Evening in the Garden Quilts

June 5, 2013
by Valerie 2 Comments

WIP Wednesday: Tulips!

I don’t know if I’ve ever had more trouble photographing fabric than these four fabrics. Every light in my studio is on (cue country song), and it’s daytime, but I still can’t get a true picture. Take my word that these fabrics really do play nice together. The pink is a little on the strawberry side, but nowhere near as dark as it looks. My favorite blocks are the ones with the two tulip prints. This placement works, but I may move some things around, too. You’ll just have to stay tuned.

I’m using the Disappearing Four Patch technique (D4P), which I think is a lot prettier than the 9 patch. I’m sure there are lots of tutorials, but I learned it from Mama Vesuvius when she was collecting blocks for Hurricane Sandy quilts. Scroll down a little on that page, the tutorial is there. These are the 12 1/2″ blocks she is showing.

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

June 4, 2013
by Valerie 1 Comment

Getting it Done in May and June

Well, where did May go? It’s always a busy month, with end of school stuff (not so much for me anymore, but my son did have to be moved home from college), birthdays, and holidays. Still, I was thinking about reporting for the month about the 27th, and then…poof! It was June.

May Goals

1. ~~Finish Project Hope Online Quilt Show art quilt.~~

2. ~~Make pair of pillow cases to coordinate w new queen quilt.~~

3. ~~Make primary baby quilt~~

4. ~~Scrap donation quilt~~. (orange and blue)

June Goals

1. Make donation quilt (Tulips).

2. Nautical baby quilt.

3. Make pair of pillowcases (Nicey Jane).

4. Piece top for SIL Christmas gift quilt.

Yes, I made all my May goals. Considering that I’m retired, these were not lofty goals. I prefer to make them very attainable, and feel the satisfaction of getting them done. Without them I am sure I would wander around and do far less. Plus, it gives me a place to write down new projects as they occur to me. I know, some people track everything on spreadsheets, but that isn’t me. My Goals page, my Flickr destashing group, Stash Reports, and my little calendar with the cat on the front are where I track my progress. It’s working.

In addition to the goals I wrote down, I also made the aqua and gray zig zag baby quilt, and a flag for To Boston With Love. Have you seen the flags hanging? Look at this video of 1500 of them hanging in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

The most satisfying May goal was the Project Hope Online Quilt Show. Go there and see more of these beautiful, thoughtful pieces. Lots of good vibrations sent out to combat the hatred in the world. Be inspired and add yours to this great project.

I’m linking up with Getting It Done at Patchwork Times.

June 3, 2013
by Valerie 4 Comments

Design Wall Monday: D4P

Today’s fabrics aren’t even on the design wall yet. I spent time today repairing the damage to my fabric closet after The Great Stash Cave In. The problem was the extremely close quarters inside the closet. There is not enough space to pull the baskets straight out to remove them from the frames. And I have some backings hanging in there. And packing boxes. And I was in there. So that was an ordeal.

But while I was at it I pulled several older, floral fabrics that I do not wish to see anymore. They are lovely, and perfectly good quality. I once was obsessed with tulip fabric. I collected quite a bit, and made one of my nieces a twin sized quilt using a lot of it. But I still have a lot left. And I’m just not as into it. So I want this to become my next donation quilt. Perhaps someone else can indulge a tulip obsession. Or at least keep warm.

My concept at the moment is to do a Disappearing Four Patch that transitions gradually from one fabric to the next as it goes across the quilt. I’m still working out how to do that, but I think I’ve settled on the fabrics. The florals and the pink are definite. I’m reluctant to include my wonderful green Grunge because I like it so much, but that’s silly, isn’t it? I bought it to cut up and sew into quilts. I just want to use it and keep it, too, like cake. But it wants to be in this quilt, so I will probably use it. I think.

Are you playing with fabric today?

I’m linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Time.

June 2, 2013
by Valerie 2 Comments

Sunday Stash Report: A little out, a little in. 6/2/13

It’s been a busy, hot week, and I didn’t sew as much as I would have liked. I need to make sure I get up early and not linger over the coffee and tablet. Our woods are deceptively cool, but by noon my upstairs studio is usually too hot for sewing in this weather. We’ve also been away a fair amount. This week I used 6 1/2 yards for the Orange and Gray String Quilt. I’ll blog about it soon.

