Month: September 2014

Book Review: Craft Your Stash

Craft Your Stash
Craft Your Stash

This review is all about a book by my pal, Lisa Fulmer. I am reviewing her book as part of her blog tour. Take a look at her Craft Your Stash website while you are here!

Lisa and I met through her former workplace where I would hit her up for prizes and giveaways for my blog and guilds with which I am involved. I even got her to join CQFA for a year. No renewal, sadly, but I live in hope.

Craft Your Stash is Lisa’s first book, but she writes a column for her local paper and writes a blog, marketing copy for her clients and, generally, knows how to put her thoughts into words. I think this book reflects that.

The first 18 pages are intro and background for the projects. If you read the introduction, which is only half a page, you will get a feel for what you can expect from the book.

The first section is called Tools and Techniques. Guess what it is about?

In this section, Lisa has a note about the metric system. She accompanies all of the measurements with an equivalent metric measurement. I have never seen that in a quilt or craft book that I can remember and I think it is a great idea. Yes, our friends who are used to metric are probably smart enough to convert, but really, why should they have to do calculations before they start a project? Great job, Lisa!

The subsection on Stash Essentials is broken up into several sections, which are fully supplied with your must-haves in that category:

  • Surfaces
  • General tools
  • Adhesives
  • Embellishing,
  • etc.

Each subsection is then broken down and Lisa writes about differences in quality, amounts, fun points and gives examples of how things look. She has a photo of two different grades of acrylic paint and how they look on the same type of paper (pg.9). Nice touch, I think.

Next comes a section on organizing. The main image for this section is fantastic. It really makes me want to buy some little bowls and containers. The problem is then I would have to also buy the charms and shells to put in them. 😉

Lisa’s tone is very conversational, but written in a way that is still grammatical and not offputting. As I read, I thought “she is just like me” and, though I know Lisa and I know she is just like me (except way better at embellishing and painting!), I appreciated the tone and style of writing, because it wasn’t boring craft book prose. It made me want to read on.

In the section on organizing, Lisa shows pictures of different solutions from the pricier to those you can pick up at your favorite thrift store AND how to use them (pg.14-15). Each item has a brief description of what she uses it for and how the reader can use it. If none of these work for you, you will get ideas about how a slight variation could work for you. The other thing I noticed was that everything was labeled. First purchase: label maker!

Clearly I didn’t read the table of contents as carefully as I could have because I was surprised by the Design Basics section. On the first page (pg.18) is what Lisa terms “a crafter’s best friend”, the Color Wheel. this lovely surprise is followed up with the various color wheel combinations: primary colors, tertiary colors, warm and cool colors, analogous color schemes, etc.  This is a good reference to have if you don’t have these tools in another place. Refer to them!

This section also includes some of my pals, design principles and elements. Balance is first (pg.22-23), followed by Unity (pg. 25) and some others (I can’t give away all of Lisa’s secrets.

With all of this preparation under your belt, you are ready for the projects, which start on page 26. The projects all have variations, so the reader is encouraged to use the projects as a guide, though there are complete supply lists and tools required for each project. One of my favorites is the Mosaic Scrapbook Layout (pg.31), which looks like a game board. I might have to send Lisa a blank scrapbook page from my sadly neglected son’s scrapbook project and say pretty please. 😉 If she won’t make it, the directions are very clear for me to make on my own. Now you can stop laughing.

The projects flow into each other, but are unique. From personalized cards (like business cards) to the Mosaic Scrapbook Layout to Shaker Cards (pg. 34). The idea seems to be that if you have your paper out, let’s use a bunch of it while adding some skills and not boring the reader.

The photos are really fantastic. I find myself wanting to look closer and closer at the detail, which is very clear. I also love the colors and color coordination on each photo. Lisa has a lot of in progress photos and does some black and white layouts (pg.40-43) to show placement for the greeting card set (pg.37-39).

The projects have a lot of elements, pieces, parts, but there isn’t a sense of too much  nor of charms and beads added to move them through the stash. These projects are well designed and I wouldn’t be embarrassed to have any of them at my house. I would use the cards right away, hang up the suncatcher (pg.50-53) and gift the shadow box. No qualms.

For those of you with a lot of fabric around, there are three projects for you to try so you can make some space for new fabric.

The tips and techniques shown in the projects can be extrapolated out and used in your own ideas. I see this book as a skillbuilder as well.

And last, but certainly not least, there is an index. It is one page, but it is a full page and it is an INDEX. I love indexes and am so glad to see it. It makes things so easy to find, even in craft books.

