Design Wall: moving right along

So here is my wall with a few more wedges completed.  I still have about 20 more to press open but I have been distracted (see below).  However the big news is that I think I know what I am going to do with them.  I am so excited about the idea and a little concerned that I may not be able to figure out how to execute it. 

I have not been able to work on the above much because of this:  
The quilting is finished and I am so happy with it. 







Didn’t the cats turn out great?  What I learned is that even though my echoing has a lot of bobbles, the more lines I included the better it looked. 



When I was quilting this last row I suddenly looked at this block and saw barbed wire.  Don’t ask where that came from but that’s what I see.








I quickly cut, sewed and pressed the binding and here I am sewing it on.





I only got part of the turned binding on when I found I was getting tired so I quit and will get back to it today.

edit 2/22/12:  The cats quilt is done, washed, dried, and was placed on a sleeping DH yesterday morning.  I hope to have pictures of him and the quilt later this week.



Now I realize that sometimes it seems like all I do quilt and/or talk about quilting.  But sometimes we do other things.  This past week we opened surprise packages from my mother.


This is a  blurry picture of the owl bag she sent me.  I collect owls, mostly glass owls, and she just knew that I would love this bag.  It is large enough to hold the file folder I use for my Weight Watcher’s paperwork so it is going to see a lot of use.  What I really like about it is that it has an inside and an outside zipper compartment so I can carry personal items as well as work.




And this is what she sent to DH.  What a sense of humor she has, huh?









Of course so does he.  When I looked at this I realized that this is what I have to look forward to…….in the not too far distant future. 

So while we are waiting for what seems to be in my future, it is time to check out all that is going on at Patchwork Times.

Finally, Something New

For most of last week my design wall was empty.  I just couldn’t think of anything I really wanted to work on.  But Sunday afternoon I walked into the studio and saw these batik strips hanging in about three different places and all of a sudden I had an idea.  I sorted them by color (not always easy with batiks) and then I cut them in half and put them into groups of 5.  I’m not sharing what is going to happen with them but, at least to begin with, this should be mindless sewing, the kind I can do when I am tired.  I love batiks and am trying to use as many brights as possible.

 

And I also did some work on my iPad cover, the February color challenge from Judy and Vicki.  This is just me foolin’ around with shapes and the colors but I am having fun.  I cut the circles with my GO and I am experimenting with applique glue.  The pliers are there because I couldn’t get the cap off of the glue without them.  Anyway, I showed my fabric palette in the last post and also the inner stabilizer with the pattern drawn out on it.  However, since I am dreaming this up as I go along, also, it could take me all month to get it together.

 

And, I am still quilting the Crazy Cats: I have three rows to go.  I put this shot in because it shows the backing fabric really well.  DH picked it out and it has really pretty gold flecks in it.  He had asked for a large quilt so he could keep warm at night.  It’s a good thing that we have been having a rather warm winter (just the kind I like). 

Speaking of warm weather, I did have a chance to take the convertible out for a top down spin.  We have had 70+ days and when it wasn’t either threatening to rain or actually raining, I had the top down and the wind blowing through my hair.  What fun!

Now, for more fun, drive on over to Judy’s blog to see a bunch of quilting creativity.

Crazy Cats on a Roll

I may not have much time in the studio these days but when I have been in there I have been having fun.

Since every block is different I have not gotten bored.  My CC’s are still funny looking and my loops are not consistent but I still am really liking how it looks overall.

 

Now, about my echoing.  This is really a challenge.  I must say that I have FAR more control of the machine now that I have the Railz system, but my control still leaves something to be desired.  But since this is kind of a primitive quilt I am thinking of this as a practice/learning quilt and thus  it looks pretty good.

 

I have been having fun doing this.  I also have been wondering, do other people talk to themselves while they are quilting?  I do, and not always complimentary. 

 

I like to play soft jazz music while I quilt.  With this quilt, since I have to think more than when doing a panto, I am listening to Earl Klug.  The sound relaxes me and helps me to not hold onto the handles too tight.

 

And, after an afternoon of quality quilting, this is what I came back to.  Two of Sadie’s toys have bit the dust.  There was stuffing (see white bear) and bits of rubber (see green rubber duck) all over the front room floor.  But she loves her toys and plays hard with them so who cares.  The other two dogs only infrequently play with toys but Sadie has to have them all out on the floor, tosses them, and obviously chews them.  And what, I say, are the toys for if not to play with?

 

Now, I’m off to shower and then spend another quality day in the studio.  See ya!

