2017 – Page 12 – Artquiltmaker Blog

ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #4

White & Red Pressed Glass - original — White & Red Pressed Glass – original

I still have some of the pressed glass photos from my trip to Indiana and wanted to try a few more palettes. I thought this color scheme would be an interesting challenge.

The default was, of course, in Jaye-world, not to my tastes. It isn’t horrendous. The Silver and Pewter, as well as the Primrose are all nice. The Cayenne adds some zing.

I did think it was interesting that most of the circles were clustered in the top of the photo. Not all, but most.

It is a little dusty for my tastes – the colors are not clear. It is good that I could try again.

ColorPlay July 14 - n.1 — ColorPlay July 14 – n.1

The second palette, the first where I moved the circles, was much more focused on the reds. I intentionally kept the circles to the top row of vessels and tried to get as many reds as possible.

As you can see there is a Peach, Pale Flesh and Spice, which are tones and shades of red, but not strictly red.

There might not be enough contrast in this palette for a quilt where one really wanted to show off the piecing, but for a subtly shaded quilt, it would be great.

ColorPlay July 14 - n.2 — ColorPlay July 14 – n.2

In the third palette, my second, I tried to go for bright and cheerful.

Success! The combination seems cheerful to me and all of the colors go together.

This palette also has Peach in it and I noticed that the peach looks very different next to the Butterscotch than it does above next to the Sienna. I have always wanted to play around with putting one color next to a bunch of different ones to see the effect of the different colors on the one. Someday, perhaps.

ColorPlay July 14 - n.3 — ColorPlay July 14 – n.3

My third, the fourth total palette, uses the middle of the image. This is a challenge on a couple of levels based on the question “what color is clear?”. Well, our eyes say something different than the Palette Builder tool. The Palette Builder tool has to assign a Kona fabric color. I knew that this palette would be wintery.

It is. The greys and blues are colors I would use for a snowy landscape quilt. Some of the darker greys are a little depressing for me, but I do like the Silver and the Oyster is okay, too.

ColorPlay July 14 - n.4 — ColorPlay July 14 – n.4

I wanted to see if I could make a very different palette in the same area of the photo. I ended up moving the circles down to the next row on the photo.

My idea didn’t work very well. The two palettes are very similar with the addition of Bison (hilarious name if you have ever seen a Bison).

Stone shows up, which is repeat, as does Ash, which is not. Ash is another one of the Konas that I really like.

ColorPlay July 14 - n.5 — ColorPlay July 14 – n.5

I was running out of photo, but I decided to try with the white and clear pressed glass one more time and see what I could come up with.

Another wintery landscape palette with some more blue tints added. Some of my favorite Konas are included: Ash, Snow and Silver. The Shale was an unexpected addition. I think the Shale gives the whole palette an icy feel.

I think I went in with a different mindset this time and was much more openminded about the palettes. The Palette Builder is a great and fun tool. Try it out! Let me know if you make anything with any of these palettes.

Net Neutrality Day of Action

Net Neutrality means that everyone receives the same treatment. My content is delivered just as fast as a movie from Comcast. Unless I am doing something illegal, no ISP can slow down what I serve up as content to you. Content providers cannot pay an ISP to provide their content faster than mine.

I am a content provider. While I may not provide content that everyone likes, I am able to provide content.

45’s appointee “Ajit Pai has proposed a reversal of these regulations, which he’s said unfairly burden the ISPs and are archaic for relying on utility-style regulation.”

Allowing ISPs to slow down content will affect public libraries, companies whose product interferes with a product owned by the ISP, schools and more.

Send a comment to the FCC and to your Congress person telling them to protect Net Neutrality. Do it now.

You can find more information on these sites:

Fight for the Future.org
USA Today article
Explanation in graphic form

This is not a left or right political issue. This is about innovation and fairness. It was a hard won battle to get Net Neutrality. Let’s keep this as a right.

Bamboo Scarf

Occasionally I knit.

I learned in Austria when I lived there and have made a sweater, a vest and a scarf that I can remember. Now I just knit scarves, though I am tempted to knit a skull cowl for the YM.

I haven’t for awhile, but when I saw the colors of this yarn, it drew me in and the softness sealed the deal.

It ended up that the different widths of the yarn were really a pain, but I am pleased with how the scarf turned out. Knitting and listening to audiobooks is a great activity for airplane trips and you all know I had enough of those in the past few months.

