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.

Design Ironing Board 6/13/11

This is all I have to show for a weeks worth of sewing.** Well, I had more but for some reason my photo program has decided that if I name a photo, it discards it. I have no idea where the pictures went but they are GONE. These are my applique pieces for Henrietta Whiskers, Block 5. They are just resting on the ironing board, waiting to be pressed to the background and then appliqued in place. I plan to prep Block 6 before I complete 5 and then I will have both to complete and I will be caught up, with this BOM.

I also made the two blocks for my LQS BOM. They are Underground Railroad blocks, made with batiks. I will get new pictures done so they can be seen later.

I did get the quilting all done on this batik quilt. This isn’t a good picture but I was afraid to monkey with it for fear it would disappear.

Here is the back. I love the color and the quilting shows up so well on the black stripes.

And, last but not least, here is my poinsettia from Christmas. There are only about 3 very pale red leaves now but we get new green ones almost every day and it is very healthy. I have never had one of these live anywhere near this long so I am really excited. And, actually, very few plants live long here (black thumb, you know).

**This has been the week that wasn’t sewing. Every day I was planning to work in the studio but every day DH has come up with something that has taken me away from it. I have been to Walmart, twice ($$), out to eat (several times and I am not complaining), moved furniture both in the house and studio (both places because DH wanted me to do something else that required furniture moving), and hours and hours of dealing with our internet provider who just Friday seems to have gotten everything working again. Not complaining, just explaining.

Be sure to check out Judy's blog for more inspiriing quilting ideas.

No Design Wall Monday 6/6/11

Because I spent most of the weekend sewing on this batik quilt top (along with a couple of surprise things that can't be shown, yet), there is nothing on my design wall. Now, that beats having that feathered star partial top up there for weeks on end, doesn't it?

Anyway, this top is done and here you see it on the frame, ready to quilt. I did have to spend some time piecing the backing and then forgot to get a picture of it so you will have to wait until it comes off the frame.

Here are two pictures of the quilting: the one above of the top and the one below of the quilting from the back. I especially like that one because you can see the top through the batting as it is hanging down.

Since I took those pictures I have quilted about 2/3 of the quilt so I should have rest done tomorrow morning. I have the binding strips cut but not sewn together so that will be my next sewing task. I do, however, already have the label done and ready to sew on with the binding.

I was going to show the label for the Eleanor Burns Egg Money Quilt that I finally gifted to my DS#2 and his wife for their 25th anniversary. However, my laptop, with those pictures, has been infected with a "worm" and is at the computer doctors for a wormectomy. I did ask that if they had to clean out the whole disk that they save my pictures, my quilt patterns, and my machine embroidery designs. She asked if there were any documents I needed but I told her that all my interests were in those three libraries and that would be sufficient. I hope to hear something this week.

Now I realize that this is not a very informative post but you must remember that I was alone for 4 days, doing a lot of sewing, some cooking, some cleaning, and one day not feeling too well. None of this is very interesting, not even while I was doing it. Of course, nothing much interesting goes on here even when I am not alone but it sounded like as good as an excuse as I could think of. So, for some more interesting blog posts, hop on over to Judy's blog and see what is going on in other parts of the quilting world.

Design Wall 5/30/11

Today we celebrate Memorial Day. It is the time to remember all the men and women who have sacrificed to keep our nation free. Thanks to one and all for the freedoms I have. I am truly grateful.

This is what is on my wall this morning. I have the center done, 3 borders on and the 4th border is on the sides. I am hoping that this morning I will be able to get the top and bottom borders made and on and then this top will be ready to quilt. This is a throw that will be 60 x 70, just the right size for snuggling when it is either cold outside or the air conditioning is turned down too low. Anyway, I think I have enough black batting for it but won't know until I get it done and on the frame (and of course, until I make a backing for it). I got a new panto from Urban Elementz Saturday that will be just perfect and I think I am going to quilt it with purple thread.

And to make the weekend even more productive, look what I got finished.

My feathered star is now a full fledged, finished, flimsy. In my previous post I showed my "one" mistake while making the friendship stars but otherwise it went together quickly and I am really pleased. It looks a little washed out in this picture because I took the picture in full sun but once it is quilted, later this summer, you will see how really pretty it is. I am not sure how I am going to quilt it: I may be looking at other feathered stars for inspiration.

Now, before you return to either your celebrations, eating, or sewing, be sure to go over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters have been up to.

May 23rd Design Wall

So here is my design wall for today. In the center is my most recent attempt. I am sewing squares and rectangles of batiks, framing them in black and then sewing them together. The squares are 3” and the rectangles are 2.5 x 3". Of course the strips are different lengths but I have a plan to even them out. As you can see, I have several rows sewn but the rows are not sewn together, yet. I had a plan for blocks on this quilt but I couldn’t make it work. So I went with the little squares and I am liking it a lot. I have a plan (read: thought) for borders which I am hoping will work.

And, sadly, off to the right, is my feathered star. I think I heard it sobbing yesterday when I was in there working on the batik quilt. But I have blue friendship stars scheduled for today so with any luck you may be able to see some progress in that area.

To close out this out I am sharing what I wake up to every morning. There is nothing better than waking up under your own quilt, with Abby.

Don’t forget to go over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are up to.

Design Wall 5/16/11

Well, doesn’t this wall look busy? First off, on the left, we have the first 5 blocks of Esther’s Heart’s Desire BOM. All done and boy, was I ever proud of my accomplishment. She gave us the center block one month and then in March she gave us the outer four and two months in which to do them. It took me all of that two months but I finished at the last moment. I was looking forward to the next block until I looked at it Saturday night. It is a beautiful block but we have four, again, to do but this time we only have one…YES, I SAID ONE… month to get them done. I will probably not even try to get them done on time but tomorrow I will begin prepping. You really should go over to Esther’s blog to see our new task/treat.

The little colored squares are the beginning of a batik quilt. I designed a block for this quilt but as I began piecing I have changed my mind and right now I am just making little blocks, lots and lots of them, and will decide how they will be placed, later. I really love how the batiks pop when sashed with black.

Unfortunately, you can also see my feathered star, still without a border. This UFO is not getting done at this rate. But it is still on the wall, just to keep me from forgetting it.

Now, don’t you forget to go to Patchwork Times to see how other quilters are getting along.

Process

Above are 3 1/2” strips of batiks that I have cut for a new quilt project.

And this is what I am doing with them. On the right you can see the colored strips sewn to a 1” strip of black. Lying on the machine bed, in the middle, is the same but pressed and on the left are the segments, cut apart. I have sewn about 100 of the 700 needed and then I get to sew another black strip to the other side.

And I am trying to teach myself to do leaders/enders using the 30s fabric squares. I seem to find that I have sewn many pieces before I remember I was going to do a leader first. But by the time I get all of these done I should have learned this lesson for good.

This is my “Rose Among the Thorns” picture. Those thorns are really long, strong, and sharp. But my bushes are full of flowers and many more buds. Spring and rain means March in Alabama.