Evening in the Garden Quilts

Adventures in Fabric Art

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The Slow Quilt is…slow.

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So.  Trying to get back into the groove after our short trip.  I was burnt out from all the walking, the allergies are plaguing me (this is new to me, and I’m not good at it), and I may have picked up some germ in Williamsburg.  Plus, DS is home, DH is not, and it’s hard to get a routine going.  Then I look at the fabrics I need to cut and I am SO not sure what to do.  I’m using my Oakshott Cottons, and really don’t want to waste anything.

 

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Today I did cut out fabric for one block, plus the black and white background for all the blocks.  I really like the print, and can’t wait to see what it looks like.

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Of course, about the time I got my sixteen little piles arranged on the sewing table, the thunder and hail began in earnest, and Yuri came running up to the studio.  Touching, really, how he wanted my comfort, but when he skidded to a stop in the middle of all the piles, I don’t think I was very comforting.

They are all clipped or pinned together now, and maybe tomorrow I’ll get the first block sewn together.  Lots of little bits and angles.  We shall see.

 

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

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Sunday Stash Report: 5/18/14

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This report comes from the road as we leave Williamsburg, VA, and head for home after four nights away.  The Marshall University John Marshall Fife and Drum Corps was invited to the Drummers’ Call at Colonial Williamsburg in celebration of Armed Forces Day, and our son was proud to march.  He probably heard his first fife music here as a small boy, and now he’s playing in the streets of this special place.  There were 14 corps from the US and Canada, quite spectacular.  My husband’s parents were also able to attend.

With traveling there’s been little sewing, so the stash is the same.

This week: +0 yards, -0 yards
YTD: +64.75 yards, -101.5 yards
Net stash used 2014: -35.75 yards

Hope you’ve had a good week.

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I may or may not be linking up to Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times, since I’m posting from my phone.


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Sunday Stash and Goals Update: 5/4/14

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Hello!  Let me first confess that I did not take this picture.  I tried all morning, but my Baltimore Orioles would not cooperate.  Still, they are fantastically colorful and entertaining at my feeder.  I have seen up to six at a time, and the males are so bright!

 

Stash:

I bought three yards of solids on Saturday, but considering that I was actually standing in Fabric Shack, I think that shows amazing will power.  We stopped in Waynesville, OH on the way to the Reds ball game to celebrate my husband’s 60th birthday.  Yesterday was a Derby Party.  Therefore, nothing was finished this week.

This week: +3 yards, -0 yards
YTD: +64.75 yards, -93.5 yards
Net stash used 2014: -27.75 yards

 

April Goals

1. Quilt gray and yellow quilt.   Finished.  See 1 and 2 here.

2. Make commissioned baby quilt in navy.

3. Make a floral quilt.  No, I didn’t.  I made a beach quilt instead.

4. Design a block for my Slow Quilt.  I’m collecting the fabrics.  Done.

 

Storm at Sea

 

Here’s the block I’m using in the Slow Quilt.  It’s a version of Storm at Sea.  Saturday’s purchase was the last of the fabric (I think).

 

May Goals

1.  Finish bright floral quilt.

2. Make blocks for Slow Quilt.

3.  Donate older baby quilts to Project Linus.

4.  Commit to a small pouch/bag project and gather supplies.

 

These are not ambitious goals, I know, but they reflect the fact that it is May.  I will be away some, and working on the yard and garden, so I’ll be lucky to accomplish these.

Does anyone know of a site that has taken up this Getting It Done/ Monthly Goals project?  If there’s not, would any of you be interested in linking here?  Please let me know.

I hope you’re all progressing with your Stash and quilting goals.  I’m linking up with Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times.


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Sunday Stash Report: 4/6/14

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Forced, forced I tell you, to buy some more solids and a backing  this week, but some of it’s already used, and more will be soon.  No regrets.

The backs for the pillow covers used 1 1/2 yards, and the custom quilt I finished yesterday took 2 1/2 yards.

This week: +8.5 yards, -4 yards
YTD: +52.75 yards, -69 yards
Net stash used 2014: -16.25 yards

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And my Lenten Roses (helebores) are especially beautiful right now.
Happy Spring!

I’m linking up with Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork times.


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March-A-Long

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March is winding down, so I wanted to file my report for March-A-Long, #marchalong, hosted by Darla at The Scientific Quilter.  I’m pleased to say that I’ve done very well this year at sewing daily.  The cold weather may deserve some of the credit.  Staying in to sew was most inviting.  So far, I’ve only missed sewing one day, and I did put out a quilty blog post that day, so that counts.

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These pillow cover tops are cut from a vintage tablecloth.  I was waiting for backing fabric, which has arrived, so I should get them made.