Once I got the hang of knitting again, I went to town and was able to finish this scarf in a few months. I found that I liked purling better than knitting, which my SILs think is a scream, so the scarf I am working on now is all purling. I think I will do the next one with 4 purls on the edges and knits in between.

I might enter this scarf in the Fair. I made it for me, so it will be around the house. I may, however, make another that is better. We’ll see.

Carpenter’s Wheel Top Finished

A few weeks have gone by since I finished this top. I am not sure why I didn’t post it, but I am now.

The piece, as I have said a million times is HUGE. This means that it is hard to photograph. It further means that you get a glimpse of some of the furniture that needs to be recovered in the photo. 😉

I am pleased with the way it came out. The back is done (no photo, sorry), the binding is done and I am working on a sleeve.

I made The Peacock sleeve this week and thought it would be great to just make the Carpenter’s Wheel sleeve as well. It would be ready for hand sewing and I wouldn’t have to stop what I was doing to make a sleeve. I haven’t completed it yet, though it is in process.

Creative Spark #15: Doubt

Remember the Crazies in Spark #4? I think Doubt is related, but the Crazies prevents us from doing things while Doubt makes **me** think I can’t do something and should just continue on as I am. Doubt prevents me from taking risks. Not knowing the outcome is scary.

Bloomston says we have to trust the process. She says to “befriend your doubt…. Maybe even nicely ask your doubt to leave.” (pg.65). Hhmm. I have never tried this. She says that “When we are trying to get rid of something, we expend a lot of energy and we are unwittingly feeding it.” (pg.65). This is interesting and really makes me stop and think. If I have doubts, are they creating other doubts – inviting their friends to the party?

Bloomston has four ways of removing doubt: Rituals, Music, Affirmations and Talismans. Rituals spoke to me most. We do not “…have enough rituals in our modern culture…” (pg.65). To each his own, but I feel this is true for myself. I have created some quiltmaking rituals:

I turn on all of the switches and things in the same order.
I check all of my tools: are they in the right place? Are there any issues I need to resolve?
then I get started with the step I have set up unless I have been working through a construction problem in my mind and am ready to tackle it.
When I finish for the day, I always set up the next step so I can get started right away when I have a moment.

Perhaps I have more rituals, but I will have to think about what they are.

Carrie Bloomston describes a talisman as “…an object believed to contain certain magical properties that may provide good luck or fortune.” (pg.66). I definitely have talismen. I have a little shrine of photos of people closest to me. In that same space I have some objects that I care about: a shell, a smooth glass heart, some rocks with words – courage, peace, healing – carved into them. I also have a rotating ATC and a few other things there as well. There are a few places where I have placed things I care about. I guess these all could be called mini-shrines. I never really thought about it because I have created these instinctively, but these are my talismen.

What are your rituals?

What are your talismen?

Nota bene: we are working through Carrie Bloomston’s book, The Little Spark. Buy it. Support the artist. There is a lot more to each spark than what I am writing and the original chapters will help you. Go buy Carrie Bloomston’s book, so you get the full benefit of her fabulousness! You can see my book review, which is what started this flight of fancy.

You can find the last spark on the blog several weeks ago.

Triple Star Progress

Lots of prep this week.

I suppose that is what has to happen at some point. I know I mitigate massive bouts of cutting by breaking it up, but occasionally, I can’t get away from it.

In addition to everything else I did at Sew Day, I also cut background squares for the Triple Star.

This was a task I really needed to do to make anymore progress on the piece, but was also reluctant to do due to space considerations. At Sew Day, I commandeered a large mat and table. I was able to lay out the book, the finished pieces, my rulers and still have space to cut. It was great and I got the job done quickly.

I still have foreground fabric to cut as I have been focusing my cutting on the 2.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles and using the Alison Glass Sun Prints layer cake. Before I can do much more I need to cut some of the smaller foreground pieces from other pieces. I don’t want to make a one fabric line quilt. I want it to be more controlled scrappy like the version I saw at Back Porch.

I did a little piecing using the pieces I cut and they are looking good so far. I am using the Janome 6600, which I talked about yesterday. They came out perfectly. There was no fighting with the machine. I used the “flippy corners” method and the machine did not eat the corners. It was a relatively painless experience.