Finally, Lisa is having a nice big giveaway on her blog as well. She will have a giveaway using Rafflecopter as part of the tour. The prize will be a copy of the book, plus a generous selection of crafty swag to add to YOUR stash – She is willing to ship internationally to the winner, so get busy adding your name. Check out the posts below:

If you don’t win, go buy a copy. Here’s how (as if you didn’t know):

Purchasing information
The formal release date is September 1st and it should be in stores by mid-to late September (list price $16.99). Amazon will start shipping orders on October 1. Want a signed copy? The are for sale on Lisa’s website now ($16 + tax/shipping). Shipping is going on now.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What’s On The Design Wall

Design Wall September 2014
Design Wall September 2014

Again, my design wall looks remarkably similar to what I posted last time. C’est la vie. I have to remind myself that it isn’t speed that I am going for (though sometimes it isn’t true), it is engaging with the process that is important.

#1: I am still making those turquoise and red four patches. I have a lot more patches than blocks at the moment, though fewer than last time, because I did indeed get busy and made a few. I still have too many other leaders and enders at the moment to make real progress on any one quilt top.

#2: I have a few more squares finished for the Teenaged Boy Donation Quilt and some in progress as well. I dug out some more blacks and greys to add some variety. Some came from the edges of the T-shirt quilt and I thought it was a good use of that remnant.

#3: I decided to make another Owl, like Henry. I took the leftover mosaic piecing from Henry and added some more to it. I am also most out of chocolate brown so I hope the piece is large enough. I haven’t gotten the pattern out to check, but I will soon.

#4: some red and turquoise 4 patches in process. I used a few for leaders and enders, though I have enough leaders and enders to see me through nearly an eternity of projects.

#5:  those octagons are still taking up a lot of space. As you might remember, I decided I would start with the top row and sew all of the octagons in each of those colors. The goal was to get the small triangles sewn to the octagons, so the next step would be to make the blocks with a variety of colors. My idea was that once the stack on my sewing table had been sewn, I would take the octagon off the design wall and sew that, thus reducing the space being hogged on my design wall. It didn’t work. It didn’t work because partway through my grand plan I have enough blocks to make a BIG quilt and many more octagons. I have to mull over ideas, which includes putting octagons in the scrap bin or making journal covers out of them. I have a border idea that will use a bunch more so we’ll just have to see.

#6: this group of FOTY 2014 patches has also been up there a long time. I started in on the big pile of fabric that I talked about last time, finally, and made a group of patches. It is not enough yet for a full post, but I am getting there. One problem is that it was a load of neutrals and those are very depressing to press one after another. It has to be done, so after the Band Review Saturday (4:30 am start) I was too tired to sew and pressing seemed the thing.

#7: the block is still on the design wall. As I said before, I made the 9 patch, but the Young Man sewed the button to the middle in Cub Scouts as part of a rank advancement, I think. Every time I look at it a flood of emotions hits me:

  • Why doesn’t Boy Scouts have a sewing merit badge?
  • Wishes that I had sewed more with the boy when he was small and somewhat interested.

I am still trying to think of a project in which to include it.

#8: that little Art Deco-esque flower is from one of the first swaps or challenges put on by BAMQ. I thought I would use that flower as the center of something and haven’t yet gotten to it.

#9: those are some of my favorite ATCs. I keep them near my sewing machine so I can be reminded to be creative.

#10: (far left) those are finished ATCs that I have swapped with other CQFAers. I put them in those plastic name badge holders people get at conferences and hang them up. I really need a clothesline or something, but have never gotten around to it.

#11: Paper pieced Mariner’s Compass made in a Barbara Barber class. I intend to finish it. I even still have the pieces, the pattern and the directions. I suppose it should go on my To Do List.

What is on your Design Wall?

 

>>I linked up with the Patchwork Times.

Kelly’s Bag

Kelly's Bag
Kelly’s Bag

A little while ago I participated in Kelly’s monthly BAMQG Challenge, which was to quilt a half yard fabric sandwich. The goal ended up being to make a bag from this piece. I wasn’t entirely happy with the quilting, but I didn’t sincerely dislike it either. The quilted piece laid around for awhile, but it was on my mind. It is only recently that I made time to start the bagmaking part. Part of the delay was because I couldn’t understand and extrapolate out from Kelly’s excellent directions. You know me. Sometimes I can read and read and the words look like gibberish. She was very patient with me and agreed to give me one step at a time. Broken down I could do it.