Some fabric was purchased. 10 1/2 yards. but isn’t it pretty? Those are little gray flying geese on the white one! I passed by The Fabric Shack twice in the last two weeks, but I couldn’t look the other way the third time. The geese were on sale… Aaa, I have the rest of the year to make it to -100 yards!

This week: +10.5 yards, -6.5 yards

YTD: +83.5 yards, -144.4 yards

Net stash used in 2013: -61 yards

How are you doing with your destashing?

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

May 29, 2013
by Valerie 1 Comment

WIP Wednesday: Strings

I made these forty string blocks into this top, and finished putting borders on it yesterday.

This was intended as a new donation quilt, but it turned out a little small for that, at 48″ x 72″, especially since I only had a yard of the border fabric and was determined to make it work, so I think I’ll keep it for my shop. I have an idea for quilting it all over with leaves to go with the borders.

Now I’m going to put together the backing and at least get this sandwiched today. Also, someone should clean up this studio. It’s all mine, but it’s tiny and things are beginning to pile up. And spill over. And the orange fabric needs to go away before I’m tempted to start another quilt with orange in it!

What are you working on?

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

May 27, 2013
by Valerie 3 Comments

Design Wall Monday: Strings!

Yesterday I made forty 6″ string blocks, and I am in love with the colors. No, I can’t tell a difference in my string baskets. What is up with that? but I like to sew string blocks, and I always feel I’ve created something from nothing. I’m sashing them with Kona White, and using this nice gray and white Kaufman leaf print for the borders. This will make a throw size, 50″ x 74″.

Are you playing with fabric today?

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

May 26, 2013
by Valerie 1 Comment

Sunday Stash Report: 5/26/13

Well, yes, that is new fabric. 22 1/5 yards from eQuilter. I suppose it doesn’t reduce the yardage that most of it was on sale, does it? But it’s great stuff, and some of it is earmarked for a Christmas gift project. I did use 7 1/2 yards to finish the Blue and Orange donation quilt.

This week: +22.5 yards, -7.5 yards

YTD: +73 yards, -138 yards

Net stash used in 2013: 65 yards

How are you doing with your stash reduction? Sometimes you have to buy some to use some…

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

May 24, 2013
by Valerie 4 Comments

Finished Donation Quilt

I finished up the blue and orange donation quilt yesterday. I had a lot of fun quilting it with straight lines and feathers in orange thread (Superior Highlights, 40 wt.). The textured blue fabric was weird and stretchy to piece together, but not too bad to quilt with the walking foot. It has great cozy texture now that it’s washed up.

I have to admit that I like the back almost as much as I like the front. These are orphan blocks from a double nine patch that I had made, and some from this quilt, when I discovered that too many nine patches would make it too busy.

So much of the stash fabric I have and need to use is floral, and makes pretty feminine quilts. I try to switch off by making every other donation quilt out of something a little more appealing to anyone, including men. And, apparently, cats. Lots of help. This is headed to Moore, OK.

You could have knocked me over with one of my own feathers yesterday when I answered the phone and it was Judy Laquidera from Patchwork Times! I was sewing the binding to this quilt when she called. She called several of us who had donated quilts for West, TX, to see if we minded if she sent them on to Moore. They have all they need in West, and Judy knew of a truck with people she trusts going to Moore. I told her I was fine with that, so I guess my pink and gray quilt will go there, too.

Doesn’t it seem like there’s been a lot of need this year? I sorted some strings last night to start a new donation quilt for whatever comes next. Don’t even want to think about that.

What have you finished this week?

I’m linking up to Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

May 20, 2013
by Valerie 2 Comments

A Finished Baby Quilt, and a Back to Piece

On my design wall I have the orphan blocks and taupey fabric I to use to piece the back to the blue and orange donation quilt. I see one of the larger ones needs to be turned. Returning to this after time off makes it a little better, though backings are still not my favorite.