Sewing Machine Angst

I seriously DO NOT want to collect sewing machines. To me, sewing machines are a tool that I plan to use. That being said, I do have my great grandmother’s Necchi, which I had repaired, but only used a few times as a sewing machine. It is currently being used as a night table* in my bedroom. I don’t really have a place to set it up, so, for now, it is a night table.

I also have the DC5100, which I purchased as an upgrade to take to classes. I had the Janome Jem for awhile and really liked it. Great stitch quality, easy to use, a few more than basic stitches. Very workable for classes. Still, I wanted a little more, so I bought this one, which I used on and off as my main machine while struggling with problems with the 9k.

Janome 9K back from the shop - June 2016 — Janome 9K back from the shop – June 2016

I also have a Janome 9000, which was the first Janome electronic machine. It is 20 years; I bought it the year before the YM was born thinking it would last me forever. I couldn’t even begin to conceive of the fabulous features new machines would come out with when I bought it. Also, I didn’t count on wear and tear. As you know from recent posts, it is showing its age.

My friend has moved to Scotland, mostly. She left last week, but will be back later this week to clear up a few things. She suggested that I buy her Janome 6600. I really wasn’t in the market for a new machine except that I sort of am. I need something that will go through multiple layers of bag construction (remember my fight with the Boxcar Tote?) and generally be a workhorse. It isn’t the fancy machine that is the Janome 15k, but it is a new machine (to me) and has a lot of good features I want. She also will give me a payment plan and is allowing me to try it out.

I brought it home and sat it on my floor for a week. When I realized I needed to decide in a week, I knew I needed to get on it. I started to prepare to sew after Sew Day on Saturday and decided that I wasn’t allowed to sew until I set up the machine. I put it into my table and started to use it. I had to read the book to thread and wind bobbins. It isn’t that different from other machines, but is a little different.

I really like it.

It is smooth running.
It fits in my table, though not super well.
Great stitch quality.
Not too loud.
Doesn’t eat triangle corners.

It has an integrated walking foot, which I haven’t tried, but plan to soon.

The bad part is that I got both of my other Janomes serviced recently. The 9k is running better than it ever has. Angie, from the Sewing Machine Place, noticed that the feed dogs were acting strange and now the machine is feeding and not acting up at all. Figures, right? It knew I was planning on replacing it.

Stay tuned.

*It is a truly awesome night table, as on it I can keep a big stack of magazines, a smaller stack of books, a small container of pens, post-it notes, etc, a small vase of flowers, a clock, a box of cough drops, a bottle of water and a few other things.

More on Sew Day

I wrote about Sew Day the other day, I had more to say so here I am again.

Belinda was making blocks for a donation quilt. I thought the design was great. It was great for all quilts, but especially for donation quilts.

The rectangles are 2.5″ x 4.5″, which is a size I am cutting for two future quilts, so not unfamiliar to me. The blocks can be made from any size rectangle as long as the rectangles are proportional.

Belinda used a Bali Pop, which looked really great. I thought that cutting rectangles from a variety of fabrics as I cut other fabrics up for my projects would be interesting as well – a scrappy look.

I figure that the blocks are about 12×12 finished, so making 9 would make a good sized donation quilt. I’ll see about making one once I have the other two, which are in process, finished.

Happy Fourth of July

For those of you who celebrate, Happy Fourth of July!

For those of you who do not celebrate, there will be another post later today. Have a great day!

Sew Day-July

Sew Day was Saturday and, as usual, it was great. My guild has such a nice, caring group of people. I feel so fortunate.

We have started to just put out a few tables and then let people add tables as they arrive. The day is very informal and people come and go as schedules permit. This also makes cleanup easier. If we don’t put out tables that go unused, we have less to put away.

Recently we have started to use a “Thanksgiving” configuration for the tables. This means one long table. It is hilarious and wonderful as well.

White - will be Sawtooth Star Legs — White – will be Sawtooth Star Legs

I took stuff to cut, though I did consider bringing my sewing machine for a minute. I am working on a database for a client and my neck and shoulders need to be pampered, so I just brought cutting. I didn’t even get through all the cutting I brought, but I did get A LOT done, which was great.