Supplies:

  • 1 yard of fabric (2 different half yard pieces will add interest)
  • 1/2 yard of fabric for straps and other fiddley bits
  • 12″ x 42″ (or WOF) ShapeFlex
  • 12″ square of coordinating fabric for binding
  • batting slightly larger than 18″ wide to accommodate the half yards above
  • Sewing machine and supplies to machine quilt/free motion quilt
  • Rotary kit
  • Judy Martin Point Trimmer ruler
  • Optional: Timtex or Soft & Stable

Here are the directions with some illustrations:

  1.  Layer and sandwich 2 half yards of fabric with batting
  2. Full Piece Quilted
    Full Piece Quilted

    Free motion quilt piece as desired. Shown is the piece that I did back in April. I know pieces of fabric don’t magically quilt themselves and I am not saying they do. It took me some time, but it is good practice and this is a good use for those practice pieces. Go back to the previous post and look at the different quilting designs I used.

  3. Kelly didn’t have me make the straps until after the bag was put together. I like to make all the fiddley bits first, so they are ready to go when I am on a roll making the bag and ready for them. That means: make the straps whenever you want. You should make them your favorite way. Here are the directions for making the straps that I used for this bag:
    1. Cut 2 strips 6″ wide by WOF. You could make them 5.5″ and they would be a touch skinnier.
    2. Cut 2 strips 5 3/4″ x WOF from ShapeFlex (If you make the straps skinnier, you need to adjust the size of the ShapeFlex. I cut it smaller to reduce bulk in the seams, which can get quite hefty without trying.
    3. Press ShapeFlex to wrong side of fabric, following the manufacturer’s directions.
    4. Fold each 6″ fabric backed piece in half and press well.
    5. Open the pieces you just pressed and fold raw edges to the center.
    6. Press folded edges.
    7. Fold entire strap on original center fold again. Raw edges should be inside and strap should measure about 1.5″.
    8. Optional: Depending on what you want to use the bag for, you can further line the straps with something like Timtex or Soft & Stable.
    9. Topstitch along both edges very close to the edge. You can use a decorative stitch or two lines of straight stitching to add interest
  4. Squared up Quilted Piece
    Squared up Quilted Piece

    Square up your quilted piece by trimming the excess batting and raw edges.

  5. Fold trimmed piece in half RST* and sew along side and bottom edges ONLY. Only the top will be open. You will have a flat piece that looks like an oversized iPad cover.
  6. Measure to Box the Corners
    Measure to Box the Corners

    Box the corners. Kelly does a minimum of 2″ from the side seam. FYI: there is no seam on one side, so I pressed the fold and treated the folded part as a seam. I used my Creative Grids 4.5″x8.5″ ruler to try out different corner sizes. I ended up doing a 3″ box, using pins to try out the size and see what I liked. You can see in the photo that I was able to use the side and bottom measurements to help decide. I had to see how big the bag would be and how it work as a bag I actually used. Once I decided on the size of the boxed corner, I drew a pencil line across the corner to know where to sew. I placed a couple of pins across the drawn line to hold the bottom in place. Then I sewed on that line to make the box. in the picture, I sewed along the short end of the ruler from diagonal line to diagonal line using the center seam as the straight line.

    Corners Boxed
    Corners Boxed
  7. Optional: Trim off the excess corners to reduce bulk. I like to do this because I don’t like the excess to interfere with my stuff once I start using the bag. Also, small stuff that migrates to the bottom of the bag gets tangled up with them. Since this bag doesn’t have pockets, small stuff will migrate.
  8. Press raw seams open. You’ll have to stick the iron inside the bag.
  9. This is the point where, when I make the next version, I will sew binding over the raw seams. If I knew someone with a serger, I would serge them, but I don’t, so binding it is. I could just leave the raw edges, but that just seems wrong. On this version of the bag, I did this step later, but it makes sense to do it after the corners, so there is not a lot of other stuff to worry about and you won’t have to fold the ends of the inside binding over, because you can cover the raw edges of the inside binding when the top binding is sewn.
  10. Make a bias binding like you would for a quilt. You will need about 50″. I cut my square (see list of supplies) into 2.25″ wide strips on the diagonal. The Judy Martin Point Trimmer ruler makes it really easy to sew the strips together. I suppose you could use straight of the grain binding, but I think a bias binding works well.
  11. Add binding
    Add binding

    Bind the top, covering the edges of the binding that covers the inside raw edges (step above). I sewed along the bottom first, making sure I caught the underside as well as the top. When I finished I sewed along the top of the binding as well. I thought it made the bag look more finished and added some interest (must be my favorite term today). I used an extra piece of binding leftover from the Spiderweb quilt and I am glad I used something that mostly matched. On another version, I would plan ahead better and use a coordinating fabric or the strap fabric.

