Star Sampler: Gypsy Dancer

Star Sampler: Gypsy Dancer
Star Sampler: Gypsy Dancer

I feel like this block came out really well. It is pretty, but has a delicate feel, too. The purple is from an ombre print, so I don’t have much of it left. I’ll have to use it judiciously.

If you’d like to make this block, I am posting the Star Sampler: Gypsy Dancer pattern. This project is from the Oh My Stars Quilt-a-long from the Thought and Found blog. Join in the fun and make some blocks.

Star Sampler: Chevron Star

Star Sampler: Chevron Star
Star Sampler: Chevron Star

One of the things I like about this block is that there are two sets of Flying Geese units in it and because of the way they are colored, they look really different and do something really different to the look of the overall block.

I realized around the time I made this block that I am going to the same fabrics over and over. I need to broaden my palette. It isn’t easy, but I have to try.

If you would like to make one of these blocks, I am posting the Star Sampler: Chevron Star Pattern. This whole project is based on the Oh My Stars Quilt-a-long from last year.

On My Mind

I was plowing through some older blog posts over the weekend trying to fill in some information for a Threadbias entry when I ran across an old On My Mind blog post. I haven’t done one of those in a while and since I have a couple of projects on my mind, I thought it would be a good opportunity to get them down on “paper”.

  1. Make three notepad covers using the Pink Chalk Notetaker pattern as gifts. I want to use fabrics I bought at Quiltology.
  2. Need to make another journal cover or two
  3. Finish blue journal (style of the Purple Journal, Red Journal, Well Done and Good Job journals)
  4. Make a bag or two from the patterns I have purchased recently.
  5. Try another version of the Bird watcher bag.
  6. Thinking about another Sparkling Cider quilt using the Half Moon Modern fabrics
  7. Repair purple turtleneck
  8. Comparison of various methods of making Flying Geese on blog
  9. Living room throw pillow covers

And, of course, continue my progress on the 26 Projects list.

What do you think?

Star Sampler: First 12

Star Sampler: First 12
Star Sampler: First 12

I know there are a lot of posts about this project, but we are working on it fast and furiously. This post is a milestone, I think, because I have 12 blocks made and you can see them all together.

One of the things I like about seeing them all together is I can see what fabrics I need to repeat.

I also like seeing them because it makes me feel like I have been making some progress. I *know* I am making progress, but it is great to see the progress.

I actually have an additional 4 blocks made, as of this writing, but I am experiencing a shortage of design wall space right at the moment so you will have to wait until that clears up to see them all.

I have to say that I am tempted to start sewing all the different blocks into chunks just to get them in some kind of order. The layout is pretty clear; it would just be a matter of deciding what goes where. I’ll need a lot more 8″ squares before I can make any real progress in the layout, though.

Star Sampler: Football Star

Football Star
Football Star

I am very surprised that this block is called Football Star. The name seems so unlike the actual block; the name doesn’t reflect the look of the block at all.

As leaders and enders, I am trying to make progress on the 89 4″ star blocks that are needed for this top. It is working pretty well and I have 7 finished and one in progress at the moment. I have also cut a bunch of pieces to make more blocks as I go along.

We only have a week or so more before we have finished the 12″ blocks and start on the 40(!!!) 8″ blocks.

If you’d like to make one of these, here is the Star Sampler: Football Star pattern. You can also find it in EQ7.

Various & Sundry 2013 #2

Patterns, Fabrics and Techniques

The Food Quilt is made from the Disappearing 9 Patch pattern. I saw a variation of that pattern called Double Disappearing 9 Patch. Why didn’t I think of that?

Threadbias launched their quilt design tool at QuiltCon last week.

Around and About the Web

Katie, of Katie’s Quilting Corner podcast fame, has finally posted about the resolution to her Viking Topaz drama. This makes me wonder if machine dealers get audited by the companies for which they sell? Do mystery people come in with broken machines for repair and then grade the dealer on:

  1. Selection
  2. Friendliness
  3. Communication
  4. Customer Service, e.g. length of time to fix machine, communication during repair process, etc.

Seems like it would be good business for a machine company. If you have a business remember: Customer Service is Everything.

