DWM: Juggling Summer Top Finished

My layer cake fears were unfounded as this quilt top turned out okay.  It really doesn’t bother me that so many of the fabrics are the same print after all.  It is just a simple wacky nine patch and I made it as a fun project when I needed a little mindless sewing as a break from all the quilting I’ve been doing.  I think I’ll quilt it with uneven straight lines (oxymoron?) and be finished with it.  Unfortunately there are 14 other quilt tops in the queue ahead of it for quilting!!

Be sure to check out the other great design wall projects at Patchwork Times.

Technorati Tags: piecing,DWM,Juggling Summer

Week 30, 2013 Stash Report and One Mile Challenge Update

Eight weeks have gone by without a stash report.  June and July have to be about the most unproductive months I’ve ever had quilting-wise.  It seems like we’ve barely been home this summer and when we are here there are a million other things that have to be done.  Oh well, it will be fall soon and things will slow down.

Here is the grim update:

The weekly stash report:
Used this week:  11 yards
Used year to date:  192 yards
Purchased this week:  15
Purchased year to date: 70 yards
Net year to date:  122 yards used

Check out other stash reports links at Patchwork Times.

Hard to believe but this is the only quilt I’ve finished since May. I guess I did quilt the six tops for Quilts Beyond Borders but that did nothing to reduce my stash.

This is a donation quilt and it was quilted with an overall meander.  It’s kind of hard to see the quilting with the dappled sunlight.

The pattern is called  Off Track from Cluck Cluck Sew. I really like how it turned out even thought I wasn’t crazy about the fabrics at first.  Once all the blocs were together it looks pretty nice and someone should be very happy to receive it.

The numbers for my personal One Mile Challenge aren’t increasing very fast either.  With the 11 yards used for Off Track, my total is 208 yards used.  One thing that makes me really happy is the backing I used for this quilt has been in my stash over 15 years.  It’s great to get rid of some of that really old stuff!!

This past week I’ve had a little more time to quilt so I should have a couple more quilts finished in July and things will improve in August.  Jim will be gone for (at least) two business trips and Jen will be heading back to school. This summer may be the last time she’ll be home for any significant length of time so it’s been nice to be able to do some things with her.  That’s time I can’t replace and my quilting will be her for years to come.

Technorati Tags: stash report,one mile challenge,charity,quilting

My Dilemma With Pre-Cuts

Do you use pre-cut fabric like layer cakes, jelly rolls or charm squares in your quilting?  Heaven knows I have enough fabric that I don’t need to but they are really appealing!  Most of my stash is more traditional fabric and it’s fun to get out of my comfort zone and use something fresh and new. It’s exciting to have all those coordinated colors and prints in one little bundle.  It is so convenient to have everything all ready to go.

This morning I wanted to implement a mindless quilting project that has been brewing in my head so I pulled out a layer cake of Moda’s Juggling Summer by Zen Chic.  It’s a contemporary, masculine looking line and I thought it would be perfect for the project in mind.  However, once I started cutting, I panicked.   Too many of the squares were of the same print.   I understand that some lines don’t have 40 or 42 different prints, but I wasn't sure if it work to use so much of that one print.  Most of my quilts are very scrappy and I use lots (and lots) of different fabric.  Typically I try not to duplicate prints so I'm a little worried that this might not work so well.  I'm hoping the colors just all muddle together and it will look great in the end.

Of the 42 squares in this particular layer cake, 17 were this print. That’s over 40%!



These are just nine patch blocks and I was hoping to avoid having more than one of any print in a block but it was impossible.  Some blocks ended up with as many as four!



This quilt is just for fun—it’s not for a show or special occasion.  It’s certainly not an heirloom project and it probably won’t even matter when the blocks are set together.  Right now, though, I just wish there was a little more variety in my blocks.  I’m sure I’ll continue to buy pre-cuts from time to time but might supplement them with a little yardage in additional prints.

Technorati Tags: piecing,Juggling Summer

Quilt Top Finished Before Breakfast

Early Monday morning I was getting things ready to go to work and realized there was fabric in my bag I had taken to make a shop sample.  Oops!  I had completely forgotten about it. The pattern, Pristine, looked quick and easy to make so I jumped right in and started cutting.  I figured there might be time to sew at work and if it was all cut and ready to go I might finish it by the end of the day.  I didn’t realize just how quick and easy it would be.  The top was finished before I had breakfast.