I cut some white to make the Flying Geese for my next Sawtooth Star donation top. I liked the one I made before and wanted to make one a little larger this time. All the blocks are made, but I needed to cut some backgrounds for the Flying Geese. I also need to cut some colored squares, but one thing at a time. I didn’t have the wherewithall to pull out many prints to bring. These are supposed to be from scraps, according to Jaye rules. I want to go through my scrap bins and find pieces I can use before I cut into yardage. I need 5.75″ squares, which I am unlikely to find in my scrap bins as my scraps are generally smaller, but you never know. It’s worth a look.

I chatted with Tim quite a bit. He has Janome machines, too. I always tease him about getting his 15k repaired. He had some issues free motion quilting and is now a little scared of the machine. I might go with him to get it repaired to act as moral support.

Tim also claims that he is going to make the Poolside Tote, so I am kind of waiting for him, but I want to get it done to test out the 6600 (more on that later), so he has better get busy.

Mary was fluttering around setting up and helping people in her wonderful way. We chatted about the outfits I saw at the Heard Museum recently. The Retreat Committee met. I am signed up and can’t wait to see what they have in store for us. Gerre came. It was great to see her. Rhonda is finishing a super secret project. I can’t wait to share it with you all.

26 Projects List – July 2017 Edition

Finished 2017 Quilt Projects

Still no finished projects quite yet. The Peacock binding is finished almost puts me back in the black in terms of fabric usage. I have to make the sleeve and that should take some yardage as well. My fabric used list is still really suffering from being away from my sewing machine, tempting new quilt shops and just generally fabulous fabrics.

Finished 2017 Non-Quilt Projects
While finished quilts are thin on the ground, as you know, I have been sewing and I have finished a number of small projects. I am working on quilts, but I plan to make more small projects this year.

Shockingly, the above along with donation blocks and tops is about 50 yards of fabric this year and I am not in the black in terms of usage.

Doing Good

In Process
The ‘In Process’ is used to denote projects on which I am actively working or pretending to stitch. I try not to put away projects, because that will ensure I never work on them.

City Sampler – blocks all made. Need to sash the blocks and finish putting the top together. Due to some issues I had with my seam allowance, some of the blocks are smaller than others, so I will have to adjust them in some way – either adding a piece or two to the block or with sashing. I have the sashing fabric and it is washed, so the only thing stopping me from getting going is time and other projects.
Dots & Stripes HST Quilt (or Something) – half square triangle blocks are made. I have to lay them out and see what is what with them.
English Paper Piecing Project– half hexies – I am still making stars. I am still using the big stack of fabrics I cut over Thanksgiving to make them. This piece is a weird shape otherwise I would just finish it and move on.
En Provence – I finished the the third clue and plan to cut more Peaky and spikes at Craft Night for the next clue.
FOTY 2016 – I knew it was time to start arranging it and didn’t realize I was stalled until I saw Ellsworth Kelly’s Spectrum Colors Arranged by Chance, 1951-53. Now I am excited again about it, so it is closer to the top of the list. 6 months into the year and I need to get on it.
Lobster – I still have more stitching to do and then I need to quilt it.
Triple Star: I am cutting out the pieces in between other projects.
Under the Sea: class project; like the design and am happier with the colors. I worked on it a little at Craft Night recently.

Still WIPs
I still have WIPs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled. A nicer way of saying UFO is a WIP. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.

1. Aqua-Red Sampler – I need to lay the blocks out and put the piece together.
2. BAMaQG IRR – this was never on the list before, but I have clearly been working on it for a long time. I think the last time I even really thought about it was in June of 2016 when Ruth returned it to me. The last post has some good ideas about what I need to do next.
3. Octagon 9 Patch: It is ready to put together. I could have used it as leaders and enders for a number of different projects I have going, but I didn’t. Not sure what I am waiting for. Do I want to lay out the blocks more carefully? I actually have a plan for it, so I should get on it. I should do a lot of things.
4. The Tarts Come to Tea: I still haven’t worked on this since April 2011, though, I did bring it to the 2017 CQFA Retreat as a potential project. It is still in a prominent location so I have easy access. I just signed up for the BAMaQG retreat, so perhaps that will be the time.
5. Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. No progress.
6. Pies and Points from Victoria Findlay Wolfe class. No further progress. I did wash the background fabric I found when I went to Portland, so I am ready to cut. I need to focus on this and it is not up high enough on the list yet.
7. Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. As mentioned my career counselor breathed new life into this project for me. She asked a simple question and the end result was inspiration for this piece, but I kind of lost steam again after printing images on paper to try out different designs. Lately, I have stopped feeling like I need to finish this piece. I am not ready to give up on it yet. I think it really needs major surgery.
8. Serendipity Lady Quilt: no progress.
9. Stepping Stones #2 – I am ready to make the border blocks , but haven’t gone beyond designing the blocks yet.
10. Lozenge quilt – need to trim blocks.

