Evening in the Garden Quilts

Adventures in Fabric Art

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WIP Wednesday: The Coffee Quilt

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The log cabins went away so that I could work on one of my few July sewing goals, a Christmas gift.  Judging by how long it took me to make the first half dozen blocks, and how few days I will be home in July, it doesn’t appear that I will achieve this goal, but a start is a start.  At least I’m not waiting till December.

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These are nine-inch blocks.  I didn’t want to go larger, but I wanted the larger novelty prints to show, so I altered the block a bit.  I took the Card Trick block on EQ7 and removed the seam where there are now large triangles.  This made the cutting and piecing a little more complex, but I figured out how to do it with just one Y-seam.  After the first one I figured out how to chain piece and press these puppies so they are coming out sharp.  Hope I still remember next month!

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Meanwhile, we’re preparing to take a three week trip to Montana and Canada, so I’m trying to tie up loose ends around here:  harvest the garlic and onions, tie up the peppers, plant more edamame, pay the bills, stock fridge for DS, etc.  Oh, and take the sewing machine in for cleaning while we’re gone. I owe it that much.

Question:  Lately I’ve been using photos from my BlackBerry and writing posts on my tablet.  Is the quality or format annoying?  Is it a lot better when I use the real camera and the computer?  Please let me know. You’ll probably be getting the phone photos a lot as I’m traveling, but I could make more of an effort when I return if you think it looks better.

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


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Design Wall Monday

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These heavy twelve-inch cabins don’t want to stay on my wall, and I can barely reach to pin them, even with my stool.  Still, I love the Streak of Lightning set.  I varied the size of the red centers to use up some scraps I had, and I think it adds some interest.  The logs are all in blues and grays, and each has one red or rust log.

Today, back from traveling, I made some final adjustments to the layout and then numbered the blocks with a Crayola washable marker.  Then I climbed up and took them all down and put them away for another time, because it’s not on my July list.  It’s just a scrappy donation top I was working on when I wanted some mindless piecing. I’ll only be home about a week between trips, and I want to try to piece the top for my SIL’s quilt before we head west.

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Last week, when we were east, I bought fabric very reasonably at Zook Fabrics in Intercourse, PA.  They have a really large selection, but I stuck with pieces I needed for backs or sashing.  I think they’re beautiful, even if they are a bit muddy.

Are you playing with fabric today?  Hope so!

I’m linking up with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.


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Sunday Stash Report: 7/14/13

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Greetings from Amish country!  There’s been no sewing at all this week as I’ve been traveling along the Jersey shore and attending a family reunion that we held in Lancaster, PA.  Of course, Lancaster also means fabric shopping. I didn’t go around much, because we all know that I don’t need more fabric, but the prices are very good, especially here at Zook’s.

This week:  +14.25 yards,  -0 yards
YTD:  +111.75 yards,  -171 yards

Net stash used in 2013:  -59.25 yards

Better luck to you on destashing!

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I’ll leave you with a photo of a glass iron, made during WWII when metal was in short supply.  I don’t know how well it worked, but it sure is beautiful! I saw it at the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center at Mill ville, NJ.

I’m linking up with Sun day Stash Report at Patchwork Times.


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Sunday Stash Report. 7/7/13

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No new fabric this week, and I used 7.5 yards for the Beach Quilt.

This week:  +0 yards,  -7.5 yards
YTD:  +97.5 yards,  -171 yards
Net stash used in 2013:  -73.5 yards

Good thing I’m doing well, because I won’t be doing any sewing this week.  I’ll just try not to do too much damage in fabric stores.

Good luck on your destashing!

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


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New Blue Pitcher

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I collect light blue ceramic pitchers, as well as fabric.  Of course, I don’t have nearly the tonnage of pitchers that I do fabric, and I display the pitchers mainly in my kitchen, but it is a collection. 

Last week I found a large pitcher at a downtown antique mall.  The one at the top of this post. I knew it wasn’t quite right, but I went ahead and bought it anyway. 

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I know that many people do not have a good color memory.  They can’t match a fabric without a swatch.  They wouldn’t dream of buying a random piece of fabric or can of paint and expecting it to fit into a given project.  I am not one of those people.  When I trust my instincts, I can pick the right bolt or paint sample out of a wall of them, take the cut or can home, and go right to work. (It’s good that I can do this, because I so often forget to take my scraps to the store with me and I’m usually too embarrassed to admit it.)

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So, I knew this pitcher didn’t quite go with my others. It’s a little darker blue. It’s much taller, but that’s good. It also has more curves. Most of mine are sleeker, but, again, that’s good. Variety. Also, it cost more than the ten dollars I usually pay for one. Still, I bought it. As you can see, it is a very nice pitcher. The clerk made me promise to put an armful of hydrangeas in it, and I think she’s right.