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While waiting, I cut up my scraps from one of the construction baby quilts into 3 1/2″ squares and pulled many more from my scrap bins.  This was my first layout.  It felt harsh, and like a checkerboard.

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I cut some more squares from Kona Ash and some pale yellow prints to soften it up.  The finished quilt will be twin sized, but this gives the idea.  I like this much better.

Hope you are doing something quilty every day.

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I’m linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced, and March-A-Long at The Scientific Quilter.


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Strings

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This week I finished two construction-themed baby quilts (pictures coming!), and started a project making throw pillow covers from a vintage tablecloth.  That stalled because I didn’t have the fabric I wanted for the backs, so I ordered some (sorry, Stash!).  While waiting for that, I started some string blocks using the trimmings of dragonfly batik from the back of the Pinwheels.  Yes, some of the pansy fabric got in there, too.  This will be another baby quilt, with the blocks set to make zig zags.  I have enough of the batik left for the backing, too.  Yum!

Hope your projects are progressing nicely.
I’m linking up with WIP Wednesday http://www.freshlypieced.com/2014/03/wip-wednesday-stacking-cutting-stitching.html?m=1 at Freshly Pieced.


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Progress on the Disappearing Pinwheel

WIP Wed

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Yesterday I sewed together all the Disappearing Pinwheel blocks for the center of the quilt.  There were lots of points to match, and I found myself forced to use pins.  There was also a lot of wonkiness due to all the bias.  It will be fine, but if I ever made another I would make my own pinwheels first, in an evenly divisible size, rather than use the technique shown here.  But I like the fabrics together.

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I also sewed 88 scrappy HSTs for the outer border.  This is already pretty large, and I ran out of orange fabric, so it’s not getting much of a border.

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I am going to use all this peachy tone-on-tone space for some feathers.  I was studying up last night from these three books, including my Christmas gift, Fabulous Feathers and Fillers by Sue Nichols.  This book has useful information on designing and drafting feathers, but isn’t exactly what I thought it would be.  She makes beautiful feathers, on a home machine, but they are very tight and regular, and she marks them all first.  I’m looking for something more organic and freehand.  Karen McTavish’s are like that, although she’s using a long arm, as does Judy Woodworth.  I seem to make mine in a different direction than they do.  I don’t know if that’s important, but I’m going to think about it.

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

 


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Sunday Stash Report: 3/2/14

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Good morning from snowy Ohio!  It is beautiful watching the falling snow and the cardinals, etc., at the feeder.  Probably won’t be going anywhere for a day or so, but that’s more sewing time, right?

Good numbers this week!  I finished the Scrapitude quilt (pictures later. I hurried and took some before Snowpocalypse decended again!)  I especially like this finish because the top is made entirely from scraps and oddball background fabric out of the stash.  I did buy the backing, some weeks ago.

This week:  +0 yards,  -10.5 yards
YTD:  +30.25 yards,  -53 yards
Net stash used 2014:  -22.75

Hoping you are staying warm, sewing a lot, and using your stash.

I’m linking up to Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times


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It’s March

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It’s March already, or finally, however you’re feeling.  If you’re about to get snowed in one more time, you may not believe me, but it’s true.  March is the month when we revisit our goals and try to get back some of that January enthusiasm.  Darla, The Scientific Quilter, asks us to commit to 15 minutes a day as we March-A-Long. Read her post and watch her video for lots of ideas to get you into your studio every day.

February Goals

1. Quilt the log cabin Quilt of Honor quilt. (Did this during the QOV and Sports Bowl Sew-Ins.)
2. Piece and quilt triangle commission quilt.
3. Piece and quilt string commission quilt.
4. Assemble Scrapitude top.  (And quilted it!)

I’m happy to say I busted through all my February goals.  I’ll post finished Scrapitude pictures soon.  I’ve mailed off the Quilt of Valor, and my cousin’s very happy with her pair of commissioned quilts.

March Goals

1. Assemble Disappearing Pinwheels top.
2.  Quilt DP quilt.
3.  Make baby quilt for Etsy shop.
4.  Make floral quilt for Etsy shop.

Good luck on your goals, and I’ll be Marching with you over here.


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Progress on Scrapitude

WIP Wed

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Here is a portion of the finished Scrapitude quilt top.  It’s about 80″ square, so it’s hard to get a picture of all of it.  I’m happy with results.  The background is several shell pink fabrics, which give it a warm look.  See more results from various quiltmakers at the Flickr page.

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I have about 3/4 of the quilting finished, and I like it a lot.  I’m especially enjoying the orange peel/overlapping circle motif I’m doing in the background.  It’s very relaxing to do.

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