Quiltin’ Jenny reviews the Joann Fabric app for iPhone and Android.

GenQ magazine started following me on Twitter. I don’t know what it means, but I was kind of excited. Perhaps they will pay me to post my tutorials in their magazine? Doubtful, but a girl can dream.

Joyce Gross, one of the most influential quilt historians died on Christmas Eve (2012). Her collection of materials now resides in Texas.

GOLDEN QUILTER AWARDS
Voting has begun for the 2013 Golden Quilter Awards. Judy Martin is honored to be nominated in 3 categories: Best Quilt Designer, Best Quilt Book Author, and Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, her Star Power CD is nominated for Best New Product Introduced in 2012 (Software).

There are a total of 11 awards to be handed out on March 1. The nominations are teeming with worthy recipients. Vote for Judy. If you don’t know who she is, she is up there with Ruth McDowell in my book. Voting is open until February 28, 2013. When you go to vote, click on the star immediately UNDER the name of the person, store, or item you are voting for.

Weeks Ringle has posted some homework from her lecture at QuiltCon, which includes a chart that seems like it will improve your life as a quiltmaker. I am going to print this out in color, paste it in my journal and work on the questions. Perhaps I will post them here. Take a look at the homework and tell me what you think.

Buying and Selling

I have mentioned before that I have an Artquiltmaker shop on CafePress (I wonder why they call it CafePress? I am sure I could look it up). Not only do I sell, but I also buy there. I love their cards, especially the ones with my images on them. This time, I bought the jacket I feature in my shop. It tunred out to fit great until the hem got to the hips. Ergh. I sent a return/refund request and they:

  1.  got back to me right away
  2. refunded my money
  3. didn’t make me return the jacket

I was perfectly happy to return the jacket, really. I also didn’t wear the jacket and it still has the tags on it. I wouldn’t expect this all the time, of course, but I was very pleased not to have to return the jacket just because of the hassle of packaging it up. I’ll see about giving it as a gift. I was very pleased with their service.

Other

Clip on sewing machine light
Clip on sewing machine light

I might buy one of these clip on lights. I don’t want one of the ones that sticks on to my sewing machine, because then the case doesn’t fit. I also need a light over my ironing board, because where it sits in the room means that the light is blocked when I press. I saw this at Ocean Waves Quilt Shop, but resisted the temptation. It’s a thought.

I put up a few more projects on Threadbias and earned my 10th Project Badge. Yay, I guess. It was all I could manage on Saturday in the sewing department.

Star Sampler: Mrs. Lloyd’s Favorite

Mrs. Lloyd's Favorite
Mrs. Lloyd’s Favorite

This is my second attempt. The first attempt used a nine patch in the same violet as the four patches and triangles.

I probably would have used a different color for the four patches, but I decided to make it a little different and keep the violet.

Mrs. Lloyd’s Favorite pattern, in case you want to make one of these.

Creative Prompt #196: Spill

spill blood

spill your guts

Don’t cry over spilt milk

Definition: Verb; spill (third-person singular simple present spills, present participle spilling, simple past and past participle spilled or spilt)

  1. (transitive) To drop something so that it spreads out or makes a mess; to pour.
    I spilled some sticky juice onto the kitchen floor.
  2. (intransitive) To spread out or fall out, as above.
    Some sticky juice spilled onto the kitchen floor.
  3. (transitive) To drop something that was intended to be caught. ?[quotations ?]
  4. (obsolete) To be destroyed, ruined, or wasted; to come to ruin; to perish; to waste. ?[quotations ?]
  5. (obsolete) To be shed; to run over; to fall out, and be lost or wasted. ?[quotations ?]
  6. Noun

    spill (plural spills)

    1. (countable) A mess of something that has been dropped.
    2. A fall or stumble.
      The bruise is from a bad spill he had last week.
    3. A small stick or piece of paper used to light a candle, cigarette etc by the transfer of a flame from a fire. ?[quotations ?] (Wiktionary)

Took a spill

Spill the beans

Oil spill

spill containment

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.

We are also talking about this on Twitter. Use the hashtag #CPP

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to  post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.

Spill.com Movie Reviews and Community – New Movies, Reviews, News, Trailers and Previews for the Most Fun for Movie Lovers!