The picture isn’t very good because the quilt top is on the floor at the shop and I couldn’t get high enough to take a straight shot.  The fabrics in it are really cute though and once it’s quilted it should be a nice sample.  If you’re looking for a quick project for gifts or donation quilts, it’s hard to beat the Villa Rosa Rosecards patterns.  I’ve made several of them and am always pleased with the results.

Now that the Quilts Beyond Borders quilts and this top is finished I hope I can spend the rest of the week finishing some of my own projects!

Technorati Tags: piecing,Villa Rosa

Quilts Beyond Borders 3, 4, 5 & 6 Finished!

I quilted two of these a week or so ago, but last Saturday I got busy and quilted the other two and sewed the bindings on all four.  They are now ready to be shipped out and sent to their final destination where they will bless some child who has very little in the way of physical possessions.

These were pieced by other people and sent to me along with the backing and binding fabrics.  I just did the quilting and sewed on the binding.  They provide a nice opportunity to experiment with new quilting designs, techniques or threads.  Even though I “practice” on them, they turn out pretty well.

Number three was simply quilted with an overall meander.  I just couldn’t find any inspiration for a quilting design for this one.  Of course, now that I’m looking at the picture it would have been nice to quilt feathers in the corner triangles of the blocks.  Wow!  Writing that just gave me the idea that I should maybe photograph the quilt top  and study the picture a little bit before deciding on a quilting design.  I used a variegated King Tut thread on top (Omni in the bobbin) and the thicker thread gave it a nice texture.

Close-up of the quilting:

Number four was quilted with my go-to design Overall Swirls.  Usually when I can’t come up with a quilting design I use a variation of this.  I think it looks pretty good on most quilts especially when the fabrics are solids or subtle prints.  The quilting really stands out on this one.  I used a variegated blue Maxi-Lock thread on this one. 

Close-up of the quilting. 

Quilt number five had overall quilting in a freehand random design—lots of feathers, swirls and curls.  It was quilted with Signature thread on top.

Close-up of the quilting.

Number six was quilted with an edge-to-edge pantograph, Jilly by Keryn Emmerson. What was I thinking using a linear panto with a horizontal strippy quilt?  Fortunately I was able to keep it pretty straight.  I really like this simple strip quilt and may have to make one (or more!) with some of my scraps.  The solid strips make it more interesting than most of the quilts I’ve seen with similar designs.

Close-up of the quilting.

I liked the Jilly panto so much I loaded one of my quilts on the frame right away and am using it again.  It’s simple and pretty fast to quilt.

If you’d like more information on Quilts Beyond Borders, check out their blog/website here.

Technorati Tags: Quilts Beyond Borders,quilting,charity

Weekend Wanderings: Northern Indiana

Each year my husband’s siblings get together for a week at Magician Lake near Dowagiac, Michigan.  Typically everyone arrives on Sunday and stays until Thursday.  This year we left home on Saturday morning and stayed overnight in Middlebury, Indiana before heading up to Michigan. 

Jim wanted to stop and pick blueberries on the way and I found The Blueberry Ranch in Mishiwaka.  Picking blueberries didn’t sound like much fun to me but I wanted to visit a couple of quilt shops in Shipshewana so a little picking was a small price to pay for Jim suffering through more fabric!

This has been a really good year for blueberries there and the bushes were FULL!

We picked for about an hour and decided we already had enough blueberries.

I was sure that my bucket (on the right) had more blueberries than Jim’s.  When we got to the checkout, his weighed 4.9 pounds and mine was 4.3.  Darn!!  He must have switched the buckets.  Haha!  So we ended up with just under 10 pounds of berries. Not bad for an hour’s work.

After the Blueberry Ranch, we headed straight to Yoder’s.  They have a huge selection of quilting fabrics—tons of Moda and lots from other manufacturers.  The prices there are reasonable, generally a couple of dollars less per yard than most quilt shops.  It was fun to look at all the beautiful fabric but I didn’t purchase any because I didn’t have a project planned and didn’t want to buy just to build stash.

Shipshewana really is a quilter’s paradise because right around the corner from Yoder’s is Lolly’s.

This nondescript exterior might fool you as to the treasures that await inside.  The tiles on the entrance threshold are just a teaser!

It is a beautiful shop with over 13,000 bolts of quilting fabric.  They have lots of gorgeous samples that entice you to buy everything.  I showed real restraint but my willpower was sorely tested when I went downstairs to their clearance room.  There are thousands of bolts of fabric on sale for $6.50 per yard.  There are also 7,000 fat quarters at $1.50 each.  What bargains.  However, I still didn’t have a plan for anything so I walked away empty handed.  Next year, though, I’ll have a LIST!!