  12. If you haven’t made your straps, make them now.
  13. Test the length of the straps until they are right for your height. I used WonderClips at different lengths to find the right length, then I trimmed the original length to my custom length, which was about 36″.
  14. Flatten the bag carefully so the edge of the side is folded. This means that the edge of the side measures an equal amount from the side seam to the edge of the side as is the top. Measure two inches from this fold.
  15. Place a pin at 2″ that you just measured.
  16. Measure 2″ down from the top and place a pin parallel to the top of the bag. This makes a half square where you will place your strap.
  17. Fold the end of the strap 2″ up and place the folded edge right beneath the bottom of the binding.
  18. Sew the straps to the bag, making a box with an X in the middle. Go around the edges and the X a few times.
  19. Optional: After you sew on the straps, sew along the fake edge of the side (see step 14) from the top to about 4″ from the bottom. Do this on all sides to make the bag into a box.

You are finished! You have made the bag. Hooray!!!

A Variety of Notes:

Crazy as it sounds, I am now thinking of fabrics I can quilt that would look awesome in bag form. I know. I think I have lost mind.

I like my bags to have pockets, but I also don’t like the stitching to show through, so I didn’t put any in this bag. You could make a lining and add it before you sew on the binding, then you wouldn’t have to cover the raw edges with a binding. You could sew the pockets to the lining. You’ll have to figure the measurements out yourself. Of course, your beautiful quilting would be covered.

*RST – right sides together

*WOF – width of fabric (usually about 42″-45″

Current Projects – September 2014

Finished 2014 Quilt Projects

  1. Disappearing Pinwheel: finished 5/30/2014
  2. Fabric of the Year 2012: finished 4/24/2014
  3. Flower Sugar Hexagon: finished 7/1/2014
  4. Fresh Fruit: finished May 3/3/2014
  5. Infinity Quilt: finished 3/3/2014
  6. Scrapitude Carnivale: finished 6/3/2014
  7. See: finished 8/11/2014
  8. Spiderweb: finished 2/22/2014 WHEW!
  9. Star Sampler: finished 7/3/2014
  10. Wonky Nine Patch – finished 9/6/2014

Finished 2014 non-Quilt Projects

Still WIPs

I still have WIPs. Who doesn’t, after all, but the list is getting a lot smaller.

  1. Aqua-Red Sampler – Frances and I are back at it regularly and I give Frances full credit as I have been letting her “drive the bus.” I did work on the hexagon tutorial as promised. It is ready to post, but I could have taken a few more photos and might still do that. If you look at it and think there are a paltry number of photos, check back.
  2. The Tarts Come to Tea: I still haven’t worked on this since April 2011, though, periodically, I think about working on it.
  3. Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. I still haven’t worked on this, though, I did find a bunch of squares already made. That makes me hopeful.
  4. Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. 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. I am working on printing images on fabric and looking at the shoulder fabric. I am still trying to decide about a mouth and I need to find some monsters. 😉
  5. Under the Sea: class project; like the design, but not the colors much. Possibility for abandonment. I have to face reality.

Ready for Quilting

Wow! Everything on this list is new, as in it was never on the original 26 Projects list.

  1. Fabric of the Year 2013: top, back and binding made; ready to take it to the quilter
  2. New:* Super Secret Project #4: at the quilter
  3. Table runner: Basted; needs quilting and binding. I am planning on free motion quilting this myself for practice, which may be a challenge when my main machine is not working. (Not on original list)

In the Finishing Process

Nothing at this time, which is kind of odd.

In Process
I decided that I had better put in an ‘In Process’ category. The difference, at least in my mind, between ‘In Process’ and ‘UFO’ is that I am actively working on a project that is “In Process.”

Hunting and Gathering

  • Blue Gradation Quilt: cutting 2.5″x4.5″ blue rectangles
  • Blue Lemonade: cutting blue, green, purple 2″ squares
  • FOTY 2014: cutting out 3″x5″ rectangles.
  • Pink Gradation Quilt: cutting 2.5″x4.5″ pink rectangles
  • Spin Wheel: really not started, but supplies gathered. I probably have enough fabrics and just need to decide to start.
  • Stepping Stones #2 using Bonnie & Camille fabrics Bliss, Ruby, Vintage Modern: made two test blocks, but still in the thinking stage while I decide on the background colors. I want the contrast to be good.
  • Stepping Stones #3 using the Macaron pre-cuts from Hoffman. I just remembered this project. It isn’t started, but I have all the pre-cuts and should think about actually using them.
  • Windmill quilt: Still hunting and gathering. I will use a grey for the background, because if I use more of the cut fabric patches, the pattern will be lost. The pieces are too oddly shaped and I don’t want to lose the pattern in a mass of scraps

Abandoned

Nothing so far for 2014

You can find the last update for the Current Projects list provides a good comparison to this month.