Spill is bringing honesty online. We’re making it easy to anonymously share the good and bad moments of your life. Spill lets you vent, get fresh advice and

take a spill

“The tears that you spill, the sorrowful, are sweeter than the laughter of snobs and the guffaws of scoffers.” Kahlil Gibran

bad spill

fall or crash

n Australian politics, a leadership spill is a declaration that the leadership of a parliamentary party is vacant, and open for re-election. A spill may involve all leadership positions (leader and deputy leader in both houses), or just the leader.

A leadership spill occurs when a member or members of the parliamentary party feel that the leader is taking the party in an undesirable direction or is simply not delivering on their promises to those who elected them, and does not have the numbers to back his or her position. A spill can be initiated by the leader themselves, usually to ensure a fresh mandate to quell dissenting voices in the party.

A leadership election may result in a new leader, or may confirm the status quo. If the party in question is in government, the election of a new leader will result in a new Prime Minister, Premier or Chief Minister; if the party is the opposition, the election of a new leader will result in a new Opposition Leader. (Wikipedia)

“He who distributes the milk of human kindness cannot help but spill a little on himself” James Matthew Barrie

Gulf Oil Spill

“A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

Star Sampler: Prism

Star Sampler: Prism
Star Sampler: Prism

In EQ7 this block is called Nameless (it’s Barbara Brackman number is 2047). I don’t know if that means that its name is ‘Nameless’ or that it doesn’t have a name. It is possible that the name is just not in EQ, though they are pretty good, so I think that is unlikely. If it doesn’t have a name, that is kind of sad. I think it looks like a prism or a crystal, so that is what I am calling it. I’ll look it up sometime and see.

I am, however, not making as much progress as I wanted. I really wanted to make all 12 blocks over the holiday weekend, so I would be caught up. That isn’t going to happen, though, I have made a dent.

I also have to select the next four blocks to make and I haven’t even begun to think about that.

I have to say that my attempts at choosing fabrics were a bit feeble before I started making blocks. I am using the fabrics from the group I chose early on, but I have been finding that I have to add to them as well. I grabbed that light purple dot for this block and have used it in one other. I also have a batik that I think I will add to the group. I didn’t have enough darks (but I think I knew that), so I have added some darker solids. I don’t want to overwhelm the aquas and light purples, so I am trying to use them judiciously.

This is an excellent exercise in contrasts and in making sure that the stars are crisp.

We are working on on the Oh My Stars quilt-a-long, though it was started awhile ago and everyone else is done!

Star Sampler: The Bard of Avon

Star Sampler: Bard of Avon
Star Sampler: Bard of Avon

I have to say that this is not an easy project. I keep cutting and recutting. I have various parts of Sawtooth Stars that didn’t work laying all over my sewing and cutting tables. I don’t know what my problem is. I blame it on the cold.

I was, again, trying to play with the idea of stars within stars. The block in the pattern was not colored this way. The patches around the turquoise star were different than the very largest outside legs. Even though the green print on the largest star is busy, I think it works and I am pleased with the way this one came out.

We are working on on the Oh My Stars quilt-a-long, though it was started awhile ago and everyone else is done!

Star Sampler: Sarah’s Choice

Star Sampler: Sarah's Choice
Star Sampler: Sarah’s Choice

This block was an unexpected success! I was very pleased with the way it went together (no ripping or recutting) and also with the serendipitous use of fabric. I am out of that blue, which is too bad, because it is a great blue.

3 down 9 to go.

We are working on on the Oh My Stars quilt-a-long, though it was started awhile ago and everyone else is done!

Star Sampler: Colorado Star

Star Sampler: Colorado Star
Star Sampler: Colorado Star

I made this block after finally finishing the Barbershop Quartet. After the drama of that block, this was a breeze and I got on a roll trying to catch up with the blocks.

I was kind of sad about that as as I wanted to work on the back for the FOTY 2012, but it is fine.

I wish I had used a darker print for the smaller Flying Geese, but that will be the reward to the viewer for coming in closer.

We are working on on the Oh My Stars quilt-a-long, though it was started awhile ago and everyone else is done!

