's engineering nature leans to symmetry & logic over free-form & random, he's okay with this plan. I will use these newly washed beauties (the lights were still in the dryer) to create a YBR On Point for our bed. The colors play very nicely with the soft green walls and will hopefully encourage a smile whenever we walk into the room. [And, like all plans, if it doesn't work the way we think it will, we'll change our minds!]

Thanks, Wanda ~ your recent KF quilts were just the nudge(s) I've needed to actually use these!

And, Angel has taken up her late afternoon vigil ~ waiting near the refrigerator in hopes that dinnertime will come soon.

Brotherhood of Quilts

I mentioned this yesterday ~ but now I have the other photos to share. We have 3 nephews who live in Michigan (many states away). My mother was always so proud of her FIVE grandsons... early on, we were able to take annual "stair step" photos of the boys but, over the years, their heights have changed drastically and there are no more "steps." Instead, there are five amazing young men (photo above taken in 2006)

The youngest of our nephews is graduating from high school next month. FIESTA! is his quilt (photos shared yesterday).

The middle nephew graduated from high school in 2006 and is now a college student. His quilt is named Kudzu and I've just added photos of it to the album. Done in LOTS of shades of greens, it reminds me so much of the kudzu that grows throughout this part of the country...

Our oldest nephew received his quilt in honor of his 2006 wedding. Panjii (which is Japanese for pansies) combined his love of blues with his bride's love of purples, with some greens and yellows added in representing sunlight and growth. I've also added photos of their queen size quilt to the photo album. For any of you who have lived in the Southeast U.S., you'll surely recognize the familiar mix of colors that are so often used when pansies are planted in municipal flower beds during the fall/winter/early spring season.

Soon, I'm hoping our three nephews will get together with their quilts and have someone take some candid shots for me... I'd love to see that gathering of The Brotherhood of Quilts!

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"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)

Photographing Quilts, Azaleas & More

As many of you have probably surmised, photographing my quilts is a vital part of the process for me. While some quilts are meant to be hung on a wall, I need to capture living shots of mine as they are draped over stone walls, hung on fences, or tossed over the wicker rocking chair on our front porch.

For me, each of my quilts becomes far more than fabric, thread, and batting ~ our shared journey allows each of them to become their own entities with a story to tell. Some are playful, others are more subdued and formal; some are softly romantic while many are bright and dynamic. Each of these elements are part of who I am ~ alternately together or scattered, certain or unsure, giddy or depressed, in a word ~ complex.

I make my quilts intuitively, emotionally, passionately. The combination of color and design must please the deeper parts of me or I cannot go forward. And photographing the finished quilts is much the same. Flat, static portraits cannot capture the satisfaction of a plan that came together, the idea that was allowed to evolve, or the pure joy that comes with completion.

This morning, on my way to work, I stopped at one of our local parks to get photos of a quilt (FIESTA!) that is about to be gifted to our youngest nephew for his high school graduation. It is the third in what I named The Brotherhood of Quilts (3 brothers, 3 quilts). I’ll share photos of the other two in the next few days (although those were taken nearly 2 years ago when I was just starting to use digital and the quilts were gifted in 2006).

While I much prefer candid shots of my quilts, sometimes there is a need for a formal portrait. More on this tomorrow, but here’s a hint of things to come:




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"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance, and this, and not the external manner and detail, is true reality."
(Aristotle)

So much to explore...

I took a vacaton day on Thursday so that I could "tag along" while DH travelled to Nashville on business. While he did his presentation Thursday morning, I spent my time in Franklin (just south of Nashville). While I waited for the stores to open, I stopped by Merridee's Breadbasket for some tea ~ if you're ever in Franklin, you really need to stop by this marvelous bakery!

Spent most of my time at Stitcher's Garden (10,000 bolts on any given day, no web site). Here is the view as you step inside their back door:
Not a store for the faint of heart or anyone who suffers from claustrophobia! Fabrics are stacked and piled and leaned everywhere... you feel like you're on an expedition to explore uncharted territory!

Later in the morning, I checked out the second quilt shop in town - The Quilting Squares. Have you ever seen a Yellow Brick Road quilt laid out on point? Here's a photo of their sample draped over a cutting table:

Okay ~ back to the real reason for my adventure ~ the fabrics... I found backs for 3 quilts that are in various stages of progress, along with 5 or 6 yards that are going into the stash for future projects. And I was able to satisfy my fabric fondling fix for at least the next few weeks!

Over the last week, I've finished the bindings on Tea at the Folk School and My Happy Quilt. Fortunately, the sun is out and the wind was quiet earlier this morning so I was able to get some pictures!

And I have a favor to ask: DH's mother has been sick for 2 months (first bronchitis, then sinusitis, both with horrible cough and laryngitis, and now serious upper chest pain-muscules and lungs). We've taken her to the doctor 4 times in the last few weeks, spent a small fortune on medicines, and she's extremely discouraged (part of her diagnosis is early COPD). Your kind thoughts and/or prayers for Joan would be greatly appreciated.

I hope you and yours have a joyous Easter weekend!


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“Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself” (Mahatma Ghandi)

Orphan Blocks to Priority Quilts

I pulled out three orphan blocks this weekend and am finally ready to make them into Priority Quilts.

The one above comes from Fiesta! and the one below comes from Mandala.

And this humble little Ohio Star block was leftover after I made my very first quilt top. At the time, these were bold colors for me ~ oh, how far I've travelled!!

For more information on the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative, please click here.

In the Workshop quilt for Larry

Here's a closeup of part of Larry's new tool quilt ("In the Workshop") ... it took me several months of online searching to find all of the tool/wood themed fabrics. I used the Yellow Brick Road pattern since this quilt was all about the fabrics.


He's planning to take his quilt to the July Mid-South Woodturners Guild meeting for 'show and tell' (photos coming soon of his latest pieces made with wood from a Mimosa tree).

This photo shows a closeup of the quilted circular saw blade that Chris put in each of the corner blocks and the tape measure binding against the back of the quilt. What fun!