I thought you might want to take a look at the first list I made, the one with the 26 Projects. I started the list in October 2011. I have made REALLY GOOD progress. Up until last month, I was still planning to stop this post when I had no more projects from the original list to write about, but now, that the end is in sight, I am not so sure. It is so useful to keep track of all of my projects. Since I still have some pretty old projects on the list, I don’t have to decide right now.

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

Creative Prompt #277: Frost

It isn’t really frosty out and we hardly ever get any significant frost, so this prompt is just as mysterious to me as it is to you. Onward!

Jack Frost

window frost

Robert Frost

Does Frosty the Snowman count?

Frosting on a cake? Does that count

Definition: “Frost is the term for several types of coatings or deposits of ice that may form in humid air in cold conditions, usually overnight. In temperate climates it most commonly appears as fragile white crystals or frozen dew drops near the ground, but in cold climates it occurs in a greater variety of forms.[1]”

Hoar frost

Frost Strike – spell in World of Warcraft- Instantly strike the enemy, causing 1% Frost damage

Frost Dessert Lounge (I couldn’t resist – the image of chaise lounges and people wandering around with yummy desserts made me add this. They aren’t paying me, so no links)

Frost Mage

Frost is a slow and heavily-armored Warframe that is able to utilize offensive and defensive skills to both his own and his team’s advantage.

David Frost

The Frost Chronicles

Frost (2012 movie)

World of Warcraft DPS Frost Death Knight Guide for PvE raiding.

The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University, Miami.

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.

Throwback Thursday: Playmat (#TBT)

A few weeks ago, Sandi, of Quilt Cabana Patterns, posted a playmat she made. It reminded me of Throwback Thursday (#TBT) and how Quiltin’ Jenny always posts something from her pre-blogging days. I wasn’t very productive in pre-blogging days, but I do have quilts that only show up on Artquiltmaker.com about which I have never written.

Playmat
Playmat

The Playmat is one of those quilts.I made this quilt in about 1997 or 1998.

The Playmat was one of the first projects I worked on when I was a new mom. I hadn’t been sewing much, was only marginally connected online (remember this was in the dark ages with no Twitter or podcasts or blogs) via the QuiltNet listserv.

I don’t remember why I decided I needed to make a playmat, but I really used it to lay out on the floor so the Y.M. (previously the Tiny Bubba) could lay on it. Later, he sat on it, but as soon as he started crawling, we used it briefly in the stroller, but he would throw it off and out, which became annoying.

I made this quilt very quickly and used a pillowcase technique to avoid binding it, then quilted it myself.  I notice now that the edge is all bias. Not sure what I was thinking, but the piecing is much more interesting (if the color combo doesn’t hurt your eyes) on point than a straight set.

The back is a nice cute bears in King Arthur garb print. I know I didn’t want to cut it up and I used it for a quilt for Friend Julie‘s younger son as well. I’ll try and add that photo to this post.

I linked up with Jenny over at Quiltin' Jenny
I linked up with Jenny over at Quiltin’ Jenny

September BAMQG Meeting

Every time I turn around, I am kind of shocked that it is September. Even in my journal, I keep starting to write June when I write the date. I don’t know why. I did that all through last year as well and had no good reason then either.

Anyway. Lots of BAMQG this week.

Play-Crafts Palette Builder
Play-Crafts Palette Builder

The meeting was awesome, as usual. The best part was the talk by Anne Sullivan of Play-Crafts.com. She gave us all a lecture on Color Theory. I know a couple of things about color theory, but I learned quite a few things. There are things called color models, which I have heard of before. One of the models is called Hue, Saturation & Value (HSV). It is a color model created to be more intuitive and show color relationships.

Anne also talked about the basics of color theory, contrast, and color schemes. Anne has the passion of someone who loves color. She has clearly done the research of a person dedicated to something she loves. I looked at her website and found nothing on color until I went to the patterns and tutorials section and there were some tutorials on color there.

We had some business as well.