After leaving the quilt shops we drove down the road a bit to the lovely McKenzie House Bed and Breakfast.  If you ever find yourself in Northern Indiana I don’t know of a better place to stay.  Sherry and Bruce are the owners and they go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and at home.  We stayed in “Michelle’s Suite” where we had a bedroom and spacious sitting room.  It was decorated beautifully.  McKenzie House offers many amenities that you don’t usually find at a B & B including an outdoor in-ground pool, hot tub, movie room with popcorn maker and a library sitting room.  Breakfast was delicious and gave us a chance to meet the other couples who were staying there.  Bruce has an amazing story to tell about the 5,000 mile bicycle trip he took several years ago and we listened with fascination about his journey to where he is now.  Right before we left, Sherry found out I was a quilter and told us she had a room upstairs set up for retreats.  If you are anywhere in that area, be sure to check it out.  It is a very nice set-up for 5 or 6 quilting friends.  I just wish it was closer!  By the time we left, I felt like we were leaving good friends.  We will definitely return for a visit next year.  Here’s a link to their website if you want to check it out:  McKenzie House Bed and Breakfast

On Saturday evening we were looking for a place to get dinner and Sherry recommended Jaywalker in Mottsville, Michigan.  The building itself doesn’t look like much but the food was really good.

After dinner (and late enough that the temperature outside was a little cooler) we went out to their deck to finish our drinks.  The restaurant sits right on the bank of the St. Joseph River and it’s a very pretty setting.

On Sunday morning Sherry told us about the Quilt Gardens around the area and gave us a map.  We drove around and saw a few of them.  They are a little hard to photograph because you can’t get high enough to see the whole garden.  You’ll get the idea from these pictures though.

This one was at the Ace Hardware store in Middlebury.  It is a variable star design with a flag in the center.  Each of the gardens has a sign that details what flowers are in the garden,  There are also maps to all the gardens at each of these signs.

Some of the buildings also have quilt blocks.  These stars were on the Ace Hardware building.

This garden is at Das Essen Haus Restaurant--a Dresden Plate design.

This one is Whirligig at Greencroft in Middlebury.

If you are in the area, it is worth visiting the gardens.  A lot of work must have gone into the planning and planting and they are fun to see.  The Quilt Garden Tour goes until October (probably until frost).

We had a nice visit in the area but it was time to head up to Magician Lake to see the family.  Next year we’ll budget more time in Northern Indiana.

Technorati Tags: travel,Indiana,Shipshewana,Middlebury

Sew Inspired: Quilting Friends

For some time I’ve been working on a series of posts on people who have inspired my quilting.  Then when I heard about the recent death of Mary Ellen Hopkins who was a huge inspiration to me I decided to move this project to the front burner.  I’m working on a Mary Ellen Hopkins quilt that I started at a retreat several years ago so when I finish it I’ll write a tribute to her. This post though, is about a fabulous group of women who constantly motivate me.  Just knowing that our meeting is coming up gives me the kick in the pants I need to finish projects.

Our meeting day on the second Thursday has long been my favorite day of the month.   We started as an “International Mystery” club when I had the quilt shop.  After the shop closed we’ve continued meeting at my house.  Our group has 12 members who regularly attend and a couple more who come when they can get off work.  Amazingly, in the many years we’ve been meeting, only one member has dropped out and that was because she moved to California! 

Each year we select a book with a variety of patterns that call for strips or stash and make a quilt from it each month.  I don’t think any of us has every worked through an entire book but several have made almost everything from Scrap Basket Surprises; still one of my very favorite books.

Last week was our “quilt show” where we each bring projects and hang them on the back fence and end with a potluck lunch.  Our theme was to bring a finished quilt that had been a UFO at last July’s quilt show along with our most recent finished quilt. I think everyone gets really motivated to finish something for the “show.”  We didn’t select a theme for next year, but I have a Christmas UFO that has been aging for a long time so maybe it will be Christmas quilts! 

Every member of this group is such an accomplished quilter I am humbled to be included.  I couldn’t begin to guess how many thousands of quilts and other quilty projects we’ve made between us. The show and tell every month is so inspiring I always come away wanting to start another quilt! Our meetings are always fun with lots of talking, laughing and eating. 