26 Projects – February Update

I took 7 tops to my quilter on January 21, a few days after the last update. I felt a huge sigh of relief taking them to be quilted. I don’t know why, as I explained, but I did and am still savoring the feeling. Still, just because I took quilts to the quilter does not mean they are done. They are out of my hair and I can work on other things until it is time to finish them when they come back.

Finished 2013 Projects:

  1. Corner Store: Finished on 1/1/2013 YAY!
  2. The Garden. Finished on 1/5/2013 YAY!
  3. Stepping Stones: Finished on 2/14/2013 YAY!

I think the next projects on the list will be harder. They are older, in some cases, or VERY unfinished. Let’s see what we can do.

Still WIPs

  1. Aqua-Red SamplerFrances  is working diligently and I finished my curves block. Next up Paper Piecing. Oh yay.
  2. The Tarts Come to Tea: I haven’t worked on this since April 2011, which was before I got my machine fixed. I really do need to get back to the quilting. I was making good progress and then got sidetracked. I thought quilting the Whole Cloth quilt sort of got me back in the swing of quilting, so perhaps there is hope for this piece?
  3. Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. Mrs. K. gave me more PP fabric and I won some from a giveaway. I think it is a sign that I need to work on this. Leaders and enders.
  4. See: needs satin stitching. Small, also a possibility for finishing. I really have the feeling I need to work on this.
  5. Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. I like the piece, but don’t know where to go from where I am. Mouth? Hair? The attitude I need to have is that I can’t ruin it; there is always more fabric.
  6. Under the Sea: class project; like the design, but not the colors much.
  7. Flower Sugar Hexagon: sewed more hexagons together. Sewing Y seams is a bit of a chore, so I get tired of doing it after awhile. I could, perhaps, use leaders and enders to get this piece moving?
  8. Young Man’s t-shirt quilt: have cut up the t-shirts and am still in the process of applying fusible. He cleaned out his drawers and found some more t-shirts to add to the quilt. Oh Yay! <– just a bit of sarcasm. He asked me again for another quilt, so I think this one is next in line. I plugged in his heating mattress pad, though, which should keep him quiet for a bit longer.
  9. New: FOTY 2012: top, finished, though I can’t decide if I need a quilting border. Working on the back.

I still have a few more WIPs than I do finished projects. Again, I have made progress on clearing out old projects and I am pleased.

Ready for Quilting

  1. Original Bullseye: At the quilter
  2. New: Wonky 9 Patch: needs quilting and binding. Not on original list
  3. New:* Super Secret Project #2: At the quilter. Not on original list
  4. New: Super Secret Project: At the quilter.  Stay tuned. ;-) Not on original list
  5. Infinity blocks: blocks sewn together into a quilt top, borders on. Back and binding made; ready to be quilted.
  6. A-B-C (A-Z) BAMQG Challenge –At the quilter. Due April 1.
  7. New: Sparkle Pink – At the quilter.
  8. New: Swoon – At the quilter.
  9. Calm: basted and ready for me to quilt.
  10. Spiderweb: Top is together, binding is made. This is at the quilter.

In the Finishing Process

FOTY 2011:  binding half done; needs sleeve

Abandoned

Nothing so far for 2013

Hunting and Gathering

  • Spin Wheel: really not started, but supplies gathered. Cutting fabrics as I go. TFQ does not consider this a UFO and made some good points to that end, which is why I have moved it to the Hunting and Gathering section. She says, and I have to agree, that quilts are not ‘projects’ until the sewing starts. OK. I’ll go with that.
  • Windmill quilt: Still hunting and gathering.
  • Stepping Stones #2 using Bonnie & Camille fabrics Bliss, Ruby, Vintage Modern: made two blocks, but still on back burner while I decide on the background colors.

I decided to continue this list into 2013, at least for the time being. It is a useful tool for tracking what is done. I, of course, want to create some kind of disposition for all of the quilts and projects on the list. However, as I mentioned, I wanted to think of a new focus for 2013. I feel that I made progress on the most ancient and difficult projects and I want to honor that. I won’t give up working on the projects on this list, but I also will not allow the list to prevent me from starting new projects.

Last update for the 26 Projects List

*New – Project started after I started working on the 26 Projects list