  • Elections are next month.there will be a couple of new positions available: liaison with MQG and the Opportunity quilt coordinator
  • Charity will host a Sew Day on October 4. We will work in teams to create charity tops.
  • Amanda still has no reliable source for Cat Bed donations. She had a few that were already made, but not stuffed, so people took those. I gave in the neon orange bed. It got a few laughs. [BTW, I forgot to take a photo of that cat bed, but it was just neon orange, so nothing interesting. Also, I was able to cut a top and bottom, but not a gusset from the remaining Polartec. I hoped that Amanda would have a bit more fabric, not in neon orange from which to make the gusset]
  • The quilt display at the Los Altos Library will happen Dec 1-31 and Peggy has forms to fill out.
  • There were a few more packs of fabric for the 2014 Opportunity Quilt. The blocks are due at the October meeting.
  • PIQF is during the next meeting. 🙁 Poor planning on the Mancuso’s part IMO.
  • Retreat dates are still in process.
  • Amish exhibit – quilts are due. I didn’t do one, but people have to arrange for a dropoff with Kelly. People showed their quilts during show and tell, but no photos were taken as people were concerned that others wouldn’t attend the show if they had already seen the quilts.
  • I don’t know if the small groups met, because I was busy and missed mine.

BAMQG Opportunity Block

I thought about posting this under “Doing Good”, but while I think I am doing good for the guild, it isn’t really service to the community. At least I don’t think it is. Hhmm. Philosophy so early in the morning. I am sure you appreciate that.

I wasn’t at the August meeting to get my block kit. Since I definitely wanted to contribute to the support of the guild, I asked for a block kit and Ruth was kind enough to send me one. Sadly she didn’t have any turquoise kits left so I ended up with mauve-y colors. That’s what I get for not being at the meeting.

I left the fabric laying around near me for a week or so. I kept meaning to do it before I went back to work, but didn’t so the weekend before the meeting, I decided it was time. I decided to make a test block for my Tale of Two Cities quilt using the Opportunity block as the tester.

Tester is the wrong word. I knew I could make the next blocks. It was more of kick in the rear end to get me back in ToTCi gear. Just what I needed.

The idea, as I understand it, is everyone makes what ever blocks they want in a 6.5″ size, heavy on the squares and rectangles, and then sews them together into a 12.5″ block. Ruth has a plan and will put them together.

BAMQG Opportunity Block
BAMQG Opportunity Block

She must be a master, because I had just enough fabric. The photo (left) shows how much fabric I had left. I should have put a quarter in with the shards so you could see how little was left.

I didn’t make a bunch of different blocks and put them together; I just made one and repeated it. Repeating the structure not the fabric, because I didn’t have enough to make all of the blocks the same.

BAMQG Opportunity Block
BAMQG Opportunity Block

This one block design makes up four blocks into a new combination. The block looks different made up from four blocks

Blue and White for Daisy

Daisy's Comfort Quilt
Daisy’s Comfort Quilt

Recently, our Twilter friend Daisy started going through a rough patch. She is so good about making up quilts for people in need, such as the Scrapitude quilt she made for Frances, that we all heeded the call from Weezy (have you listened to her podcast?) for blocks and fabric. It took me a few days to get to making the blocks, but I did and I am glad.

You can see my Harry Potter trying to find the Snitch block in the top row along the center. One of my blocks is on the back as well.

Weezy did the heavy lifting on this quilt and she did a great job.

Daisy quilt back
Daisy quilt back

Daisy received the quilt on Saturday and was thrilled. I was very glad it was well received.

 

Field Day. Hm.

Field Day September 2014
Field Day September 2014

After I took FOTY 2013 off the wall and before I put the Russian Rubix up on the wall, I put the very few Field Day blocks up to see what I had.

Well, it isn’t looking exactly as I expected or anticipated, though there are also not very many pieces yet.

The pattern calls for 5″x2.5″ strips sewn to 2.5″ squares. The top center (2d column) piece is that shape and the correct size. I thought I would make the piece more interesting and vary the sizes of the non-Sangria background and the Field Day fabric. The top left hand piece in the first column is what I came up with.

Hhmm. Clearly I had trouble with the math, even though I measured everything, took the seam allowance into consideration, etc. I am going to use those pieces, but I am not going to make any more of them. I am going to stick with the boring 5″x2.5″ strips sewn to 2.5″ squares.

I also think I will put the Goldenrod in between the columns. I think that would add interest.

This is definitely a dark piece and I wasn’t anticipating that. I’ll have to get it done soon, so that it isn’t on the design wall in the winter when it is dark and cold.

My ATCs for September

September ATCs
September ATCs

It has taken me awhile to get these posted, but here they are.

I made them the morning before the meeting after procrastinating for weeks, then realizing I no longer had Friday to scrape something together.

I had the gears from a pack I bought at Beverly’s and scraps and that is what I used. I think I need to get some more of those gears and try another iteration, perhaps with Perl Cotton instead of schnibbles? Braided Perl Cotton?

I have two of the gears left, because I didn’t have time to stitch them down by hand.