If you don’t currently sew with a small group I would really encourage you to start one.  In addition to being a lot of fun, it can be a wealth of information. We help each other with difficult projects and give ideas to make works in progress even better. I think we have the best quilting group ever and I really look forward to every meeting. Not only have these women made me a better quilter, the friendships have enriched my life beyond measure.  Thanks to each and every one of these women for being such an inspiration!

Technorati Tags: sew inspired,quilt show

DWM: Still on the Road to Llano

Last week I didn’t have much time for sewing and then had migraines over the weekend so I’m still trudging along the Road to Llano.  The blocks are finished and the rows sewn together so I’m making some progress.  This week I should be able to get the pieced borders made and complete the top.  I was really hoping to get it all finished by Thursday but that doesn’t look very promising.

Here’s the top so far (well most of it—there’s not enough space in my sewing room to take a picture of the whole design wall!).  It looks a little Christmas-y with the red and green.  It will look very different after the borders are on and that dark blue print will be more predominant.  This was a fun top to piece and I already think I’ll make another one.  I like making quilts with piecing that’s a little more challenging.

For more inspiration be sure to check out other design walls at Patchwork Times.

 

Technorati Tags: piecing,DWM,Road to Llano

Starting the Quilting Marathon

When I made the “Get it Done” list for July I noticed that there were several tops to be quilted so yesterday I started the quilting marathon.  I hope I can quilt and machine sew the binding onto at least eight quilts in the next 10 days.  We’ll be heading to Michigan for a few days with Jim’s siblings at Magician Lake and it would be nice to have lots of hand sewing for the car ride and sitting in the evening.  I just picked up the latest Jodi Picoult book Storyteller on Playaway at the library so that will give me 18.25 hours of listening while I quilt.

These first two projects are for Quilts Beyond Borders.  The bindings have to be stitched entirely by machine so I won’t have any hand sewing on them.  For this one I just quilted swirls.  This seems to be my go-to design.  I can do it quickly and there’s not much thinking involved.  It’s hard to get “trapped” where you can’t stitch your way out of a section or corner.

Here is a close-up of the quilting—it’s so easy to do!

These quilts come to me already pieced with the backing and binding provided.  I just add batting, do the quilting then machine sew the binding.  This one had a rayon challis backing and I was so afraid the tension wouldn’t be good on the back.  Thankfully, it worked out just fine.  I used Superior Omni in the bobbin and a yellow/gold variegated King Tut on top.  The backing fabric is really pretty and coordinates very well with the front!

For the second one I quilted an overall “water” pattern.  Again it was easy and went pretty quickly. 

And a close-up of quilting:

This one had a cotton backing.  I used Omni in the bobbin for this one too but Signature cotton on top.  Both combinations worked well and I didn’t have any tension issues.  Gotta love that!!

The next one is loaded and ready to go!

Technorati Tags: quilting,Quilts Beyond Borders,charity

DWM: Road to Llano Part 6

It ended up being a busy weekend so there wasn’t much time for sewing.  Late yesterday afternoon I was able to sneak into the sewing room for awhile and finish Part 6 of Road to Llano.  I’m really liking this project.  Many of the projects I’ve done lately have been quick and easy.  This is a little bit more complicated piecing and the results are going to be wonderful.  My favorite quilts are the ones that take a little more effort.  I’m really, really hoping to get this finished this so I can show it at our little sewing group’s quilt show next week.



Get more inspiration by clicking the design wall links at Patchwork Times.

Technorati Tags: Road to Llano,piecing

Getting it Done-July 2013

Since we were gone a good part of June I really need to kick it into high gear and finish some quilts in July.  There is a huge stack of tops to be quilted again so I think my efforts should be concentrated there.  I didn’t make a list for June but I don’t think I finished much of anything.

My list for July:

• Finish Sunny Side Up
• Finish Road to Llano
• Quilt and bind the six Quilts Beyond Borders quilts
• Quilt and bind A Day In the Country
• Quilt and bind Fresh Cut
• Quilt and bind Marmalade
• Quilt and bind Off Track
• Quilt and bind Double 4-Patch
• Quilt and bind Twister
• Piece 20 Tula Pink blocks
• Make scrappy nine patch

Whew!  That’s a lot of quilting but they all have backs and batting ready to go.  I need to print this list and post it in my sewing room so I stay on track this month!

Check out everyone else’s goals by clicking the links at Patchwork Times.

Technorati Tags: Getting It Done,goals