Evening in the Garden Quilts

Adventures in Fabric Art

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D4P in Progress

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I could never make this Disappearing Four Patch quilt without a design wall, or at least a floor, and my knees are very glad that it’s a wall.  I’ve been making a few more blocks each day and moving them around a lot.  Today I’ll make two more of the darkest blocks, and I think I’m there!

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As I’ve pieced these, I’ve not only used my new leaders and enders project, but I’ve webbed the patches, rather than snipping the connecting threads between sections.  I’ve heard about this before (Bonnie shows this when assembling blocks in a quilt), but never tried it.  Doing the blocks this way kept the patches correctly oriented and saved me a lot of time putting pieces back where they should be.  And between the two techniques, I have eliminated the thready mess I usually have going on when piecing!

How do you quilt your D4P quilts?  I’m pondering.  I may not have to mark this one, but here are some great ideas for marking from Nadine at Fabric Bias (formerly DreamWeavers Quilts).

Hope you’re making all the progress you wish!  I’m linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.


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Quilting in Progress

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This week I have been plugging away at quilting my current Quilt of Valor.  I can’t seem to get very large chunks of time, but I get a few blocks done every day.

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While I was putting together this top, I cut and started sewing my first “leaders and enders” project.  Do you make quilts this way?  How do you manage them? I’ve never felt organized enough to try it before, but something clicked, and I think I can manage these simple blocks.  Its just going to take a very long time.

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In other news, I was excited by the arrival of these Interdesign containers to use in my storage lockers.  These spaces are both tall and deep, and I’ve been frustrated for years trying to find something to fit them and use the space well.  Even pricey vintage locker baskets aren’t the right size.  I only bought four, but they’re perfect, so I may slowly aquire more.  It’s the little things!

Hope things are going your way this week!  I’m linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.


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WIP is a QOV

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This week I’ve been sewing 6 1/2″ string blocks, about a million of them.  No, yesterday I finished the seventy-seven little blocks, trimmed the last few, then removed all the paper while watching tv.

My insiration came from Jackie at Sew Excited Quilts.  When she posted these amazing layouts for HSTs, I knew I wanted to use one of the star designs for a QoV.

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I think this is my favorite.  Now I just have make the rest of the 154 HST units…  No, they’ll go pretty fast.  I’m drawing a line down the center of each Kona Snow square, then sewing on each side before cutting down the center of each pair of blocks.  Very easy and stable for the string blocks.

On what are you making progress?  I’m linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.


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Out with the Old, In with the New

Good wishes to you all on the cusp of the New Year!  It’s a good time to look back over the things I’ve accomplished and to set some goals for the coming year.

This is most of what I sewed this year:

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Nine of the quilts and all the pillowcases were donated. Nine have been sold.

You’ll find my 2014 Goals here.

I’m pleased with my progress on them.  I tried a few new blocks and an old one with curves, and changed up and improved my quilting.  I did try two kinds of zipper pouches.  I managed them well, but I really don’t care for making them.  I won’t be making fancy bags anytime soon.  I designed, pieced and sandwiched my Slow Quilt, and I’ll make the quilting decisions for it in the new year.  I did reduce my stash by another hundred yards (third year in a row!).

This week: + 0 yards, -7.5 yards
YTD: +126.25 yards, -229 yards
Net stash used 2014: -102.75 yards

So what about next year?

2015 Goals

This year I want to make more art quilts, including representational quilts.  I’d like to experiment with using various printing techniques for surface decoration.  I’ve been collecting some ideas and a few photos.  I might start with a winter piece.

I want to quilt the Slow Quilt, and if I’m happy with it, consider entering it in show.

I have an idea for my own version of stack and whack that I want to try on a piece of fabric.

And I want to continue to reduce/turn over my stash.  I’m not sure I can remove another hundred yards, though.  I’ve already taken it down a lot, and I’m planning some very small quilts.  I’m setting my goal at fifty yards, and if I do better than that, all the better.  Fifty yards in ’15.
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We wish you all a healthy, happy, prosperous, and productive New Year!


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Design Wall Monday

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I had this quick baby quilt on my design wall this morning.

Then I changed it to this one

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by moving one row!    Yes, I moved the top row down to the bottom and now its a white quilt with pink and aqua chevrons.  I see a few more blocks to move around, but I like this one much better!

What’s on your design wall?  I’m linking up with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.


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Sunday Stash Report (11/30/14) and Nov./Dec. Goals

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Today’s Stash Report is brought to you by Krissi, who hindered assisted in the binding of Spring Violets.  That used up 10.5 yards of from stash.

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While pursuing college football in Alabama, I bought four yards of fat quarters.

This week: + 4 yards, -10,5 yards
YTD: +126.25 yards, -210.5 yards
Net stash used 2014: -84.25 yards

Will I make it to 100 yards?  I’m trying!

 

Goals

November Goals

1.  Finish those box pouches!  Yes! Done!

2.  Make something with curved piecing.  Maybe purple and lime?  Well, yes!  That would be Spring Violets.

3.  Make some pillowcases for ConKerr Cancer. Yep. Here.  And here.

4.  Research quilting ideas.  A bit, yes.

 

December Goals

1.  Commissioned maple leaf wall hanging.

2.  Various pouches for friends’ gifts.

3.  Courthouse Steps donation quilt.

4.  Baby quilts from scraps.

 

How are you doing on your goals?  I’m linking up to Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times.


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WIP: Purples and Greens

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I finished the Spring Violets top, and I love it.

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I made a back for it using a beautiful batik, and pieced in a spare block and some scraps.

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Still need to piece the batting, and then I will be ready to spray baste and quilt.  I hope to do that today. I have help.

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While going through the purple and green baskets, I challenged myself to make something nice from three real Stashdogs.

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And I think I did.  I put the top together this morning and its pretty.  I completely used all three fabrics, needing to add a few scraps and do some creative piecing, but I made it work.   What’s your favorite way to quilt Courthouse Steps?  This is girly, so I’m thinking of lof a big flower of some kind in the middle of each block.  I’m open to suggestions…

Are you making sewing progress, or just enjoying the holiday?  I’m just cooking for the three of us, so things are very low key here.  For the first time, I’ll be home to participate in the Black Friday Sew In on Twitter.  #BFSI  Hope to see you there!

I’m linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.


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DWM: Violets

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All twenty violets (windflowers) are sewn.  Now its time for sashing and borders.  Remember all those little quarter circle scraps?  Yep, cornerstones.  1 1/2″ squares.  I don’t know what it means that I found all of this in my stash…

What’s on your design wall?  I’m linking up with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.


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Sunday Stash Report: 11/16/14

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No fabric came in this week, and some went out, so I’m making progress.  I made two special-order baby quilts, using a total of six and a quarter yards, and shipped them to Australia and Texas, respectively.

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This week: + 0 yards, -6.25 yards
YTD: +122.25 yards, -200 yards
Net stash used 2014: -77.75 yards

This week’s project is slower going, and I’ll be doing some traveling, then next week DS returns home briefly from college, so progress may slow some, but I’m plugging along.

Hope you’re using your stash!  I’m linking up with Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times.


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Design Wall Monday: Violets

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I’ve been making these “Windflower” blocks (a Drunkard’s Path variation) from purple and lime green fabrics.  I’m halfway there.  They are using the stash, but they’re not quick.  They’ll have sashing, and more of the lightest green background.

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I drafted the block on EQ7 and printed templates.  My blocks are 12″.

What are you working on?
I’m linking up with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.