As I said in the CQFA Meeting report, I want to do them earlier for January (won’t be at the October meeting) and need to start on the backs.  Yes, I said that a week ago and haven’t done anything. First step: make the backs. If I have a lot of backs using a neutral fabric, I can concentrate on making the front awesome. Right?

Creative Prompt #276: Egg

s/he’s a good egg

lay an egg

The Egg and I (1947 movie)

chocolate egg

Easter egg that the Easter Bunny brings

The Incredible Edible Egg

Definition: “Eggs are laid by female animals of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have been eaten by humans for thousands of years.[1] Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen (egg white), and vitellus (egg yolk), contained within various thin membranes. Popular choices for egg consumption are chicken, duck, quail, roe, and caviar, but the egg most often consumed by humans is the chicken egg, by a wide margin.

Egg yolks and whole eggs store significant amounts of protein and choline,[2][3] and are widely used in cookery. Due to their protein content, the United States Department of Agriculture categorizes eggs as Meats within the Food Guide Pyramid.[2] Despite the nutritional value of eggs, there are some potential health issues arising from egg quality, storage, and individual allergies.

Chickens and other egg-laying creatures are widely kept throughout the world, and mass production of chicken eggs is a global industry. In 2009, an estimated 62.1 million metric tons of eggs were produced worldwide from a total laying flock of approximately 6.4 billion hens.[4] There are issues of regional variation in demand and expectation, as well as current debates concerning methods of mass production. The European Union recently banned battery husbandry of chickens.” (Wikipedia)

egg white

Faberge’ eggs

Bacon and eggs

egg timer

The Air Quality Egg is a community-led air quality sensing network that gives people a way to participate in the conversation about air quality.

egg substitute

The Goose that lays the Golden Egg

egg allergy

Cadbury eggs

Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

Easter Egg Roll

Eggroll (Chinese food)

egg carton

Italian egg drop soup

over hard

The Exbury Egg is a temporary, energy efficient self-sustaining work space for artist Stephen Turner in the estuary of the River Beaulieu.

Egg Harbor, Door County, Wisconsin

soft boiled egg

egg cup

over easy

dyeing eggs

Minecraft: An Egg is an item laid by chickens every 5–10 minutes. They can only be stacked together in groups of up to 16, unlike most items.

eggbake

The Egg (short story) (read it-very profound and not too long)

EGG Online takes its visitors off the beaten path to focus on the excitement, diversity, and raw energy of the arts. (PBS)

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

EGG helmets are innovative, highly customizable, multi-sport helmets for kids between the ages of 4 and 12 with adult sizes soon to be introduced.

organic eggs

free range eggs

egg shaped

Easter egg in a video game

 

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.

 

Eggs have nothing to do with Super G, but today is her birthday and I just wanted to mention it.

Weekend Work

The weekend didn’t fly by as fast as I thought it would, but it was over too quickly. Who doesn’t say that? I got a lot done and not just quiltmaking. I made time for two workouts, lots of Eagle Project and College application haranguing and some TV watching.

City Sampler - 1st Group
City Sampler – 1st Group
City Sampler - 1st Group
City Sampler – 2d Group

Most of what I did was make City Sampler/Tale of Two Cities blocks. They have been on my mind and the last time I worked on them was around August 9. I know this because I make a note in the book each time I make a block. I do this so I know what I have made and it comes in handy for knowing when I last worked on them. My next block is block #31, which means I have made 30 blocks. I will bring 8 of them to the meeting on Saturday to share with the Tula Pink group.

In the first group of blocks, I like the lower right hand corner block best. I know it looks like Bargello, which is not at all fashionable now, but I like the suggestion of additional steps that we can’t see in, for example, the upper right hand corner of the block.

In the second group, I added some Philip Jacobs. i know the fabric introduces pinks into the piece, which was not in the original plan. I may redo them, but for now I will leave them.

I have to say that I like the symmetry of the left hand blocks. I really like the center of the block in the upper left hand corner. This motif is mirrored, though larger, in the bottom lefft hand block. I like it as well and wonder what a whole quilt would look like? More of the stair steps?

I had some trouble with the bottom right hand block. It seems easy enough, but just wouldn’t fit together. I finally figured out that I cut one of the pieces wrong. Once I had recut the piece, it worked fine. It would be interesting to see a whole quilt made from that block in black and whites with different reds in the center.

I am not a fan of some of the blocks and I have to admit that one though that ran across my mind was about some of the blocks not showing up before now for a reason. I decided to expand my mind and be open to all the blocks, which is why I am making all the blocks.

It took me forever to sew the 30 blocks. I wonder how long it will take me to sew the additional 70?