Design Frame

 

After a week of being on the road every single day, I finally got back in the studio on Sunday and got DH’s Crazy Cats loaded.  Then, of course, it was time to figure out what I was going to quilt on it.  I have not done any free motion quilting for several months so I was fresh out of ideas.  However, I browsed some YouTube videos and came up with what I think will work.

 

This is my continuous curves attempt.  I have no artistic drawing skills and it shows up in my quilting also.  However, I think that I will improve as I go down the  quilt and once the blue marking is washed out, these will look better, I hope.

 

This is what I am quilting in the strip blocks.  Sometimes I see a row of e’s and sometimes I see l’s.  Since DH’s initials are EL, that works for me.

 

I am going with really easy loops on the large outer border so that part is going well.  And for some reason I didn’t get a picture of the second border so I will try to get that online later this week.  I am planning easy leaves for the inner border but haven’t started it yet.  I am not really excited about leaves so maybe something else will come to mind as I go along.

Oh, I haven’t gotten to the cats yet.  My current plan is to echo the cats and that will take me some time since I have never done that, either. 

 

This is the thread I am using.  It is a Floriani machine embroidery thread and is working out very well, looking good on all the different shades of blue.  I have Superior pre-wounds in the bobbin.

 

 

 

 

 

We had a wonderful time in Gainesville, FL last week.  We ate well, slept well, attended a great concert, visited two antique malls, and, of course, visited a fabric store, Fabric Art, in Lake City.  Did I spend any money?  Oh, yes I did.  And here is my bounty. The two batiks and spotted fabrics were 40% off.  I already have a plan for the batik on the left (it is a lot more purple than this picture shows).  I bought the banana fabric because bananas have become a favorite of mine since they are 0 points with Weight Watchers.  I hope to make some kind of garment with it so I can wear it to meetings.

 

One more picture.  While at one of the antique malls I found this.  It is a sewing room for a doll house.  I didn’t buy it (I am cutting down on things that have to be dusted) but thought it was perfect.  It is a treadle machine and bolts of fabric.  It was one of those times when I really wanted to buy something just to look at.  However, I have no more surfaces to put “things” on so it stayed where it was.

Now, for a whole lot of quilting inspiration, check out Judy’s Design Wall blog.

An Anniversary & Design Wall

This week we are having another anniversary, our 51st.  Last year our 50th was spent apart (see this post).  Well, our luck has not improved this year.  Our anniversary is on Tuesday and that just happens to be the day when I am on the road for WW for 14 hours and DH is on the road teaching for the same 14 hours.  However, do not despair.  On Thursday we are going to Gainesville to see The Manhattan Transfer, one of our favorite singing groups.  We have seen them twice before and have really enjoyed the show they put on.  And on the drive down and back we plan some antiquing, just to keep our hands in.  If possible I will also make a stop in Lake City where there is a really nice quilt shop (the name of which I can’t remember right now).  What we have learned is that it doesn’t really matter when you celebrate the important occasions, just that you celebrate them.  And a long marriage is really something to celebrate.

 

And, yes, this is still on my Design Wall.

But finally, this top is done.  All the cats have faces and the center has borders. 

 

Next came the backing plan.  I had bought 6 1/2 yards of backing fabric (end of bolt) and my quilt calculator app told me I needed 8 7/8 yards.  My first plan was to use the extra strip blocks to make a center panel.  However, after some figuring and figuring, I decided I could get a full backing out of the one fabric if I did some fancy cutting.  Then it was cut and piece for most of Sunday afternoon.  I even pressed the seams open so it would lie flatter (a first for me).

 

Here is the backing as seen from under the frame.  There I was lying on the floor, just to get this cool shot.  And there you can see my Red Snappers holding the backing onto the leader.  (I LOVE my Red Snappers)

 

 

After rolling the backing back and forth a couple of times to be sure it was straight and even, I put the batting over everything to give it some time to “rest” some of the fold lines out.  Later this afternoon I hope to begin some quilting on this but first I will need to figure out what thread to use and what I am going to quilt on it.  I will not be doing a panto as I don’t want to quilt over the cats.

 

Because today is a holiday I do not have my Monday WW meeting so I have an extra quilting day.  I will quilt and piece Monday and Wednesday, work on Tuesday (see above) and then hit the road on Thursday.  Sounds like a fun and busy week, doesn’t it?

Keeping Busy

Today begins a new semester for DH and this is going to be a busy one.  He retired from college teaching 5 1/2 years ago and almost immediately began teaching as an adjunct instructor at the Community college where he had been teaching and at two others, also.  This semester he is teaching 3 classes at the local school, 2 classes at one other and is also working with the music director at the second school to produce a musical.  This is going to be like old times when he taught full-time and put on two plays and one musical each year.  I think our evenings are going to look a lot like this.