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It does stand out a little from the rest of my collection. However, as a quilter I know exactly how to handle that. What I need are more pitchers! If I get more of various sizes, shapes, and shades, this one will blend right in and feel perfectly at home. I’ve got this!

I hope you’re working on something useful like this.

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


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Design Wall Monday: Editing

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My design wall has gotten a workout these last few days.  I took a collection of leftover fabrics from a successful beach themed quilt from a couple years ago and set out to make a different one.  I considered them all to be neutral fabrics, and I made some contrasting rail fence blocks to go with them.  I felt I was on the right track when my DH observed, “That’s not very colorful.”

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Unfortunately, there wasn’t much contrast between the rails and the background.  Time to go more neutral.

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Hmmm.   More neutral.

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Hmmm.  Well.

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Here is my finished top.  Obviously, I have quite a pile of rejected patches.  They will need to become something.  This is why we’re never finished making quilts.

I hope you’re playing with fabric today.

I’m linking up with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.


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Sunday Stash Report: 6/30/13

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Good morning!  Yes, some fabric was purchased, five yards from Scizzors on Etsy.  They have a great selection of novelty prints.  This is earmarked for a Christmas project, so it will come back off the rolls, hopefully in the next few months.

I used three yards to back the commissioned quilt and pillow cover.

This week: +5 yards, -3 yards
YTD:  +97.5 yards,  -163.5
Net stash use in 2013:  -66 yards

How are you doing with destashing? It’s freeing, isn’t it?

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


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Commission Items are Finished

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These turned out so well that I wanted to share them.  I made them from a box of baby and toddler clothes that the customer sent me.  It was an interesting and fun project that went very quickly.  The hardest part was waiting for the clothes, and then the backing fabric to arrive.  I backed all of the (knit) fabrics with sheer fusible interfacing, and it worked very well.  Pellon brand worked much better than the store brand.

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I guess I was expecting frilly, pastel clothes, but these were in strong colors with a number of batiked dresses, so that set the tone for the quilt.

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I found a great batik fabric for the backings and bindings.  It took almost all of the three yards I ordered.  The quilt is 45″ x 63″, and the pillow cover is 18″ square.

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The pillow cover is my favorite.  I did finish it with a couple more tiny gold glitter hearts after this picture was taken, right where the quilting is.  I finished it with a zipper, inserted per a Sew Mama Sew tutorial.

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I quilted around all of the motifs, and added stars, hearts, and flowers in all the plain areas.  I cut stars and hearts from Sulky Sticky stabilizer, and moved them around the quilt and pillow as I worked.  I didn’t worry about making anything too perfect.  I just tried to keep it free and fun, and it was fun to quilt.

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Can’t wait to see what you finished this week!  I’m linking up with Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.


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Sunday Stash Report: 6/23/13

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The year is halfway done, and I’m happy with where I am in regards to my goal of using 100 yards from stash.  I bought nine yards of batiks this week, for backing this quilt and to flesh out my greens.  I used 3.5 yards for the Nautical baby quilt.  As the warm weather intensifies, and as we travel, I expect the usage will slow down, but that’s fine.

This week:  +9 yards,  -3.5 yards
YTD:  +92.5 yards,  -160.5
Net stash use in 2013:  -68 yards

How are you coming with your destashing?

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


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A Finish on the Nautical Baby Quilt

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Here is the finished Nautical baby quilt.  I just love using my shed for photos, I think it looks so artsy.  The light is good there, too, as long as I don’t let the morning get away from me.

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I wish I had water around here for photographing.  I considered taking it over to our little reservoir and draping it over someone’s sailboat, but I refrained.

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Thank you to my friends who commented as I was working on this!  Sometimes I just don’t get back to you, but those are the times when I especially appreciate the encouragement.  This community is so great for that.  Yes, this was freeing and fun to work on, and I’m so glad to know it evokes sailing when you see it.  Here is another little quilt on the same theme that I really love.  It’s a wall hanging by Kat of Kat and Cat Quilts.  Wouldn’t both of these look great in the same nursery?

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The backing is an ABC print with the letters made from rope!

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I quilted it with Bottom Line (60 wt.) between all the blocks, then went back and did a grid of lines in bright yellow Sew Fine (30 wt.).  I liked the yellow thread.  It doesn’t have any sheen, which seemed appropriate for this quilt.

I wanted something “ropey” for the binding, but didn’t come up with anything, so I used more of the blue canvas print, and I’m happy with it.

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As always, I had plenty of help with both the quilting and the photography.

 

See more finishes at Finish It Up Friday on Crazy Mom Quilts.