 

 

Previous Posts

Disappearing Four Patch

Pre-DP4P Blocks
Pre-DP4P Blocks

I made some blocks for a Disappearing Four Patch quilt that Daisy made for Terje. Terje’s family is going through a really tough time and then Terje injured her foot. So unfair, but a very good opportunity for a quilt.

It is fun to make a few blocks, especially easy ones that I can use to play with color and fabric, then send them off to see what they become. I used the Flower Sugar fabric from Lecien. I still have a lot of it, not all, but enough, left and it is cheerful. I made three blocks. In the photo below, I can see one of them in the 2d row, 1st position on the left and another one in the bottom row in the second position on the left.

Terje's Disappearing Four Patch
Terje’s Disappearing Four Patch

I think there might also be one in the 4th row, last position, but it is hard to tell. Perhaps you can see them.

Regardless of where my blocks ended up, it is a cheerful quilt. I am always amazed at the choices people make when given a specific request. I don’t remember the request particularly, but it was definitely for cheerful fabric. It is fun to see the interpretations and wonder about their influences.

Various & Sundry #10 – Mid September

Tools, Supplies and Fabric

Do you have a Silhouette Cameo cutter? If so, you might want to read a post by Sarah Vedeler about cutting shapes successfully. Of course, YMMV.

Did you know Elizabeth Hartman has a Kona Designer Palette? No? Me either.

Projects

Timeless Treasures had a Sew-a-thon to make pillowcases for the Conn-Kerr Cancer Center and the Million Pillowcase challenge. Not only did they make pillowcases, but there are a lot of resources on the post for patterns and other resources.

There is (or was, maybe) an Aurifil Designer challenge. I happened to pop by Quilt Jane and see Pat Wys’s block. It is another great use of baby Friendship Stars. Remember the Friendship Star block, designed by Camille Roskelley, that I used for Kelly’s Round Robin? I really like that block and the work I did on Kelly’s Round Robin. I might have to make another one. 😉 BTW, if you make one Pat’s blocks (pattern on Auribuzz post) and post it to their Flickr group, you could win a prize.

Remember Scrapitude? Well, Charlotte is at it again with a new mystery quilt. Sandy announced it on her blog this week. The cutting directions are out now and there is no sewing until January. I have been thinking about making another Scrapitude quilt, mostly to tweak the colors that I used in Scrapitude Carnavale. I like that quilt a lot, but there are few things I would do differently. Perhaps this version would be a good design with which to to play with color and fabrics. Still ….mystery quilts. Hhmm. The BAMQG mystery quilt did not work out so well for me, so I am sort of off mystery quilts.Will you play this time?

Kati had some top finishes recently and showed them off. Great work. The Lucky Stars quilt is especially awesome.

Books

STC Craft has a new book, Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000, out by ROCK STAR quilt history person, Rod Kiracofe. He used to be involved with the Quilt Digest and has written other books. The awesome part of this book is the dates. It covers some of my own quilt life and that of my friends. Perhaps I’ll see one of my quilts in it. (HA!!) The book is mentioned on a recent blog post on the STC Craft blog. The book also has its own page on the Abrams site. Let’s all buy it and make it a success!

Media

This quilt caught my attention when it was posted to the guild’s group.

I bought a subscription to Quilt Now! I think I like Love of Patchwork and Quilting better, but they sent me a ruler and you know how I love rulers! You can subscribe to Quilt Now! through Pink Castle fabrics, if you live in the US. If you live in the UK, you can subscribe directly.

Melody Johnson has a new blog. You can read about why on her old blog, which will stay as is for the time being, but not be updated.

Color

I  was going through the magazines stacked up next to my bed the other day and found a quote I wanted to share with you. In the January/February 2014 issue of Fons & Porter: Love of Quilting (pg.13), there is an article about two color quilts. In it the author writes “There is a tendency for white to dominate since it has a great degree of reflectivity than most other colors in the spectrum. The quilt designs that are the most successful are those that utilize the two colors in equal quantities.” Part of me wants to believe this, because it is Fons and Porter, after all, and they do their research, right? I haven’t done a test, but I do think that ratios are really important and that using a little less white, even a VERY little and a little more color might be a better way to go.

Thinking

I am a little hard pressed to figure out where to put this article about thinking like an entrepreneur. Now you are thinking “WTH, Jaye, why should I think like an entrepreneur?”.  The article quickly morphs into a way to develop a vision for yourself as an artist and a vision for your work. It is interesting. Who wants to start?

Here is an article from Lifehacker that talks about 6 obstacles that hinder your creative projects. How many are relevant to you?