This is me with one puppy and one cat, working on the computer and enjoying a quiet evening.  All we need is a remote, coffee, and we can rule the evening.
This past week I did get some time in the studio.

And this is what my design wall looks like now.  I finished sewing all the Crazy Cats blocks together and the center of the top is finished.  I plan three borders for this quilt but will not get back to it until Wednesday.


I did want to show the cats now that they all have faces.  Just like putting the quilting on a quilt top, having the faces on the cats really made them come alive.










































You may have noticed that the dress quilt is back on the wall.  I said I was going to put it up so I could start thinking of how I might want to finish it.  Well, even before I could begin thinking, I got an email from my mother.  She told me that I hadn’t gotten her message when she told me that she really liked the dress quilt and that what she had meant was that she would like to have it.  Well, I think that is a great idea.  However, now I really have to come up with an idea.




So here it is.  I do have some ideas but they are not completely clear and I am not sure how to carry them out.  And one of the other things is that I have no oriental fabrics.  Usually the idea of buying more fabric is exciting but right now I am not sure since I have never used this type of fabric before.  So this will all be an experiment for me……and I guess, a wait for Mother.

edit 1/11/12:  Got a call from Mother and she wants the dress quilt, as is.  She said that she wants to hang is over her bed and thinks it will be easier for her if it isn't quilted (read heavy).  She doesn't even want me to put borders on it.  So I will be putting a hanging sleeve on this "flimsy" this week and sending it on, hopefully, by the weekend.
And then I can get on with the other projects that are waiting for me.  Yea!!

Meanwhile, I have an idea for a new comfort quilt.  I have decided to make one in flannel and this is what I have in my stash.









And this is the idea I have for the quilt.  I hope to be able to start cutting the fabric for this later this week.

Now it is time for you to  check in with Judy to see what other quilters are working on.

The First Day After Christmas

And this is what is going on the design wall today.  If you read this post you already know that this top was not made by me but I won it in a giveaway. 

I am putting it on the wall so I can look at it while I sew this quilt together.

I gave this to DH for Christmas, a box of blocks.  He loved the cats and so I am now ready to put it all together.  This will be my first new quilt of the new year and DH will be warm with his Crazy Cats each night.

Christmas Eve was a personal one for DH and me.  We watched Magoo’s Christmas Carol, again, a DVD of a musical program at the Vatican, and another DVD of a Christmas program with the Lettermen.    All of this was going on while we ate dinner and then opened gifts.

And this is how our gift cradle looked when we began.  This is our collection of gifts from family (living away from  here) and from/to each other. 

 

I am going to show some of the gifts we received. Although I will be referring to our children, please know that we also include the wonderful wives of these sons of ours.

 

DH was really excited when he got this book about the making of Magoo’s Christmas Carol from DS#3.  It has been a family tradition since our middle aged children were very small.  We even used to  watch a really bad VCR tape we made when we realized the major networks were no longer showing it.  We now have a blueray version and all of us can sing the songs along with the show.

 

From DS#2 he got a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.  This has also been a family favorite Christmas show: DH plans to use this tree in his office next year.

 

And one of the gifts I gave him was this shirt.  He is known for his t-shirts and this will be the one he will wear when school starts again in January.

 

From DS#2 I got this pancake set.  I love the heart shaped spatula.  I plan to make the pancakes this morning (waiting for DH to get up) but first I will have to figure the Weight Watchers points so I can plan the rest of my day.

 

 

 

 

 

From DH#3 I received these owl gifts: a card, a tea light, a beautiful weaving, and a cookie.

 

I collect owls and these two have gone out of their way to increase my collection (except for the cookie, of course).  In my next post I will share the birthday gift that came with our Christmas package.

 

 

 

 

From my DS and BIL came this calendar.  It is Quilts of Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are certainly not traditional quilts and I am really excited to be looking at them throughout the year.  I would really like to evolve into more arty quilts but really need a lot of inspiration because my mind looks for symmetry almost all the time.

 

 

 

 

So, here we are with an empty cradle.  However tonight our DD and DSIL are coming over to celebrate Christmas with us.  We will have chili, for the men, and oyster stew for we ladies.  Oyster stew was a tradition from my childhood and DD and I love it.  We will also share gifts and each other’s company.  And, maybe, we will watch Magoo’s Christmas Carol, again.