Ready for Quilting

Carpenter’s Wheel – I took this to Colleen’s last week and am waiting for her to get back to me. I am hoping it will take less time than the Peacock.

In Quilting Process

Thanksgiving tablemat – I started quilting this piece at the 2017 CQFA Retreat. I made good progress, but it isn’t finished yet. Another BAMaQG retreat project?
Theoretically, the Tarts Come to Tea is in the quilting process, though I haven’t worked on it in a while. It did come with me to Retreat and almost made it high enough on the list to get some love.

Binding

Peacock Quilt – finished quilting; have to pick up from my quilter, so I can bind.

Hunting and Gathering

30 Something: I am still cutting 1.5 inch squares. I am pretty sure I have the 800 I need, but I am not ready to sew these yet, so whenever I have a chance I cut more. It will give me choice when the time comes. I’ll have to think up a new name, too.
Blue Gradation Quilt: cutting 2.5 inch x 4.5 inch blue rectangles
Blue Lemonade: cutting blue, green, purple 2 inch squares. I used a lot of these squares for En Provence, so I will need to cut more.
Pink Gradation Quilt: cutting 2.5 inch x 4.5 inch pink rectangles
Spin Wheel: really not started, but supplies gathered. I probably have enough fabrics and just need to decide to start.
Windmill quilt: Still hunting and gathering. I am supposed to be cutting a variety of greys for the background. I bought a new template, so I should be able to get going again

Other

Stepping Stones #3 using the Macaron pre-cuts from Hoffman. I have all the fabric in pre-cuts and am just waiting for space (and desire) in my schedule.

What’s on your list?

ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #3

White & Pink Pressed Glass - original — White & Pink Pressed Glass – original

The latest ColorPlay photo is another of the pressed glass photos from May. I thought it would be fun to play with some pinks and whites to see what I came up with. I really do like the actual items, especially those white cake stands. I might have bought one if I hadn’t been flying home from Indiana, and I had space in my cupboard at home. I also like the variety of items they had. You can see bowls, pitchers, salt & pepper shakers, candy dishes and more in addition to the cake stands.

While manipulating the first one, I realized that my dreams of creamy whites and blush pinks were going to come to nothing with this photo. Again with the preponderance of neutrals. Sigh.

I know. I know. The lens doesn’t see the world as our eyes do. I just have to find a photo that creates beautiful palettes.

ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #3 - default — ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #3 – default

So the default palette was dark. I think the palette would be good for an on-the-market/for sale house interior, but not for a quilt. At least not for one of my quilts.

Cynthia W made a comment on another post about a pop of color, which made me think. While looking at the default photo, I looked for the pop of color. I think, in this case (right, default palette) it is the light blue – Kona Fog. I don’t really consider that a *pop*, but in this context it is.

ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #3 - n.2 — ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #3 – n.2

Of course, I tried again. I really tried to get some bright colors in the palette.

I sort of succeeded.

The Primrose and Cinnamon are fairly bright and the Primrose is definitely the *pop* color in this palette with Cinnamon doing some propping up. I have to say that the Moss does nothing for me. I think of the Ash as a background color. I really don’t know what to think about the Cobblestone or Taupe. They are too beige for me and not my colors.

ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #3 - n.3 — ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #3 – n.3

Yep. You guessed it. Around a I went again for another try.

This palette is even worse in terms of dead. If I had to pick a *pop* color, I would be hard pressed to do so.

Perhaps the Seafoam? It is such a wimpy color, how can it pop? The Oyster is the background in my mind with the Cobblestone, Stone, Taupe and Sable boring me to death.

ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #3 - n.4 — ColorPlay: Pressed Glass #3 – n.4

I decided on one last try.

I didn’t make much of an effort. I was tired of this photo, so I just went for an easy palette.

Funnily enough, this one is much better than any of the others. There are a couple of reddish/pink tones plus the Steel works very well with them. It isn’t great, but I do think that working with the photo made me get to this palette.

The Palette Builder is a great and fun tool. Try it out! Let me know if you make anything with any of these palettes.